by Christina Waters | May 20, 2012 | Home |
Just watching the mixologists at Oswald inspires awe. An intriguing array of ingredients—fresh mango puree, a wide range of bitters and herbal diffusions, muddled and minced fruit, citrus and botanical garnishes—wow, this is the sort of adult flavor-play that makes a grown woman crave a cocktail!
So I ordered one of the inventive specials from the Oswald menu — the Amorphous, requesting it to be shaken into a martini stem goblet rather than served on the rocks — and here’s what I got.
The Amorphous is named for one of its key ingredients, amaro, that complex Italian bitters that is a close cousin to fernet.
So into the shaker went gin, fresh lime juice, ice, amaro and micro-diced fresh mint. Shake, shake, shake. Pour. Voila! A complex center of cola, a citrusy opening and minty finish. Incredibly refreshing! $9. Sip it slowly!
And go soon so you can check out the moody, Modiglianiesque paintings by Susan Hancey currently on exhibit through May @ Oswald.
by Christina Waters | May 15, 2012 | Home |
Here’s one of our recent dinner salads—variation on a niçoise-with fresh local albacore and all-organic everything else.
Some marinated cippolinis and artichoke hearts. Major delicious.
by Christina Waters | May 10, 2012 | Home |
Here is one of the recent dishes I’ve enjoyed at the smartly re-branded Le Cigare Volant. And for juicy details, check my review in the current Santa Cruz Weekly—or online.
Here, for example, is a robust beef loin entree, sided with feisty peppers, marrow bone and citrus-infused radicchio.OMG.
Glaze of roasted garlic, red wine reduction sauce. Yes.
by Christina Waters | May 10, 2012 | Home |
Here’s a surprising bit of feistiness from Vine Hill Winery—a Chardonnay that acts like a Sauvignon Blanc. And that’s a very good thing!
I always expect drinkable and lovely Pinot Noirs from winemaker Sal Godinez. But I was charmed recently by his racy, minerally 2010 Chardonnay. The bright and refreshing acidity of this aromatic wine gives it persistence of citrus and guava notes.
The 13.1% alcohol, light enough to keep each sip interesting, puts it squarely in the “favorite wine of summer” camp. Yet it can hold its own against spicy cuisine—or simply a long, lazy afternoon.
Put a few bottles on ice. Now. Summer is a-comin’ in, usw.
by Christina Waters | May 10, 2012 | Home |
A dessert by Le Cigare Volant pastry chef Yoomi Shelton riffed on the theme of Live Earth Farms rhubarb.
From left—panna cotta topped with rhubarb coulis. In the center a rhubarb crisp topped with ginger foam! and on the right, jasmine ice cream on a brilliant bouquet of rhubarb gelée. Beautiful and delicious. Something I’m coming to expect from this exciting kitchen.
Lunches daily at Le Cigare Volant— starting May 21st!
