Grenache Day Dazzle
Some of us just can't get enough grenache—the berry-laden, spicy, stand-up grape that fuels the great creations of the Rhône, old world as well as new. The Rhône Rangers — 150 wineries in the United States devoted to making wines from grapes canonized by...
New Age of Aquarius
That would be the evolving dining room-with-a-view at the edge of the beach in the Dream Inn. The new chef on board at Aquarius is Brian Drosenos who brings experience and robust menu ideas to the choice oceanfront property. He already has formed alliances with local...
Grenache: the Prequel
While the Rhône Ranger were pouring grenache next door, Jeff Emery—one of the stellar grenache makers in the region—was busily forklifting grapes for his 2012 vintages, from truck to cellar. Those are Jeff's just picked Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard grapes posing...
Getting Doon after hours
Do some wineries have all the fun? or does it just seem that way..... At the annual Day of the Doon celebration for Bonny Doon Vineyard wine club members, Randall Grahm and company finished off the impressive, multi-course meal created by chef Ryan Shelton and pastry...
Pepperfest? You bet!
PEPPERFEST! Saturday, October 6th, Westside Farmers Market. You know that pepper season is in full swing, so why not have an entire party to honor the brilliantly-hued vegetable? That was a rhetorical question, btw. PepperFest will dazzle your Saturday, as will the...
Tart & Pink……apples
Stupendously tart, crisp and perfumed with a wine scent, these lovely Pink Pearl apples absolutely made our day one recent lunchtime. From a local Watsonville grower, they were discovered at New Leaf market. Beyond even Gala, Braeburn and Newtown.
A Transformative Parsifal
In his final opera, Parsifal—whose motifs had been built over a thirty-year period—Wagner fulfilled his vision of operatic "music theater" as something that would go far beyond the classical notion of a drama told in song and music. The Parsifal of this season's...
Last Week in Bavaria
If I say "Munich"—most Americans will think, "cuckoo clocks, bratwurst and beer." But for me Munich meant "Dürer, Weisswurst and Baroque architecture." More importantly—for the purposes of my trip last week—Munich is the gateway to Bayreuth, a small, prosperous...
Bavaria – the continuing saga
Drenched with sweat, still filled with the rapturous chromaticisms of Tristan und Isolde, I joined two companions for what became a ritual glass of Veuve Clicquot at an outdoor concession in the opera house gardens. Valhalla Bistro. Every tavern, drug store and street...
From Bayreuth to Munich
The three days of opera each cast their own enveloping auras. After Tristan und Isolde—a punishing 5 1/2 hour physical ordeal of heat and wooden seats—I sat almost speechless over Fernet Branca with a few other opera-goers and felt the music swirl inside me. I had...
Last Pastry in Munich
Even though it sounds like the title of a French film, that headline refers to one of the most satisfying pastry encounters of my food life. I had just waded through a time-trip of northern Renaissance masters—Dürers, Memlings, Cranachs, van der Weydens, as well as...
Pilgrimage to Bayreuth
Here's where I went — the opera house (Festspielhaus) in Bayreuth, Germany designed and built by Richard Wagner exclusively for the performance of his legendary operas. And here's why I went: the annual Bayreuth Festspiel performances of Wagner's operas, a six-week...
Is Fine Dining Dead?
I'm sure you have your opinions on this one, but the view from my wineglass tells me that we are way past the rococo period of the last few decades. You know, where every menu involved footnotes. Every server rattled off recitations of designer ingredients that might...
Shoppers Wine Bonanza
Fans of Vine Hill's well-crafted wines will want to rush over to Shoppers Corner immediately. In-house wine guru Andre Beauregard has slashed prices on a terrific array of Vine Hill and Cumbre Syrahs, Chardonnays and many other varietals—in half! That means, for...
Main Street Garden Cafe!
This outstanding appetizer salad of organic heirloom tomatoes, and a tumescent pannacotta laced with garden basil was one of many flavor-intensive summer dishes I enjoyed at Main Street Garden & Cafe last week. Our main course— a wood-fired pizza topped with lamb...
Soif Turns Ten
Congratulations to Patrice Boyle and company for, gulp, ten years of quenching discerning thirsts at their sleek and amiable bôite, Soif. Hard to believe this downtown landmark opened its doors on August 6, 2002. To celebrate Walnut Avenue, between Pacific and Cedar...
Ultimate Granola
Turn back the clock to the hippie heyday and make your own custom, gluten-free granola. This could be a world-changer, this recipe from culinary explorer Dee Vogel. Dee-vine Granola Mix: 6 C. oats 2 C/ nuts, any kind, roughly chopped 1 C. each pumpkin seeds and...
Parma Ham
Judy Schultze, of Windy Oaks Estate, sent me this tantalizing photo from a recent visit to Parma, Italy—home of prosciutto. Judy calls this image "3 shades of prosciutto." I call it beautiful presentation.
Bastille Day Рtime to celebrate la libert̩
And here are two more possibilities among the many ways (see post below re: Storrs) to celebrate our Gallic cousins in their annual Fête Nationale. Consider joining French wine legend Martine Saunier at a pouring of old world beauties, including vacqueyras,...
Edgy Wine of Summer
Winemaker Ryan Beauregard likes to experiment, and his new 2010 The Lost Weekend semillon-sauvignon blanc blend is an homage to all those new young winemaking turks who like to think outside the varietal status quo. A blend of grapes that are arguably oenological...
Bastille Day @ Storrs
Can you say "allons enfants de la patrie?" Well it's time once again to raise a glass to our revolutionary French brethren. On Saturday, July 14th, Storrs Winery will be hosting “La Fête Nationaleâ€, better known as Bastille Day. Featured wines include the 2007...
Prometheus without the fire….
I could go into a deep deconstruction of the newest Ridley Scott film in terms of its failure to make sense of its title, its mysteriously murky visuals and its utter refusal to offer anything like an intelligent script. I could kvetch for weeks about how Scott seemed...
Holiday Sipping @ Windy Oaks
Think about an old-fashioned ramble through the vineyards, lush and green this time of year. Now think about a post-Fourth of July ramble through those vineyards at Windy Oaks Estate, where Jim and Judy Schultze will be opening their tasting room—and those...
A Gluten-Free Galaxy
You live in a community sensitive, picky and gourmet-driven enough to boast delicious gluten-free pastries thanks to Red House Bakery entrepreneurs Tom and Anna Hayes. I came upon Red House Bakery's amazingly rich and tender Orange Zest Sour Cream Pound Cake (yes, it...