A perfect place for a sweet tooth
The Elegant Touch is one of the well known downtown eateries in
Hollister, and it’s no surprise that they’ve recently been selected
for best dessert in San Benito County.
The restaurant, at the corner of San Benito and Sixth streets,
serves breakfast sandwiches and burritos as well as sandwiches,
soups, salads and a daily lunch special. But Pinnacle readers have
voted the sweet treats they keep out in two counter displays as the
hardest desserts to resist in the county.
A perfect place for a sweet tooth
The Elegant Touch is one of the well known downtown eateries in Hollister, and it’s no surprise that they’ve recently been selected for best dessert in San Benito County.
The restaurant, at the corner of San Benito and Sixth streets, serves breakfast sandwiches and burritos as well as sandwiches, soups, salads and a daily lunch special. But Pinnacle readers have voted the sweet treats they keep out in two counter displays as the hardest desserts to resist in the county.
From the hot-from-the-oven glazed cookies that are seasonally themed to the classic goodies such as the eclairs to strawberry and cream cheese croissants, it’s easy for anyone to find a favorite treat among the offerings.
When asked what sets The Elegant Touch’s desserts apart from the rest, owner Paul Espinoza said: “Everything is homemade. We use the freshest ingredients. They’re just better.”
The spot’s most popular dessert is the classic eclair that comes in three sizes – a full-size, mini and a whopper that is dubbed family-size. The eclairs have a light pastry, sweet custard in the middle and thick layer of chocolate ganache on the top. The most requested of the indulgent treat is the mini eclair.
The decision of which dessert will be sold is generally based on the season.
“We make desserts with fruit in spring and summer when they’re in season,” Espinoza said. “But now that it’s fall we have desserts like pumpkin bread.”
While some of the desserts are made year-round, such as the chocolate chip cookies, others are seasonal.
“We do try new things that aren’t always available, like our pumpkin desserts for fall,” he said. “Thank you to everyone that voted. You have good taste.”
Relax! Grillin’ and Chillin’ took second place for best dessert.
— Ivy Phelps
Verdict’s in: LaForge tops list of lawyers
A San Benito County jury has returned a verdict and decided that Public Defender Greg LaForge has won the title of “Best Attorney” in the county for 2009.
“I think it’s an honor to be recognized by the community for your hard work,” he said. “I’m honored.”
LaForge has been working in San Benito County since June 1989 when he started in the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor, which he admits was his “first real job” outside of pumping gas.
Following 12 years on that side of the aisle, he switched to the defense side of the courtroom. Since 2001, LaForge has been representing the community as the contracted public defender.
Raised in Napa, LaForge attended college at the University of San Francisco for his undergraduate studies and then continued on to the Golden Gate School of Law, all prior to moving to San Benito County.
Outside of the courtroom, LaForge enjoys golf, outdoor sports and music.
“Music has always been a passion of mine,” he said. “I used to play a lot.”
And that passion led him to perform at the 1979 Super Bowl at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. At the time, he was a guitarist with the group, “Up with People,” which featured a cast of about 80 other singers, dancers and performers.
–Colin McConville
‘Service before self’ wins Rotary ‘best club’ recognition
When it came to best club or organization in San Benito County, readers voted for a group whose main focus is helping youth, whether on a local or international level.
“Probably the most important thing we do is support our youth,” said Steve Loos, president of the Hollister Rotary Club.
Rotary was voted best club or organization in the county for its two chapters in Hollister and San Juan Bautista. The League of United Latin American Citizens and the Salvation Army tied for second.
Loos said 100 percent of the money taken in through donations from the local rotary clubs goes back to kids.
“Last year we gave out almost $21,700 [in scholarships,]” he said. “We gave it to 18 kids, all local high school students.”
While Loos said the group is often thought of as a club for businesses owners, it is actually a service group. The Hollister chapter often partners with San Juan, Gilroy and Morgan Hill Rotary on projects. Last year, the chapters pooled their resources and refurbished a children’s home run by Rebekah’s Children’s Services in Gilroy.
Loos stressed that the local chapter is one of many that are part of Rotary International, which has chapters in 130 countries, so fundraising at the local level sometimes has far-reaching effects. He mentioned Rotary’s pledge to eradicate polio, a project it is hoping to complete this year with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Loos said that the local chapter donates to international projects, and the motto is “service before self.”
Locally, the chapter has long supported scholarships, the Baler Backers, a foundation that raises money for San Benito High School athletics, and started a program to install free smoke detectors for people who need them.
“People ask why do people come [to Rotary],” Loos said. “A group of people come because it is part of their social life or fellowship…We have a number of members that have been part of the club for 30 years and that’s a big part of their social network.”
Loos said the Hollister chapter was founded in 1924, and has 96 members, 65 who are active.
“Individually and as a group, we have some of the best people in the community,” Loos said.
The club meets Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ridgemark Golf and Country Club, with lunch served at the beginning of the meeting.
— Melissa Flores
Pizza parlor takes title three years running
Round Table Pizza, on Tres Pinos Road, has once again taken the title of best pizza in San Benito County.
The locally-owned franchise offers all the classic pizza toppings, but perhaps it is the specialty pizzas that set it apart. The menu includes such items as the Italian Garlic Supreme, a pizza topped with a creamy garlic sauce with mushrooms, pepperoni, sausage, green onions and garlic, or the Maui Zaui, a Hawaiian pizza that comes with a Polynesian sauce, ham and bacon.
In addition to the pizza, the local Round Table offers appetizers such as garlic parmesan twists, sandwiches and an all-you-can-eat salad bar.
The restaurant offers take-out, but also has a large dining area for people who want to eat in, including a banquet room for large parties and a game area for kids.
Neighborhood Pizza, also on Tres Pinos Road, took second place for best pizza.
— Brii Guerriero
The Jillian Project is music to our ears
When it comes to local bands, The Jillian Project has been chosen the favorite by Pinnacle readers.
The up and coming local band just wrapped a small tour, which included stops at the San Benito County Fair, Aromas Days and the San Juan Festival. They are in the middle of recording a debut album.
The band is made up of locals, such as Anzar High School senior Jillian Shaw, who performs lead vocals, guitar and keyboards. Also in the group is San Benito High School sophomore Haley Rodriguez, who performs vocals and bass; Leonard Martinez on drums; and Tim Rodriguez on lead guitar.
Haley Rodriguez said the band was started “for the love of music…we are all family and we wanted to play music together.”
The name of the group came up not because Shaw is the lead singer but because while they were brainstorming band names one day. “This is a project Jillian. Band names are so tricky to think of,” Martinez said.
“We all looked at each other and said ‘The Jillian Project,'” Haley said. “We just thought it was the perfect choice. And so it began. The Jillian Project was born.”
When it comes to the set list Haley said the band does a mix of songs.
“We play a few covers but we love to mix our originals with covers,” she said. “We are crowd pleasers.”
Their most requested songs include a cover of the Journey mega hit “Don’t Stop Believing” and a Jillian Project original “I Don’t Know Yet.”
“It’s really cool,” Haley said. “We have started to get a small following of people who really love to request their favorite songs.”
While the band is musically influenced by many artists including Butch Walker, Nirvana, Journey, Motley Crue, Taylor Swift, Shania Twain and Sugarland, Haley said, “We love it all from country to rock – it all influences us.”
The Jillian Project already has upcoming shows lined up including Aromas Live, Lights on Parade, private party events and a few festivals. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/thejillianproject.
— Ivy Phelps
Ice cream shop scoops competition
There’s nothing quite like a delicious ice-cream cone on a warm summer night in San Benito County. And when Pinnacle readers are craving their favorite scoop, when they’re primed to take on the King of Sweets, they choose Baskin Robbins over any other place in town.
Perhaps it’s the sweet location of the local ice-cream shop, conveniently placed next to Papa Murphy’s, Blockbuster, Nob Hill and an array of other shops where customers are constantly at the will of their sweet tooth. Perhaps it’s the long-recognized name and the long list of flavors now unrestricted by the once-heralded cap of 31.
Perhaps it’s the reasonable price of a filling dessert. Or maybe it’s the waft of cool air that hits customers’ faces when they open the door.
Customers in San Benito County love their Baskin Robbins.
Baskin Robbins offers a wide variety of flavors and types of desserts. Some of the classics include mint chocolate chip and pralines and cream. But they have also carry regional flavors such as York peppermint patty and Oregon blackberry, and seasonal flavors such as winter white chocolate and Oreo Outrageous.
The Hollister Baskin Robbins, at 1740 Airline Hwy., is owned by Veronica De Leon.
— Kollin Kosmicki
