48 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} VISIT a day in los altos words by JOHANNA HARLOW Sleepy Los Altos is stirring. This tranquil town rooted in an agricultural history of apricot orchards and idyllic summer cottages is blossoming into a lively destination. Home to the world’s first consumer flying car showroom and birthplace of Apple (AKA Steve Job’s garage), it has seen its share of innovation but maintains its small-town charm with scarcely a chain store in sight. The downtown hosts a number of charming events, like First Fridays and a pet parade every May featuring residents’ dogs, cats, chickens, turtles and even worms. PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF GINO DE GRANDIS / COURTESY OF SARA SCROGGINS FANCY FARE With a thriving foodie scene, Los Altos boasts a bounty of fantastic restaurants. ASA serves upscale American fare in a sophisticated space where schools of metal fish swim across its rippling, textured wallpaper. Start with a craft cocktail and ruby-red slices of satisfyingly marbled jamón ibérico while you strategize mains. Try the Argentine steak, thick and tender with an understated chimichurri sauce, or the coq au vin, a halfchicken braised in a rich red wine so tender the first bite will make you melt. Perhaps you’ve already heard the buzz about State Street Market, a food hall for elevated street bites. With something for everyone, diners choose from smashburgers and salads to ramen and ravioli to curry and kebabs. Live music and merlot flow on “Wine Down Wednesdays,” when Murdoch’s Bar sells bottles of vino at half-price. If you prefer a sit-down dining experience, check out its anchor tenant, Cetrella, serving Mediterranean and California coastal cuisine. Tableside travelers will love the hot new Greek spot Barbayani Taverna down the street. Its
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