Summer Sangria Soiree Elite Event @ California Cafe

Food and sangria were most definitely plentiful.
I thought I’d have to dive and push people apart to get a piece of food but there was actually ample amounts of food and I even had to deny several burgers because I was just too full!!! I also loved that for dessert there was fruit and for appetizers they had a cheese platter.
There were also two types of complimentary sangria to my surprise. This has been my 3^rd Unilocal event and by far the best in terms of free food and drinks!
Plus, by checking in, I got a free passport holder!!! Time to travel Unilocal style.

Summertime and the livin’ is easy… especially if you were at the Unilocal Elite Event at California Café in Palo Alto!
Here’s why you should be jealous:
1. Despite the gusts of wind, their outdoor patio surrounded by luscious greenery was the venue for this YEE! So classy, so lovely, so perfect for a summer soirée!
2. Executive Chef, Todd Yamanaka made well-​crafted dishes just for this event! None of the food that was served is on their menu! He is a BADASS!
3. Non-​stop eating! We started with cheese, dried fruit, and nuts. Then the food just kept coming and coming!!! Duck confit spring roll, leg of lamb on Texas toast, risotto cake with scallop on top, wagyu beef sliders, pork belly sliders, and braised short rib… each dish was so freakin’ tasty! The duck confit spring roll and the pork belly sliders kicked ass! Everything was soooo good and I was so busy eating that I forgot to take some pics! D’OH!
4. Red and white sangrias all night. OH hell yeah!
5. The servers were super friendly and a lot of fun! They were so much fun it didn’t look like they were working! But they were hard at work on their feet, constantly serving food/​drinks with a smile and made sure us Unilocalers were always eating! Justin, Carrie, Andrew, and Chipper — you guys were awesome! And to the bartender who was by himself pouring drinks all night — great job!!!
6. There were so many Unilocalers I chatted and laughed with. It’s always fun at Unilocal events with Chris C, Janet O, Adam D, Glenn G, Jason O, and Kevyne R. I’m glad I got to meet other fun peeps like Max F, Wanugee N, Teresa P, Yoko, and those two amiable couples that I’ve forgotten their names cuz I had so much sangria! I hope to see you guys again!
7. Abby S. is the mastermind of this event! She has organized so many fun YEE’s, I knew for sure this was going to be a YEE I did not want to miss!
Thank you so much for a delightful evening, Abby! What a great way to spend a Tuesday night!

Abby never does it shabby!
This was a nice event, sort of like a demure wine tasting amidst the privileged, or a pre-​banquet mixer after a summer wedding outdoors.
But since there were 75 or so Unilocaler Elites present, then throw out the demure or privileged, these are hungry Yeeps looking for not only free, but tasty grub and free social lubricating libations!
And the California Café exceeded expectations with wonderful, hearty, savory morsels of juicy meat appetizers whose down home goodness belied the upscale garden atmosphere. Call it civilized BBQ for the Nerd Herd.
And the Sangria was delish! I am not a big Sangria drinker, so I actually went to the bar and paid for my standard Tanq and Tonic first. But when the Sangria line had all mamba’d out, I partook in a refreshing, very berry Sangria, perfect to put a little wiggle in your hips and a little chit chat on your lips.
Yes, the wind did kick up a bit, forcing the wall flowers to lose some petals, but there were a lot of Noobs who showed up and mixed and mingle. And I saw some of my fave Yelites from past and present.
Thanks Abby for letting me join in! And thanks to Jason for helping Abby out as the new intern, and the most thanks to the gracious staff and management at California Café for their wonderful food and excellent service.

What a great way to spend the night after a long day at work. Seeing old Unilocal friends and meeting new ones.
California Café has some good food that the Chef actually made just for the event. Yes, all the food that was served is not on their Menu and every single one was so good! The staff brought unlimited trays of mouth watering food!!!
My favorite BBQ Pork Sliders
was to die for!
Duck Confit Spring Roll
,
Leg of Lamb on a bed of Texas toast with couscous
,
Braised short rib
,
Rissotto cake with half scallop on top
.
There was a platter of 4 different kinds of cheese
that was awesome paired with their white wine
.
The unlimited Red and White Sangria was refreshing! The California Café staff Manager Andrew, Carrie, Justin, and Marketing Manager Chipper, rocks!!! The boyfriend who was my +1 had so much fun and all our Unilocal friends as well.
Hats off to Abby for putting this together! Another Job very well done!!!

Woohoo! Sangria baby! It was flowing last night! Wines are to be had as well with a small amount of $$.
The constant parade of food brought out by attentive, friendly and very gracious staff by the name of Justin, Carrie and Chipper the wild boar pusher. Lol!
The Leg of Lamb on Texas Toast with couscous was divine. Braised short rib served by Justin was mouth watering! Carrie came out with a tray full of Duck Confit that was to die for. Risotto cake topped with scallop was all cute and yummy! Wagyu Beef sliders were my fave of the night!
Cheese plate was enjoyable and perfect as a starter with the Red Sangria.
California Café treated the Elite Unilocalers very well! All the food they served us was apparently not on their menu. Hard to believe since they are all so good. What if I want them again? :)
Lovely location and much appreciate Abby’s hard work! Fantastic event! Thanks for a fun night!