By Obon festival at Buddhist temple
The Mountain View Buddhist Temple is scheduled to hold its annual Obon Bazaar July 21-22 at 575 N. Shoreline Boulevard. The Obon festival is held to honor deceased relatives.
The event will feature obon dancing, a flower shop and traditional Japanese foods, including sushi, teriyaki and tempura.
The congregation is also scheduled to release its new cookbook, “Dharma School Cookbook” at the bazaar. The book, $20, features more than 200 recipes from congregation members and art work by Sunday school children. Organizer Amy Imai said the book has been in the making for the past three years. It features quick and simple recipes that families can use for their everyday cooking, Imai said. The temple will also sell its first cookbook, “Together with Gratitude” at the bazaar. The book, $12, features mostly traditional Japanese dishes.
The festival will run from 4- 10 p.m., July 21 and from noon - 7 p.m., July 22. Books are available at the festival or at the temple’s office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 964-9426.
Compaq computer helps local soup kitchen
Cupertino’s Compaq Computer Corporation has partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to provide 600 meals to local residents through the Second Helpings program while Our Daily Bread soup kitchen in Sunnyvale is under construction over the next three weeks.
With the additional meals donated once a week by caterer Malcom McAfee and some ready-to-use items provided by the Second Harvest, Our Daily Bread will be able to remain open during renovations, according to director Michele McCarthy.
Second Helpings accepts nutritious donations of prepared, perishable foods from licensed commercial kitchens like restaurants, caterers, corporate cafeterias and hospitals. In turn, the program delivers the foods to agencies like Our Daily Bread that serve meals on a regular basis to people seeking food assistance.
For more information, call 281-9439.
Menlo Park holds Connoisseurs’ Marketplace
Menlo Park will hold its 15th annual Connoisseurs’ Marketplace at 10 a.m.-6 p.m., July 21-22, on Santa Cruz Avenue.
The event will feature chef demonstrations, a specialty food market and more than a dozen vendors.
The Duck Club’s Hemant Surendran, Draeger’s Pamela Keith, Il Fornaio’s Maurizio Mazzon, Hotel Sofitel’s Daniel Sarkiss and Carpaccio’s Jose Lopez will be among the 10 guest chefs. Author Jesse Cool will be master of ceremonies.
Admission and parking are free. For more information, call 325-2818.
Gilroy’s garlic fest set for July 27-29
The 23rd annual Gilroy Garlic Festival is scheduled to be held at 10 a.m.-7 p.m., July 27-29, at Christmas Hill Park, Gilroy.
Organizers expect more than 120,000 people to attend the event, which will feature food, wine, arts and crafts, entertainment and garlic snacks, sauces, soups and desserts. The Garlic Cookoff, which draws amateur chefs from throughout the country, is part of the festival.
General admission is $10; seniors, $5; children 6-12, $5; and children under 6, free. Tickets are sold at the gate. Advance purchase with Visa or MasterCard is accepted until July 15. For more information, call (408) 842-1625.
