🧀 Craft the Board of Your Saltiest Dreams 🥩

Picture this: you’re at Ava’s Downtown Market & Deli, staring at a table piled with cheeses so decadent they should come with a warning label, salami that’s definitely been to Burning Man, fig jam that could seduce a baguette in under a minute, and olives so enormous you might have to register them with the city. Your mission? Build a charcuterie board so epic that people will take photos of it before they take photos of their kids—or their Tesla Model Y. Then—because the universe is kind—we hand you wines that make every bite feel like a sunset at Half Moon Bay without the wind trying to kill you. 🍇

​

This isn’t a class. This is a snack-based power move. You’re the artist, meats and cheeses are your medium, and your edible canvas is begging for your genius. We’ll guide you through pairings—salty with sweet, creamy with crunchy, and the dangerously addictive “I’ll just try one” pattern that ends with you eating brie like it’s a tech stock about to skyrocket. Wines will range from crisp whites to reds bold enough to tell your HOA to relax about your lawn.

​

So grab your friends, your date, or that one neighbor you’re hoping will finally invite you to their pickleball outings. While we technically encourage sharing, we also fully support guarding your manchego like a toddler protecting a Pop-Tart. Tickets are limited—because good cheese, good wine, and downtown real estate are finite resources. Come hungry, leave legendary, and remember: if you stack three different meats on one cracker, you’re not just snacking… you’re innovating. 🚀

🧀 Charcuterie for the Anti-Social Gourmand 🧑‍🍳

Hey, we get it—you’re busy. (Okay, maybe not busy-busy, maybe more like “re-watching The Bear for the third time while doomscrolling Zillow listings in Los Altos Hills” busy.) But your FOMO is real, and you want in on the charcuterie action without having to interact with other life forms—or worse—have them watch you eat. (Anxiety much?)

​

We got you. Introducing the ultimate party-for-one: a quick, easy, ready-to-go charcuterie board just big enough for one person (or—if you’re really hungry—you can grab three and call it a “tasting flight”). 🍷 We’ve stocked up on Levoni pre-packaged charcuterie in smoked salami (like regular salami, but with a dangerous past), silky prosciutto (smoother than a saxophonist busking on Castro St), and an Italian variety pack (the Silicon Valley sampler: a little of everything, so you can pivot mid-bite when commitment gets scary). Just pick your favorite, stay home, pop open that bottle of wine you “were saving”, and queue up a movie about wine country—bonus points if it includes people dramatically running through vineyards for no reason.

​

But here’s the twist: despite your comfy, comfy homelife routine, we’re daring you to step outside your comfort zone for once. How, you ask? Easy! Sign up for our Craft Your Own Charcuterie Board class. Best case? You'have fun and grow as a person (and maybe a waistband). Worst case? You still walk away with a delicious board and the smug confidence of someone who knows exactly how to fan-fold prosciutto like an edible origami master. Either way, you can be proud that you tried something new. Let's face it: there aren’t many win-wins in life—this is one of them. You're welcome.

​

🧑‍🍳 Juan’s “Still (Damn) Good” Chicken-Beef Fried Rice 🌶️

Juan loves this recipe—not just because it’s tasty, but because it’s one of his favorite ways to turn “just-past-the-date” ingredients into “just-past-awesome.” Slightly expired? Please. That’s just flavor maturing in the wild.

​

Slightly expired (or fresh) ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked rice
• A handful of chicken* (shredded like your last parking ticket)
• A handful of beef* (crumbled or chopped—we won’t call the beef police)
• 1 bag frozen mixed veggies (nature’s confetti)
• 2 green onions, chopped (think "martial arts movie")
• Oil for the pan
• Sweet chili sauce + soy sauce (for dipping, drizzling, or surreptitiously sipping)
• 1 giant lettuce leaf per person (or your wrap of choice if you don't like veggies and your taste buds are still in kindergarten)

*Note: Works equally well with vegan alternatives!​
​

How to make it:

1. Heat oil in a big pan or wok until it’s hot enough to make you wonder if that fire extinguisher you bought 15 years ago still works.
2. Throw in the chicken, beef, and frozen veggies—stir like you’re in a hurry, because you are.
3. Add the rice, smash those clumps, and keep stirring until the whole pan smells so good you literally can't wait.
4. Sprinkle in the green onions with the grace of a samurai tossing flower petals.
5. Serve on giant lettuce leaf, next to sauces of choice.

​

Eat immediately. Not because it’s going to spoil—but because the best rice dishes waits for no one.

​

​

Upcoming Events​
​

• Every Wednesday, 5-7pm — 🎵 Music on Castro​
  ​Enjoy live performances right in Downtown Mountain View! Come for the tunes, stay for the vibes, and don’t forget to swing by Ava’s to grab dinner from Poké Bowl or Simply Sabor, or just pick up a box of cookies to munch on while you vibe to the music like a very classy raccoon. 🎶🍪🦝
  ​
• Every Friday, 6-7:30pm — 🎵 Concerts on the Plaza​
  ​Didn’t get your full music fix on Wednesday? Perfect—because Friday night, Concerts on the Plaza is bringing the beats that make lawn chairs bounce and dads attempt the moonwalk. 💃🕺 Stop by Ava’s first for a snack, a chilled drink, or a quick wine tasting to fuel your feet and unlock those secret dance moves.
  ​
• Thu, Aug 14, 5-7pm (ish) — 🍺 Beer Tasting​
  ​Come sip some seriously smooth, no-nonsense brews from Richmond’s own East Brother Beer Co.—a bayside brewery named after a lighthouse and fueled by classic styles that don’t need a grapefruit explosion to impress. Show up thirsty and leave slightly more nautical. ⚓️
  ​
• Fri, Aug 29, 5-7pm — 🧀 Charcuterie Night! 🍷✨​
  ​You, a cheese knife, and a glass of wine—what could go wrong? This is your chance to build a board so beautiful it could get its own LinkedIn profile. Get your tickets here—before the brie runs out: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/craft-your-own-charcuterie-board-wine-tasting-tickets-1554690524209​
  ​
• Labor Day Weekend — 🧑‍🎨 Art Show on Castro 🎨​
  ​At Villa & Castro, the Odd Fellows Lodge transforms into an art bazaar raising money for downtown murals. Acquire something wildly creative, then stop by Ava’s, because nothing pairs with fine art like a bag of fancy chips.
  ​
• Fri, Sep 12, 5-7pm (ish) — 🍺 Beer Tasting​
  ​Free beer tasting with the legendary Anderson Valley Brewing—because nothing says “community bonding” like sipping craft brews near the kale. 🍻 Come for the beer, stay for the awkward eye contact with your neighbors over a crisp IPA.