Here’s the scoop on Albany chef with Michelin cred and his ice cream stand
Every Bay Area chef has a COVID story. This is Brandon Nguyen’s.
After working at such acclaimed San Francisco restaurants as the Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions and, most recently, Verjus, the Albany native quit the savory business to launch a small-batch ice cream stand in his hometown.
On weekends since March, Nguyen, a graduate of Albany High School, has been donning a retro soda jerk hat and selling his handmade ice cream in front of the Albany Twin theater at 1115 Solano Ave. His hours are from noon to when he sells out (typically around 6 p.m.) Friday through Sunday.
Under the name Randy’s Best Ice Cream (Randy is his nickname), Nguyen makes his ice cream out of a Berkeley commissary kitchen using Clover organic milk and no artificial stabilizers. His flavors include popcorn and salted caramel, Vietnamese coffee, mango coco rice, brownie batter and banana milk, which mimics a popular South Korean beverage. Due to health department requirements, his ice cream comes not scooped into cones but in prepackaged fiveounce cups. They cost $5.
For more information, or to get the latest on what he’s scooping, follow Nguyen on Instagram at @randysbesticecream.
San Jose’s Dine Downtown deals run through July 18
The masks are off, entertainment venues are opening up and employees are slowly starting to return.
But downtown San Jose restaurants — hit hard by the pandemic closure of City Hall, San Jose State University and so many office towers, theaters and clubs — still need a boost. And residents who ate at home for way too long during the shutdown need some fresh dining options.
So the San Jose Downtown Association’s Dine Downtown promotion is back. Through July 18, restaurants, lounges and coffeehouses will offer specials that range from fixed-price meals to chef specials to food-and-wine pairings.
Among the 26 participants are several businesses that bravely opened during the pandemic or in the months right before: The Good Spot, Devine Cheese & Wine, Petiscos, Scott’s Chowder House, The Shop by Chef Baca and Paper Moon Coffee. Also new to the promotion is Grace Deli & Cafe, a weekday breakfast-and-lunch spot in the Ernst & Young building.
Two downtown standouts — 71 Saint Peter and Mezcal — have participated in all 13 years of Dine Downtown.
Other participants include: Adega, City Fish, District, Enoteca La Storia, Farmers Union, Fourth Street Pizza, Grace Deli & Cafe, Grill on the Alley, Habana Cuba, Il Fornaio, Nomikai, Nox Cookie Bar, Orchestria Palm Court, Pastelaria Adega, Scott’s Seafood, SP2 Communal Bar & Restaurant, Spoonfish Poke and Voltaire Coffee House.
Find menus and details online at sjdowntown.com/dine-downtown.
New Greek restaurant, Elia, opens in Pleasanton
A new Greek restaurant is making a splash in downtown Pleasanton.
Elia, from co-owners Fatih Ulas and Mehmet Duygu, has opened on Main Street in the former Patio space across from Locanda Amalfi. The restaurant offers a menu of authentic Mediterranean dishes, a large and comprehensive wine list, including white and red wines from Greece, and a refined, modern dining room bathed in light.
Executive chef Duygu offers a dinner menu of 15 mezzes and 10 entrees, plus soups, salads and desserts. Look for a trio of dolmades; grilled oktapodaki with pickled purple potato and sundried tomatoes; keftedes, or lamb meatballs, with za’atar and garlic yogurt; filet mignon souvlaki; lamb shank ravioli and other mouthwatering dishes.
Elia is open for lunch and dinner at 310A Main St. in Pleasanton.
Bastille Day celebrations in Menlo Park, San Jose
The American Independence Day is behind us. Next up, the French.
On Wednesday, the Left Bank Brasseries in Menlo Park, San Jose/Santana Row and Larkspur will bring back the Bastille Day bashes that were limited by last year’s pandemic.
Besides the regular French menu, chefs are making such revolutionary dishes as Freedom Fries with bacon and caramelized onions and French dip sandwiches with Comté cheese. Look for an expanded cocktail list too.
All three will feature live music, other entertainment and blue, blanc and rouge decorations.
Reservations advised at www. leftbank.com.