Oaktown Café opened its doors in December of 1998 on the corner of Ninth and Washington Streets in an area of Oakland known as Old Oakland. The dream was to serve fresh, sustainable 'comforting food' using the wood burning oven as the focal point as well as the main  cooking source for most plates. The entire menu including table and specialty breads as well as cured sausages were prepared on site and in full view of the patrons in an open/exhibition kitchen.

It was the dream of Lou Salerno, the proprietor, to feature fresh ingredients from local purveyors using the local farmers markets as a key source.  Supporting small family owned wineries, breweries, distributors and brokers from  California, the Northwest and beyond was another facet. Lou was able to develop his skills at such culinary destinations as: Square One, Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. in SF, as well as stints at Grace Baking Company, North Berkeley Wine Company and Bucci's in the East Bay.

Economic times as well as the woes of conducting business in Downtown Oakland forced Lou to close the doors in December of 2003. Since that time a small loyal customer base has continued to use the services under the new acronym of OTC Catering. As of February of 2009, using a bit of the old and the new, a new moniker has been spawned: OakTown Catering .

We look forward to working with you. More than just food and service, we hope to make your 'event' enjoyable and memorable.

________________

CADENCE

for Lou and the Oaktown Café, where you could have lunch whenever the oven was hot

Lunch at three.

My stool at the counter.

That pizza and I

are destined for each other. Both slowly

warmed by minutes. This is nearly

the best part: before

I eat Pamina sings

of Tamino in 'The Magic Flute'.

Then the joyous, simple

echoes lines as they emerge

from their ordeals. Before

each other, faces

round and warm. The sun

comes out. The slice resoves upon the tongue.

copyright 2007
Today's Special Dish poems
by Nina Lindsay
published by Sixteen Rivers Press