Fusion Reaction
The subtext behind complaints about multi-cuisine restaurants (see my mini-rant below) is not only that it's incredibly difficult to get one culinary genre right, much less two or three. But that calling a place, e.g. an "Asian Restaurant" implies that there is such a...
Grahm Does Manresa
The irrepressible Randall Grahm, winemaker of Bonny Doon Vineyard will lead gastronomes through a memorable evening of wine and cuisine at Manresa, in Los Gatos, on September 7. Chef David Kinch will prepare a four-course dinner at his Michelin-starred landmark,...
A Fusion Too Far?
"Chinese-Japanese Cuisine" says the sign on the old China Station building at Fair & mission, which is currently being revamped for a future opening. Huh? The Westside is prime restaurant territory, where roving foodies (not to mention ravenous students) eagerly await...
Salad Daze
Ben Sims at Avanti made my new favorite summer salad last week. Fresh local albacore confit, shredded into unctuous morsels and then arranged with organic green beans, heirloom baby tomatoes and a garlicky, fresh aioli garnish. Consumed with something in the key of...
Another Reason to Live
At this week's SCMWA professional wine judging, Lionel Le Morvan of Ma Maison Restaurant laid out a spread that was truly choice. Giant shrimps from French New Caledonia, coucous with succulent chicken and fiery harissa, housemade lamb sausages (tdf!), gorgeous...
Scallops @ Soif
My new favorite light dinner - three fat, perfectly cooked scallops sitting on a bed of crunchy, roasted cauliflower. The sauce? A dazzling sweet-&-salty puree of raisins and capers. For $13, it's an affordable luxury. Add a Gruner Veltliner and find yourself smiling...
Cocktails @ Clouds
Moss doesn't grow on Lou Caviglia, who lies awake at night dreaming up ever more tantalizing deals-of-the-century. My friend Susan adores the Martini Dinner specials at Clouds, and she showed me why last week when four of us lived large for very little $$$ at the...
Last Tango?
Since the "peace candidate" has announced that we should be sending more troops to Afghanistan, I figure it's time to party like there's no tomorrow. And to help, here's a new organic, luxurious butter from the nice folks of Clover. Ultra-creamy European-style,...
Fresh Mint Gelato: the Sequel
Yes, I know. Many of you ran out to Shoppers to find this extraordinary frozen sin and it was all gone. Here's why. My original source, gourmet realtor Dee Vogel, confessed. She kept buying tub after tub of this Ciao Bella gelato, and has by her own admission taken on...
Farm-fresh Produce
By now you've already finished up your romance with English peas and have moved on to peaches and chiogga beets. We've been enjoying the strawberries and tender baby greens — both wild and cultivated — offered by the Farm Cart at UCSC. Tuesdays and Fridays, the...
Fresh Mint – Frozen Sin
Thanks to gourmet realtor Dee Vogel — a woman tireless in her quest for a better mouthfull — I discovered a wicked new way to give my mouth a treat. And thanks to those merciless Ciao Bella gelatistas, I now know about Fresh Mint. Forget about that goopey, green,...
Rose Jelly & auld lang syne
A small plate of cheese. And figs, and quince paste. And especially rose jelly. Jelly that tastes and smells like roses in some English garden. This was 'dessert' at Soif last week, where I toasted the passing of a long-lost friend.
Food of the Gods
Here's our new favorite breakfast treat — something as old as the gods of Olympus. Greek-style yogurt from the clever marketing minds of Greek Gods Yogurt. Greek yogurt is yogurt the way the gods intended it - full fat and ultra creamy. So yes, there are a few more...
Lunch @ Soif: Week One
Smart plates in a sleek, sophisticated setting. (Nothing beats alliteration - nothing.) Anya and I checked out the brand-new lunch menu at Soif last Friday and were treated to some lovely stuff in the way of a chopped salad of romaine entangled with crisp red cabbage,...
The Word
The word is that Oswald is definitely still in the pipeline. Yesterday there were two trucks out front, at the corner of Soquel and Front Sts., plumbing guys doing something to the interior. So that looks promising. When? Well, you might think about Thanksgiving in a...
Food & Wine Gossip
Come join former Lick Observatory director-turned-winemaker Joe Miller & company, for the Grand Opening of Hillcrest Terrace Winery on November 14 from 12:30-6:00 pm, when there will be an opportunity to taste the wines, grab some food, and watch Mayor Cynthia Mathews...
Rio Lounge Unveils
The Backstage Lounge – the latest exciting idea in dining entertainment from David Jackman, is open for dinner 5-10pm nightly serving Asian-inspired dishes, with beer on tap and a few good wines. The opening menu features wraps, rolls, potstickers, pork ribs and...
Soif – Good Reason to Dine #46
As if the stupendous selection of fine wines wasn't enough, now Soif is continuing its prix fixe menu through the entire month of November. To raise awareness about breast cancer — and to help the work of WomenCARE, in Santa Cruz, Soif has created a smart menu of...
Flavor-free Anti-Product of the Week
We've all done it. Run into Trader Joe's, desperate for a few last-minute staple items. There it was - eye-catching, under $5 (rare these days) and allegedly loaded with fiber. I bought it. We tasted it. We rejected it. Why? No flavor. None. Zero. Zip. I've tasted...
Seattle’s Union
At the very strategic corner of First Avenue & Union, next door to the Seattle Art Museum and hanging over Pike Place market, Union is a very smart island of low-key sophistication. Chef Ethan Stowell, whose sibling restaurants include the popular Tavolata and How to...
Kelly’s October Dinner Market – Oct. 24
You wanted it - you got it. The vibrant and popular block party that made the Westside hum last summer, is back again. Here's a sneak peek.... Carried Away quinoa salad with mango Bonny Doon Cellar Door pulled pork sandwich with romesco sauce O’mei Hunan Smoked Ribs...
Sandwich Sizzle
You know me. Ultra organic, ultra healthy - no unnecessary fats, nothing fried (except maybe well...). But there I was a few Sundays ago, staring at the most beautiful, hot, freshly-grilled sandwich in creation. One bite and I melted - sort of like the Swiss cheese...
Kelly’s Harvest Block Party – Oct. 24, 4-7pm
Back by popular demand - the Westside's largest block party will happen once again in the parking lot of Kelly's (Swift & Ingalls). You know the deal. Local restaurants, farmers and purveyors will set up food stations. You bring all of your plates, stemware and table...
Kawabunga!
Kawa Sushi - two words that spell instant oral gratification. Spacious interior, pristine, high-quality sushi and sashimi, friendly service, and a user-friendly sake happy hour for those who like to dine early and often. Here's our dinner last Tuesday - including our...
Tapas @ Mundaka
No longer just a gorgeous place in Spain, Mundaka is also the name of a hot new tapas restaurant in the center of Carmel. Gabe Georis and his partners have worked interior design miracles with burnished, distressed and time-worn recycled materials, all of which give a...