The Blue Door Opens at Westgate Center

New restaurant/bar offers American fare with Greek and Mediterranean flair

San Jose, CA – Familiar comfort food and dishes elevated for the sophisticated palate are on the menu at The Blue Door Restaurant and Bar at 1520 Saratoga Ave. at Westgate Center.
The restaurant opened in early February and serves an extensive menu of American classics, often with a touch of Greek flavors, accompaniments and ingredients, a nod to the owners’ heritage and food traditions.

The Blue Door features favorites such as meatloaf, pastas, steaks and burgers, all with signature touches. For diners searching for more innovative choices, the restaurant serves such dishes as grilled salmon with mustard greens, braised short ribs with orzo and mizithra cheese and a kale and quinoa salad with Parmesan-sunflower seed cracklings.

Five dining areas are designed with unique features and coloration, creating experiences that range from cozy and family-friendly and to quietly intimate. The 7,500-square foot space seats 170. An outdoor patio accommodates 80 more diners.

A bar area serves cocktails, beer, wine and small bites, including vodka-cured salmon bruschetta with tzatziki, tomato and pickled onions, lamb sliders and soutzoukakia--lamb meatballs in spicy garlic tomato sauce.

“The Blue Door Restaurant and Bar is a new and exciting addition to Westgate Center,” said Collette Navarrette, Director of Marketing for Westgate Center. “The sunny outdoor patio, modern and elegant interiors and comprehensive menu offer the community a vibrant culinary experience."
The owners  are restaurateurs Sylvia and Peter Foundas whose family members are longtime Bay Area restaurant entrepreneurs, immigrants from Greece in the 1950s. The Foundas restaurants include the Pinecrest Diner, an institution in San Francisco, and the Boulevard Café in Daly City.

The restaurant was inspired by the warmth and beauty of Costa Navarino, one of the Foundas’ favorite resorts in southern Greece.

Blue is the color associated with the country’s flag and waters and the blue door is especially significant: wives of fishermen painted their doors blue believing it protected their husbands from harm as they went to sea and would bring them home safely.

The Blue Door Restaurant and Bar
Address: 1502 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129.
Executive chef: S. Michael Alsop

Opened Feb. 8, 2016. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Hours: Mon.-Thurs. and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fri. and Sat: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Website and menu: thebluedoorrestaurant.com
Phone: (408) 866-4176

Adega Restaurant Review

I was initially heartbroken when Sousa's, the only Portuguese sit-down restaurant in Silicon Valley, closed earlier this year after a 33-year run. Ordering Sousa's for special occasions was a family tradition of ours. However, it is time for a new generation of chefs to carry the torch and bring their own unique spin to Portuguese cuisine.

The restaurant was sold to husband-and-wife chef team David Costa and Jessica Carreira along with Carlos and Fernanda Carreira (Jessica's parents). Jessica was born and raised in San Jose. She studied cooking at the Cordon Bleu and then went to Portugal for three years to master Portuguese cuisine. By age 20 she became the head pastry chef at Restaurant Eleven, a Michelin-star restaurant in Lisbon. That is also where she met her husband David Costa. David had been cooking for over ten years and believes in transforming traditional dishes without destroying the original flavor. He has worked at several notable restaurants in addition to Restaurant Eleven and was the sous-chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in Lisbon.

With Adega (which means wine cellar), David and Jessica have realized their life-dream of opening their own Portuguese restaurant. There is character in every corner of the space. Much of the furniture is hand made, original tools used in wine-making are hanging on the walls, there is a traditional tile mosaic on the back wall, even the plates and dishware are imported from Portugal. True to the restaurant's name, Adega's massive collection of Portuguese wines is one of the first things you'll notice when walking in. It is immediately clear that this is not a cookie-cutter restaurant.

Before I get to the food, let me just say I am Portuguese-American and have been eating amazing home-cooked Portuguese meals for 35 years. I've visited Portugal over 20 times and have had countless amazing, authentic meals there. The dinner I had at Adega in San Jose, was easily one of the top five Portuguese meals I have ever had in my life. I think the food here is something that everyone can appreciate, even if you have never had a Portuguese dish before. This could very well be the best fine-dining restaurant in San Jose right now.

STARTERS

House-made hummus and Portuguese bread - These comes complimentary. The hummus is a unique blend and may change from one visit to the next. The marinated olives are perfect to nibble on while you browsing the menu and wine list.

Pork belly, pea puree, poached quail egg - A must-order dish! Pork belly has become very popular in the US over the last few years. This combines perfectly cooked slices of pork with an outstanding pea puree that could stand on its own. Add the quail egg and you have magic on a plate. The presentation is also gorgeous.

Sweet prawns in a buttery garlic sauce - This is a very simple dish that is exploding with flavor. I forgot to ask how long the prawns are marinaded for, but I imagine it is a very long time. These were so good that we were looking around the table to see other's reactions when they bit into the shrimp.

Rabbit terrine with pine nuts, pistachios and cous-cous salad - Rabbit is not something you see often on American tables, but it is a popular staple of Portuguese cooking. The taste is similar to chicken and is not gamey at all like other "exotic" meats. At Adega, it is prepared perfectly in a terrine mixed with nuts and each slice sits on a bed of cous-cous. The sweet sauce on the bottom is what really elevated the whole dish for me and made it all come together. If you are adventurous, you have to try this one.

Octopus salad with roasted red pepper sauce - As beautiful as this dish was, I could only try a small bite since I'm allergic to raw onion. Everyone else at the table had no problem cleaning this plate.

SOUPS

Fresh cut kale, chourico bits, cream of potato (Caldo Verde) - This is as traditional of a Portuguese soup as you can get. It tastes just as good as how my grandmother made it, but Adega dresses up the soup with a modern presentation I have never seen before. It tastes as good as it looks.

Seafood bisque, aspic of lobster & oysters - Absolutely delicious. This is as good as any soup I have ever ordered at a Michelin-star restaurant. The soup is poured over the seafood table-side.

ENTREES

Ribeye steak, crispy Iberico ham, fried egg, fried potatoes (Bife a Portuguesa) - Wow, what an amazing and fun interpretation of a Portuguese classic. Usually this is a marinated flat-iron steak topped with an egg and french fries, but Adega has put a tuxedo on this traditional dish. They use a premium Ribeye which comes medium-rare and sizzling on a hot stone (similar to Rok Bistro). You can leave it on the stone to cook to your favorite temperature and then combine it the accompaniments on the neighboring plate.

Braised beef, roasted taro root puree, sauteed spinach (Alcatra e Inhame) - Another outstanding beef plate. This one is less interactive than the Bife a Portuguesa, but combines melt-in-your-mouth beef with taro mashed potatoes and surprisingly flavorful spinach. This was one of my wife's favorites.

Sea bass cooked with potatoes, bacon, green beans - The fish was flaky, crispy, and moist all at the same time. The texture was excellent and it had the right amount of spices.

DESSERTS

Fried coconut rice pudding, passion fruit sauce, mojito sorbet (Arroz Doce Adega) - This might be the best Portuguese dessert I have ever had. It was not a traditional rice pudding like what I was expecting. You have three fried pastries filled with coconut rice and combine those with the passion fruit sauce and mojito sorbet in the middle. I could have eaten a half-dozen of these. This is another must-order item.

Flan pudding, caramel tile, caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream - This is definitely not your traditional flan. I like this version much more and my table devoured the flan in about 20 seconds.

Orange roulade cake, cream cheese, in cardamom sauce - I don't think I have ever had this before in Portuguese cooking so I have nothing to compare this to. It was sweet, decadent, and the cake was the perfect sponge for the sauces and cream cheese.

BEVERAGES

Adega has what is likely the largest collection of Portuguese wines of any restaurant outside of Portugal. Chef Jessica's parents are both in the wine industry and have used their connections to get over 200 different types of wine across multiple regions of Portugal. You will probably need some help picking a wine similar to what you are used to, but I would recommend being adventurous and trying something that you will never find anywhere else. My pick would be a "Green Wine" (Vinho Verde), which comes from one of two varietals exclusive to Portugal. The cost for these is very inexpensive and Adega has some of the best ever made.

For dessert, you can add a shot of Port, Madeira, or Moscatel to help close out a wonderful meal. They have suggested pairings for each dessert and the cost is only $5.

Adega also has a selection of Portuguese beers and sodas. If you are going non-alcoholic then I recommend the passion fruit soda.

In conclusion, you should book a reservation ASAP before the word gets out. Adega is San Jose's best shot at getting its first Michelin Star Restaurant in 2017 and is a shining example of what the next generation of San Jose restaurants could be.

Adega is open for both lunch and dinner at 1614 Alum Rock Avenue. Hours are 11:30am to 2:30pm and 6pm to 10pm Wednesday through Sunday. Parking is available behind the restaurant, across the street, and valet parking is available on weekends. You can book a table from the Adega Website.

Roots and Rye Restaurant Review

Roots and Rye (R&R) is one of the newest Santana Row restaurants. It's tucked in next to Maggiano's and Kara's Cupcakes in a space that previously housed Roux Louisiana Kitchen and Hot Tamales. I'm not a big fan of the decor, which makes the whole restaurant look like it is still under construction. However, I hear that they are going to run plants and vegetation on those exposed wood pillars which would provide a unique effect. Like their sister restaurants Straights and Sino, they have a unique restroom that is partially unisex--might as well get that out of the way now so that there are no awkward surprises ;).



They have an impressive outdoor patio space with plenty of heat lamps. R&R also features live music on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. A nice Jazz band was playing while we dined there the second time around.

So now, let's get to the good stuff... the food. They recently changed their menu to focus more on small, shareable plates that are available all day. They still have some main courses that are available after 5pm. R&R also has a long list of unique craft cocktails and bourbons.

SMALL BITES (SERVED ALL DAY)

Parmesan Fries with a 63 degree egg, fines herbs, truffle aioli - This is their signature small plate and an absolute must-try. You can either dunk the fries into the egg, or pour the egg on top of the parmesan fries. I could eat this all day.

Brussel Sprouts with parmesan, capers, red wine vinegar - Brussel sprouts are usually not my favorite side to order, but these were outstanding. The lemon zest and capers added an extra kick and help make this a perfect addition to your meal.

Roasted bone marrow with red wine braised short rib, potato pepper crostini, pickled radish - When foie gras became illegal in California, bone marrow turned into my new go-to for some extra indulgence on special occasions. The presentation, flavor, and portion size of R&R's bone marrow were all impressive. However, I will say that the first time I dined here there was foie gras on the menu, and it was excellently prepared. If I had the choice, I would go with the foie gras over bone marrow any day of the week.

BIG BITES (5PM TIL CLOSE)

Fried Petaluma Chicken with house-made apple sauce, brussel leaves, mustard caviar, pickled vegetables, apple cider jus - Excellent chicken with crispy skin exploding with flavor. They nailed this dish and the accompaniments.



Beef Short Rib with potato puree, caramelized roots, charred leeks, red wine jus - This dish was just okay. It was standard fare for short rib and did not blow my away like the chicken. I would have rather ordered two more small plates instead of this, which seem to be R&R's strong suit.



SWEETS

Fried Apple Pie with honey crisp apples, roasted quince, creme fraiche ice cream, cider reduction - Save some room for dessert, and order this! If you like apple pie, this dessert will not disappoint.



Candy Bar Tart with chocolate ganache, salted caramel, spanish peanut nougatine ice cream, sazerac caramel sauce, huckleberry compote - This is their most popular dessert and was my wife's favorite. It tastes like all of the candy bars you craved as a child melted into one.



Roots and Rye Affogato with house spun fennel ice cream, almond anise biscotti - A much better alternative that just ordering coffee at the end of your meal. I really enjoyed the cappuccino-soaked ice cream and biscotti. The coffee was a little bit too bitter for my tastes, but a regular coffee drinker should love this.

DRINKS

Churchill Downs (bourbon whiskey, strawberry aquavit, lemon, green cardamom, fever tree ginger beer) - This is one of their signature cocktails and had a very unique flavor that is difficult for me to describe. It was like drinking a flower. This is light enough on the alcohol for either gender to enjoy. This was my wife's favorite.

Goldenrod (terroir gin, herbal liquor, lemon chrysanthemum honey, absinthe, rosemary) - The taste here was even more unique than the Churchill Downs. The combination of flavors actually made this taste kind of like sawdust, which pairs well with the decor. I couldn't resist drinking this since it was so different, but wouldn't recommend it to most people.

Barrel Aged Old Fashioned (bourbon whiskey, bitters, demerara sugar) - I'm a bit of an Old Fashioned snob since this is my favorite cocktail in general and this is the only cocktail that I can reproduce at home. R&R uses Buffalo Trace, which has a bit of a bite to it but I would expect nothing less from a traditional Old Fashioned. This is the cocktail that I would order first in the future.

Lark Creek Kitchen Review

I still fondly remember Yankee Pier, the first Santana Row sit-down restaurant. It ended up becoming the first of many in one of the South Bay's premier dining destinations. After several years, the space was remodeled and transformed into Lark Creek Blue, which was still heavily focused on seafood. Now in the third incarnation of this space, Lark Creek Kitchen opens up the menu dramatically and focuses on more creative and elaborate dishes. Executive chef Nick Tall previously worked at Amber, a Two Michelin Star restaurant in Hong Kong. You can definitely see the influences from both Amber and Nick's Miami upbringing in the dishes. The menu also changes frequently with seasonal items being added every two weeks or so.

The summary (if you don't want to get into all the specifics below) is that I loved it. This is now easily one of the best restaurants on Santana Row. Ask your server for the chef's recommendations for that week and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Smaller Plates

24 hour slow-cooked pork belly - This was both tender and crispy at the same time. It came with a flavorful side of morning glory (water spinach), a rare and hard-to-find topical plant used in Asian cooking but surprisingly hard to find in Silicon Valley.

Heirloom beet and buratta - This is a must-try appetizer if you visit! The buratta cheese was smooth and creamy and was accompanied by beets, dates, and pomegranate. I could eat three of these and call it a day.

Hamachi ceviche verde with avocado, kiwi, cucumber, green yuzu (Asian citrus) and plantain chips - Of all the great dishes we had, this one was my favorite. If you are a sushi fan like I am, you will love this. They use the fatty part of the hamachi (toro) for extra flavor. You can either use the plaintain chips to scoop up generous pieces of fish or use the lettuce on the bottom of the bowl to make a hamachi wrap (which I highly recommend, this helps you sop up all of the ceviche juices at the bottom).

Larger Plates

Yellowtail amberjack (cooked hamachi) with maitake mushroom, bacon, broken noodles, pickled cauliflower, and miso mustard glaze - Mind-blowingly good hamachi made from a dorsal fillet. A seaweed bacon infusion is used for the noodles.

Braised local lamb cavatelli pasta with homemade lemon ricotta, grilled fennel, roasted tomato, olive, three herb pesto - Perfect for a hearty meal when it's cold outside. There were a lot of flavors on the plate and it was very filling. If you feel like skipping the appetizers and getting down to business, this is a great choice.

Desserts

Cheesecake creme brulee, pink guava puree, cafe culce de leche - Very unique, I have never had a dish like this. This is a perfect hybrid of both cheesecake and creme brulee, two of my favorite deserts. I would order this again in a heartbeat.

Caramelized pineapple and preserved lemon tart, white chocolate zabaglione (Italian custard made with egg yolks, sugar, and a sweet wine), pineapple caramel - This one was my wife's favorite. The flavors were very balanced and the cubes of pineapple inside of the custard were a great touch.

Drinks

Unfortunately the cocktails were not quite up to the same caliber as the food. A place like this really deserves some true craft cocktails to go with the killer dishes. I tried the Cucumber Mule (hanson's organic vodka, bitters, lime, and ginger beer) and Broken Branch (rittenhouse rye whisky, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, amaro averna, bitters). They were fine, but I wouldn't come out of my way to grab a cocktail here. Wine might be a better choice with your meal.

Chef Nick Tall also has ambitions to bring local craft beer vendors into the restaurant for multi-course beer pairings. He happens to be a brewer himself and has a strong appreciation and fondness for the art. If he launches a beer pairing for his outstanding menu, I'll be the first one in line.

Curry Up Now and Mortar & Pestle Now Open in North San Jose!

Finally, San Jose has gotten a Curry Up Now brick & mortar restaurant! Curry Up Now has been one of my favorite food trucks for years and I was elated when they built their first restaurant near my work in San Mateo. They went on to open two additional restaurants in San Francisco and Palo Alto, but have saved the best for San Jose.

Ideally situated in the Golden Triangle, San Jose's Curry Up Now is the largest with 160 seats. Of course it offers all of their favorites such as their famous Tikka Masala Burritos, Sexy Fries, Deconstructed Samosas, and Naughty Naan--however, there will be some new items exclusive to San Jose. The San Jose location will be the only one to offer Brunch, and they created an assortment of specialties for the occasion like the Bird's Nest Samosa (photo below) and Indian-style crepes.

It gets better. The San Jose location also has a Mortar & Pestle, their Indian-themed craft cocktail bar. The only other one that exists is in San Mateo, and it's my favorite bar on the Peninsula. The drinks are designed to be paired with spicy Indian dishes and have unique flavors I have not had at any other bar before. The drinks are outstanding and are worth a trip in and of themselves.

Curry up Now is located at 3250 Zanker Road, near Patxi's and Wahoo's. The restaurant is open 11am-10pm Monday through Thursday, 11am-11pm on Friday, 9am to 11pm on Saturday, and 9am-9pm on Sunday.

Source: Eat - Drink - Play

Santana Row July-September 2015 News and Events

Check out what's going on this summer at Santana Row. The big item for me is the launch of three new dining options!

San Jose, CA  - Experience outdoor dining at three new spots, challenge yourself with free Saturday yoga classes and get your microbrew education during the annual beer walk at Santana Row.

Terrace at Hotel Valencia and Lark Creek Kitchen welcome guests to relax and enjoy drinks and eats in airy surroundings. Or, have an impromptu picnic by grabbing a gourmet banh mi, the iconic Vietnamese sandwich, from the Three Seasons cart near Park Valencia.

Free yoga classes in the sunshine are offered every Saturday—a perfect way to practice poses in preparation for Yoga on the Row, the big yoga event slated for September. The annual beer walk offers beer tastings with a side of shopping while strolling Santana Row.

New Dining on The Row!

Terrace at Hotel Valencia, Three Seasons banh mi cart and Lark Creek Kitchen

All Open

Three new dining venues are enticing hungry Santana Row visitors this summer:

Terrace at Hotel Valencia invites you to relax al fresco under a glass canopy while enjoying your favorite wine, whiskey or cocktail and small plates, created for sharing. Menu items include a spicy shellfish cocktail of Alaskan king crab, tiger shrimp and Maine lobster, Kobe beef sliders and local artisanal cheeses. Terrace is located in the outdoor courtyard area, across from the reception desk of the hotel.

Lark Creek Kitchen is bringing new flavors and keeping a few tried-and-true favorites from its former Lark Creek Blue menu. The restaurant/bar offers seasonal farm-to-fork dining, carefully selected wines and expertly crafted cocktails.

Three Seasons banh mi cart gives diners a quick and easy option to grab a gourmet sandwich on the run or enjoy it in the park nearby. They are made fresh daily at Three Seasons, a fine dining restaurant in Palo Alto, and served warmed with each order. Selections include a sandwich called “Street Food,” piled with grilled pork, chicken and pork pate, mayo, cucumber, cilantro, pickles, Maggi soy sauce and jalapeno.

Summer Yoga Series

Every Saturday, through September 12

Registration at 8:30, yoga at 9 a.m., Park Valencia

Join yoga enthusiasts for free yoga every Saturday, presented by lululemon athletica.

Practice your sun salutations under the sunshine at Park Valencia, near Maggiano’s restaurant through September 12. The complimentary classes are held outdoors, with registration opening at8:30 a.m. each week. For more information, contact lululemon, 408.557.8721.

100 OCT Rally: Santana Row to LA to Las Vegas

Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, 12

100 OCT (Hundred Octane) invites car enthusiasts to join them for 100 OCT Rally 2015, from Santana Row to Hollywood Boulevard to Las Vegas Boulevard.

The drive starts at Santana Row where participants gather to begin their journey, spending the night at Hotel Valencia before taking off on a route south over mountains and through deserts to Southern California and then Las Vegas. For more information, go to: http://www.100oct.com/100oct-rally/

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too: “Celebrate Summer!”

Tuesday, July 14, 10 a.m. to noon

Summer is in full swing so let’s celebrate! The popular kids’ club features free entertainment, interactive games, hands-on activities and educational activities designed for parents and their pre-school aged children. Join us for live musical performances by Andy Z and take participate in programs by the San Jose Public Library. Also enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, music, balloon art, story time and more. Meet us in Park Valencia in front of Maggiano’s to pick up your activity sheet.

Details: 10 a.m. to noon at Park Valencia. Mommy & Me is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit www.SantanaRow.com

Cars & Croissants

July 25 and every fourth Saturday of the month

9 a.m. to noon

Santana Row partners with 100 OCT to present Cars & Croissants on The Row, a monthly gathering for exotic car owners and car enthusiasts. On the fourth Saturday of the month through December, exotic car owners are invited to park on Santana Row Boulevard from Alyssum Lane to Tatum Boulevard, display their cars and mingle with other enthusiasts. The morning meet-up for coffee, croissants and cars drew 400 people and 60 cars during the first event and continues to grow in popularity. This event is free and open to the public.

Santana Row Beer Walk

Wednesday, July 29, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Stroll The Row and sample 20-plus beers while enjoying the shopping and dining incentives offered during the third annual Beer Walk! Cool off with a walk around Santana Row while tasting brews from microbreweries. The beer stops are stationed in a restaurant or shop for easy sipping and strolling. Tickets are $30 and available athttp://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-beerwalk-santana-row-tickets-16921167668.

A look ahead to August and September…

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too, “Movin’ & Groovin!”

Tuesday, August 11, 10 a.m. to noon, Park Valencia

The popular kids’ club features free entertainment, interactive games, hands-on activities and educational activities designed for parents and their pre-school aged children. Enjoy a dance-themed Mommy & Me with a special dance class from Silicon Valley Ballet School. Also enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, music, balloon art, story time and more. Meet us in Park Valencia in front of Maggiano’s to pick up your activity sheet.

Details: 10 a.m. to noon at Park Valencia. Mommy & Me is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visitwww.SantanaRow.com.

Cars & Croissants

August 22 and every fourth Saturday of the month

9 a.m. to noon

Santana Row partners with 100 OCT to present Cars & Croissants on The Row, a monthly gathering for exotic car owners and car enthusiasts. On the fourth Saturday of the month through December, exotic car owners are invited to park on Santana Row Boulevard from Alyssum Lane to Tatum Boulevard, display their cars and mingle with other enthusiasts. The morning meet-up for coffee, croissants and cars drew 400 people and 60 cars during the first event and continues to grow in popularity. This event is free and open to the public.

End of the Summer Wine Stroll, a Benefit for Bill Wilson Center

Saturday, August 29, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Enjoy a summer evening with a wine stroll and silent auction to benefit Bill Wilson Center, a nonprofit organization that provides direct services to more than 3,500 children, youth, young adults and families in Santa Clara County through our various programs that focus on housing, education, counseling, and advocacy.

Your $35 ticket includes;

• Wine and food tastings
• Exclusive discounts inside Santana Row shops and restaurants
• A Signature Santana Row wine glass
*Must be 21 years or older to attend.
Tickets are available at the Santana Row concierge office or online at www.santanarow.com. Click on the events link.
Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too, “Superhero Day!”
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 10 a.m. to noon, Park Valencia
The popular kids’ club features free entertainment, interactive games, hands-on activities and educational activities designed for parents and their pre-school aged children. Dress as your favorite superhero and meet other superheroes at The Row. Live musical performances by Andy Z, Silicon Valley Ballet School and Action Day Primary Plus. Also enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, music, balloon art, story time and more. Meet us in Park Valencia in front of Maggiano’s to pick up your activity sheet.
Details: 10 a.m. to noon at Park Valencia. Mommy & Me is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit www.santanarow.com.
Cars & Croissants
Sept. 26 and every fourth Saturday of the month
9 a.m. to noon
Santana Row partners with 100 OCT to present Cars & Croissants on The Row, a monthly gathering for exotic car owners and car enthusiasts. On the fourth Saturday of the month through December, exotic car owners are invited to park on Santana Row Boulevard from Alyssum Lane to Tatum Boulevard, display their cars and mingle with other enthusiasts. The morning meet-up for coffee, croissants and cars drew 400 people and 60 cars during the first event and continues to grow in popularity. This event is free and open to the public.
Yoga on The Row for the Third Year in a Row!
Sunday, Sept. 27, 8:30 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. start
Bring your mat and your best yoga form for Yoga on The Row! Athletic lululemon athletica presents the popular event, a fundraiser for the Art of Yoga Project, an organization that works to rehabilitate teenage girls in the juvenile justice system by teaching them art, yoga, and journaling. lululemon athletica will donate $1 to the organization for each participant who attends this complimentary yoga event. The goal this year is to get 1,000 yogis and their mats to line the main street of Santana Row and the park.


Registration will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and class begins at 9 a.m.
Please arrive with a mat, towel, and a smile! All levels welcome.
Twitter Promotion @SantanaRow invites Tweets and Instagram tags
For a Chance to Win Gift Cards to Restaurants at The Row
Santana Row’s Twitter campaign and photo contest continues through the @SantanaRow Twitter handle. The contest invites anyone at Santana Row to Tweet or Instagram photos of a new outfit, haircut, meal, event or artsy shots and then tag it with the hash tag #LifeonTheRow. Every month, Santana Row will post an album on Facebook with all of the photos with the #LifeonTheRow hash tag. The person who took the best or most original photo will win a gift card to a Santana Row restaurant.
About Santana Row
Santana Row, a 647,000 square foot mixed-use development in San Jose, CA, is Silicon Valley’s premier destination for shopping, dining, living and working. Santana Row features over 70 shops, 20 restaurants, a boutique hotel and movie theatre. In addition to the dynamic retail & restaurant collection, Santana Row offers 615 luxury rental homes, 219 privately owned condos and 65,000 square feet of Class A office space. Santana Row is a property of www.federalrealty.com (NYSE:FRT), headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.santanarow.com.
About Federal Realty
Federal Realty is a recognized leader in the ownership, operation and redevelopment of high-quality retail based properties located primarily in major coastal markets from Washington, D.C. to Boston as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles.  Founded in 1962, our mission is to deliver long term, sustainable growth through investing in densely populated, affluent communities where retail demand exceeds supply.  Our expertise includes creating urban, mixed-use neighborhoods like Santana Row in San Jose, California, Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland and Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts. These unique and vibrant environments that combine shopping, dining, living and working provide a destination experience valued by their respective communities.  Federal Realty's 90 properties include over 2,600 tenants, in approximately 21 million square feet, and 1500 residential units. 


Federal Realty has paid quarterly dividends to its shareholders continuously since its founding in 1962, and has increased its dividend rate for 47 consecutive years, the longest record in the REIT industry. Federal Realty shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol FRT. For additional information about Federal Realty and its properties, visit www.FederalRealty.com.

Boudin SF Brings the Flavor of Fresh-Baked Sourdough to Almaden Plaza Shopping Center in San Jose on March 19

First 100 Guests on Opening Day to Receive Free Bread for a Year

Gloriously irresistible fresh-baked sourdough bread will soon be available at Almaden Plaza Shopping Center in San Jose. Boudin Bakery CEO Sharon Duvall today announced that the company will open its 11th Northern California Boudin SF location in Almaden Valley on March 19.

Boudin SF is a convenient, casual-dining restaurant where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Residents of San Jose who have long enjoyed The Original San Francisco Sourdough™ can soon savor the unforgettable experience of breaking open an aromatic loaf in a new location close to home. Almaden Plaza Shopping Center marks the company’s second San Jose restaurant and follows the opening of Boudin SF in West Valley Center last April.

“We are thrilled to open another location in the South Bay,” said Duvall. “We are extremely thankful for our loyal Boudin sourdough fans and excited to welcome our new neighbors in the Almaden Valley community to the restaurant.”

Bread Winners

When Boudin SF at Almaden Plaza opens its doors to the public on March 19, the first 100 guests in line will win a year’s supply of The Original San Francisco Sourdough™. Boudin enthusiasts, affectionately known as “Bread Winners,” often camp overnight to ensure a spot in line and may begin queuing up at 5:00 p.m. on March 18. Boudin SF has reserved the first place in the Bread Winners line for Second Harvest Food Bank, a local non-profit that provides food to nearly one quarter of a million people each month and is one of the largest food banks in the nation. Boudin SF has long been a supporter of food banks and regularly donates fresh bread to local charities.

Boudin SF Menu

Ideal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Boudin SF features a comprehensive menu of both healthy and hearty fare to delight a variety of palettes. Boudin SF’s attention to detail shines through in every dish. Seasonal, organic, and locally-sourced ingredients are used whenever possible.

Boudin SF’s wide variety of sandwiches are a delicious and convenient option for lunch or a picnic. Guests may also choose from perennial favorites such as Chicken Pesto with chicken breast, tomatoes, arugula, pesto mayo, and balsamic vinaigrette on a sourdough baguette or the California Veggie with Havarti cheese, avocado, red peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, red onion, tomatoes, sun-dried tomato spread, and balsamic vinaigrette on multigrain bread. After a day of shopping or hiking, Boudin's classic New England-style Clam Chowder or Butternut Squash Soup in a signature sourdough bread bowl is warm and filling. Boudin SF is perfect for busy families and professionals. Stop by for a quick dinner or linger over a glass of beer or California wines. For a quick breakfast after dropping off the kids at school or an early morning workout, Boudin SF has everything from Vegetable Scrambles to Sourdough French Toast. 

Boudin SF also offers Web-to-Go service, allowing customers to place an order in advance and then pick it up quickly on the way to the park, office or home – no waiting in line. Available online at: www.boudinwebtogo.com.

Boudin SF at Almaden Plaza Shopping Center is located at 5353 Almaden Expressway in San Jose, CA  95118. Telephone: 408-513-1050. Open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.



About Boudin Bakery

Headquartered in San Francisco, Boudin Bakery is world-famous for The Original San Francisco Sourdough™, which is baked with the same Mother Dough, or sourdough starter, used since 1849. Born in the Gold Rush, Boudin is the oldest continuously operating business in San Francisco. Because each loaf is made from a portion of the original sourdough starter, Boudin Sourdough is one of a kind.  With its delicious tangy flavor, golden crunchy crust, and soft chewy center – along with its famous aroma – it has been described as “a sensory experience in a simple loaf of bread.” Boudin SF is a convenient, casual-dining restaurant with locations throughout California where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Boudin at the Wharf, located in the heart of San Francisco’s renowned waterfront, is Boudin’s flagship facility and home to Bistro Boudin, Boudin Museum & Bakery Tour, a demonstration bakery, Bakers Hall Marketplace and a Boudin Café. Boudin bread can be purchased at the Wharf and all Boudin restaurants located throughout California. Boudin also offers catering and operates a gift catalog business, which can be found online www.boudinbakery.com.