by Christina Waters | Mar 28, 2010 | Home |
We got lucky last week. Our favorite restaurant in Paso Robles—Bistro Laurent—was preparing a four-course prix fixe dinner in celebration of the three-day Zinfandel Festival that annually takes over the town, the vineyards and the tasting rooms of this vibrant winegrowing region.
We made reservations sight unseen — whatever Laurent Grangien wants to cook is fine with us. For the past thirteen years, this French-born and Paris-trained chef has been filling the dining rooms of a turn-of-the-century bistro with some of the sexiest cooking in California.
So here’s what we enjoyed for our $65 per person (including wines!).
Paired with a rare white Beaujolais – very elegant and minerally – was my choice of impeccably made terrine of foie gras on lawn of Belgian endive encircled with truffle oil. Jack’s salad of arugula (see image) was topped with (more…)
by Christina Waters | Mar 18, 2010 | Home |
The Garden, a 2009 Academy Award nominee for best documentary feature, will be shown Thursday, March 25, 7 p.m. at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz. Proceeds will benefit the California Food and Justice Coalition.
The Garden documents the rise of a lush 14-acre community garden in South Central Los Angeles from the ashes of the 1992 riots. It grew to become the largest of its kind in the United States only to be threatened with destruction when the property was sold under questionable circumstances.
The ensuing controversy attracted worldwide attention, including such notable politicians and celebrities as (more…)
by Christina Waters | Mar 17, 2010 | Home |
I love the new label that maverick winemaker Jeff Emery is trying out for his crisp 2009 Quinta Cruz Verdelho. Actually, the duct tape here isn’t so much a cloaking device as it is expedient.
The labels haven’t yet been attached to this latest installment of Emery’s highly drinkable white varietal. Fast-moving on the palate, graced with a slight spritz, this Portuguese grape is quite distinctive, offering a quick floral nose before settling into citrus, wintergreen and a tropical fruit center.
The finish is woody, haunted by a hit of bubblegum. Terrific stuff.
Stop by the Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard tasting room and give it a whirl. $22 a bottle is a bargain for a wine that is immediate, polymorphous and exotic.
by Christina Waters | Mar 17, 2010 | Home |
Meatloaf. Ready to heat and eat. Delicious and yes, I’ll say it: just like mama used to make.
I picked some up yesterday, along with a half freshly-baked loaf of traditional Irish soda bread.
And for a side dish, a substantial square of feather-light, fresh corn frittata. Dinner for roughly $11 – plus extra for lunch the next day.
by Christina Waters | Mar 15, 2010 | Home |
Chase the last gloomy nights of winter with a Sacred Hearth.
1 part Cynar
1 part Campari
2 parts gin
a squeeze of lemon
no ice
If you haven’t tried Cynar — a high-octane distillation of artichoke — you haven’t lived.
