Artist’s rendering of the new Dining Terrace at Valley Fair Shopping Center. (Photo courtesy of Westfiled)

Westfield Valley Fair Unveils New Dining Terrace

If you’ve worked up a hunger after fighting the crowds at the new Uniqlo store at Santa Clara’s Westfield Valley Fair Shopping Center, head to the mall’s spiffy new Dining Terrace.

The revamped 23,000-square-foot space opens to the public officially November 1.

In addition to comfy lounge seating and an alfresco outdoor patio with fire pits, the Dining Terrace will feature 18 fast-casual eateries.

Among the new ones will be: Caffe Central (serving Blue Bottle Coffee), Chipotle, Loving Hut (with Asian vegan offerings), Old Port Lobster, Pizza Vino, Sajj Mediterranean, Sarku Japan, Sarku Sushi Bar, Super Duper Burger, and Tava Indian Kitchen.

Returning restaurants include: Boudin Bakery & Cafe, Chicken Wow, Haagen-Dazs, Jamba Juice, McDonald’s, Panda Express, Ruby Thai, and Youji (for Vietnamese sandwiches and spring rolls).

“Weekly Beast” Menu Expands To More Nights

One Market’s popular “Weekly Beast” menu, previously available only as a prix fixe option on weekends, now will be offered Tuesday through Saturday each week with a la carte options.

Each week at the San Francisco restaurant, Chef Mark Dommen spotlights dishes made from a different whole animal sourced from local ranchers.

Upcoming “Weekly Beast” menus will showcase veal from Rossotti Ranch (through Nov. 2); grass-fed beef from Marin Sun Farms (Nov. 5-9); and duck from Sonoma County Poultry (Nov. 15-19).

Meet Italian Food Authority Francine Segan

As a food historian and cookbook author, Francine Segan has a way of finding novel Italian recipes you often don’t see elsewhere.

Case in point — her memorable “Cantaloupe Cake,” which I baked last year. Yes, melon in a cake.

Her latest book is “Pasta Modern: New & Inspired Recipes From Italy” (Stewart, Tabori and Chang).

She’ll be teaching two upcoming classes at Draeger’s, Nov. 6 and Nov. 7.

The 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6 class, “Pasta Modern,” will take place at the Menlo Park store. Segan will demonstrate how to make such dishes as “Bucatini Dome-Pasta Molded with Vegetable Filling” and “Cannoli Pasta Dessert.” Price is $55 per person.

The 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 class, “Italian Chocolate Experience,” will be held at the San Mateo store. She’ll teach you all about the history of chocolate, guide you through a tasting and show you how to make dishes such as “Chocolate Pasta with Hazelnuts & Creamy Mascarpone.” Price is $55 per person.

To purchase tickets to either event, click here.