Every weekday, we're highlighting a local or regional blogger we think you ought to know about. We can’t be everywhere at once, so we look to these passionate eaters, cooks and writers to keep us tapped into every facet of the food world. Consider this a way to get to know a blog’s taste buds, because, well, you should.

Meet today's featured blogger and blog:
Who: Allison Arevalo, of Local Lemons
Where: Berkeley, California
Twitter: @LocalLemons

Not quite two years ago, my husband and I quit our jobs, jumped in our car and left Brooklyn for the sunny skies of Berkeley, California. I had no idea that a short time later I'd be opening a restaurant and writing a food blog.

Local Lemons is all about simple, beautiful food. My original recipes use as much of the beautiful local produce as possible, and are free from processed, artificial ingredients. I cook from scratch and I cook from my heart. My feelings dictate my menus, and while I rely on cookbooks for technique, I rarely follow a recipe. Follow me to farmers markets around the East Bay, and see how easy it can be to create natural, healthy meals from your local bounty.

The restaurant I'm opening with my friend Erin Wade is called homeroom, and will be opening in Oakland sometime in late 2010. As a community restaurant focusing on comfort foods, we will be serving all different kinds of macaroni and cheese using local California cheeses.

When you come to say hi you’ll also find salads made with local produce, craft beers, hand-picked wine and nostalgic desserts like freshly baked Oreo cookies. We also hope you’ll take a moment to get to know our purveyors, who will all be featured throughout the restaurant. I'll keep you updated on the progress of the restaurant on Local Lemons, giving you a peak at the insanity of trying to open a restaurant.

One of my favorite things about living in Berkeley, besides the food and almost daily farmers markets, is the smell. I walk outside and breath in citrus and roses – hence, Local Lemons. It makes sense that a place with such sweet air would produce extraordinary food. So while I will always appreciate the people, the neighborhood, the unique charm of Brooklyn, I can never go back. Not after experiencing life on the west coast, in our corner of the East Bay.

Do you read a local blog that you'd like to see featured? Send 'em our way for a chance in the spotlight.