What’s New Around San Carlos

When I was growing up in San Carlos, there were two bakeries (in the same block) and my grandmother frequented both of them, several times a week. She bought their fresh bread and always had fresh breakfast pastries for us to snack on: bear claws, donuts, muffins. It was such a departure from the Wonder bread and frozen coffeecake of my own home. It was sad to see both of these old-fashioned bakers disappear. With the lone exception of the Chocolate Mousse bakery, there have been no other independent bakers in town…until now. Recently opened by San Carlos native Christi Perego, is Vanilla Moon Bakery, located at what used to be the rarely visited, but up-and-coming edge of downtown at 872 Laurel Street. This little family owned and run bakery is just the kind of independent shop I like to see open up on the Peninsula. Vanilla Moon strives to a present top-quality product, including Caffe del Doge coffee (the only other location outside of Italy and Palo Alto to do so), Mighty Leaf teas, teacakes, muffins, cookies, and their specialty: cupcakes (regular, filled, and mini). I had a chance to go by yesterday and check out their 3 featured cupcakes of the day, as well as their four regular options. My husband and I tried the chocolate/hazelnut and red velvet versions on the premises with cappuccinos and were not disappointed. I purchased 3 more to bring home and try (carrot, cookies and cream, and cuatro leches with meringue and dulce de leche caramel), and they did not last long. I’m not the only one who knows a good thing. When I mentioned we had stopped by Saturday right after they closed, I was told that I would have gone home empty-handed. They actually ran out of cupcakes for the first time since opening day! Their website will go live later this week, so you can check out the daily flavors ahead of time, or order a batch to go. In addition, they will begin offering lunch in the near future.

Meanwhile, in the housing market, there are a few new properties on the market that might be of interest, depending on your size and price requirements. Housing continues to be expensive in this town, and these newly listed SFRs are no exception. Prices range from $729,000 to $1,649,000 and $525 to $805/sf (average list price in this city is $1,136,000 and $617/sf). There are six listings priced under $1mil, almost all 2 bedrooms, while the cheapest home per sf is actually quite large, a 3/2.5 with 2570 sf. I’ve chosen three to spotlight, based on Proximity, Price, and My Personal Pick of the Week. They are available after the jump.

PROXIMITY: 1313 Morse is a 2/1 located two blocks off of Laurel (and within walking distance to the two eating establishments mentioned here). On the corner of Elm and Morse, at a 4-way stop (with European-style roundabout – photo above right), this 1330 sf home just came on the market Friday. Built in the 1940s, the home has been updated in some areas, including recessed lighting, remodeled kitchen, new heat and A/C, and some new touches in the bathroom (although original tile still exists here). Good-sized for a 2/1, it is priced at $879,000. ($661/sf), which looks to be actually lower in price per sf than other recently sold 2/1 properties (2009 Brittan $818/sf 8-27-08, 1356 Rosewood $897/sf 8-25-08, 1248 Howard $737/sf 8-7-08).

PRICE: 3130 Melendy has the lowest sf price of this week’s newbies. A large 2570 sf 3/2.5, this home is listed at $1,349,000 ($545/sf). Located at the upper end of Melendy, and backing up to open space (read: no development), this two-story home has views of the whole area. Open Oct 5 and 12, 1:30-4:30.

PICK OF THE WEEK: Open and airy, I love the walls of windows with great views at 227 Rockridge, a 4/3 priced at $1,649,000 ($627/sf). Located on a cul-de-sac, this home sits on a third of an acre, with deck, patio and lawn area, which would make for great entertaining and watching sunsets. This home last sold in 1973 for $60,500. Thirty-five years and constant improvements have benefited this family, who are undoubtably glad they purchased a home when they did.

And to bookend my post with another (fairly new) eatery, I’d like to take the time to send kudos to Matt Levin at Refuge, who also chose the “wrong” end of Laurel to debut his Peninsula business. Levin, whose previous gig was at Voigner in SF, works magic with his pastrami and charcuterie items, and my two grown children love the burgers and sandwiches so much that they have vowed to try every single one this year (along with their wonderful selection of worldy beers). I’ve had the pastrami, eaten sans rye bread so that I could get the whole flavor, and I was duly impressed. Last week I went in for the cheese and charcuterie and a glass of wine. Three of us worked on the platter of 7 items, swooning over the pastrami rillettes, saucisson sec salame, and Boucheron cheese. I’ll happily go back for more.