Welcoming, sophisticated and bright with natural light, Poppy & Claro is the concept of the Jay Paul Company, located outside the lobby at 50 W. San Fernando St. in the city of San Jose.
Finding this gem is a bit of a hunt, unless you’re at the San Jose Museum of Art or somewhere nearby. Park in the 50 West San Fernando garage and take the elevator to the lobby. Enter through Wells Fargo’s front door to reflect modern wealth or through the side door to the patio, and you’ll be met with a sense of warmth and welcome.
Accents of dark walnut (claro) wood and soft seating, with functional, custom-made furniture, and beautiful bespoke wall decorations inspired by the Golden State, draw you in. The place is open and airy, but somehow intimate. There is a bar, fully stocked with full strength or zero proof cocktails, specialty espresso tonics and custom coffee drinks. Glass cake plates display Manresa’s baked goods.
Serving entrepreneurs first and foremost, the menu comes in two flavors: breakfast, served from 7:30-11 am, and all day, served from 11:30 am-7:30 pm The breakfast offers delights such as turkey bacon omelette with feta and crème fraîche, breakfast burrito and chilaquiage and samash in the morning and samash in the morning. brioche.
Our servers were all friendly and knowledgeable, and we quickly learned that their breakfast drinks are even better than Starbucks. Oat milk is a staple here, but I went with a full cow for my chai latte, which was loaded with nuts and cinnamon. My friend ordered the California Fog with Earl Gray tea, hot milk and Madagascar vanilla and was very pleased. I had two dips and breakfast for one hour and the next day. It’s easy to do when the menu is full of temptation.
Splitting soft mushroom and avocado toast, we sing with sweet, meaty maitake, creamy eggs and lemon avocado on crusty Manresa sourdough levain, with truffle oil and crispy shallots.
For lunch, a friend and I feasted on thick and tender rings of calamari fried in white pepper, a farm-fresh winter vegetable salad served with a heated lemon vinaigrette, and a delicious Truffle Shuffle pizza with caramelized onions, truffle garlic cream, ricotta and fresh mozzarella on a four-day sourdough crust.
We debated between the seared and oven-roasted salmon club or the roasted turkey club and chose the latter, topped with green goddess and garlic aioli. Instead of fries, we opted for cornmeal-fried string beans, inspired by Chef Christopher Littman’s love of corndogs. Totally addictive, especially with the garlic aioli. We’ll be back for the truffle grilled cheese, celery and leek biscuit, the 50West smashburger with super secret sauce, or the house-baked pita with chicken za’atar.
While we intended to try Claro’s black walnut cheesecake, Littman instead put a sweet touch to finish our experience with a taste of his current obsession: homemade soft serve. “The first thing I do when I go to work every morning is make a line of curling irons on the treadmill, even before coffee,” says the Brooklyn-born chef.
The Manresa tradition brings Taubenkobelf to Los Gatos in March, with the opportunity to meet French-born Chef Alain Weissgerber, and his wife Barbara Eselböck, the third-generation owner of the Austrian restaurant. The culinary region of Austria’s Burgenland is internationally acclaimed for its beautiful scenery, delicious dinners and biodynamic wines. Two meet-and-greet dates are available: Tuesday, March 10, at 6 p.m., and Saturday, March 14, at noon. Save to
Are you ready to practice your Irish? The Heritage Pub & Chop House in Los Gatos invites the community to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Patrick in true Irish style on Saturday, March 14, from noon until the end. This all-day, rain-or-shine celebration will be brimming with live entertainment, festive food, family fun and plenty of Irish spirit, including special offerings from Guinness and Jameson, who will be on hand for festive surprises.
Guests will enjoy live Irish music throughout the day, alongside a full buffet created by Chef Yvonne including traditional Irish favorites and Heritage Pub classics, with options available for vegetarians, gluten-free and those with dietary restrictions.
The family-friendly event includes games and contests for adults, as well as activities for children. Tickets are $75 and include event admission, live entertainment and access to a full buffet.
Che Fico Parco Menlo in Menlo Park has released new Italian comfort food items, including chicken parmesan with Che Fico mozzarella and 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano; fried calamari with sweet pepper and lemon aioli; fettuccini with Parma butter and 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano; Caesar salad; and veal and pork with spaghetti. There is also a new three-course Sunday Dinner menu in addition to the a la carte menu. Priced at $45 per person, the first menu offering will include a Caesar salad, house cannelloni with ricotta topping and pomodoro sauce and a choice of vanilla gelato or sorbetto.
