Discover San Jose’s new smokehouse
The Art of BBQ now smoking at San Jose brick-and-mortar
Techies-turned-caterers Art and Jennifer Campos fed a whopping 35,000 people in 2016 at corporate and stadium events all over the Bay Area.
After that record-setting year, other enterpreneurs might take a break.
But not these barbecue fiends. Instead, the Camposes decided to fulfill their customers’ desire for more meat.
“The only complaint we have ever had is that we don’t have a place where people can get this food on a regular basis,” Art Campos said.
So they solved that need by opening a brick-and-mortar in South San Jose, where both of them grew up. Called TAOB Pit Stop (the acronym stands for The Art of BBQ), the restaurant takes a fusion-style approach to smoked pork (ribs, shoulder) and grilled tri-tip, chicken, hot links and portobello mushrooms.
“TAOB is not from the South, Kansas City, Carolina or Texas,” Art Campos explained. “The fusion is mostly in our rubs and barbecue sauce as I am Mexican-American and my wife is Mexican-
Filipino. This is what sets us apart from the rest.”
Appetizers and sides include macaroni and cheese bombs, baked beans, potato salad, island-style macaroni salad and cornbread with honey butter.
More Peruvian cuisine: Barranco coming to Lafayette
Contra Costa County’s looking like the place to go for Peruvian food.
Barranco, the latest in chef Carlos Altamirano’s Bay Area empire, is scheduled to open in September in Lafayette.
When it does, it will be at least the fourth Peruvian restaurant to open in the county in two years. Altamirano launched his first East Bay venture, Parada, in Walnut Creek in 2015. The next year, chef John Marquez, a native of the Peruvian capital who grew up in Danville, opened Lima in Concord. And just last month, San Francisco chef Martin Castillo expanded his restaurant group to include Limon in Walnut Creek.
At Barranco, look for a menu that showcases all of the standouts of Peruvian cuisine, from ceviche and tapas to empanadas and rotisserie chicken. A sign on the restaurant window also promises alfrajores, a traditional South American sandwich cookie with dulce de leche.
Chef Altamirano also owns the Michelin-honored La Costanera in coastal Montara, plus two San Francisco restaurants, an Emeryville eatery and the Sanguchon food trucks.
The restaurant is located at 3596 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Follow the preopening progress at www. barrancokitchen.com.
And yes, the catering arm of the company remains open for business.
The Pit Stop opens at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday-Sunday and closes when they sell out (or 8 p.m.). Details: 484 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose; 669-2347377; www.taobbq.com.
Dunkin’ Donuts coming to San Jose, Fremont
Heads up, Dunkin’ Donuts fans! The Bay Area expansion is amping up.
The popular national chain has announced plans to open a Fremont shop this fall and a San Jose one this winter.
Alameda County’s first Dunkin’ will be located at 5255 Mowry Ave. near Farwell Drive, just east of Interstate 880.
The South Bay one will be at 5519 Snell Ave. near Blossom Hill Road.
Dunkin’ Donuts’ reemergence in the Bay Area started in June 2016 with a Walnut Creek store, followed by shops in Half Moon Bay, American Canyon and South San Francisco near San Francisco Airport and Highway 101.
Follow progress on the new locations at www. dunkindonuts.com.
Benicia’s Taste of First Street set for Tuesday
The Taste of First Street will provide a sampling of Benicia’s best bites on Tuesday.
Tickets to the tasting are limited to 300, and last year’s event sold out.
Participants can stroll along First Street from 6 to 9 p.m. and stop for nibbles at 14 restaurants: Union Hotel Restaurant, First Street Cafe, Dianna’s Bakery & Cafe, Lucca Bar & Grill, Pacifica Pizza, Elviarita’s Mexican Grill, Venticellos Ristorante Italiano, Camellia Tea Room, Kinder’s BBQ, Aroma Indian Cuisine, The Rellik Tavern, Got Plate Lunch, Sailor Jack’s and Rookies Bar & Grill.
Tickets, $30 each or $55 for two adults, also include two glasses of wine and a souvenir glass. Prices go up to $35 and $65, respectively, on the day of the event. Purchase at Benicia Main Street, 90 First St., or online at www.beniciamainstreet.org.