by Christina Waters | Mar 27, 2007 | Holidays, Home |
The name “Easter†honors the Anglo Saxon goddess of dawn, whose favorite animal companion was the hare. Now hares, like rabbits, aren’t exactly known for celibacy (to whit, the high school expression, to “bang like a bunnyâ€), hence they make the perfect symbol of the season. After the hard times of winter, spring—by any name—was worth celebrating (and here we’d do well to recall that baby chicks, little bunnies, lambs and other adorable barnyard entities are actually born in the spring). The egg motif, again symbolic of birth, predates Christianity, and was used by ancient Egyptians and Greeks in their fertility cults. It would be cynical to point out that each spring, hens just tend to lay a lot of eggs, and somebody had to invent something to do with this ovoid glut. Nature was essentially the biological metaphor for Christ’s return from the dead—and vice versa. It was a good fit, and the early Christian marketing geniuses knew it.
So did later Christian marketing geniuses, guys with names like Macy and Wanamaker. Easter – the most exploited excuse for spending since (you got it) Christmas, moved from a religious ritual to a retail rite of spring, thanks to the Victorian mania for interior decoration. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Mar 26, 2007 | Home |
Having eaten more than my fair share of these sensational salads, I figured I’d better confess: I have a serious thing for the Heirloom Spinach Salad at Avanti. You would too if you could see just how perfectly loaded with that mineraly fresh spinach flavor (Popeye was right!) this lightly dressed creation is. Setting off the spinach intensity (thanks to Windmill Farms) is a hard-boiled egg, which is barely hard so that the yolk retains an unctuous appeal, plus two finger-sized francese toasts wrapped with pancetta. Long, slender ribbons of Manchego cheese spill all over this edible ode to spring. Jocelyn and I exerted our Nietzschean appetites upon one of these last week, and before you could say mi piace, the spinach was gone!
by Christina Waters | Mar 26, 2007 | Home |
Orin Martin knows roses. Big time. Martin is the manager of UCSC’s Alan Chadwick Garden, and he’s been growing astonishing heirloom roses in Santa Cruz for decades. Author of A Rose Primer: An Organic Approach to Rose Selection and Care, Orin Martin will share his techniques for choosing and growing roses organically at a free workshop on Saturday, March 31, from 10 am to 12 noon at The Garden Company on Mission Street in Santa Cruz. If you value your roses, you gotta be there — Martin can clearly demystify even the most intricate fine points of horticulture, and will provide tips on year-round tasks involved in maintaining outstanding roses. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Mar 26, 2007 | Home |
Here’s a tasty idea that Westside gourmet grazers can get behind.
It’s the new Bistro Al Mar, the fresh new re-incarnation of the corner cafe in the Almar shopping area (Almar, off Mission). Gone is the ambidextrous noodle shop, and in is a tapas-intensive neighborhood bistro that is already making local culturati very very happy. The brainchild of O’Mei proprietors, the new Euro-Med bistro offers pastas, tapas, and small plates — which are brought around on trays to your table, so that everything stays fresh and gets to hungry patrons pdq. Open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner, 5-9pm, Bistro Al Mar offers chalkboard specials, a nice listing of local and California wines, plus a tantalizing menu, including Sicilian caponata, panzanella, spicy composed salads, lots of cazuelas and earthy provençal stews. Prices look great — entrees $14-$18 tops. What’s not to like?
by Christina Waters | Mar 26, 2007 | Home |
Think of them as wines that re-invigorate the whole idea of the world’s second oldest profession.
Now that I have your attention, I owe it to all of you who call yourselves wine-drinkers to remind you about the next opportunity to tour, sample and schmooze with winemakers – that would be the April 21 Passport Day. Three major events occur on April 21. The Queen’s birthday (her real one), my mother’s birthday and the SCMWA Passport Day. 
There may be other important events occuring on April 21, but I doubt it. This is a great way to discover more new wines and enjoy the why-we-live-here beauty of the Santa Cruz mountains. At over 30 wineries, 11am-5pm, $30/person.
Also, plan now to enjoy in-depth tasting, tours, finger foods, and winemaker talks at the June Vintner’s Festival 2007. Every winery on both sides of the hill will be represented, the east side of the mountains — June 2-3; the west side is featured the following weekend, June 9-10. Call 831/685-WINE for tickets, or check the website, www.scmwa.com.
