Guide - 234

Sweetdragon Baking Company’s specialty pies, galettes, award-winning brittles, and cookies are served fresh from their walk up window. Order online or by phone at sweetdragonbaking.com to nab your favorite flavors for a weekend get-together! Pick up either from her San Jose kitchen, College of San Mateo Farmers’ Market, or at Chromatic Coffee.

Owner Hway-ling-Hsu utilizes local sources for flour and produce like California-sourced citrus baked into seasonal lemon pies and flourless orange tortes and local ripe strawberries from Rodriguez Farms for a delectable strawberry pie. Her Pi Day apple pies are made using organic Pink Ladies and Cosmic Crisps. In the fall, her apples come from Prevedelli Farms in Watsonville. She favors a blend of their organic Mutsus and other tart apples.

Sweetdragon Baking Co. also offers double crust savory pies like chicken pot pie or steak and stout pie. You can even find vegan options. And Let’s not forget the outstanding Black Sesame Brittle that has won a Good Food Award. When you open the box, find the brittle safely sealed in something that seems like it could be an antistatic bag. How Silicon Valley!

Where to buy:
Walk-up window open Thursday to Saturday, scheduled pickups from online or phone orders are Tuesday to Saturday.
College of San Mateo Farmers' Market: Saturdays, 9am to 1pm year-round
If you need a Sunday pick up, you can order online to pick up at Chromatic Coffee.

EAT | SHOP Bakery in Mountain View

# Bakery, Sourdough, Bread, Pastries

Why We Love It: There's nothing that can beat the smell of fresh loves right out of the oven. When was the last time you heard of a bakery milling their flour on sight? We love Mac and Jamie's mission to bring back old methods to create handcrafted breads and pastries.

Visit their website for the full list of businesses and markets carrying their bread and pastries.

Grounded in a respect for nature, Sycamore Creek Vineyards & Winery chose this approach for its integrity and attentiveness. They are committed to an artisan approach, creating perfectly balanced and complex wines, primarily Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meritage Blends.

Tasting Room Hours: Wednesday-Sunday: 11am-4pm

Amenities:

 Events facilities
 Tours
 Picnic area
 Pet friendly
 Food for purchase
 Wine club

Featured Wines:

2014 Viognier – Fermented in 100% stainless, this wine is crisp and refreshing. Tempting aromas of citrus and tropical fruit on the nose lead to distinct flavors of pineapple, grapefruit and tart apples. A hint of honey at the finish leaves you craving another sip!

2014 Pinot Noir – Accents of ripe cherry and a touch of cranberry lead to aromatics of tobacco and a note of cedar. The finish reveals a touch of vanilla and spice. The fruit was harvested from vineyards in Hollister and the 2014 vintage spent nine months in French oak.

2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – With this wine, taste combinations of cassis, black cherry and cocoa. It is dense garnet in color with bold tannins. Aged for 18 months in barrel, this Cabernet has indefinite aging potential.

Available Food: Retail cheese, charcuterie, olives, crackers are available for purchase. They also offer a selection of local artisanal food products.

Affiliations: Wineries of Santa Clara Valley

TASS is a name that encompasses the experience of over 30 years working the vineyard and sharing a part in the mysterious transformation of grapes into wine. And the wine, with each sip, will reveal its own season's story, its own creation. 

Tasting Room Hours: Weekends: 12pm-5pm

Amenities:

 Picnic area
 Family friendly
 Pet friendly
 Wine club

Affiliations: Wineries of Santa Clara Valley

DRINK | WINE World-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir winery offering tastings in Los Gatos historic stone wine cellars with onsite Wine Bar 107—an onsite food and drink venue—and year-round wine education courses at Testarossa University.

Outdoor and Indoor reservations | Thurs – Sun 12pm-6pm

Curbside wine pickup is available | Thurs – Sun 12pm-5:30pm

Amenities:

 Wine 107 Bar: Open to a public wine bar with food menu.

 Onsite wine tastings, now available on terraced patios in a beautiful outdoor hills setting.

 Wine club memberships and an onsite store

Testarossa.com

Thomas Fogarty Winery and Vineyards offers a wide selection of California-grown wines, and practices organic and sustainable farming methods in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Tasting Room: Reservations Required

fogartywinery.com | lexingtonwines.com

Waxwing Wine Cellars uses traditional methods to craft limited-production Pinot Noir, Syrah, Riesling, Rosé and sparkling wine from cool and windy coastal vineyards.

Tasting Room Hours: Occasional Fridays: 6pm-9pm

Amenities:

 Events facilities
 Tours
 Family friendly
 Pet friendly
 Food for purchase (sometimes)
 Wine club

Featured Wines:

Waxwing Pinot Noir Rosé – Accolades: 93 Points, Prince of Pinot. A delicate apricot color in the glass, this wine's nose is alive and sustained in the glass and offers aromas of apricot, strawberry, cherry, blood orange and a floral note. The delicious flavors of cherry, strawberry, white peach and apricot have good weight and are bright and lifted. The best domestic rosé you'll experience in quite a while.

Waxwing Flocchini Syrah – Accolades: 93 Points, Wine Enthusiast. This is a lovely, light-hearted yet complex 100% varietal wine that shows the beauty of a lighter touch and cooler climate. Cedar, herb and compost provide a wildness next to aromas of feral mushroom. Intriguing all the way around, this wine finishes in a burst of white pepper.

À la Volée Sparkling Wine – The eagerly anticipated new À la Volée sparkling wine made from Riesling grapes is crisp, fresh and terribly tasty. Winemaker Scott disgorges each bottle by hand to expel the yeast cells for a fun and unique California sparkling wine. The grapes are grown at Tondré Grapefield in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Affiliations: Mid Peninsula Wine Trail, Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Passport Days

Zoetic Wines is a micro-boutique winery specializing in small lot, single-vineyard designate Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from highly sought-after vineyards in California.

Summer 2019 Tasting Dates:  June 14  •  July 12  •  (Closed in Aug)  •  Sept 13

Tasting Room Hours:  2nd Friday of each month, 5:30pm-8:30pm or by appointment.

415-857-3139  |  info@zoeticwines.com

ZoeticWines.com

Amenities: 

 Events facilities
 Tours
 Picnic area
 Family friendly
 Pet friendly

Featured Wines: 

2014 Hop Kiln Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley – Carrying on the tradition of the 2013 vintage, this wine is a blend of both 777 and Pommard clones, and there's definitely a lot going on here! This wine was aged in a combination of 30% one-year used French oak barrels and 70% older French oak barrels for 11 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered in August 2014. It is dark ruby red in color and has flavors of cherries, raspberries, mocha and a touch of spice on the nose. The wine is medium-bodied yet intense as ripe tannins provide structure for a long, complex finish.

2014 "Block 21" Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley – Accolades: 93 Points, Wine Enthusiast. Using 100% Pommard clone from vineyard block 21, this Pinot is truly unique! The aromas and flavors that developed during the aging process were stellar, and the winemakers didn't want to mask it in any way. Therefore, they kept it as is with only one barrel of this wine being bottled, so quanities are extremely limited. It was aged 100% in a new French oak barrel for 11 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered in August 2014. Dark garnet in color, the wine has flavors of cola, black plum, blackberries and dark cherries with exquisite aromas of roasted nuts and spice on the nose. This wine is full-bodied and intense and has a long, complex finish. Definitely a wine to get lost in!

2014 "Complesso" Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley – Complesso, or "complex," is exactly how to describe this wine. In addition to the neutral French oak and stainless steel, about 50% of this Sauvignon Blanc was aged in new French oak. Additionally, this wine has a bit of Viognier added, allowing it to stand up to its name. It is medium dark straw in color, and tropical fruit flavors of lychee, papaya and quinch are combined with French vanilla and toasted almond aromas. This wine is super silky with medium body and has a crisp, balanced finish.

Affiliations: Mid Peninsula Wine Trail

SHOP | BUY Contemporary, luxury furniture that explores the relationship between indoor and outdoor living.

terraoutdoor.com

Why We Love It: It's not all about great designs at Terra, their business is committed to green practices and working with supplies to source recycled products and minimize the impact on the environment. It's comfortable furniture that's feel-good all around!

EAT | DINE Pizzeria featuring Italian eats & Neapolitan pies alongside wine list & full bar.

Why We Love It: Southern Italy brought to Palo Alto. Order the signature pizza which comes with San Marzano tomato sauce, fior di latte mozzarella and cured spicy sausage. 

EAT | DRINK | DINE

American Gastropub in downtown San Jose

The Farmer's Union is a rustic gastropub featuring seasonal ingredient-driven selections and hearty alehouse cuisine alongside a 40+ craft beer list and classic cocktails.

* Dine Downtown San Jose 2022 Participating Restaurant July 21-31  | See special offers here

EAT | DINE

Inventive fine dining seafood restaurant with focus and attention to seasonal ingredients, creative menus and sustainably-raised selections.

Why We Love It: We have a chef crush on Yu Min Lin, whose cooking combines Japanese and French cuisine. The foodstyling almost makes each dish too pretty to eat and the cocktails are just as noteworthy. Experience the sea at The Sea!

(Sponsored)

Thyme, an intimate Palo Alto neighborhood restaurant, inspires customers to relax and enjoy the simpler things in life - good food, a glass of wine, and a chance to unwind with friends. Their unique ‘fresh to table’ concept means that California inspired dishes are cooked to order using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Come in and taste the difference.

Thyme’s dining room is also available for private parties and office events in the form of a full restaurant buyout. They will work with you to plan your event with a unique menu for up to 25 guests.

Dinner served Tues-Sat, 5pm-10pm

Contact - 650. 862. 3354

EAT | DINE Relaxed, eco-chic chain serving health-conscious fare and vegan options, plus cocktails.

|  Why We Love It: Serves healthy, fresh food with the flavor and visual appeal of upscale cuisine. Indoor and outdoor dining offered in a light, open space with an enthusiastic, high energy staff. A broad menu of seasonal selections–including gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan food options– changes quarterly to take advantage of seasonally available produce in the region.

Rooted in the principles of Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet, each True Food Kitchen location ties its health-inspired menu and ingredients to the surrounding local region.  This location located in the Palo Alto Shopping Center gives homage to the Bay Area and California farms and seasons.  Includes gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan food options.

One of our #localloveESV tasters writes:  "Great food, beautiful space and lighting with energetic, enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff.  Don't miss the Pan-Roasted Chicken with maple-glazed squash, cannellini beans, swiss chard, and apple rosemary jus. And the yummy Squash Pie for dessert is gluten and dairy-free, but you wouldn't know it. Delicious! "

EAT | DINE Wood-fired pizza, small plates, wine & beer.

Why We Love It: It's all about the crust. Hand crafted, wood fired pizzas and delectable small plates, from exquisite burrata to pork meatballs and mushroom toast. 

EAT | DINE Italian fare & cocktails presented in a relaxed, warm environment with weekend live music & a patio.

Why We Love It: From Calabria to Campania, Rome to Naples, and Potenza to Cosenza, the many culinary flavors of Southern Italy’s regions find their way to VIA UNO’s cucina daily. They are proud to share with you recipes from their families, friends and chefs, both traditional and contemporary.

EAT | DINE Restaurant blending California’s seasonal bounty of fresh food with classical French techniques. Supports local farmers and organic and sustainable ingredients, with a world-class wine selection.

Visit our website viognierrestaurant.com and make your resevations today!

EAT | DINE Seasonal Californian cuisine, classic cocktails & artisanal spirits.

|  Why We Love It: Artisan food and signature craft cocktails that change with the seasons. From original creations and interpretations of classics and homages to fellow artistic mixologists, the cocktails are simple and made from four to five ingredients that augment the flavor of the spirits.  
-Tastemaker contributor, David Calbert

Sonoma Valley’s oldest and most award-winning olive grower, miller and producer. The Olive Press welcomes visitors and locals to enjoy acclaimed extra virgin olive oils with a commitment to quality and flavor that guides every step from orchard to bottle. Offering a rich array of on-site pressed selections from delicate to robust, perfect for every palate.

Buy online, or visit the beautiful groves and grounds for an olive oil tasting or unique shopping experience featuring the best selection of their olive oils, and beauty and crafted foods made with their olive oil's golden elixir.  And of course, the Olive Press retail shops offer other cooking, home, and gifts items.  

We are happy to announce that both locations are open!  Time for a visit.

Note: Onsite tasting and retail locations will follow all safety and sanitation guidelines established by Sonoma County and the State of California, including social distancing and face mask requirements and we look forward to seeing you.

Urban Chic

There aren’t too many places where neighbors offer the bounty from their backyards to their favorite local restaurant. But that’s just what happens at The Table, a rustic-chic eatery serving fresh, seasonal fare for brunch and dinner.

Brian Nicholas, general manager and co-founder of The Table, says neighbors bring in paper bags full of just-picked Meyer lemons that are turned into some of the house-made juices, syrups and purées for the creative cocktails served at the restaurant.

The philosophy behind the restaurant makes sense. Some of life’s most memorable occasions and conversations take place around a table, where good food, good friends and conversation mix. Here the vibe is energetic and casual, yet the food is sophisticated in its simplicity and use of carefully selected ingredients and produce from local farms, dairies and ranches.

Shop and eat seasonal, whole, nutritient-rice foods and fresh produce that support small farmers and the local economy. Certified farmers markets at Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Willow Glen, Campbell, Cambian Park and California Avenue in Palo Alto.

OPEN | Year-Round

Saturdays from 9:00am–1:00pm

A market presented by Urban Village Farmers Market Association, UVFM.org

Nestled under the 680 and 101 freeways is a community farm selling fresh produce harvested weekly by staff and volunteers. Stop by and sample some truly locally grown vegetables, and support Veggielution’s mission of growing and providing affordable fresh, healthy food to all.

EAT | DINE Bringing the rustic charm of Italy to the Silicon Valley with food that warms the soul. 

Savor modern cuisine viewed through an Italian lens focused on fresh made pasta, pizza and bread comprised of traditional Italian favorites including modern interpretations executed to the highest standards with locally-sourced ingredients. The Italian and surrounding region wine program compliment the cuisine, bringing a refined European taste to the heart of Silicon Valley.

Vina Enoteca offers online ordering, private dining options and a wine club located at the Stanford Barn. (Note: Due to Covid19, the full service restaurant and bar is temporarily closed.)

HOURS

Monday - Saturday 11AM–2:30PM Lunch

Monday - Sunday    5 PM - 9PM  Dinner

Brunch served on Sundays

Why We Love It: Innovative Italian fare at its freshest with great wine pairings, fresh ingredients and welcoming staff. If offered, sample the roasted beet salad!