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24th Connoisseurs’ Marketplace comes to Menlo Park

by Linda Hubbard Gulker on July 16, 2010

in Arts, Crafts, Entertainment, Events, Food, Fun, Shopping, Summer 2010

Pride and Joy

Santa Cruz Avenue will again become a cavalcade of art and music this weekend (July 17-18) when the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce presents the 24th annual Connoisseurs’ Marketplace.

“This is a big event for our community,” says festival chair Rick Ciardella, who grew up in Menlo Park and operates landscape architecture firm Ciardella Associates. “As a fundraiser for the Chamber, it’s a way for us to make a difference.”

Ciardella told InMenlo that he particularly wanted to acknowledge the contributions of  John Conway and Dr. Bill Tarr who were involved in planning this year’s event.

After a four year hiatus, the chefs’ demonstrations are back for the 24th edition.  New attractions include the AutoVino collector car showcase, a microbrew and wine tasting tent, and a kids’ interactive art zone.

The free Saturday after-hours concert will feature Pride & Joy (pictured), considered by many to be the the Bay Area’s pre-eminent party band, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in Fremont Park.

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Rainbow of pepper color debuts at Menlo’s Farmers Market

by Linda Hubbard Gulker on July 11, 2010

in Food, Shopping, Summer 2010

David Winsberg of Happy Quails Farm

Admitting to be shorthanded today, David Winsberg of Happy Quail Farms was scrambling to get what he called the “first major mature color pepper display of the summer” set out at Menlo Park’s Farmers Market this morning. Admirers were already gathering, eager to snatch what many Bay Area chefs consider the best locally-produced sweet and hot peppers, all grown on a small East Palo Alto Farm. Pimientos de Padron are a farm specialty that make a great tapas dish: one of ten of these small, usually-mild peppers is hot. The classic recipe, offered by at least one local chef, calls for tossing them in olive oil and coarse salt, then searing them for about a minute in a hot pan, or until a slight char appears.

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Spotted: Menlo money tree

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And, no, it’s not Google (which was founded in Menlo Park) but rather a small, organic creature featuring a multi-branched trunk supporting the ‘green.’ On sale for $8.99 at Trader Joe’s, this would seem to be quite a value proposition for someone. We just have to wonder for whom would that be? Us customers or [...]

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Sisters make Boutique 4 clothing store a success

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Sisters Julie (left) and Tamara Michel opened their clothing shop, Boutique 4 (formerly 4 Clothing Solutions), on Santa Cruz Ave. in downtown Menlo Park six years ago.  What followed was not necessarily a tranquil period for small retailers, to say the least. But they stuck to their business plan – offering reasonably priced clothing that’s [...]

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Bonacich Orchards apricots debut at Menlo’s Farmer’s Market

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Honey Rich apricots grown by Bonacich Orchards in Patterson, CA, made their debut at Menlo Park’s Farmer’s Market this morning. Orchard owner George Bonacich is a leading proponent of water quality protection and was one of the first growers to do nutrient budgeting. Finding that he had sufficient nutrients in his well water, he stopped [...]

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Webb Ranch is now open – with fresh organic produce

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Webb Ranch has just opened for the season – selling fresh, organic produce at the intersection of 280 and Alpine Road (2720 Alpine Road). Fresh produce has begun arriving – including fresh berries from Watsonville. Produce manager Deano Lovecchio says that the ranch’s own berries are about to begin coming in as well.
Deano [...]

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Gina Grega: From a chef’s blender emerges dry shampoo

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Imagine this scenario. You were trained as a chef so you know your way around a blender. You also remember your mom putting baby powder in your hair as a “get-it-clean-without-washing” method. So you start messing around not with talcum powder (the usual ingredient in dry shampoos) but organic food-grade starches and iron oxide. All [...]

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Davide Bigazzi: Ancient art in modern hands

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Artist Davide Bigazzi practices and teaches traditional silver and gold smithing from his tidy workshop in the confines of Menlo Park’s Allied Arts Guild. That there is irony in practicing ancient technique – including chasing and repoussé – in the heart of technologically uber-advanced Silicon Valley is not lost on Davide. His trade is so [...]

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