Staying in Toll House Hotel, named after the first historical tollbooth between Santa Cruz and San Jose is like living a pretend-believe life of a local resident. Our suite was cozy and quiet—all about creature comfort—and a soft bed with crisp linens after a hot bath with aromatic salts granted this lucky traveler a rare night of undisturbed sleep. In the morning, I stepped out to the balcony and marveled at the sheer blue mountain outlines wrapped in gentle fog, with redwood tops spearing the gauze. No matter how hot the sun is in the middle of the day, early mornings carry inland chilly messages from the ocean. After a short drive to the locally beloved Southern Kitchen, and parking between a Bentley and a Rolls-Royce (there are several of those dealerships in town, not to count Lamborghini) we joined our group for a hearty breakfast. Blueberry banana pancakes, recommended by a vice-mayor’s wife, Kim, were bursting with fresh berry juice and sweet banana flesh—well worth packing in some unnecessary calories. Our day adventure started with a walking tour of Los Gatos, put together by a team of volunteers, who man every historic building in town dressed in period costumes. The prominent citizens of the years past—like James Alexander Forbes who built the founding mill on the land of the future town, and Louise Van Meter—a teacher who introduced a concept of kindergarten at the turn of the last century, come alive and tell their stories intertwined with the history of their cherished town. A scandalous adventure of a stationmaster Eugene Ford who built an opera house to please his wife, and then ran away with a chorus girl, is humorously presented in the former Opera building, now serving as a banquet hall. After Forbes Mill History Museum, our group visited The Art Museum of Los Gatos and had a chance to glimpse at the annual juried show before we embarked on a neighborhood tour showcasing a Julia Morgan 1914 house among other architectural gems. Our lunch at Campo di Bocce included fried calamari, grilled shrimp, pizza, and a game of bocce—what a delightful team-building experience, even if you’ve never tried it before! That evening reception at California Café introduced exquisite wines from Cinnabar and “Passion in Every Glass” Testarossa—the Bay Area oldest continuously operating winery, presented by its owner, Rob Jensen. Yet another local talent—executive chef Taylor Boudreaux, boldly served stake tartar and lamb chops for hors d’oeuvres. “Give my regards to Nick,” he suggested slyly, knowing that the group would proceed to dinner at Nick’s on Main… And where to get enough words to describe this fine establishment? For a special pairing with notorious wines from Black Ridge Vineyards—Viognier, Pinot Noir, and San Andreas Red—chef/owner Nick Difu created a masterpiece of a five-course meal with the most original combination of rare ahi tuna and warm white beans, and wild mushroom risotto fragrant with truffle oil. “I wanted this restaurant to be a good place for a family dinner,” said Difu, who opened as recently as March this year, and whose cozy little place with simple décor and black-clad wait staff emits the atmosphere of understated luxury. On our way back to Tall House Hotel, strolling along now familiar Main Street, turning onto the inviting Santa Cruz Ave., it felt like we’ve been living in this fine town for years. To learn more, visit: www.losgatoschamber.com, www.blackridgevineyards.com, www.cinnabarwine.com, www.testarossa.com, www.Californiacafe.com/losgatos, www.campodibocce.com, www.losgatosmuseum.org, www.tollhousehotel.com Photos by Yuri Krasov. 1. Chef Nick Difu. 2. A volunteer diva in the former opera house. 3. One of the many historic corners of Los Gatos.
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