Verve in Seabright
Holding down a central spot in the warehouse district next to Pacific Edge climbing gym and behind Day's Market, the spacious new coffee roasting plant for Verve also boasts a very very tiny espresso counter, with a few stools at the bar and unlimited schmoozing space...
Opinionista Outspeak
I am so tired of people complaining that dining out in restaurants is just too expensive. Is it really a big savings if you clip coupons like a mad woman and save $$$ on food you wouldn't normally buy? Are you being totally smart by eating cheap junk food, or...
The Week of Prix Fixe
From the looks of it Santa Cruz Restaurant Week succeeded brilliantly in getting diners out of their kitchens and into some of the top eateries in the county. We stopped by La Posta for three interesting courses, from pizzetta to an imaginative artisanal cheese...
My New Favorite Cigare
It surprised even me that of oh say a dozen vintages sampled last week of Le Cigare Volant—that sensuous blend of syrah, grenache, mourvedre and cinsault—I would find myself leaning into a glass of one of Randall Grahm's white Rhônes. But I did. (See post below.)...
Cigare Lands @ the Cellar Door
A recent vertical tasting of Le Cigare Volant—the Bonny Doon Vineyard flagship creation—showed off the evolving style, and substance, of vintage 1993 through 2009 of Randall Grahm's main squeeze. Incidentally the odd-numbered years showed especially well....
Inside the Flame
A book of sensory adventure: The rituals, passions and discoveries of an engaged life.