by Christina Waters | May 16, 2009 | Home |
Gabriella Café and Pie Ranch team up on June 7 for a mouth-watering “Grow a Farmer†Fundraising Dinner.
You know I’m wild about the cooking of Gabriella Cafe chef Brad Briske. You know I adore all things organic, AND that includes the farmers who grow them. I’m totally behind this chance to taste Briske’s cooking at one of our top local ranches.
For more than 40 years, the Apprenticeship program at UC Santa Cruz has been turning out farmers and gardeners dedicated to market fresh organics while caring for the land. On Sunday, June 7, Gabriella Café and Pie Ranch will team up to support the program with a “Grow a Farmer†benefit dinner at Pie Ranch, located near Año Nuevo State Reserve.
“The apprenticeship program is essential to future of organic food and agriculture. It’s a pleasure and a gift to work with (more…)
by Christina Waters | May 15, 2009 | Home, Movies |
You don’t have to be old enough to remember William Shatner before he was the Priceline Negotiator to love the new Star Trek cine-blitz. I admit to being twice trekkie – loved the original in reruns, and adored the Jean-Luc Picard “Next Generation” team – loved them to bits! I also loved this movie.
In the new installment – lightyears better than those latex-intensive Lucas flix – the spirit of Kirk and Spock materializes brilliantly in the young, hot-to-the-max form of Chris Pine (Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Spock). Director J.J. Abrams knew enough not to destroy one of the great love/hate affairs of all tv/film – the push-pull between the hot, brash young space captain and the Vulcan genius given existential angst by his human genes. And without sacrificing anything in the way of opulent, futuristic effects — the malevolent Romulan colony is fabulously imagined, and the vintage Starship Enterprise is shown off to nostalgic fare-thee-well — the film keeps its focus tight on the two principals, their backstories and the romp through space as they acquire their mythic sidekicks.
“Dammit Jim — I’m a doctor, not an engineer.” It’s a total hoot to hear the classic McCoy line (more…)
by Christina Waters | May 4, 2009 | Food, Home, Wine |
The kitchen of Chris Avila just continues to provide comfort to serious foodies and adventurous winos. Take the other evening, for example. Armed with a glass of four-dimensional Sangiovese, I feasted on one of those amazing scallops appetizers Soif does so well.
The trio of scallops – always perfectly golden crisp exterior with buttery tender interior – arrived on a bed of crisp baby enoki mushrooms, strewn on a rich cushion of potato risotto. A moat of transparent parsley oil circled the shellfish.
See what I mean?
Soif.
by Christina Waters | May 3, 2009 | Food, Home |
Pissaladiere, ratatouille, pistou – just some of the luscious flavors of Spring in the French Countryside. They are yours for lunch now at Au Midi in Aptos.
Michel and Muriel Loubi̩re emailed to tell me that their charming bistro is now open from Wednesday to Saturday for lunch (11:30-2) and dinner (5:30 Р9pm) РSunday for dinner only.
To join Muriel’s splendid authentic French cuisine you can now choose from the entire line of premium wines from Windy Oaks Estate, recently added to the Au Midi wine list.
There is so little genuine, intimate handmade food still available in Santa Cruz area restaurants….treat yourself to the real thing at Au Midi (a bit out-of-the-way, tucked behind the Aptos Cinema).
by Christina Waters | Apr 25, 2009 | Home, Wine |
That would be 2007,(at least in the Corralitos region of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA) and proof was offered of this last week at the Alfaro tasting room. Richard poured tastes of two (of his ten!) pinot noirs, for me and viticultural consultant Prudy Foxx, made from the Lester Family Vineyard pinot noir estate grapes. Foxx is the viticulturist for the grapes that went into both the 2006 (shown here) and 2007 vintages.
The difference was stunning, though both wines still have miles to go before their full resolution. 2006, from a notoriously wet year, was rounded and earthy. Spherical. Loaded with fruit. The 2007 was angular and intricate, even in its extreme youth. Refreshing and edgy, it offered a more interesting ride, showing yin and yang – muscle and sinew. Bay leaves and aged copper.
by Christina Waters | Apr 25, 2009 | Home, Wine |
You bet! And that’s just what we had last Friday at the biodynamic cafe attached to the Bonny Doon Vineyard tasting room. Fresh from the oven came the pizza du jour, a feisty creation of roasted cauliflower, wild nettles, mozzarella, ricotta and sea salt. Thin crust, done ala Romana, which is my highest compliment. Seriously terrific pizza, it was miraculous paired with Le Cigare Blanc, a white Rhone-style beauty that is currently on the tasting room flight.
Changes are afoot chez Doon, and you can expect a knock-your-socks-off unveiling of all-new menu, all-new kitchen, all-new chef at Le Cigare Volant Cafe right around May 15. Stay tuned!
And check out the recent NYTimes piece on the reinvention of Randall Grahm.
