Like the summer, the Los Gatos Food Fest is coming to a close for the year. The event has been bringing beer, wine, live music and, of course, food to a woodsy spot in Los Gatos—the lot in front of La Hacienda restaurant and hotel—every Friday night since May.

Every week there’s a different live band and a rotating lineup of Bay Area food trucks. One recent edition of the event featured the Waffle Roost, Sam’s ChowderMobile and Oaxacan Kitchen Mobile, among other trucks. Country musician Erica Sunshine Lee performed.

Theron Kagnoff, manager at La Hacienda, runs the event. He says he likes the way it brings people together to enjoy themselves.

“This is very family friendly. It’s a great place for people in the area to commune and get to know each other,” Kagnoff says. “There’s really nothing quite like this in the area.”

Kagnoff says that even though the season is winding down, the Food Fest still draws between 600 and 800 people every Friday night.

“It’s a great place to bring the kids, it’s safe, it’s well organized, there’s really not a weak link in the entire chain,” says Kagnoff.

Justin Funamura, owner of the Waffle Roost food truck, says he has the same feeling about the Food Fest.

“It’s been a good time, they have a nice little setup,” Funamura says. “Definitely a lot of moms dancing with their kids. It’s a good family friendly atmosphere.”

The Waffle Roost, which has been in operation for a month and is headquartered in San Jose, has attended two of the Food Fests this season.

“Our line is plenty long, our two busiest nights have been there,” says Funamura. “It’s our only festival type event and it’s been great so far.”

It will be held for two more Fridays this year, with the last one of the season happening on Sept. 27.

“We’ve got a great indian summer here in the Bay Area,” Kagnoff says. “Life is short, enjoy it while it lasts. The season is short, enjoy it while it’s lasting.”

Los Gatos’s jazz concert series enters its second decade this summer with artists young and old. Every Wednesday, the Los Gatos Music & Arts nonprofit schedules the free concert in the Town Plaza. This year’s series will highlight the work of the Gershwins.

Mary Wilson, original member of the Supremes, will sing on July 24, in addition to performing at the Jazz Gala at La Estancia, a fundraiser series. Young folks get their day as well, with the best Monterey County High School performers scheduled to play on August 21. Los Gatos Music & Arts aims to support and promote these kind of young musicians most of all, last year funding 10 in-school jazz workshops and a week -long summer jazz camp.

This year’s schedule of performers:

June 26 – Catherine Russell
The jazz and blues vocalist is the daughter of Luis Russell, Louis Armstrong’s long-time musical director. She released her fourth album, “Strictly Romancin'” last year.

July 3 – Halie Loren
A relative youngster in the jazz singer set, Loren debuted in 2006 with “Full Circle,” only 21 years old at the time.

July 10 – Nicole Henry
Henry’s most recent offering is a live album of 70s soul and pop classics, recorded last year at a sold-out show at Feinstein’s in New York City.

July 17 – Kenny Washington
A New Orleans native now residing in Oakland, Washington is known for his impressive four octave range and skillful scatting.

July 23 (Gala) & 24 – Mary Wilson
Wilson hasn’t stopped since leaving the Supremes in ’77. Since then she’s been singing, recording, writing, and working as an activist on various social justice causes.

July 31 – Beegie Adair
Longtime jazz pianist Adair will be playing as part of her Beegie Adair Trio.

August 7 – John Proulx
Proulx (pronounced “proo”) is a vocalist, pianist, and Grammy award winning composer.

August 14 – Stacy Kent
Kent’s vocal jazz albums have gone Platinum in France and Gold in Germany. She was nominated for the Best Vocal Jazz Album Grammy in 2009.

August 21 – Monterey Jazz Festival: County High School All Stars
This band brings together the top high school musicians from Monterey County, directed by saxophonist Paul Lucckesi.

August 28 – Cyrille Aimee
French vocalist Aimee grew up singing with Django Reinhardt’s grandsons, going on to record five albums including the most recent “Live at Birdland.”

Former sous chef Jeff Fitzgerald is taking over as the new executive chef of Michelin-rated Hellenic restaurant, Dio Deka in Los Gatos.

“I’m excited and ready for it,” Fitzgerald says. “I’ve been here for quite some time and I’ve helped run the restaurant before.”

As executive chef, Fitzgerald says he plans on revamping the menu by utilizing new products and techniques, with a focus on local, in-season produce.

“A good portion of the menu has always been the same—with Greek favorites and classics, like the meatballs,” he says. “Now, it’s more about cycling things in and out with the seasons.”

One of the new dishes on the menu is a risotto that incorporates new vegetables, such as spring radishes and pea shoots. Dungeness crabs, Alaskan Halibut and King Salmon are some of the main proteins Fitzgerald plans on using for dishes.

A San Jose native, Fitzgerald grew up eating fresh produce from the family garden and fresh fish caught from boat trips in Moss Landing.

“It really taught me to have a great appreciation for vegetables, like zucchini in the summer time,” he says. “It really teaches you to appreciate what’s at its peak [in season] and to use the ingredients to the fullest.”

Appreciating and incorporating fresh ingredients is something Fitzgerald continues to do at Dio Deka, where he receives local produce from farms in Watsonville, San Francisco and Morgan Hill.

“We work with our purveyors and when they get a new great product, I try to utilize it in some way,” he says. “Dungeness crab is one of them; the dish will last until early summer. Halibut is another one. We’re just waiting for the season to start.”

Although the signature dishes, such as the moussaka, will stay the same, half of the menu will be updated with Fitzgerald’s new creations.

Though he considers former executive chef Marty Cattaneo a mentor, Fitzgerald says he’s looking forward to putting his own spin on things, yet still embracing Californian Greek cuisine.

“I think the restaurant is moving forward in a way that respects Greek traditions, Greek food and techniques with a more modern view and a California perspective,” he says.

Finding more dining options with the LosGatos.com restaurant directory.

“I have some beef cheeks coming right up for you” isn’t a common promise at most area restaurants, but at Los Gatos’ new tapas bar, Donostia, authenticity counts. Donostia is the Basque name for San Sebastian, a Spanish coastal town known for its tapas. The new place is the latest venture of owners Joe Cannistraci and Michael Guerra, the team behind Los Gatos’ wine bar Enoteca La Storia.

“We thought Spanish cuisine would be an exciting transition,” says Guerra of the move from Italian to Spanish dining with Donostia. Both men have roots in Italy, a connection that resulted in the creation of Enoteca La Storia. Guerra and Cannistraci were inspired to create Donostia after exploring San Sebastian with friend Jorge Bianchi, who introduced them to Agustin Elbert, the chef responsible for Donostia’s classic San Sebastian cuisine. “This is the authentic Basque experience,” Guerra says.

The wave-detailed walls and blue geode piece hanging above the bar call to mind the beauty of the Spanish coast. The extensive tapas menu is matched by the wine and beer choices, which have been carefully selected to pair well with the cuisine.

Tapas selections include Bonito tuna belly pierced with a toothpick alongside an anchovy, a guindilla, an onion and an olive; and carrilleras en salsa (slow-cooked beef cheeks). The beverage selection boasts Txakoli, the Basque country’s famous dry, slightly sparkling wine; Isastegi cider, a refreshing palate cleanser; a variety of Spanish wines selected by Guerro and beers chosen by resident beer specialist Ryan Smith.

Donostia is located just three doors down from Enoteca La Storia. The restaurant is open 3-10pm, Sunday and Monday; 3-11pm, Tuesday and Wednesday; 3pm-midnight, Thursday-Saturday.

Donostia
424 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos

Find more Los Gatos dining options with the LosGatos.com featured restaurants list.

The Bay Area never really felt the housing bubble burst as much as other parts of the country. Housing inventory in highly desired areas like Los Gatos was always small for the amount of demand, hence the astronomical prices of homes. The mountain views, excellently regarded public school system and the walkable downtown area are big draws, bringing more and more interest from potential home buyers.

Accordingly, wealthy families that can afford these prices continue to flock to Los Gatos and price many middle class families out. It’s no surprise to anyone familiar with California that home prices in the Bay Area are among the highest in the nation. Between long-standing, old money wealth and the newer influx of high tech creative types in Silicon Valley, home prices continue to rise.

2013 looks to bring little change to these conditions. Over the course of 2012, the median home price in Los Gatos rose from $1.1 million to nearly $1.3 million. More houses are being sold as well; there was a 23 percent increase in December 2012 over December 2011. This price increase is on the low side for the Bay Area residential real estate markets, meaning the Los Gatos market has not been getting a lot of press.

At the end of the day, home buyers face a challenge in Los Gatos, a wonderful, highly desired area prone to high prices and low inventory.

It isn’t all bad news, though, for home buyers interested in Los Gatos. One of the unique characteristics of this town is the wide array of housing options. You’ll find beautiful historic mansions in the downtown area, smaller historic cottages, brand new mansions in the hills, and even modern condominiums. More choices can only be good for a buyer.

Open your mind to new options. There was a house that recently sold for under $250,000, less than a quarter of the area’s median home price. While it was only 800 square feet, it just goes to show a little creativity can go a long way. Of course, if you can afford it, the multi-million dollar homes of Los Gatos are some of the best living spaces and views the region has to offer.

Abby Pfeiffer is a real estate analyst for New Home Source.

David Kinch, the chef-proprietor of acclaimed Los Gatos restaurant Manresa, recently got out of the kitchen at his michelin-rated restaurant for a little time in the spotlight on ABC’s reality show The Taste, with Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre and Brian Malarkey as hosts.

The show’s main emphasis is on competitive cooking and taste. The catch? All the dishes are judged in a blind taste test, based on a spoonful of food. Kinch appeared as a special guest mentor to the contestants. We caught up with him to discuss his experience on the show and his upcoming plans.

How did you end up as a guest mentor on The Taste?

I was asked by our book editor who also represents Tony Bourdain. I have known it for awhile now and was happy to help with his new show.

That environment seems a lot different than working in the kitchen. Was it a difficult transition?

Not at all. it was a lot of fun and really only two days of work. It is always fun to be involved in cooking and offering tips to contestants in a competitive environment was something new. I enjoyed it.

The show seems to focus more about the taste of food, rather than the visual aspect. What are your thoughts about that?

Well, taste and flavor are the single most important aspects of food. However, you cannot ignore the importance of presentation and what is pleasing to the eye.  One, after all, eats with the eyes first.

Can we expect to see you on more TV shows?

I’m looking forward to more opportunities like this.

What’s next? Anything new at the restaurant?

We are looking forward to the release of our first cookbook in October of this year.

Summit Road Wineries play cupid with “A Wine Lovers Weekend” to get residents and visitors in the spirit of Valentine’s Day.

Held on February 9 and 10, each winery offers a delicious surprise including wine and chocolate. Guests are bound to fall in love with the beautiful mountain vineyard, lush green forest and gardens.

At Burrell School, guests will be serenaded by live guitar music while noshing on special “Love Bites” that are the perfect pairing with red wine. Guests can enjoy a sip of the vineyard’s late harvest Zinfandel.

At MJA Vineyards, guests can cuddle up by a warm fire while indulging in wine and chocolate. Live music and roses will also be provided.

At Regale, indulge in rich chocolate and swoon-worthy treats. For guests still looking for the perfect Valentine’s gift, Regale has some great in-store gift opportunities.

At Silver Mountain, enjoy decadent bites from homegrown artisan and food vendors while sipping organically grown wine from the vineyard. Live music, sweets and treats will be provided. Silver Mountain will only be open on Saturday, February 9.

At Villa del Monte, enjoy Valentine’s Day decorations while sipping wine and eating chocolate. The vineyard will donate $1 to a local nonprofit organization called “Grind Out Hunger,” which raises awareness about local hunger issues, for the purchase of a bottle of wine.

The two-day event is held from noon to 5pm. Each winery’s tasting room fee and policy applies, ranging from $5 to $10 each.

A favorite among wine aficionados, the Santa Cruz Winegrowers Association kicks off 2013 with it’s first Passport Day on January 19. The annual event provides the opportunity for visitors to try special tastings at many of the participating wineries, including some that are not regularly open to the public.

Each passport allows for one free tasting at each participating wintering. Although the emphasis is on Passport Day, the passport can be used anytime the participating winery is open. Passports are available for $45 at each of the wineries.

“It just feels like the Santa Cruz wines—there’s always a heartfelt story about them,” Debra Szecsei, co-owner of Vino Locale, a wine shop Palo Alto that also specializes in Santa Cruz Mountains wines, told SantaCruz.com last year. “The people do it for the passion and the love of winemaking, not necessarily for the money. And that’s part of what makes it really special.”

The complete list of participating wineries:

Ahlgren Vineyard
Alfaro Family Vineyard
Bargetto Winery
Beauregard Vineyards
Black Ridge Vineyards
Bonny Doon Vineyard
Bruzzone Family Vineyards – Pouring at Rancho Don Bosco, 1690 Glen Canyon Road, Sant Cruz
Burrell School Vineyards
Byington Vineyard & Winery
Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery
Clos LaChance
Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards
Dancing Creek Winery
David Bruce Winery
Domenico Winery
Downhill Winery at Byington Winery
Equinox Wine Cellars
Fernwood Cellars
Hallcrest Vineyards – Hallcrest is unable to accommodate tour buses & limousines
House Family Winery
La Honda Winery – Closed for January Passport
La Nebbia Winery
Loma Prieta Winery
Martin Ranch Winery- Martin Ranch is unable to accommodate tour buses over 24 ft.
McHenry Vineyard
MJA Vineyards Participating at both locations
Muccigrosso Vineyards pouring at Byington Vineyard & Winery
The Mountain Winery
Naumann Vineyards
Nicholson Vineyards
Odonata
Pelican Ranch Winery
Picchetti Winery
Pinder Winery
Poetic Cellars 5000 N. Rodeo Gulch Road, Soquel (831) 462-3478
Ridge Vineyards
Roudon Smith Winery
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
Sante Arcangeli Family Wines – Pouring at Beauregard Vineyards
Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards
Silver Mountain Vineyards
Sones Cellars
Storrs Winery
Thomas Fogarty
Trout Gulch Vineyards @ Equinox Wine Cellars
Zayante Vineyards

Starting Black Friday, Los Gatos will become a Bay Area winter wonderland with the opening of Vasona Park’s 14th annual Fantasy of Lights, holiday carriage rides, the 56th annual Children’s Christmas/Holiday Parade and the holiday train.

The Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad holiday train is back for December.

The reindeer express bus tour will also return to the park, a good option for those who would prefer to not you their own car or wait in traffic. Ride costs $8 per person with the bus picking up parties on a first-come-first-serve basis at the Los Gatos downtown post office for the hour-long tour.

Holiday carriage rides will occur Nov. 30 to Dec. 23, from 5pm to 9pm on most schedule dates. The 15-minute carriage rides begin in the Town Plaza and continue through Almond Grove district along North Santa Cruz Avenue.

On December 1, the Los Gatos Children’s Christmas/Holiday parade with the Billy Jones Wildcat holiday train and scholastic book fair. The Children’s parade will begin at 11am, rain or shine.

The Scholastic’s Book Fair will be Dec. 1-2 from 10am to 4pm. Families will be able to follow Clifford the Big Red Dog from the holiday parade to the Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center to hang out with Clifford and Geronimo and sip hot cocoa. Santa and elves will also be at the Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center on Dec. 2 from 12pm to 2pm.

The holiday train will run from Dec. 1 to Dec. 23. The historic train runs through Vasona Park from 6pm to 9pm. Last year, the train attracted more than 100,000 visitors. A ticket for the train is $5 with complimentary carousel rides included with the purchase.

Other Los Gatos Christmas and holiday events during December include a photo op with Santa for pets on Dec. 8, Cocoa with Santa at the Fantasy of Lights on Dec. 14, Breakfast with Santa on Santa Dec. 15, multiple Santa visits at the Town Plaza Park Dec. 9,16 and 23, and gingerbread house-making Dec. 17-18.

To see the full schedule of Christmas in Los Gatos visit the Los Gatos Chambers website www.losgatoschamber.com.

On Nov. 18, the Art Museum of Los Gatos hosts a family art day to coincide with its current exhibit titled “It’s Personal! Tales Visualized by Asian American Women Artists.”

According to museum curator Susan Kidd, the event is part of the Explorer! program that was created to educate the community about art. A family art day is held in conjunction with every exhibition, along with a curator walk-through.

The family art day will have three to five art projects for families to participate in based on the exhibition’s theme and medium. This event includes money boats, origami and Asian calligraphy led by a local artist.

Family art day became part of the Explorer! program a year ago with only five attendees. Today, the event consistently accommodates up to 150 attendees. The event is free and open to the public with a $5 donation suggested. The family art day will run from noon to 3pm followed by artist walk-through from 4pm to 6pm. The Asian American Women exhibition will be featured at the museum until Nov. 25.