Tag Archives: Father’s Day
Dads & Grads gifts: Gilroy Premium Outlets, Santa Cruz restaurants & cookies
Selections from Le Creuset at Gilroy Premium Outlets. Photo credit: Le Creuset
Waited ‘til the last minute to buy the dad or grad in your life a gift for this weekend? If they like to cook or are a candy fan, see below for a few gift ideas at Gilroy Premium Outlets. Remember that the outlets feature nearly 150 stores, incorporating a range of tastes. For the dad not particularly interested in food, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th has a great selection of clothing and ties, plus designer sunglasses and wallets. And Bose is a good option for the dad that loves music or television.
Outlet hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
Also, if you are shopping for a Santa Cruz foodie or are interested in purchasing a gift with a Santa Cruz theme, see end of article for more ideas.
Gilroy Outlets Food and Cooking Gift Ideas
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- Gift possibilities include grilling skillets, tongs, basting brushes and panini sets for Dad
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- Personalized gift boxes for dads and grads
- Unique flavors including draft beer
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- Kitchen gadgets, cutlery, small appliances, BBQ accessories
Gilroy Outlets restaurants or cafes to purchase gift cards
- Erik’s Deli Café
- Starbucks
For refreshments while shopping, in addition to the aforementioned Starbucks and Erik’s Deli (the Sandwiches with Character at the latter are always popular), three options are:
- All Natural Carts (fresh fruit parfaits you can eat on the go)
- Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
- Gilroy Market Place (specialty coffees, pizza, garlic fries, sandwiches and more)
Santa Cruz Gifts/Gift Cards
Lots of folks appreciate restaurant gift cards; one idea is a card from The Glass Jar, which owns Assembly, The Picnic Basket and The Penny Ice Creamery. Purchase a card at any of these three, and your recipient can choose which venue to redeem it at. Same with Soif and La Posta, you can purchase gift cards at either restaurant, and they are good at both.
Last but not least, Pacific Cookie Company has options if you want to mail a gift. These include what they refer to as “dad-inspired cookie gifts” like Executive Sweet Pack (15 cookies, currently on sale for $23.50 from $26.50). Graduation-themed gifts include Congratulations Cookie Gift Tower (a dozen cookies, $21.95).
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Bay Area Father’s Day restaurants, Part 2—Santa Cruz, Los Gatos, Moss Landing
The Summit Wineries presents Solstice on the Summit Father’s Day weekend
Credit: The Summit Wineries
Father’s Day 2016 is now three days away; have you made your plans? Here are details on a few options in Santa Cruz and nearby including restaurants and wine events. If you missed my first Father’s Day post, here are highlights for San Francisco, Monterey/Carmel Valley/Pebble Beach.
SANTA CRUZ
The Chaminade
The Chaminade (One Chaminade Lane) serves a decadent Father’s Day brunch buffet from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m; the price is $52.95 (adults), $18.95 (kids 6-12), and free for kids under 6. The menu includes grilled steak with Churassco sauce, prime rib, an omelet bar, eggs benedict, cheese blintzes, fresh fruit, a cheese display, and a delectable selection of pastries and desserts. Children’s dishes include chicken strips and curly fries, mini pancakes, and macaroni and cheese. Call (831) 475-5600 for reservations.
Food Lounge
The Santa Cruz Food Lounge (1001 Center St.) has a couple different highlights for Father’s Day weekend:
• Summer Beer Garden debut
All day Saturday and Sunday June 18-19, it’s the first of the Food Lounge’s summer beer garden series. Each month, on the third weekend, the lounge, FL will serve German-style food and local beer on the spacious outdoor patio. There will also be live music, and it’s pet- and family-friendly. Free admission; attendees just pay for food and drinks.
• Father’s Day gifts
All dads who visit the Summer Beer Garden from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday receive a free gift.
Soif
Soif Wine Bar & Restaurant (105 Walnut Ave.) will host European winemakers Johannes Selbach and Vincent Brundlmayer 1-3 p.m. Sunday for a taste of German and Austrian wines, including Rieslings. Tickets are $15 and include bread and snacks. Wine club members get one free entry. Call (831) 423-2020 or email alyssa@soifwine.com to reserve a tasting.
MOSS LANDING
The Haute Enchilada
While the Haute Enchilada Café (7902 Moss Landing Rd., 831-633-5843) doesn’t have a special “Father’s Day menu,” it would still make a great place for Father’s Day lunch. I ate lunch there in March; it was a perfect stop during a drive from Santa Cruz to Carmel Valley and I really enjoyed the food (as I have the other times I’ve gone, once for lunch and once for dinner). During my March lunch, I ordered roasted chile poblano bisque and Brussels sprout salad. For the salad, locally grown sprouts are steamed and sautéed in olive oil with garlic, and mixed with organic arugula, bacon, Parmesan, toasted walnuts and walnut oil/chile de arbol dressing. I had a bite of my husband’s Pork Cubano during lunch and it was equally divine. I have to also mention a fantastic dish that I had during an August 2015 dinner: Peruvian empanadas stuffed w/squash blossoms, zucchini, ricotta and topped with chile de Arbol aioli. Looking at the web site just now, it appears this is currently on the lunch menu and not the dinner menu.
Another note of interest: Haute Enchilada recently received a 2016 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor.The achievement celebrates hospitality businesses such as eateries and accommodations that have earned great reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor “bubble rating” of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.
LOS GATOS/SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
Summit Wineries
The Summit Wineries are offering the fifth annual “Solstice on the Summit” Vintners Festival on Father’s Day weekend. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 18-19. A $25 ticket includes a wine glass and is good for admission both days at all five participating wineries (Burrell School, Silver Mountain, Villa del Monte, Wrights Station, and Muns Vineyard—the latter will be at The Summit Store on Sunday only). There will be food, wine tasting, local artisan gifts for sale, live music and tours. Tickets are available from any participating winery. For more information including a list of what is happening at each winery, visit the web site.
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Bay Area Father’s Day restaurants, Part 1–includes SF & Monterey area
La Mar Cebicheria Peruana in San Francisco, Ca. January 14, 2016. (Photo copyright Nader Khouri 2016)
Father’s Day 2016 is just a few days away. If you have a foodie in your life that’s a dad, it’s time to make plans! Here are details on a few Bay Area restaurants; I’ll publish more later today or tomorrow — including at least a couple options in Santa Cruz.
MONTEREY
The C
While the C at InterContinental The Clement Monterey (750 Cannery Row) doesn’t have any “specific Father’s Day specials,” a restaurant spokesperson emphasized they are the “place to be” in Monterey for Father’s Day Eve, or day of, and provided me with details. “First, the Build Your Bloody Mary option. Dad can craft his own manly version of one of the legendary drinks with the help of our generous bartenders! And if you have laid eyes on the pork chop we serve at the C, you know that it is also fit for a man’s world. If breakfast is the meal, our sensational new menu additions will make any man smile. Steak and eggs with chilaquiles or chiles rellenos filled with corned beef — Delicioso! Sabroso! Factor in the sights and sounds of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the combination makes Dad’s Perfect Day!” For reservations or more info, contact 831-375-4800 or see web site for more information.
CARMEL VALLEY
Carmel Valley Ranch
Carmel Valley Ranch (1 Old Ranch Road) is dishing up a bourbon and BBQ event featuring a pig roast on Father’s Day. It starts with a 3 p.m. cocktail reception and bourbon tasting with Diageo Master of Whiskey Todd Richman. This will include rare varieties like Barterhouse 20-yr Kentucky bourbon plus Crown Royale “Northern harvest” rye whiskey. Barbecue will be served at 4 p.m. Selections created by executive chef Tim Wood will include whole-roasted California Kurobota pig, Kobe tri-tip and grilled summer corn. It’s $75 for bourbon and BBQ or $55 for designated drivers. Call 831-626-2599 for reservations or visit the web site for more information.
PEBBLE BEACH
Poppy Hills Golf Course
There will be lots of food trucks and beer at the second annual Father’s Day Poppy Hills blues festival, 12:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, June 19 at the golf course (3200 Lopez Rd.). Attendees can purchase selections from the Choke Coach, Wood-Fired Catering, Kuki’s, Sideway Street Catering and El Grullense Authentic Mexican Food. Drinks include a Mad Otter beer garden and a Ketel One courtyard. Tickets, which cost $25 or $15 for kids 15 and under, do not include refreshments. Kids’ activities include bounce houses, a rock climbing wall and face painting. Proceeds support the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Monterey County High School All-Star Band. For tickets call 831-622-8239 or visit the web site. Guests are allowed to bring blankets and lawn chairs to the event. Performers include the Chris Cain Band featuring Dan Castro, Tammi Brown and the Al James Band.
SAN FRANCISCO
Roka Akor
Treat dad to a decadent dinner at Roka Akor (801 Montgomery St.) on Sunday, June 19 and enjoy Executive Chef Roman Petry’s three-course tasting menu. From 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., fathers can indulge in delicious robatayaki dishes such as Wagyu Filet Tartare with almond black truffle aioli, truffle caviar and quail egg; Madagascar Tiger Prawn with yuzu koshu chili and lemon; Prime Dry Aged Rib Eye with wafu dressing; and Yuzu Custard Doughnuts with strawberry sorbet. The special tasting menu is priced at $75/person for a minimum of two people. The regular dinner menu will also be available. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made at 415-362-8887 or OpenTable .
Presidio Social Club
Join Presidio Social Club in celebrating Father’s Day with the 10th annual debut of the restaurant’s Sunday Pig Roast series. Beginning on Father’s Day and running every Sunday through mid-October, the restaurant will be serving a savory three-course dinner for $45/person including a fresh Butter Lettuce Salad, a main course of Roast Pig with Crispy Skin, and Pastry Chef Rene Cruz’s famous Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Executive Chef Wes Shaw will be roasting whole pigs in a Caja China adjacent to the restaurant’s coveted covered patio. $10 Mai Tai specials will also be available on Father’s Day. For reservations, call 415-885-1888.
La Mar
Celebrate Father’s Day on the waterfront at La Mar Cebichería Peruana. To commemorate dads, La Mar will offer $1 Chilcanos all day for every cebiche purchased. A staple in Peru, the Chilcano features pisco, ginger beer, and bitters. Reservations are recommended and can be made by visiting the restaurant’s web site or calling 415-397-8880.
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Bay Area restaurants for Father’s Day Part 2 – includes Santa Cruz & Monterey
An example of the food at Monterey’s Cibo Restaurant:
Costoletta di Vitello Ariana (All Natural Veal Chop, Roasted Yukon Potatoes, Wilted Spinach, Red Wine & Pomegranate Reduction)
Here are some Bay Area Father’s Day restaurant highlights — if you missed the roundup that included a couple in San Francisco and Monterey and one in San Jose, click here.
Santa Cruz & Aptos Restaurants
The Buttery
Santa Cruz café and bakery The Buttery is hosting a special brunch. The “Dads & Grads” event will have live music. The menu includes carnitas burritos, potato and zucchini hash, grilled asparagus salad, jalapeno and cheddar cornbread, chocolate bread pudding with salty pretzels, and SCMB Imperial Stout. Brunch is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $20 for adults, $6 for kids 3-12, and free for kids under 3.
702 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
Johnny’s Harborside
Santa Cruz restaurant Johnny’s Harborside is offering special dishes for brunch. Father’s Day brunch specials include smoked salmon, goat cheese, spinach, and avocado omelet with choice of potato hash, fruit, or polenta ($14), loaded breakfast potato skins ($12), and crab cake or grilled steak medallions benedict ($16). The kids can enjoy several $8 specials such as grilled ham and cheese sandwich with potato hash. Call (831) 479-3430 for reservations.
493 Lake Avenue, Santa Cruz
The Chaminade
The Chaminade offers a delicious Father’s Day brunch buffet from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m; the price is $41.95 (adults), $17.95 (kids 6-12), and free for kids under 6. The menu includes grilled steak with Churassco sauce, bourbon glaze baked ham, a savory seafood bar, an omelet bar, eggs benedict, bagels, fresh fruit, a cheese display, and a delectable selection of pastries and desserts. Children’s dishes include chicken strips and curly fries, and a macaroni and cheese bake. Call (831) 475-5600 for reservations.
One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz
Bittersweet Bistro
Bittersweet Bistro is offering a couple $20 specials in honor of Father’s Day. First, $20 select steaks, and second, Hess Select Treo Red Blend wine for $20/bottle. Both selections are available starting at 5 p.m. for dine-in customers only. Call (831) 662-9799 for reservations.
787 Rio Del Mar Blvd., Aptos
Nicholson Vineyards
In honor of Father’s Day, Nicholson Vineyards will offer free wine tasting for dads on Sunday, June 15. The day will also feature barrel tasting, bbq sausages and sweet treats. Call 831-724-7071 for details.
2800 Pleasant Valley Road, Aptos
Monterey
Montrio Bistro
Montrio Bistro has two Father’s Day specials. Reservations are highly recommended; call 831-648-8880. From 4:30 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, the restaurant will offer a special entrée prepared by chef Tony Baker: grilled New York steak smothered with fresh lobster mornay, grilled asparagus, and bacon poutine. Montrio will also feature half-price wine night that evening. Half-price wine nights occur every Sunday at the venue, except for selected blackout dates. Customers can choose from a wide variety of varietals. Visit montrio.com.
414 Calle Principal, Monterey
Tarpy’s Roadhouse (831-647-1444) has a special four-course bacon-themed Father’s Day menu for $55, available all day (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.) in addition to the regular menu. Courses include bacon-wrapped grass-fed beef tenderloin with bourbon black pepper butter, crispy fingerlings, and dino kale.
2999 Salinas Highway, Monterey
Cibo Ristorante Italiano (831-649-8151) is hosting “Grill It for Dad! Father’s Day Special Dinner” from 5 to 10 p.m. The mixed grill special features grilled rib eye, lamb rack, and housemade Italian sausage. Other specials: there will be a complimentary appetizer with dinner, and guests can bring a bottle of wine and pay no corkage fee. Joe Lucido is performing live jazz from 7 to 10 p.m. The regular menu will also be available.
301 Alvarado, Monterey
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa (831-646-1700) is offering the celebration “BBQ, Blues & Brews.” The hotel event is 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dolphins Fountain Plaza. See www.montereyplazahotel.com.
400 Cannery Row, Monterey
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Bay Area restaurants for Father’s Day Part 1 — includes San Jose, SF & Monterey
Buffalo wings and beer at Cannery Row Brewing Company
Father’s Day 2014 is less than a week away, on Sunday, June 15. If you have a foodie in your life that needs some celebrating, you’d better make plans! Here are details on a few Bay Area restaurants; I’ll publish more in the next couple days including restaurants in Santa Cruz and a few more Monterey highlights.
SAN FRANCISCO
Top of the Mark at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins
Top of the Mark and Executive Chef Nenad Stefanovic present a delicious brunch buffet. Guests will enjoy a carving station with Roasted Bone in Prime Rib of Beef and Baby Back Ribs with whiskey BBQ sauce and entrees like Grilled NY Steak with cipollini onion, cherry tomato, demi glace and Pan Seared Corvina with fennel beurre blanc. Breakfast favorites for dad include Pork Belly Benedict with coleslaw and chipotle hollandaise sauce and a Forest Ham and California Monterey Jack Strata. An omelet and buttermilk waffle station are also available. The price is $79 for adults and $45 for ages four through 12. Children three and under are complimentary. Brunch is served from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. For reservations, call 415-616-6916.
Off the Grid: Picnic at the Presidio for Father’s Day
Sit back and treat Dad to a Father’s Day indulgent experience complete with a reserved blanket to take home as a souvenir. There is a $100 package for two or a $150 package for four that includes:
• A signature Picnic at the Presidio blanket ($35 retail value), for you to keep
• One or two beer kits (depending on package) for the group to share
• Tri-tip lunch for two or four
Pick a spot upon your arrival and they will lay out a picnic blanket for you and your party.After seating, enjoy a choice of one of the Presidio Bar’s beer kits (5 bottles of Scrimshaw or Pacifico) as The Whole Beast prepares your tri-tip lunch. They will serve up your tri-tip lunch with sides (baked beans, potato salad and green salad with bleu cheese dressing) right to your blanket.
Book here
Presidio Social Club
PSC will host its annual Father’s Day Pig Roast on Sunday, June 15. Following in the spirit of a backyard luau, the Pig Roast is a vintage-Hawaiian themed event taking place throughout the restaurant with two pigs rotating through the spit on the sunny back patio. Available from 1 p.m. through dinner service, the Pig Roast meal is a composed plate including meat right off the spit, two sides and a scrumptious Pineapple Upside-down Cake with coconut sorbet for dessert. For reservations, call 415-885-1888.
SAN JOSE
Fogo de Chão
On Father’s Day, Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse invites the man of the hour to relax and enjoy his special day, while Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs do all the grilling. As a special thank-you, Dads who dine on Father’s Day will receive a Father’s Day card good for a complimentary lunch or dinner towards their next visit. The Father’s Day menu will feature the restaurant’s extensive variety of fire-roasted meats that are specially carved to each guest’s preference. Make reservations online or call 408-244-7001.
MONTEREY
Cannery Row Brewing Company
Located in downtown Monterey right off historic Cannery Row, the building was once a cannery (as the name suggests) but is now redefining Northern California brewhouses and casual dining. With 73 beers on tap, a dining room, and outdoor fire pits, Cannery Row Brewing Company is a family-friendly spot to enjoy Father’s Day. This year dads can enjoy a Prime Rib special paired with English Ales Big Sur Golden, a local Monterey brewery, for $25. Other regular selections include burgers and buffalo wings. The venue is open from 11:30 a.m. to midnight. Call 831-643-2722 (note: the web site is supposed to be canneryrowbrewingcompany.com but at press time the link wasn’t working).
Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa
The hotel’s “TusCA Ristorante, The Fireplace Lounge” is having a special BBQ-themed dinner. A $25 special features oregano BBQ lamb ribs, rosemary red potatoes, and grilled sweet corn with thyme butter. Dads get free strawberry shortcake with the purchase of an entrée. Call 831-657-6675 for reservations.
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Last-minute Father’s Day restaurants in Santa Cruz and Los Gatos
Lamb meatballs at Dio Deka in Los Gatos
Father’s Day is Sunday – some restaurants in the Santa Cruz and Los Gatos areas are fully booked, especially since it’s also graduation weekend at UCSC – but others are still available. Below are a few that offer reservations via OpenTable.com.
A couple places worth mentioning that don’t take online reservations (you need to call for availability) are Bittersweet Bistro in Aptos and Dio Deka in Los Gatos. Bittersweet (831-662-9799) is serving Father’s Day dinner specials including several $15 steaks such as Top Sirloin with gorgonzola cabernet demi-glace, crispy onion rings, garlic mashed potatoes, and roasted asparagus, or New York Steak with cabernet demi-glace, garlic mashed potatoes, and sauteed garlic spinach. Dio Deka (408-354-7700) is serving special Father’s Day brunch items including Dio Deka Steak & Eggs with grilled prime filet mignon, poached eggs and sauce béarnaise; Keftethakia lamb meatballs, blistered grapes, Kalamansi yogurt and a light herb-broth; and Zambonopita – a crispy puff-pastry stuffed with Virginia smoked ham, green onion, feta, Kasseri and ricotta cheeses. Dio Deka is also open for regular dinner service that evening.
BRUNCH
As of 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 14, the following restaurants (listed alphabetically) still had selected Father’s Day brunch reservations available. Call or make reservations through OpenTable.com:
- Aquarius (831) 460-5012
- Café Mare (831) 458-1212
- Chocolate the Restaurant (831) 427-9900
- El Palomar (831) 425-7575
- Hoffman’s Bistro (831) 420-0135
- Lago Di Como (831) 454-8257
- Laili (831) 423-4545
- Main St. Garden & Café (831) 477-9265
- Oak Tree Ristorante (831) 335-5551
- Solaire Restaurant & Bar (831) 600-4545
DINNER
As of 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 14, the following restaurants still had selected Father’s Day dinner reservations available.
Eight out of the 10 restaurants listed above in “Brunch” are ALSO available for selected dinner reservations (El Palomar and Main St. are not). In addition, the four below are available for dinner. Please call restaurant directly or make reservations through OpenTable.com:
- Johnny’s Harborside (831) 479-3430
- la Posta (831) 457-2782
- Michael’s on Main (831) 479-9777
- Soif Wine Bar & Restaurant (831) 423-2020
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