SILICON VALLEY EATS EXHIBIT COMES to the LOS ALTOS HISTORY MUSEUM Story by Chrissi Angeles | Photos by Adam Pardee

MOUNTAINVIEWVOICE QFOOD FEATURE We ekend QMOVIE REVIEWS QBEST BETS FOR ENTERTAINMENT Q FOODFEATURE SILICON VALLEY EATS EXHIBIT COMES TO THE LOS ALTOS HISTORY MUSEUM Story by Chrissi Angeles | Photos by Adam Pardee hile most think of Silicon origins, the first section of the exhibit, Valley as the epicenter of “Valley of Heart’s Delight” displays Wall things tech, the area was stories and highlights from former can- nicknamed “The Heart’s Delight” by nery employees, who in the 1930s were John Muir in 1912, as he believed it was primarily female. one of the most agriculturally bounti- “Conveniences in the Kitchen,” the ful regions in the world. From Mariani second section, explores changes in the Premium Dried Fruit, founded in way people ate, cooked and stored food. Cupertino, to Impossible Foods founded Visitors can watch a Dole Food Compa- in Redwood City, Silicon Valley is the ny promotional film about canned fruit birthplace of food companies, canneries cocktail on a replica 1950s black-and- and orchards. white television set next to a TV tray The Los Altos History Museum last with a boxed Swanson’s prepackaged weekend debuted a new exhibit called frozen dinner. While inventions such “Silicon Valley Eats,” to educate visitors as the microwave and Tupperware were about the food and farming culture in not invented in Silicon Valley, Ellison the area. said, they transformed eating practices The museum curator, Amy Ellison, in the area. moved to Silicon Valley last fall and A large wall featuring a culturally started working for the Los Altos His- diverse collection of menus from popular tory Museum in January. She said her local restaurants represents the third sec- favorite part of creating the exhibit was tion of the exhibit, “Diversity of Cuisine,” learning about the region by connecting which celebrates the multitude of food with people who worked in canneries, cultures represented in Silicon Valley. picked fruit, owned or managed restau- Menus include Chef Chu’s in Los Altos, rants or had ancestors who developed Le Boulanger in Mountain View and the A dinner table greets visitors at the entrance to the new “Silicon Valley Eats” exhibit important agricultural systems. Stories, at the Los Altos History Museum, prompting them to think about where their meals artifacts, and photographs from these See FOOD TECHNOLOGY, page 22 come from and how they’ve changed over the years. people bring Silicon Valley’s history and future of food to life in the exhibit. “As someone new to this area, I found it a very inspiring exhibition to work on,” she said. “Today, Silicon Valley is famous for innovative technology, but when we look back at all the agricultural technologies developed here in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it’s clear that spirit of innovation has been thriving here for a long time.” Ellison said that she was surprised to learn about the sheer number of orchards and canneries in Santa Clara Valley. One of her favorite food-can- ning modernizations was developed by Thomas Foon Chew, a Chinese immigrant and one of the most success- ful cannery operators in Santa Clara Valley. “Before 1920, asparagus could not be canned without being damaged, but Chew and one of his employees found that square cans protected the stalks,” she said. “He became known throughout the Valley as the ‘Asparagus King.’” With a focus on the area’s agricultural roots, canneries, orchards and Ohlone Julie Rose pedals a bicycle rigged to work a blender for margaritas, as Linda Eckols holds the lid and Jane Reed looks on. May 10, 2019 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q 21 Weekend a part of the exhibit’s “Smart engineering and math activities buy and eat. We often take food FOOD TECHNOLOGY QINFORMATION Continued from page 21 Kitchens” vignette. The oven at an apricot-themed STEM Fair for granted and it becomes rou- allows home cooks to prepare on June 30. Inspired by local food tine, but looking back at the food What: “Silicon Valley Eats: A Taste Pasta Market in Palo Alto. foods at different temperatures pioneers and entrepreneurs, the we ate and looking forward to the for Innovation” The final section, “The Future simultaneously. At the opening event includes orchard-themed future of food can help us reflect When: Through Sept. 8, 2019, of Food,” examines local food reception on May 5, the museum activities and an appearance by on the impact our eating habits Thursdays-Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. movements and issues of sus- demonstrated how the Brava Lisa Prince Newman, author of have on our communities and Where: Los Altos History Museum, tainability. Local food tech com- oven could be used to prepare the cookbook, “For the Love of our planet.” V 51 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos panies Impossible Foods, which Impossible Foods’ plant-based Apricots.” Freelance writer Chrissi Cost: Free. makes the meatless Impossible meals. “We hope people will enjoy the Angeles can be emailed at Info: Go to losaltoshistory.org/ Burger, and Brava are included, The museum is hosting several exhibit and be able to relate to the [email protected]. exhibits/silicon-valley-eats/. along with groups such as Slow workshops in conjunction with stories we tell, whether they used Food South Bay, which focuses the exhibit, including a cocktail to pick fruit in the orchards, or on locally-grown, seasonal foods. mixology event, cooking demon- whether today they enjoy plant- An original prototype Brava strations and food-focused panel based meat and cricket flour,” energy-efficient oven, created discussions. One of the workshops Ellison said. “We also hope that by Gunn High School alumni encourages visitors to explore this exhibition makes people Dan Yue and Thomas Chen, is hands-on science, technology, think more about the food they Silicon Valley Open Studios—Two Weekends! Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5 , and Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12 — 11 am to 5 pm Mark Your Calendar! Hundreds of artists on the Peninsula open their studios to the public. Spend quality time with them, learn how they create art, and find the perfect piece for your home or office. This unique art event is FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC! Artist Directories are available at most local libraries and community centers. Go to www.svos.org for a complete list of artists and their locations. Lindsey West, a chef for Brava Ovens, tops vegan Impossible Meatballs with enchilada sauce for Los Altos History Museum visitors at an opening weekend event. Mentor Tutor Connection Helping students achieve their potential and thrive Opening for Elementary School Tutor Coordinator Senior Resource Fair Mentor Tutor Connection,>V>«ÀwÌÌ >Ì ÀiVÀÕÌÃ]ÌÀ>Ã>`«>ViÃÛÕÌiiÀÌÕÌÀÃ>ìÌÀÃ 6>`ƂÃV ÃÃÃii}> iiÌ>ÀÞ-V May 21, 2019 2:30 - 5:30 PM /ÕÌÀ À`>ÌÀ°/ Ã«iÀÃÜ>i>`>>}i 40+ LOCAL SENIOR SERVICE PROVIDERS • FREE RAFFLE >ÌV iÃLiÌÜiiÃÌÕìÌÃìÌwi`LÞÃV ÃÌ>vv >Ãii`}>V>ìVÃÕ««ÀÌÜÌ >««ÀÛi`/ WORKSHOPS • BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS ÛÕÌiiÀÃ°*>ÀÌÌi]«>`«ÃÌ° iÃÀ>LiÃÃ LUNG SCREENINGS • LIGHT REFRESHMENTS VÕìivviVÌÛiVÕV>ÌÀ]>LÌÞÌÜÀÜÌ «i«iv>>}iÃ]>`«ÀwViÌV«ÕÌiÀÃÃÆ iÝ«iÀiVii`ÕV>ÌÀÛÕÌiiÀ}ÃV Ã «ÀiviÀÀi`°,iÃ«`ÜÌ ÞÕÀÌiÀiÃÌ>`>ÀiÃÕiÌ MOUNTAIN VIEW SENIOR CENTER [email protected]. 266 ESCUELA AVE 650.903.6330 MentorTutorConnection.org 22 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q May 10, 2019 MOUNTAINVIEWVOICE Pear’s ‘Slices’ delights in Mountain View THEATER’S ANNUAL COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL ONE-ACTS IS A SUCCESS By John Orr Theater Review ear Theatre has outdone itself, overall, with “Pear (D’Ambrosio), is mystified by PSlices 2019,” its annual Leslie Newport as Grace, who adventure into new one-act is rocking an Eastern European plays. accent and has $100,000 in cash The eight plays are uneven, to help smooth things over. but what are we to expect from Marty has a problem with gam- bits that only last from 12 to 16 bling. Grace somehow knows minutes? They get in, deliver a all about it and wants him to few clever lines or jokes, maybe manipulate some line of code at dispense a bit of meaning and his job. Bill C. Jones shows up get out. near the end. No effective jokes What’s really impressive is the or significant meaning, just a cast, the seven people who play little crime story. three or four roles each. They “Open the Door for the Strang- er,” by Elyce Melmon, is another COURTESY OF MICHAEL KRUSE CRAIG quick-change characteriza- Ray D’Ambrosio, left, and Becca Gilbert in “Mister The Bear” by Bridgette Dutta Portman, part of “Pear tale with biblical references on tions with admirable skills, and Slices 2019.” inhabit each role with as much its mind. Highman is a young depth as is possible in these woman seeking the advice of robot. “The justice system is not.” little girl. But there is a huge be one such phrase, although short tales. Ray D’Ambrosio, in her mother, played by Roach, “Mister The Bear,” by Bridgette family tragedy to uncover, and I might have gotten it wrong, three roles, and Becca Gilbert, in preparing for a Seder. Both are Dutta Portman, is a powerful 12 this one-act is very moving. not being a spy. “That sounds four, are particularly impressive, delightful in this pretty little minutes with D’Ambrosio as “Deuce Cooper: Pier Pressure,” vaguely dirty,” says one charac- bringing palpable humanity to story. When Zafer-Joyce shows Brian, who is being bugged by by clever Paul Braverman, is a ter, more than once. Jones, Zafer- each performance. up as the young woman’s new his little sister Cara, played bril- very funny collection of jokes Joyce, Gilbert and Newport are And the Pear is definitely mov- beau, she tells him she wants him liantly by Gilbert.

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