Photograph by Mark Kocina
Monica Esteban prepares chicken and bread over a flame for a picnic at the Saratoga Springs campground.
Food, fun and friends all mix at Saratoga Springs
By Suzanne Cristallo
Time for the company picnic? Organizers have been busy throughout the year getting their company events together, but once they have the date secure and the promotion in place, there's little else to worry about--Saratoga Springs will take care of everything else.
Nestled around Booker and Saratoga creeks, which come together beneath the historic Long Bridge, a multi-arched stone crossing some three miles beyond Saratoga Village, the 120-acre, tree-shaded resort has operated since 1873 under five generations of the Gianinni family. It . It also welcomes the public on a drop-in basis.
"Just book it," says Mimi Gianinni, who assists in sales, while her brothers Brad and John handle the management. Part of the fifth generation of Gianinnis, which has distant ties to Bank of America founder A.P. Gianinni, the siblings are gradually taking over the running of the park.
Their father, Bill, familiar to locals for his years in the business and known for the homemade chili he creates for the resort's "ultimate feast," is trying to retire. "We do the food, the beverages and the entertainment," Mimi says.
The food for catered events, like company picnics, reunions and weddings, can be as simple as hamburgers, veggie burgers and hot dogs. Or it can be the Ultimate Feast which, for small groups or for thousands, can be prepared by the resort's 25 cooks working in seven different picnic groves.
For a weekday rate of $26.95 for adults and $23.95 for children (weekends are higher), the feast includes chicken Milano with rosemary and white wine sauce--cooked in large, built-in barbecue pits while guests watch--along with baby back ribs in an original sauce and Santa Maria tri-tip steak. With the entrees come five salads: garden fresh, potato, pasta Roma, pineapple-cranberry cole slaw and fresh fruit. There's also a side of Bill Gianinni's special chili, some garlic bread and vanilla ice cream.
The per person rate includes lots of entertainment. Besides the attraction of the natural surroundings of creeks, trees and nature, there are a swimming pool, horseshoe and volleyball courts, pool and Ping-Pong tables, and a video arcade. Don't miss the fun zone either, with an air pillow bounce house, spin art, arts and crafts, space painting and carnival games.
For those interested in getting even with the boss or eliminating a potential mother-in-law problem, there is a bouncy boxing ring, which features 3-foot-long boxing gloves for interactive fun. There's also water balloon volleyball.
Saratoga Springs also conducts a day camp for 6- to 12-year-olds. Sessions last five days each through August. Topping off the hiking, swimming, arts and crafts, and science sessions are the foods kids appreciate: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, spaghetti and pizza. A Thursday night family barbecue is a nice capper.
"In the past, we've booked the whole town of Colma and thousands of Hewlett-Packard employees," Mimi notes, describing some of the larger events. "Lots of DJs come and do 'Jeopardy' and 'Millionaire' games."
It takes a creative program to entertain the sophisticated modern public--more than a picnic, dance in the pavilion and wade in the creek, accomplished for groups coming up the mountain 70 years ago.
Saratoga Springs, 22801 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. Office hours Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 408.867.3016.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
