G2G: San Jose's Late Night Delivery App

G2G is a new food delivery app that specializes exclusively in late night food deliveries. They service San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, and Campbell. Currently they only partner with a dozen restaurants, but several are Downtown San Jose stand-outs like Nick the Greek, Dosa & Curry Cafe, and La Victoria. 4th St. Pizza is also on the list as is The Garret.

The only deliver between 10pm and 4am each day. There is no minimum order size, just a $7 flat delivery charge. There is also no delivery charge on the first order.

For more information and to get the app, head over to the G2G website.

Dine Downtown San Jose Restaurant Week - Kickoff is Tomorrow!

If you want great food at a great price, Dine Downtown San Jose starts tomorrow. 23 Restaurants will be offering 3 course prix-fixe dinners for $20, $30, or $40. Oh, and for the first time a few restaurants will be offering lunch specials (including Curry Pundits, The Fountain, Take One Pizza, and Tengu Sushi). You can find those here.

Of the participating restaurants, there are a few I need to call out specifically:

• The Craftsman - this used to be "First to Market." They still have a lot of their classic items (the pimento mac & cheese is a must) and a mixology-grade cocktail bar, but freshened up the design a bit.
• The Capital Club - private club on the top floor of the "Knight Ridder" building. This is your best chance to dine up there without having to pay the membership fees. The view from their massive outdoor balconies is incredible--no other place like this in the Bay Area.
• Arcadia - Michael Mina's signature San Jose restaurant. Try the tuna tar tar and the foie gras sliders.
• Nemea - The best Greek restaurant in San Jose.
• Scott's Seafood - I know this is a chain, but there isn't another Scott's like this one. They just redid their outdoor patio, which is on the roof of a 7-story parking structure. Awesome view, great ambiance, and delicious food.

To see the full restaurant list, head over here!

San Jose Greek Festival 2015!

Next weekend is the annual San Jose Greek Festival, one of the largest ethnic festivals in the Bay Area. If you like amazing Greek food, live entertainment, and friendly people, this is a San Jose tradition you won't want to miss. 

The festival is entirely volunteer run and all the food is made using family recipes. The Greek folk dancing will be done by teams that compete nationally (and some have even won first place), and the costumes the dancers wear are handmade and unique to many of the regions in Greece. It's a very authentic experience all around.

During the festival there will be a bunch of giveaways (food, wine, desserts, and CDs). There will also be giveaways leading up the the festival next week over at the Greek Festival Facebook Page.

The festivities are taking place on May 29th (5pm-10pm), May 30th (11am-10pm), and May 31st (11am-9pm). The area immediately surrounding St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (1260 Davis St.) is the epicenter for the event. You won't be able to park anywhere near it, so just get in the general area and follow the music.

Bring a copy of the image below--or pull it up on your phone--for FREE admission! For more info on the event, click here, here, or here.

Welcome to 2015 San Jose!

Happy New Year everyone! 2014 was a great year for San Jose and I'm optimistic that 2015 is going to be even better. Here is a look ahead to the next 12 months:

• 2nd Generation Residential High-Rises - It has been a long time since a high-rise residential project opened up in San Jose. This year both One South and Centerra will start leasing and will bring a thousand new residents to our city's urban core.
• Half-a-Dozen More Cranes Downtown - 2014 is the first year I can remember since the early 2000s where we had three cranes in the air Downtown. 2015 will have many more. Silvery Towers, the AC Hotel, Marshal Square, the Post & San Pedro Tower, Parkview Towers, Symphony Towers, and Mill Creek are all expected to start construction this year.
• Retail and Office will Thrive Downtown - We are finally building enough critical mass Downtown to make retail succeed, and just about every project mentioned above will have a retail component to help fill gaps between retail centers. Office vacancies will likely fall below 10% as more tech startups realize what a great value and experience Downtown San Jose provides.
• Stadiums Galore - Last year we have the grand opening of Levi's Stadium, which is bringing multiple world-class events a stones-throw away from North San Jose. Our hotels, restaurants, and entertainment facilities are also benefactors here. The new Earthquakes Stadium also goes live in 2015, bringing even more events and quality professional sports to San Jose (along with the largest outdoor bar in North America).
• More Great Restaurants - Last year we got First to Market, Taurinus Brazilian Steakhouse, Spuds, Garlic Bread, Seven Seas Sushi, Nick the Greek, and a lot of other great places. 2015 is going to be the year of the Urban Markets with the SoFA Market realizing its potential and a new Market going up by SJSU.
• More flights at SJC - We got Tokyo in 2013 and we're about due for at least one new international route this year. You can also expect more routes and flights and the economy continues to thrive.
• BRT Launches - We will have our first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line this year, which will run between Downtown and Eastridge. BRT combines the convenience of Light Rail with low construction costs, and may be key to dramatically improving public transit in the short term. More BRT lines and the BART extension area also on their way.
• The Completion of Santana Row - The last major development projects to complete the original vision for Santana Row should be under construction this year. Not to worry, Federal Realty will soon start working on a brand new project across next to the Winchester Mystery House.

That's a wrap, hope you all have an amazing first day of 2015!

From Lastlightbender's Instagram Page

Downtown San Jose Restaurant List Updates! (2014 Edition)

I have finally caught up with updating the Downtown San Jose Restaurants database (it has been a while, sorry about that). We are up to a grand total of 250 eateries! This is yet another record-breaking number for Downtown San Jose! To put it in perspective we were at 206 eateries in 2011.

We are up to an all time high despite some notable closures such as Blackbird Tavern, Bella Mia, and Los Gatos Brewing Company. I'm sad to see those go, but there are so many great places that opened in 2014 that I think more than makes up for the losses. Here are some of the newcomers:

• C.R.E.A.M - The famous ice cream sandwich chain opens a new shop Downtown on 1st street. Open until 2am on weekends, you will almost always see a line out the door... but don't worry it moves deceptively fast.
• Paper Plane - Not only do they serve up amazing craft cocktails here, but they have a menu that is up to par with their drinks. Try the deviled eggs and pork belly chicharron.
• First to Market - Great traditional American cuisine in SoFA, brought to you by one of the same founders as Singlebarrel.
• Taurinus Brazilian Steakhouse - Downtown gets a Brazilian steakhouse again! Great selection of meats and a sidebar with salads and Brazilian delicacies for when you need to take a protein break.
• Power Bowl - New healthy offering with Acai-based fruit bowls and smoothies.
• Garlic Bread - Finally open and providing tasty BBQ in Fountain Alley.
• Ozu Sushi - Sushi place taking the baton from Smile Sushi.
• Da Kine Island Grill - Traditional Hawaiian food, often accompanied by music, entertainment, and drinks.
• Nomikai - Asian tapas and fusion pizzas along with craft drinks.
• Louisiana Bistro - Cajun delicacies with a nice kick to them.
• Nick the Greek - Best casual Greek spot in Silicon Valley. Killer food at reasonable prices.
• Boba Bar Teahouse & Eatery - New Boba spot right next to SJSU.
• San Pedro Square Market
• Arepa Swing - Unique Venezuelan arepa eatery.
• Spuds - Awesome potato bar where you can get everything from BBQ pork potatoes to Italian Pesto potatoes. Great food and great service, one of my new favorites at the SPSM.
• SoFA Market (NEW!)
• Falafel Bar - Today's flagship offering at the new SoFA Market. The falafels here are out of this world and you can customize your sandwich or bowl any way you'd like.
• Vero's Coffee - Yet another outstanding coffee shop Downtown. I recommend the Mexican Mocha.
• Other Places Coming Soon
• Ramen Bar and Pizza Place in the SoFA Market
• M Lounge Bar and Restaurant (in the P.F. Chang Spot)
• The Continental in SoFA

Below is the changelog from the Downtown San Jose Restaurants Database:

1/4/2014	8 Treasure Restaurant replaced Asian Gourmet at 150 S. First
1/4/2014	Power Bowl is open at 132 E. San Fernando (was once Blendz)
1/4/2014	Ninja Star Sushi closed
1/4/2014	Added Sweet Express to the list
1/5/2014	Ozu Sushi & Grill replaces Smile Sushi
1/5/2014	Tico's Tacos Closed, the oldest Downtown restaurant I had a confirmed opening date for (1957)
2/9/2014	Added First to Market, at 399 S. 1st
2/9/2014	Added hours and Yelp info to CREAM, one of the few dessert shops open late
2/9/2014	Added Louisiana Bistro at 19 N. Market
3/22/2014	Zenon's Peruvian closed on 167 San Fernando but has been replaced with Taurinus Brazilian Steakhouse
4/28/2014	La Victoria is taking over the old Tico's Tacos site at 291 N. Fourth and Julian
5/11/2014	Added M Lounge Bar and Restaurant, which is taking over the P.F. Chang's location at 98 S. 2nd Street
6/15/2014	Added Arepa Swing and Spuds (coming soon), both in the San Pedro Square Market
6/15/2014	Added Nick the Greet at 143 W. Santa Clara St.
6/15/2014	Added Mid GoGo at 185 Park Ave, #189
6/15/2014	Added Cafe Eden at 2 N. 1st St.
6/15/2014	Added Seven Seas Sushi at 130 E. Santa Clara (replaces Ninja Star Sushi)
6/29/2014	House of Siam closed (owners reopening Tee Nee Thai on The Alameda)
9/29/2014	Los Gatos Brewing Company Closed (to be replaced with gaming lounge and bar)
10/7/2014	Blackbird Tavern Closed
11/22/2014	Bella Mia Closed due to escalating rents
11/22/2014	City Restaurant at 301 E. Santa Clara Street replaced with Bobo Drinks
11/22/2014	Hydration replaced with Boba Bar Teahouse & Eatery
11/22/2014	Added Garlic Bread in Fountain Alley

If you haven't bookmarked it yet, here's the link to the spreadsheet! There is also a permanent link over to the right entitled Downtown San Jose Restaurants.

Dine Downtown San Jose Starts Today!

A 10 day "restaurant week" in Downtown San Jose kicks off today. This year there are 27 different restaurants including 8 brand new options. You can check out the full list below along with some menu examples. For a restaurant list with links to Opentable reservations, check out this handy SJDA webpage. 

Dine Downtown San Jose – June 20-29
27 downtown restaurants combine value, service and quality

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Foodies have a lot of new choices at the sixth annual Dine Downtown San Jose “restaurant week,” so good it extends to 10 days.

From June 20-29, new and regular customers alike can savor the tastes of 27 different restaurants offering prix-fixed, three-course meals including appetizer or salad, entrée and dessert, starting at $15 per person.

Restaurants new to the Dine Downtown program this year include: Blackbird Tavern, The Blue Mango, Bluefin Sushi, Da Kine Island Grill, The Farmers Union, First to Market, La Pinata and Nomikai Social Food + Drinkery.

First to Market’s (399 S. First St.) $35 per person Dine Downtown San Jose sampling includes grilled watermelon salad, pork belly mac and cheese or grilled ahi for appetizers, grilled elk chops, seared scallops or brown rice-stuffed bell pepper for main course and pie of the day.  Or after trying Nomikai’s arugula salad and corn pizza, save room for fresh strawberry with Nutella coconut cream parfait, all for $20 per person.

The offers also include a six-course meal at 71 Saint Peter for $45 a person and a five-course, $55 offer at Nemea Greek Taverna.

Some of downtown San Jose’s best restaurants will return to support the popular program: 71 Saint Peter Modern European Kitchen; Arcadia – A  Michael Mina Steakhouse; Bella Mia; Billy Berk’s Restaurant; Cafe Stritch; Fahrenheit Restaurant & Lounge; Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant; The Grill on the Alley; Il Fornaio San Jose; Loft Bar and Bistro; Los Gatos Brewing Company; Mezcal Restaurant; Morton’s The Steakhouse; Nemea Greek Taverna; Orchestria Palm Court Restaurant; Paolo’s Restaurant; San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine; Scott’s Seafood San Jose; and Vino Vino.

Since 2009, Dine Downtown showcases the exceptional restaurants offered in the center city.  Based on restaurant surveys, Dine Downtown customers come back again and again, trying new places and returning to familiar favorites.  In 2013, downtown restaurants served thousands of meals

“The San Jose Downtown Association loves to produce Dine Downtown because it promotes some of downtown’s best assets,” said Julie Carlson, SJDA marketing director. “We’re excited to see so many new restaurants and old favorites in the Dine Downtown mix this year.”

Dine Downtown restaurants, menus and additional information are at dinedowntownsj.com.  Dinner starts nightly at 5:30 p.m. and reservations are recommended through each restaurant’s website or OpenTable.com.

Sysco, the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, will sponsor Dine Downtown for the second year.  For each meal served, Sysco will donate $1 to San Jose’s Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen.  Also, OpenTable will again take Dine Downtown reservations.

Meals to tempt the most discriminating of culinary tastes, including vegetarian options, include:

$30 for two people
La Pinata:
First:  Nachos, flautas or quesadilla
Second:  Super famoso burrito, mole enchiladas or enchilada/taco combo
Third:  Flan, cheesecake chimichanga or pastel tres leches

$39 for two people
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant:
First:  Southwest egg rolls
Second: Baby greens, Caesar salad
Third:  Brewhouse chicken, miso mahi, bourbon chicken & grilled shrimp, and bistro steak medallions
Fourth:  4 mini sampler desserts

$20 per person
Bella Mia:
First:  House side garden salad
Second:  Oven-baked lasagna, ravioli trio or crab & shrinp cannelloni
Third:  Petite season fruit crisp

$30 per person

Blackbird Tavern:
First:  Soup du jour, green Waldorf salad or grilled farmers market peppers
Second:  Bourbon grilled chicken, seasonal risotto, steak frites or rockfish
Third:  Nectarine bruschetta or strawberries and cream ice cream

Da Kine Island Grill:
First:  Ahi poke, tako poke, salmon poke, Kalua nachos or Kalua quesadilla
Second:  Hawaiian plate, mahi loco moco, seared ahi plate, aloha spare ribs, flamin salmon, mango pork chop, Da Kine chicken Ceasar
Third:  Rum bread pudding or pineapple sticky rice

Mezcal:
First:  Oaxacan summer salad, tortilla soup or seared scallops
Second:  Bacon-wrapped filet mignon, sea bass or vegetarian duo
Third:  warm Oaxacan chocolate cake or Don Julio anejo neat, chocolate and sliced orange

$45 per person (six courses)

71 St. Peter Mediterranean Grill
Amuse-Bouche:  Chilled gazpacho
First:  Fresh Dungeness crab salad
Second:  Spring vegetable risotto
Intermezzo: Lime sorbet
Main Course:  Pancetta wrapped petite filet mignon, or sage roasted California sea bass, or roasted butternut squash ravioli
Dessert:  Apricot upside-down cake

$45 per person
Morton’s The Steakhouse
First: Caesar salad, Morton’s salad or baked five-onion soup
Second: 6oz single cut filet mignon (+$10 for 8oz), double cut prime pork chop, honey-chili glazed salmon or chicken bianco
Third:  Chocolate mousse or cheesecake

$50 per person

Arcadia
First:  Heirloom tomato salad or roasted corn soup
Second:  Grilled king salmon steak or petit filet & short rib rillettes
Third:  Chocolate molten cake or mascarpone cheesecake

$60 per person
The Grill on the Alley:
First: Charcuterie board or rustic grilled Ceasar
Second:  Smoked bacon-wrapped filet or sweet pea, lemon & prawn risotto
Third:  Vanilla brandy panna cotta

 ###

San Jose Downtown Association is a non-profit group of business and property owners working to improve the vitality and livability of downtown San Jose.  Check www.sjdowntown.com.

Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen is a non-profit organization that has served the working poor, families, homeless and seniors living in and around the downtown and East Side of San Jose for over 32 years. What began as a simple first meal of fish and bread for 11 adults and 15 children has grown to nearly 500 meals per day, served with dignity.  Visit www.loavesfishes.org.

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates 177 distribution facilities serving approximately 400,000 customers. Visit www.syscosf.com.

San Jose Greek Festival 2014 Next Week (FREE ADMISSION)

The annual Greek Festival is taking place next week from Friday, May 30th to Sunday, June 1st at Saint Nicholas Church in San Jose's Rose Garden neighborhood. This is one of if not the largest ethnic festival in San Jose, and is definitely worth checking out. Just about all of the food is completely home made, and they have the best lokoumades anywhere in the Bay Area (fried doughnut holes drenched in honey and covered in walnuts and cinnamon). They will also be serving lamb chops from Evvia/Kokkari restaurants--the best Greek places I know of around here. Of course, in addition to awesome food you will also have music, dancing, a kids area, and contests.

You can print out the last image below for free admission and there should be plenty of free parking in the general area with shuttles to take you to the festival. For more information, please visit the San Jose Greek Festival Facebook page.

April 2014 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Here are my notes from the latest edition of Downtown Dimension:

• SPUR has generated six big ideas to help steer Downtown San Jose towards becoming a more vital and dynamic urban place:
• Welcome all kinds of uses Downtown, but hold out for jobs near regional transit (includes establishing minimum densities within a half mile of BART stations and eliminating minimum parking requirements for new developments).
• Make sure what gets built adheres to key urban design principals
• Promote a larger "Central San Jose" area with Downtown as its core
• Make it easier to get to and through Downtown without a car
• Retrofit Downtown to be more pedestrian-oriented
• Build on Downtown's strengths as the cultural and creative center of the South Bay
• KT Properties hopes to break ground this year for the largest residential high-rise project Downtown--Silvery Towers--involving two high-rises across from San Pedro Square Market and featuring 643 units.
• TONS of new Restaurants:
• Taurinus Brazilian Steakhouse is now open at 167 W. San Fernando.
• First to Market is open at 399 S. First.
• Seven Seas Sushi Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar is open at 130 E. Santa Clara St. (formerly Ninja Star).
• Da Kine Island Grill is now open at 23 N. Market St. (Hula dancing and reggae bands on Saturday, old-fashioned luaus on Sundays).
• Nick the Greek is open at 143 W. Santa Clara St.
• Cafe Eden is serving Mediterranean food at 2 N. First St.
• La Victoria is opening their 5th location this summer at the former Tico's Tacos site at 291 N. Fourth and Julian. This will be their 3rd Downtown location.
• ISO: Beers is now offering a huge selection of craft beers at 75 E. Santa Clara.
• Paper Plane at 72 S. First St. offers a craft cocktail bare experience and shareable food (same owners as Original Gravity)
• Fireworks are Back this Fourth of July!!! The rotary club is is celebrating its 100th anniversary and has agreed to donate $20,000 to bringing back the fireworks show. The last fireworks show we had Downtown was in 2009 (and these would attract as many as 100,000 people).
• Light Rail is now 25 years old.
• SoFA projects are well underway which will include:
• Illuminating SoFA way-finders to connect the district with the Convention Center
• Construction of a permanent shade structure for the new plaza at Gore Park
• A series of "pop-up tiendas" to support creative artists selling their work during events in SoFA.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

San Jose Stage Company Presents "An Iliad"

San Jose Stage Company Presents An Iliad

April 9 – May 4, 2014

 

San Jose, CA – April 07, 2014 — San Jose Stage Company presents the captivating epic tale, An Iliad, adapted by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare, opening April 9 and running through May 4.

 

Based on Homer’s The Iliad and translated by Robert Fagles, An Iliad is a breathtaking and relevant, modern retelling of a timeless classic which unleashes the thrilling tales of the Trojan War and delves into the psychology of passion and rage, ancient and modern. In this tour-de-force, one actor plays the Greek classic's famous characters Achilles, Hector, Agamemnon, and ‘the face that launched a thousand ships’ Helen of Troy. From Mt. Olympus Gods such as Apollo, Athena and Hermes come and go.

 

"Every time I sing this song, I hope it's the last time." So says ‘The Poet’ as he digs deep to sing Homer's epic story of war, honor, violence and the Greek siege of the city of Troy.

 

He's told this story for centuries. It’s a good story,” says the lone figure, emerging from the darkness, as he launches into this modern, enthralling adaptation of Homer’s epic poem that relives the glory and brutality of the Trojan War. Now in the shadow of war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, he unleashes the power of Homer’s classic poem for a modern audience.

 

Bay Area favorite, Jackson Davis, plays ‘The Poet’ in this lean, muscular, tour-de-force performance he combines the majestic language of Homer with the informal way we speak today.

 

As The Poet recites, comments and chats, he compels his audience to connect with his story, to feel what he feels, to believe in the importance of this story. Maybe if he tells the story one more time the violence will end. 

An Iliad premiered in 2010 and has been lauded by critics across the country, including The New York Times: "Mr. O'Hare and Ms. Peterson have telescoped the mighty expanses of Homer's great poem into an evening that scales the conflict of the Trojan War down to an intimate solo show illuminating both the heroism and the horror of warfare." 

Kenneth Kelleher directs the 100-minute performance. Mr. Kelleher has directed over twenty performances for The Stage, including The Threepenny Opera, the World Premiere of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Red, Reckless, Buried Child, On The Waterfrontand Rock ‘n’ Roll. He is currently the Artistic Director of Pacific Repertory Theatre and Resident Director of The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival. He has also directed for San Jose Repertory Theatre, TheatreWorks, California Shakespeare Festival, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Sacramento Theatre Company and B Street Theatre.

 

THE CAST:

 

Jackson Davis * (The Poet) returns to San Jose Stage Company, where he first performed in the Bay Area nearly 30 years ago inMixed Doubles, a trio of one act plays. He returns to perform in An Iliad, a piece he first performed last year at Pacific Repertory Theatre. His other theatre credits include The Fourth Messengerat The Ashby Stage, Happy End at American Conservatory Theater, Mizlansky/Zilinsky or Schmucks at San Jose Repertory Theatre, The Best Man at Aurora Theatre Company, The God of Hell at Magic Theatre, MacBeth at The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Dead Man’s Cell Phone at SF Playhouse, Lovers and Executioners at Marin Theatre Company, Ben Franklin in Paris at 42nd Street, She Loves Me at Center REPertory Company and The Merry Wives of Windsor at Livermore Shakespeare Festival. He has also performed extensively with TheatreWorks in a variety of comedies, dramas, classics and musicals.

 

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association

 

Run Dates:     April 9 – May 4, 2014

 

Previews:       April 9, 10 and 11, 2014

 

Opening:        April 12, 2014

 

Shows:            Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm

Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm

Sunday at 2:00 pm

 

Location:         The Stage, 490 South First Street, San Jose, CA

 

Tickets:           $25 - $50 with discounts for seniors, students and groups

 

Box Office:      408.283.7142 or www.thestage.org

 

Author:           Adapted by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare

                        Based on Homer’s The Iliad, Translated by Robert Fagles

 

Director:         Kenneth Kelleher

 

Featuring:      Jackson Davis*

 

   # # # 

 

About San Jose Stage Company:

 

Now in its 31st Season, San Jose Stage Company is recognized as the San Francisco Bay Area's Premiere Off-Broadway Theatre. The Stage is known for its devotion to new and cutting-edge work and for its commitment to showcasing high-quality local talent.

 

Ranked the 3rd largest professional theatre in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, San Jose Stage Company is a vital force in the community. The Stage has earned a reputation for artistic excellence by providing high quality, edgy theatrical experiences that engage, educate and provoke audiences. That includes 148 productions, 45 new works and 13 world premieres.

 

The Stage offers five core education and outreach programs and has housed over 250 independent performance groups. Located at the Gateway to the City's Arts and Entertainment District, San Jose Stage Company, the SoFA District's first arts anchor organization, continues to promote San Jose's stature as a burgeoning regional arts center by providing live theatre experiences that enrich the quality of life in the community.

 

  # # # 

California Pizza Kitchen Completes a Total Makeover at Valley Fair

It looks like the CPK at Valley Fair has completely transformed. The interior has been redesigned with new green elements like LED lighting, there is a new 35-person patio (which likely will not be getting much use in this weather), new food and drink options, and a more "interactive" pizza counter. Check out the release below for more details.

VALLEY FAIR CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN UNVEILS RECIPE FOR REIMAGINATION WITH COMPLETE REMODEL AND ENHANCED MENU OFFERINGS

A reimagined California Pizza Kitchen is reflected in every detail, from décor and design to new hand-tossed California-style pizzas, innovative cocktails and wine flights

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), the authority on California-style pizza and an industry leader in creative dining, today announced the completion of its newly reimagined Santa Clara, Calif. location at Westfield Valley Fair.  California Pizza Kitchen’s Recipe for Reimagination features a complete interior redesign, new hand-tossed California-style pizzas and innovative, California-themed cocktail and wine selections.

“We have been anxiously waiting to introduce our reimagined restaurant at the Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara, and we hope that it will inspire guests and remind them about what made them fall in love with California Pizza Kitchen in the first place. We are going back to our California roots to provide an authentic, elevated-yet-relaxed atmosphere for casual diners, families and foodies alike,” said California Pizza Kitchen CEO, G.J. Hart.

The 4,758 square foot Valley Fair restaurant now seats 171 guests in a redesigned communal space that has been developed with sustainability in mind. California’s environmental roots are evident in the use of unfinished, reclaimed wood both inside and outside of the restaurant, offering a casual but refined feel that is very warm in color. LED lighting is used throughout the space.

The updated 538 square foot patio now seats 35 people. California Pizza Kitchen’s traditional pizza counter, which seats 12, has been redesigned to make the hearth an even bigger focal point, giving guests the opportunity to interact with the Pizza Chefs and watch them as they hand-stretch and toss California Pizza Kitchen’s new hand-tossed pizza dough.

The reimagined menu features a wide selection of signature flatbreads with new ingredients and flavor combinations, including a new spicy fennel sausage, two different types of pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, hand crumbled wild Greek oregano, freshly torn basil and more. New appetizers and small plates include Spicy Chicken Tinga Quesadilla, White Corn Guacamole + Chips and Asparagus & Arugula Salad.

Guests can also enjoy an extensive selection of cocktails, including new signature drinks such as the “Coconut Kaffir Cooler,” made with Hangar 1 Mandarin Blossom Vodka, Perfect Purée Coconut and Kaffir Lime Leaves; and a “Strawberry Basil Martini” made with VeeV Acaí Spirit, Perfect Purée Strawberry and fresh agave sour. There are also three wine flight options, each with three, three-ounce glasses from the menu.

About California Pizza Kitchen

Born in Beverly Hills in 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) is a leader in authentic California-style cuisine and is widely known for its innovative menu items. California Pizza Kitchen provides a range of California-inspired dishes, from signature hand-tossed and hearth-baked pizzas, to imaginative salads, pastas, entrées, soups, sandwiches and cocktails. A Southern California classic, CPK incites international cravings in more than 11 different countries. For more information on California Pizza Kitchen visit cpk.com.

Follow us on Twitter @calpizzakitchen, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/californiapizzakitchen and stay connected through http://instagram.com/californiapizzakitchen (#cpknextchapter).

San Jose Greek Festival this Weekend!

One of the largest ethnic festivals in the South Bay is going down this weekend, and we have a free pass for you! The San Jose Greek Festival is a celebration of Greek food, music, and culture and takes place outside St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at 1260 Davis Street. The event actually runs three whole days starting this Friday.

There are a couple of new food items this year, including a vegetarian gyro. Greek is not always the most vegetarian-friendly cuisine around, but rest assured you will have some great options this year if you don't eat meat. For those that do, you can never go wrong with the lamb! Another new item this year is an olive medley that will be served at the Greek wine and cheese booth.

To get in for free, either print out the blue flier below or load it up on your phone at the festival entrance. To learn more about the festival, just click one of the links below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SJGREEKFESTIVAL 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sjgreekfestival
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjgreekfestival

This Thursday: Beta Tasting to Benefit the Bay Area Mobile Food Vendors Association

It's no secret that The San Jose Blog is fond of food; from restaurant openings, a full downtown restaurant spreadsheet, to the many Dishcrawls and Moveable Feast adventures -- we're simply addicted to eating!

So, when along comes another food truck adventure - we're happy to share it with others!

You may have already heard about it, but this Thursday is Beta Tasting! 

So here's the cheese:

There will be 10+ food trucks with varying cuisines, coming together to share over 20 experimental dishes. Tickets for the event are $2 each; all the dishes are priced $3-$5 each. So it's up to you what you'd like to try. After trying the dishes, you can vote for your favorites as well.

But this is more than just a food truck gathering. 

Proceeds from Beta Tasting benefit the livelihood and union of food trucks in the Bay Area through the Bay Area Mobile Food Vendors Association (BAMFVA).

I got in touch with a couple of the participating food trucks and asked the owners why they decided to participate in Beta Tasting and what they felt they'd gain in return by being part of this event?

As food truck owners, we are excited to have an association that represents us and our businesses. We are a group that has no representation when it comes to regulations, events, and legal representation.  Most food trucks are independent, and small businesses that need to have resources available to them to sustain their own business. When it comes to the food, we are a group of people that loves to cook, and want to be involved with presenting great food from truck.  

- Carol Wang & Robert Pei, Owners of Eat on Monday

I am a one of the members of the Board of Directors for the very new BAMFVA (Bay Area Mobile Food Vendors Association). The association is hosting this event in conjunction with Dishcrawl. It is our first fundraising effort to raise some money as we are still in the process of establishing the association. It will be the first event of its kind where each truck will be offering a brand new dish that no one else will have had the chance to try before! An opportunity to experiment with new recipes and for food truck fans to tell us what they think! 

- Nancy Nguyen, Owner/Operator, O Mi Ninja SJ - Vietnamese Street Food Truck

So what kind of dishes can you expect to see?

Eat on Monday will be featuring a Dungeness Crab Rangoon which is crispy fried wonton skin wrapped Dungeness crab, cream cheese, with a spicy and sweet Thai style dipping sauce. Along with that, they'll have an Egg in the Hole Burger and Fried Milk.

O Mi Ninja will be featuring Gluten-Free Vietnamese Carmelized Shrimp over Vermicelli Noodles, Honey Ginger Lemonade, Mini Pandan waffles with coconut whipped cream (see photo), Kumquat Limeade, Mini Ninja Banh Mi sandwich (A smaller version of their most popular banh mi combining all of their meats plus bacon and egg) among other items.

Some of the other trucks and their tasty treats include:

Waffle Amore: Lemon Bar Waffle, Frozen Fosters Waffle

Brothers Gow Chow: Lamb Sliders, Spanakopita, Dolmas, Greek Yogurt Parfait

Fairy Cakes: Banana Split Cupcake, Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcake

There are many more trucks that will be there. Be sure to check out Dishcrawl's event page for a full list. Maybe you'll find your favorite truck there and something new to taste!

Beta Tasting

When: Thursday, May 2

Time: 6p-9p

Tickets: $2

Location: San Jose Giants Parking Lot

588 East Alma Avenue, San Jose, CA 95112 (parking available nearby)

This event is hosted by the Bay Area Mobile Food Vendors Association, the first owner operated organization benefitting the livelihood of food trucks and presented by Dishcrawl.

Amir Mediterranean Restaurant

Had to share the Yelp review below I just completed. Really, this has to be the best year ever for Downtown San Jose restaurants. Amir has a well deserved 4.5 star rating on Yelp right now. A worthy successor to Morocco's, highly recommended!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Downtown San Jose's lucky streak of GREAT new restaurants continues. This one is really a gem and easily one of the best values for Mediterranean in San Jose. The owner is Greek and grew up in Egypt, and the menu reflects a nice variety of foods from all over the Mediterranean countries.

We had the hummus, tzatziki, and baba ghanoush for appetizers. All were good but the baba ghanoush was among the best I have ever had. Nicely pureed with a rich smokey flavor.

For the main course we tried falafels (outstanding), chicken kababs, and geef shawarma... for the price you're going to have a really hard time finding quality and authenticity than this.

For dessert we got almost all of the options available. The kunafa was the best I've tried so far. There was also an Egyptian dish topped with sweetened milk that was super unique and tasty. I can't remember the names of the other desserts we had but there wasn't a single bad or mediocre item among them, I would order all of them again.

Oh, almost forgot. They have a freshly squeezed mint lemonade that will blow you away if you are a lemonade fan. On a hot summer day I think I would be willing to make the trek just for that.

The customer service also rocked. I was very sad to see Morocco's go (moved to Mountain View), but am glad they were replaced with a worthy successor.

Downtown San Jose Restaurant List Updates! (Q1 2013 Edition)

I have done the latest round of updates to the Downtown San Jose Restaurants database and I think Downtown is just about hit the critical mass needed to really be seen as a restaurant destination similar to Willow Glen, Santana Row, or Downtown Palo Alto / Mountain View / Campbell. The number of new restaurants is not only up, but the quality of these new venues is outstanding. We are up to a grand total of 242 eateries, the latest record for Downtown San Jose.

This is our second quarter with no bad news, no significant closures. The restaurants that have lasted through the last major downturn are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and are here to stay. The one closure worth mentioning is Chevy's in the San Jose Market Center (this was the worst Chevy's I have been to in my life) and it is being replaced with a BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse.

Now the good news, and you might want to grab some coffee because it is a long list:

• Cafe Stritch - Meet the new SoFA anchor venue. The menu is inexpensive, casual, and delicious, they have a great bar, live music will be coming 3-5 times per week, they are building an art gallery on the second floor, oh and they have the coolest outdoor seating in Downtown San Jose. Half a dozen other improvements are coming over the next few weeks. Have to check it out during South First Fridays.
• Nemea Greek Taverna - Just got to try this out last night. Nemea is located at 1st and San Fernando, one of our "key corners." The ambiance looks incredible, it has the most polished interior Downtown right now. The fare is on the higher-end side and everything I had was fantastic. In fact it puts Thea to shame in Santana Row and is pretty close to Dio Deka in Los Gatos. They will be featuring live Greek music every Friday and also have a great outdoor dining space. I was a big fan of E&O, but this surpasses it in every way. 4.5 stars on Yelp!
• Vyne - Great new wine bar and bistro! Hip, chic atmosphere, great happy hour, and a great food menu. They are the only place Downtown I can think of that has a caviar plate. Also 4.5 stars on Yelp.
• K zzang - Welcome to Downtown San Jose's first and only Korean restaurant (that I can remember at least). I had to add a new Genre for this one. Have not been here yet, but the menu looks great (Bulgogi, Bibimbaps, etc.). This is located a few spaces down from Nemea.
• Amir Restaurant - The former Morocco's space has a new tenant! Amir is a casual mediterranean restaurant with geneous portions and reasonable prices. It is locally owned and has a stellar 4.5 Yelp rating (are you noticing the trend here?).
• Grub Shack - Yet another great restaurant. This one is on 93 E. Santa Clara Street and the food is a mix of Hawaiian, Chinese, and Japanese food. 4.5 starts on Yelp with over 100 reviews.
• San Pedro Square Market Updates
• Chocatoo - Great new dessert and coffee shop inside of the Lusardi building (Blush, Treatbot, Phonomenal). Wide selection, knowledgeable staff, 
• Market Beer Company - replacing Polkadotz Mini Gourmet Cupcakes. Will feature a huge assortment of craft beers for visitors: over 300 refrigerated craft brews (either bomber 22-oz bottles or 750-ml bottles) as well as 5-10 beers on tap.
• B2 Coffee - they have moved to their permanent spot in the corner of the "garage" area. They now have way more space, their own bathrooms, and new seating options.
• Garage Bar - a brand new bar that they are opening at night time in the same "garage" area where B2 Coffee is located.
• Konjoe Burger Bar (Coming Soon) - Handmade, contemporary, Asian-American burgers using freshly ground patties and exotic ingredients. 
• Bray Butcher Block & Bistro (Coming Soon) - This is for all of those that have been complaining that there is no traditional Market in the Market. Bray will bring a full selection of deli meats, fish, steaks, house-made sausages, and BBQ dishes.
• Other Places Coming Soon
• Orchestria Palm Court - Now this is going to be interesting. Palm Court is a cafe opening behind the Stage Theater in a 1910 brick structure and will feature music from the early part of the last century played on mechanical music machines. The menu will be healthy European cuisine prepared in old-fashioned ways. You will also find fountain drinks with natural fresh-squeezed fruit juices.
• The Farmer's Union - A new two-story Ale House/Sports Bar at San Pedro and Santa Clara Street with 60 beers on tap and the largest TV screen in Silicon Valley. It will be decorated with items from San Jose's history and serve traditional American fare. Tremendous potential with this restaurant and it sits on a key corner.
• The Blackbird Tavern - My most highly anticipated restaurant opening in the queue right now. If anyone can turn around the corner lot that hosted Zing, Asquew Grill, and Ruffled Feathers Eatery... it's these guys from the Naglee Park Garage. Similar to the Original Gravity House, this can be a game changer. Expect an outstanding beer selection, tapas, live music, and a laid back atmosphere right in the middle of Downtown San Jose (across the street from where the Muji flagship Japanese retail store will go and next to Camera 12 and the Fairmont)
• Cafe Eden - Supposed to be coming to 2 N. First but cannot find any additional info.
• Chromatic Coffee - They bought the building at 19 N 2nd St and will be moving their roasting facilities there and open a cafe.
• ISO: Beers - New craft beer shop and lounge on Santa Clara that should compliment places like Original Gravity and Good Karma quite nicely.
• Ike's Place - One of the best sandwich chains ever, coming to the SJSU area around summer time.

As for the latest status update on my mission to eat at every single restaurant in Downtown San Jose... I'm at 218 out of 242, or 90%. So many new restaurants opened up I am actually a bit behind last quarter!

Below is the changelog from the Downtown San Jose Restaurants Database:

• 12/16/2012 Updated hours and contact info for La Lune Sucree
• 12/16/2012 Taza on Santa Clara street closed
• 12/31/2012 Added ISO: Beers
• 1/13/2013 Repaced Uncle Bernie's Fish & Chips with The City Fish
• 1/21/2013 Added Nemea Greek Taverna, which replaces E&O Trading Company
• 3/16/2013 Replaced Eulipia with Cafe Stritch
• 3/24/2013 Expanded Cafe Stritch's Hours (Sun-Tues 7:00am-10pm, Wed-Sat 7:00am-12am)
• 3/24/2013 Updated the information for Nemea Greek Taverna (4.5 yelp score)
• 3/24/2013 Added the Vyne Bistro wine bar to the list on Paseo de San Antonio
• 3/24/2013 Added K zzang, Downtown's first Korean restaurant that I can remember
• 3/24/2013 Replaced Chevy's at the San Jose Market Center with BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
• 3/24/2013 Added outdoor seating for Chacho's
• 3/24/2013 Added Chocatoo which is in the San Pedro Square Market
• 3/24/2013 Added Konjoe Burger Bar in the San Pedro Square Market
• 3/24/2013 Added Spiedo and Agave Viejo to the Closed Restaurants List (these are old)
• 3/24/2013 Added The Farmer's Union at 151 W. Santa Clara Street
• 3/24/2013 Added Amir Restaurant at 86 N Market (former Morocco's Space)
• 3/24/2013 Added outdoor dining to Grub Shack

If you haven't bookmarked it yet, here's the link to the spreadsheet! There is also a permanent link over to the right entitled Downtown San Jose Restaurants.

March 2013 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Here are my notes from the latest edition of Downtown Dimension:

• The VTA wants to "park" some Light Rail trains in St. James Park in order to speed up train service and create new lines in anticipation of BART coming to the South Bay. Concerns of this configuration are blocked views, safety, and congestion in this area.
• Over Groundwex's next 10 year term, they plan to help fill retail vacancies, put a greater emphasis on safety, increase efficiency with new equipment, beautify key Downtown gateways, and enhance maintenance projects.
• Vyne Bistro is now open at 110 Paseo de San Antonio [Josh: have tried it, great new addition Downtown!]
• K.zzang is a new Korean restaurants at 78 S. First.
• Nemea Greek Taverna is a new flagship Greek restaurant at 96 S. First St. (where E&O used to be). [Josh: looks phenomenal on the inside, even better than E&O with the aesthetics and it will have outdoor seating]
• EcoMonster is a new retail store bringing handcrafted and eco-conscious products to consumers at 30 N. Third St. 
• The city is extending high-rise residential incentives to 2016.
• The next HER city event will be on April 25 and features a fashion show hosted by The Usuals, Lotus Jeans, Brixton Hue, and several others. There will be food, drinks, and a few surprises.

To read the full newsletter, click here!