bay area

Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, it's a known fact that the employees at Google live a charmed life. Besides massages and Internet-wired shuttles, Googlers are invited to free breakfast, lunch, and dinner each and every day. The Google campus has 17 gourmet cafés, complete with 700 culinary staffers and 20 chefs. Last Friday I was lucky enough to check out some of the cafés — more on that later! — and speak with Eric Dela Cruz, a chef at Cafe 7. To see what his life as a Google chef is like read more

If you're in the Bay Area — or just need to know everything about the food scene in it — then be sure to sign up for the tablehopper's weekly emails. It's a free newsletter that gives you all the ins and outs of the San Francisco dining scene (including all the juicy gossip!). I read it from top to bottom each week, and wouldn't know half of the tidbits I know without it! — Tablehopper

I know it sounds too good to be true so here is the deal...

A bay area fitness expert is offering the Ultimate Outdoor Bootcamp FREE to residents on Saturday mornings at 8:00 am (rain or shine), at the Los Gatos Library in Los Gatos, Ca. Sign up at UltimateBodyPotential.com.

For everyone that does not live in the bay area, you can get your own FREE boot camp workout with my mini boot camp video -- I promise you'll feel the burn!

Also, check around for local boot camp classes near you. It's not uncommon for gyms to offer free trial classes for newbies.

Alan Richman, a writer for GQ, recently wrote:

"Alice Waters and sourdough bread aside, the Bay Area has contributed surprisingly little to the culinary ripening of America."

What? Is he crazy? Michael Bauer of the San Francisco Chronicle thought so and offered up a 25 point rebuttal on his blog today.

Included in his list are:

• Chuck Williams - founder of Williams-Sonoma
• Robert Mondavi - he brought French modern techniques in winemaking
• Ceclia Chiang - whom Alice Waters calls "The Julia Child of Chinese Food
• Thomas Keller - only American to have top ratings for both his NY and Bay Area restaurants
• Wine bars - The London Wine Bar is credited with starting the wine bar genre
• The Mai Tai, Martini & Lemon Drop - while there's some debate, both are usually credited to the Bay Area
• Laura Chenel - made the first artisan goat cheese in America (which makes her my hero)

The whole list is pretty interesting (although, admittedly, there are a few things that you've never heard of), but I'm glad he threw it together. This place is a tasty slice of food heaven.

However, even if it didn't have any of the history or famous people behind it, there are currently so many different cultures and great produce that it's definitely a food lover's dream come true.

So tell me, why is your hometown a culinary paradise?

Turns out that Grammy Award-winning Carlos Santana and his wife Deborah are die hard foodies too. So much that they've decided to take their passion for food to the public by opening a new chain of restaurants named Maria Maria. The restaurants, which are named after Santana's 2000 Grammy-winning song, are being developed by the Dudum Sports & Entertainment Corporation (which is responsible for several other celebrity restaurants) and "promises" to deliver authentic Mexican cuisine in an atmosphere inspired by Santana's music.

"The passion that we have for food and for creating a unique experience really resonated with Carlos and Deborah," said DSE executive Jeff Dudum. "I couldn’t be more excited about having the opportunity to work with them on restaurants that honor and celebrate Latin American culture, food and music."

The first location will open in Walnut Creek, CA in April, followed by one in Mill Valley in May and Santa Rosa in June (all of which are in the Bay Area). Now, I know that Santana lives in the area, but I wonder how much participation he'll have. Do you think he'll actually be there, or is it just something to put his name on...

Source: NBC 4
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