Dos Burros in Saratoga began serving weekend brunch in March, but they’re really coming into their own now. The menu is streamlined but generous, with vegetarian, seafood and meat options. If you crave well-crafted salsas, they have some of the best I’ve been served at a restaurant. Each dish we ordered showed the touch of a chef who considers presentation on the same level as composition. Guacamole was fresh with lots of chunky onion, tomato and tangy lime and light crispy chips. The chilaquiles offered great cheesy crunch with lip-smacking salsa verde and perfect runny eggs, the grilled prawn tacos with slaw and salsa roja were juicy perfection and the Eggs Benedict carnitas, served atop sopes with beans, avocado and topped with ancho Hollandaise, proved resoundingly spicy and fit for a hearty appetite. Come enjoy this great menu, and outdoor tables while the weather holds.
Shepherd & Sims in Los Gatos has a few new menu items including stonefruit panzanella with whipped ricotta, and seared scallops with corn succotash. Don’t forget their signature Shrimp Louie with seared prawns, avocado, cherry tomatoes and bacon with awesome sauce dressing—quite possibly the best salad ever. Tune in for their beet and burrata with pistachio brittle and their black garlic noodles with prawns, or share some Vietnamese pork tips with lemongrass and ginger caramel, pickled carrots and cilantro slaw, peanut crunch, rice and fried shallots.
Every now and then, I get a craving for dim sum. My friend Ann and I opted for Tai Pan on Waverly in Palo Alto, which has beautiful in décor authentic ambiance, and an extensive menu. Bar none, the chicken potstickers are the best we’ve had in years, bathed in a fragrant pork and garlic soy, and the Har Gow prawns in a delicate glass noodle sheath popped perfectly with each bite. The pork and prawn Sui Mai were packed with flavor and made a meal, as did the soft and dreamy steamed barbecue pork buns. We also enjoyed the ultra-crispy vegetable spring rolls.
Next time we’re going for the Peking duck buns, string beans with minced pork, and sticky rice in lotus leaf, although the peashoot and shrimp Chinese donut begs exploration.
As autumn approaches, Gott’s Roadside in Palo Alto has launched a lineup of seasonal menu items, including a mushroom and Swiss burger with sautéed crimini and oyster mushrooms slathered with rich housemade garlic mayo on a butter-toasted bun. Pair that with crispy waffle fries and a rich pumpkin shake with Straus organic soft serve. On Nov. 12, the shake pivots to peppermint.
Gardenia Los Gatos welcomes new Executive Chef Morgan de Paulo, a 27-year veteran of the culinary world and chief executive officer at Equipoise Food Group Inc. He’s also the founding director of Tres Guapos Hot Sauce LLC, and an expert in charcuterie, sauce creation and Koji fermentation. You can catch him in the kitchen daily as he perfects his overhaul of the menu.
Make plans to join de Paulo for a special Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars dinner in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris on Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Gardenia. The six-course wine-paired menu includes warm milk breads with house cultured butters, salmon belly tartare, chicken liver parfait, duck roulade l’orange, prime New York strip steak and a cheese board to finish. Vegetarians can opt for smoked beet tartare, pea velouté with preserved lemon, agnolotti with corn, squash and black garlic, and a wild mushroom terrine with artichokes and sauce barigoule.
Stag’s Leap wine pairings by course are 2025 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé, 2024 Aveta Sauvignon Blanc, 2024 Karia Chardonnay, a trio of Fay Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (vintages 2008, 2013 and 2018), a trio of Stags Leap Vineyards Cabernet (vintages 2009, 2011 and 2012) and 2024 Artemis Cabernet. Tickets are $285. Call 669-294-4498 to reserve.
Dining and Cooking