by Christina Waters | Oct 24, 2007 | Food, Home, Travel |
After the performance, I roamed the broad sidewalks outside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion along with most of the Mark Morris Dance Group audience — we were trying to come back to earth. Across the street in the gleaming Disney Hall is Joachim Splichal’s flagship Patina, one of the icons of California cuisine. I had wisely made an on-line reservation for an early dinner there – in time to unwind, have something clever to eat, and still get back to LAX for the flight through the burning hills, and home.
Pretentiousness reigns at Patina, where the woman at the front desk is wearing BCBG and two guys show you to the bathrooms. One points, the other opens the door. The head waiter/sommelier has a French accent — which might be genuine. Or not. I decide that ordering well is the best revenge, and begin with a glass of Tempranillo. A Viñas del Cenit Tempranillo 2003 ($14) to be precise — lots of fruit and bold tannin. Another waiter brings around a tray laden with bread possibilities — I choose something with enormous whole grains and several tiny rounds of sourdough that are fabulous. An amuse is presented by waiter person number 3 – it is a 
morsel of lobster hiding under a transparent disk of daikon, sauced with something too sweet containing perhaps grapefruit. It is very pretty – and almost flavorful enough to be called delicious. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Oct 17, 2007 | Food |
The subject is lettuce mix. I guess I’ve just had enough. Yesterday, as I once again picked over the wilted, tired lettuces in the mix at New Leaf – searching for a handful of greens that still looked as though they still retained some lifeforce, I realized it had been like this for the past year. Maybe more. Oh in the spring, the greens here look and taste great. But once summer hits, the downhill slide begins. I’m begging New Leaf to respect itself and its customers enough to either: a) find new purveyors of lettuce mix or, b) stop putting it out in the produce section altogether, until they can get a grip on the situation.
The deal is that there is good, fresh, vibrant baby lettuce available. I see it every time I visit the farmers market. If the Everett Family Farmers can package gorgeous bouncy appealing greens, then I know it’s possible.
Would you put this wilted stuff on your own dinner table? Would you serve this to your own family or friends? Then why are you asking your community to buy it?
New Leaf – I’ve been shopping at your stores since the day you opened. But enough! Your lettuce mix is a joke. Please fix it!
by Christina Waters | Oct 17, 2007 | Food, Home |
Michel Loubiere, whose wife Muriel is a talented chef, emailed to tell me that the couple will unveil their new restaurant, Au Midi, this weekend. The French dining spot is located in Aptos, in the tiny center behind the Aptos Cinema, at 7960 Soquel Drive. I’m looking forward to trying out this welcome addition to our restaurant landscape.
by Christina Waters | Oct 5, 2007 | Food, Home |
Here’s a highlight of Theo’s chef Nicci Tripp demonstrating one of his delightful house cheeses for Wine Country magazine.
by Christina Waters | Oct 1, 2007 | Food, Home |
Severino’s Community Butcher is heading back east! The talented couple, Hilary Prescott and Justin “Blade Runner†Severino will be leaving the area at the end of the year. Headed for Pennsylvania. “We’ve got family there, we can afford to buy a home and raise kids there.†That’s what Hilary told me last week. It is not good to watch an exodus of talent away from our pricey but idyllic coast. . . . But the word is that Severino’s partner Chris LeVeque will be taking over the business – and that’s good news for those of us who are now spoiled by the presence of naturally-grown and hand-butchered charcuterie.
by Christina Waters | Oct 1, 2007 | Food |
If you haven’t yet gotten the message that the Saturday morning Westside Farmers Market is THE happening place, then allow me to put you straight. Last weekend the market seemed to have doubled its size — harvest time has filled every one of the organic produce, fruit, flower, artisenal cheese, meat and wild seafood stands with an embarrassment of riches. Red, orange and yellow peppers, the very last of the sweet, intense dry-farmed tomatoes, grapes, beans, you know. Fabulous stuff.
Yes, I was told, this new market will continue every Saturday – 9-1 – throughout the year! Part of the fun of the whole age-old market concept is running into friends and neighbors. Also foodies. Kelly and Mark Sanchez were there with armloads of flowers, along with their lovely daughter Anya and her friend Brigette. Patrice Boyle from Soif and La Posta, wine wizard John Locke, Gabriella’s Paul Cocking, and mayor Emily Reilly who swore she was going to take a phone picture of the market and send it to her brother in LA — she’s trying to tempt him up here. The entire university seems to shop here as well, and a very buffed George Ow was spotted close to the River Cafe cheese display. The pleasures of living in a small community.
