Monday, December 1, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Quick Bite: Caffe Trieste, downtown San Jose
By Amy Pizarro for the Mercury News
One detail says all you need to know about Caffe Trieste: champagne flutes.
When was the last time you saw those at a neighborhood coffeehouse?
The downtown San Jose newcomer, latest link in a Bay Area chain that originated in San Francisco's North Beach, gets the basics right with a full menu of the usual coffeehouse suspects. But sipping a glass of crisp prosecco in a flute makes it feel far classier than your ordinary mom-and-pop joint.
The 60-seat cafe, which opened in August, is a few doors down from the California Theatre near First and San Carlos streets.
Order at the counter, then find a seat either on the first floor or in the upstairs loft, which has couches as well as tables and chairs. The decor is simple but pleasant, with low-hanging fans and yellow walls framed by dusky blue trim. There's a counter at the window if you wish to people-watch, or keep to yourself at the wooden bar set against a mirrored panel, a cool piece picked up from San Jose's historic Almaden Feed and Fuel.
The menu's best bet is fresh-off-the-press panini, a kind of sandwich I'm crazy about. In fact, I like panini so much I even enjoy those that aren't so good — overloaded with oily filling or so bready you can barely stuff them down. That's not a problem at Caffe Trieste, where the market-fresh ingredients and quality Le Boulanger breads are in perfect balance, at bargain prices.
The ham and cheese panini ($5.95) comes grilled in a ciabatta loaf. Its crisp golden crust gave way to a soft center, with generous portions of smoky ham and Swiss cheese. It was a bit cool in the middle, but that was easy to forgive once I tasted the tangy sun-dried tomato pesto.
Even better is the vegetarian panini ($6.95). Grilled portobello mushrooms mingle with Roma tomato and red onion atop arugula leaves and roasted red pepper pesto. The filling is topped with a layer of creamy goat cheese so thick it burst out the back of the sandwich as I chomped down. It might be a tad rich for some palates, but I was in heaven.
My companion's favorite was the grilled chicken panini ($5.95). This hearty sandwich is layered with fresh tomato and arugula, plus two thin filets of tender, flavorful chicken. Basil pesto finishes the dish.
Also satisfying is the baguette sandwich, served in a sturdy 10-inch roll with a dense crust and a soft, chewy interior. Shaved ham and romaine are laid across a fat strip of creamy Brie in the ham-and-cheese ($5.95). Dijon mustard and a spread of butter give this sandwich a rich European flavor.
There are several varieties of quiche, and I opted for a slice of the savory quiche Lorraine ($5.95). The rich, flaky crust holds fluffy egg and thin folds of ham and Swiss cheese to create a dish that is light but still hearty. It is served alongside a sizable salad of mixed baby greens, balsamic vinegar, shredded Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.
I highly recommend finishing your meal with a treat from the pastry case. At the suggestion of our cashier, who thoughtfully remembered we were drinking wine, we sampled an exquisite fruit tart ($3.65) filled with a mound of glazed kiwis, mango and assorted berries. Another strong choice is the creamy cannoli, one of the traditional Italian desserts imported daily from Dianda's Italian American Pastry in San Francisco.
Buying from a local pastry store might be cheaper, but it's that kind of refined detail that sets Caffe Trieste apart.
CAFFE TRIESTE
315 S. First St., San Jose(408) 287-0400, www.caffetrieste.com
Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-midnight Friday, 8 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday
Types of food: Pastries, sandwiches and panini, salads
Average price: $6
Good choices: Vegetarian panini, ham-and-brie sandwich
Attitude: Casual
Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, outdoor seating; live music on weekends and open-mic night on Tuesdays
Vegetarian options: Salads, quiche and several sandwiches
Drinks: Full coffeehouse menu, plus wine, beer, sparkling water, juice, soda and tea
Eat in car: The baguette sandwich would be an easy commuter meal.
Next-day edibility: A panini and a baguette sandwich were both lovely after rejuvenation in the microwave.
Who goes there: Families, theatergoers, neighborhood office workers.
Credit cards: Accepted
Parking: On-street parking is metered; otherwise, there are several nearby garages.
Restaurant reviews are conducted anonymously. The Mercury News pays for all meals.
One detail says all you need to know about Caffe Trieste: champagne flutes.
When was the last time you saw those at a neighborhood coffeehouse?
The downtown San Jose newcomer, latest link in a Bay Area chain that originated in San Francisco's North Beach, gets the basics right with a full menu of the usual coffeehouse suspects. But sipping a glass of crisp prosecco in a flute makes it feel far classier than your ordinary mom-and-pop joint.
The 60-seat cafe, which opened in August, is a few doors down from the California Theatre near First and San Carlos streets.
Order at the counter, then find a seat either on the first floor or in the upstairs loft, which has couches as well as tables and chairs. The decor is simple but pleasant, with low-hanging fans and yellow walls framed by dusky blue trim. There's a counter at the window if you wish to people-watch, or keep to yourself at the wooden bar set against a mirrored panel, a cool piece picked up from San Jose's historic Almaden Feed and Fuel.
The menu's best bet is fresh-off-the-press panini, a kind of sandwich I'm crazy about. In fact, I like panini so much I even enjoy those that aren't so good — overloaded with oily filling or so bready you can barely stuff them down. That's not a problem at Caffe Trieste, where the market-fresh ingredients and quality Le Boulanger breads are in perfect balance, at bargain prices.
The ham and cheese panini ($5.95) comes grilled in a ciabatta loaf. Its crisp golden crust gave way to a soft center, with generous portions of smoky ham and Swiss cheese. It was a bit cool in the middle, but that was easy to forgive once I tasted the tangy sun-dried tomato pesto.
Even better is the vegetarian panini ($6.95). Grilled portobello mushrooms mingle with Roma tomato and red onion atop arugula leaves and roasted red pepper pesto. The filling is topped with a layer of creamy goat cheese so thick it burst out the back of the sandwich as I chomped down. It might be a tad rich for some palates, but I was in heaven.
My companion's favorite was the grilled chicken panini ($5.95). This hearty sandwich is layered with fresh tomato and arugula, plus two thin filets of tender, flavorful chicken. Basil pesto finishes the dish.
Also satisfying is the baguette sandwich, served in a sturdy 10-inch roll with a dense crust and a soft, chewy interior. Shaved ham and romaine are laid across a fat strip of creamy Brie in the ham-and-cheese ($5.95). Dijon mustard and a spread of butter give this sandwich a rich European flavor.
There are several varieties of quiche, and I opted for a slice of the savory quiche Lorraine ($5.95). The rich, flaky crust holds fluffy egg and thin folds of ham and Swiss cheese to create a dish that is light but still hearty. It is served alongside a sizable salad of mixed baby greens, balsamic vinegar, shredded Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.
I highly recommend finishing your meal with a treat from the pastry case. At the suggestion of our cashier, who thoughtfully remembered we were drinking wine, we sampled an exquisite fruit tart ($3.65) filled with a mound of glazed kiwis, mango and assorted berries. Another strong choice is the creamy cannoli, one of the traditional Italian desserts imported daily from Dianda's Italian American Pastry in San Francisco.
Buying from a local pastry store might be cheaper, but it's that kind of refined detail that sets Caffe Trieste apart.
CAFFE TRIESTE
315 S. First St., San Jose(408) 287-0400, www.caffetrieste.com
Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-midnight Friday, 8 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday
Types of food: Pastries, sandwiches and panini, salads
Average price: $6
Good choices: Vegetarian panini, ham-and-brie sandwich
Attitude: Casual
Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, outdoor seating; live music on weekends and open-mic night on Tuesdays
Vegetarian options: Salads, quiche and several sandwiches
Drinks: Full coffeehouse menu, plus wine, beer, sparkling water, juice, soda and tea
Eat in car: The baguette sandwich would be an easy commuter meal.
Next-day edibility: A panini and a baguette sandwich were both lovely after rejuvenation in the microwave.
Who goes there: Families, theatergoers, neighborhood office workers.
Credit cards: Accepted
Parking: On-street parking is metered; otherwise, there are several nearby garages.
Restaurant reviews are conducted anonymously. The Mercury News pays for all meals.
Monday, November 3, 2008
San Jose Police to Ride Segways
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS) -- San Jose police are adopting a new strategy Monday for patrolling the downtown area. Some of them will be hopping on a modern-day "chariot" to fight crime. It is called a Segway, a two-wheeled electronic personal transporter that allows the user to navigate busy streets with relative ease.
KCBS’ Dave Padilla Reports
San Jose mayor Chuck Reed says the police department has just received three Segways that will be used by officers to patrol downtown.
"We think the Segways are going to be a great way to get police officers down with the people on the streets and still give them plenty of mobility,” said Reed. “Our methods of handling large numbers of people in the downtown are constantly evolving and we think the Segways are a nice addition to the portfolio of things that we can use.”
San Jose will become the first major city in Northern California to use the personal transporters. Police Lt. Ruben Chavez says officers on Segways will be more approachable, allowing for a better personal connection between police and residents.
(MGO)
Copyright 2008, KCBS. All Rights Reserved.
KCBS’ Dave Padilla Reports
San Jose mayor Chuck Reed says the police department has just received three Segways that will be used by officers to patrol downtown.
"We think the Segways are going to be a great way to get police officers down with the people on the streets and still give them plenty of mobility,” said Reed. “Our methods of handling large numbers of people in the downtown are constantly evolving and we think the Segways are a nice addition to the portfolio of things that we can use.”
San Jose will become the first major city in Northern California to use the personal transporters. Police Lt. Ruben Chavez says officers on Segways will be more approachable, allowing for a better personal connection between police and residents.
(MGO)
Copyright 2008, KCBS. All Rights Reserved.
2009 Air Medical Transport Conference
The 2009 Air Medical Transport Conference will be held in San Jose, California October 26-28. Please check back regularly for further information and more updates about the AMTC.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Thank You to all who attended the 2008 Air Medical Tranport Conference
The Call for Submissions link will be available through www.aams.org shortly. The deadline is December 15, 2008.
The 2009 Air Medical Transport Conference will be in October 2009 in San Jose, California see you there!
The 2009 Air Medical Transport Conference will be in October 2009 in San Jose, California see you there!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Minnesota Timberwolves Preseason Basketball
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a couple of preseason NBA Games while the AMTC is in Minneapolis. Check it out.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Doing Uptown a Big Favor
The Favor Cafe (913 W. Lake St., Minneapolis) is now cooking in the former Restaurant Miami.
The Crockett-and-Tubbs interior remains the same, but the made-from-scratch food is a world apart: catfish po' boys, fried chicken with collard greens, shrimp-crawfish gumbo, fried okra and peach cobbler.
RICK NELSON
The Crockett-and-Tubbs interior remains the same, but the made-from-scratch food is a world apart: catfish po' boys, fried chicken with collard greens, shrimp-crawfish gumbo, fried okra and peach cobbler.
RICK NELSON
Pass the Nutella: Fast-food, French-style, returns to Nicollet Mall
Rick Nelson, Star Tribune
This weekend marks the opening of La Belle Crêpe (825 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 612-333-1100). Owner Alain Lesse can't wait.
"Every day for the past few weeks, we've had 80 to 100 people a day poke their head in and ask, 'When are you opening?' " he said. "Even the mayor came in."
That's the bonus of doing business at a high-profile location. The slip of a space is just off the glorious lobby of the Medical Arts Building, a few steps from the last crêperie to grace downtown (the former Magic Pan) and fronting the city's busiest pedestrian thoroughfare.
Lesse hopes to capture more attention with a pair of crêpe griddles in the window, where he'll be cooking breakfast, lunch and an unfashionably early weeknight dinner (to 7 p.m.), offering both sweet and savory options: buckwheat crêpes filled with eggs, Gruyère and ham; a lightly sugared flour crêpe filled with berries and crème fraîche; and a design-your-own option taking advantage of a long list of ingredients.
Prices will range from $3.50 (for a classic cream-and-sugar combo) to $8.50 (smoked salmon, asparagus and Havarti). "With today's economy, everyone wants to spend $10 or less," said Lesse. "I'll be giving them affordable fast food." Lesse will also stock Izzy's ice cream as well as popular Italian and French sodas. No seating -- there's no room, given that the space was once home to what seemed to be the World's Smallest Fannie Farmer Store -- but Lesse has added a standing-room-only counter that's roomy enough to fit a dozen eat-and-run diners (that's probably eight or so shy Minnesotans with personal space issues).
Lesse, a native Frenchman who has been in Minnesota for 19 years ("I count them as 19 winters," he said), will be a familiar face to many local diners, with a long tenure as a server in a number of Twin Cities restaurants, including Meritage and the former cafe un deux trois. "I've been around the block," said Lesse with a laugh. "It's time for me to be out on my own."
This weekend marks the opening of La Belle Crêpe (825 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 612-333-1100). Owner Alain Lesse can't wait.
"Every day for the past few weeks, we've had 80 to 100 people a day poke their head in and ask, 'When are you opening?' " he said. "Even the mayor came in."
That's the bonus of doing business at a high-profile location. The slip of a space is just off the glorious lobby of the Medical Arts Building, a few steps from the last crêperie to grace downtown (the former Magic Pan) and fronting the city's busiest pedestrian thoroughfare.
Lesse hopes to capture more attention with a pair of crêpe griddles in the window, where he'll be cooking breakfast, lunch and an unfashionably early weeknight dinner (to 7 p.m.), offering both sweet and savory options: buckwheat crêpes filled with eggs, Gruyère and ham; a lightly sugared flour crêpe filled with berries and crème fraîche; and a design-your-own option taking advantage of a long list of ingredients.
Prices will range from $3.50 (for a classic cream-and-sugar combo) to $8.50 (smoked salmon, asparagus and Havarti). "With today's economy, everyone wants to spend $10 or less," said Lesse. "I'll be giving them affordable fast food." Lesse will also stock Izzy's ice cream as well as popular Italian and French sodas. No seating -- there's no room, given that the space was once home to what seemed to be the World's Smallest Fannie Farmer Store -- but Lesse has added a standing-room-only counter that's roomy enough to fit a dozen eat-and-run diners (that's probably eight or so shy Minnesotans with personal space issues).
Lesse, a native Frenchman who has been in Minnesota for 19 years ("I count them as 19 winters," he said), will be a familiar face to many local diners, with a long tenure as a server in a number of Twin Cities restaurants, including Meritage and the former cafe un deux trois. "I've been around the block," said Lesse with a laugh. "It's time for me to be out on my own."
Thursday, October 2, 2008
A Chance to Glimpse the Rare State Flower
AIMEE BLANCHETTE, Star Tribune
Did you know that Lady's Slippers are members of the orchid family? Learn more about the state flower during the second annual Lady's Slipper Day, Saturday at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in Minneapolis.
"The lady's slipper is a pretty special flower. It's rare, it's an orchid, and it's difficult to grow. They like particular environments," said Lauren Borer, garden program coordinator.
"They really are something to see. The yellow ones are blooming. The state flower, the Showy Lady's Slipper, is a pink-and-white blossom, and it's just that -- showy. It takes your breath away. It's fun to celebrate something that represents our state."
The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary is celebrating a time of change in the garden with a month-long schedule of programs, tours and activities.
"June is a really great time to come out to the garden, because spring flowers are nearing the end and we're getting more into our summer blooms," Borer said.
The second annual Showy Lady's Slipper Day starts with a discussion on gardening with native orchids and a sale of the orchids from Winsome Orchids. There will be family activities including storytelling and tours. The tours will focus on the garden's own collection of native orchids, including the yellow lady's slipper and the showy lady's slipper.
Lady's Slipper Day will also include a tour of the Quaking Bog, located across the road from the garden. There are wetland plants growing and blooming in this wetland. Some of the plants that grow there are insectivorous, meaning that they feed on insects.
"It's always a treat to visit the bog, and there's a lot to learn from our naturalists," Borer said.
The garden is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to half-an-hour before sunset, and is free to the public.
Did you know that Lady's Slippers are members of the orchid family? Learn more about the state flower during the second annual Lady's Slipper Day, Saturday at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in Minneapolis.
"The lady's slipper is a pretty special flower. It's rare, it's an orchid, and it's difficult to grow. They like particular environments," said Lauren Borer, garden program coordinator.
"They really are something to see. The yellow ones are blooming. The state flower, the Showy Lady's Slipper, is a pink-and-white blossom, and it's just that -- showy. It takes your breath away. It's fun to celebrate something that represents our state."
The Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary is celebrating a time of change in the garden with a month-long schedule of programs, tours and activities.
"June is a really great time to come out to the garden, because spring flowers are nearing the end and we're getting more into our summer blooms," Borer said.
The second annual Showy Lady's Slipper Day starts with a discussion on gardening with native orchids and a sale of the orchids from Winsome Orchids. There will be family activities including storytelling and tours. The tours will focus on the garden's own collection of native orchids, including the yellow lady's slipper and the showy lady's slipper.
Lady's Slipper Day will also include a tour of the Quaking Bog, located across the road from the garden. There are wetland plants growing and blooming in this wetland. Some of the plants that grow there are insectivorous, meaning that they feed on insects.
"It's always a treat to visit the bog, and there's a lot to learn from our naturalists," Borer said.
The garden is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to half-an-hour before sunset, and is free to the public.
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