Category Archives: Enticing Events

Ice Cream Sandwich Time & Dan Gordon Performs at the San Jose Jazz Fest

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Can't resist this ice cream sammy at Sift Cupcakes. (Photo courtesy of the bakery)

Ice Cream Sandwiches on the Menu

When the weather heats up, there’s nothing as joyful to enjoy as an ice cream sandwich. It can’t help but bring out the kid in each of us.

Try an “Ice Cream Sammy” at Sift Cupcake & Dessert Bar, the only Bay Area bakery to win the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.”

With locations in Napa, Santa Rosa and Cotati, the bakery takes organic gelato and sandwiches in between big cookies. Try the “All for the Cookie” ($4), which features cookies ‘n’ cream ice cream stuffed between two chocolate cookies.

Look for a San Francisco location to open later this summer, too.

Mozzeria's loaded ice cream sandwich plate. (Photo courtesy of Mozzeria)

San Francisco’s Mozzeria is getting in on the act, too, with peanut butter ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate cookies ($6). It gets even better, too. The sammy is served on a homemade fruit roll-up — with a side of spicy beer nuts. It’s a meal.

Mozzeria is one of the first deaf-owned restaurants in the country. Its global menu features everything from roast duck pizza with hoisin to Japanese pumpkin ravioli.

Dan Gordon — Beer-Maker and Musician

Sure, we all know that the founder of Gordon Biersch Brewing Company knows how to make great beer.

But how many knew that Dan Gordon also is an accomplished musician?

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Half-Price Cheesecake, Steve Raichlen Visits SF & More

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The new Oreo Dream Extreme Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. (Photo courtesy of the restaurant

Cheesecake Sale at the Cheesecake Factory

It just wouldn’t be right, would it, if National Cheesecake Day came and went without some scrumptious offering from the Cheesecake Factory?

The company will be offering “Any Slice, Half Price” on all its cheesecakes for dine-in guests on July 30.

Just for the occasion, the Cheesecake Factory also will be debuting its newest specialty: Oreo Dream Extreme Cheesecake. Oh yes, it’s a layer of vanilla cheesecake loaded with Oreo cookies, then layers of fudge cake, along with Oreo cookie mousse. The whole shebang is frosted in milk chocolate icing, then garnished with a large Oreo cookie wafer.

Lark Creek Blue Coming to Santana Row in August

You may have noticed that Yankee Pier at Santana Row in San Jose is no more.

But don’t worry, the space won’t be vacant for long. The Lark Creek Restaurant Group is completely remodeling the spot for its new Lark Creek Blue, which will open in August.

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Four Oldie But Goodie Flavors from Kettle Brand Chips, Plus a Food Gal Giveaway

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Kettle Brand's Classic Cheddar Beer potato chips. Absolutely addicting.

Over the past three decades, Kettle Brand Potato Chips has come out with a whopping 40 inventive flavors — everything from Yogurt & Green Onion to Burgundy with Aged Cheddar to Roasted Red Pepper with Goat Cheese.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Salem, Ore. company has decided to bring back four favorite flavors for a limited time only: Red Chili, Jalapeno Jack, Salsa with Mesquite, and Cheddar Beer.

I had a chance to try samples recently. The Red Chili, introduced in 1982, was ahead of its time with is almost sriracha spicy-tangy flavor. The Jalapeno Jack, devised in 1989, has a creamy note, along with a grassy back note of heat. The Salsa with Mesquite, launched in 1999, actually has the smoky, tomato, lime and garlic flavors of a chunky salsa. And Cheddar Beer, created in 2005, tastes of pungent sharp cheese. Although I didn’t detect the beer as much, this flavor was my hands-down favorite; so much so that I had to keep my husband from inhaling the entire bag so that I could enjoy just a few more of those crisp, substantial, cheesy chips.

The revival of four classic flavors.

The classic flavors come in 5-ounce bags for $2.79 each. They are available in select stores or online at BuyKettleChips.com. The Jalapeno Jack and Red Chili flavors also will be available in 8.5-ounce bags for $3.49 in grocery stores later this fall.

Contest: One lucky Food Gal reader will win 8.5-ounce bags of each of the four classic, limited-edition Kettle Brand Potato Chips. Entries, limited to those in the continental United States, will be accepted through midnight PST July 28. Winner will be announced July 30.

How to win?

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New Premium Licorice, Giant See’s Lollypop To Be Unveiled & Food Gal Contest Winner Plus Bonus

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New licorice products by the makers of Red Vines. (Photo by Carolyn Jung)

Premium Licorice and How To Get A Free Bag

Union City’s American Licorice Company — makers of everyone’s favorite Red Vines — has brought out a new licorice product: Natural Vines.

Made without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, the Natural Vines are sweetened with only cane syrup and molasses. They contain real licorice extract, too.

Natural Vines come in two varieties: Strawberry and Black. The strawberry has an actual vivid berry flavor, while the black licorice tastes of anise and almost black coffee. Both types come not in your traditional long strands of licorice, but fat nubbins, about an inch long. They’re softer to chew than Red Vines, too. Each piece has 17 calories.

Eight-ounce bags are $3.49 each in select grocery stores.

They come in handy, resealable bags. (Photo by Carolyn Jung)

If you’re a film buff, you’ll get a chance to try the licorice. The American Licorice Company will be giving out thousands of full-sized bags of both the Strawberry and Black Natural Vines throughout the summer at San Francisco’s Film Night in the Park, Movies on the Square in Redwood City, and the Starlight Cinema Series in San Jose.

The licorice will be given out at the Aug. 4 and Sept. 29 showings in San Francisco; the July 19, Aug. 2, Aug. 6, Aug. 23 and Aug 30 showings in Redwood City; and at the July 19, July 26, Aug. 16, Aug. 23, and Aug. 31 showings in San Jose.

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Auberge du Soleil Sweets, Foie Gras News, Yigit Pura’s New Bakery & More

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Auberge du Soleil's new Gianduia confections. (Photo courtesy of the resort)

Two New Sweets From Auberge du Soleil

Rutherford’s luxe Auberge du Soleil resort offers a pampering experience that just got a little sweeter.

Its chefs have come up with two new confections sure to satisfy any posh sweet tooth.

First, “Gianduia,” dainty hazelnut-chocolate squares made with both dark and milk chocolates, as well as organic nuts. A box is $24.50.

Sticky caramels with the surprise of pistachios. (Photo courtesy of Auberge du Soleil)

Next, California pistachios star in hand-wrapped pieces of rich caramel made with organic butter and cream. Fifteen pieces of “Carmel a la Pistache” come in a decorative box for $19.50.

The treats are available for purchase at the resort or through its online store.

Presidio Social Club Exempt From California Foie Gras Ban

Yes, the new state law that took effect July 1 may have bumped foie gras off menus everywhere else in California, but not at Presidio Social Club in San Francisco.

You see, it’s on federal land, thus, making it exempt from the California ban.

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