by Christina Waters | Nov 28, 2009 | Home |
Everybody has a fall-back position, restaurant-wise. A reliably accessible dining spot that offers enough range to please both the pickiest vegetarian and the unapologetic carnivore. Prices that don’t induce psycho-motor epilepsy, flavors that amaze, and hopefully some glamorous ambience in the bargain.
Lately our dining spot to meet friends, or to take out-of-town guests is The Cellar Door, the vivacious cafe at the back of Bonny Doon Vineyard’s Tasting Room.
It seems to work well, this idea that you dine at communal tables (set for six+), you may order a substantial $35 prix fixe dinner, or graze your way through a long, long alacarte menu, (pictured is a deceptively simple pizza margarita with Bellwether ricotta and a perfect crust) just like we have done the past two Sundays.
Armed with some albariño, or a white Cigare for starters, we have feasted on (more…)
by Christina Waters | Nov 19, 2009 | Art |
Nicole Paiement conducts the UCSC Orchestra and Choir in three performances of the Baroque masterwork by Mozart. The Requiem will be performed in the Recital Hall, Friday Nov. 20 at 7:30 pm, Saturday Nov 21 at 7:30 pm and Sunday Nov 22 at 2:00 pm. $24 general, $20 senior, $10 student.
The Requiem is considered one of the treasures of the choral repertoire and offers celestial quartets, thundering fugues and some of the most operatic Latin ever devised. There is not one ounce of flab or down-time in this soaring collaboration of choir and orchestra. And there’s not a bad seat in this acoustically-gifted hall.
For ticket information see the website, or call the UCSC Performing Arts Ticket Office @ 831/459-2159.
by Christina Waters | Nov 18, 2009 | Home, Wine |
Check out the review of Randall Grahm’s wonderful Been Doon So Long in yesterday’s
New York Times (I’ve just given you the link to the specific article.)
by Christina Waters | Nov 16, 2009 | Food |
Artisanal cheesemaker and rancher Rebecca King (who was also former chef at Gabriella) emailed to remind me about the chance to purchase freshly dressed, organically-raised young lamb in time for holiday special dinners. The lamb is raised at Monkeyflower Ranch, and fed on pasture grasses, alfalfa and spent organic grains from Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing. Mild and tender, just like the animals themselves, the meat is now available in whole or half carcass. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Nov 15, 2009 | Home, Wine |
Ridge Vineyards continues to own the New World incarnation of Bordeaux blends, and this beautiful 2005 marriage of Cabernet Sauvignon ((58%) and Merlot (42%) knocked us out the other night, paired with a choice bit grass-fed rib-eye steak. We don’t eat a lot of beef, nor drink much cab. But these exceptions deserved each other.
This estate blend, made from Monte Bello Ridge grapes, is a masterpiece of tannic core that billows out — okay, so it takes half a day for full opening — into a cushion of leather, roses and rich briary details. At 13.7% alcohol, it is big enough but not overpowering. Worth its $40 pricetag (VinoCruz stocks this gem) it might be one of the items that Santa should be thinking about. For under the tree, or on the table to accompany Christmas Day roast beef.
