These restaurateurs are achieving their American dream
When I sat down with Arturo Bazan at his soon-to-open Peruvian restaurant in Los Altos on July 12, he said being a chef-owner was his “big dream here in the USA.” He immigrated only five years ago from the Peru city he named his restaurant after, Callao, and was excited to show the people of Los Altos and the surrounding communities the flavors of his hometown.
A few weeks later, I sat down with Italy-born Franco Campilongo at his soon-to-open restaurant in San Carlos, and he shared a similar sentiment to Bazan.
“Coming here has been a dream, and it keeps being a dream, the land of opportunity,” he said.
This week, I wrote about Bazan’s new restaurant Callao and Campilongo’s new restaurant Impasto, as well as Peninsula wins and losses at Monday’s 2024 California Michelin Guide Ceremony. Cheers to the dreamers.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
Ceviche, lomo saltado and pisco sours: Peruvian restaurant Callao opens in Los Altos
Five years ago, Arturo Bazan immigrated from Peru to California for a fresh start after enduring taxing working conditions at the restaurant he cooked at. Now he is the head chef and co-owner of Callao, a full-service Peruvian restaurant named after the city Bazan grew up in.
2024 California Michelin Guide announced, Impasto opens in San Carlos and new boba shops
- In a poor performance by the Peninsula at the 2024 California Michelin Guide Ceremony in Half Moon Bay, two Peninsula restaurants lost Michelin stars and a Palo Alto restaurant fell off the Michelin Guide altogether.
- Impasto opened Tuesday in San Carlos, about a year after its anticipated opening. The Italian spot is from the same team behind Palo Alto’s Terún and iTalico.
- When one boba shop closes, two boba shops open. Tiger Sugar in Cupertino is permanently closing on Monday, while TEAZENTEA had its grand opening in Saratoga on Friday and Feng Cha soft opened in Mountain View on July 31.
- Cluck cluck: A new Chick-fil-A is opening in San Mateo on Thursday.
- Love cars and coffee? Redwood City coffee shop The Yard is hosting an event on Sunday featuring vintage cars, coffee, prizes, food, local artists and music.
- Che Fico Parco Menlo is launching the dinner series “Che Fico & Friends” beginning on Friday, where chefs from around the world are bringing their signature dishes as well as exclusive creations to the Menlo Park restaurant.
- MJ Sushi, with restaurants in Palo Alto, Foster City, Fremont and Danville, has opened its fifth location in Menlo Park.
Fruli strawberry beer at Fibbar MaGees
Two words: Strawberry. Beer.
It tastes like candy, and it’s alcoholic. What more could you want?
I’ve been obsessed with Fruli strawberry beer since the first time I discovered it two years ago at Fibbar MaGees in Sunnyvale. And while it is by no means exclusive to Fibbar MaGees, the only two bars I’ve seen it offered at are Fibbar’s and Steins Beer Garden in Mountain View (and yes, you can also find it at Total Wine & More for a lower price).
Fruli strawberry beer tastes like cold and fizzy, jammy strawberries. It’s refreshing, sweet and packed with juicy strawberry flavor (much more so than Abita strawberry lager). It does get a bit too cloying after two glasses, but it’s hard to stop after one.
It begs the question: Why is it not offered at every dive bar and brewery?
Fibbar MaGees, 156 S Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale; 408-749-8373, Instagram: @fibbarmagees. Open Monday 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Tuesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Inside Redwood City’s hidden pasta factory
From bucatini to linguine: Behind the scenes with the Peninsula’s noodle masters
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