It takes a confident businessman to open a new restaurant during a pandemic, but fans of Hero Ranch Kitchen will be happy to hear that owner Angelo Heropoulos is opening a new venture next-door to his farm-to-table establishment at 14583 Big Basin Way. Flowers was set to open Aug. 27, depending on how parklet installation is going in the Saratoga Village.
“The cuisine will be small and large format tapas-style dishes with cuisine from all over the world,” Heropoulos says. “The plates truly match the restaurant’s name in that they are presented in a beautiful manner. Many of the garnishes are natural flowers and herbs that are indigenous to local farms.
“The vibe will be different and more edgy than our Hero Ranch Kitchen next door,” he adds. “We are excited to debut our new chef, Ryan Nuqui, who recently came to us from the Mandarin Oriental and Waldorf Astoria brands. We will start off with dinner service and add brunch and lunch when the world comes back online.” www.theheroranchkitchen.com
At 14665 Big Basin Way, JJ and Sue Kang offer a unique blend of the arts at Sue’s Gallery Café, combining Sue’s handcrafted pottery with JJ’s handcrafted coffee and teas. Beverages are served in cups and mugs made by Sue and are available for purchase in the gallery adjacent to the coffee shop.
Sue’s Gallery Café has a loyal following, due in part to their generosity and commitment to Saratoga. “We love to participate in the community,” JJ says. “This year we created a special Redwood Middle School graduation drink, our version of what’s otherwise known as an Arnold Palmer.”
An extra nice touch: JJ is offering free coffee from 9-10 a.m. during the pandemic.
The Saratoga Historical Museum may be closed, but they are active and want to keep people interested in Saratoga history. You can find out how Saratogan Isabella Blaney helped drive to right for women to vote in California via an online exhibit starting Aug. 26 at www.saratogahistory.com
The 200-plus members of the Saratoga Foothill Club are taking advantage of the club’s COVID closure to spruce up the historic Julia Morgan clubhouse. Renovation began in May and should be completed in October. Exterior work includes installing new siding shingles and replacing the brown paint with a new oil finish.
“The club’s closure since last spring, resulted in the cancellation of many scheduled club events and public rentals, which has impacted income,” says club president Paula Kraule.
Even so, the club recently donated $1,250 to West Valley Community Services.
Tax deductible donations are welcomed, and can be mailed to the Saratoga Foothill Club, P.O. Box 2233, Saratoga, CA 95070.
Saratogans can talk to Mayor Howard Miller Sept. 9 during a virtual edition of Saratoga’s annual Lunch with the Mayor. Questions for Miller should be submitted to info@sascc.org.
Tamami Honma is a supporter of the Saratoga Education Foundation and a Beatles fan. Her family made a video parody of “Yellow Submarine” with the lyrics changed to, “We all live in a global quarantine.”
The video, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=deLE_K9F84g, features Ethan Cotta; Annie and Sam Honma, Redwood Middle School; and Matthew Honma, Argonaut Elementary.
If you have business or social news about Saratoga, please let me know: Debby@debbyrice.com.
