Caleb Orozco was 15 when he cracked a couple ribs. It was nothing major, the kind of injury any kid might sustain during their high school years. But there was a difference between Orozco and the other high school kids. “I had a fight coming…
Articles by Kathy Manlapaz
It is shamefully reductive to boil an ethnic cuisine down to just one or two line items. Curry is just but of the many pungent spices found in traditional Indian food; the Japanese gourmand knows more than ramen and sushi; and they don’t even serve…
Strip malls are the great equalizers when it comes to suburban dining. The upside is that they often contain multitudes. Take, for instance, the Mercado Shopping Center in Santa Clara. There’s a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, a Chinese chain, two burger joints, Starbucks and a pho…
Craft breweries are everywhere in Silicon Valley these days. Take a spin through any one of the South Bay’s myriad business parks, and it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to find a cohort of hop-heads fussing over a new lager, pilsner or ale. Until the arrival…
A throng of people snakes around the interior of the Valley Fair Mall, waiting in a line that’s well-over over 90 minutes long. What could they possibly be waiting for? A celebrity autograph? The latest gadget from Apple? The answer, as it turns out, is…
At a typical Mexican restaurant, diners may reasonably expect their plate of enchiladas to come with a side of rice and beans and perhaps a “salad”—which is, of course, to say, a smattering of iceberg lettuce, a slice of tomato and a dollop of sour…
Finding restaurants that cater exclusively to the vegan diet, while simultaneously pleasing a non-vegan crowd, is a challenge. But HeyO! Eats in downtown Mountain View increases the number of dependable vegan restaurants by one. Co-founders Courtney McCoy and Zachary Anderson have set up their shop…
Genuine heroes has long been one of the best kept secrets in the San Jose sandwich game. Their house-cured meats, locally made bread and quality cheese and veggie selections made for one of the best sandwiches I’d ever had. Unfortunately, they closed last June—likely due…
California’s beloved fruit, the Blenheim apricot, will arrive in local markets by mid-July. The Blenheim has the power to enchant adults and children alike with its gorgeous color, sweet perfume and well-balanced sweet and tart flavors. Jams, nectar, syrup, pies and pastry reach perfection with…
The steaming bowl’s aroma rises before me. Heady notes of roasted beef intermingle with more subtle spices—ginger and star anise. A pile of chopped, bright red raw meat floats atop the redolent broth. The cleavers clack on the kitchen’s cutting boards. The cooks at Pho…
