My New Favorite Cigare
It surprised even me that of oh say a dozen vintages sampled last week of Le Cigare Volant—that sensuous blend of syrah, grenache, mourvedre and cinsault—I would find myself leaning into a glass of one of Randall Grahm's white Rhônes. But I did. (See post below.)...
Cigare Lands @ the Cellar Door
A recent vertical tasting of Le Cigare Volant—the Bonny Doon Vineyard flagship creation—showed off the evolving style, and substance, of vintage 1993 through 2009 of Randall Grahm's main squeeze. Incidentally the odd-numbered years showed especially well....
an uncommon Octoberfest
Got a terrific video clip about Uncommon Brewers, from videographer Keith Wells. Just in time for your own private Octoberfest. Take a look.
An idea whose time is questionable….
I admire the entrepreneurial spirit as much as the next woman, but I just have to wonder (to quote late-night talk hostess Joyce Riley) - "What were they thinking?" I am musing about the sign currently placed at the front of the former Bella Napoli, the former Il...
More Manresa
Last month the dishes arrived like bright, colorful jewels from the kitchen of David Kinch.Here is a celebrated plate — Into the Garden — in which choice morsels of what’s freshest and most appealing from Kinch’s grower, Love Apple Farm. Served on an...
Autumn @ Avanti
A salad of trout, crisp skin/moist flesh, on a bed of green garlic, infant diced green beans, dry-farmed tomatoes and mixed shelling beans. Too good.
Surf City Wine University opens – Oct. 9
A great idea whose time is way overdue - a chance to see the wine harvest first-hand, tour and taste with the winemakers, learn the finer points of making and tasting wines. It begins on October 9 and will continue with one class each month through February of 2012....
Open Studios Time!
And whatever you do, and wherever you go on this two weekend art crawl, don't miss the painstakingly crafted, multi-colored etchings made by prolific artist Stephanie Martin. Martin specializes in nature prints, beautifully drawn and expertly printed from copper...
Last Month at Manresa
The finish to a dizzying, delicious and rococo sequence of plates at Manresa. Chef David Kinch swept us away with a dessert of sweet corn ice cream, interspersed with roasted and raw nectarines, in a sauce punctuated with caramelized corn kernels and infant pea...
The Debt – film review
I think it's time to take Helen Mirren down a peg. I know, I know - I have just committed a cinematic cardinal sin. Mirren resides in the hallowed domain roughly between Katherine Hepburn and Meryl Streep. Her mere presence in a film is expected to elevate its...
Soul Shaker! @ Zelda’s, Sept. 17
If you haven't yet caught her act, this is your chance. I'm talking about mega-babe Carie McAlpine, and her ultra-cool sidemen, who are about to tear down the house at Zelda's this weekend. Dripping sensuality McAlpine's smoky alto can wail and moan while covering...
Rita’s Book – Riffs & Ecstasies
The inimitable Rita Bottoms, ah what a broad! As head of McHenry Library's Special Collections for many years, Bottoms moved and shook with literary giants and cranky academics alike. She handled every ego with diplomatic skill, almost as well as she handled many...
Numero Uno – Product of the Week
For Labor Day we did a mesquite grill of chicken, figs and ripe peaches. What to put on the chicken? My hand reached out toward the wall of artisanal salsas at New Leaf and emerged with this fabulous complex salsa of ripe mango and sassy chipotle chiles. For roughly...
Blue Ribbon Baker
Congratulations to ardent and skillful home baker, Tom Pistole, whose bread entries at this year's Santa Cruz County Fair won not one, but TWO blue ribbons. Pistole can bake his way out of a paper bag, as any UCSC hill dwellers who've tasted his creative cupcakes can...
Harvest Wine
With Marcel Proust gracing the witty label, Bonny Doon Vineyard's relentless Clos de Gilroy Central Coast Grenache has reached new likeability in its 2010 installment. Full of spice and cherries, this lovely and highly drinkable (as in "drink it immediately") thinking...
Tree of Life
After a long gestation, Terence Malick's fifth film, Tree of Life, has entered our cinematic bloodstream. It is a lengthy elegy on nothing less than desire, loss, faith, love and the cosmos. What else could we expect of a man who once translated Heidegger and taught...
@ la Posta
Tuesdays, la Posta. The marvelous live mandolin and guitar music, the house Montepulciano, the neighborhood special....$15 for pizza and a glass of house wine. We added this sparkling fresh salad of watercress and fava beans, topped with a perfect egg from the house...
Dynamite Davenport Dinner
We had a terrific dinner last night at the Davenport Roadhouse. All four of our entrees, including a mushroom risotto, steelhead with pesto, roasted local halibut on a bed of favas and lemon spaetzle and my order of rare hanger steak atop lemony fresh artichoke...
Summer Sushi
The lively fish, wasabi and ginger creations at Sushi Totoro just get better and better. Here was a recent dinner of saba nigiri (center, with micro dice of lemon and scallion), tekka maki with shiso leaf and an ethereal trio of hamachi nigiri. (I used my iPhone for...
Cellar Door Seduction
If you think this creation looks good, you should have tasted it. Sensational! The Cellar Door kitchen knocked us out last week with an entree of whole roasted branzino, beautifully presented with panzanella and summer squashes (from Bonny Doon Vineyard's own...
Kelly’s Marmalade
I love this marmalade - new from Kelly's. Kumquat. Mmmmm. Tart and sweet and intense.
Paradise in Capitola
Let's review: this is Paradise Beach Grille. It is a fine restaurant overlooking the water on the Capitola Esplanade, between the Fog Bank and Margaritaville. It is open. New chef Scott Cater (of long-standing Casablanca fame) will be on board next week. Now you...
Avanti Romances the Salmon
Local King Salmon, from Half Moon Bay to be exact, receives some expert handling at Avanti. This lovely entree I enjoyed a few days ago showcased a very moist piece of pan-roasted salmon presented atop a risotto laced with spring peas, favas and micro-diced zucchini....
Alfaro @ Ma Maison – Thursday June 2
A charming idea, this First Thursday Brown Bag Wine Dinner concept. Especially the appealing price tag. You can enjoy the authentic French cuisine of chef Lionel le Morvan, some pours of new Alfaro wines, plus the pleasure of a conversation with winemaker Richard...