Cafe Lizzi, Oakland

The clatter of pots and the sizzle of bacon still remind Jennifer Walker of her grandparents—both superb cooks who inspired Jennifer to take up the spatula herself. Jennifer follows in her grandparent's footsteps at Cafe Lizzi, where she whips up Cajun-inspired cuisine from fresh, local ingredients. Early in the morning, you can spot Jennifer at the kitchen stove, frying eggs, stirring grits, and peeking into the oven to check on homemade biscuits. Come lunchtime, she turns her attention to grilling tri-tips, sizzling up hot links, and melting macaroni cheese by simply batting her eyes and blowing it a kiss. She doles out generous portions from behind a counter in the cozy seating area, where colorful red, green, and blue walls are speckled with pictures.