Here’s why restaurants are increasingly turning to wine-based and sake-based cocktails
For restaurant owners, obtaining a full liquor license on the Peninsula is costly: The current asking price is $90,000 in San Mateo County. That’s because full liquor licenses are subject to strict population quotas, so restaurants have to buy and transfer licenses from existing businesses.
A much easier and cheaper option is to forgo the spirits and just offer beer and wine. And on the Peninsula, restaurants are increasingly offering low-ABV cocktails made with sake or wine-based spirits. Not only is it cost-effective, but it also follows a trend of decreasing alcohol consumption.
For example, Keke’s Breakfast Cafe in Sunnyvale offers a menu of cocktails made with wine-based spirits. Think margaritas made with wine-based tequila and bloody marys made from wine-based vodka.
Writer Edwina Dueñas talked with various Peninsula restaurants offering low-ABV and nonalcoholic cocktails to learn more about this beverage trend.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
Low-ABV and nonalcoholic drinks find their place on Peninsula menus
Low alcohol by volume (ABV) and nonalcoholic (NA) drinks are on the rise, and it’s not just a phase. While alcoholic drinks have historically played a social and financial role for restaurants, Peninsula eateries offer an expanding range of low-ABV beverages to pair with your next meal.
Redwood City beer garden closes, a Palo Alto coffee shop may be evicted and an arts and wine festival this weekend
- After two years in Redwood City, German beer garden Dasbierhauz has permanently closed. A contemporary Korean restaurant is opening soon in its place.
- Gregorys Coffee may be evicted from Stanford Shopping Center after being hit with a lawsuit by the property manager.
- After nearly seven years in Redwood City, Chinese American restaurant Redwood Bistro has permanently closed.
- UMe Tea, a Silicon Valley-based boba chain, opened its new Menlo Park outpost Saturday.
- The 47th annual Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival will be held in downtown Los Altos from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
- Eilleen’s Chili House, an upscale Chinese restaurant, recently opened in Sunnyvale.
- Nepali Momo & Tandoori Kitchen recently opened in the former Delizie Cucina & Vino space in San Carlos.
- Michelin-starred The Village Pub is celebrating 25 years in Woodside with a limited-time anniversary tasting menu from Aug. 24-30.
Dinner at Plumed Horse
Fine dining is always an experience, but it’s often not a filling one. So you can imagine my surprise when I left Michelin-starred Plumed Horse stuffed and satiated.
Plumed Horse first opened in 1952 before it was renovated and relaunched under the culinary leadership of chef Peter Armellino in 2018. The Saratoga restaurant has retained a Michelin star every year since and is notably one of the more affordable fine-dining restaurants in the area.
The four-course prix-fixe option is $128 and includes four canapes, bread service and your choice of appetizer, entree and dessert (plus bonus mignardise). The food is relatively classic with a touch of innovation (think more out-of-the-box than Flea Street but not as playful as Ethel’s Fancy).
All four canapes — smoked trout chouquette, ahi tuna cigar, beef tartare with green goddess and goat cheese pastelito — were delightfully presented one-bite bursts of contrasting flavors and textures, but my favorite was the beef tartare, dressed with a bright and herbaceous green goddess sauce and dotted with jammy cured egg yolk.
The underdog of the night was the housemade Parker House roll, which was perhaps the fluffiest, most pillowy bread I’ve ever had.
For my appetizer, I opted for the kanpachi rhubarb aguachile with strawberry, serrano and citrus. It was fresh, sweet, bright, acidic and spicy. I chose the Liberty Farms duck for my main, served with blackberry, savory bread pudding and morels. While delicious, it wasn’t one of my top duck dishes and felt as if it were missing something. I would have liked some flaky sea salt on top of the duck and a blackberry gastrique instead of a savory jus to add an extra punch of flavor. Note: If you have a large appetite, order the veal milanese – it’s a sizable serving.
For dessert, I went for the caramel apple souffle with vanilla anglaise, candied peanut crumble and salted caramel. It tasted exactly like an apple pie, but in a soft and fluffy souffle form. A bonus mignardise of lemon cake and pâte de fruit were presented before the check arrived.
To watch my review, follow @peninsulafoodist on Instagram.
Plumed Horse, 14555 Big Basin Way, Saratoga; 408-867-4711, Instagram: @the_plumedhorse. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5-10 p.m.
Sip, pet, adopt: Nabi Cat Cafe opens in Santa Clara
Sisters-in-laws create Korean-inspired cat cafe to facilitate adoptions
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