Din Tai Fung to Open Its First Bay Area Location, Blue Bottle Comes to Palo Alto & More
Soup dumplings fresh out of the steamer at Din Tai Fung in Arcadia. (Photo by Carolyn Jung)
Din Tai Fung To Open at Valley Fair Shopping Center
The news that rocked my food world? The announcement that Din Tai Fung, the dumpling-house darling, will open at Westfield Valley Fair in San Jose this winter.
Publicists have confirmed that the popular Taiwanese chain will open a locale here, making it the first one in Northern California. The only other Din Tai Fung outlets in the United States are in Southern California and the Seattle area.
The Valley Fair one will be located on the main floor of the shopping center, next to J.Crew and underneath the second-floor Dining Terrace. The 8,200-square-foot restaurant will seat up to 200.
Those of you who have followed my blog know that I can’t get enough of the dumplings there, and have enjoyed them whenever I’ve been fortunate to be in the Los Angeles-area. Suffice to say that Din Tai Fung has dumplings down to a science, particularly the soup dumplings (also known as xiaolongbao), which are my standard for all others.
For a look at what you can expect at the Valley Fair restaurant, click on my post here of my visit to the Arcadia branch. And prepare to get hungry.
Blue Bottle Coffee Opens Its First Peninsula Location
Of course the first Peninsula Blue Bottle Coffee cafe would be located in downtown Palo Alto — what with that tony city’s never-ending thirst for gourmet beans.
The drip-to-order coffee. (Photo by Blue Bottle)
Blue Bottle opened its doors last week at the old Varsity Theater on University Avenue, now home to HanaHaus, a cafe and community workspace geared toward the culture of technology innovation. Look for it to play host to speakers, events and live music.
In addition to its smooth premium coffees, Blue Bottle also features signature cookies and pastries. The Palo Alto location is complete with a drip bar, a Kees van der Westen Spirit espresso machine and a mini-keg filled with Blue Bottle’s signature New Orleans iced coffee.
Chef Nancy Silverton Comes to Macy’s Union Square
Nancy Silverton, the chef who jump-started the artisan bread movement in Los Angeles and went on to team with Mario Batali to open acclaimed Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza in that city, will be hosting a cooking demo at 2 p.m. March 28 at Macy’s Union Square San Francisco.
James Beard Award-winning Chef Nancy Silverton. (Photo courtesy of the chef)
Silverton will share recipes inspired by Macy’s Flower Show, which you’ll get to taste.
The free demo takes place in the culinary kitchen in Macy’s Cellar.
San Jose’s Westgate Mall Welcomes A New Farmers Market
Westgate Center in San Jose has launched its first farmers market.
The year-round 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Saturday market is located in the center food court area next to Gong Cha bubble tea shop.
The new market is in association with the West Coast Farmers Market Association, which also oversees popular markets in Cupertino, Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay and Carmel.
Vendors offer everything from organic produce to specialty baked goods to prepared foods to handmade soups and glassware.
I bet you can’t wait until winter to get some DTF!
This place will be so over-hyped by winter. 😉
Ben: So true! But at least Din Tai Fung is actually worth all its hype. 😉
I had heard rumors of Din Tai Fung coming to the Bay Area all year — but to see it in writing (and to SJ, no less) has me beyond giddy! I’m already prepared for the long lines. Heck, I’d line up now if I could! 🙂