October 1 – 8 . . .
Meder Street Sunday Market
If you're like us, you live for August and September — dry-farm tomato season! The best, the most intensely-flavored, the juiciest - tomatoes the way the Great Mother intended them to be. And there are lots of terrific tomatoes out there at our farmers markets. But...
NuLu @ Capitola Book Cafe
Restless Lulu Carpenters entrepreneur Manthri Srinath emailed to tell me that his empire now stretches from Scotts Valley, through downtown Santa Cruz and over to....Capitola! Caffeine enabler Srinath has installed all the sensitive and jolting coffee drinks and...
Getting Fresh
The Farm Cart is back at the foot of the UCSC campus, every Tuesday and Friday, and it's loaded with crisp greens, long-stemmed cippolini onions, herbs, flowers and berries. Ah, the blueberries and strawberries have been especially wonderful this year. Maybe it's the...
A Bite of Bastille
Muriel and Michel of Au Midi invite all of their friends and patrons to come to the great French summer fest known as Bastille Day — Tuesday, July 14th, naturellement! The intimate Aptos bistro will be open that evening by reservation only, for a limited seating of...
Block Party Bonanza
Obviously it was an idea whose time had arrived. The idea of an outdoor community dinner seemed simple enough. But who knew that it would be so wildly popular that even before the 6pm start time the long table between Kelly's and its companion wineries was packed....
Grazing Market @ Kelly’s
This Saturday - 6-9pm - June 27 - bring your own plates, utensils & glassware and take a seat at the long, long communal table for a summer al fresco feast. Dining on farm-fresh dishes in the middle of Kelly's Swift & Ingalls parking lot. The idea is effortless. Mark...
Hottest Ticket in Town
That would be Bonny Doon Vineyard's Cellar Door — where Friday night hosted out-of-towners and locals, artists — including "Cigare" sculptor Michael Leeds, who sat directly under his distinctive metal creation (see post below) — and robust ultra-fresh dishes...
MoBo
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...
Scallops @ Soif
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...
Lunch @ Au Midi
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 Loubiére emailed to tell me that their charming bistro is now open from Wednesday to...
Brad’s Beets, and other oral fantasies
Brad Briske is currently playing around with an appetizer of deep magenta roasted beets — Route One — topped with a creamy ricotta favetta and a sprig of infant beet greens. In addition to 30-year-old balsamic, this dish features one more secret bit of luxury....
Can Your $11 Do This?
Sure, you could dumb down your choices - save pennies, clip coupons, consume something that makes you hate yourself in the morning. Or you could have a meal that stimulates all your senses. That makes you feel glad about spring, living at the ocean, being alive....
A Newer Leaf
Lofty ceilings, rivers of sunlight, polished earth-toned floors — New Leaf unveiled its newest store on the Westside this morning to the obvious delight of a full house of discerning consumers. Glittering displays of fruit, seafood, and pastries joined an entire...
Plum Line
Back when most people grew their own crops and made their own sauces, pies and jams, some gifted artisan with a slow hand and an open heart might have made this jam. (Shown here on my breakfast table already half-consumed along with coffee, eggs, toast and butter.)...
Kelly’s Dinner Market – Sat. June 26
Ceviche tostados from H&H Fresh Fish—sausage sandwiches from El Salchichero - brie and olives from New Leaf - and Kelly's cream puffs with fresh strawberries for dessert. This is only part of the al fresco menu coming up this Saturday at the expanded Dinner Market...
Gourmet Gossip
Okay, not really gossip, just more like mini-updates. Bites, if you will. I'm hearing very good things about Brad Briske's new gig over at Main Street Garden Cafe (the old Theo's). And I'm hearing them from extremely discerning gourmets, such as Windy Oaks' Judy...
Breaking News
El Salchichero, Chris LeVeque — with a bit of help from his organic grower parents — is deep into the renovation of the former crafts studio at the top edge of Kelly's Ingalls empire. What will emerge, soon, is the talented meat guy's enormous charcuterie works....
Morning at the Cloisters
The Certosa di Galuzzo is an enormous cloister dating from the 1300s located about three miles up into the hills above Florence. In other words, it is situated on one of those stereotypically picturesque Tuscan hillsides dotted with tall black Lombardy cypresses and...
More Late-breaking News
Over at Gabriella, owner Paul Cocking has already scored a new chef — Kynan Campisi— formerly of Michael Mina in San Francisco. "He's energetic, organized and intelligent," says Cocking of his latest chef. "All the things you want." Can't wait to sample the new...
Archiving the Farm
Come celebrate an astonishing array of oral histories of organic farmers and researchers, from the 60s through the present - on Monday, May 24, 5-7pm at the UCSC Farm. Music by the Rolling Cultivators (with a name like that, they have to be good), food and...
Cabrillo Winemaker Dinner – May 20
This Thursday, May 20, Vine Hill Winery teams up with top talent from the Cabrillo College Culinary Arts program for a dreamy match-up of wines and menu. Actually, it's close to the deal of the century. A four-course, $65 prix fixe dinner matching innovative dishes...
Cirque du Joze
In his glory and surrounded by a) adoring culinary fans, b) terrific music, and c) spicy aromas of garlic, chile and ginger, Joseph Schultz ascended the stage/altar and wok'd and wok'd until no plate was empty. It was a May Day afternoon devoted to gado gado, Dragon...
Soup Supper @ Cocoanut Grove – April 29
The Homeless Services Center's 11th Annual Soupline Supper and Benefit Auction is coming up on Thursday, April 29, 5:30-7:30 ($25) at the Cocoanut Grove on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. After ten years tradition at the Holy Cross Parish hall, this is the first year at a...
Kitchen Magic
Surrounded by the sacred artifacts, fetishes and flavorings of his alchemical trade, and clad in ceremonial robes, well-seasoned shaman of all things culinary—Joseph Schultz—prepares for an intensive workshop in Greco-Turkish cooking at the demonstration kitchen...