RestaurantsWine
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Sweet Swanton Strawberries at the Farmers Market
NewsWine May 22, 2012, by Christina Waters
These fragrant, succulent strawberries from Swanton Berry Farms are just some of the many indicators of warmer weather and lengthening growing conditions. Our farmers markets are now loaded with strawberries, asparagus—delicious pencil-thin asparagus this week from Hog Farms—young red onions with long slender leaves, broccolini, tiny zucchinis and of course fava beans, the ultimate herald of springtime.
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Cabrillo Culinary Students’ End-of-Year Feast
NewsWine May 15, 2012, by Christina Waters
Spring definitely brings out the hunger artist in us all. The opportunities to savor find local food and wine (and beer and ice cream) is too tempting to resist. For example, the food scholars of Cabrillo College’s Culinary Arts Program will present their final dining showcase of the spring semester this week, May 15–17, at the beautiful Pino Alto Restaurant in the historic Sesnon House.
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La Posta Springs Eternal
NewsCuisineWine May 01, 2012, by Christina Waters
The chickens are happy and squawking in their backyard territory. The kitchen herb garden is loaded with fragrance. And chef Katherine Stern’s seasonal menu sprouts beautiful plates of agnolotti with fava leaves and sugar snap peas, shaved asparagus salad with green garlic, and my new favorite—tender potato gnocchi laced with fava beans, green shallots and wild nettles.
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‘Dare to Pair’ Makes Foodie Fun Matches
NewsWine Apr 24, 2012, by Christina Waters
Once again, budding young chefs are looking for vintage inspiration—and that’s because it’s time again for the “Dare to Pair” food and wine challenge, coming up fast on Sunday, April 29. It’s a Westside delight.
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The UCSC Student Behind a New Wine Design
NewsWine Apr 17, 2012, by Christina Waters 2 Comments
Arts student and 2012 Irwin Scholar Louise Leong finds inspiration in her obsession with product design, branding and vintage cartoons. A senior majoring in art at UCSC, Leong recently submitted the design chosen to grace a custom-bottled roussanne white wine made by Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyards.
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515: A Great Rainy Day Getaway
NewsReviewsWine Mar 27, 2012, by Christina Waters
Funky elegance, laid-back glamor and serious libations are among the many charms of downtown’s 515 Kitchen & Cocktails, located at 515 Cedar Street, as my colleagues and I found out last Friday. Happily ensconced on some of the soft cushions in the downstairs lounge, we enjoyed the wet afternoon from afar.
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Coming Soon: Kalefest
NewsWine Mar 20, 2012, by Christina Waters
Do you sometimes skip dessert just so you an have another serving of kale salad? Me too! Kale is truly an astonishing member of the brassica family, beloved for its deep green (sometimes purple) color and its wealth of antioxidants and healthy minerals. Its distinctive bitter flavor makes it a hit with savvy chefs all over the world. And it loves to grow right here on our windswept, fog-kissed coast.
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The New Santa Cruz Mountain Winemakers: Mica Raas
Wine Feb 28, 2012, by Stett Holbrook 1 Comments
The Watsonville-based vintner takes on a winemaking establishment that he says isn’t doing the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation justice.
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The New Santa Cruz Mountain Winemakers: Lindsey Otis
Wine Feb 28, 2012, by Stett Holbrook
Lindsey Otis’ travels as a winemaker have taken her all over the world, but she finally found her place in the Santa Cruz Mountains, close to home. After graduating from UC-Davis’ prestigious oenology program, she headed to France. She then spent time working at Saratoga’s Cooper-Garrod winery and later Bonny Doon Vineyard in Santa Cruz. She moved to New Zealand. She made shiraz and riesling in Australia. Back in the States, she worked in Napa Valley at Silver Oak Cellars, makers of one the region’s bestselling cabernet sauvignons. But Napa wasn’t for her.
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The New Santa Cruz Mountain Winemakers: Denis Hoey
Wine Feb 28, 2012, by Stett Holbrook
It was while enjoying a glass of wine with his then-girlfriend and future wife, Claire, that Denis Hoey realized he wanted to become a winemaker. He had been helping out at Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, and one day he got the last bottle of grenache rose to come off the bottling line. That day, the satisfaction of a hard day’s work, the beauty of the wine and the pleasure that came with enjoying it with somebody he loved sealed the deal.
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