Broccoli Tofu, Pumpkin Curry & Brown Rice lunch at Malabar
Some news in the Santa Cruz restaurant world, from two businesses on Front Street: Malabar now serves extremely affordable lunch in addition to dinner, and Mission Hill Creamery is temporarily closed as it searches for a new retail location.
First, regarding Malabar: people who love good international vegetarian food, especially ones who work anywhere near downtown, will be happy to hear that the restaurant now offers lunch service from 1130am-230pm every day except Sunday. Selections include one entree for $6, two-entree combos for $6.50, and three-entree combos for $7; these include your choice of jasmine or brown rice. Entrees rotate; recent choices featured Chickpea & Mushroom, Broccoli Tofu, Pumpkin Curry, and Tempeh Lala. One highly recommended appetizer is Fresh Salad Rolls ($6) with rice-paper-wrapped avocado, tempeh lala, lettuce, carrots, and two sauces on the side: plum sauce and an exquisite almond sauce. I haven’t yet tried Malabar’s dinner, but I’ve heard it’s fantastic. The menu is extensive and intriguing with dishes like Malaysian Mango Salad, Jalapeno Pakoras, Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli in Chipotle Sauce, and Artichokes and Pineapple Sauce. Plus, dinnertime also features homemade ice cream with a rotating flavor each week such as Meyer Lemon with blood oranges, raisins, lavender and ginger syrup, and fresh almonds. Dinner is served from 5-9pm Sun-Thurs and 5-9:30pm Fri-Sat.
Location: 514B Front Street, Santa Cruz 95060, (831) 458-3023.
Mission Hill Creamery announced Monday that its retail location at 504 Front Street is closed, effective immediately. Dave Kumec opened this organic ice cream shop in July 2010 (read background in my article), and Mission Hill’s tasty treats featuring seasonal ingredients from local farms have been satisfying Santa Cruz residents ever since. New gluten-free business Pele’s Oven is now the owner of the Front Street building and is restricting the space to gluten-free retailers, so Mission Hill has to move. Kumec says, “We are beginning our wholesale production and will be selling in local supermarkets as well as some restaurants, cafes, and attractions. We will continue to sell at Santa Cruz Local Foods in the frozen foods section and are still working on a new retail location on Pacific Avenue.” Santa Cruz Local Foods is an online marketplace where you pre-order organic food and then pick up from a pre-set location (or choose bike delivery for an extra fee). Keep up to date with Mission Hill through its Facebook page.
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