S E C T I O N
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Cover Story
Showing off the “bar eatery” side of the MarketBar are, from left, Roy and Rose Borrone (seated), and Josh Pebbles and Marina Borrone. At the bar eatery, guests can order a cocktail or food specialties, such as house-made ravioli or steak frites.
Borrone MarketBar An exciting new addition to an old favorite Story by Jane Knoerle | Photos by Michelle Le
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Kelp is arranged around oysters on crushed ice for MarketBar’s “bar eatery” section. The restaurant is scheduled to open in February.
ince Cafe Borrone opened nearly 25 years ago, Menlo Park has made it its “go-to” place. In the Readers’ Choice 2013 competition, Almanac readers voted the cafe a winner in five categories. Now MarketBar, scheduled to open in February, will give a new dimension to the community’s favorite gathering place. The “Market” is the creation of Cafe Borrone owner and president Marina Borrone and her husband, executive chef Josh Pebbles. Located around the corner from the cafe in space vacated by Cedro Ristorante Italiano, the new restaurant will have an Italian flair, reflecting the couple’s many trips to Italy. The bar eatery section will offer guests “a casual space where you can enjoy a classic
Italian cocktail, an oyster, a bowl of ravioli or savory meats, while soaking in the atmosphere: a little of the old world with a dash of the new,” according to borronemarketbar.com. The “Market” area will feature rotisserie chicken, pasta, sauces, focaccia and pastries. Most items will be food to finish at home. Steak frites and other bistro favorites will be available for guests to take to their favorite table. (A few marble-top tables are located inside, and there is plenty of outdoor seating.) MarketBar will be open for lunch and dinner; however, a customer is welcome to wander in for a morning espresso and bombolone (an Italian doughnut), says Ms. Borrone. Another important reason for the expansion was to create
more kitchen space. “The cafe has a very small kitchen,” says Marina. The former Cedro space was completely gutted and new kitchen equipment installed. In the beginning
Cafe Borrone was founded in 1979 by Roy and Rose Borrone in a building he owned on Broadway in Redwood City. The coffee house and restaurant was a success, but in those days See BORRONE, page 19
On the cover: Chef Josh Pebbles adds finishing touches to the oyster bar that will be part of the new MarketBar, scheduled to open in February next to Cafe Borrone in Menlo Park.
January 29, 2014 N TheAlmanacOnline.com N The Almanac N 17
PENINSULA
TOWN OF WOODSIDE INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING COMMISSION Districts 3 and 4
Discover the best places to eat this week! AMERICAN
CHINESE
Armadillo Willy’s
New Tung Kee Noodle House
941-2922 1031 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos www.armadillowillys.com
947-8888 520 Showers Drive, Mountain View www.shopmountainview.com/luunoodlemv
The Old Pro
INDIAN
326-1446 541 Ramona Street, Palo Alto www.oldpropa.com
Janta Indian Restaurant
ITALIAN
The Planning Commission participates in the administration of the planning laws and policies of the Town. It is responsible for recommending to the Town Council ordinances and resolutions necessary to implement the General Plan and adopted development policy. The Commission also conducts necessary public hearings to administer the planning laws and policies of the Town and acts upon applications for zoning amendments, conditional use permits, variances, subdivisions and other related functions as may be assigned by the Council.
462-5903 369 Lytton Ave. www.jantaindianrestaurant.com
The Planning Commission meets on the first and third Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.; Commissioners are appointed for a four-year term.
Read and post reviews,
To obtain information on residency or addresses of residential properties located in Districts 3 and 4, please check the Town’s website at www.woodsidetown.org, What’s New, Town Council and Planning Commission Districts.
Cucina Venti 254-1120 1390 Pear Ave, Mountain View www.cucinaventi.com CHINESE
Ming’s 856-7700 1700 Embarcadero East, Palo Alto www.mings.com
explore restaurant menus, get hours and directions and more at ShopPaloAlto, ShopMenloPark and ShopMountainView
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Interested residents may request information and applications Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12 noon and 1-5:00 p.m. at Town Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, or telephone (650) 851-6790, or through the Town’s web site at www.woodsidetown.org. Deadline for applications is Tuesday, February 4, 2014, 5:00 p.m.
Menlo Park businesses keeping it local Kicks has found Shop Menlo Park an invaluab le resource for our business. Also, having the resources that Shop City provides has helped me grow my bu siness. It’s important th at the person who helps me with any qu estions I have is local. — Lee Murphy, owner, Kicks As an owner I had been looking for a compreh ensive marketing tool to use in my busin ess. I have found that marketing tool with ShopMenloPark.com. They offer all categorie s for marketing. I have seen a big increase in page views already . This is the perfect fit for my business. I would recommend th is marketing solution to anyone who owns their own busin ess. — John Conway Menlo Park Chevron
18 N The Almanac N TheAlmanacOnline.com N January 29, 2014
Menlo Park’s business directory supporting local business and the community Visit ShopMenloPark.com
C O V E R
S T O R Y
In the family’s footsteps Vesta is one of the hottest restaurants in Redwood City. Peter and Courtney Borrone, son and daughter-in-law of Roy and Rose Borrone, are the owners of the cafe, which specializes in handcrafted wood-fired pizza and small plates. Their eatery is located at 2022 Broadway in Redwood City, the same location where the original Cafe Borrone opened back in 1979. The dining scene in downtown Redwood City is a lot livelier these days. The restaurant has been packed since opening in 2012. Would-be food critics on Yelp rave about the sausage and honey pizza, green olive pizza, mushroom toast, roasted pears with burrata, kale salad, and lush desserts. Vesta was named to the 2014 Michelin Bib Gourmand list, and critics comment on the professional, friendly and prompt service at the restaurant. Growing up in the restaurant business, Peter Borrone learned his lessons well. As did his wife, Courtney, whom he met when she applied to work at Cafe Borrone. Station 1 and Kristi Marie’s
Kristi Borrone and Zu Tarazi opened Station 1 restaurant in Woodside in 2010. The restaurant was popular with locals and named to the Chronicle’s Best 100 Restaurants list the next year. After the restaurateurs were unable to
BORRONE continued from page 17
nothing was happening in Redwood City at night. After 10 years in the business, he moved the cafe to a newly opened Menlo Center building at 1010 El Camino Real in Menlo Park, next to Kepler’s Books. It was an instant hit. The joke is that some people came opening day, and never left. Roy admits the story is almost true. “We have customers who still come every single day.” Roy and Rose’s welcoming atmosphere and delicious food proved a winning combination that keeps a line out the door to this day. There are five Borrone children, and they all grew up in the business, busing and waiting tables. Roy was often behind the counter. Rose was in the kitchen or behind the register. The cafe was a real family affair and customers loved it. The next generation
Marina Borrone is the middle
TOWN OF WOODSIDE 2955 WOODSIDE ROAD WOODSIDE, CA 94062
INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR COMMITTEES ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE Meets first Thursday of each month, 5:00 p.m.; appointed for two-year term. The Committee strengthens multigenerational community involvement by initiating, sponsoring and celebrating local art, creativity and cultural activities including, but not limited to, the areas of art, photography, design, music, horticulture, culinary arts, literature, drama and dance. The Committee will create opportunities to educate, inform and engage the community about cultural affairs and will organize and supervise events to showcase local creative talent CIRCULATION COMMITTEE Meets third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m.; appointed for two-year term. The Committee supports the General Plan goal to balance circulation system user needs and works to foster a community for all users of the public roadway system. The Circulation Committee works with the Town Engineer, Sheriff’s Department and local and regional organizations to develop programs to encourage dialog on circulation system needs, promote “share the road” programs for all users, and develop educational programs to promote traffic safety. The Committee advises Town staff and the Town Council about ways to make the roadway system safer for all users, to encourage effective traffic enforcement, and to promote safe, convenient access to schools, Town businesses, public and private institutions, and neighborhoods.
Photo by Michelle Le
Neapolitan pizzas are prepared by pizza manager Paul Aguirre and Ricardo Rodriguez at Vesta, Peter and Courtney Borrone’s hit restaurant in Redwood City. Paul Aguirre is Peter’s cousin.
come to a lease agreement with the property owners, Station 1 closed in December 2013. Now they are intent on a new project: Kristi Marie’s, a cafe and bakery at 318 Arguello St. in downtown Redwood City, scheduled to open in April. Hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving the couple more time to be with their children Camila, 11, and Santino, 8. “It’s going to be fun working in the same city as Peter and
child in the family of five: Tina, Alisa, Marina, Peter and Kristi. Twenty years ago, after graduating from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, she decided to make the cafe, where she had worked as a teenager, her career. In the mid-1990s, she met Josh Pebbles, who came to the cafe as a server when he was 18. Josh grew up around the restaurant business and “fell in love with it,” he says. He also fell in love with Marina, and they were married in 2001. Josh has studied at Greystone, the Culinary Institute of America, and worked in kitchens in Italy. Last March he traveled to Italy to work with three master butchers, learning their techniques. “We went from hightech to prosciutto hanging from the clothesline,” he says. Now he even makes his own sausage. He and Marina are dedicated to working with organic, sustainable food and obtaining products from local farmers. The MarketBar website says: “The menu will always be reflective of the current condition of
Courtney,” says Kristi. Living in Redwood City, she plans to ride her bike to work. Kristi, the youngest Borrone daughter, also grew up helping out at Cafe Borrone, and Zu worked at the cafe in his late teens, long before becoming a general manager at John Bentley’s. The couple say they are enthusiastic about the new venture and eager to become part of Redwood City’s restaurant scene. A
the dirt, the weather, the animals, the season of harvest and even the chance of an occasional coyote attack that might enjoy Josh’s turkeys before he has the chance to prepare them.” Marina and Josh live in Menlo Park with their three boys: Oliver, 11, Maximo, 8, and Nicco, 5. They are working seven days a week getting ready to open MarketBar. The boys are helping: washing windows, sweeping floors. “The children are so excited. They are part of our team,” says their mom. Roy and Rose are pretty much retired now. Roy, who graduated with a degree in art from UC Berkeley, is an abstract impressionist who works in oils. He has a studio in their Redwood City home and another in their place in Bolinas. Rose still puts in a couple days a week at the cafe, where her original custard recipe is still a diners’ favorite. The Borrones remain close to their children. They are proud of them and of the values they’ve learned working together in a family business. A
The Committee shall review applications for special event permits for the Town’s roadways. The Committee shall confer with the Trails Committee on programs and recommendations of mutual interest. LIVESTOCK AND EQUESTRIAN HERITAGE COMMITTEE Meets fourth Wednesday of each month, 5:30 p.m.; appointed for two-year term. The Committee reviews applications for professional stable permits and forwards recommendations to the Planning Commission. It also reviews applications for exceptions to the private stable regulations and forwards recommendations to the Planning Director. It conducts inspections of stables in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Code. The Committee develops and supports education and information programs which aid the community in sustaining, protecting enhancing and enjoying equestrian activities and facilities. The Committee is also a resource for Town Council, staff and residents on equestrian matters. OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE Meets fourth Thursday of each month, 5:30 p.m.; appointed for two-year term. The Committee advises and assists the Town Council, Planning Commission and staff in implementing the policies and goals of the Open Space and Conservation elements of the General Plan, specifically with respect to acquisition and maintenance of conservation easements and open space preservation. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Meets on call of Chair; appointed for two-year term. The Committee advises the Town Council and staff on issues of community public safety, including police and fire services provided within the Town. RECREATION COMMITTEE Meets first Thursday of each month, 7:30 p.m.; appointed for three-year term. The Committee guides the activities of the community recreation programs. SUSTAINABILITY AND CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Meets fourth Monday of each month, 6:00 p.m.; appointed for two-year term. The Committee advises and assists the Town Council, Planning Commission, and staff on conservation, open space, noise, public services and facilities as pertaining to the elements of the Town’s General Plan. TRAILS COMMITTEE Meets second Thursday of each month, 3:00 p.m.; appointed for two-year term. The Committee reviews land divisions, subdivisions and conditional use permits for locations for equestrian, pedestrian and bicycle trails and makes recommendations to the staff and to the Planning Commission. WOODSIDE HISTORY COMMITTEE Meets second Thursday of each month, 10:00 a.m.; appointed for two-year term. The Committee advises the Town Council and staff regarding actions, policies and plans relating to historic preservation. Committees are volunteer positions and serve in an advisory capacity to the Town Council. Interested residents may request information and applications Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12 noon and 1-5:00 p.m., from the Town Clerk’s Office at Town Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, or telephone (650) 851-6790, or through the Town’s web site at www.woodsidetown.org. Deadline for applications is Tuesday, February 18, 2014.
January 29, 2014 N TheAlmanacOnline.com N The Almanac N 19
C O M M U N I T Y
Entertainment attorney Donald Engel of Atherton dies at 84 Donald S. Engel, 84, a resident of Atherton since 2005 and a well-known entertainment industry attorney, died Jan. 15 at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City after a long battle with leukemia. Mr. Engel specialized in representing musical performers who were unhappy with their recording contracts. He won major victories for Olivia Newton John, Donna Summer, Teena Marie and Boston. His clients also included
gence officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Follow ing his service, he attended NYU Law School, where he was Donald Engel first in his class. After graduation, he worked at the U.S. Department of Justice in its Antitrust Division. He then taught law at Rutgers and NYU and, during that time,