Scott Shuey###
2019-06-06 12.22pm
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Starting the day with awesome coffee
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While the tech industry is doing very well in Silicon Valley, the area around my hotel has seen a lot of closures recently, including some iconic local eateries. Many of my old hangouts are long gone, and the remaining cafes aren’t really tailored to the breakfast crowd. There is a European pastry shop, a Starbucks, and a local place called Philz.
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Philz was the obvious choice, at it was the only one of the three to features a line of waiting customers, which snaked out the door. And while this isn’t one of my old hangouts, it is in my old apartment building, so … close enough.
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Philz’ speciality is its coffee. There are no fewer that 20 different varieties of coffee and eight varieties of tea. This is VERY speciality coffee – what my wife would call hipster coffee – but you won’t get that vibe from the customers, which include local police, college students, and techies. The man I’m sitting next to keeps talking about an upcoming tech deal with his lawyer.
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You can’t get a latte or a cappuccino here. The cafe offers coffee made “one cup at a time” and is made using a pour-over method instead of an espresso machine. I’ll be honest, most of what the barista’s are doing behind the counter is a mystery to me, but it certainly goes beyond pouring espresso and steamed milk into a cup.
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Some of the offerings on the menu include “Jacob’s Wonderbar,” which offers tastes of dark chocolate, smoke and nuts. These are tasting notes, not syrups or added powders, either. The Greater Alarm, a nod to local fire fighters, offers hints of cashew, pineapple and cocoa. I opted for the Ether, a dark roast with notes of toffee, cherry and cinnamon. When you place your order, you’re asked how sweet you want your coffee and whether you want it extra creamy. I ask for extra creamy but only medium sweetness. It’s about a five minute wait, but when it comes its probably some of the best coffee I’ve had in years. It’s creamy, smooth with no hint of bitterness.
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I paired my Ether up with a nice berry scone, which was clearly baked that morning. Total cost was $8.35, or Dh30.
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Philz is not easy to find. It’s on the Paseo De San Antonio Walk, which is just north of San Jose State University. There is no parking nearby, but it’s worth the walk.
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2019-06-06 10.45am
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The taquerias in downtown San Jose
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For the last two days, all I’ve eaten has either come from room service or press room buffets (read: sandwiches). This afternoon, I was finally able to get away for some local food.
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For lunch, I’m heading to an area only about three blocks away from the WWDC. There are two good taquerias just around the corner from each other. While other restaurants come and go around San Jose, these places have been here since the 1990s, and both are located on the ground floor of old Victorian houses.
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I’ve decided to go to Iguanas Burritozilla. La Victoria, which is the other taqueria located around the corner, is also good, but at Iguana’s you can see your food being made right at the counter.
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The speciality at both these places is Mission burritos. These are not the burritos you’re going to find in Mexico, but are actually a creation of the Chicano community in San Francisco’s Mission District. These burritos are BIG, stuffed with meat, rice, and beans. One burrito is easily enough to get a working person through the day. Not surprising, Mission burritos are popular with the university students.
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Iguana’s also has a gimmick. They serve a burrito called the “Burritozilla,” which is “as big as your head.” It weights 5 pounds and is 18-inches long. If you want to see what this looks like, you can check out the TV show “Man vs Food,” which features a man eating an entire Burritozilla in about 60 second. I’m sticking with the “super burrito,” which is itself a heavy meal, even though it is only the third largest burrito on the menu.
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There are a number of meats to choice from, such as Pollo Asada (grilled chicken), Chipotle Chicken and Carne Asada (marinated beef), which is what I’m having. My super burrito also comes with pinto beans, fresh salsa, sour cream and cheese.
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But the best part of the meal isn’t the meat, it’s the sauce that comes on the side. Commonly called orange sauce, it’s a habanero chile-based sauce that can give your burrito some added spice and an extra smokey flavor.
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This has always been one of my favorite eateries, and the restaurants doesn’t seem to have lost anything over the years. It’s still easier the best meal for your money in downtown especially if you want to avoid fast-food. The price of a super burrito and drink is just under $12, or Dh44.
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