Dig Into Dungeness in Half Moon Bay

Hankering for fresh, local Dungeness crab, but don’t want to cook it, yourself?

Take a pretty drive along the coast to the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, where Chef Gaston Alfaro is dishing up “Baked Pesto Infused Dungeness Crab.”

The crab is poached in a secret blend of spices and a splash of Mavericks Ale, then cracked and slathered in pesto sauce before being slipped into a hot oven for a few minutes. How good does that sound? Even better when you hear it comes with garlic bread.

Of course, if you’re a purist, you also can have your crab in the classic style, served warm or cold, simply with drawn butter and garlic bread.

Both dishes are $23 each. They’ll be on the menu as long as local Dungeness is available.

Arka Opens in Sunnyvale

A new contemporary Indian restaurant has opened in Sunnyvale, serving up the likes of vegetarian tandoori kebabs and “Doodhiya Gosht” (lamb curry with ricotta cheese, essence of screw pine and edible silver).

Arka Restaurant, Bar & Lounge will officially open in January, but it’s already opened its doors this month for a test launch.

The menu for the sleek restaurant was devised by consulting Chef Sachin Chopra, executive chef of All Spice in San Mateo.

The restaurant also will feature classic and modern cocktails, such as the “Indiana Colada” (organic acai Veev vodka, organic Greek yogurt, mango puree and rose water).

La Boulange’s Special New Holiday Cake

It’s a round of puff pastry encasing a creamy almond filling. And it comes with five delightful and very San Francisco-inspired figurines that include a miniature of the Transamerica pyramid and Coit tower.

It’s the new Galette de Rois by the Bay Area’s La Boulange, made especially to be served for dessert on the Twelfth Night celebration that commemorates the Ephiphany and the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas on Jan. 6.

Traditionally, little charms are baked into the cake. Those who find them are crowned king and queen of the festivities. But La Boulange took the safer route by offering custom figurines that come with the cake rather than hidden inside of it.

The cake is available from now through the end of January for $25.

Two South Bay Restaurants Expand

The venerable Willow Street Wood-Fired Pizza in Willow Glen in San Jose has nearly doubled in size, including adding a larger all-weather patio. Best yet, there’s a new parking garage adjacent, too. Though, valet parking will continue to be offered as the Willow Glen Town Square project continues to be completed.

The restaurant, which is known for its creative California-style pizzas, also features a beautiful marble bar and three HD TVs to catch all your fave sporting events.

Meantime, Main Street Burgers in downtown Los Gatos also has increased in size, adding a new dining room.

The burger joint, which uses Niman Ranch beef and serves San Jose’s Treat Ice Cream, also has added a fun new molecular gastronomy gadget — the Anti-Griddle, which can freeze foods to 30 degrees in about 5 minutes. The kitchen’s using it to turn out modern-day S’mores and designer ice cream sandwiches.

More: My Dinner at All Spice

And: My Story on Sachin Chopra of All Spice

To Cook Your Own Dungeness Crab: Boiled Crab in Beer