by Christina Waters | Oct 21, 2010 | Food, Home, Wine |
The lovely Pino Alto dining room at Cabrillo’s historic Sesnon House, formed a graceful backdrop for some cool jazz and exciting food and wine pairings last Wednesday evening.The highlights for me were the elegant sounds of Hot Club Pacific trio (who also hold down the house at Soif each Monday night), and the well-trained students from Mike Wille‘s advanced culinary class, who served, cleared endless dishes and stemware, and served some more throughout the evening. The evening, this year’s version of the recent “Dare to Pair” wine & food event, marked the mid-term exam of Wille’s young team.
Another highlight was an engaging match of (more…)
by Christina Waters | Oct 12, 2010 | Food |
For six years the source of astounding eggs, pastured pork and an organic paradise for happily and humanely-raised livestock, TLC Ranch has become a casualty of the economy.
Jim Dunlop and Rebecca Thistlethwaite, TLC owners, explained in a long newsletter narrative that they couldn’t fight the high cost of property and farm help, and the dwindling availability of meat processing stations. Consumer reluctance to pay what it took to create handmade, free-range, pastured foods finished them off, and a multi-year dream was taken off life support.
Yes it was expensive food. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Oct 10, 2010 | Food |
Whoa! Where did the time go? Back in the late 70s Scott Roseman was your basic UCSC student. Then he got involved in the Food Co-op located on the Westside of Santa Cruz. Next thing you know, there’s the Westside Community Market which in turn morphed into the mighty New Leaf community Market on Mission Street in 1990.
One thing led to another and now Scott and his New Leaf partner Rex Stewart lead a mini-empire of New Leafs (New Leaves?) – and to help them celebrate, the entire county (more…)
by Christina Waters | Sep 26, 2010 | Food, Home, Wine |
Report from the Vineyards: Yes, it’s true that wild man winemaker Richard Alfaro has cut his locks — “I donated a 15-inch pony tail to Locks of Love,” he revealed a few days ago. (You can see why I didn’t pry any further.) Alfaro also says he’s experiencing a “reverse Samson” effect from the hair cut: “my strength has doubled and my six-pack abs have returned.”
Alfaro officially started the harvest of 2010 as of September 27 – “bins are being cleaned and loaded on the trailer for delivery…. winery equipment is being sanitized….. lab work has started…the phone is ringing off the hook with fresh information from my growers…the fridge is stocked with beer and the margaritas are being mixed!!!!” Alfaro says he expects to pick until the end of November. “The fruit is late but WONDERFUL” he added. Most of his Corralitos and south appellation colleagues are ready to begin their harvests too — “the action is started.”
I chatted last week with Peter Rinaldi, a third-generation Santa Cruzan who’s about to open Rocco’s at 503 Water Street. Why am I telling you this? Because Rocco’s is the new Italian-influenced dining place occupying the site of the late Limoncello, that’s why.
We’re happy to know that there will soon be a fresh new restaurant in this familiar old location, and Rinaldi — who also manages next-door Callahan’s — said that he wants to make sure the restaurant is casual, inviting and uses as many local purveyors as possible. Stay tuned! . . . .
And Chris leVeque tells me that his long-awaited El Salchichero house of artisan charcuterie is moving along — the interior tilework is, in a word, awesome. But he’s thinking that perhaps Thanksgiving might be a more realistic opening date than Halloween. Stay hungry!. . . .
by Christina Waters | Sep 21, 2010 | Food |
Harvest Festival at the UCSC Farm – this Sunday 11 AM to 5PM.
Don’t miss this rewarding, old-fashioned “back to the garden” afternoon. It’s the biggest “open house” of the year up at UCSC’s atmospheric farm.
Live music, food, apple tasting, an apple pie bake-off, garden talks, hay rides, kids’ events, tours, displays by local farmers, chefs, and community groups and free for kids and students, only $5 for general public.
Call 831.459-3240 or send email for more information or to volunteer for this wonderful community event.
by Christina Waters | Sep 17, 2010 | Food, Home |
Somebody once said that one picture was worth a thousand sips of sangiovese.
Like this one.
