South Bay sabor: Latin flavors in San Carlos, Mountain View, and San Jose - Things to do in Northern California - Directory

Sunset, April, 2004

Two new Latin eateries are spicing up Peninsula and South Bay dining options. Habana Yacht Club, opened in November, has a tropical, leafy look though it's next to the San Carlos airport (and there's no yacht club in sight). The menu features bold, satisfying flavors--rosemary duck empanadas, mango mustard-glazed salmon. The same month the yacht club launched, Cascal (pictured) opened its doors in Mountain View with a grand dining room and bar. Small-plate and entree options range from stuffed roasted quail to smoked trout taquitos.

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The eateries hope to draw fans of Latin fare hooked, in part, by San Jose's 10-year-old Habana Cuba Restaurant, a homey, popular place that has fed mojitos and garlic chicken to many delighted diners. To mole and mojitos in the South Bay, we say, Ole!--L.T.

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RELATED ARTICLE: Cuban flavors

Habana Yacht Club ($$$; 525 Skyway Rd., San Carlos; 650/654-2822); Cascal ($$; 400 Castro St., Mountain View; 650/940-9500); Habana Cuba Restaurant ($$; 238 Race St., San Jose; 408/998-2822).

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Edible Easter treats

CAPITOLA

Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria. A constant on lists of favorite local eateries, Gayle's turns out some of the best hot cross buns around. Arrive around 8 in the morning and you might get them fresh from the oven ($1.25 each). Closed Easter Sun. 504 Bay Ave.; www.gaylesbakery.com or 831/462-1200.

SAN FRANCISCO

Boulangerie Bay Bread. A must is Le Nid (French for "nest"), a butter cookie topped with a thin layer of chocolate cake, gianduia mousse, chocolate shavings, and colored malted eggs ($4). Also don't miss the lemon mousse bombe ($3.50). Closed Mon. 2325 Pine St.; 415/440-0356.

SAN FRANCISCO

Victoria Pastry Co. Hand-painted chocolate eggs filled with either small toys or candy come in a range of sizes, from 6 inches to 16 inches long ($10-$150). Order at least three weeks in advance to customize yours. Open daily, open until noon Easter Sun. 1362 Stockton St.; 415/781-2015.

SANTA CLARA

Portuguese Bakery. People line up to get a loaf of the sweet, pillowy, meltaway Portuguese bread with dyed boiled eggs baked partially inside ($1.75 for a single serving, $4.75 for a larger loaf). Closed Sun. 2082 EI Camino Real; www.portuguesebakery.com or 408/984-2234.

NEAR SANTA CRUZ

Aldo's Italian Bakery. Traditional Italian colomba bread is infused with almond oil and citron, then baked in the shape of a dove and dusted with powdered sugar ($12). Closed Sun. 4628 Soquel Dr., Soquel; www.aldos-cruz.com/bakery.html or 831/476-3470.

--ALISON AVES