Tag Archives: Veggie Grill Santana Row

The Verdict on the New Veggie Grill & A Food Gal Giveaway

A taste of Veggie Grill's Papa's Portobella Burger.

With no offense to vegetarians, I admit that I have often had a love-hate relationship with wheat gluten products that try to masquerade as bona fide meat.

I love the idea. But I hate the taste and texture, which have always seemed a true letdown.

I can remember once going to a Chinese Buddhist restaurant with friends. After one of the dishes was set down at the table, my friend’s Dad dived in excitedly, then proclaimed that the molded, pressed wheat gluten slices tasted just like Peking duck.

I almost blurted out, “Are you high?” But I managed to restrain myself and just smile in silence.

Now, Veggie Grill is making me eat that thought.

The first branch of the Southern California fast-casual vegetarian restaurant recently opened in San Jose’s Santana Row. As a local food writer, I received a couple of coupons to try a few of the entrees on the house.

I went in with trepidation. But I came out a fan. Yes, even of the wheat gluten.

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Foodie Flick, Veggie Grill to Open & More

A scene from "Trattoria'' guaranteed to make you hungry. (Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Film Society)

“Trattoria” Flick Opens “Cinema by the Bay”

The San Francisco Film Society’sCinema by the Bay” series, Nov. 9-11, opens deliciously with the local premiere of the foodie flick, “Trattoria.”

The feature film by Jason Wolos looks at San Francisco’s competitive restaurant culture as it follows the travails of Chef Sal Sartini and his second wife Cecilia, who have just opened a new Italian restaurant. See what happens when the chef’s estranged son comes to help out at the restaurant.

“Trattoria” is the opening night film, 7 p.m. Nov. 9,  for the festival, which takes place at New People Cinema, 1746 Post St. in San Francisco.

At the end of the movie, the opening night party will take place at 9 p.m. Nov. 9 at Yoshi’s in San Francisco. For those who can’t make it to the first showing, “Trattoria” will repeat at 9:30 p.m. that night.

The chef of "Trattoria.'' (Still from film courtesy of the San Francisco Film Society)

Tickets to the film showing are $13 per person; or $25 per person for admission to the film and party.

Wahoo’s Fish Taco Opens in Sunnyvale

For those of you mourning the closure of Wahoo’s at Santana Row in San Jose, you’ll be glad to know you can get your taco fix on with a new locale up the road at 691 Tasman Dr. in Sunnyvale.

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