Bay Area foodies and culture enthusiasts, there's a delicious development on the horizon. Cafe Ohlone, the only Ohlone restaurant in the Bay Area, is broadening its culinary footprint with an upcoming café on the UC Berkeley campus. The new 'ammatka Cafe, named after the Chochenyo Ohlone word for "the dining hall," will offer its unique menu at the Lawrence Hall of Science starting January 7, as confirmed by a recent San Francisco Chronicle release. Eager patrons can expect innovative dishes, such as a smoked duck and rose hip jam sandwich, and authentic Ohlone flavors in every bite.
Founders Louis Trevino and Vincent Medina have made a name for themselves with the original Cafe Ohlone by serving locally sourced, indigenous foods. Their first restaurant, established at UC Berkeley in 2022, sits poignantly outside the Hearst Museum, a place once fraught with historical tension for the Ohlone tribe. Medina shared with the San Francisco Chronicle, "Building up a respect for the food and traditions goes a long way to building up respect for Ohlone people." This sentiment reflects the broader initiative to rectify past injustices and educate the public about the rich cultural heritage of the Ohlone people.
An expansion of this nature isn’t just another restaurant opening; it's part of a broader 'ottoy Initiative, aiming to mend the relationship between the university and the local Ohlone community. According to the The Lawrence Hall of Science website, Medina and Trevino have been instrumental in spearheading projects that promote indigenous representation. These projects include the integration of Chochenyo language signage and the inclusion of native plants at the university, all while providing an educational platform.
The 'ammatka Cafe will not only serve as a dining establishment but also as an educational opportunity for visitors. From experiencing traditional Ohlone meals to learning about native plants and their uses, the café is just the latest iteration of the duo's vision to enrich UC Berkeley culturally. "We're working together in partnership to uplift the oldest traditions of the East Bay in an Ohlone-led way with our allies at The Lawrence," Medina said, as mentioned on The Lawrence Hall of Science announcement. This is a testament to their commitment to bringing about tangible and flavorful change.
