THE GRAPEVINE The harvesting season is here—time to celebrate and savor the fruits of winemakers’ labors. Love art and wine festivals? Your upcoming weekends in August and September are now booked. Kicking off the season is the Los Gatos Fiesta de Artes, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 13, and Sunday, Aug. 14. Enjoy sips from many regional wineries, including Bonny Doon, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines and Chateau Julien. Just over the hill the following week is the Scotts Valley Art and Wine and Beer Festival, Saturday, Aug. 20, and Sunday, Aug. 21. Vintners from Heart O’ the Mountain, the 37th Parallel Winery, Poetic Cellars, Bottle Jack Wines and many more are expected to pour their premium wines in a beautiful wooded setting at Skypark, 316 Kings Village Rd. The Guglielmo Family invites everyone to celebrate the grape harvest at its Annual Guglielmo Harvest Festival, 2 to 9 p.m., Sat. Aug. 20, 1480 E. Main Ave., Morgan Hill. The festivities begin with games, wine and appetizers, followed by a blessing of the grapes, a barbecue dinner, and live music and dancing. Tickets are $65 per person, $55 for Wine Group Members. Make wine the old fashioned Italian way during the Grape Stomp at the Italian Family Festa, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 28, at San Jose’s History Park, 1650 Senter Rd. Local wineries owned by Italian families are featured in the Wine Tasting Garden, including Fortino Winery, the Gianelli Vineyards, and the Perrucci Family Vineyard. Charming Capitola Village on scenic Monterey Bay is the backdrop for the 34th Annual Capitola Art and Wine Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 10, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 11. Zayante Vineyards, Soquel 94 South Bay Accent burger Submarine. Alice’s goal is to provide a friendly neighborhood hangout spot like the ones she experienced growing up in upstate New York, so she created a cozy, comfortable bar where craft cocktails, wines and draft beers are served. Live music is featured on Friday and Saturday evenings, and brunch is served on weekends. $$ Eureka!, 19369 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, 669/266-6752. Burgers take center stage at this gourmet gastropub. Bone marrow, bison and Fresno fig are just a few of Eureka’s innovative interpretations of the quintessential American sandwich. $$ Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 180 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. 650/329-8457. A meat lovers paradise that serves up prime cuts in a modern setting. $$$ The Grill on the Alley, (The Fairmont), 172 S. Market Street, San Jose. 408/294-2244. This is a classic American steakhouse, complete with martini hour. $$$ Hangar Steak, 1800 Old Bayshore Highway, Burlingame. 650/552-3505. Part of the Marriott, this standout New American steakhouse offers delightful dining by the bay. $$ Hult’s Restaurant,165 Los Gatos-Saratoga Rd., Los Gatos, 408/354-3434. Former professional hockey player Alexander Hult scores big with a fresh new addition to the Bay Area’s farm-totable dining scene. Sustainable California cuisine, with hints of Scandinavia, includes such favorites as lime-stuffed, pan-roasted salmon with trout caviar sauce, and bacon-wrapped beef Lindstrom. The casual, upscale restaurant also features “The Hult Experience,” a five-course tasting menu that eloquently presents the flavors of the present season. California boutique wines, authentic French champagnes, locally brewed beers and craft cocktails add spirit to the friendly atmosphere— replete with a welcoming wraparound bar, and patio dining around glass fire tables. Popular with the locals are Hult’s Sunday brunch and a lively happy hour. $$ Huntington Station, 30 E. Third St., Morgan Hill. 408/779-3376. Generously portioned beef, chicken, seafood and pasta entrees are served up in a casual, sports pub atmosphere. $$ John Bentley’s, 2915 El Camino Real, Redwood City. 650/365-7777. Sophisticated but comfortable, John Bentley’s is a favorite among diners who come from miles around to enjoy the highly touted contemporary seasonal American cuisine. Guests enjoy entrees such as peppercorn crusted Ahi with soba noodle salad and exquisite meat courses including grilled marinated rib-eye with Gorgonzola Cabernet demi-glace. Desserts, like the sticky toffee pudding cake with caramel gelato and almond nougatine, are a must. A fun and lively spot, with a full bar and ample room for private dining, John Bentley’s combines warmth and elegance with outstanding service and food. $$ Justin’s, 1285 Homestead Road, Santa Clara. 408/ 638-5300. A seasonally rotating menu of classic American cuisine with a tantalizing twist. $$$ The Loft Bar & Bistro, 90 S. Second St., San Jose. 408/291-0677. Contemporary and casual restaurant in a historic downtown building, featuring great appetizers, tapas style. $ Vineyards, Roudon-Smith Winery, Domenico Winery, and 18 other local wineries are participating. And, the Almaden Valley Women’s Club is celebrating 40 years of its signature fundraising event, the Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 11, at Almaden Lake Park in San Jose. Purchase commemorative wine glasses to enjoy tastes from David Bruce Winery, Leal Vineyards, Testarossa Winery, and other local favorites. —Pam Marino handled beef, organic bison, all-natural chicken, turkey, vegan, and crab cake options. It doesn’t stop there; an array of cheeses, toppings, sauces and an assortment of buns (including gluten-free) and bowls—make for a build-yourown checklist menu that can produce more than a million combinations. The Counter also offers business lunch catering. $ Dry Creek Grill, 1580 Hamilton Ave., San Jose. 408/264-2011. Serving up succulent meats and fresh, locally sourced seafood in a lively, spirited atmosphere. $$$ East Coast Alice, 14560 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, 408/867-1639. Long-time Saratoga restaurateur Alice Walsh is bringing her East Coast Italian-Irish family’s recipes, handed down from generation to generation, to Big Basin Way. Using locally sourced, sustainable and organic ingredients, Alice’s menu includes satisfying comfort foods, like the house made pastas and hearty casserole entrees. There’s also a big selection of hoagie sandwiches, featuring the one-of-a-kind Cheese- 200 DINING HOT SPOTS Cascal Hult’s
South Bay Accent - AugSep 2016
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