by Christina Waters | May 23, 2009 | Art, Home |
Just to prove to you that UCSC arts scholars are messing with traditional art categories – check out this installation of day-glo orange cones. That’s Sesnon Gallery Director Shelby Graham doing the finishing touches.
At the Irwin Scholars 2009 show — reception May 27, 5-7pm. On exhibit through June 13.
Featuring the award-winning artwork of:
Dana Ashton, Jory Bidart, Ben Blair, Ivan Yi-Heng Huang, Anna Huemmer (the cone queen), Jordan Jurich, Conner MacPhee, Maya Manvi, Danni Tsuboi, Jordan Tynes, Bryce Walker, Vince Waring and Mathew Zefeldt.
by Christina Waters | May 23, 2009 | Home, Wine |
Up front let me say that while this week’s cheap wine discovery — a serviceable Nero d’Avola from Ruggero di Tasso — is not nearly as chewy and robust as the phenomenal Phenom (see post below), it is waaaaay better than almost any $3.99 wine on the planet.
For less than four dollars, you’ll experience a nose of blackberries, a central core of Santa Rosa plums and a decent amount of spice, all packed into a 13% alc. slice of Sicily. This wine could save your budget at the next bbq or large-scale pasta dinner. Chase it with plenty of marinara and your palate will barely know the difference.
At TJs.
by Christina Waters | May 20, 2009 | Food, Home |
When that mad scramble for the new and the trendy gets tiring, it’s time to get back to basics.
Mobo Sushi is not only as good as it ever was, it’s now even bigger. Gone are those beloved (or maddening, depending upon your POV) tiered seats. Now Mobo has expanded all the way to the edge of its property. Tons of room, gorgeous, impeccable sushi.
For when that inevitable craving for sushi brings you to your knees.
Mobo Sushi – 105 River, Santa Cruz 425-1700.
by Christina Waters | May 19, 2009 | Home, Wine |
The name says it all – Phenom.
A too-good-to-be-only-$4.99 wine.
Phenom – 2006 Napa Valley Syrah (at least that’s what it says on the label). Deep purple black in hue, this “isolated 400 case production†is loaded with tannins, dark berries and a cedar finish.
That phrase – “isolated 400 case production†– leads one to suspect that this ‘phenomenal’ bargain ($4.99!) is a clear case of surplus grapes looking for a good home. We, you and I dear reader, are the beneficiaries of nature’s glut. Even for a hefty alcohol wine (14.7%) it shows no vapidity. The structure hangs tight and offers enough fruit, spice and yes, even grip, to partner whatever you’ve got going on. Except maybe scallops.
Thank you Wally Goldfrank (one discerning bargain-hunter) for this outstanding tip. At Shoppers Corner.
I did say $4.99 a bottle. The deal of this, or any other recession.
Get on over to Shoppers and load up! I may have left you a few bottles….
by Christina Waters | May 17, 2009 | Home, Wine |
In the world of Randall Grahm, change is the only constant. So it comes as no surprise that the winemaker’s Cellar Door Cafe now offers 3-course, prix fixe family-style dinners – Wed-Sun for $28, excluding tax and tip. This turns out to be a hedonistic bargain when you add your choice of wine – from the huge house of Bonny Doon Vineyard, Ca’ del Solo and other assorted Doon esoterica.
Grahm was ga-ga over the recent installation of a sculptural spaceship — quoting the house “Cigare” logo — created in layers of distressed metals by Michael Leeds.
More Captain Nemo than Starship Enterprise, the handsome artwork looms high over the far tasting room bar (see above). Another reason to spend some time sipping, dining and considering the meaning of it all.
Bonny Doon Vineyard Tasting Room & Cellar Door Cafe – all at the very busy corner of Ingalls & Swift. (328 Ingalls St., Santa Cruz – 831/425-4518)
Open Wed-Sun noon – 9pm; Mon & Tues noon – 5:30pm
by Christina Waters | May 17, 2009 | Home, Wine |
As the Doon Turns: The undulant evolution of the winery’s mission and focus has become as regular as the tides, and so it was a given that Randall Grahm would transform his tasting room once again.
Unveiled in a cascade of preview dinners over the past week, the Cellar Door Cafe — complete with hot new chef, new ambience and an edgy Euro dining concept — is now available as a venue for Bonny Doon Vineyard‘s wines. Softening Mark Primack’s industrial sleek with new couches, wall treatment and attractive staffers, the tasting room-in-progress now showcases a Wednesday through Sunday sit-down, prix fixe dinner created from the ultra-freshest, organic, seasonal fare by Charlie Parker.
A David “Iron Chef” Kinch protegé, Parker (at left in white shirt) sous cheffed at Kinch’s two-star Manresa, as well as Napa’s Ubuntu. He just returned from three months cooking in the Michelin-starred kitchens of Copenhagen’s Noma. Parker — as I learned a few nights ago at a 5-course press dinner in the cavernous tasting room — can conceptualize in synch with Grahm’s oenological galaxy. The menu that evening, starting with suzuki crudo , followed by sensuous confit of pork belly and smoked salmon roe, continued on into a rare beef panzanella heightened by pea shoots, favas, asparagus and garlic gremolata. A dessert of calavados-splashed almond cake (more…)
