Stonefruit season is here. Hooray! The nectarine salad at Doppio Zero is a must, and the fig, mozzarella, burrata and prosciutto di Parma pizza we enjoyed at the Campbell location ranks right near the top of my pie in the sky list.
While the lemon, pesto and pistachio pizza we shared recently for lunch at Mentone’s in Aptos–open for lunch on the weekends during summer—currently occupies the No. 1 slot, the crust at Doppio Zero and the way they cook their pies at seriously high heat is close to pizza perfection every time, so it’s a very close second. With that drizzle of balsamic, each bite is rewarding. They also have a special Pera Pizza, made with pear, mozzarella, goat cheese, bacon and honey. Gotta try that next.
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Way beyond pizza, Doppio Zero’s summer menu includes Spaghetti Bottarga with fresh salmon, bottarga, garlic, white wine and Italian chilis; branzino with Tuscan kale, green fava bean puree and fregola sarda; and a host of new drinks including the Dragon Aperol Spritz, with dragon fruit puree, Aperol, soda water and prosecco; and the Limoncello Spritz, combining Italian lemon liqueur with elderflower, soda water and prosecco. Spice things up with the Margarita La Michoacana that combines tequila blanco, Habanero syrup with honey, lime juice and limoncello served with a small popsicle, or the Italian Margarita with tequila plata, Aperol, elderflower, lime juice and simple syrup.
Doppio Zero also has a location in downtown Mountain View, and the owners recently opened Johnny & Sanny’s a block away at 110 Castro St., where they’ll be throwing a Ferragosto celebration on Aug. 15. This iconic Italian summer holiday dates back to ancient Rome and has become a staple of Italian tradition for living la dolce vita. Johnny & Sanny’s is marking the occasion with an all-day Happy Hour, plus a special Ferragosto fettuccine with lobster and clams. The event runs 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-10 p.m.
Also new to Mountain View is Craftsman and Wolves, which has been serving innovative pastries that stretch the norms, along with savory treats like a kouign aman stuffed with Philly cheesesteak, in San Francisco since 2012. Under the leadership and creative direction of Executive Chef Sam Ceccotti, the Mountain View location offers croissants, tarts, cakes, muffins and single-origin brews and espresso-based beverages. I saw someone attacking the signature Rebel Within, a soft-centered savory muffin with a perfectly runny egg inside; it looked like knife and fork territory to me. Apparently, the Mountain View location also serves a vegetarian Rebel with spinach, garlic, lemon zest, parmesan, asiago and the signature soft-cooked egg, but only Friday through Sunday.
I beheld the Jalapeño Helix twist made with jalapeño cheddar béchamel, topped with diced jalapeños and a drizzle of hot honey, with a certain respect, but I chose a suntanned brown butter-topped croissant instead. Laminated croissants are my husband’s fave, and he rated it very high in the butter and flakiness categories, observing that it made an enormous mess.
The breathtaking petit gâteau creations don’t even look real. It’s hard not to drool at the Summer Choux, a pate a choux filled with vanilla crème fraiche, whipped ganache and guava kalamansi confiture, topped with blush pink craquelin and a tiny chocolate wolf.
Craftsman and Wolves Mountain View is at 400 San Antonio Road, Suite 4, inside The Dean. Hours are 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Time to get your tickets to the Art of Food & Wine at Montalvo, set for Sept. 7, with VIP admittance at 3:30pm. Tickets start at $290 and VIP is $440 at my.montalvoarts.org.
Mark your calendars for Star Chefs and the Wines & Spirits They Love, the hottest local food and beverage pairing contest and fundraiser for Momentum For Health, to be held Sept. 21, 3-7 p.m., at The Glass House in downtown San Jose. This constellation of top culinary talent features the region’s top chefs, winemakers and cocktail shakers from Silicon Valley’s best restaurants, wineries and bars, including Eos & Nyx, Good Times Bar, Orchard City Kitchen, Be.Steak.A, Plumed Horse, Asa Los Gatos, The Bywater, Forbes Mill, Oak and Rye, Silos, Alter Ego, Jackie’s Place, Odeum, Oveja Negra, One Fish Raw Bar and Cordevalle’s Il Veneto.
Last year’s event was a hoot with Judge’s Choice, Chef’s Choice and People’s Choice awards (your vote counts!). There’s little doubt that the 2024 winners will strive to defend their titles while their rivals are scheming to unseat hem. It’s all great fun for a good cause, and tickets are a bargain at $150 at https://momentumforhealth.org/starchefs-2025
