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A Feast for Food Aficionados
A La Carte & Art Spans the Culinary Globe from Hawaii to the Mediterranean
Nobody goes home hungry after a day at A La Carte & Art, May 17-18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Mountain View. Fourteen vendors will come to town offering plentiful options for any appetit—everything from plump sausages and overstuffed sandwiches to svelte fruit kabobs and fat-free Hawaiian shave ice.
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Fresh crepes, roasted corn and barbecue are among the tempting festival fare
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Early arrivals can start the day with a brunch of French crêpes from Lemoine Crêperie. The delicate stuffed pancakes are made to order with savory ingredients such as cheese, spinach and bacon, or sweet combinations like strawberries and peaches with whipped cream, or cherries and cream cheese.
Also hailing from across the Atlantic, the menu at Mediterranean Corner promises to be both healthy and delicious. Falafel or chicken come either wrapped in a pita or on a combo plate with feta cheese and hummus. Either way, they’re accompanied by zesty tzatziki: cucumbers, garlic and olive oil blended with rich yogurt. Leafy greens lovers will swoon over the Greek salad, with its classic marriage of cucumbers, feta and herb dressing.
From halfway across the Pacific, Kauai Abreu Ohana serves up authentic Hawaiian dishes with a big helping of “aloha spirit” and influences from the cuisines of China, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Portugal and Polynesia. Their Kalua shredded pork is slow-cooked for eight hours and flavored with the famous Hawaiian salt. Beef and chicken are smoke-barbecued with a Hawaiian-style teriyaki sauce. The meats are served over rice with macaroni-tuna salad or in a sandwich. Further out into the Pacific lies the tiny Island of Saipan (halfway between Hawaii and the Philippines), where Sophie’s Island BBQ gets its inspiration. Chicken and ribs are marinated for several days in soy sauce, vinegar, spices and Saipan chili peppers. They are accompanied by takuan, slices of spicy-sour Japanese-style pickled daikon radish, red rice and potato salad. Sophie also serves a barbecue pulled pork sandwich, turkey drumsticks and jambalaya.
Asian cuisine will also come with a Thai accent, like those sweet-spicy-succulent grilled chicken and pork sticks from Thai Stick. For a more substantial meal, the chicken can be folded into a wrap or tossed into a rice bowl. It’ll be a steak rice bowl at 3J Creations, where protein will also come as a chicken or steak sandwich, as well as fried-on-the-spot fish and chips. California BBQ also pays homage to Asian cuisine. The meat for their super chicken and pork kabobs marinates in a soy-garlic sauce, giving it that irresistible right-off-the-grill crispy exterior. The chicken also comes in a rice bowl. Veggie lovers will enjoy watching their order of stir-fried noodles being tossed around a giant wok with crispy cabbage, carrots and broccoli.
Refreshing beverages at the beer and margarita booths
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At JB Power Station, it’s all-American fare with an international flair. Their wraps range from teriyaki chicken to turkey and cheddar to veggies and hummus. Looking for salad? They’ve got everything from the classic garden variety to Southwest chicken to a chicken Caesar. If a smoothie is more your speed, you can choose between strawberry-banana and tropical fruit. But don’t forget to leave room for their famous strawberry shortcake—a rich slice of pound cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
Hard-core carnivores will want to make a stop at Lockeford Meat & Sausage for their famous Dakota smoked bratwurst. These serious sausages—a blend of turkey, pork and beef—are served on a hoagie roll with the requisite complement of sauerkraut. For a quick pick-me-up along the festival route, it’ll be hard to decide between the two irresistible options. Kornman brings its giant corn roaster and bushels of corn all the way from Idaho to turn out the sweetest corn on the cob. At Suitcase Ron’s Kettle Korn Revue, the big kettle is fired up to pop a copious supply of the slightly salty, savory treat.
For a little indulgence, check out the temptations at Sweet Delights. On the savory end of the spectrum, they offer three styles of hand-dipped, foot-long corn dogs: beef, Cajun or veggie. Craving a few more carbs? Check out the Belgian fries made with freshly cut potatoes and fried twice for a crispy shell and soft center. And who can resist a fancy funnel cake for dessert, especially with topping options like fresh fruit, ice cream and whipped cream? Or you can feel practically guiltless—but just as satisfied—with a fruit kabob dipped in chocolate and toasted nuts. The friendly folks at Hawaiian Snow Shave Ice will satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you cool with their traditional island treat featuring Hawaiian syrups in strawberry, cherry, lime, banana, watermelon, grape and mango flavors. They’ll also be making old-fashioned root beer floats and shakes. Or try a unique twist on citrus with a frothy treat at the Orange Mist booth, where they’ll also be whipping up a selection of blended coffees.
The Margarita King—The World’s Best Margarita—offers festivalgoers another refreshing beverage alternative. Margaritas will come in many variations: there’s the “King Cocktail” (margarita), the “Miami Vice” (margarita with a splash of pineapple juice), and the “Girlfriend” (margarita with a splash of pomegranate juice). Beer lovers will be delighted with the fantastic assortment of tasty brews –– Stella Artois, Red Hook Longhammer IPA, Widmer Hefeweizen, Bass Ale, and Bud Light –– that will be served along with premium wine at several booths along Castro Street. Take home a commemorative wine glass with the stylish festival logo or one of the beautiful branded beer steins, “real beer-drinking glasses”. Festivalgoers will find a spacious seating area with umbrella tables and chairs near the music stage at California and Castro.
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