PERFORMER Chef Dmitry Elperin’S Cooking Keeps Village Pub Patrons Coming Back, and the Michelin Star Shining [ SECTION 2 ] Apr.Com
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JAZZ PIANIST, COMPOSER Taylor Eigsti is grounded in tradition — but goes far beyond. | PAGE 7 THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR MENLO PARK, ATHERTON, PORTOLA VALLEY AND WOODSIDE DECEMBER 2, 2009 | VOL. 45 NO. 14 WWW.THEALMANACONLINE.COM STAR PERFORMER Chef Dmitry Elperin’s cooking keeps Village Pub patrons coming back, and the Michelin star shining [ SECTION 2 ] apr.com REDEFINING QUALITY SINCE 1990 Reading between the emotional line makes the difference between finding a house and a home. PALO ALTO Inspired by English architecture, this custom built 4bd/4ba home in Old Palo Alto includes a 3-level floor plan, formal living room and dining room, home theatre, recreation room, wine cellar, and customized den. Covered loggia with complete kitchen, built-in bar- b-que and bar. $6,500,000 PORTOLA VALLEY Enjoy this 3bd/3.5ba Contemporary Mediterranean home with separate office and bonus room. Flowing living spaces, high ceilings, and tall windows. Private front courtyard and back terrace for entertaining. Meticulous attention to flawless design and stunning quality. $2,465,000 WOODSIDE Lovely ranch 4bd/2ba home with many upgrades and a large lot. New windows, large deck with a fully fenced rear yard. Upgraded electrical, updated kitchen with granite counters and newer appliances. Remodeled hall bath with granite and tile. Fantastic Portola Valley Schools. $899,516 apr.com | MENLO PARK OFFICE 1550 EL CAMINO REAL, SUITE 100 650.462.1111 apr.com | WOODSIDE OFFICE 2930 WOODSIDE ROAD 650.529.1111 APR COUNTIES | Santa Clara | San Mateo | San Francisco | Alameda | Contra Costa | Monterey | Santa Cruz 2 N The Almanac NDecember 2, 2009 FREE DELIVERY (with min. order) “THE BEST This week’s news, features and community events. PIZZA WEST OF NEW YORK” FIRST SHOT —Ralph Barbieri KNBR 680 226 Redwood 880 Santa Cruz Ave Shores Pkwy Menlo Park Redwood Shores (at University Drive) (Next to Pacific Athletic Club) (650) 329-8888 (650) 654-3333 Photo by Michelle Le/The Almanac From adversity, an inspiration The Red Barn at Stanford, where Nancy Hey of Portola Valley has given horse-riding instructions for 38 years. Recently, Stanford said she had to leave to make way for a new trainer, a former Olympian. Ms. Hey, who says she looks for inspiration in adversity, has opened new quarters at Rancho Viejo, a private boarding and training facility at 2710 Alpine Road in Portola Valley, near Webb Ranch. See Page 5. Menlo Park Holiday Fund ■ City tries three-hour holiday parking limit. Page 9 ■ “My Christmas Story,” by Mar Y Sol Alvarado. ■ Police arrest man, 79, in downtown shoplifting Page 18 spree. Page 9 ■ Fair Oaks Community Center: a place to go ■ Briefs: Man chases burglar from Menlo Park when in need. Page 19 home; safe stolen from Left Bank restaurant. Page 10 Artscene ■ Menlo Park native Taylor Eigsti, 24, grounded Woodside in tradition, goes far beyond, as jazz pianist and ■ Ryan Ferrari, 21, of Woodside is killed in a car composer. Page 7 crash Saturday. Page 5 Viewpoint Obituaries ■ Editorial: Bargaining on the Bohannon project. ■ Frank Ruys, orthopedic surgeon; Ernest Collins, Page 22 A TASTE OF THE PENINSULA co-founder of Bon Appetit Co.; and William A cornucopia of restaurants and cafes providing Churchill, architect. Page 20 Holiday Calendar the finest dining from brunch to dessert. ■ Local events include “The Nutcracker” ballet, Food & Drink Woodside fire district open houses, and Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner ■ To your health: A modern holiday feast. Page 28 community holiday fairs. Page 14 Celia’s Mexican Restaurant 3740 El Camino, Palo Alto (650) 843-0643 Also Inside On the cover 1850 El Camino, Menlo Park (650) 321-8227 www.celiasrestaurants.com Calendar . 29 Dmitry Elperin, executive chef of the Village Pub in Woodside, talks Full Bar - Happy Hour Specials; Catering Class Guide . 30 about his early inspiration on the road to becoming a Michelin-star chef Letters . 22 and his commitment to creating produce-driven meals that are “true to Vive Sol-Cocina Mexicana Obituaries . 20 the seasons.” Photo by Michelle Le. See Section 2 cover for the story. Police Calls . 21 2020 W. El Camino Real, Mtn. View (650) 938-2020. Specializing in the Cuisine of Puebla. CALLING ON THE ALMANAC Open daily for lunch and dinner. The Almanac Editorial offices are at 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025. THE ALMANAC (ISSN 1097-3095 and USPS 459370) is ■ published every Wednesday by Embarcadero Publishing Coffee & Tea Classified ads: 854-0858 E-mail news, information, obituaries Co., 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025- Newsroom: 854-2690 and photos (with captions) to: 6558. Periodicals Postage Paid at Menlo Park, CA and at [email protected] Connoisseur Coffee Co. Newsroom fax: 854-0677 additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general circulation for San Mateo County, The Almanac is ■ E-mail letters to the editor to: 2801 Middlefield Road, Redwood City Advertising: 854-2626 delivered free to homes in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola [email protected] Advertising fax: 854-3650 Valley and Woodside. Subscriptions for $60 per year or (650) 369-5250 9am-5:30pm Mon. - Sat. $100 per 2 years are welcome. POSTMASTER: Send Coffee roasting & fine teas, address changes to the Almanac, 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025-6558. Copyright ©2009 espresso bar, retail & wholesale. To request free delivery, or stop delivery, of The Almanac in zip code 94025, 94027, by Embarcadero Publishing Co., All rights reserved. 94028 and the Woodside portion of 94062, call 854-2626. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. To Advertise in “A Taste of the Peninsula” call The Almanac 650-854-2626. December 2, 2009 ■ The Almanac ■ 3 A TOWN MARKET PLACE Wine % Discount 3015 Woodside Road Woodside,650-851-1511 10 4420 Alpine Road Portola Valley, 650-851-1711 on 6 Bottles Open 6:30AM - 8PM Effective immediately, Roberts is offering Sale Dates: Dec. 2, 3, 4, 5 www.robertsmarket.comom a 10% discount on the purchase of 6, or more, bottles of regularly priced wines. Red tag sale prices excluded. FreshFrFreessh PRODUCE WINE DELI Roberts Market Holidayy Menu Clementine, 5 lb. Box $ 99 Holiday “CUTIES” 5 ea. Main Entree Wine Free Range Diestel Ranch Turkeys Specials The Diestel turkeys are pre-roasted and will need approximately 2 hours to re-heat at NorthwestN h 300 degrees in your oven. $ 59 Small 10-12 lbs. Large 16-18 lbs. COMICE PEARS 1 lb. 2008 Louis – serves 8 to 10 people ........$50.00 serves 14 to 16 people ..... $60.00 California Jadot Beaujolais – Villages Prime Rib $ 99 New Vintage. Seasoned and roasted to medium rare. ORGANIC SPRING MIXX 3 lb. Always a “best buy”. Whole serves approximately Half serves approximately Reg. $10.99 Sale $8.99 Large 16-20 people .............. $185.00 10-12 people .............. $100.00 $ 00 2007 Chappellet Spiral Sliced Ham RED POTATOES 2 lbs. for 1 Mountain Cuvee, Napa Valley Baked with a honey mustard glaze. Serves 8-10 people .....................$60.00 A Bordeaux blends. Absolutely delicious! Sides Reg. $23.99 Sale $19.99 Traditional Stuffing Onion Sage Gravy Robert’sRoob Homemade! Mushrooms, onion, celery, With red wine, caramelized 2007 Duckhorn “Decoy”, water chestnuts and sage onion and sage Napa Valley MEAT $10.75qt .................. $5.50pt $12.00qt ....................... $6.25pt A Cab blend that’s Cornbread Stuffing Green Bean Almandine elegant and refined. Dried cranberries, Sauteed shallots, butter and almonds Sale $24.99 $ 98 Reg. $29.99 apricots and green onion $11.75qt ........................$6.00pt $10.75qt .........................$5.50pt JUMBOJUMB PRAWNS 15 lb. 2005 Keenan Cabernet Potato Au Gratin Sauvignon, Spring Mtn. District Mashed Potatoes Bake with cheese garlic and cream Fresh potatoes whipped Serves 12-14 ............$29.00per tray A great, serious Mountain Cab with cream, and butter $ 98 from Napa. $12.00qt ....................... $6.25pt Fresh Cranberry Sauce 7 s Super Sale $29.99!! Whole cranberries slow TRI-TIP Porcini Mushroom Gravy cooked with a hint of orange 2006 Opus I, Rich and creamy made $9.50qt ............................ $4.75pt Napa Valley with turkey drippings $ 98 $12.00qt ....................... $6.25pt Good Earth Bakery FRY 8 lb Speaks for itself! Pumpkin Pie BEEF STIR FRY Sale $149.99 Beef Au Jus Reg. $179.99 Made with Pan juices, red wine and 8” pie serves 8 people ......$12.39ea Sale prices are net and do not receive beef stock Gianna’s Bakery $ 98 further discounts $12.00qt ....................... $6.25pt Apple, Cherry, 4 Berry, BONELESS LEG OF LAMB ROLLROLL 5 lb Sweet Peach and Pecan. 8” pies serve 8 people ..... $16.59ea On Sale GROCERY ROBERTS HARDWARE & TACK 3044 Woodside Road • 851-1084 $ 99 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6:00, Sat. 8:00-6:00, Sun. 9:00-5:00 BONNE MAMAN STRAWBERRY S PRESERVES 2 13oz. – Also Apricot – Cherry – Raspberry NEWMAN’S OWN NATURAL MARINARAA SSAUCEAUCE $23939 20% OFF 24oz. – Also Mushroom MARIE CALLENDER’S CHICKEN POT PIE $ 49 16oz. – Also Beef 2 PILLSBURY SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH $249 16oz. – Also Chocolate Chip ENTIRE TACK DEPT SIERRA NEVADA PALE ALE $ 49 12oz. – 6 Pack Bottles – Plus Calif. Redeem Value 6 Including Gift Packs ALKA SELTZER PLUS COLD FORMULA $ 29 Limited to Stock on Hand 20 Count 5 4 ■ The Almanac ■ December 2, 2009 Short takes M ENLO PARK | ATHERTON | WOODSIDE | PORTOLA V ALLEY Damage control, or just damage? For local residents who view the California High- Speed Rail Authority’s deci- sion to sign a six-year, $9 million contract with a PR firm as an attempt to spread propaganda, it could have been worse: The rail agency almost hired a self-described “damage-control master.” Back in September, the authority’s staff recommend- ed handing the contact to Mercury Public Affairs, a firm headed by Adam Mendelsohn and Steve Schmidt (no rela- tion to the former Menlo Park council member).