Lest the South Bay—or its products—continue any longer without an idyllic nickname, Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association may have thought up a worthy successor to “Valley of Heart’s Delight” when they named their event Pinot Paradise.
Articles by Heather Zimmerman
“Chocatoo” might describe an avian from the peppermint forests of Candyland or perhaps Count Chocula’s new pet bird (made of marshmallow, of course). But in real life, the playful name is better understood as the name of a dessert shop that offers chocolate, but many other sweets, too.
If a restaurant could ever be said to have plumage, the bold-hued decor of Ciano’s Modern Latin Flavors would qualify. It’s much like the presentation of the food at Ciano’s: dishes are plated attractively, with obvious attention paid to highlighting the ingredients’ colors and textures, but it’s not over the top.
The rustic-industrial atmosphere at Vino Vino intentionally conjures a sense of contrast. Rough-hewn wood furniture, smooth concrete tabletops and a steel, arc-shaped wine tap behind the bar are all meant to counter wine’s stereotypically stuffy image.
Diverse influences run rampant in the decor at Amir Mediterranean Restaurant, but it’s the array of jewel-like, mosaicked Moroccan lanterns dotting the space—the focal point of the small restaurant—that reflect the menu’s straightforward focus on casual Mediterranean cuisine.
With a name more evocative of car parts or shoes, the opaquely styled Tpumps has nonetheless drawn long lines to its new digs in Cupertino on Stevens Creek Boulevard.
On the screens, in music video form, romantic scenes and dramatic confrontations unfold in many different settings: the beach, a lush garden, a temple courtyard. This built-in entertainment offers a good sense of the restaurant itself—a menu with a little bit of everything.
Judging a book by its cover, from the outside, Chaat Bhavan looks like a place for a quick bite. Inside, however, it’s quite a bit different.
A central spot in downtown San Jose’s SoFA district will soon be home to a completely new agenda, of sorts. First to Market, dedicated to American regional comfort food, plans to open at the former location of Agenda, at 399 S. First St., San Jose, later this month.
