Scrumptious Street Fare
From Crab Cakes to Crêpes at A La Carte & Art
The mouthwatering street fare at Mountain View’s A La Carte & Art festival offers enough variety for everyone from die-hard hot dog devotees to finicky French crêpe aficionados. This year’s line-up of international and down-home vendors will gather along Castro Street May 5-6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fresh crepes, roasted corn and barbecue are among the tempting festival fare
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For those who like a little of everything, Aloha Joe’s makes a tempting tropical sandwich with shredded beef, black beans, an exotic pineapple-mango sauce, cabbage and aioli, all stuffed into soft flatbread. Beans and beef also find their way into the classic tamale and taco combo plates created by The Tamale Factory. Their tasty tamales include a choice of pork, chicken or jalapeño-cheese, and tacos are filled with either beef or chicken. For something exotic and spicy, stop by Madam Floodpuppy’s House of Catfish for her signature, Cajun-inspired grilled catfish and jambalaya with delicious baked beans and potato salad on the side.
Meaty options from the Greek tradition include the several selections of souvlaki—marinated skewered lamb, chicken, swordfish and octopus—from Bobby the Greek. Drawing on his devotion to the Slow Food movement and vivid memories of his grandmother’s cooking, Bobby also cooks up classic Cypriot sheftalia meatballs of lamb, pork, red onions, parsley and spices, as well as dolmas. Everything comes with the creamy yogurt-cucumber tzatziki, tomato and onions.
From Germany, Bavaria Bratwurst delivers hefty ¼-pound smoked sausages of veal and pork or beef and onion. They’re grilled till crispy and given the final authentic touch with tangy sauerkraut. Lockeford Meat & Sausage serves up its bratwurst in the North American Dakota style, which combines turkey, pork and beef. The dogs cooked by the Sunnyvale Elks are beef-and-pork Polish or the classic American all-beef. Their sweet offerings include Hawaiian shaved ice in strawberry, pineapple, grape and banana flavors, as well as root beer floats.
Craving a burger? You can choose from among beef, salmon and veggie at the Sweet Delights booth, which also has hot dogs, corn dogs and fries. And for dessert—the funnel cake—that irresistible jumble of puffy fried batter from the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition.
Seafood is the name of the game at Captain’s Fish and Chips. In addition to their cooked-to-a-crisp fish 'n' chips made with Pacific cod, they serve decadent crab cakes, succulent fried calamari and shrimp. For landlubbers, there are Polish sausages, corn dogs and garlic fries. Bratwurst USA whips up their own version of fried calamari, finger-lickin' good chicken and the best corn dog on the planet. Thai-food lovers will have an abundance of options. At Thai Gourmet, the barbecue chicken skewers are infused with flavors from a marinade of fish sauce, curry powder and garlic. They also offer a mild yellow chicken curry and a (not so) spicy chicken seasoned with basil, chili peppers and garlic and tossed with bell peppers and onions. Thai Stick offers its signature barbecue chicken and pork skewers, as well as teriyaki chicken in wrap or a rice bowl.
For those Francophiles in the crowd, Lemoine Crêperie prepares savory and sweet crêpes to order in the traditional French style. Say bonjour in the morning with a blend of cheese, spinach and bacon, then return in the après midi for a desserty filling of peaches and whipped cream…or maybe cream cheese and cherries…or—bien sur!—some heavenly hazelnut-chocolate Nutella. An American street fair is never complete without corn, and this one gives you three opportunities to partake. Get your fresh-roasted corn on the cob slathered with butter from California Corn Roast. Or satisfy your addiction for that perfect salty-sweet snack—kettle corn—at either Suitcase Ron’s or Sandy’s Pop Shop.
Refreshing beverages at the beer and margarita booths
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Thirsty yet? Enjoy a Sauza Original Margarita or Cruzan Rum Premium Mojito for a deliciously refreshing beverage alternative. Genuine Sauza Blanco Tequila and masterfully blended with premium triple sec gives Sauza Original Margarita—the world’s most popular cocktail—its distinctive, smooth, and mouth-watering flavor. Cruzan Aged Light Rum blended with fresh lime juice, soda, a dash of bitters and mint poured over ice and you’ve got a delicious mojito, perfect for a warm afternoon stroll.
Beer lovers will be delighted with the assortment of world-class brews—Stella Artois, Negra Modelo, Budweiser and Bud Light Lime—that will be served along with premium wine at several booths along Castro Street.
Be sure to take home commemorative wine glasses with the stylish festival logo and the collector-item Stella Artois and Negra Modelo branded "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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