Winter Kraftbrew will be in the Landmark Ballroom at the San Jose Women’s Club. We will be pouring some fantastic Winter Spiced Ales, Porters and Stouts. Delicious menu to be provided by Naglee Park Garage. Come by for some excellent brew…s, live music, and good food.

Address: 75 S 11th Street, San Jose CA, 95112
Event Date: January 28th, 2012
Hours: 3pm-9pm
FREE admission – just pay to taste!

The food:
Ale poached smoked brat & polish dog $5
Cocoa braised beef stew $9
Dark Strong Ale braised pork ribs $8
Beet & green bean salad $5
Home Fries w/ smoked porter ketchup $5
Winter vegetable lasagne $9

Prices for beer will vary:
Beer Tastes range $2/$3
Full Beer range $4/$6

The beers:

American Ales

Alaskan Brewing Co. – Juneau, AK Winter – Ale “Old Ale “ ABV6.4% DBI
Allagash Brewing Co. – Portland, MN – Black “Belgian Strong Ale” ABV 7.5% WW
Bison Brewing Co.- Berkeley, CA. – Organic Ginger Bread Ale “Herbed/Spiced Beer” ABV 6.0% CI
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery – Milton, DE – Punkin Ale “Pumpkin Ale” ABV 7.0% DBI
North Coast Brewing Co. – Fort Bragg, CA Old Stock Ale “Old Ale” ABV 11.7% WW
Uinta Brewing Co. – Salt Lake City, UT – Dubhe Imperial Black IPA “American Black Ale” ABV 9.2% WW
Port Brewing Co. – San Marcos, Ca – Old Vicosity Dark Strong Ale “American Double/Imperial Stout” ABV 10.0% WW
Mission Brewery – San Diego, Ca. Shipwrecked Double IPA “American Double/Imperial Ipa

ABV 9.25%WW
The Bruery – Placentia, CA – Mischief “Strong Golden Ale” ABV8.5% WW

American Porters

Alaskan Brewing Co. – Juneau, AK – Smoked Porter “American Porter” ABV 6.5% DBI
Deschutes Brewing Co. – Bend, Or. – Black Butte Porter “American Porter” ABV 5.2% DBI
Rogue Ales – Newport, Or. – Mocha Porter “American Porter” ABV5.3% CI
Stone Brewing Co. – Escondido, Ca. – Stone Smoked Porter “American Porter” ABV 5.9% DBI

American Stouts

Anderson Valley Brewing Co. – Boonville, CA – Barny Flats “Oatmeal Stout” ABV 5.7% WW
Bison Brewing Co.- Berkeley, Ca. Organic Chocolate Stout “American Stout” ABV 5.0% CI
Drakes Brewing Co. – San Leandro, Ca.Drakonic Russian Imperial Stout “Russian Stout” ABV 8.75%CI
Rogue Ales – Newport, Or. – Chocolate Stout “American Stout” ABV 6% CI
Stone Brewing Co. – Escondido, Ca Stone Imperial Russian Stout ABV10.5% DBI

Belgian & Friends
Bieres De Chimay – Belgium – Grand Reserve Blue Belgian Strong Dark Ale
9.00% ABV WW
Brasserie De Saint-Sylvestre – France – Biere De Garde ”Red Ale” ABV 8.5%
Brasserie Huyghe – Belgium – Delirium Nocturnum Belgian Strong Dark Ale
8.50% ABV WW
Brasserie ST. Feuillien – Belgium – St. Feuillien “Belgian Strong Dark Ale”ABV 9% CI
Brouwerij De Landtsheer NV – Belgium – Malheur 12 Ale “Quadrupel” ABV 12% WW
Eggenberger Brewery – Austria – Samichlaus “Dark Doppelbock” ABV 14% WW
Harviestoun Brewery – Scotland – Old Engine Oil “English Porter” ABV 6% WW
Unibroue– Chambly, Canada – Chambly Noire “Belgian Dark Ale” ABV 6.2% WW

The Naglee Park Garage is the kind of neighborhood restaurant that you want located a short bike ride down the street from your house.  There is a small interior space with a few bar stools and some tables with the kitchen wide open and the grill right there.  In any case it is located very close to San Jose State University, hence the 7-11 right next door.  It was featured on Triple D’s, which is how we found out about it, but I’m not sure that it is a typical Triple D’s pick, it is maybe a bit on the hip divey side, so OK, it works for that.  You order your food and a beer (Allagash White – A traditional Belgian Wheat Beer on Draft) at the counter and can grab a seat inside or if it is nice enough you can sit out back at a picnic table in the beer garden.  The menu is not what you would expect from an order at the counter joint.  The fare includes interesting seasonal California foods such as salads including their classic Picnic Salad with beets, blue cheese, and bacon or a seasonal salad with apples, pears, endive, and goat cheese as well as tasty burgers and interesting main dishes (Ribs, Trout, Lamb Meatballs).  My choice for tastiness (and a great date night place to sit at the bar) is to split the burger and order a small salad and an interesting side … oh, as well as what I would consider the best item on the menu, their Chocolate Bread Pudding with whip cream and candied pecans (or vanilla too) for dessert.

I’ve been to Naglee Park Garage at least five times now and my friends from out of town dig it.  They do have breakfast (mmm… tri-tip hash), although I’ve never tried it and they also cater local backyard family-style events which sounds interesting and you can check that out on their website.

* Photos by Deb Hayes

I was introduced to Mezcal Restaurant in downtown San Jose, CA, after seeing the Mapplethorpe photo-exhibition at the San Jose Museum of Art last week (& Mezcal is right across the street from the SJMA).  To be honest, when I first walked by Mezcal I thought it was a cheesy, downtown SJ bar from the outside (and that is probably my own bias) but I was so pleasantly surprised when we stepped inside. Friends who had dined there numerous times and who really know their moles and real Mexican food (sorry, no burritos here) highly recommended Mezcal Restaurant.  The cuisine is authentic Oaxacan regional cuisine with an accent on their homemade moles and imported Oaxacan Mezcals (Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage, a sibling of Tequila, made from the maguey plant – boasting a delicious strong smoky flavor).  The moles are created by the mother, Doña Libo, (owned by two sons and their mother) with ingredients imported from Oaxaca.  The indoor dining room boasts a collection of hand painted Mezcal boxes  that are very contemporary Mexico and beautifully displayed together on the bar.  The atmosphere is fun with tables, chairs, and art also imported from Oaxaca.  The service we received was wonderful and welcoming with lots of information about each dish served.  We even got to go back in the kitchen so Deb could photograph Dona creating homemade tortillas (pictured above).

When you arrive you are served chips that allow you to taste the three different kinds of mole sauce:

• Estofado, a sweet mole made of mild tomatillos and peanuts
• Coloradito, a red mole made of tomatoes and chiles de arbol
• Mole Negro that is deeply complex with a mixture of chiles, chocolate and spices

The mole dishes are the stars of the menu, as is the unique Chapulines (fried grasshoppers sautéed with garlic, lime and salt served as an appetizer).  I recommend the Estofados, Enchiladas, or Enmoladas, depending on which mole you liked (corn tortillas with mole, cheese, onions, your choice of meat, I got the pork). You can buy mole to go but it is expensive because there are so many ingredients (imported from Oaxaca) and it is such a time consuming dish to create.  Also, don’t miss the homemade Pecan ice cream and the Horchata with fruit and nuts that you can order at lunch time.

• Check out their Happy Hour: M-Th 3-7pm & Fridays 3-6pm
  

I am going to be bold here.  This is one of the best restaurants I have tried in the area in 2011. When I go back I will order: A Mezcal cocktail, Chapulines for an appetizer, Estofados as my meal, and definitely the Pecan Ice Cream for dessert.  Try it out and let me know what you think!

25 West San Fernando Street
San Jose, CA 95113-2477
(408) 283-9595 ?
mezcalrestaurantsj.com

SJ MADE • A Locally Made one-day event will feature:

• Artists, purveyors, makers, & vendors

Located at San Pedro Square – Downtown San Jose
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 – 12-8pm
151 W. Santa Clara Street
65 N. San Pedro Street

SJ EATS • A Mobile Feast will feature the best:

• Food Trucks & Carts (Silog plates, Short rib burritos, Samosas, Half Moon Bay Lobster Rolls, Horchata Ice Cream …)

Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 – 11:30-3:30pm
On the Corner of N. Almaden Avenue
& W. St. John Street

Santa Clara Native: Where the Locals Eat

• Name: DP “DareBear” – 3rd or 4th Generation Californian + First Gen. Chinese
  
• Occupation: Bartender & Graphic Design Student

• How long he’s lived in San Jose: More than 20 years!

• Favorite Local Eat and Treat: Family Birthdays Celebrated @ Okayama Restaurant
• Location: Japantown, San Jose

“DareBear” always takes girls for first dates to Okayama!  Then they fall in love, and with the way the story was told to me, with the restaurant anyways.  Okayama Restaurant, family owned and operated in Japantown since 1967 (one of last three historical Japantowns remaining in the US),  is also DP’s family’s favorite place to go for special occasions, particularly birthdays (they give special treatment for birthdays).  They always call ahead for reservations because it can be crowded.  DP and his sister both order the Beef Teppanyaki.  His mom gets the Soup with Tofu, his brother orders the Chicken katsu (Hawaiian Dish), and his father likes the Beef Teriyaki.  DP remembers as a kid being served otter pops on his birthday and says adults got green tea ice cream.  On their website I noticed that they offer a free birthday lunch or dinner with your ID for a party of 4 or more.

(408) 289-9508

Cicero’s Pizza opened in San Jose, CA (Cupertino, CA to be exact) in 1968 which has given it thirty years and three different locations to build a local following.  We’ve tried so many pizza joints around San Jose from A Slice of New York (we like the garlic knots and cannoli’s @ Slice of NY) to Rosie’s New York Pizza, Pizza Chicago, Pizza My Heart, Thunderbird, and few others.  Cicero’s feels the most like a neighborhood joint, that you would go to after a softball game or swim meet, even though it is located in a a Safeway strip mall in its current location.  It is a comfort zone where you can wear your sweats and feel nostalgic for your hometown pizza place like my beloved Pizza Villa that I grew up frequenting every Wednesday night in the summers.  Local folks seem to stop by Cicero’s to pick-up pizzas on Friday nights on their way home from work to take to the family.  Cicero’s also has a decent size dining room (please don’t modernize it) where you can order at the counter and take a seat at a booth or table and sip on a draft Sierra while you wait.

Our favorite is the shredded Italian sausage, very fine crumbs, topping on Cicero’s thin crust pizza (crust is not so crispy that it is like a cracker, just not deep dish).  Lots of people suggest the Belly Buster but once we found the crumbled sausage pizza, we were hooked.

Cicero’s Pizza
6138 Bollinger Road
San Jose/Cupertino
408-777-0690

San Jose Native: What the locals drink!

• Name: An
• Occupation: Art Student with an Eye on the Time
• How long she’s lived in San Jose: More than 20 years!
• Favorite Local Eat: Mint Mojito Iced Coffee @ Philz Coffee
• Location: San Jose, CA (Two Philz Locations in SF too)

An has lived in San Jose since she was one years old, so that counts as a native CA’er for sure!  She told me to go to Philz and order the Mint Mojito Iced Coffee and to get a large for a whopping $4.50!  She says you will want a large if you order a small and it is only .50 cents more than the small.   Philz even charges $3 for their drip cups of coffee and An claims it’s that good.  They make a mocha type of coffee drink with a frothy top and add fresh mint.  An discovered this drink in SF one afternoon and later found out they had a location in downtown San Jose where she now goes to get her fix while parked in a free, secret spot near the MLK Library. Thanks for the tip An!

Philz Coffee

118 Paseo de san Antonio
San Jose, CA 95112

Open Weekdays 6:30am-10pm; Sat 7am-10pm; Sun 7am-9pm

South Bay Native: Where the Locals Eat!

• Name: Tammy
• Occupation: Photo-Lab Manager
• How Long You’ve Lived in the South Bay: More than 40 years!
• Favorite Local Eat: Tossed Shredded Chicken Salad @ Tao Tao Cafe
• Location: Sunnyvale, CA

Tao Tao opened in 1951 as a family style American-Chinese Restaurant but became the Chinese restaurant it is today after folks from Ming’s Restaurant in Palo Alto bought it in 1974.

Tammy told me that she has been frequenting Tao Tao Cafe in Sunnyvale, CA, a Cantonese Restaurant, since her kids were young (over twenty years now).  She can remember going to Tao Tao when they had their original place and loved the old atmosphere.  The Tossed Shredded Chicken Salad (crispy noodles, peanuts, cilantro) can be ordered for dining in or for carry-out. When she used to eat beef Tammy also loved their Tao Tao Beef which is the other really popular dish. Tao Tao’s two famous drinks are the Mai Tai and the Fog Cutter. Tammy has a good story about the time her mother, her sister, and she ordered the Fog Cutter, a Long Island Iced Tea type of drink (rum, brandy, gin, sweet sherry & juices). But you’ll have to ask her about it.  To read more about the history of Tao Tao check out this out.

175 South Murphy Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086-6113
(408) 736-3731

• Favorite Special Occasion Treat: Shadowbrook Restaurant
• Location: Santa Cruz, CA

The Shadowbrook in Santa Cruz has been around forever, since 1947 to be exact. It is a special place that Tammy and her husband frequent for Anniversary milestones!  The Shadowbrook serves traditional fare such as steaks and seafood and you can ride on a tram-like operation to get down to the dining room.  For dinner you sit at tables that overlook the river that flows to the ocean near Capitola.

1750 Wharf Road • Capitola-by-the-Sea, California 95010
(800) 975-1511 or (831) 475-1511

When you start working for a living, after the poor college years of saving money by eating Instant Ramen Noodles so that you can make an important purchase such as a guitar amp, used camera, or snowboard, you can start eating the real Ramen (at least you should – $8-$14).  A discussion with a friend over a lunch of good Ramen at Santouka Ramen at the Mitsuwa Marketplace in San Jose helped me figure out what makes Ramen good.  My friend said it has to do with the flavor of the broth and more accurately, how they achieve the flavor of the broth.  There are two ways to flavor the broth.  You’ve had Cup of Ramen right?  Two major brands found in the USA are Nissin and Maruchan however, according to a.rainy.day “Guide to Eating Good Ramen,” Korean Ramen (ramyeon as it’s called) is the very best store-bought Ramen.  There are flavor packets that you add to the hot water.  This is the first way to flavor the broth.  The second way is to boil such ingredients as pork bones in chicken, pork, or fish stock broth and then Miso or Soy Sauce is added or mixed with the broth right at serving.  Shoyu is a soy-based flavor and Miso is the other flavor of the broth.  I personally like the Miso because it has much more depth making it like drinking a fatty, slow cooked drink of bacon. My other favorite part of Ramen is the tender, melt in your mouth, don’t need a knife, thinly sliced barbecue pork (you have to order extra piece of pork at Santouka if you want it, and you will).  Another reason to love Ramen, this is coming from an artist, is because of its beautiful color combination of floating food accessories on top that add various textures and variety to your bites.  Whenever I take my first bite of Ramen I am always surprised at the depth of  flavor in merely a broth because it is practically like chewing a thick piece of meat that has already melted in your mouth … so you don’t have to chew.

The Four Parts of Ramen:

• Noodles (Slick & Smooth Chinese Style Noodles)
• Broth (Pork Bones boiled in Chicken, Pork, or Fish Stock/Broth) *Top often glistens with droplets of pork fat
• Base (Miso or Soy or flavored-oil such as Sesame)
• Toppings (Thinly sliced Chinese barbecued pork, pickled bamboo shoots, mushrooms, scallions, sometimes hot pickled red ginger)

One the side: Onsen Tamago (boiled egg simmered in a soy-based broth)

Santouka Ramen vs. Halu Ramen (read our past BITF Review of Halu Ramen)

HALU RAMEN Review

Halu Ramen, a spot also on Saratoga Avenue has a line out the door at lunch time, and is run by a Japanese surfer chef.  Check out Halu’s seasonal Ramen special, Pumpkin Ramen.  Santouka Ramen, down the street on Saratoga, is located inside of the immaculate Japanese Mitsuwa Market.  You can choose from 3 different types of broth and 3 different sizes.  Mitsuwa Market is well worth a visit in and of itself for its impressive selection of foods and desserts (love the packaging).

* Next spot to try is Orenchi Ramen in Santa Clara

• Best Ramen in San Jose
• Best Ramen in San Francisco
• Best Ramen in NYC

Saturday & Sunday – July 10 & 11, 2010 •  This weekend, today!  Odori Dancing to still happen tonight, Sunday @ 6pm in SJ Japantown.

The Obon Festival in Japantown, San Jose is run by about four thousand volunteers from the community and the San Jose Buddhist Temple.   The Obon festival is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one’s ancestors.  The volunteers work for days preparing the food such as:

• Beef Teriyaki ($1.50 per kabob)
• Chicken Teriyaki (Large Pieces of Chicken $4)
• Nigiri Sushi ($5-6)
• Vegetable Tempura ($5)
• Bubble Tea ($4)
• Imagawa Yaki (dessert) ($2.50 for 2)
• Manju (dessert)
• Also try: Corn on the Cob, Strawberry Shortcake, Chicken Salad w/ Ramen & Cabbage & Sake or Beer (These have become other festival favorites at Obon SJ.)

What I liked about this festival was that the food was affordable and in-tune with the culture.  We walked around sampling many different tasty bites.  I saw lots of folks stopping by and buying large quantities of chicken teriyaki and beef teriyaki to take home for their families.  The take-out told me that the food is known for being good and that people have made it a tradition to stop by and pick it up each year.  After the lunchtime rush, the lines got shorter and there were plenty of places to sit and enjoy your food both inside and outside.  Out in the sun we saw Taiko drummers perform and we could have even taped down our blanket to save a spot for the Bon Odori dancing that started later in the evening.

Get there early and get a parking spot.  Some lots were $2 for all day.  Otherwise you will drive around for an extended period to find a decent place to park.

More information from past: Yelpers

More San Jose Obon Festival Photographs: Flickr