Tava Kitchen Grand Opening in Alameda - Chance to Win Free Food for One Year

Earlier this year, I wrote about the awesome new menu selection from Tava Kitchen. They changed their focus from Indian food to a mix of Indian and South East Asian inspired items. The food is still healthy and delicious as always. Now the brand is opening its third store in Alameda. At the grand opening events, you will have a chance to win free Tava Kitchen for one year!

I recently visited Tava Kitchen in Palo Alto at the Town and Country Plaza again to have lunch. The side dishes were flavorful and fresh and the whole meal was very satisfying. I especially like their carrots and the bottled mango lassi.

To sign up, all you have to do is register to the Tava 100 event page, then check in to the grand opening in Alameda on October 8. One hundred guests will be chosen from the registered entrants who checked in and they will receive free Tava Kitchen for a year. The prize can be redeemed at any Tava location. Good luck to all entrants!

Events, Openings, and Announcements - August 2016

Off the Grid: Evergreen Moves to a Monthly Extravaganza

San Jose Event Will Focus More on Community Involvement 

 Off the Grid is excited to announce a new, improved format for the San Jose @ Evergreen Village Square lunch event. The event currently takes place every Saturday afternoon and will become a monthly food truck festival beginning Saturday, August 6, 2016 and occurring the first Saturday of the month thereafter.

This larger-scale, monthly event at Off the Grid: San Jose @ Evergreen Village Square will introduce a number of exciting elements, including a wide variety of food trucks, curated live music performances, and onsite activities.  By changing the schedule to occur once a month, Off the Grid will be able to dedicate more time and resources to create an enhanced guest experience in a festival atmosphere. Along with face painting and children’s activities, Off the Grid hopes to provide a stage for local school bands and performers, giving them a space to showcase their talents.

Saturday, July 30 will mark the last weekly iteration of the Evergreen market and prospective guests are encouraged to RSVP to the August 6 event opening on Facebook. Off the Grid will be posting updates on vendors, entertainment, and performers leading up to each month’s festival.

Where:                
Off the Grid: Evergreen
4075 Evergreen Village Square
San Jose, CA, 95135

Date:
Saturday, August 6, 2016 (and the first Saturday of every month thereafter)
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

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Manresa Bread Los Gatos Adds Outdoor Café Seating and Full Beverage Program Including Espresso Bar

One month after opening its second location in Los Altos, CA,  Manresa Bread announces the expansion of its original bakery in Los Gatos. Slated to debut in August, Manresa Bread adds 200 square feet to the retail space, a full-service coffee and beverage program, and dedicated seating area at the 276 N. Santa Cruz Avenue location.

“Our guests have been asking for these changes for quite some time. We are excited we’re in a position now where we can expand into the adjacent space and offer an experience that’s more than just grab-and-go,” says Partner and Head Baker Avery Ruzicka.

Aevan Balan joins the Manresa Bread team as Lead Barista for the coffee program, which features Santa Cruz-based Verve Coffee Roasters. A Bay Area native, Aevan first learned about coffee when he started working at Yahoo as a Lead Barista and Mentor as a way to make ends meet while going to college.  He later became a Coffee Specialist at Yahoo, working exclusively with Verve Coffee Roasters, training directly with the Verve team. He was most recently a Lead Barista with Blue Bottle Coffee Company in Palo Alto and a Café Manager at Kartma Street Café, a work-experience program that employs homeless men and women while paying a living wage.

The new coffee program, in partnership with Santa Cruz-based Verve Coffee Roasters, includes espresso drinks, fresh brewed coffee, and cold brew. Guests can also enjoy hot chocolate, Chico Chai Tea out of Chico, California, and kefir on tap.

The look and feel of the newly added space mirrors the classic and modern vibe of the original, created in partnership with San Francisco-based Robert van Horne. A larger counter area means Manresa Bread can display a wider selection of pastries and breads throughout the day and newly added outdoor tables and seating for half a dozen invite guests to linger over a cup of coffee or a pastry.

Manresa Bread Los Gatos is located at 276 N. Santa Cruz Avenue and is open from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily.  A second retail space is located at 271 State Street in downtown Los Altos and Manresa Bread is also available at the Campbell and Palo Alto farmers’ market on Sundays and the Portola Valley market on Thursdays. Manresa Bread pastries are featured at Verve Coffee Roasters locations in Santa Cruz, CA.

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Boudin Heats Up Summer with New BBQ Pork Menu Items

Boudin Fast Casual Restaurants Serves Up Seasonal Sandwiches and Salad for a Limited Time

Inspired by the flavors of a summertime backyard barbecue, Boudin, home of The Original San Francisco Sourdough™, has introduced three new menu items featuring perfectly seasoned, seared and slow-roasted BBQ pork. The limited time seasonal offerings, available beginning July 27 at all Boudin SF locations, which offer a unique fast-casual dining experience serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, include:

Classic BBQ Pork Sandwich: Slow-roasted and hand-pulled pork tossed in sweet and savory barbecue sauce topped with crunchy house made coleslaw, served hot on a garlic-buttered, toasted sourdough baguette ($9.29)

 

Aloha Pork Sandwich:  Slow-roasted and hand-pulled pork slathered with an island-inspired ginger soy barbecue sauce featuring a hint of honey, topped with house-made caramelized pineapple, tangy pickled red onion, and fresh-chopped cilantro, served hot on a garlic-buttered, toasted sourdough baguette ($9.49)

 

Luau Pork Salad: A mix of spring greens and cabbage topped with warm, slow-roasted pulled pork tossed in ginger soy barbecue, caramelized pineapple and tangy pickled red onion made in house, fresh-chopped cilantro, crunchy red bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, and toasted almonds served with a zesty ginger soy barbecue vinaigrette ($10.29)

 

“Our new menu additions capture the spirit of the summer season by combining tender, succulent, and slow-roasted pork shoulder with the perfect balance of savory, sweet and zesty barbecue flavors,” said Alan Skversky, Boudin Bakery’s corporate chef. “Featuring a fresh mix of house-made ingredients, like our crunchy coleslaw, caramelized pineapple and pickled red onion, each menu item delivers a bright taste of summer while also complementing our world-famous, fresh baked sourdough bread.”

Available at all Boudin SF locations in Northern and Southern California, the new BBQ Pork menu items can be enjoyed in the restaurant or at the convenience of take-out. Boudin SF will also offer house-made coleslaw as an add-on side option for $2.99 for a limited time. Additionally, Boudin SF’s Cobb Salad will be returning to the menu by popular demand. Click here to find your nearest Boudin location.

Events, Openings, Announcements - July 2016

Michael Mina's Bourbon Pub Celebrate's National Ice Cream Month with Special Desserts

Who:  Bourbon Pub, Michael Mina’s casual and approachable restaurant located at Levi’s® Stadium offering whimsical plays on pub-style dishes complemented by light, healthier options, will celebrate National Ice Cream month with weekly specials created by Pastry Chef, Amy Lee.

What:  Bourbon Pub will be featuring four special ice cream desserts on the menu that will change weekly and are only available throughout the month of July, in honor of National Ice Cream month. The weekly rotating menu will include different styles of ice cream desserts, all housemade and featuring seasonal ingredients.

Menu:                                          

July 5 - 9

STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM BAR

Red Verjus Gastrique

$6

July 11 - 16

HORCHATA AFFOGADO

Espresso, Roasted Almonds, Chantilly Cream

$6 

July 18 - 23

BOURBON MINT CHIP ICE CREAM SANDWICH

$6

July 25 - 30

BRULEED BANANA SPLIT

Strawberry, Vanilla, Roasted Banana Ice Cream

$9

When:             July 5 – July 30

Where:           Michael Mina’s Bourbon Pub; Levi's® Stadium, Ground Level

                        4900 Marie P. DeBartolo Way Santa Clara, CA 95054

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Taste Of Orleans Comes To Great America July 23-24 & 30-31Cajun & Orleans Food, Live Music And Décor In Orleans Section Of Great America

California’s Great America will introduce the exciting new
Taste Of Orleans festival July 23-24 and 30-31 in the park’s Orleans Place area. Taste of Orleans will feature live Cajun, Jazz and Mardi Gras style music, regional food delicacies and drink and will be open to all Great America guests.

Regional cuisine includes chicken gumbo with red beans and rice, Po’boys, muffuletta, crawfish etouffee, beignets and much more. The live music features four jazz and Cajun bands that will entertain guests throughout the day.

“The Taste Of Orleans Festival renews a tradition of branding areas of Great America that represent and celebrate regions across the United States,” said California’s Great America Vice President and General Manager Raul Rehnborg. “This festival, and holiday events such as Halloween Haunt and our new WinterFest, provides even more and unique reasons for guests to visit Great America.”

A Chalk artist will paint Mardi Gras murals throughout festival and there will be mask decorating for kids 12-and-under. To close each evening, a Taste Of Orleans fireworks show set to Cajun music will decorate the sky.

2016 Season Passes are currently on sale for just $67 and feature a season of fun in both Great America and Boomerang Bay Water Park. A $99 Gold Pass includes Halloween Haunt, WinterFest, Gilroy Gardens and more, making Great America one of the regions best family valued entertainment options.

More Info here

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Whole Foods Market to open Santa Clara store July 26NorCal’s newest location anchors Santa Clara Square Marketplace

Whole Foods Market opens its new 50,000 square-foot Santa Clara storeJuly 26 at 2732 Augustine Drive (corner of Scott & Bowers). Santa Clara Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor will join the company to host a bread-breaking ceremony for the store and ribbon cutting for Santa Clara Square Marketplace at 9:45 a.m. Doors open at 10 a.m.

For a first look at the store, members of the public can attend a Preview Party on July 23 from 5-7 p.m. The event includes cooking demos, food and product samples, games, raffle, and 3D chalk art photo booth. Tickets are $5; Whole Foods Market will donate all proceeds to Santa Clara Vanguard. RSVP at eventbrite.com.

This is the first Whole Foods Market location in Santa Clara, and the 44th in Northern California. The store brings an estimated 225 new jobs to Santa Clara.

Highlights of the new store include:

TAP ROOM

Beer and Wine on tap – 16 taps feature local beers including brews from Camino Brewing Company, Santa Clara Brewing Company, and even Whole Foods Market’s own brewery in the San Jose Store. National favorites and wine on tap will be available as well.

Signature Menu by Melissa King – Top Chef finalist Melissa King designed many of the items on the Tap Room menu, including the Seoul Burger with kimchi, arugula, and sesame-gochujang aioli; Tokyo Burger, with shiitake mushrooms, greens, caramelized onions, and yuzu miso aioli; Lemongrass Meatballs; Chicken Karaage; Gomae-Spinach Sesame Salad; Enoki Bacon (Enoki mushrooms wrapped in bacon and finished with togarashi); and simple Zucchini Rounds.

THE SPECIALTY DEPARTMENT

Chromatic Coffee & Camino Brewing Company Collaboration Brew – The star of this store’s beer set is 22-ounce bottles of Chromatic Coffee and Camino Brewing Company’s Café Con Leche coffee stout. Whole FoodsMarket Santa Clara will be the only place to snag bottles of the tasty collaboration brew through the fall. Guests can browse among a large curated selection of international, national, local, and micro brews, too.

IN THE AISLES

Local product selection – Some of the local products customers will find on shelves include:

Rabbit’s Foot Meadery (Santa Clara Valley)

Frontier Bites (San Jose) – nutrient-dense snacks

Uncie Ros’s (Santa Cruz) – New York-style wood-fired pizza

Small Bees Honey (Los Gatos)

Stueve Biodynamic and Organic Pasture-Raised Eggs (Oakdale)

Camino Brewing Company (San Jose)

Chromatic Coffee (Santa Clara)

Bonny Doon Vineyards (Davenport)

Ridge Vineyards (Cupertino)

More Vegan, Gluten Free, and Paleo options than ever before – The Produce section will house Whole FoodsMarket’s standard selection of top quality fruits and vegetables, as well as an expanded value added set with zucchini noodles, coleslaw mixes, stir fry veggie kits and ready-to-nosh platters. In the Bakery, Sugar Plum cookies are vegan, gluten free, and GMO free; they’re just one of the vegan and gluten free brands the store will sell. The Meat department will offer bacon cured without sugar, and in Prepared Foods customers will always find plenty of plant-strong items on the hot and salad bars.

Imperfect Produce – As part of Whole Foods Market’s ongoing commitment to reduce food waste, the company will feature its partnership with Imperfect Produce at the Santa Clara Store. Guests will find specially-packaged “ugly” fruits and veggies like potatoes and apricots on sale at great prices. Historically, small, misshapen, or otherwise cosmetically-flawed produce never makes it to market, but Bay Area startup Imperfect Produce and Whole Foods Market are helping it see its way to the shelf.

Whole Body natural makeup and body care – Tiger Nuts are the nutrient-dense superfoods are taking the fitness world by storm, and customers can find a new Tiger Nut Smoothie Mix in the Whole Body department. There will also be an expanded lifestyles section with aromatherapy infusers, yoga gear, organic and responsible clothing lines, and plenty of candles and books. This complements the store’s regular selection of natural makeup and body care lines like Andalou Naturals, Juice Beauty, Dr. Hauschka, Mineral Fusion, and Pacifica.

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J-Pop Summit is Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24th at Fort Mason Center’s Festival Pavilion, located at 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94123.

This year, J-POP SUMMIT attendees will be able to experience a vibrant 2-Day celebration of Japanese pop-influenced culture including edgy fashion events, pop art exhibits, live music, a technology summit and display, and interactive activates, accented by ramen vendors, sake-tasting, and additional attractions also highlighted by celebrity Guests of Honor. Full details on 2016 J-POP SUMMIT are available at: www.J-POP.com.

A variety of affordable ticket options and V.I.P packages will give J-POP SUMMIT attendees the maximum amount of flexibility to customize a memorable festival experience. Adult single-day passes start at only $25.00 each; 2-day passes start at only $40.00 each. Ticket details are available at www.J-POP.com/Tickets.

About J-POP SUMMIT
J-POP SUMMIT is one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, held every summer in San Francisco, CA. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, fashion, film, art, games, tech-innovations, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a landing platform for new trends from Japan. 

Official website: www.j-pop.com
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JPOPSUMMIT/featured

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FAME - Fashion Art Music Exhibition

A street culture marketplace by the people and for ALL the people.

Founded in 2010, FAME is an event that strives to connect the fashion, art, and music counterculture communities under one roof to exhibit the work of passionate and respected artists, open minds, and challenge stereotypes.

WHEN
Saturday, July 30, 2016 from 8:00 PM to 11:59 PM (PDT)

WHERE
Mexican Heritage Plaza - 1700 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, CA 95116

Tickets here
Facebook here

Yalla Mediterranean Offers Free Meal to Warriors Fans - Monday June 13 - Fremont

UPDATE:

It came to my attention yesterday after the promotion period already passed that this was actually a BOGO deal, not complimentary. I used the text that was given to me by the PR firm. At the time I posted this, Yalla's FB page did not have any posts for the offer so I did not see the details.  I apologize for anyone who felt misled by this post.

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Yalla Mediterranean, a polished, authentic fast-casual concept with seven locations across California and headquartered in the Bay Area, will offer a special complimentary wrap, salad or plate between 3-6PM on Monday June 13th for guests wearing Golden State Warriors gear.

Events, Openings, Announcements - June 2016

NEGRONI WEEK at Bourbon Steak

June 6-12

Photo from Bourbon Steak

Bourbon Steak Santa Clara A unique evolution of Michael Mina’s award-winning, signature steakhouse, Bourbon Steak at Levi’s® Stadium is in keeping with the concept’s origins. The high-end, classic steakhouse is celebrating Negroni Week with two special cocktails:  The Discreet Charm (Beefeater Gin, Punt E Mes, Carpano Antica, Dash Orange Bitters) and Suze Q (Hendricks Gin, Suze, Alessio Vermouth). Each cocktail is priced at $14 and $1 of every cocktail sold will be donated to Ladies of the Empire.

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STARBIRD - Order through your App drive through restaurant

Chicken and the Egg

Pollo Panchito Taco

INTRODUCING:

STARBIRD

A new generation of American dining starts with Starbird, a super premium fast food restaurant transforming the traditional drive-thru experience in Silicon Valley

With the nation’s first super premium fast food concept, accessibility is now at your fingertips. Starbird reimagines the traditional drive-thru with the removal of the car queue and the addition of mobile ordering and payment.  Guests download the app and navigate through the sleek and easy to use interface to place an order from anywhere.  Select “I’m here!” upon arrival and pull into one of the numbered parking spots; a server delivers the order within five minutes. Guests can also park for an experience in the dining room or on the outdoor patio.

“Our lives and our expectations have changed dramatically since the advent of the original drive thru. With Starbird, we’re adapting to the new needs of our tech-savvy and culinary-conscious community. We’re changing the traditional fast food landscape with new expectations, new standards, and new ideals for quick service dining,” says Noveshen. “Flavor and convenience need to come first. We tested over 100 different chicken preparations before we found this perfect crispy chicken recipe.”

Distinct menu elements include local Petaluma Farms chicken that is hand-cut, hand-battered, and small-batch fried; freshly cracked organic and cage free eggs; and rolls baked in house. Starbird also offers Equator coffee that is ground and brewed to order. The wholesome menu also features bold and modern flavors with items including:

Breakfast (Served until 10:30 a.m.):

Chicken & the Egg Sandwich with crispy chicken, egg, organic American cheese, and bacon on a house baked roll ($4.50)

Maple Bacon Breakfast Taco with crispy chicken, egg, bacon, and maple aioli in a corn tortilla ($3.75)

Lunch/Dinner (Served 10:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.):

Free Range Ranch Sandwich with crispy chicken, tangy slaw, bacon, pimento cheese, and Greek yogurt ranch on a house baked roll ($6.95)

Chicken Chop Salad with crispy chicken, tomatoes, roasted corn, avocado, pepitas, crispy tortillas, cotija, cilantro, and chipotle lime dressing ($8.95)

Buffalo, Red, White & Bleu Taco with crispy chicken, bleu cheese slaw, green onions, and buffalo sauce in a corn tortilla ($3.50)

Beverages:

Housemade Seasonal Lemonade and Seasonal Fruit Iced Tea ($2.25-$3.50)

Ground and Brewed to Order Equator Coffee ($2.75-$3.50)

Dessert:

Starbird Drumstick with a housemade chocolate-dipped cone, Three Twins vanilla ice cream, rolled in a choice of crushed toffee or almonds ($3.75)

Starbird is also taking mentorship and career development seriously with personal one-on-one training for employees in addition to more comprehensive programs available for those looking to kick-start a long-term career with the company. “We’re creating a world where opportunities in the restaurant industry are the path to a better future, where our restaurants empower the communities they serve and where our version of ‘fast food’ breeds positivity and joy,” says Noveshen.

Located at 1241 El Camino Real, Starbird is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.with breakfast served until 10:30am. Orders are accepted in-store and from the mobile app. For more information and news on Starbird, visit www.starbirdchicken.com and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

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GLASSHOUSE POP UP RESTAURANT

June 16 at 7PM

Photo from Glasshouse Pop Up

Photo from Glasshouse Pop Up

Chef Matt Close brings his culinary expertise to meet the tongue tingling pleasures of Lagunitas finest brews. Serving 8 courses in a relaxed atmosphere, inside and outside the delightful GlassHouse in downtown San Jose. A portion of the proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society

Tickets are $75 which include 8 succulent entrees, 2 desserts, and 4 @Lagunitsbeer pairings. All additional Beer Sales Proceeds will go to The American Cancer Society, and there will be a full (cash) bar. We have a guest DJ to announce soon, and would like your help to share and come out for a really fun evening.

GlassHouse Popup Facebook

GlassHousePopUp.Com

Pre-sale Tickets for Ina Garten: Barefoot Contessa in Cupertino in November

Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa from the Food Network cooking show is coming to Cupertino in November to promote her newest cookbook, Make It Ahead. Read the press release below for more details and an exclusive link to pre-sale tickets!

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Ina Garten: Barefoot Contessa

Flint Center for the Performing Arts

November 18th

Tickets on-sale Friday, May 16th

INA GARTEN, the country’s most beloved culinary icon, author of eight New York 

Times bestselling cookbooks and host of the popular Emmy- and James Beard Award-

winning Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics show on Food Network, is coming to Cupertino on November 18th

Joined by local moderator Tori Ritchie, Ina will share stories that bring you behind the 

scenes of life in the Hamptons: filming Back to Basics, writing bestselling cookbooks 

and enjoying food with friends and family. An audience Q&A will directly follow the 

interview at Flint Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30pm. 

Tickets (starting at $39.75 plus applicable service charges) go on-sale Friday, May 16th 

at 10am at ticketmaster.com, 1.800.745.3000, and the Flint Center Box Office. 

Ina’s eagerly-anticipated ninth cookbook, MAKE IT AHEAD: A Barefoot Contessa 

Cookbook delivers her top make-ahead recipes and invaluable tips, making meal-

planning easier than ever--whether for the week ahead, or for a special meal. 

Ina Garten’s Food Network show, Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics, is now in its 11th 

season on Food Network and Ina’s previous eight cookbooks have all been New York 

Times bestsellers. Ina lives in East Hampton, New York, with her husband, Jeffrey. Visit 

her at www.BarefootContessa.com. 

Cupertino local Tori Ritchie, and moderator of the live show, has been working in the 

food biz for over 25 years as a cookbook author, magazine editor, free-lance writer, and 

occasional TV host. She has written dozens of cookbooks, has hosted 91 episodes of 

Ultimate Kitchens on Food Network, led a reality cooking show on the web called “In 

the Kitchen with Tori Ritchie”, and did a series on CBS The Early Show called the “5-

Minute Cooking School” with Hannah Storm.

Ina Garten: Barefoot Contessa

Flint Center for the Performing Arts - Cupertino

November 18th • 7:30pm

PRE-SALE ACCESS!

Pre-sale begins Tuesday, May 13th at 10am PST, ends Thursday, May 15th at 10pm PST.

(General public on-sale starts Friday, May 16th 10am MST).

Pre-Sale Link: http://www.ticketmaster.com/ina-garten-cupertino-california-11-18-2014/event/1C004C9094986184?artistid=1855281&majorcatid=10005&minorcatid=0

Enter Password: INA

South Bay Special Menus for Mother's Day

If you are looking for places to take your family to on Mother's Day this weekend, here are a 3 South Bay restaurants with special menus available.

The Sea by Alexander’s Steakhouse

Palo Alto, CA

Chef Yu Min Lin has crafted a special $45 prix fixe menu for the holiday with dishes such as the classic Hamachi Shots and Lobster Scrambled Eggs with tarragon, lemon, and parmesan. For dessert, guests can enjoy the creations of Pastry Chef Dan Huynh like the Chocolate Gateaux with vanilla crème, apricot, and cherry.

Restaurant 1833

Monterey, CA

On Sunday, May 11, 2014 Restaurant 1833 will open early and host a special Mother’s Day Brunch with a three-course menu for $55. Located in the historic California landmark, the Stokes Adobe house, guests can enjoy dishes from New Executive Chef Abby Burk with selections such as Asparagus and Leek Quiche with gruyere, goat cheese and chives; Booker’s Bourbon and Vanilla French Toast topped with marinated white peaches, whipped crème fraiche, and toasted almonds; The Fried Chicken served with cornbread and rosemary waffles, chicories and roasted grape jus, and a Stroll Through the Cupcake Garden for a sweet ending with an assortment of cupcake flavors including carrot cake, vanilla bean, strawberry & chocolate cream, and lemon meringue . As always, available for a $6 add on are 1833’s signature Bacon Biscuits served with a sausage gravy, along with other sides available. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling (831) 643-1833.

Fogo de Chao

On Mother’s Day, May 11, Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse in San Jose will offer lively and elegant dining that is guaranteed to satisfy the whole family and put a smile on every mother’s face. Moms who dine on Mother’s Day (May 11), will receive a Mother’s Day Card, good for a complimentary lunch or dinner towards their next visit*.The Mother’s Day menu will feature the restaurant’s extensive variety of delectable, fire-roasted meats that are specially carved to each guest’s preference. Diners can enjoy selections such as the house specialty picanha sirloin, filet mignon, ribeye, lamb chops, chicken wrapped in bacon, and pork ribs, to name a few, or try the newly-introduced lighter seafood selection. Additionally, Fogo offers a colorful gourmet salad and sides bar with an abundance of fresh and seasonal choices, and Southern Brazilian side dishes such as pão de queijo (warm cheese bread), crispy hot polenta, and caramelized bananas are served family style. A tempting dessert menu, creative and classic cocktails, and an award-winning wine list complement the dining experience. Families are invited to take advantage of special children’s pricing. Pricing is $51.50 per person and Mother’s Day is being celebrated from 11:30am – 9:00pm. Special pricing is available for children 12 and under. Call (408) 244.7001   

Introducing Cococlectic - A Craft Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Community

Looking for a Valentine's Day gift for your special someone? Or what's the other name for the pesky February 14th holiday? S.A.D. - Single's Awareness Day

Introducing, Cococlectic, a craft Bean-to-Bar club featuring artisanal cocoa creations. Cococlectic is a chocolate community started by Doreen Leong, a San Franciscan with a strong penchant for craft chocolates. In a few weeks, I will have the chance to review this company and its chocolates. You can count on a thorough review and write up on Cococlectic's offerings. 

For now, you can check out their membership levels starting at $34 per month for 4 dark chocolate bars a month. Cococlectic is currently offering a Valentine's Day special. From now until February 9th, you will receive a $10 gift card and hand written love note with a one time purchase for $34. Check out their website for more details and look forward to my review in February. 

Happening This Week - 9/16

 Here's what I'm up to this week:

Covering Dishcrawl Campbell
Tickets are sold out but you can go to the Campbell Encore event. The encore event only has 7 tickets left! Get tickets here.

Managing Taste Trekkers Instagram

follow @tastetrekkers

Attending Taste Trekkers Conference

I met Seth Resler about a year ago to record a podcast for Mystery Meet about the dining scene in the South Bay. Seth asked me to be in a small piece for his kickstarter campaign earlier this year for the Taste Trekkers Conference about Culinary Tourism. It's finally here. It's happening, and it's a big deal...in Providence, at least. Providence, RI is the little city that could, in the shadow of Boston. Lots of love and support from Providence for the Conference and from the Conference to Providence. San Joseans, does this sound like a city you know, in the shadow of another city? Also, Seth is a San Jose native and a DJ on KEZR, 106.5. Tune in to hear him DJ.

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 This weekend, Phil and I shot a mother-son session for my sister and our nephew, Matthew. Sometimes I can't believe this lady is a mother now but here's the proof. He's a very a jolly, easy going baby. He's easily amused so we had no challenges getting a smile out of him. But he's really wiggly and probably going to be a hyper little rugrat in a year. Adorable.