Ask, and you shall receive. Aviva Wine Cafe is scheduled to open
this fall in Gilroy and will feature a wine bar stocked with local
labels and expanded dining options. Full article
Today’s breaking news:
Gilroy man sentenced in Rio Nilo stabbing
Interviews under way to replace Daley
Trial date set for son of former Gilroy councilman
Bio-tech jet fuel plant set to land
Ask, and you shall receive.
Arriving on the heels on of the recently reopened Milias Restaurant is another new addition to downtown’s budding culinary scene – and it’s touting a handful of elements requested by residents in the Discover Gilroy Survey released by city officials back in December.
Located at 7423 Monterey St., Aviva Wine Cafe is scheduled to open this fall and will feature a wine bar stocked with local labels, expanded dining options – including French, Greek, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine – a bakery with pastries, espresso drinks and a redesigned foyer with comfortable outdoor seating.
“I see Gilroy in that lull where it’s just about to spike up. It needs a couple of sparks as an initiative for growth,” said Kellen McBain, whose father owns the 28,000 square foot building flanked by the Oakwood Lounge. According to the City of Gilroy’s Historic Resources Inventory, the edifice was originally constructed in 1910 and was once the United Cigar Store and Bellard Parlor.
Having completed an internship with the the Stanford University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, McBain hopes to open a hospital one day and is getting his feet wet in the business industry. The restaurant newbie has never worked in the food sector and is “learning on the fly,” but has a positive outlook and refreshing attitude.
After a wine tasting trip in January to Gilroy with his fiance, the young entrepreneur was impressed by the region’s viticulture backbone and began dreaming up the concept of Aviva – his creative brainchild that’s rapidly taking shape as renovation projects are under way.
Artistic renderings of his vision are posted on the business’s Facebook page, and the menu looks tantalizing. A sampling of items include grilled Paninis such as honey dijon chicken with bacon, a turkey mango wrap, a tri-tip sandwich with caramelized onions or Moroccan salad with hummus and quinoa tabouli, to name a few. There’s also a dozen specialty sandwiches that come on freshly baked baguettes, such as the “Cheese Parisian” or “Salami Ficelle.”
In addition to wine, the tasting bar will offer various novelties including olive oil and olives – “a little bit of everything” – and the bakery has a sweet lineup of delicacies such as creme brulee, French macaroons, chocolate brioches, palmiers, ham and cheese croissants and madeleines. The back of the building will be transformed into a hookah lounge, which guests will be able to access through a grottolike entrance from Gourmet Alley. McBain said he took note of this structural characteristic while traveling in Morocco and was inspired to re-create it.
Referring to Gilroy as a “great community” that’s been incredibly friendly and welcoming, he currently lives in Palo Alto but would like to become a Gilroyan.
Highlighting Milias co-owner Adam Sanchez, McBain added “everybody helps everybody out here,” whereas “in the Bay Area, it’s dog-eats-dog.”
“The paradigm has to shift,” he said, standing in the empty storefront. “Gilroy is more than just the Garlic Capital and outlets; it has a fun community and a great downtown area.”
Aviva will open in fall 2011 and be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more questions call (650) 815-1639 or email av***********@gm***.com. Aviva Wine Cafe is also on Facebook.
