spring 2012
Transcription
spring 2012
SPRING 2012 VEG & NON-VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT BAR & GRILL OPEN: SIGNATURE RECIPES BY AWARD-WINNING CHEF FROM U.K. ~ SANJAY PATEL 420 S. Main St., Milpitas, CA 95035 (408) 945-7575 (On Main St. between Corning Ave. and Great Mall Parkway) + tax + tax Weekend Brunch Sat. & Sun. Special Signature items in Weekend Brunch $9 99 + tax Fine dining w/ silverware service and waitering Dance floor Fully-licensed bar Lunch buffet Monday to Friday Banquets for up to 200 guests Tuesday Special Lunch Buffet 9-20 0M0ILPITAS POST1 1 $10 99 $12 99 Lunch Buffet Monday to Friday ! ! ! ! ! 2 Monday to Friday 11:30 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. Saturday and Sunday 12:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. Every Evening 5:00 P.M. - 10:30 P.M. of Best Happy Hour in Milpitas 5-7pm!! EXOTIC SIZZLERS COMING SOON!!! We accept Restaurant.com coupons. Loving Hut ORGANIC VEGAN CUISINE Office & Private | Lunch Specials from $7.95 ■ ■ GMO Free Menu ■ ■ ■ 516 Barber Lane Milpitas, CA 95035 Tel: (408)943-0250 www.lovinghut.us be veg... go green 2 save the planet www.SupremeMasterTV.com 2 • SPRING 2012 • ON THE MENU Available for banquets Lunch: Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner: Mon.-Thurs. 5-9 p.m. Fri. & Sat. 5-10 p.m. Closed Sundays Happy Hour: Mon.-Sat. 4-6:30 p.m. Serving Lunch & Dinner Pasta, Veal, Seafood and Steak 579 SOUTH MAIN STREET, MILPITAS, CA 95035 (408) 262-2200 ! www.zahirs.com UNPLUG OR STAY CONNECTED IN OUR NEW GREATROOM. Take some time to unwind in our new Greatroom, where we serve refreshing beverages and tasty fare from our 5|10|20 menu, including healthy options. Meet colleagues for an informal business meeting or celebrate with friends over drinks and appetizers. This new gathering place offers complimentary Wi-Fi that keeps you connected if you need to catch up on email or surf the web. Our Greatroom features 14 state-of-the-art HD LCD screens with a 150-inch video wall at the bar. Happy Hour is daily from 4-7 p.m. Relax and cheer for your favorite teams at Fremont’s newest place for sports and social gatherings! FREMONT MARRIOTT SILICON VALLEY 46100 Landing Parkway Fremont, CA 94538 (510) 413-3700 MarriottFremont.com FREMONT S I L I C O N VA L L E Y ON THE MENU • SPRING 2012 • 3 Duck simmers in a complex savory red curry at Honey Thai, one of Milpitas’ newest eateries. Thailand Without Leaving the Neighborhood Honey Thai has been a work in progress for decades KEL KANADY eople in Silicon Valley have sophisticated palates; many of our customers have been to Thailand, so they know what authentic Thai food is,” explains Nick Poopat of Honey Thai, a new restaurant in Milpitas’ Beresford Square. Open for only six months, one could say this restaurant has been a work in progress for decades. Poopat’s brother Ponsak Poopatanapong lives in Thailand and so when he approached him with the idea of opening a Thai restaurant, he had already done his homework. Combining his MBA, 15 years of restaurant experience, and passion for Thai food, Poopat knew what he wanted to provide his customers: fresh, authentic food in an upscale atmosphere, at affordable prices. Honey Thai is simple and elegant. The teak furnishings and clean tile floor complement the authentic wall décor and soft background music. “We want the first impression to be that of value,” confides Poopat as he hands a customer a black hardcover menu. The menu features Favorite Entrées such as chickBY “P 4 • SPRING 2012 • ON THE MENU en with cashew nuts and Thai style kai jeo ($8.50, $5.50, respectively). Seafood dishes include lemon steamed fish fillet and a spicy basil talay (both $12.95). Poopat explains that there are four levels of spice: mild, medium, spicy and Thai spicy. “Most customers know what they want, but if someone is new to Thai food, we help them decide how hot they like their food. Once diners receive their food, we can adjust the level of spice so it’s just right. We want every customer to be happy.” The next menu section features noodle and rice dishes including pad Thai with shrimp. One of their signature dishes, Poopat’s description of this dish illuminates the difference between Honey Thai and other Thai restaurants. “The ingredients are simple,” he begins, “shrimp, noodles, tofu, egg, bean sprouts, ground peanuts and our special sauce. There are two main differences: it is prepared in a wok not a stovetop, which means it can be very hot and the heat is evenly distributed. Also, we measure everything. While some places may take a handful of noodles and a handful of shrimp, all of our ingredients are precisely measured. This means that it will always taste the same and we can better control the flavor. If you use too many noodles, it will be a bland dish; if you use too few, it will be too salty. And of course, our sauce is very good.” Honey Thai has three chefs (including Poopat) who have known each other for many years. While many of their recipes have been handed down over multiple generations, some dishes have been developed by the three chefs themselves. Every dish begins with fresh ingredients including the pad Thai noodles. Honey Thai also offers vegetarian options. “When we say vegetarian, we mean vegetarian,” promises Poopat. “There are no fish sauces in those dishes. We are very respectful of our customers’ beliefs.” Their signature dessert is mango with sweet sticky rice, a customer favorite. Perhaps the biggest surprise at Honey Thai is their beverage menu. In addition to traditional Thai drinks, they offer a fairly extensive wine and beer list. Wine is sold by the glass for $4.95 and choices include a Cavit pinot grigio, a Beringer white zinfandel, and a Robert Mondavi cabernet sauvignon. Beer choices include Singha and Heineken ($3.95). For a taste of Thailand at a reasonable price, Honey Thai is the sweet spot. Honey Thai is located at 57 N. Milpitas Blvd. in Milpitas. Hours Monday through Friday are 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch; 5 to 9:30 p.m. for dinner; Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., (408) 719-8200, www.honeythai.com. DINO’S FAMILY RESTAURANT ~ ONE OF THE BEST BREAKFASTS IN FREMONT 36930 Fremont Boulevard Fremont, Calif. 94536 (510) 792-6533 ^ STEAKS ^ S EAFOOD 36665 Cedar Blvd., (Top) The house specialty, pad Thai, is prepared in a rocket-hot wok to ensure even cooking. (Right) Owner Nick Poopat has 15 years of restaurant experience and is among three cooks who know how to plate authentic Thai cuisine. (Below) Lemon steamed fish spiked with chiles, a favorite at Honey Thai. Photos by Scott Hester ^ COCKTAI LS Newark, CA 94650 Tuesday to Sunday 3-10PM • ^ DINNER (510) 797-7556 Friday and Saturday 3-11PM BRING THIS AD TO RECEIVE 15% DISCOUNT ON DINE-IN OR TAKE OUT ORDERS Come find the treasured tastes of Thailand along with our exceptional customer service and cleanliness in food preparation and throughout the In Beresford Square, across restaurant. from Milpitas City Hall 57 N. Milpitas Blvd. Milpitas, CA 95035 (408) 719-8200 www.honeythai.com ON THE MENU • SPRING 2012 • 5 Restaurateur Zahir Quddus remodeled a former restaurant for more than a year to create what is perhaps Milpitas’ most sophisticated bistro. The upscale dining experience begins in the ornate bar. Zahir’s: Where Elegance Meets Comfort Noted restaurateur is back in his most sophisticated setting yet KEL KANADY he term “labor of love” resonates throughout Zahir’s Bistro, the newest version of the awardingwinning Milpitas restaurant owned by Zahir Quddus. No newcomer to the area, Quddus has been a resident of Milpitas since 1988; South Main Street is the fourth and “dream come true”location for his restaurant. “I knew the location was perfect, so I was ready to pour my heart and soul into the renovation,” he says. Quddus was personally involved in every minute detail, from the design of the lounge to the elegant art pieces that grace the fine mahogany furnishings. The lounge hosts a comfortable bar area whose clean lines introduce customers to the subtle sophistication that awaits. The main seating area is open with tables to host 160 diners, but unlike many traditional European restaurants, Zahir’s Bistro manages to create a feeling of intimacy. The restaurant features American-Italian cuisine with a vast menu ranging from eggplant linguine parmesan to Zahir’s Famous Prime Rib ($16.95, $32.95, respectively). Though he happily describes menu items such as Tornados, which is filet mignon with french bread, mushroom cap, and two sauces: béarnaise and brandy demi-glace, ($29.95), when asked to select one signature or specialty dish, Quddus declines with a wink. “You are asking me which one of my children I love the most.” Delicate crab and scallop ravioli BY T 6 • SPRING 2012 • ON THE MENU Seafood options can lead in a Southern direction with fettuccini jambalaya, a Creole dish made with andouille sausage, tiger prawns, chicken, bay shrimp, red onions, bell peppers and scallions, ($28.95) or New Orleans Chicken which is a baked chicken breast stuffed with andouille sausage, mushrooms, spinach, Monterey jack cheese, bacon strips and spinach Florentine sauce ($23.95). The lunch menu includes their signature crab melt, flaked dungeness crab, organic Roma tomatoes, artichokes and Monterey jack on sourdough bread, and french dip sandwiches ($12.95, $13.95, respectively). Also featured are pasta dishes such as artichoke chicken penne with sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, artichokes, and white wine lemon sauce, and prawns fettuccini, ($14.95, $15.95, respectively). Other lunchtime entrées include chicken Marsala and grilled salmon, an Atlantic salmon with blood orange beurre blanc ($15.95, $19.95, respectively). For Valentine’s Day, Zahir’s Bistro will feature a romantic four-course prix fix menu. Though Quddus adores good food and enjoys cooking, he admits that at his restaurant, when it comes to the kitchen, “I make a really good coach, but I’m careful to stay on the sidelines.” His engaging personality complements his sideline duties which certainly include developing rapport with all of his customers, including the loyal base who have enjoyed his hospitality for nearly two decades. Asked why he chose the restaurant business, a sometimes challenging field, Quddus quickly responds, “It’s my customers. The love and respect I have for them keeps my passion strong. If I use the best materials — from the 100 percent organic vegetables and top-of-the-line angus beef to the granite bar in the lounge — I know I will achieve the best results.” In addition to the main dining room, Zahir’s Bistro features a separate banquet room that can host up to up 85 people for corporate or family events. The technology includes WiFi capability, television, separate sound system, and projector with a full screen that could exhibit a Powerpoint presentation or a DVD of family photos. The few final details of the creation of this special restaurant will unquestionably be personally touched by the hand — and the heart — of Zahir Quddus himself. Zahir’s Bistro is located at 579 S. Main St. in Milpitas. Hours are Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch; Monday through Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner, (408) 262-2200, www.zahirs.com. (Left) Zahir Quddus takes pride in the art, paintings and bold colors of his new restaurant, which serves many of the classics featured at his previous ventures. (Top) Rack of lamb remains a favorite. (Below) Mango bomba, among the decadent dessert choices. Photos by Scott Hester (Top) A prime rib “cheesecake” sandwich, complemented by a tall beer, at the Marriott Fremont-Silicon Valley Hotel’s newly fashioned restaurant, The Greatroom. (Bottom) The Artisanal Cheese Plate features a peppery pepato, goat’s milk cheddar and petite Camembert. Transformation Makes Marriott Welcoming Breakfast to dinner, hotel uses great room concept KEL KANADY ith a manipulation of lighting, a performer can create magic. The Marriott FremontSilicon Valley Hotel has created its own magic with its completely revamped restaurant area. “This has been a year of change at the Marriott Fremont,” proudly proclaims General Manager Orlando Carrasquillo. “We have incorporated the great room concept, which takes a lobby that once had a museumlike feel — nice looking, but not welcoming — and changes it into a place where guests can feel comfortable relaxing or dining in groups, as couples, or alone.” The warm and inviting bar area hosts a cluster of television monitors that can feature nine different channels at once, or one 81-inch screen with a sound system that can be transferred to overhead speakers, creating a fantastic environment to watch a Sharks game or other sporting event. Return the next morning, however, and you’ll do a double-take as the cocktail lounge is now a café, complete with a knowledgeable BY W 8 • SPRING 2012 • ON THE MENU The cast at Marriott’s revamped restaurant (from left): Rene Mullen, sous chef; Wahid Mohammadi, director of Food and Beverage; Kitchen Supervisor Michael Woehl; and Orlando Carrasquillo, general manager. Executive Chef is Paul Rohadfox. A grilled ribeye perches atop Yukon gold potatoes and Brussels sprouts spiked with pancetta and onions. Photos by Scott Hester barista brewing up Allegro coffees and teas. The panels behind the bar cleverly turn to reveal coffee and tea menus in muted colors while fresh fruits and pastries adorn the once bar, now counter. The translucent panels with the soft lighting that you admired last night are now open to reveal a sumptuous breakfast buffet hosted by an omelet chef. The choices for this morning feast include freshly made waffles, country potatoes, sausage, cereals, delectable breads from San Francisco Bakery, and even smoothie shots ($16.95 for breakfast). A la carte items include healthy versions of traditional dishes such as egg white vegetable frittata ($14) and crunchy french toast, which is whole-wheat bread dipped in lowcholesterol eggs and crushed corn flakes, served with fresh berries ($11). Catering to customer needs is the obvious mainstay of the Marriott credo. An example of this customer dedica- tion is their All Day 5, 10, 20 Menu. This menu helps diners select food items based on how much time they have. If a quick snack is need, the 5-Easy Appetizers choices include the popular Artisanal Cheese Plate, which features local cheeses such as pepato, goat’s milk cheddar and petite Camembert ($15). If a guest has more time, the 20-Light Entrées section is a better choice with dishes such as a poached salmon that looks as good as it tastes, presented with baby vegetables basil fume and prepared with lobster ghee ($23). Another chef ’s specialty is the grilled ribeye ($30), which is a 14-ounce steak with milled Yukon gold potatoes, Brussels sprouts, pancetta and onions topped with a cabernet demi. For a more traditional meal, the Marriott offers chicken pot pie, prepared with fine herbs on a puff pastry ($17) or spaghetti and meatballs with shaved Asiago cheese ($20). Like the entire dining concept, menu items are continually updated. An appetizer soon to be released is Baylands Potato Chips, named with a historic nod to the Fremont raceway that once graced the area. These thin, crispy chips will be created daily by Sous Chef Rene Mullen and contain an essence of truffle, herbs, seasonings and Parmesan cheese; they are sure to be a hit. The goal to create an atmosphere of comfortable luxury has certainly been met at the Marriott Fremont-Silicon Valley’s Greatroom. Marriott Fremont-Silicon Valley is located at 46100 Landing Parkway in Fremont. Hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, (510) 413-3700, www.marriottfremont.com. ON THE MENU • SPRING 2012 • 9 Bear Necessities Family-friendly diner plates nostalgic comfort food KEL KANADY n a vast area like Silicon Valley, it’s nice to create a place where people can come together for good old-fashioned family food.” The lifeloving personalities of owners Celina Gonzales and her husband Sam Ghaben create a warm and friendly atmosphere at the Black Bear Diner. This “cutest couple” duo originally met (and married) while working in a restaurant. They decided to venture into a more lucrative field with more standard hours as they raised their children, but they always knew that their hearts belonged to serving good food to good people. In August, they opened a Black Bear franchise in Milpitas. “I graduated from San Jose State and love this area,” Gonzales explains. “And while a Black Bear Diner is consistent in every location, each one has its own autonomy, paying tribute to the local area.” The décor definitely represents the rich history of Milpitas, from the carved bears — hang-gliders and auto assembly line workers — to the beautiful murals of Milpitas hills. The “spirit room” in the back has a largescreen television and a mural with a Raiders bear and an Oakland Athletics bear. There’s even a photograph of a Spartan cheerleader that looks suspiciously familiar. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner meals at any time. A Denver omelet at 8 p.m. or New York steak at 8 a.m. is happily prepared and served. The food could be described as American comfort food with traditional options such as the Barbeque Tri-Tip Platter which is sliced, marinated tri-tip served with onion rings and homemade cole slaw ($13.99), and chicken pot pie with creamy chicken and vegetables covered with a flaky pie crust and BY “I Diner owners Sam Ghaben and Celina Gonzales stand before a pair of bears, among the dozens inside and out of the new Milpitas family restaurant. 10 • SPRING 2012 • ON THE MENU baked to a golden brown. This dish is served with sautéed vegetables ($10.99). Customer favorites also include meat loaf and pot roast, both served with mashed potatoes, country gravy and vegetables ($9.99 each). With six different salads ($9.49 each) and “little less” menus where portions are average sized, various options are available. At approximately 8 inches in diameter, the “bear claw” pastry looks like a life-size pastry paw print on a plate. Made fresh daily, flavors include almond or fruit-filled ($4.49 to $4.99). Their dessert menu also features Grandma’s Famous Cobbler with flavors of blackberry, apple or peach, an outof-this-world homemade breading pudding that is topped with a pecan praline sauce and decadent cream pies (chocolate, banana or coconut). Each is $4.99. Chocolate-lovers meet their match with Mount Shasta Lava Cake, homemade chocolate cake with a gooey chocolate pudding-like center. It is served hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and chocolate drizzle ($5.99). These desserts are made fresh daily by the pastry chef. On weekends, the lines of people waiting are long, so Gonzales greets her outside customers with small glasses of orange juice and pieces of bear claw. “Just a taste of what’s coming.” And since their orange juice is freshly squeezed, a full glass is worth the wait. For anyone hungry as a bear, Gonzales and Ghaben, with their unbearably cute puns and merchandise, are sure to make you feel right at home. Black Bear Diner is located at 174 W. Calaveras Blvd. in Milpitas. Hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, except Fridays and Saturdays, when the restaurant is open until 11 p.m.,(408) 9462327, www.blackbeardiner.com. (Opposite page) Chicken taco salad is jacked up with salsa and fresh avocado at Black Bear Diner. (Above) A classic turkey and bacon club fills the platter, alongside thick onion rings. (Below left) A chocolately-gooey Mount Shasta Lava Cake. (Below right) Hand-painted murals of the slopes below Mount Shasta, where the Black Bear Diner chain was founded in 1995, adorn the restaurant. Photos by Jubil Mathew OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: Sunday-Wednesday 8am-3am Thursday-Saturday 8am-4am Item # 1 Beef Combo Soup Item # 39 Seafood Noodle Item # 75 Combo Shrimp, Chicken, Beef with Crunchy Pan Fried Noodles Item # 126 Korean BBQ Beef Ribs Item # 20 Chicken Breast with Rice Noodle Item # 59 Grilled Shrimp and Pork Item # 87 Shaved Ice with Vanilla Ice Cream and Fruit Item # 77 Pad Thai and Thai Tea 12 • SPRING 2012 • ON THE MENU On The Menu D I N I N G SPRING 2012 M A G A Z I N E • Vol. 3 • Issue 2 EDITOR & PUBLISHER ROBERT J. DEVINCENZI PRODUCTION MANAGER THE BEST BREAKFAST SPOT 18 3 Eggs with Bacon or Sausage, Hash Browns, Toast & Jelly Cajun or Italian Sausage, 3 Eggs, Hash Browns, Toast & Jelly ■ $6.20 $6.95 French Toast or Waffle, 2 Eggs, Bacon or Sausage Country Sausage with Biscuits & Gravy and 2 Eggs CHRISTINE ENG ■ BUSINESS MANAGER $6.95 $7.25 GRAPHIC DESIGNER KARI NYEMASTER FEATURE WRITER KEL KANADY PHOTOGRAPHERS SCOTT HESTER J U B I L M AT H E W ADVERTISING MARY BAUERLE LIZ POLLOCK E M M A TA L O M A GLORIA GUILLEN Phone: (408) 262-2454 Fax: (408) 263-9710 E-mail: [email protected] Address: 59 Marylinn Drive, Milpitas, Calif. 95035 Contents copyright ©2012 Milpitas Post Newspapers. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced in any form without publisher’s written permission. We Also Serve Vegetarian Dishes YEARS RUNNING! Breakfast Specials Served Mon.-Fri. until 11 a.m. ■ ■ GLORIA GUILLEN Cover photo by Scott Hester VOTED Chicken Fried Steak, 3 Eggs, Hash Browns, Toast & Jelly ■ $8.45 Omelette of The Day with Hash Browns, Toast & Jelly ■ $6.95 Please, at these prices, we’re unable to make substitutions We offer over 20 lunch specials starting at $7.95 each. This includes the main entree, soup or salad, potato, vegetables and bread. Hours: Monday to Friday 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come try us out! Bring the family!! MIL’S 36 ABBOTT AVENUE, MILPITAS, CA (408) 946-4773 HOURS Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 481 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas (408) 263-8288 (Inside Milpitas Town Center) Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. 39029 Cedar Boulevard, 262 E. Santa Clara Street, 520 Showers Drive 6905 Camino Arroyo Dr.#10 Newark (510) 713-8883 San Jose (408) 289-8688 Mountain View (650) 947-8888 Gilroy (408) 847-6988 (Inside Lion Shopping Center) (Next to San Jose City Hall between 6th St. & 7th St.) (Inside San Antonio Shopping Center) (Inside Gilroy Crossing Center) Friday 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m-8:30 p.m 78 Serra Way, Milpitas (408) 262-4272 ON THE MENU • SPRING 2012 • 13 P R E S E N T E D B Y M I L P I T A S - F R E M O N T- S A N J O S E C O M M U N I T Y N E W S P A P E R S On The Menu Inside On The Menu High Quality… On The Menu is a compact, all-color magazine published with the Milpitas Post, Fremont Bulletin and North San Jose community newspapers. This stylish glossy supplement features menus and specials from local restaurants, plus recipes from local chefs and profiles on dining establishments. Yet Affordable On the Menu Magazine is delivered to Silicon Valley’s affluent neighborhoods. It’s targeted to higher-spending readers, but priced for today’s economic reality. On The Menu Magazine is a home-delivered supplement to Milpitas Post, and will also reach high-traffic points in Milpitas and parts of Fremont. Nearly 40,000 readership. Ad Rates & Sizes Ad Options Size Run one time Run four times Full Page 7.3” wide x 9.35” tall $800 $700 / per ad 1/2 Page (Vertical) 3.5” wide x 9.25” tall $475 $425 / per ad 1/2 Page (Horizontal) 7.3” wide x 4.5” tall $475 $425 / per ad 1/4 Page 3.5” wide x 4.5” tall $300 $250 / per ad Inside Front Cover or Inside Back Cover $950 $850 / per ad Back Cover $1050 $950 / per ad Full color charge included in rate. Inside front cover and back cover are available on a first come, first serve basis. Next Issue Summer 2012 Deadline Space reservation: May 31, 2012 Contact an advertising representative at (408) 262-2454 or (510) 661-9920 The local newspapers that serve your primary market area…and deliver excellent results. 14 • SPRING 2012 • ON THE MENU BEST THAI FOOD 15% OFF TOTAL BILL FOR DINNER ONLY with coupon expires 4/30/12 FREE delivery on a minimum purchase of $25. (Milpitas only) 1818 Milmont Dr. Milpitas | 95035 (408) 941-9486 www.banhthaimilpitas.com 39060 Fremont Blvd. Fremont | 94538 (510) 739-1698 www.banhthaifremont.com Buy 1 and Get 2nd Half Price Expires 12-31-12 ON THE MENU • SPRING 2012 • 15