What's Cooking: Bagels still on the menu at former Noah's site What's Cooking: Bagels still on the menu at former Noah's site (April 06, 2005)

It didn't take long for a new eatery to move into the Santa Cruz Avenue spot vacated in mid-January by Noah's Bagels in downtown Menlo Park.

Bagel Street Cafe opened its doors two weeks ago, serving -- no surprise -- bagels. But its menu goes far beyond that of Noah's.

Open for breakfast and lunch, the cafe features salads, sandwiches, soup, quiche and pastries, as well as 30 varieties of bagels. It has a number of indoor tables with comfortable chairs in addition to the few outside.

Bagel Street is a small chain, with other Peninsula locations in Redwood City and Cupertino. The local cafe is managed by Kien Ly, who has already extended hours of operation in response to Santa Cruz Avenue customer patterns, he said.

Bagel-loving customers have many choices. They can order a range of spreads, from cream cheese, shmears and peanut butter to butter and jam. The breakfast menu includes seven "eggwich" choices -- bagels with an egg and other accompaniments for both vegetarians and carnivores.

There's a long list of ingredients available for lunch-menu sandwiches, which come on a bagel or bagel roll.

The salad menu includes garden, Asian chicken, Caesar, and others. Artichoke, turkey and ham, and southwestern quiches can be purchased whole or by the slice. The soup menu changes daily.

The long list of bakery items includes muffins, scones and five types of croissants; cookies, brownies and biscotti; bread pudding and peach crisp; and carrot and chocolate cakes.

There's a full-menu espresso bar, and cold beverages include smoothies, fresh-squeezed orange juice and Italian sodas.

The Bagel Street Cafe is at 746 Santa Cruz Ave. Hours are: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 328-8809.
LuLu's opens its doors

LuLu's on the Alameda began serving its Mexican-style cuisine last week, after months of renovation work on its portion of the building on the corner of Alameda de las Pulgas and Gordon Avenue.

"They were out the door," owner Natalie Richardson said of the customers flocking to LuLu's during opening week.

Ms. Richardson and her husband, Bracken, live close to the restaurant, and she will be managing the operation.

The name LuLu refers to Lourdes Lopez, a family friend who now is head chef of the eatery.

The a la carte menu includes traditional favorites such as tacos, tostadas, enchiladas, tamales and a variety of burritos.

House specials include chiles rellenos, chicken mole verde and rojo, carne asada, chile verde and carnitas.

Soups, salads and traditional appetizers such as nachos and quesadillas are also on the menu, and there's a kids' menu as well.

The drink menu ranges from bottled water and soft drinks to beer, wine and a blended wine margarita.

Although Ms. Richardson originally intended to keep the restaurant open seven days a week, she's decided to keep the doors closed on Sunday for "siesta."

LuLu's on the Alameda is at 3539 Alameda de las Pulgas, in Menlo Park. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 854-8226.
Santa Cruz Mountain wineries event April 16

Forty Santa Cruz Mountain wineries, including Thomas Fogerty Winery in Woodside and Cinnabar Vineyards, owned by Tom Mudd of Woodside, will open their doors for a special event on Saturday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event, "Spring Passport," is sponsored by the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association. Passports cost $25, and gain their holders entry into participating wineries, including many that aren't normally open to the public.

Participants can tour facilities, meet the winemakers and taste wine. Four area restaurants will offer special deals to passport holders for lunch that day -- from discounts on the bill to free corkage on all Santa Cruz Mountain wines.

Passports may be purchased at any participating winery or from the winegrowers association. For more information about participating wineries and restaurants or to order a passport, call (831) 479-9463, or e-mail info@scmwa.com.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.