Christina Waters

Actually, John Locke — the uncommonly erudite raconteur du vin — is doing the honors with this duo of wine intensives at Soif Wine Bar spotlighting the noble grape of Burgundy (ta dah!), Pinot Noir.

John has scheduled two wine classes focused exclusively on the much-venerated Pinot Noir. Each class will feature different wines and a fresh pedagogical approach. Every class will cover basics such as wine and tasting terms, explanation of flavors and the mysteries of winemaking. I’ve already placed my own reservations.
Pinot Noir I – Sunday, March 1
Pinot Noir II – Sunday, March 8

Classes begin at 6:00 pm and last approximately 90 minutes. Each evening runs $40.00 per class or $75.00 when registering for the pair (tax included). Classes will include 4 to 6 wines, a cheese selected to highlight the wines, plus extremely helpful educational handouts.

Participants will receive an additional 5% discount on these wines [5% on individual bottles and 15% on mixed or whole cases].

To sign-up, call or email: 831-423-2020 or Luke@SoifWine.com. Vitement!

No fewer than six top awards at the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition went to wines made by Pamela and Steve Storrs. Gold medals went to the Santa Cruz winery’s 2005 Zinfandel Santa Clara County Lion Oaks, its 2006 Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains, and two 2007 Chardonnays, including the renowned Stu Miller vineyard beauty.

A Double Gold went to Storr’s Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains Wildcat Ridge, but the one I’m having with dinner of Middle Eastern lentil stew tonight is the winery’s 2005 Petite Sirah Santa Cruz Mountains, awarded a Best of Class by the prestigious SF Chronicle judges.

Priced at around $20, the Storrs Petite Sirah is an intricate powerhouse of cloves and currants, cradled in a big tannic grip (more…)

Join wine-loving lovers for a day of romance, wine and chocolate up at the newest winery located on one of the oldest vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Vine Hill makes stunning pinot noirs and syrahs that you’ll be able to taste along with desserts from top area bakeries. You can also purchase the perfect Valentines gift.

The beautiful tasting room is surrounded by acres of vineyards - very romantic for strolling - and awesome views of the canyons below. Valentine’s Day makes a nice excuse to check out this lovely spot - and treat your sweetie to some fine wine (AKA the elixir of love).

When: Saturday February 14th

Time: 12:00PM to 4:00PM

Cost: $15 per person or $5 for wine club members

Check the website for details and directions.

Fragrant with violets, redwood and berries, the all-biodynamic 2006 Dolcetto from Ca’del Solo Vineyard in Monterey County is a beautiful wine. It takes nicely to food, especially omega-laden seafoods, pasta dishes and lamb. But it’s sumptuous all by itself.

On day two, we detected loganberry, geranium and a citrus/mineral center. The dolcetto contains enough tannic insistence to firm up the fruit-forward nature of the grape.

Another lovely landmark in the Ca’ del Solo domain — yes, from the folks of Bonny Doon Vineyards. Around $20 and 13.4% alcohol.

The red trout, sautéed crispy and served on a bed of green beans and roasted sunchokes, is a sensuous way to celebrate a chilly winter evening. You need only walk into the warm brasserie ambience of Oswald (corner of Front & Soquel, in downtown Santa Cruz) and let the staff take care of you.

If you don’t get over there soon, you will literally be the last on your block!

Oswald - 121 Soquel Ave - 831.423.7427.

From Sonnet winemaker Tony Craig, comes this supple profusion of raspberries and licorice. The 2006 Russian River Valley, Amber Ridge Vineyard, Pinot Noir opens into a fragrant center of cassis supported by a foundation of sassafras and forest bark. It is a killer pinot, even better the second day. And it loves fresh sardines, salmon of all kinds as well as mushrooms and sheep cheese.

Find it and luxuriate. Circa $40.

Yes it stars the Diva of Drama, Meryl Streep. Yes it also stars the highly praised Philip Seymour Hoffman. But no that won’t keep you from regretting that you sacrificed $7 and two hours of your life on this bow-wow! Doubt is a soporific study in the vanity of one playwright who somehow talked Oscar-winners into putting on unattractive costumes and fretting around in a play so obvious and stilted that no MFA student would own it.

Doubt is thirty years too late, and 40 IQ points too dumb. The “issues” with which it grapples (I use the term loosely) have been dealt with already! A priest who may or may not have done something with an altar boy, a nun who vaguely suspects (more…)

Bradford Briske is the new chef at Gabriella Cafe. I found out from Paul Cocking, the owner of downtown’s chic dining room, that former chef Sean Baker is no longer with the restaurant.

Cocking is looking forward to a menu focused more intimately on local, farmers market wares, and expects the seasoned Briske — who worked at San Francisco’s Millenium before joining the Gabriella team a year ago to deliver a refreshed emphasis on local and seasonal ingredients.

Baker’s intensively hand-made foods can still be found at Le Cigare Volant, the Bonny Doon Tasting Room’s spacious new cafe (see post below for newly expanded hours).

Learn to Wok the Wok, India Joze-style at an upcoming cooking series, called Introduction to Wok World, a Short Course in Intense Food
Happening on two more Sunday afternoons —  February 1,8, from 1-5PM @ Louden Nelson Center, the multi-culinary class starts with an introduction to the inimitable style virtuosity of Joseph Schultz, whose India Joze restaurant remains one of the most vibrant food experiences on record.

After working through procedures and equipment - lecture/demo followed by hands-on practice - the classes continue to explore the cuisines of India, Indonesia and the MidEast. Recipes and materials will be provided, as will a full dinner after each class.

You don’t have to be the re-incarnation of Julia Child (more…)

My contribution to this year’s Boxing Day ex-pat soirée was a tray of mini-cupcakes that were outrageous (if I do say so myself).

Lifted shamelessly from one of those McCormick ads in Sunset - and then tweaked for more flavor intensity - this recipe made dozens of two-bite mini-cupcakes, plus a regular layer cake to boot. They tasted as tender and rococco as the made-from-scratch cakes of your dreams. God they were good, really beautiful and worth the morning’s effort. Use organic cream cheese and sour cream, the best vanilla you can afford, and try not to think about how much red food coloring this involves.

Here’s the recipe. Treat yourself! (more…)