The $93.5 million Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science has opened its doors at the University of California at Davis.
The late-great Robert Mondavi, who passed away in May at the age of 94, would no doubt be pleased at the sight of the completed first phase of the 129,000-square-foot, three-building complex, which houses the departments of viticulture and enology, and food science and technology, as well as administrative offices.
Lucky Menlo Park will be the home of it, too.
Penzeys, whom foodies love for its vast array of spices, started as a store in Milwaukee, Wisc. in 1957. Over the years, it has become a mail-order phenomenon, selling everything from adobo seasoning to zatar. It now boasts 39 retail stores across the country, too.
Fliers are already being mailed to Peninsula residents about the new 771 Santa Cruz Ave. store that will open “soon.”
Ladies, prepare to get in line now because Food Network hottie Tyler Florence will be at Macy’s Union Square Cellar, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22.
Florence will be heating up the premises as he takes questions from Harry Denton of the Starlight Room in San Francisco. Sip a mocktail while Florence offers up tips on how to make holiday entertaining extra special.
Seating is first-come, first-served. No RSVP necessary. But you do have to purchase one of Florence’s books to participate in the event. That shouldn’t be difficult because he has two new ones to add to your collection: “Tyler Florence: Stirring the Pot” (Meredith) and “Tyler Florence: Dinner at My Place” (Meredith). Florence is also a member of the Macy’s Culinary Council.
That’s what’s in store at the second annual “Pear & Wine Festival,” 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 19 at San Jose’s Santana Row.
The festival pays tribute to the pear orchard that once thrived where Santana Row’s glittery shops and hopping restaurants now stand.
This year, amateur chefs will be facing off in a new pear recipe challenge. Today is the last day for contestants to submit a written recipe and photo of their dish to the Santana Row Concierge Center. Five finalists will be pre-selected to tote their dishes to the festival (4 p.m. to 5 p.m.), where a panel of judges — including yours truly, the Food Gal — will judge them for taste, presentation, and originality.
The winning recipe will be posted on the Santana Row Web site. The grand prize winner will receive a $100 gift card to Consuelo Mexican Bistro and a Santana Row shopping spree. The winner also will get a signed copy of
“Giada’s Kitchen” (Clarkson Potter), the new cookbook by Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis.
Yes, the ever-popular De Laurentiis will do a Q&A at noon that day in Santana Row Park, then a book-signing afterwards at Sur La Table. Reserve your spot and a copy of the book by calling Sur La Table at (408) 244-4749.
Yes, there are still a few tickets left for “Everyone’s A Critic,” a class I’ll be teaching at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at Draeger’s Cooking School in San Mateo with my buddy, Sheila Himmel, former restaurant critic for the San Jose Mercury News.
Between food bloggers, Yelp reviewers and Zagat voters, it does seem like everyone is a food critic these days. Here’s your chance to learn how to become a better one (or at least better articulate to your friends what you loved and what you despised about the last place you dined).
We’ll teach you how to judge a great or a dismal dining experience, while entertaining you with stories about our own experiences in the eating arena. Join us for an evening of wonderful wine, delicious food, and fun banter.
Price is $55. Sign up here, and hope to see you there.