graham garvin - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood City's Monthly ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

www.SpectrumMagazine.net By Valerie Harris, Contributing Writer Antiques Shopping and Fine Dining at Angelica’s Bistro * When you first walk up to Anjelica’s at 863 Main St., a sign directs you away from the front door. Instead, you walk through the garden patio filled with Greek statues, water fountains and plants. Once you enter the double doors, your eyes are drawn to the myriad antiques. There are statues, teacups, cases laden with European cut diamond rings, necklaces, dining room sets, armoires and even a grand piano. You have definitely entered an antiques store. The incongruous pairing of antiques with sumptuous kitchen aromas initially makes you forget why you are there. The back part of the establishment holds tables with people drinking pub beers; this is the bistro area of the building. The bar displays a well-stocked variety of wines and beers, coffees and teas. Turning toward the front doors, the main part of the establishment opens into a large room with high ceilings, dining tables and a stage. At first, you’re struck by the fact that this could be a business struggling to find its identity. Where am I? And what’s with all the antiques? And what on earth smells so dang yummy? All these questions come to a screeching halt with the first taste of cream of mushroom soup, or a forkful of the fresh green salad with homemade dressing, or a bite of the Irish pub-style corned beef pie with a thick, flaky, golden-brown crust. You quickly realize you are in one of the finest dining establishments on the Peninsula, maybe even the whole Bay Area. While waiting for your meal, you can window-shop the thousands of antiques. Many jewelry pieces are on consignment. While I was there, one patron asked to view a white pearl ring for his daughter. Store owner Anjelica Cuschieri bartered with the gentleman, which escalated into a back-andforth contest, with other patrons soon joining in and taking sides. The man ultimately passed on the ring, but the scene was highly entertaining. It’s never happened to me before, not ever at any dining establishment here in the U.S. It did make me insanely homesick for my days of employment in North Yorkshire, England. A lot of businesses have tried to capture the charming and social atmosphere of an English village pub, but none have been able to do it with the totality that Anjelica’s has. Perhaps the presence of all the antiques makes you drop your guard, and you don’t feel like you are in an upscale, snooty restaurant; you feel like you are in a pub where it is perfectly okay to chat up the people sitting at the next table. I don’t know how owners Peter and Anjelica Cuschieri have done it, but they have captured lightning in a bottle. The Cuschieris bought the establishment in 1999 from an antiques dealer named Frank Bizzarro. Peter Cuschieri had been a good customer of Bizzarro’s antiques store, and when Bizzarro decided to sell, he approached Cuschieri and asked him if he wanted to buy. At that time, Cuschieri was retiring from his business of selling home purification systems from Rainbow and decided to take Bizzarro up on the offer. Cuschieri was expert at reselling antiques. Once he bought in to the shop, he started trading in antiques. He also expanded to selling garden statues and fountains. Then he expanded to a pub/bistro and restaurant. Currently the business functions as an auction house, a consignment store, a retail store, a restaurant and a garden store. They even handle eBay drop-off items and sell items as well. Because the business was originally an antiques auction site, people continued to show up to purchase antiques. The
* reputation stuck. In fact, today people throughout the area call to either purchase or consign antiques. That part of the business lives on through tradition. What people don’t realize about Anjelica’s is that the business has expanded to include high-end wines, coffees, microbrewery beers and gourmet food. Tables have been set up inside the main part of the building, surrounding a stage, complete with white linen tablecloths and napkins. Lunch and dinner are served in this area. Antiques are displayed along the walls surrounding the dining area. In the back bistro area, there is a full pub with additional tables, where food is also served. The shelving displays over 70 different local microbrews and imported bottled beers. The coffee bar displays freshly roasted coffees made especially for their bar. Most nights, as you dine in the main room, local musicians perform on the stage. Most of the musicians are quite talented and have recorded CDs, which are on sale in a rack by the register. The Cuschieris do a great job at supporting local artists by providing a venue where they can showcase their music. The smells of the meals cooking permeate the establishment. The cooks use a full outdoor barbeque grill for their steaks and burgers. One of their must-try dishes is the corned beef pie. You will never have a meat pie so unique and so delicious. Pair that with an imported English ale, and you have the most amazing sense of sitting by a lake in Grasmere in the Lake District of the U.K. On days with pleasant weather, you can dine outside in the garden, which is resplendent with flowing fountains and mini waterfalls. Anjelica’s provides the perfect escape for a business luncheon with clients or a music-filled evening with friends. For an establishment that, at first, seemed to be struggling to find its identity, you quickly realize all the fun possibilities the bistro offers. Because the place is so eclectic, you are welcome to whatever dining area fits your mood. Perhaps the most enchanting aspect of Anjelica’s Bistro is the warmth and welcoming spirit of the owners. The scrumptious food, the excellent drinks, the fabulous desserts, the amazing antiques, all wrapped in the sincere and welcoming smiles and spirit of camaraderie of the Cuschieris, make this not just a dining spot but a place you will quickly make your local hangout. And did I mention the exquisite mushroom soup? For more information: Angelica’s Bistro 863 Main St. Redwood City, CA 94063 650-365-3226 www.angelicasbistro.com Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Visit the Web site for times, menus and schedules of performers. Top left: Peter and Angelica Cuschieri. Top right & below: Fine dining and atmosphere galore! The Spectrum 31
Page 1 and 2: Embracing Who and What He Is Graham
Page 3 and 4: The Spectrum.MAR.08 Steve Penna Own
Page 5 and 6: My Favorite Public Servant: Firefig
Page 7 and 8: San Mateo County Historical Associa
Page 9 and 10: Redwood City Police Activities Leag
Page 11 and 12: RPNS programs for 2007-2008 include
Page 13 and 14: Shop Redwood City: And Keep Our Sal
Page 15 and 16: Setting the Record Straight: Superi
Page 17 and 18: P.S. The People Speak: Letters to t
Page 19 and 20: Parties Around Town The Spectrum 19
Page 21 and 22: to add, “which I’m behind in.
Page 23 and 24: Nonprofits In Action Advocates for
Page 25 and 26: The campaign is organized through a
Page 27 and 28: CIVIL SPLIT, LLC 1000 Park Place, S
Page 29: Angeles, held a workshop on a “Ne
Page 33 and 34: 81449 9x5.5 4c Nothing helps a comm
Page 35 and 36: Every Woman’s Place for Fitness
Page 37 and 38: Cultural Events: Continued by Hartm
Page 39 and 40: So much more than tires since 1957.

graham garvin - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood City's Monthly ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?