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!