While fresh ingredients and elegant glassware make a cocktail shine, one crucial element is often overlooked: ice. There are a few hurdles to overcome when preparing ice for cocktails, but it is the key to a stunning final product. I’ll talk about why it’s important,…
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Morgan Hill-based Lightpost Winery pays tribute to the power of California-grown pinot noir with four new wines, made from grapes harvested in some of this state’s best-known pinot regions—including San Luis Obispo, Sonoma and Santa Cruz counties. Together, the quartet speak to their respective terroirs…
North or South? It’s a question worth asking when in the mood for Indian cuisine. For those diners who may be unaware there is a difference, a new restaurant in Santa Clara offers a sumptuous crash course on Indian fare hailing from the tropical regions…
The non-profit booster organization dedicated to championing wine and winemaking in the South Bay is making a big change to its collective winery membership program. The Wineries of Santa Clara Valley plans to discontinue their seasonal programs—the spring and fall passports—in favor of a year-long…
It doesn’t matter whether one is a Valentine’s Day ninja or seriously challenged in the date-planning department—it never hurts to pick up a cheat-sheet for inspiration. Here at Metro, La Fondue in Saratoga, The GrandView Restaurant in San Jose and Manresa in Los Gatos regularly take…
San Jose’s rapid rate of growth is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, mixed-use high-rises, the spread of public murals and a burgeoning craft-beer scene are turning our city center into the kind of downtown one would expect from the self-proclaimed “Capital of Silicon…
Even by the somewhat ephemeral nature of the pop-up kitchen, Het Say can prove especially elusive. However, those who seek out the work of husband-wife duo Duyan and Hieu Le will be rewarded with a menu that combines seasonal California ingredients with flavors plucked straight…
Santa Clara Valley wines had an excellent year at the 2020 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The largest competition of its kind in North America—with over 6,700 entries this year—numerous South County winemakers took home numerous medals. One of the 66 wines in the sweepstakes…
I’ll be blunt: You’ve probably never had a real martini. Like the beloved hamburger, the martini is universally loved but instantly modified. The tradition of customizing could have more to do with pop culture and less to do with preference. Let’s look at what a…
Silicon Valley’s ramen scene is in full swing. Although it was once difficult to find a decent bowl in the South Bay—outside of the neighborhood surrounding Mitsuwa Marketplace on San Jose’s West Side—seriously sumptuous noodle shops now proliferate the 408. While a strong group of…
