by Christina Waters | Jul 4, 2012 | Home |
Winemaker Ryan Beauregard likes to experiment, and his new 2010 The Lost Weekend semillon-sauvignon blanc blend is an homage to all those new young winemaking turks who like to think outside the varietal status quo.
A blend of grapes that are arguably oenological cousins, Beauregard’s tart creation is light in alcohol, very crisp and yet ripples with bright interior flavors, now apples, now salted flint.
We consumed The Lost Weekend—an homage to the illustrious Bonny Doon saloon that is now the Beauregard Vineyard tasting room—rather quickly, along with some local King salmon, braised quinoa and a salad of infant lettuces from the UCSC Farm.
Look for your Lost Weekend @ Shoppers – $16.
by Christina Waters | Jul 2, 2012 | Home |
I could go into a deep deconstruction of the newest Ridley Scott film in terms of its failure to make sense of its title, its mysteriously murky visuals and its utter refusal to offer anything like an intelligent script.
I could kvetch for weeks about how Scott seemed to proceed without inspiration—and this is the man who gave us two of the milestone scifi films of all time, Blade Runner and Alien (the latter is arguably a “perfect” film, along with the first two Godfathers and the first and third Indiana Jones.
But really it comes down to a weak story line and truly wretched casting.
With due apologies for the original girl with the dragon tattoo’s street cred, she’s no Signourney Weaver. With her matte emotions and fixed expressions, Noomi Place takes me absolutely nowhere. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Jul 2, 2012 | Home |
Think about an old-fashioned ramble through the vineyards, lush and green this time of year.
Now think about a post-Fourth of July ramble through those vineyards at Windy Oaks Estate, where Jim and Judy Schultze will be opening their tasting room—and those atmospheric vineyards—on Friday July 6 from noon until 5pm.
That’s of course in addition to the usual Saturday openings out at this Corralitos home of outstanding Pinot Noirs (and a sensational Chardonnay as well).
For directions and other essential information do check the Windy Oaks website.
by Christina Waters | Jun 27, 2012 | Home |
You live in a community sensitive, picky and gourmet-driven enough to boast delicious gluten-free pastries thanks to Red House Bakery entrepreneurs Tom and Anna Hayes.
I came upon Red House Bakery’s amazingly rich and tender Orange Zest Sour Cream Pound Cake (yes, it tastes as good as it sounds) a few months back at New Leaf. I almost ate the entire slab in one sitting. And now Red House has partnered with Pacific Cookie Company to offer two brand-new cookies utterly without gluten (no wheat flour!), that bear the PacCookCo label.
So far the new gluten free cookie line features an authentic Snickerdoodle and a colossal Chocolate Chip Cookie with Sea Salt that will change your life. [Guittard chocolate chips!]
Stop by the downtown Pacific Cookie Company store and sample these new cookies developed by tenacious kitchen sorceress Anna Hayes. And look for other sinfully good Red House products, such as deeply chocolate fudge brownies, at New Leaf Markets.
by Christina Waters | Jun 27, 2012 | Home |
The crisp, briny, mineral-driven Albariño from Bonny Doon Vineyard.
Chill like crazy, and sip often.
$18.
by Christina Waters | Jun 27, 2012 | Home |
A favorite dining strategy of ours involves transforming one night’s main course into a dinner salad the next night.
And example is a recent dinner of local King salmon. I always roast enough for a second night. In this case we added sauteed mushrooms (leftovers), cherry tomatoes, mixed farmers market greens, sliced yellow zucchini, white cannellini beans (always keep a few cans of these available in your pantry) and a dollop of fabulous black quinoa deli salad from New Leaf.
You can pretty much compose your salad out of whatever you’ve got in the refrigerator. Whip up a fresh vinaigrette—we like white balsamic, olive oil, garlic and jalapeño jelly—and you’re good to go.
