by Christina Waters | Sep 5, 2007 | Home |
Just returned from lunch at the new Batik Cafe – and while I had a few issues, the cafe is only a few weeks old so there’s lots of time for fine-tuning. Sabrina – an Indonesian cuisine veteran- and I worked our way through several plates of traditional items involving potatoes, tofu, bean sprouts, noodles, hard-boiled eggs and outstanding rice. Sabrina’s giant glass of Sumatran coffee was spiced with fresh ginger – seriously excellent. My tall cool glass of Batavia Blend was a very very sweet concoction of cranberry, orange and rosewater. A plate of yellow curry with potatoes and tofu, called Kari Tahu was delicious – the curry a well-balanced blend of spice and heat. Another specialty called Telor Balado involved a sauteed hard-boiled egg topped with a chili sauce of shallots, peppers and tomatoes. Also good. We also sampled the tomatoey fried potatoes (necessitating Tums later) with rice. Not hot enough! (more…)
by Christina Waters | Sep 4, 2007 | Home |
Chef Sean Baker is mad for tomatoes this time of year, and who can blame him? Especially since he’s gotten down and dirty, so to speak, with the growers of Lindencroft Farm who create exciting fresh veggies and herbs for Baker’s experimental menus. The garden gurus of course, are Stephen and Linda Butler, and they grow dozens of tomato varieties, from which chef Baker will choose 20 or so to fool around with. This dining delirium will feature many other beautiful greens and vegetables grown at Lindencroft — but the spotlight is on the tomato!
I was in Italy – so I couldn’t be there. But I heard it was sensational. Details at 11.
by Christina Waters | Sep 3, 2007 | Home |
Yes, this just might be the world’s greatest cookie – right here – at The Buttery. It’s the mighty, two-fisted Pecan Sandie. Buttery shortbread cookie, three inches in diameter, rimmed with crushed pecans and topped with the most sinful rosette of chocolate ganache in town. Go get it. Eat it!
by Christina Waters | Aug 28, 2007 | Home |
Side by Side: New Work by Jenny and Geoff Morten — opening September 7, at the Santa Cruz County Bank, 325 Soquel Avenue.
The Mortens, Jenny – she’s the porcelain sculptor – and Geoff – he’s the painter, came to California from their native England just a few years ago. But they haven’t simply been sitting around swilling Chardonnay. The absurdly gifted couple have created enough memorable artworks to fill quite few shows in the past two years.
Having said that, the current work about to unfold in three locations across Santa Cruz county, takes even the Morten’s most experienced collectors into new aesthetic terrain.
While Geoff’s oil-on-panel paintings explore multiple reflective imagery — hands, faces, patterns rife with time trips at the edge of memory – Jenny’s new work in thrown, fired, and sculpted wall pieces explores the strata of California, the land and its mineral infrastructure. (Detail below from her Ripple Wall series.)
Come see for yourself. Side by Side – an exhibition of new works by Geoff and Jenny Morten is on display at the Santa Cruz County Banks in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville, from September 7 through November 9, 2007. The display at 325 Soquel Avenue in Santa Cruz is colorful, haunting and very smart.
by Christina Waters | Aug 28, 2007 | Home, Wine |
Here’s what you’re looking at. A wine label written in Chinese. That’s interesting all by itself. But what’s even more interesting is that this is the back label on a bottle of River Run Vintners 2005 Carignane.
Blond, bearded and eternally boyish winemaker J.P.Pawloski knows how to do that voodoo with fine local grapes. And because he wasn’t born yesterday, metaphorically speaking, he knows an opportunity when he sees it. China is nothing if not a marketing opportunity. So the River Run wine wizard, who also moonlights making customized wines for wealthy clients who have grapes, but not necessarily winemaking skills, anyway Pawloski currently buys up substantial lots of otherwise undedicated central coast wines. Then he applies his blending touch, and voila! terrific wines emerge. The River Run label goes on the front – and the Chinese language label goes on the back — and the wines go to J.P.’s Beijing broker who sells them like mad. Awesome.
For us here at home, there’s much good news from River Run. Even though the
entire 2005 vintage of RR’s stunning carignane went to China, this year’s vintage is staying here. Get ready to buy, buy, buy! As you read this J.P. and every other winemaker in California is out in the vineyards, checking sugar, rallying the crews, poised to pounce on the grapes the minute they approach the correct Brix. Then the vendage starts. Over to the next vineyard – checking sugars, picking like crazy, crushing – and then on to the next ripening varietal. (more…)
