Deal of the Century – Truchard Syrah
That would be the current sale of Truchard Syrah 2000 for $12.99. You heard me. A seven-year-old killer wine from Carneros, Napa's fabled domain of volcanic soil and deep terroir, for under thirteen dollars! It's at Shoppers Corner right now (corner of Branciforte and...
Chippendales Do the “Ring”!
Digitally-manipulated postmodern super-hero mythology — yeah, baby! I am disgusted with myself, but I must confess up front. I wallowed, blissfully, in this two-hour exercise in visual S&M. I’m referring of course to 300, a graphic novel (i.e. adult comic book) by...
Que Syrah, Syrah!
Great red wine for under $10: It's my new house red wine, the wittily-labelled 2004 Syrah, Domaine des Blagueur from Bonny Doon Vineyard, where every bottle comes with a witty label. Big, but not aggressive - full of fruit, yet well-mannered as a partner for foods,...
Oswald & Octagon Update!
Oswald has decided on its next home — at the corner of Soquel and Front Streets, home of the former Garage sports bar. And the deal just needs a few tweaks to be finalized. Downtown Redevelopment Director (and killer bridge player) Ceil Cirillo is, in a word...
Spring Fever at Farmers Market
The Westside Farmers Market continues to win hearts, minds and taste buds at the foot of Western Drive every Saturday morning. I ran into farm fanatic and photo princess Tana Butler last week and we strolled around the stalls, talking collard greens and organic...
This is Italian!
Remember the delicious culinary moves of Bella Napoli founding chef Giavanni Di Maio? (I still miss that place.) Okay, now recall that I recently re-discovered Di Maio cooking in an underwhelming setting? Right. Well, Di Maio has just taken over the kitchen at Greg...
Film Review: “The Host”
Opening this Friday at The Del Mar is an exhiliratingly odd and haunting underwater monster sci-fi thriller called The Host. The work of South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, this is an all-you-can-eat package of film genres crammed into a juicy two hour ride. A...
Don’t Forget
to see my article on Love Apple Farm grower, Cynthia Sandberg in the March 8 GT Weekly. Great photos throughout the Dining Special, by Kelly Vaillancourt.
Biodynamic Sauvignon Blanc
As wineries all over California are busy retrofitting their vineyards in order to pass Demeter biodynamic certification, the Fetzer family's Patianna winery is already making killer wines that would make Rudolph Steiner proud. Biodynamic techniques rule at the...
Zodiac
Nothing prepared me for this spellbinding package of high def digital cinematography, under-stated horror and savvy, ensemble acting. But that's exactly what Zodiac delivers. Long (2 hours, 40 minutes) yet so taut and intricately edited that time stands still. And...
Odds & Ends
Judy Slattum, the thinking man's performance ethnographer and longtime Bali connoisseur, is at it again with "A Taste of Bali." Danu Tours, and co-sponsor Cabrillo College Culinary Arts program, have teamed up for the culinary odyssey in Bali this coming June. Spicing...
Unexpected Pizza
At the Shadowbrook - yes, that Shadowbrook - last week, I had pizza so amazing that I found myself comparing it with the thin-crusted, sophisticated, completely addictive varieties I tasted in Rome. (Or, for that matter, at La Posta.) Shadowbrook may not be known for...
Grigsby Profile
Check out my profile of O'mei restaurateur and cultural analyst Roger Grigsby, on p. 37 of the March 1 issue of GT Weekly.
Love Apple Farm
I spent an enchanting hour up at Love Apple Farm, where Cynthia Sandberg — grower for Manresa Restaurant — is busy experimenting with biodynamic techniques and rare varieties of herbs, leafy greens and root crops. (My story on Sandberg in March 8 issue, p. 19 of...
Lunch at the Masters
The Masters of Food & Wine, which has brought the most celebrated chefs and winemakers in the country together each February for a week of lunches, dinners, tastings and demos— is folding its designer tents after 21 years. At least it will no longer be held in the...
Oswald: The Last Supper
Hopefully there will be more, once co-owners Keet Beck-Brattin and Damani Thomas, settle on a new location. The old brick bistro was the place of many memories, so Jack and I made the most of our "farewell Oswald" dinner last week. A gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon from...
Portion Control!
Prince Charles wants to get rid of all the McDonald's franchises in England. Why? Because of the obesity epidemic in the Old Country. Finally, somebody's getting the hint. If you insist on super-sizing fast food portions, you end up super-sizing fast food patrons....
A New York Minute
Merrily Kerr — art writer, tour guide and intrepid Manhattanite — led 20 of us on a whirlwind (and very snowy) tour of top Chelsea art galleries a few weeks ago. It's part of her amazingly focused, insider New York Art Tours, which she likes to call "the fastest...
Lagunitas @ Red
Brew-heads might want to make plans to spend next Thursday, March 8 upstairs at Red, in the old Santa Cruz Hotel. Food prepared by 515 and Red chefs, Caleb Hanscom and Erin Danielson will be paired with four selected beers from Lagunitas Brewing. Beer lovers always...
Le Bernardin: Is it the best restaurant in America?
In a word, "yes." But I already knew that, having been lucky enough to dine in the original Paris version of Le Bernardin, as well as the Manhattan one twice before. Perhaps only Jules Verne has done more for seafood than Le Bernardin chef Eric Ripert. But then the...
New York for Foodies
Manhattan - where the national color is black and the diversity is abundant. You can tell the tourists immediately - they are not wearing black, and they aren't wearing one of those big, cashmere mufflers that are required in the City. In an effort to stretch my...
Saul Landau: Filmmaker provocateur
We Don’t Play Golf Here, a half-hour documentary film by prolific political auteur Saul Landau, screens at 4pm this Wednesday, February 28, at UCSC’s Conference Room D, Bay Tree Building. Come meet the filmmaker, watch the new film and listen to some choice...
New York: Tales of the City
Yes, it was snowy in Manhattan last week! Beautiful, crisp and COLD. But that didn't stop me from devouring all the food and art the law would allow. Central Park, as you can see (that's the Dakota, where John Lennon lived, in the background) looked gorgeous. I drove...
Oscars, My Way
Who can resist making Oscar predictions? Not me - so here goes. In a word - Babel, Babel, Babel. I like this intricate love song to trans-cultural existentialism to win Best Picture. Babel should also take Best Director, but given the collective guilt the Academy...