La Nuova Posta
Katherine Stern has worked expert magic on the menu at La Posta. Since the richly resuméd chef came on board a few months ago, things have gotten very interesting at the chic Seabright dining room. Contemporary Italian cooking. Deeply burnished flavors. Uncluttered...
Sir Conan Boils
We learn many things from the new Sherlock Holmes film starring the very pretty Jude Law as Dr. Watson, and the always appealing Robert Downey Jr. as the eccentric fictional sleuth, Sherlock Holmes. We learn for example that Madonna was right to ditch Guy Ritchie, a...
Soquel Vineyards: Good as Gold
The prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition has showered the winemakers of Soquel Vineyards — Jon Morgan, Peter & Paul Bargetto, with gold (and not the kind advertised on those TV infomercials either). Three opulent Pinot Noirs, a Sangiovese and a...
l’affair Gabriella
News of Gabriella's impending demise—promulgated by the owner himself—seems to have been premature. The love of a good tax attorney might be just the ticket. We'll see. But whatever the actual status of the tiny downtown dining room, a packed house last Friday...
Denzel’s Avatar
The words on this promo poster say it all! Proving that there are plenty of bad film ideas to go around, Denzel Washington hacks his way through post-apocalyptic America armed only with a machete, four or five semi-automatic weapons and a big, sacred book that is...
Cameron’s Ego, or Earth Audiences Are Easy
Billions, schmillions—Avatar is sheer self-indulgence touted as cutting-edge sci-tech. But that's not my big issue with this bloat of folkloric cheesiness wrapped in day-glo and eco-blather. And I don't care how many billions are being shelled out for this film. My...
Vine Hill Chardonnay
The beautiful 2008 chardonnay made by Sal Godinez for Vine Hill is a surprisingly tangy, tart pour that avoids the cloying oak and butterscotch of so many California chardonnays. Laced with minerals, the new Vine Hill release clocks in at a solid 14.4% alc, begins...
Spice Island
Tikka Masala from Seeds of Change - is serious flavor in a jar. All the labor-intensive work of grinding, roasting, mincing, and simmering has been done for you - all you need to do is get a jar of this wonderfully aromatic simmer sauce ($6 @ New Leaf) and let its...
Beautiful Loser
This one goes out for all you gals out there who ever lost your head over a man with long hair and a guitar. Crazy Heart. Jeff Bridges has been nominated four times for an Oscar. But never won. In a way that's the story of Bad Blake, a broken-down, still-defiant C&W...
Thinking Woman’s Merlot
That would be the 2007 Billy K Estate Merlot – from Alfaro Family Vineyards. A tasty tipple indeed (I can't believe I am recommending a merlot!), this is an enlightened wine with enough macho moves to please cab drinkers, and enough finesse to play hide ‘n’ seek...
Winter Lunch @ Gabriella
Consider the prospect of succulent Mexican bay scallops, with tender local squid atop a pool of gigante and ceci beans. You know you want this dish. You'll find it in the soothingly cozy dining room of Gabriella Cafe.
Last Minute Gift #1
Delightful, definitive and doonright intriguing is this Perfect Gift for the inquiring wino on your list. Been Doon So Long — Randall Grahm's beautifully produced and illustrated collection of rants, ruminations and reminiscences is available at any bookstore worth...
New Year’s @ La Posta
New Year's Eve dinner at chic La Posta, 538 Seabright (831.457-2782, involves this terrific $50 prix fixe menu. Antipasti - Santa Cruz foraged mushrooms in cartoccio or Sformato of cauliflower with bagna cauda or Calamari ripieni Primi - Windmill Farms Butternut...
New Year’s @ the Cellar Door
So you want to greet 2010 with a major party? Look no further than the Cellar Door where chef Charlie Parker has nothing but luxury in mind, cuisine to match the wines by Randall Grahm. Dinner and a Masquerade on New Year's Eve! For details check the website — and...
Almodovar Sees Red
And between those five-inch heels on Penelope Cruz' feet and a kitchen table strewn with ripe tomatoes, Spanish cine-maestro Pedro Almodovar literally invents the color red. The film is Broken Embraces, a virtuoso homage to great film masters past, as well as a...
Big Basin Vineyards Holiday Open House
Would you like to have wine with this man? Of course you would! And you can, by coming up to Big Basin Vineyards this Saturday, December 19, and sample some award-winning syrah with winemaker Bradley Brown. He'll be pouring lots of bold red wines for your holiday...
Stocking Stuffers for the Naughty & Nice
Winemaker Jeff Emery may not know if you've been bad or good, but he has the perfect stocking stuffer either way. Fans of Emery's vintage skill can take their pick of at least eight different varietals, available in half-sized splits, perfect for sharing with your...
Santa Does Gayle’s
Authentic red velvet cupcakes - tender, moist and topped with an exuberant amount of butter-cream frosting, plus some colorful sugar ornaments. This really hit the spot last week, and for $2.25 a pop, might be one of the last culinary bargains in the known world....
Sparkle Plenty
The window of Annieglass, full of seasonal shimmer.
Best Dessert in Town
A pitch-perfect cinnamon bread pudding, served with warm stewed huckleberries and rosemary ice cream absolutely blew us away last Sunday night. At The Cellar Door. Thank you Charlie Parker — saints have been canonized for less.
Vine Hill Christmas
Winemaker Sal Godinez, of Vine Hill Winery, makes no boring wines. The proof is in the pouring, and the best way to discover some of these full-bodied Santa Cruz Mountains wines is to visit the beautiful winery high above the fog line. The tasting room is surrounded...
Classy Christmas Gift #1
Ceramic artist Jenny Morten makes porcelain objects so appealing, to the eye and the hand, that they manage to shape-shift across the border between sculpture and functionality. Ablaze with subtle hues of the ocean and shore, her bowls, vases and gleaming hand-thrown...
Holiday Wine Trail
Seven wineries, five Christmas tree farms and assorted shops and restaurants along the Santa Cruz Mountains joined forces in a Holiday Wine Trail. The "trail" exists for the three weekends following Thanksgiving. The wineries include: Vine Hill Winery Burrell School...
Happy Girl Heirloom Tomatoes
Richly flavored and colorful, the large (16oz) jars of Happy Girl Kitchen heirloom tomatoes called out to me last Saturday as I strolled the Westside Farmers Market. I plunked down $10 and took home a jar. Later that evening, half the jar of crimson and orange...