Los Gatos restaurant comes ‘recommended’ by Michelin

Tasting House Los Gatos Chef Julian Silvera and owners Denise and Michael Thornberry are edging closer to the Michelin star galaxy with the recent naming of Vicinity to the “recommended” category in the esteemed Michelin Guide.

Deemed a “new culinary gem,” Vicinity joins 21 California restaurants set to appear in the latest guide, slated for a June release. Among Silvera’s recent creative offerings is Superior Ranch lamb from Dixon, CA, served with smoked pea puree, black garlic and demi, paired with 2020 Olga Raffault, Cabernet Franc, “Les Picasses,” Chinon, Loire, France, for the international pairing. As for the local pairing, the somm team selected the 2021 I. Brand & Family Cabernet Franc, Bates Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains.

RH breaks ground

Can’t miss the construction trucks around town, or the informative plyboard surrounding the former Steamers Grillhouse and Gap spaces at 31 University Ave. in downtown Los Gatos, teasing the coming concept by Restoration Hardware, which already has a gallery on Santa Cruz Avenue. The graphics on the construction fence vaguely hint at what’s to come in spring 2027, when the lifestyle brand is targeting the opening of its gallery and restaurant, with an image of Michelangelo’s Vitruvian Man, and text that reads, in part, “Where less becomes more, perfect proportions exist.”

Flora at The Row

Wonder no more what will replace Rosie McCann’s. Get ready for Flora, an immersive all-day concept from local hospitality veterans Russ Fukushima, Jameson Parvizad and Danny Shafazand, who brought you Second Story in Los Gatos, Bell Tower Café in Saratoga and Wild Rose in Campbell. The new spot will offer lunches, dinners and weekend brunch, and aims to be a choice spot for taking a shopping break or getting together for cocktails and celebratory nights out. Flora is expected to open in the summer.

Santana Row Farmers’ Market, an outdoor market held Wednesdays, 4-8 p.m., is now open through September on Santana Row, between Olin Avenue and Olsen Drive, featuring 25-plus vendors offering organic vegetables, local cheeses, breads, flowers, herbs, olives, mouthwatering rotisserie chicken and more.

Crave Fave

In the here and now, we recently devoured some of Chef Christopher Littman’s new creations on the expanded menu at San Jose’s most artistic art-adjacent restaurant. Velvety Green Garlic Vichyssoise stars chilled potato-leek bisque with ricotta, and the spicy Shrimp Campechana combines poached shrimp, mango, lime, tomato and jalapeno in a tangy chunky salsa served with avocado and housemade crispy tortilla chips fried in rice oil.

Littman digs dishes where ingredients are prepared three ways, including the farro and rainbow carrot salad. A cornucopia of color and texture, baby lettuces, toasted black walnuts, dates, labneh and faro, along with raw, steamed and dehydrated carrots, are tossed with Dijon cider vinaigrette and topped with fennel pollen.

Pizza lovers should order the standout sesame seed crust “Bianca” with ricotta and caramelized onions topped with chives. Littman says sesame crust pizza is the rage in the neighborhood where he grew up in Brooklyn, and he missed that flavor. Poppy & Claro, at 50 W. Fernando St. in downtown San Jose, is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Old school charm

Dimly lit, with a sunken bar and mahogany tables and booths throughout, this classic old-style eatery is centered around spit-roasted chickens, classy salads, stunning shrimp Louie with giant prawns, and comfort food like the French dip and rolled omelet bursting with gruyere and sour cream, served with perfectly poached cluster tomatoes.

Sometimes the sides are all you need, and their kale salad with peanut dressing is a winner, as is the wild rice salad with almonds, parsley and golden raisins, tossed in a tangy-sweet champagne vinaigrette. Conveniently, the restrooms are close to the back exit for a fast getaway, should your date lack the crusty charm of a freshly rotisseried chicken.