Tasty brasserie-style eats in Berkeley

Giving your money to charity can produce a blissful sense of satisfaction, chiefly stemming from the fact that you've successfully silenced that particular charity's pleas for money. Do-gooding by asking for nothing more than to make you fatter, Elmwood Cafe.

Brought to you by a fine-pedigreed team that includes a pair of Cafe Fanny ex-pats, EC's a casual, Parisian-style Brasserie that's ballsily promising to give half its profit away to charity; its short but sweet selection of delectables is served from 7am-10pm in the former Ozzie's Soda Fountain space, which retains its rustic wood paneling and drink counter, but sadly not Ozzie (pour out a little Sierra Mist). The menu changes daily, and breakfast items may resemble stuff like prosciutto n' jam on levain toast, hunks o' bacon/spinach-stuffed quiche, or savory bread pudding laced with bacon chunks -- the eating of which will leave you seated with Sloth. Lunch and dinner fare ranges from farro/roasted veggie salad, to French onion soup, to Santa Fe stew with black beans/sweet potatoes/pork, to an apricot n' honey glazed grilled chicken panini with fontina on fresh Acme bread, which Wile E. Coyote has purchased in bulk to entice and ultimately slow down the Road Runner.

Paying homage to their predecessor, EC's pourin' tasty "Ozzie's" sodas made with seasonal fruit syrup and seltzer. Also, they'll soon start taking suggestions from customers as to which charities to bless, giving you precious little time to found the Boys and Girls Club of Boys and Girls Who Feel Put Upon By The Boys and Girls Club of America.