Favorite Places
There our favorite places. And then, there are our favorite FOODIE places! The following are our lists of favorite food-related places.Peter's List
For Grocery Shopping:
Draeger's Market
Four locations sprinkled around the San Francisco Bay Area; San Mateo, Blackhawk, Menlo Park and Los Altos. Most gourmet markets have great meats or produce, but I always end up going elsewhere to finish my shopping list because there's a lack of selection. Not Draeger's. Everything under the culinary sun is here. Not only can you pick up a jar of Russian caviar, Italian black truffles and magnum bottles of Champagne, but you can also pick up that bottle of Tide, a six pack of beer and a box of Cheerio's. The San Mateo flagship is a homage to the foodie. Experienced shoppers know not to use the street entrance at this store, because the first-time patrons stand in the entry-way slack jawed from bewilderment. Also, this store also has a fine dining restaurant (Viognier - launched by Gary Danko), a cooking school and a kitchen supply store on the 2nd floor. Yes, this supermarket is 2 stories tall (3 if you count the parking garage); and it has an elevator. If there ever was one, this is definitely a 'destination market'.Favorite Farmers' market:
Campbell Farmers' Market
Always has the best seasonal produce. Be sure have plenty of cash. Some vendors use Square; most only accept cash. It seems every community in the Bay Area has their version of a Farmers' market. This one in downtown Campbell is hands-down the best farmers' market in Silicon Valley. If not the best in the Bay Area, it's definitely one of the top three. It spans multiple city blocks, and the products sold there range from fresh bread to local produce to cut flowers. This farmers' market is every Sunday all year long, from 9am to 1pm.The following are some of Peter's other favorites: Peet's Coffee & Tea (for coffee)
Gombei Restaurant (for Udon)
Stan's Donuts Shabu Way (for shabu-shabu, Japanese version of the hot pot)
Laurie's List
For French cuisine:
Andre's Bouchee
Carmel, CA Owned and managed by a French family, this is a great place for tasty French cuisine. Incredibly, this one of most affordable fine dining places in Carmel Village. Many notable people frequent this establishment. If you're lucky, you may run into Kenny G or the Sacramento Kings coach. Do make reservations. It can get crowded when there are weekend events happening in the area. All of the family-owners know us well. Be sure to say, "Peter and Laurie sent us."For California Cuisine:
The Table
Willow Glen neighborhood, San Jose, CA The Table is a social communal table experience. Located in the business district of the Willow Glen neighborhood in San Jose. This restaurant is a great place for drinks and appetizers at the bar. Menu is seasonal and the small plates are fun to share. The artisan cocktails are original and tasty. The Bloody Mary's are to-die-for if you like them super savory (read 'Umami Explosion'). This is a place where locals hang out. Many high-tech employees and professional athletes (mostly from the 49ers and Sharks) are known to live in the Willow Glen 'hood. Don't be surprised if you recognize an athlete or coach. Reservations are a must, unless you sit at the bar or willing to wait at least an hour. The neighborhood has a 'walkable downtown' area, as the community was once a city of it's own, before being annexed by San Jose in the 1930's.The following are some of Laurie's other favorites: Cafe San Jose (for an 'old school' Breakfast)
Top Nosh (for Coffee)