Our very own downtown enoteca Vinocruz, was showcased in Friday’s Wall Street Journal. And for good reason. This little gem of a tasting depot – tucked behind the Octagon
on Cooper Street – offers 185 wines from 64 area wineries, some famous and celebrated, others small and family-run. If you haven’t stopped by to stretch your oeno-palate and chat with Jeffrey and J-P, then get on over there. Say hi to Bodhi for me! Vinocruz is located in Abbott Square, off Cooper Street – 831/426 VINO – and is open for tasting of our finest local wines Mon-Th 11am-7pm (until 8pm on weekends); Sun noon to 6pm.
. . . And over at Manresa, with its gorgeous interior, killer tasting menu and two Michelin stars, chef-entrepreneur David Kinch has been nominated for a James Beard award, Best Chef: Pacific. Manresa’s chef de cuisine, James Syhabout, is nominated for Rising Star Chef of the Year. If you haven’t yet visited the outstanding Los Gatos restaurant that Kinch has grown into a world-renowned destination, you will want to treat yourself to the Citrus Modernista Dinner, a once-a-year celebration of local, California Coast citrus.
Kinch & company will perform unbelievable culinary voodoo with extraordinary varieties of citrus including Mandalo and Ruby Red grapefruit, Kalpi lime, Kishu mandarin, Vangassay lemon, calamondin, yuzu, Mexican lime, and Indio Mandarinquat from a private citrus farm in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The special, palate-challenging six-course dinner begins (open seating) at 5:30 p.m., with the last seating at 9:00 p.m. Two wine pairings selected by sommelier Jeff Bareilles will be available. The Citrus Modernista Dinner is $140 per person, exclusive of wine, tax, and gratuity. So worth it! For reservations call 408.354.4330.
And in this month’s Via Magazine, sent to almost everyone in the world by the friendly folks at AAA, there’s a charming little spread (okay it’s not all factually correct, but the intention is good) on our own San Lorenzo Valley – including justly deserved plugs for Scopazzi’s in Ben Lomond, the mighty Tyrolean Inn in Ben Lomond, and California’s first State Park – Big Basin – where my great-grandfather William Dool was the first warden.
