3 cookie masters share holiday baking tips
Holidays and cookies just go together. Whether you’re participating in a cookie swap, baking cookies for Santa or you just want a no-fuss sweet treat to snack on, this week we’re delving into the world of holiday cookies.
For me, apricot bars and gingerbread men are synonymous with the holidays, as those were the two treats my grandma was partial to making during Christmas. It was definitely hard for me to resist an apricot bar, with its buttery shortbread crust and chewy apricot filling.
This week, freelancer Stephanie Lam interviewed three local business owners who know their way around sugar, butter and flour. These cookie connoisseurs share their baking and cookie decorating tips for a smooth-sailing home-baking experience.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
Peninsula cookie connoisseurs share their top holiday cookie crafting tips
Whether you’re crafting your own holiday cookies or splurging on goodies from local bakeries, Silicon Valley has no shortage of cookie connoisseurs brimming with tips and expertise that’s particularly helpful this time of year.
A new casual sushi spot, a popular ramen chain expands and a sneak peek at a new Japanese grocery store
- New family-owned restaurant Toki Sushi is offering Japanese cuisine at an affordable price point in Mountain View.
- Ramen Nagi finally has some competition: Marufuku Ramen is expanding to downtown Palo Alto.
- Osaka Marketplace, a Japanese grocery store, will host its grand opening in Foster City on Friday. Gourmet goodie bags will be given to the first 100 shoppers Friday to Sunday.
- Taplands in Santa Clara is hosting a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest Sunday at 1 p.m.
- Learn to decorate holiday cookies with Connie’s Cakerie at Backyard Cafe in Sunnyvale Saturday from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
- Stick & Wok, a Chinese restaurant specializing in potstickers and wok-fried classics, recently opened at Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara.
- Independent grocery store Woodlands Market is coming to the former Draeger’s Market site in downtown San Mateo, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal.
Dinner at Pasta Moon
One of the best pork chops I’ve ever had was at a restaurant known for its pasta.
My boyfriend recently took me to Pasta Moon in Half Moon Bay for my birthday dinner. It’s a lovely restaurant I’ve been to a handful of times, and it continues to impress me with its thoughtful, seasonal and very well-executed dishes.
Not only is the food delicious, but the ambiance is also lovely – there’s an open kitchen, a “Music Box” lounge with a bar and live pianist, and various festive decor for the holidays.
You can’t go to Pasta Moon and skip pasta. To start, I had the short rib bone marrow agnolotti with horseradish, browned butter and herbed breadcrumbs ($26). It was a delightfully meaty and deeply savory start to the meal. The rich, toasty notes of the browned butter complemented the meat-packed pasta pockets and were cut with the garlicky, crispy breadcrumbs and light touch of horseradish. It was a perfectly hearty winter pasta.
Next was the star of the show: the center-cut pork chop stuffed with pear ($45). Don’t let the $45 price tag scare you – there was enough meat on this plate for two generous dinners. This is possibly the juiciest, most flavorful pork preparation I’ve ever experienced. Stuffed with pear, it was a beautiful winter take on the traditional apple accompaniment. Served simply with a side of Brussels sprouts and butternut squash speckled with crispy smoked prosciutto, this dish was stunning.
The dessert menu at Pasta Moon is surprisingly extensive, with 11 options to choose from. I had the Sicilian chocolate pistachio cannoli ($15). While the sweet cream filling was divine and the cannoli shell perfectly crispy, the only chocolate in the dessert was a smattering of cocoa powder over the top. The dessert would have benefited from a layer of chocolate within the cannoli itself.
Pasta Moon, 845 Main St., Half Moon Bay; 650-726-5125, Instagram: @pastamoonhmb. Open Monday to Thursday from 5-8:30 p.m., Friday from 5-9 p.m., Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m.
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