Herb Workshop @ UCSC Farm – April 1

If you’re intrigued by the healing properties of medicinal herbs, don’t miss this workshop by herbalist Darren Huckle, founder of Roots of Wellness, this Sunday April 1 from 10am – 1pm.

The workshop will focus on cultivating and using herbs for teas and salves that can help alleviate a range of physical ailments. The cost is $30 for the general public, $20 for Friends of the Farm & Garden, $5 for UCSC students.

For details call 831.459-3240 or email casfs@ucsc.edu.

Mixed Culinary Metaphors

Maybe it’s just me, but it’s going to take more than three bright green patio umbrellas and a glut of signage to convince me that Mex-Italian cuisine is a sound idea.

When a restaurant, for all the good will in the world, is consistently empty….it might occur to the management that “it’s the concept, stupid.”

Starz Cupcakes on the Westside

Starz Cupcakes on the Westside

Cupcake freaks (you know who you are) will want to check out the luscious array of cupca.jpgcupcakes on offer at Starz‘ new outlet. It’s inside the Yogizmo located at 1717 Mission Street (next to Avanti).

Imagine getting to wrap your mouth around cupcakes, made-from-scratch, totally decadent —even the non-sugar ones, and the gluten-free ones. Here’s the “Elvis” – a sweet, creamy tribute to bananas and butter.

Apocalyptic Beer for the End of the World

Apocalyptic Beer for the End of the World

Yes we all know that the world is scheduled to bite the dust on the 21st of elysian_1-350x261.jpgDecember, 2012 (according to those playful Maya astronomers).

Better sit down for this one.

Combining the edgy visuals of comic cult legend Charles Burns and the micro-brews of Seattle’s Elysian Brewing Company, a series of twelve beers will be released on the 21st of each month in 2012 featuring the uneasy label artwork of Burns and the well, unusual herbs, spices and rare yeasts used by the Elysian brewmasters.

January will bring the release of Nibiru, named for the mystery planet beloved of conspiricists the world over. See for yourself.

Spicy Seafood Sensation

Spicy Seafood Sensation

stevesfish.jpgA spectacular presentation of pan-roasted black cod utterly festooned with spun daikon, carrots and cucumbers, and sauced with soy, mirin, sake and mustard. The secret weapon was home-grown red chiles and cilantro, plus caramelized garlic and shallots.

Where did I dine?  At the home of Steve Spill, a home chef willing to tackle just about anything.

Fruitcake Matriarch

Fruitcake Matriarch

Here’s a vintage portrait of the highly independent woman whose fruitcake recipe I used, with chris-biker.jpgmuch variation, in my own recent effort.

According to her niece, Lisa Jensen, this portrait of Anna Augusta Kirstine Jensen was taken in 1920 or 1921, “when Chris would be 18 or 19 years old.”

Her fruitcake heyday happened much later, when she retired to Hermosa Beach, California.

Thanks Aunt Chris!