Explore various food cultures at these upcoming Peninsula festivals
Have you ever tried stinky tofu? I did for the first time on Saturday at the Asian Culture and Food Expo at the San Mateo Event Center. It looked like black charcoal and tasted very funky and fermented. While I can’t say it was my favorite dish I’ve tried, it was an interesting and unique experience, especially accompanied by the various cultural performances on the main stage.
And while that event has passed, there’s a slew of upcoming cultural festivals serving a bevvy of cuisines. This week, assistant lifestyle editor Karla Kane talked with the organizers of the Bay Area Lebanese Festival, Belmont Greek Festival and Festa Italiana, all happening within the next few weekends.
Can’t wait for the weekend to try some new food? Peninsula Foodist intern Tessa Berney wrote about the Palo Alto Food Truck Fellowship featuring live music, kids’ activities and food trucks offering Latin, Brazilian and Southern cuisine.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
Here’s what’s cooking at 3 upcoming cultural festivals on the Peninsula
The Peninsula loves a good celebration, and in the coming weeks, the area is host to several cultural festivals including the Bay Area Lebanese Festival Aug. 23, the Belmont Greek Festival Aug. 30-31 and Festa Italiana Sept. 14 – and that’s not even including local Oktoberfest events!
A longtime froyo spot makes a comeback, a Coastside eatery temporarily closes following a break-in and upcoming coffee events
- Yumi Yogurt, a frozen yogurt shop founded 40 years ago in Redwood City, is returning to the city six years after closing their previous shop.
- The Palo Alto Food Truck Fellowship will host its final event for the summer Aug. 28 from 5-8 p.m.
- Dad’s Luncheonette in Half Moon Bay is temporarily closed after sustaining damage and flooding in a break-in, according to a recent Instagram post.
- The Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is hosting a Foodie Walk fundraiser Thursday from 5-8 p.m. on Palo Alto’s California Avenue. More than 15 restaurants will be participating.
- Bob Mullen, owner of Woodside Vineyards, has sold his business to Los Gatos-based Silver Mountain Vineyards, explaining that at 99 years old, he’s ready to retire.
- Phin Bar will have a pop-up at Boichik Bagels in Santa Clara Aug. 24 and 31, offering Vietnamese coffee with horchata and Vietnamese coffee with banana condensed milk, peanut butter cream and cinnamon.
- Home Coffee Roasters in Sunnyvale is hosting a Coffee & RnB event Aug. 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with DJs, a temporary tattoo station, games and prizes.
- Speaking of DJs, Amara in Belmont will be hosting a Tapas and Tracks night Friday with a DJ from Spain.
- Award-winning cookbook author, New York Times contributor and chef Rick Martinez launched a Sonoran-inspired menu at Local Kitchens on Tuesday and will open a new Local Kitchens location in Burlingame in September.
- The Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto is hosting a Chocolate Chip Cookie Festival Aug. 23 from 1-4 p.m.
- Flea Street in Menlo Park turns 45 on Aug. 28. To celebrate, the restaurant will offer complimentary sparkling wine Aug. 26-30 from 5-6:30 p.m. and will be donating 10% of sales to Second Harvest Food Bank.
Pandan tiramisu from Gong Dessert Shop
I’ve never been wowed by tiramisu before – until I tried Gong Dessert Shop’s pandan tiramisu.
Much more like a pandan-packed tres leches cake than tiramisu, this dessert is ultra-moist, creamy, perfectly pandan-forward and not too sweet or heavy. (And it comes in a very cute container.) This is probably the best dessert I’ve had in a very long time.
My one complaint? There’s no brick-and-mortar shop for me to show up and order another 10. Created by Andrew Hong, Gong Dessert Shop is a pop-up bakery that’s mainly available in San Francisco and San Jose, but I was lucky enough to catch them at the San Mateo Event Center.
I also tried Gong Dessert Shop’s hojicha black sesame mochi cookie, but I think trying any dessert alongside the pandan tiramisu automatically sets it up for failure. The hojicha flavor was very pronounced, but I would have preferred a crispier or firmer cookie texture to contrast the chewy and gooey mochi interior.
If they pop up along the Peninsula again, I’m definitely going to try their tiramisu variations like the Vietnamese coffee or Hong Kong milk tea flavors.
Gong Dessert Shop, Instagram: @droothebaker.
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