What Cooking: Cafe Espresso opens in the Willows What Cooking: Cafe Espresso opens in the Willows (July 07, 2004)

Nadia Usupov and Max Grezin invite their Willows neighbors to walk or bike over to their new Cafe Espresso, which opened last week at 1929 Menalto, next door to La Hacienda Market.

The cafe serves specialty coffees and teas, sandwiches, pastries, cakes and gelato. There are tables and comfy leather chairs for relaxing. Nadia and her husband, Alex, formerly owned a small coffee shop in Portland, Oregon. They are originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, and moved to this country 10 years ago.

Cafe Espresso is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. Call 566-8030.

Bluewater Grill specials

If you like whole Dungeness crab or Maine lobster at bargain prices, make Wednesday your night to dine out at Bluewater Grill. Throughout the summer, manager Mark Griffis is featuring fresh, not frozen, crab and lobster dinners for $22.95.

The crab comes from Half Moon Bay, says Mark, and the lobster is flown in live from Maine. Both are served with drawn butter and lemon and two side dishes.

He advises diners to call for availability and to come early. "Last week we sold out of lobster by 6:45," he says.

Bluewater is also spiffing up a bit. There are now candles on the tables and the servers are dressing in Bistro-style attire: long black aprons, white shirts and ties. "We're becoming a little dressier," says Mark.

Tamarine art auction

Tamarine Vietnamese restaurant in Palo Alto will hold its twice-yearly silent art auction of contemporary Vietnamese art on Sunday, July 18. The afternoon will include live jazz, wine, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres hosted by Tamarine.

Bidding will begin at 2 p.m. and close at 4 p.m. Profits from the auction will be donated to VN Help, an organization dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between Vietnam and the United States.

RSVPs to the event, by telephone at 325-8500, ext. 104; or by e-mail, info@tamarinerestaurant.com, are required by July 16. Tamarine is located at 546 University Ave., Palo Alto.

Bastille Day

Gather at Left Bank restaurant in downtown Menlo Park beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, for French merry-making with live music, costumes, prizes and special Bastille Day dishes.

Gallic specialties will include: bacon-wrapped prawns grilled and served with tomato tartare, mushroom ragout wrapped in puff pastry, filet mignon with shallot brandy demiglace, and assorted berries in a tuile cookie with chantilly cream. The party lasts until 11 p.m. For reservations, call 473-6543.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.