Valentine’s wine gift from In Good Taste

Posted on February 7, 2026 by admin

For Valentine’s Day or other occasions, In Good Taste has created a fun advent-style wine collection. “A Dozen Rosés” contains 12 mini rosé wine bottles, each with a 6-ounce pour. There are some never-before-released wines, and the beverages come in an attractive and sturdy box with numbered doors. I can attest to the box’s appeal, as I received a sample from the company. Note: if you don’t buy one for a Valentine’s or Galentine’s gift, it could also be a great anniversary or birthday gift.

Some of the wine is sparkling, and one of the varieties has a kick due to jalapeno. Many have fruit flavors such as strawberry, cranberry, cherry or pomegranate. There are tasting notes inside the box. In Good Taste has apparently been producing these gift sets for four years. The origin story? It’s been said that “the ladies in founders Zach and Joe’s lives begged for ‘an all-rosé, advent-style experience’ and what started as a request became a tradition.”

If your intended gift recipient isn’t a rosé lover, there are other collections on the website like ones specializing in California or sparkling wine. The website also currently (as of Feb. 7, 2026) has a discount available.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Solar-powered roaster offers Valentine’s coffee, tea specials

Posted on February 6, 2026 by admin

Fresh Roasted Coffee is a solar-powered roaster that has been around since 2009, and roasts its coffee in eco-friendly Loring™ Smart Roasters. They recently offered me some coffee samples and I enjoyed them. The company is offering a “buy one, get one at 30% off” promotion this weekend, through Feb. 8, and it’s a great time to buy some Valentine’s gifts. Use the code PAIRUP.

Coffee gift options include bundles with flavored or unflavored coffee and a variety of roasts. I’m a dark roast person myself, so one package that caught my eye is Dreaming of Dark Roasts with 12 whole bean coffee samples (2.5 oz. each). These include Dark Brazilian Cerrado, Dark Guatemalan Huehuetenango and Italian Roast. Fans of sweet flavors might enjoy Mocha Moments, which has three bags featuring sugar-free flavored coffees: Mocha, Raspberry Mocha, and Salted Caramel Mocha.

For tea lovers, ideas include the Sweetheart Steeps – Loose Leaf Tea Bundle (see photo above) with three 4 oz. samples of organic tea: Lover’s Cup black tea, Strawberries & Cream green tea, and an herbal tea.

Happy almost-Valentine’s Day to you!

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Spotlight on a great Santa Cruz County dish: Avocado Toast at Verve Coffee Roasters

Posted on July 31, 2025 by admin
Avocado toast from Verve Coffee Roasters, photo Tara Fatemi Walker

So, I’ve been familiar with Verve’s great drinks—including espresso drinks like a smooth Americano, and the unique Bowl of Soul (tea latte with soy and honey) for a long time. And the Manresa Bread pastries they carry are divine (almond escargot anyone?). But now that I’ve tasted it, I wonder how I have been surviving without their avocado toast. It is amazing!

The earthy levain bread has a perfect texture. Cultured butter serves as the base, and then mashed avocado, sliced radish, and pickled shallots are layered on top. I love the sharpness of the shallots against the creaminess of the avocado. This dish is not only delectable, but also very visually appealing.

I enjoyed this treat at the 41st Avenue location, and I had a chance to speak with manager Malaya Gold soon afterwards. I was curious about the toast’s history. “Verve started serving avocado toast in 2016,” said Malaya. “We were the first cafe in Santa Cruz to feature what has now become such a popular item.”

Avocado toast is the top-selling savory food item at the 41st Ave. café. Malaya, who is personally a big fan of this avocado toast, wanted to share a ‘pro tip’ with my readers: add a poached egg. “The addition of the egg elevates the toast, and it’s so fun popping the egg.” You can also get the avocado toast as a bowl—same toppings but instead of on toast it’s over a bed of arugula. Both of these variations sound intriguing to me; I will try one of them in the very near future and mention the bowl option to my gluten-free friends.

In addition to the 816 41st Ave. location, you can find the avocado toast at Verve’s 1540 Pacific Ave. and 1010 Fair Ave. locations (but not the 104 Bronson St. branch).

Learn more about Verve Coffee Roasters including café hours at vervecoffee.com. Follow the restaurant on Instagram @vervecoffee.

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Spotlight on a great Santa Cruz County dish: Sesame Lotus Root Stir Fry at Fusion Fare

Posted on April 29, 2025 by admin
Sesame Lotus Root Stir Fry with chicken at Fusion Fare, photo by Tara Fatemi Walker

I am spreading the word about Fusion Fare, an amazing Sichuan restaurant that opened in downtown Santa Cruz in January. I think the fresh, creative and affordable food deserves constant crowds and I am always surprised that I can walk in and order at the counter with barely any wait (I shouldn’t complain, but I also want Fusion Fare to stay in business!). It’s located next to the bar The Red Room. Long ago, it housed Planet Fresh.

Let me tell you about the dish I enjoyed last time I ate at Fusion Fare: Sesame Lotus Root Stir Fry with chicken. Like many dishes, you can order it with your choice of protein—I’m sure it would be equally delicious with tofu or something else. Of note: vegetarian and vegan selections are not an afterthought at Fusion Fare. The chef has thoughtfully and intentionally curated lots of plant-forward choices.

Back to the stir-fry: the vibrant flavors were spot-on but I must also commend the textures. With crunchy lotus roots, perfectly cooked herbs and vegetables, and tender chicken, the stir-fry really popped. Chef Hongmin Mo, who is a native of Sichuan, China, definitely knows what he’s doing! The entree was also colorful and beautiful, which made it even more enjoyable. And because it was a lunchtime special, it came with brown rice, salad, and a drink.

I have heard that the red oil dumplings and miso-ginger noodles, among others, are also standouts, but I haven’t had the chance to taste them yet. Next time!

Find Fusion Fare at 1003 Cedar St., 831-266-5834, fusionfarerestaurant.com. Follow the restaurant on Instagram @fusionfare_sc.

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Pacific Foods tomato basil ravioli recipe & Santa Cruz foodie’s vegan adaptation

Posted on March 27, 2025 by admin

Photo by Tara Fatemi Walker

Recently, Pacific Foods kindly gifted me with a few product samples, including a couple varieties of its ready to eat soup. The business also mentioned it offers many plant-based items, and when I started exploring the website, I noticed many recipes. One that caught my eye is “3-Ingredient Creamy Tomato Basil Ravioli.” The flavors sounded intriguing, combining tomato soup with ravioli, and I’ll be honest: part of what appealed to me was the fact it only needed three ingredients and sounded really simple! Pacific Foods kindly gave me permission to reprint the recipe, which you will find below.

My husband started eating a mostly vegan diet about a year ago. I have eaten more vegan food in the last few months than ever before, and I’ve been exploring some vegan recipes. I noticed that although this recipe utilizes vegan soup, it features cheese ravioli and traditional Parmesan cheese, so the recipe is decidedly NOT vegan. So, I decided to make some simple changes and transform it into a vegan entrée. And I loved the result.

First, I bought a refrigerated package of plant-based spinach ravioli and used that in place of the cheese ravioli in the recipe. I chose Kite Hill, as I’ve had a couple of their products in the last year and find them to be excellent (side note: they are a Bay Area business that uses almond milk as a base for its plant-based selections).

Next, I discovered my husband already had a wedge of Violife “Just Like Parmesan,” which is 100% vegan, in our fridge. So, I grated a few tablespoons of that. I used the basic instructions of the recipe, and I also chopped some fresh basil to sprinkle on top with the vegan cheese. The dish was great; my whole family enjoyed it. I think this recipe is very adaptable, and I look forward to trying it with a variety of different pastas (vegan and non-vegan) and perhaps make it like the original recipe states, and also a version with Pacific Foods’ non-vegan tomato soup. I bet all will be terrific!

As I prepared to publish this article I looked to see if Pacific Foods has an Instagram account. They do, @pacificfoods, and there I found some yummy-looking pics and videos, some with quick recipes and some with links to recipes including tortilla soup.

You can learn more about Pacific Foods and check out a bunch of recipes at pacificfoods.com.

Recipe from Pacific Foods website

3-Ingredient Creamy Tomato Basil Ravioli

Ingredients

  • 1 carton (32 ounces) Pacific Foods™ Organic Vegan Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
  • 1 pound fresh or frozen cheese ravioli
  • 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Add soup to a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Bring to a low simmer. Add ravioli cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until ravioli are cooked through. Serve ravioli with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

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Holiday countdown: Santa Cruz County foodie shopping guide part 3 – Companion Bakeshop

Posted on December 21, 2024 by admin

Today I am providing details on a few holiday shopping possibilities at Companion Bakeshop. For more foodie gift suggestions, see Part 1 and Part 2.
 

A few weeks ago, beloved bakery Companion Bakeshop opened an expanded retail shop—Companion Market—which is connected to its 2341 Mission St. location in Santa Cruz (Companion also has a bakery in Aptos at 7486 Soquel Dr., 831-612-6655). This is a fabulous place to find holiday gifts for your foodie friends. There are some vintage items plus mugs, kitchen towels, aprons, cookbooks, baking supplies, wooden utensils, Chemex brewing items, coffee mills, and greeting cards. They have a variety of fun candles (like one with toast and a pat of butter) and carry Chanukah candles. Additional whimsical selections include food-themed post it notes (I’d personally love to find this in my stocking!).

Also, they have helpful signs highlighting local artisans if that’s important to you. For example, there are Big Sur Salts jars, Happy Girl Kitchen jam, Santa Cruz Bee Company honey, and Fifth Crow Farm heirloom beans just to name a few.

Want to purchase something yummy for your own holiday meal or as a hostess gift for wherever you’re headed for the holidays? Signs describing these two caught my eye during a recent visit: Holiday Cookie Tins (cookies, candies, and more, $48) and a giant Cranberry Blondie ($28). The blondie, filled with cranberries and chocolate chips, is topped with cream cheese icing, pistachios, chocolate palmiers, candied cocoa nibs, and candied orange peel. See picture above for what’s inside the tin. Happy Holidays!


Contact info for Mission St. bakery & retail shop: 831-471-8378. For both locations, visit companionbakeshop.com, Instagram @companionbakeshop.

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Holiday countdown: Santa Cruz County foodie shopping guide part 2 – gift card discounts

Posted on December 19, 2024 by admin

Hope you enjoyed Part 1 of the guide a couple days ago. Here is the next installment with more last-minute gift ideas; these are restaurant gift cards currently discounted for holiday shopping.  

Poke salad at Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap (ordered with “no tomatoes or wontons”)
photo by Tara Fatemi Walker

Downtown Santa Cruz’s Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar is offering $50 of gift cards for $40. The offer ends Dec. 24. Customers need to purchase in person at the restaurant, not online. Gift cards cannot be used the same day they are purchased. I always enjoy dining at Kianti’s; they celebrated their 20th anniversary this year and continue to offer consistently delicious food.  
Contact info: 1100 Pacific Ave., 831-469-4400, kiantis.com, Instagram @kiantis.

Wonderful seafood restaurant Johnny’s Harborside has the following promotion: Buy a $50 gift card for a friend, you get a $10 card for yourself. Buy one at $100 for a friend, you get a $20 card for yourself. Call or stop by the restaurant. The offer is valid through Christmas.
Contact info: 493 Lake Ave., 831-479-3430, johnnysharborside.com, IG @johnnysharborside.

I have been a fan of Pono for many years; these days I go to the newer of the two locations, Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap in Capitola, because that’s closer to my home. I love having poke bowls or poke salads, and the menu is so broad there is something for everyone, like Hawaiian-style tacos, burgers, coconut shrimp, and teriyaki tofu. For the Pono gift card deal, you need to visit Costco. Our local warehouse (220 Sylvania Ave.) currently has Pono gift cards at a huge discount: only $69.99 for two $50 cards. The regular Costco price is $74.99, but there is a $5 manufacturer’s instant rebate (the rebate portion expires Dec. 22). Cards are valid at both locations.
Contact info: Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap, 3744 Capitola Rd., 831-476-7458. Pono Hawaiian Grill, 120 Union St., 831-621-7448, ponohawaiiangrill.com, IG @ponokitchenandtap and @ogponohawaiian.

Fantastic local business Living Swell Kombucha is offering a 10% discount on gift cards through the end of December. You can find them at these farmers markets: Saturday Westside Santa Cruz (Dec. 21), Saturday Cabrillo (Dec. 21 and Dec. 28) and Sunday Live Oak (Dec. 22 and Dec. 29). I always love tasting their new seasonal flavors before deciding which ones to buy; the staff are friendly and generous when handing out samples to customers.
Contact info: livingswellkombucha.com, IG @livingswellkombucha.

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Holiday countdown: Santa Cruz County foodie shopping guide

Posted on December 17, 2024 by admin
Spontaneous Confections Mini Tart Trio (apricot pistachio, fudge brownie, lemon meringue)
purchased at a June popup
photo by Tara Fatemi Walker

It’s the official week-until-Christmas warning; if you’re like me, you are behind in shopping! Here is my first of a few “last-minute gift suggestion” posts.

Pastry and confections business Spontaneous Confections has gift certificates available in $20 increments. Contact them via email at baked@spontaneousconfections.com or via DM on Instagram (@spontaneousconfections).  They are also accepting holiday pre-orders for custom tarts, Dubai chocolate bars, and more until Dec. 22. I highly recommend this business; my family and I have bought and enjoyed their tasty treats at popups including the Live Oak Sunday farmers’ market.

Santa Cruz residents Justin and Stephanie Lenorovitz launched Spontaneous Confections in 2023 and quickly gained a large following. Signature items available year-round include Chocolate Chunk Cardamom Cookie, and Fudge Brownie with a honey lavender ganache and real 24K gold garnish. Learn more at spontaneousconfections.com. Justin, a military veteran, is the pastry chef. His education includes attending the Institut Culinaire de France, a Bordeaux pastry school. Justin’s wife Stephanie’s roles include event planning, operations, and graphic design. 

Local baker TspVanilla has created a special Holiday Cookie Box. Varieties include espresso chocolate chunk, miso churro, gingerbread and orange pecan rosemary shortbread. You receive eight cookies for $18, 12 for $26, or 16 for $34. Order at shop.castiron.me/tspvanilla-1/shop and pick up in Soquel or arrange delivery. Another festive selection is Holiday Cake. The seven-inch single layer treat has a choice of three flavors: vanilla and spiced apple compote, brown butter gingerbread, and bourbon pecan. TspVanilla, also known as Shelby Aszklar, regularly offers custom orders of cookies, cupcakes, and cakes. She also often makes sourdough bagels, and this is what I have personally enjoyed from her—they are fabulous! I look forward to trying her sweets one day soon; I’m sure they are also fantastic. Follow TspVanilla on Instagram at tspvanilla.ca.

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Spotlight on a great Santa Cruz County dish: Eggplant Basil at Avanti

Posted on November 16, 2024 by admin
Photo credit: Tara Fatemi Walker

I recently had the opportunity to taste a wonderful vegetarian appetizer, Eggplant Basil, prepared by Avanti. I wasn’t at the actual Westside Santa Cruz restaurant, but the version I enjoyed—at a Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County benefit—is the same one served at the restaurant.

The dish includes layers of roasted eggplant, fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil. The flavors, and the texture of layers, come together beautifully. It can be challenging to cook eggplant to the right texture without losing its flavor and quality, and Avanti is successful!

I do plan to check out the actual restaurant someday soon; it’s been a while since I dined there. Glancing at the menu online, I am enticed by many dishes including appetizers like spice-roasted cauliflower (with dates, arugula and pickled onions) and lamb meatballs (with grilled polenta, red bell peppers and sweet onions).

Find Avanti at 1917 Mission St., 831-427-0135. Follow the restaurant on Instagram @avanti_santacruz.

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Spotlight on a great Santa Cruz County dish: Fried chicken at Bantam

Posted on November 8, 2024 by admin

Photo credit: Tara Fatemi Walker

How could I forget about this restaurant? Shame on me: I hadn’t been to Westside Santa Cruz’s Bantam in a long time, and I went last weekend. Wow, what I’ve been missing! The fried chicken was out of this world. When I ordered it, the server said “just so you know the chili butter is very spicy tonight” and as I told her, that is a-ok by me (and it was yummy). I highly recommend you get this the next time you dine at Bantam.

Also, I shared a small piece of the chicken (with accompaniments of course) with one of my dining companions, and she kindly shared a small piece of her Margherita-with-added-rocket-and Calabrian chiles with me. This wood-fired concoction was delightful.

My husband ordered the Little Gems salad and gave me a few bites — I will definitely eat one of these in the future. Very fresh ingredients, including local radishes, all enhanced by a delicious vinaigrette.

Find Bantam at 1010 Fair Ave., 831-420-0101. Follow the restaurant on Instagram @bantam1010.

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