It’s still a tough climate to open a new restaurant in San Jose, but that didn’t stop a handful of notable newcomers from opening their doors.
Lifestyle News - page 32
As proof that the Grinch is not just some imaginary Dr. Seuss character, see Exhibit A: Sandra Lizbeth Contreras-Velazquez. Just a week before Christmas, San Jose police announced that in the lead-up to the holiday season, Contreras-Velazquez was allegedly stealing the jewelry of others. But not just anyone with a gold chain. Contreras-Velazquez is suspected of tricking children into giving away their jewelry so she could sell it for profit.
The San Jose Police department cracked down on the city’s largest and most organized graffiti tagging crew this week, announcing the arrests of four suspected members of the HYSU tagging crew. HYSU, which stands for “Have You Seen Us,” is reportedly responsible for over 50 percent of the graffiti around San Jose, and the group recently garnered the attention of the SJPD and other city officials for their “bombing runs,” which were increasing in frequency and intensity.
Silicon Valley touts its tech-based economy and spirit of innovation, but the region has been a backwater when it comes to something so basic as securing a healthy source of local food. But thankfully that could be changing. Last month the San Jose City Council adopted “Envision San Jose 2040,” a 30-year general plan that includes local food.
New legislation that goes into effect Jan. 1 will force public schools to begin taking steps to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender contributions in lesson plans, but conservatives promise a legal battle.
San Jose’s Felipe Hernandez has a fondness for Oaxacan food. He grew up in Mexico City with great street foods like pambazos, gorditas and tacos, but it was the cooking of his late mother’s native Oaxaca that he loved best. He opened Monte Alban with his aunt to showcase his mother’s cooking.
Italian food has been part of San Jose’s restaurant scene for so long it might as well be called American food. These restaurants showcase the more is more style of San Jose Italian food.
Oenophiles who consume $230 magnums at Silicon Valley’s top restaurants may be unaware that one “rock star” winemaker currently finds himself in hot water. This past October, in a rare instance of a local politician speaking out publicly against a member of the North Bay’s influential winemaking community, Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo lambasted winemaker Paul Hobbs for uprooting hundreds of trees in Sebastopol and adding one more open wound to a Russian River watershed already impacted by erosion and sediment. According to several Silicon Valley sommeliers, Paul Hobbs wines are among the most popular in the area’s top-tier restaurants.
Few people have witnessed any form of closed-track racing and pondered the question, “Why would anyone ever do this?” Generally, the sight of race cars zooming around corners produces a sense of excitement—along with a feeling of “I wanna do that!” Racing is infections, and few can withstand its temptation.
Closed-track racing is, however, unattainable for average folks. It is very expensive and requires a tremendous investment of time. This is why most people opt to purchase an aftermarket muffler and some faux-carbon trim for their daily drive instead of investing in a real race car. Luckily, the recent opening of K1 Speed in Santa Clara, at 295 Mead Ave., can provide one’s inner Michael Schumacher a chance to let loose around a winding track.
One of my longtime culinary pursuits is a hunt for the perfect hummus. I’ve pared a long list of contending recipes down to a worthy few and tried countless variations on my two or three favorites. Whether or not I’ve mastered the art of the chickpea dip is an open question. But I have unlocked, I believe, the science.
