Los Gatos: A loaf of bread, a bottle of wine and more available for takeout
Old Town may feel like it’s taking a long winter nap at this point, but the Wine Cellar has decided to reopen for dinner takeout only.
Many favorite menu items are available to go, including their famous fondue, onion soup, lamb lollipops, duck confit, pan-seared ahi, chicken carbonara and three desserts: cheesecake, key lime pie and chocolate decadence. Check their Facebook page for special items: A recent meal featured zinfandel-braised short ribs with smashed potatoes. A kids’ menu is also available.
Cocktails to go, including a black walnut old-fashioned with Templeton rye, are available, along with wine and draft beer.
Wine Cellar’s pickup/takeout hours for are Tuesday-Thursday, 5-7:45 p.m.; Friday, 5-8:15 p.m.; Saturday: 4-8:15 p.m. and Sunday, 4-7 p.m.
To pick up your order from the restaurant, call 408-354-4808. For delivery via Doordash, click through from the Wine Cellar website before logging in to your account.
Date night takeout
Forbes Mill might not be the first place you think of for takeout, but everyone needs a date might on occasion, even if you end up eating in your car. They are open for takeout orders Tuesday-Saturday. All wines are 30 percent off to go. Surf and turf for two is available for $105, including a bottle of 2018 Austin Hope cabernet, and includes 24-oz prime bone-in ribeye and four scampi-style jumbo prawns over risotto, plus choice of salad or soup, two sides and dessert. Call 408-395-6434 to order.
Feeding the Need
Donna Novi is happy to keep her employees working. “We’ve changed our business model nearly every day over the last three weeks,” she says. “Honestly, we just have to take it one day at a time.”
She’s super excited about the fact they’re helping to feed the hospital staffs at O’Connor, Good Sam and Kaiser, courtesy of the Los Gatos Chamber’s #FeedtheNeed program. “With the cafeterias closed at the hospitals, I want to make sure that our healthcare workers are properly fed,” she says.
Novi is also selling her pastas and sauces through Alex Hult’s grocery service at Flights. With trained bakers on staff, the Pastaria is now turning out delicious baked goods like toaster pastries, rustic seeded crackers and crostadas.
“I’m also trying to support my fellow restaurants,” Novi says. “I’ve ordered Monday Burger Nights from the Lexington House for my staff and also get them special coffees from North. We are all in this together!”
No loafing at Manresa
The Los Gatos commissary at 605 University Ave., where the magic happens to supply Manresa Bread’s retail locations, is now offering pick-up for pre-purchased items including bread, pastries, local farm CSA boxes, flour, wine, coffee, tea and chocolate. Partner and head baker Avery Ruzicka is happy to be keeping staff and guests safe while firing up the ovens to produce boxes of four sourdough breads—levain, whole wheat, sandwich loaf and cherry walnut batard—savory boxes with biscuits, ham and cheese croissants and kale scones, and on the sweet side, chocolate babka and croissant or pain au chocolate boxes.
Provisions include 5 lb. bags of organic flour from Central Milling, accompanied by complementary sourdough starter. CSA boxes from local farms, including Tomatero Farms in Watsonville, are also available. Proceeds from the sales of Manresa’s Toasty Mugs and T-Shirts will go toward an employee emergency fund.
The menu for the following week’s pick-up will be posted on Friday evenings. Pickups on the designated date occur from 2-4 p.m. in the parking area on Industrial Way in back of the commissary. Seniors age 65 and older and those needing extra assistance can make their pickups between 1 and 2 p.m.
Orders not picked up will be donated to a local food shelter. Visit https://www.pre-ordermanresabread.com to order.
Comfort food
ASA Los Gatos offers takeout Tuesday-Sunday, featuring a “comfort menu” for easy curbside pickup. The menu includes soup, spare ribs, salads, pork and beans, oven-roasted chicken, trout, mac ’n’ cheese and exotic mushroom pasta .
To order, call 408-540-7004 or visit https://www.asalosaltos.com/asa-los-gatos/#asa-market
Wine BOGO
Testarossa Winery club members can buy one case of Cuvée Los Gatos wines and get another one for free. For non-club members, the second case is 50 percent off.
Testarossa’s tasting room in Carmel Valley Village has been permanently closed, according to winery owner Rob Jensen.