Whiskey Wednesdays at The Village Pub
Celebrate Tax Day at The Village Pub's first-ever "Whiskey Wednesday." Every Wednesday evening from April 15 onward, the Michelin-starred Woodside restaurant will be serving one-ounce pours from its "ever-expanding collection of fine and rare whiskies." Don't miss a 15-year-old reserve Pappy Van Winkle on the inaugural night.
Info: The Village Pub, 2967 Woodside Road, Woodside; 650-851-9888. thevillagepub.net
'Dine Out for Earth California' at Calafia
On Thursday, April 17, from 6 to 9:30 p.m., national environmental-protection nonprofit Rock the Earth will hold a culinary event at Calafia Cafe at Town & Country Village in Palo Alto to celebrate the local food movement, with Calafia Chef Charlie Ayers (also a Rock the Earth advisory board member) and other Bay Area chefs creating a locally sourced six-course meal. There will also be live music, local beer donated by Palo Alto Brewing Co. and wine. The event will benefit Rock the Earth and Earth Day San Francisco. Tickets are $115 in advance or $160 at the door, if available.
Info: Calafia Cafe, 130 Town & Country Village, 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
Loire Valley wine dinner at Zola
Downtown Palo Alto French restaurant Zola will be hosting a Loire Valley wine dinner with Roy Cloud, president of V59 Imports, on Thursday, April 23, 5 to 9 p.m. The Loire Valley is located in Central France; V59 Imports has since the 1990s brought French wines to northern and southern California. A special three-course menu ($55) will pair items like a smoked trout salad and duck and foie gras sausage with particular wines (an additional $24 for the wine pairings). Zola's regular dinner menu will also be available. To make a reservation, go to opentable.com.
Info: Zola, 565 Bryant St., Palo Alto; 650-521-0651. zolapaloalto.com
Brewer's dinner at Gordon Biersch
Gordon Biersch Brewery and Restaurant in Palo Alto will be hosting a brewer's dinner on Thursday, April 23, 7 to 9:30 p.m. with a multi-course dinner prepared by Executive Chef Kwin Yu and fresh-brewed beer from Brewmaster Dave Stacy.
Info: Gordon Biersch, 640 Emerson St., Palo Alto; 650-323-7723. gordonbiersch.com
Redwood City Restaurant Week
Redwood City's first-ever restaurant week will begin Thursday, April 23, and run through Wednesday, April 29. Thirteen restaurants from LV Mar to Donato Enoteca will be serving three-course, prix fixe menus for $20 to $55 per person. For more information and to make reservations, go to redwoodcityrestaurantweek.com.
Anchor Brewing dinner at Left Bank
Left Bank in Menlo Park will be serving up a special four-course menu ($55) with each courses paired with a beer from San Francisco's Anchor Brewing on Friday, May 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m.. Guests will also be greeted upon arrival with a bottle of Anchor California Lager. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 650-473-6543 or emailing nmesenburg@leftbank.com.
Info: Left Bank Brasserie, 635 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park; leftbank.com
Mountain View's 'A La Carte & Art'
Don't miss specialty food purveyors, a farmers? market with fresh seasonal produce, wine, microbrews, sangria, health and wellness displays, an organic and green products showcase, home and garden exhibits, live music and an arts and crafts show at Mountain View's 19th annual "A La Carte & Art" weekend festival on May 2 and 3. The wide range of food will include everything from fresh gazpacho; kebabs; chicken sandwiches with bacon, jalapeño jam and pickled slaw; to cheesesteaks, tacos, barbecue, bacon-wrapped hot dogs and root beer floats. Specialty food vendors will be selling items like olive oil, jams, salad dressings, marinades, butters and chutneys. Growers from the Mountain View Certified Farmers? Market will be selling their produce.
Info: The festival will be held on Castro Street between Church Street and Evelyn Avenue from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call 650-964-3395 or go to miramarevents.com.
Mother's Day at Zola
Numerous local restaurants will be offering Mother's Day brunches, but the May 10 holiday will be the first Sunday ever that Palo Alto French restaurant Zola opens its doors.
Don't miss menu items like the Zola benedict (grilled levain bread, Allan Benton ham, shallot confit and peppercorn hollandaise), ricotta gnocchi with a poached egg and bacon and lemon-stuffed French toast. Reservations are recommended.
Info: Zola, 565 Bryant St., Palo Alto; 650-521-0651. zolapaloalto.com
Free tastings at Moksha Coffee
Drop by the Mountain View library on Saturday, May 16, between 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for free coffee tastings and "informed discussion" about coffee with Mountain View small batch roaster Moksha Coffee and other purveyors. Moksha is a customized roasting company that sources beans from all over the world. A library press release might entice you: "Savor the complexities of different roasts. Learn how to describe the subtle undertones of flavor and refine your palette. Is your favorite roast fruity, chocolaty, or nutty? Beware: Could change how you drink coffee forever!" Go to this link to register.
Info: Mountain View Public Library community room, 585 Franklin St., Mountain View; mountainview.gov/library
Off the Grid: Menlo Park and Palo Alto
Food truck market Off the Grid has operated for more than a year in Menlo Park and recently launched in Palo Alto. Don't miss it on Wednesday nights at the Menlo Caltrain station and Mondays at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Palo Alto. Both run 5 to 9 p.m. For more information and weekly trucks, go to offthegridsf.com.
