Meanwhile, In Berkeley: Joyce Carol Oates Eats Bad Vegan Meal

In late breaking Berkeley dining news, Joyce Carol Oates (author of some of the greatest American works of our time) read Berkeley restaurant Venus to filth last night, Tweeting: "Second & last near-inedible vegan meal in Berkeley, this one at Venus on Shattuck. Didn't expect not to be charged but--maybe an apology?"

Grrrl.

Was it the 1979-sounding Vegan Stirfry (featuring coconut curry, trumpet mushrooms, fennel, roasted winter squash, broccoli robe, jasmine rice)? One can only wonder. The Shattuck Avenue restaurant, we should point out, isn't vegan-only and, in addition to glowing reviews, maintains four stars on Yelp.

The noted scribe later found solace by referencing Henry James' preface to What Maisie Knew. Classic Oates!