Tasty Zombies Are A Culinary Trip Back To High School

A few years ago, Mike Vizcarra —a graduate of Mt. Diablo High in Concord — was discussing a favorite dish from high school with his friend Carrie, who was an alumna of Acalanes High in Lafayette. They were called Zombies, concoctions made of bread and cheese that were not available anywhere else.

"We're both cooks," Vizcarra said, "so we decided to experiment, and they came out pretty well. We gave some to our friends, and they suggested we start selling them."

So Mike and Carrie became business partners and started selling Tasty Zombies in bars in San Francisco and Walnut Creek. They did a brisk business, and in 2011, the Sunday Walnut Creek Certified Farmers Market called and asked the pair to sell their Zombies at the market.

"Six months later, I quit my job and we started making them full time," Vizcarra said. 

Now, you can buy Tasty Zombies at the Sunday Walnut Creek Farmers Market at Locust Street and Cole Avenueevery Sunday, and at the Concord Farmers Market at Todos Santos Plaza each Tuesday.

In addition to cheese Zombies, you can buy zombies filled with hamburger, potatoes, ham and cheese, spinach and mushroom, pepperoni, and other variations. There is also a popular Breakfast Zombie featuring eggs and sausage.

The cheese Zombies are $3, and the others are $5. On a good day, Vizcarra said they call upward of 400 Zombies.

Do you remember Zombies from high school? Have you tried one of Vizcarra's Zombies yet? If so, what do you think? Tell us in the comments.