Bywater’s weekend brunch features Manresa breads

The Bywater just launched weekend brunch, and that is something to celebrate. Don’t miss the striking avocado toast on Manresa Bread levain with winter citrus, feta and pickled Cajun egg; the banana French toast with Manresa Bread brioche and bourbon honey; and the Bywater Benedict on Manresa Bread levain with andouille sausage and mushrooms in wine sauce, topped with a close to perfection Hollandaise.

Available by the half or full pound, as well as wrapped in Po’ Boys, meats like brisket and pork shoulder come fresh from the smoker until 3 p.m. or when they sell out. Sides include flaky and fabulous buttermilk biscuits, macaroni salad and baked beans (sometimes). Yes, you must do a Creole Bloody Mary or a brunch Negroni with pineapple Campari.  Hours are Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Tasting House no longer offers Friday lunch or Saturday brunch. However, they are still serving a Sunday Champagne brunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Hours are currently Tuesday-Saturday, 4-10 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Peninsula

ASA Los Altos is now serving lunch Tuesday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Dinner is served Mondays, 5-8:30 p.m., and Tuesday-Saturday, 5-9 p.m. Lunch menu includes healthy starters like Heirloom vegan soup; Feel Good chicken soup with Sonoma chicken, chard, organic carrots, onion and potato; and seafood gumbo. Salads are plentiful, including rainbow beets, kale Caesar and crab and wild shrimp. Sandwiches on a rustic-style baguette include crab melt, albacore tuna, French dip, guajillo chili rubbed ribeye steak, and ham and tomato tartin.

Chef Greg Kuzia-Carmel who operates Camper in Menlo Park, recently opened Canteen at Springline, a 6.4-acre mixed-use development at 1300 El Camino Real. The first of several restaurants coming to Springline, Canteen will eventually be joined by Che Fico Italian restaurant and market, Burma Love, San Francisco’s Andytown Coffee Roasters and others.

Canteen features a seasonal menu of shareable grazing plates inspired by Kuzia-Carmel’s time in Spain. To pair with items like crispy chickpea panisse fries with a seasonal dipping sauce, oysters and uni, there’s a curated list of wines, local beers and a fun spirited and nonalcoholic cocktail program.

The nautically themed space, complete with surf fins on each table, was designed by Megan Padalecki from Stanton Architecture. Those surf fins allow customers to place their orders for direct delivery to their table. Canteen’s hours are presently Monday-Saturday, 4-9 p.m.

Kuzia-Carmel, a native of upstate New York, worked as a chef at Quince, Cotogna and Per Se prior to opening Camper in 2018. He is also operating Canteen Coffee Shop, which is open for breakfast and lunch inside the CANOPY co-working space on El Camino Real. Canteen Coffee Shop offers house-made pastries as well as breads and morning buns from The Midwife and the Baker in Mountain View. Coffee from Sightglass Roasters stars in the caffeine department. Hours for Canteen Coffee Shop are Monday-Saturday, 7a.m.-3 p.m.

San Jose

Oveja Negra at Hotel Valencia on Santana Row recently announced not one, but two new chefs. Spanish native Pedro Jose Calvo worked as head chef at Teleferic Barcelona in both Los Gatos and Palo Alto; Executive Chef Martelle Lorenz hails from Pensacola. They are shaking things up in a most convivial way at Spanish-inspired eatery, Oveja Negra, Vbar and rooftop bar Cielo. More on that soon.