by Christina Waters | Aug 19, 2008 | Food, Home |
The subtext behind complaints about multi-cuisine restaurants (see my mini-rant below) is not only that it’s incredibly difficult to get one culinary genre right, much less two or three. But that calling a place, e.g. an “Asian Restaurant” implies that there is such a thing as “Asian” food. And that implies the devolution of specific ethnic cuisines and traditions into a glob of fused, homogenous cookery that merely nods in the general direction of its various influences.
How much of so-called “Asian” cuisine, for example, is Japanese? And how much is Thai? or Cambodian? or Mandarin, Szechuan, Vietnamese? You see where I’m going.
If I drove by a restaurant that billed its specialty as “American cooking,” I would not only be confused, but I’d wonder what happened to, e.g. Cajun, or Chesapeake, or Texas-style, or California, or Southern. What I mourn in this postmodern, globalized environment is the details of specificity – in wine it’s called terroir. Those unique flavors, styles, histories, influences, ingredients, which distinguish this place from that, one climate from another.
When you globalize cuisine, you cheat every one of those powerful, unique and honorable influences. You neutralize them in the name of convenience, i.e. $$$.
by Christina Waters | Aug 13, 2008 | Art |
Santa Cruz-based, mixed media artist Victoria May creates exquisite, hand-wrought creations. Her uncanny blends of richly-worked fabric and photoemulsion tend to push viewers to the edge of their art vocabularies. And that’s exactly what solid artwork should do.
So get up to The City and stretch your senses at May’s opening reception, this Saturday, August 16 from 3-5pm. The show, entitled Residuum, continues through September 27 – at the Don Soker Contemporary Art Gallery, 29 Geary in San Francisco. 415/291-0966.
by Christina Waters | Aug 8, 2008 | Food, Home, Wine |
The irrepressible Randall Grahm, winemaker of Bonny Doon Vineyard will lead gastronomes through a memorable evening of wine and cuisine at Manresa, in Los Gatos, on September 7. Chef David Kinch will prepare a four-course dinner at his Michelin-starred landmark, inspired by the wines of Bonny Doon, and the unique terroir of our Central Coast. Think “ultimate wine dinner.” Long famed as an innovator, Grahm is easily one of the most brilliant eno-raconteurs available. He’s the mind behind such coveted Rhône-style wines as Le Cigare Volant, Le Cigare Blanc and Vin Gris de Cigare, as well as the biodynamic estate wines of Ca’ del Solo Albariño and Ca’ del Solo Muscat.
Both David Kinch and Randall Grahm are tireless fanatics about biodynamic farming practices in our growing region. Their culinary collaboration at this event should be sweet, to say the least. Join Randall Grahm at Manresa on Sunday, September 7 — wine reception at 5:00 p.m. and dinner at 5:45 p.m. The cost is $250 per person, (tax and gratuity not included). Reservations are available only at 408.354.4330. Pick up the phone. Now!
(photo:Alex Kraus)
by Christina Waters | Aug 7, 2008 | Home |
You’re going to be very busy on August 24, what with the big fat Kitchen Tour lined up from noon to 4pm, and the UCSC Farm & Garden peak gardening workshop “Planting the Thanksgiving Feast” from 10am to 1pm.
The 1st annual Santa Cruz Literacy Program Kitchen Tour, will give you eye-popping access to nine luxury kitchens throughout the county – including the posh new remodel at the kitchen of craft’n’fitness queen Susan Karon. Sort of like YouTube, only live. The $15 tour tickets are currently on sale at good places like Bookshop SC, Capitola Book Cafe, Bookworks in Aptos, and a few more. Call 831/427-5077 for details – and be prepared to indulge your inner voyeur.
The lecture/demonstration up at the UCSC Farm, led by Trish Hildinger, will get you totally prepared for the fall gardening season – from soil prep, to seeding and transplanting. The workshop costs $15 for members of the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden, $20 for the general public. No fuss – just show up with good shoes and some sunscreen. For details call 831/459-3240 or see the Center for Agroecology website.
by Christina Waters | Aug 7, 2008 | Home |
Starting at 6pm on Friday, August 29, join winemakers David and Ann Moulton of Burrell School Vineyards at the Davenport Roadhouse, on Hwy 1. The winemakers will present four luscious wines — three reds and a Chardonnay —available by the taste, glass, and bottle, and share their extraordinary stories.
Make reservations by calling the Roadhouse, at 831-426-8801 and then plan to be impressed by some glorious vintages made up at the historic old schoolhouse vineyards off Summit Road.
