Ode to a Newer Leaf

Dear Westside community partners in the natural food game: I love New Leaf. I love the very idea of New Leaf. But since expansion into the Big Store, the delivery system seems to have bogged down.

Sandwiches are now made in slow motion, even at the obviously busy lunch hour. By individuals who appear never to have seen a loaf of bread. Tuna sandwiches are laboriously constructed as if working from blueprints printed in Latvian. Same thing at check out.

Even during peak hours, there are few check out folks on duty. And – forgive me – they are slow. Often they stop in the middle – the middle! – of a transaction and chat with other checkers. Or leave the checkout lane entirely and go off on a mission of mercy for another patron. Well-meaning, but unclear on the concept.

I urge New Leaf management to spend more time on staff training. Thank you.

Your friend,

Christina

Starters

Starters

Gabriella Cafe. Lunch for four. After we ordered, our host Paul Cocking came bypicklesgab.jpg with a few small plates for us to try until our halibut and opal basil salads, kampachi crudo, and gnocchi Bolognese arrived.

Olives in oil with a branch of thyme. Chef Brad Briske’s fresh pickles – cippolinis, Armenian cucumbers and celery(r.). Beautiful food that tasted as good as……

Tart & Creamy Gizmo

Tart & Creamy Gizmo

Calm down, I’m talking about a full-bodied frozen yogurt creation — the Gizmo gizmo.jpg– that combines dense barely sweet frozen yogurt plus your choice of fruit — and turns it into enlightened soft serve creamy dessert. I am (but you probably guessed this already) referring to the possibilities available at the new Yogizmo Yogurt Co. store – located in the Avanti region of Mission Street.

The latest Yogizmo shop just opened here on the Westside, and I stumbled into it on a hot afternoon and found immediately cool comfort in the form of a blueberry Gizmo for $3.35. Dense, tangy, well, just check it out for yourself.

You can also sample abundant Marianne’s (more…)

Wine Hopping Weekend

Wine Hopping Weekend

alfaropic.jpgThis Saturday, July 18, from 11-5pm, take advantage of the Summer Passport winetasting trek through the vineyards and cellars and tasting rooms of 50 Santa Cruz Mountain wineries.

Alfaro’s Family Vineyard, in pastoral Corralitos, is only one of the stops you can visit – the $40 tasting passport gives you access to all the wineries, on all four Passport weekends throughout the year.

The Passport – unlike the one issued by the US government – never expires. And this is a great opportunity to visit small, artisanal wineries, such as Windy Oaks, that are rarely open except by appointment. Visit the SCMWA website for full details. [photo by PattyHinzImagery.com]

NuLu @ Capitola Book Cafe

NuLu @ Capitola Book Cafe

Restless Lulu Carpenters entrepreneur Manthri Srinath emailed to tell me that his empire now stretchesnewlu.jpg from Scotts Valley, through downtown Santa Cruz and over to….Capitola!

Caffeine enabler Srinath has installed all the sensitive and jolting coffee drinks and pastries we’ve come to demand of Lulu’s at the long, cozy coffee bar of Capitola Book Cafe. This is very good news to discerning coffee fanatics who love great books. Okay, and summer beach books too.

“We’re open 6am-10pm Mon-Fri, 7am-10pm Saturday, and 7am-8pm Sunday,” explains Srinath. “The bookstore still opens at 9am, but us coffee people like to start early.” I’ll drink to that.

Yet another reason to stop by Capitola Book Cafe – in the 41st Avenue & Capitola Road vortex, next to the 41st Avenue Cinema.