Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: Enjoy Gilroy’s fine dining as California celebrates ‘Restaurant Month’

Published in the January 9 – 22, 2019 issue of Gilroy Life

Our friend at the Gilroy Welcome Center, executive director Jane Howard, reminded us that January is California Restaurant Month. And to make the celebration of the Golden State’s amazing cuisine extra special, until Jan. 31 Visit Gilroy is teaming up with local restaurants to host “Gilroy Restaurant Month.”

During this special promotion, 11 restaurants will feature “Fit and Sip” specials pairing lighter food options with local Santa Clara Valley wines and other favorite beverages:

• BBQ 152: Pulled Pork Sandwich served with Homemade Vinegar Molasses Hog Wash
• Café 152 Bread Company: Berry Mix Salad with Fresh Iced Tea
• Café 152 Burger Co.: Lettuce-Wrapped Veggie Burger with Sweet Potato Fries and Raspberry Iced Tea
• Café Thyme: Lemon Thyme Chicken with Clos LaChance Reserve Chardonnay
• Cielito Lindo: Chile Verde with Rice and Beans
• Garlic City Café: Cajun Chicken Salad with Garlic Dressing
• Josephine’s Bakery Cafe: Garlic Chicken Sandwich with Garlic Fries and a Bloody Mary with Bacon and Celery
• Mama Mia’s Restaurant: Moroccan Tortellini served with seasonal vegetables in a Light Moroccan Cilantro Lime Sauce
• Old City Hall Restaurant: Roasted Beet Salad or Grilled Salmon Filet with a Pink Lemonade Martini
• The Claddagh Irish Restaurant: Killarney Salad with a Blood Orange Martini
• The Milias Restaurant: Milias Signature Salads with Rotating Selection of Local Wines

“We’re so excited to kick off this special month-long promotion,” Howard said. “These ‘Fit and Sip’ specials all feature lighter entrees and drinks, so visitors can support our wonderful local restaurants and still stick to those New Year’s resolutions.”

Visitors are encouraged to post their photos on social media channels using hashtags #CARestaurantMonth, #GilroyRestaurantMonth, #GilroyDining, and #FitandSip.

For a complete list and map of participating restaurants, visit GilroyRestaurantMonth.com.

We’re blessed with fine restaurants in Gilroy. Go out and enjoy some yummy in the tummy all this month.

Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman, who represents South Valley, shared with us the wonderful news that the new Animal Services Center project is well underway.

“Construction of the new center is scheduled to break ground in spring 2019, with a move-in date of mid-2021,” he said.

The new 37,000-square-foot, one-story building on 4.5 acres at 90 Highland Ave. will replace the current facility in San Martin with an innovative and sustainable building design in a park-like setting. The no-kill center will serve dogs, cats, horses, sheep, and include a spay and neuter clinic, veterinary medicine and support areas, and a community multi-use center.

“It will be an inviting destination for visitors focused on animal welfare, care, and education and will include a community multi-use room,” he said.

The building and infrastructure part of the project is budgeted at $25 million. The relocation is needed because the existing shelter is aging, outdated and does not meet the county’s needs  and goals. According to the county’s website, the new center will “provide a facility that can integrate the latest and best practices for disease control, odor control and acoustics, promote health, reduce stress and create a calming environment.”

Donations are being accepted to help save and enhance the lives of shelter pets at www.countypet.org.