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Make yourself at home: Tal Palo brings Mexican food and wares to Los Altos

The family behind Tal Palo, the new Mexican restaurant and shop in downtown Los Altos, wants you to feel like you're in their home when you walk through the door. The interior makes patrons feel as if they're dining in someone's house.

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‘My family doesn’t know I’m opening a restaurant’: Inside two sisters’ journey launching one of the Bay Area’s only Uyghur eateries

Almira and Kalbi Tursungjan, who identify as ethnic Uyghurs, have just opened what they say is one of the only ethnic Uyghur restaurants in the Bay Area: Mrs. Khan in downtown Menlo Park. 

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Downtown Burlingame bites and beverages: The newest eateries and ones to watch for

The restaurant shuffle is at it again along Burlingame’s downtown corridor between California Drive and El Camino Real. Places that weren’t quite making it during the pandemic quietly closed, and businesses and entrepreneurs that weren’t risk-averse saw an opportunity to open on a street that can prove to be rewarding with the right timing and concept.

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Zoppe Circus next generation
How the Zoppé family built a Redwood City circus legacy
October 14, 2021
The sweet-scented legacy of Ah Sam: 88 years of fame, family and flowers
September 9, 2021
Live it up this Labor Day: 20 local events for the long holiday weekend on the Peninsula
September 2, 2021
Missing the playa this year? Get your Black Rock fix with “Burning Man: The Musical”
September 2, 2021
Stanford art professors and De Young Museum painters loom large in Palo Alto tapestry exhibition
August 12, 2021

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  • Drink up! SF Beer Week is back with special releases, tap takeovers and meetups all around the Peninsula February 8, 2023
  • Give me some sugar: 10 Peninsula chocolate shops to wow your valentine February 8, 2023
  • ‘I’m bullish on Menlo Park’: Restaurateur Greg Kuzia-Carmel bets on Peninsula community with his third eatery Canteen January 31, 2023
  • Beyond plastic straw bans: ‘Generation Dread’ author and Stanford postdoc Britt Wray on coping with (and acting on) eco-anxiety January 31, 2023
  • Think you’re juggling a lot? Go behind the scenes of the Game of Throws circus arts festival in Palo Alto.  January 31, 2023

Popular Posts

Zoppe Circus next generation
How the Zoppé family built a Redwood City circus legacy
October 14, 2021
The sweet-scented legacy of Ah Sam: 88 years of fame, family and flowers
September 9, 2021
Live it up this Labor Day: 20 local events for the long holiday weekend on the Peninsula
September 2, 2021

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From newcomers tentatively trying their hand at ju From newcomers tentatively trying their hand at juggling for the first time to professionals managing to keep seven balls in the air at once, Gunn High School’s juggling festival Jan. 20-22 drew people of all ages and skill levels. The Game of Throws (a play on the hit TV show “Game of Thrones”) brought hundreds of people from the region and around the world to Gunn’s gymnasium in Palo Alto for circus arts workshops, demonstrations and friendly competitions. Professionals on hand showcased for attendees of all ages everything from cigar box juggling and lassoing techniques to 20 tricks with a baseball cap. Led by Gunn Japanese teacher Matt Hall, who has been juggling internationally for two decades, this was Game of Throws’ fourth iteration and the first one since the pandemic hit. It was hosted from 2018 through 2020 at Palo Alto High School, where Hall previously worked as the student activities director. Click the link in bio to read about the festivities and see behind the scenes photos by @devoroberts.
Who says it’s too cold for ice cream? 🙅‍♀ Who says it’s too cold for ice cream? 🙅‍♀️🍨Sunnyvale residents Ketki Dandekar and Arshiya Shaikh recently opened Pints of Joy in town, which serves flavors inspired by Indian desserts like gulab jamun as well as unique combinations like blueberry lavender. Tap the link in bio to read about how @pintsofjoyicecream came to be. Photos by @itsmagalig.
Greg Kuzia-Carmel last week opened his third eater Greg Kuzia-Carmel last week opened his third eatery within Menlo Park’s city limits. Canteen, a wine, cocktails and tapas bar, joins Canteen Coffee Shop and Camper in the lineup of local dining options he runs. “I’m bullish on Menlo Park,” says the Redwood City resident, restaurateur and chef. “I love the people here. I love the community.” Canteen, which opened Jan. 25, is the first of a number of high-profile restaurants slated to arrive in sleepy Menlo Park’s splashy new high-end development, Springline. Previously called Station 1300, the downtown Menlo Park development is adding nearly 200 apartments, 200,000 square feet of office space and eight food and drink options over a 6.4-acre property. Kuzia-Carmel says he’s excited about the developer’s ambitions to foster a foodie hub at Springline. “We’re hoping they really do help create a Disney for adults – for culinary-savvy adults,” he says. Click the link in bio for the story by @k8bradsh. Photos courtesy Eric Palozzolo, Greg Kuzia-Carmel and Jim Sullivan.
Dave Sands has tried a number of career paths sinc Dave Sands has tried a number of career paths since becoming a professional chef after graduating from the City College of San Francisco’s Hotel and Restaurant Program. The San Francisco native and Redwood City resident spent five years in the food industry before he got burnt out. So Sands switched paths, first working in customer service for a car dealer before landing what he says was a dream opportunity as an officer with the San Francisco Police Department. He worked there for about 15 years. Then 2019 hit. Sands was injured on the job, wounding his shoulder, and his mom died. For the past couple of years, he’s been dealing with surgeries and trying to rehabilitate from his injuries. “Cooking became my therapy,” he says. But, he adds, “I’m still in pain every day.” Sands finds himself again exploring a new career path. Returning to his food roots, his podcast @food.origins_ highlights the culinary histories and backgrounds of local chefs and food leaders. Click the link in bio to read the story by @k8bradsh. Photo by @itsmagalig.
Lunar New Year has arrived and Peninsula cities, l Lunar New Year has arrived and Peninsula cities, libraries and local groups are hosting a variety of events marking the advent of Year of the Rabbit. From music and dance performances to hands-on crafts, click the link in bio for 10 ways to celebrate the new year. Photo courtesy city of Redwood City.
The Coastside community and the wider Bay Area are The Coastside community and the wider Bay Area are stepping up to support families of victims of the Jan. 23 shootings that killed seven farmworkers and wounded another in Half Moon Bay, as well as the farmworker community as a whole. At the same time, many are still trying to process the horrific events of that day. We compiled a list of the organizations and businesses raising funds for the victims of the Jan. 23 shootings, as well as memorial events and local mental health resources. Click the link in bio to read the story. Photo by Leah Worthington.
After co-founding @lajawabtreats, a baking busines After co-founding @lajawabtreats, a baking business focused on Asian fusion desserts like ras malai tres leches cake, with his sister Punhal in 2021, Los Altos teen Naiel Chaudry caught the attention of @foodnetwork. He’s now competing on “Kids Baking Championship” as the first Pakistani American contestant in the show’s 11 seasons. The next episode airs tonight (Jan. 23). Click the link in bio to read the story about Naiel and Lá Jawab. Photos courtesy Food Network and Rabiaz Art Photography.
The winner of the 49ers-Cowboys game at Levi’s S The winner of the 49ers-Cowboys game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara Sunday afternoon will play the winner of the New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles game in the NFC Championship. With most tickets for the marquee matchup reportedly costing around $500 to $600 apiece, it’s safe to say many will be making plans to watch on TV. Bars and restaurants up and down the Peninsula are showing the game, with some offering food and drink specials. Click the link in bio for a running list of establishments where you can watch the 49ers in the playoffs. Photo by @itsmagalig.
Join the community as we celebrate Lunar New Year, Join the community as we celebrate Lunar New Year, the year of the rabbit! The Palo Alto Chinese community presents the 2023 Palo Alto Lunar New Year Fair, a fun community-building event for the whole family Jan. 21 from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Mitchell Park Library! Featuring Chinese folk music & dances, bubble tea and dumpling treats, cultural activities such as dumpling-making, Chinese tea art, paper-cutting, mahjong and feng shui — plus raffles. Free admission for Palo Alto residents. Proceeds will be donated to PAUSD. Don’t forget to visit the Palo Alto Weekly booth!
For the first time, the San Mateo Community Colleg For the first time, the San Mateo Community College District has waived the tuition and enrollment costs for all of its classes this spring as part of a new pilot program for county residents. By taking just six credits or more – the equivalent of about two classes – county residents are eligible for the district’s student rates at its two top-tier athletic facilities at Cañada College and College of San Mateo. @k8bradsh scoured the course catalogs to find some of the most interesting courses on offer this semester and compiled a top 20 for your consideration. Tap the link in bio to take a look. Photo courtesy @canadacollegerwc.
@devoroberts caught a break in the rain in Pacific @devoroberts caught a break in the rain in Pacifica this week 📸☔️🌈 What are some Peninsula spots that our photographs should check out in 2023? Comment below or send us a DM! Stay dry, 650.
Songs from The Shangri-Las and Brenda Lee rotate t Songs from The Shangri-Las and Brenda Lee rotate through Millbrae Pancake House’s playlist. The upbeat ‘60s-era music greets you soon after you step out of your car and pulls you inside, where you imagine people conversing with words like “jalopy” and “groovy.” Yes, the popular all-day breakfast spot is dated, but places like this offer a respite from a world that can feel like it’s spinning out of control. The interior’s wood-paneled walls have no doubt seen a lot. It’s a retro-lover’s dream with laminate wood tables and matching chairs, vinyl upholstered booths and brass chandeliers. At some point in time over the last 64 years, they updated the wallpaper. The Mulcrevy girls, as they’re still called, currently run the business that originally was Uncle John’s Pancake House. Their father, Robert Mulcrevy, along with his sisters Marie, Frances (Frankie) and Anne (plus her husband Jack Holder) bought the franchise in 1959. In 1962, the first-generation siblings changed the name to Millbrae Pancake House. Sisters Erin, Jane, Laura and Maureen (second-generation siblings) took control of the restaurant in 2009 when their aunt Marie, being the last of the Mulcrevy siblings involved, decided to step away. Erin Burke and her brother-in-law, Thomas Maguire, sat down to talk about how this fourth-generation San Francisco family keeps the legacy of the Millbrae Pancake House alive after two generations of ownership. Click the link in bio to read @sophiamwrites’ story. Photos by @devoroberts.
Fida Milki had for years been a health-conscious h Fida Milki had for years been a health-conscious home chef and enjoyed cooking for friends and family at her Palo Alto house. But until recently, the most she’d showcased her culinary skills had been to donate meals to school fundraisers at the former International School of the Peninsula, now the Silicon Valley International School, where her children attended. Her daughter encouraged her to start an Instagram page at the onset of the pandemic to showcase her cooking, but Milki was resistant at first. Eventually, with encouragement from both her daughter and a niece who lives overseas and helps women build businesses, she agreed to try it out and came up with her Instagram handle, @fertayket_fida. Her recipes and beautifully presented food photos were a hit on the social media platform, and she’s since released two cookbooks, the newest themed around detoxing from the holidays. Click the link in bio for the story. Photos courtesy @fertayket_fida.
This year was marked by a plethora of new eateries This year was marked by a plethora of new eateries opening around the Peninsula and a spate of restaurant closures. We saw many restaurants face delays as they readied to open their doors for business, while others decide to close their doors after long battles against forces like a difficult labor market, rising costs and the ever-present threat of redevelopment. Between the newcomers and longtime establishments (as well as some that are now out of business), our staff and contributors @julia.k.brown, @k8bradsh, @devoroberts, @sophiamwrites, @gracedli, @sahaydensays and @generalshus reflected on the past 12 months and compiled our favorite drinks and dishes of 2022. Click the link in bio to read the story. Photos by @devoroberts, @sophiamwrites, @julia.k.brown and @generalshus.
Still pinning down your New Year’s weekend plans Still pinning down your New Year’s weekend plans? The Six Fifty has you covered with our running list of performances, parties, multicourse meals and other ways to celebrate the end of 2022 and kick off 2023. Click the link in bio for our guide to New Year’s weekend. Photo courtesy Willemwouterse.nl/ Stanford Live.
The Pioneer, a 76-foot-long seafaring trawler, has The Pioneer, a 76-foot-long seafaring trawler, has left its dock in Redwood City and relocated to Richmond after its permit was terminated by the Port of Redwood City. The boat was where Pioneer Seafoods’ owner, Giuseppe Pennisi, sold his fresh-caught fish directly to customers, an enterprise that is now in jeopardy. “My whole life I’ve been pushed from one harbor to the next,” he says. He started his fishing career in Monterey as a third-generation fisherman. Overcoming one obstacle after another, he took his business to Moss Landing, then San Francisco, where he says it took him five years to get the permits to be able to fish there. “The sad thing is, there’s nobody else,” he says. “It’s not like I can pass this knowledge on to anyone.” Click the link in bio to read the story. Photo courtesy @pioneerseafoods.
While many cafes and restaurants tend to treat hot While many cafes and restaurants tend to treat hot chocolate as a kids-menu afterthought, we wanted you to know what your best options are around the Peninsula. We’ve got both boozy and alcohol-free options, some for drinking out and others for making at home, and even a best-served-cold option or two. Check out the roundup by @k8bradsh at the link in our bio. Reel by @itsmagalig.
The family behind one of Los Altos’ newest resta The family behind one of Los Altos’ newest restaurants wants you to feel like you’re in their home – a very stylish home at that – when you walk through the door. They’ve even gone so far as to bring elements from their home inside @tal_palo, their Mexican restaurant and shop that opened last week on Main Street. Co-owners Adriana Domínguez-Porter and her husband Aaron Porter set up their own kitchen table inside the restaurant, subtle crayon markings intact, and erected their family’s Christmas tree inside the shop instead of inside their home. “Our house is half-empty right now,” Domínguez-Porter says with a laugh. “The whole feeling when you come to Tal Palo is that you’re coming into our home, but we’re there to serve you and make you feel welcome.” Click the link in bio to read @k8bradsh’s story. Photos by @itsmagalig.
In San Carlos, Eucalyptus Avenue residents draw re In San Carlos, Eucalyptus Avenue residents draw revelers from around the Peninsula and beyond to see the street aglow with lights, ornaments, figurines and other holiday decorations. Many Eucalyptus Avenue residents go all-out in adorning their homes with themed decor, while others go for a more understated approach. Motorists and pedestrians line the street every December to ogle oversized ornaments hanging from front yard trees and search for their favorite lighted cartoon character figurines ranging from Hello Kitty to Olaf, the snowman from “Frozen.” Some Eucalyptus Avenue residents sit in their front yards with friends and family on the busiest nights, watching passersby while huddling around a fire pit. Photographer @devoroberts captured the scene from San Carlos’ Christmas Tree Lane earlier this month. Catch the display through Dec. 26 this year and check out his photo essay at the link in bio.
When it gets truly cold outside (by California sta When it gets truly cold outside (by California standards anyway), there’s a reason that the hot drink many people of all ages reach for remains the tried-and-true humble mug of hot cocoa. It’s the quintessence of cozy: warm, creamy and revitalizing. And while many cafes and restaurants tend to treat hot chocolate as a kids-menu afterthought, we think our readers deserve better this holiday season. So we scoured the Peninsula to find the best hot chocolate – and European drinking chocolate – offerings around. We’ve got both boozy and alcohol-free options, some for drinking out and others for making at home, and even a best-served-cold option or two. Find the classy cocoa guide from @k8bradsh featuring @timothyadamschocolates, @birddogpaloalto, @lulaschocolates and more at the link in bio. Photo by @itsmagalig.
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