Gingerbread cookies for charity at Lark Creek restaurants in San Jose, SF, Larkspur

Gingerbread stars from Lark Creek Restaurant Group

Gingerbread stars from Lark Creek Restaurant Group

Lark Creek Restaurant Group (LCRG) is currently hosting Gingerbread Wishes, which supports local Make-A-Wish chapters. Each restaurant in LCRG, including One Market Restaurant and Lark Creek Steak in San Francisco, Yankee Pier in Larkspur, and Lark Creek Blue on San Jose’s Santana Row, is participating through November 30, 2014.

Restaurant guests can order star-shaped, fresh-baked gingerbread cookies off the dessert menu for $10 each, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish. Each cookie comes with frosting, sprinkles and candies to decorate with. Designed by One Market Restaurant Pastry Chef Patti Dellamonica-Bauler, the cookies can be enjoyed while dining, or they can be taken home in a decorative bag to give someone as a gift.

Lark Creek Restaurant Group has donated $148,000 to Make-A-Wish through previous Gingerbread Wishes campaigns, which have been held annually since 2007.

“The Gingerbread Wishes campaign is a wonderful event,” says Patricia Wilson, Executive Director of Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area. “It brings joy and delight to children and adults alike, which is what we strive to do every day by granting wishes to children with life-threatening conditions and their families. The Lark Creek Restaurant Group understands the power of a wish.”

LCRG was inspired to work with the organization after an employee’s niece, suffering from leukemia, was granted a wish through Make-A-Wish for a garden in her backyard to look at through her bedroom window.

Bay Area LCRG locations include:
• One Market Restaurant in SF: http://www.onemarket.com 415.777.5577
• Lark Creek Steak in SF: http://larkcreek.com/larkcreek_steak/index.html 415.593.4100
• The Tavern at Lark Creek in Larkspur: http://www.tavernatlarkcreek.com/ 415.924.7766
• Yankee Pier in Larkspur: http://www.yankeepier.com/larkspur/index.html 415.924.7676
• Lark Creek Walnut Creek in Walnut Creek: http://www.larkcreek.com/walnut_creek/index.html 925.256.1234
• Cupola Pizzeria in SF: http://www.cupolasf.com 415.896.5600
• Lark Creek Blue in San Jose: http://www.larkcreekblue.com 408.244.1244
On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Thanksgiving at Whole Foods Market in Capitola & Santa Cruz

Win a holiday dinner from Whole Foods Market

Win a holiday dinner from Whole Foods Market

The Santa Cruz and Capitola branches of Whole Foods Market are offering lots of Thanksgiving options, and even have special staff on-site that will help you with specific holiday needs. Make your Thanksgiving orders in person or online by Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014.

If you have specific questions for your holiday meal planning, like you want to stay within a certain budget or you’re hosting a gluten-free Thanksgiving or you’d like wine pairing suggestions, each store has holiday specialists available. You can make an appointment or stop by, and it’s a free service. Specialist Erica Stevenson, who works at the Capitola store, truly enjoys providing this service. “Every year, I look forward to working the holiday table. I get to know our regular customers better while getting to meet so many more,” says Stevenson. “And these days so many people have special diets. I get to use my creativity to better suit their needs while still helping them create their perfect holiday dinner.”

Another interesting holiday highlight is a “golden ticket” contest with free ham dinners as prizes! When a customer orders a Thanksgiving meal (only IN STORE, not online) at either location, they will automatically be entered in the Golden ticket promotion. One person from each store will receive a Golden ticket in their pickup meal. This ticket is valid for a “honeyed ham dinner for 8” that can be used for a future holiday meal.

If you want to go outside the traditional Thanksgiving box, how about taking advantage of Whole Foods Market’s sustainable seafood appetizers? Some examples are shrimp & Dungeness crabmeat platter (serves 6-8, $39.99) and shrimp platter with assorted seasonings (serves 4-8, $24.99).

A ready-to-eat heirloom turkey dinner for 12 costs $289.99 (serves 12) and includes an oven-roasted organic 16-18 lb. turkey from Sonora-based family-owned Diestel, herb stuffing (7.5 lbs.), mashed potatoes (4 lbs.), turkey gravy, cranberry relish, green beans with roasted shallots, dinner rolls (24), and two pies: pumpkin and cranberry apple. Other selections include an “intimate organic turkey dinner for 4” ($99.99) and a “traditional ready to cook turkey dinner (turkey is raw) for 8” ($129.99).

Whole Foods Market features several different types of turkey a la carte including Diestel in heirloom ($4.99/lb.) and organic ($3.99/lb.) varieties. Other meat selections include sous vide leg of lamb or pork loin (serves 4, $49.99/lamb and $39.99/pork).

A la carte sides include brussels sprouts with shallots and pecans (serves 4, $17.99, and it’s vegan). Like a few other holiday items, this became available at the market’s Hot Bar earlier in November, and I got to sample it. It’s wonderful!

One dessert option is cranberry crumble pie. This was a popular holiday item in previous years, but in 2013 it wasn’t available. Many people asked for it last year, so they decided to bring it back. All holiday pies, including Brown Butter Walnut, Pumpkin, and Apple, come in 10-inch versions for $19.99 and include 100% all-butter crust.

If you end up needing last-minute Thanksgiving supplies, both stores are open on Thanksgiving from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day before, they’re open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Follow me on Twitter @santacruzfoodie.

Whole Foods Market Santa Cruz is located at 911 Soquel Ave. Call (831) 426-9901 for more information.

Whole Foods Market Capitola is located at 1710 41st Ave. Call (831) 464-2900 for more information.

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Event Santa Cruz hosts Edible Night at Assembly

Ashby Confections is providing food for Edible Night at Event Santa Cruz

Ashby Confections is providing food for Edible Night at Event Santa Cruz

Interested in food, restaurants, beer, farms, and things of that nature? The November program for monthly speaker series “Event Santa Cruz,” which takes place at restaurant Assembly on Nov. 17, has an edible theme. There will be eight speakers, and it’s almost sold out.

Organizer Matthew Swinnerton, who started Event Santa Cruz in September 2013 to tell the stories of local businesses and the people that make these businesses run, is very excited about the program.  “There is something about an entrepreneur that is involved in the world of food,” he says. “Entrepreneurs usually have a lot of passion, but throw in an entrepreneur that loves food and deals with it for a living, oh man, that is passion ten fold.” He’s confident that attendees will hear some of the best talks Event Santa Cruz has ever had.

Scheduled speakers:

  • Zach DavisThe Penny Ice Creamery, Assembly, The Picnic Basket
  • Andrea Conklin MollenauerLifestyle Culinary Arts
  • Romney DunbarDunbar Productions
  • Tabitha Raquel StroupFriend In Cheeses Jam Company
  • Marci ProloAn Epicurious Lifestyle
  • Annie PautschBrew Cruz
  • Liz BirnbaumIncoming Board Chair, Slow Food Santa Cruz
  • Nesh DhillonSanta Cruz Farmers Markets

Participant Mollenauer says, “I was thrilled to be invited to speak. The very focus and passion I have for my business is our local community and how to feed it great food, so to be asked to talk about that in a room full of community members who are willing to be a part of that delicious conversation makes me smile.” She plans on sharing details about the next stage of growth for her business and how the community can get involved in that.

Speaker Zach Davis is also co-owner of Assembly, the night’s venue. He’s happy to have the program at his restaurant, which opened in March 2014 and continues to draw crowds. “We always imagined Assembly as a place where people would literally come to the table to meet and converse over nourishing food and drink,” he says. “I’m personally excited about sharing the stage with some folks I know and admire for their food expertise as well as their involvement in the community.” He looks forward to hearing about what motivates and inspires them. “For me it’s the people I work and interact with, and I appreciate the opportunity to share a little more about them.”

Matt Ruiz is the evening’s musical guest. Also participating are several local food and beverage vendors, who are providing refreshments for the first hour of the program, during which time guests are invited to come and socialize. There will be dumplings from Mortal Dumpling, and treats from Mutari Hot Chocolate, Ashby Confections, Cardamom Tuesday, Friend in Cheeses Jam Company, and Hush-Hush Kitchen.

Tickets are only $10; purchase tickets online at eventsantacruz.com. There are only 28 tickets left as of Thursday morning, Nov. 13.  There are also a limited number of “annual passes” available for $75. This grants pass-holders admission to 12 consecutive months of events, from now through Oct. 2015, so it’s a $45 savings over the entire year.
For more information call 831-332-8677.

Monday Nov. 17, 2014
6-7 p.m. refreshments, 7-8:30 p.m. speakers
Location
: Assembly, 1108 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz (Assembly’s not open on Mondays, so this event will be held in the main restaurant space)

Follow me on Twitter @santacruzfoodie.

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Two fun holiday events at Westside Santa Cruz New Leaf

Cooking classroom at New Leaf Community Markets in Westside Santa Cruz

Cooking classroom at New Leaf Community Markets in Westside Santa Cruz

Organic, Santa Cruz-based New Leaf Community Markets offers lots of events every month. Here are details for a couple holiday-themed ones coming up soon at the Westside location. One is a combination cooking class/social event this Friday night, and there are still a few spots available. It’s taught by Elizabeth Borelli, who I highly recommend. She’s an engaging and fun instructor, and knows a lot about cooking. I haven’t met the person facilitating the second event, but she sounds very knowledgeable!

Dinner with Friends: A Very Veggie Friends-giving with Chef Elizabeth Borelli:

5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday Nov. 14, 2014
Price: $50 per person or $90 for 2 people

Enjoy a fun Friday night in the kitchen cooking up a vegetarian feast with friends! Whether you are cooking for two or entertaining a crew, having a vegetarian option on the table is always appreciated. Join chef/cookbook author Elizabeth Borelli as she leads the class through an assortment of appetizers, side dishes, a main course and dessert that will please your entire guest list, not just the vegetarian ones. The holiday meal will be paired with a delicious wine that will bring out the flavors of the dish. Bring a “plus one” to get a discounted rate. Preregistration is required; see this link.

Healthy Holidays Store Tour:
6-7p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014
Price: Free

Nutritional consultant and educator Sandi Rechenmacher will lead attendees on an entertaining and educational store tour at the Westside New Leaf. The tour will focus on healthy alternative ingredients for holiday cooking and baking. You can learn how to protect your health and well-being and take on the holidays with creative gusto. Preregistration is required. Visit this link.

 
For more information, call 426-1306 or see the New Leaf web site at newleaf.com.
For all events, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/o/new-leaf-community-markets-westside-2725205834.

New Leaf Westside location: 1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Pressed Juicery expands menu and locations

Pressed Juicery launched new beverages in October 2014

Pressed Juicery launched new beverages in October 2014

Last month, Pressed Juicery revamped its menu of juices and other beverages. After listening to customer feedback, it added drinks such as new juice and coconut water flavors.

On October 6, Pressed Juicery introduced nine new flavors. There are new “classic” versions of orange, watermelon, and apple, catering to adults and kids both; coconut waters in rose and green flavors (alongside the store’s original coconut water); and cold-pressed coffee drinks, at all stores and online. Pressed Juicery also brought back a popular Brazil Nut signature blend made with spinach, kale, romaine, vanilla bean, dates, and sea salt.

I had a recent opportunity to sample a few of the beverages. They were all enjoyable; a couple of my favorites were “Greens 2” (kale, spinach, romaine, parsley, cucumber, celery, apple, lemon) and “Chocolate Almond” (almonds, dates, cacao, and sea salt).

“We took our customers’ comments to heart when creating the new items, and saw an opportunity to improve the juices our fans have grown to love while adding a fresh twist to our menu,” said CEO/co-founder Hayden Slater.

Pressed Juicery now has six San Francisco Bay Area locations, including SF’s Ferry Building and Palo Alto’s Stanford Shopping Center. It has a total of 20 locations including Santa Monica and Manhattan Beach (at the latter, the store is trying out smoothies and soups—this location only). It’s in the middle of a rapid expansion, with lots more stores planned for the remainder of 2014 (Newport Beach, for example) and for 2015 (San Jose’s Santana Row).

The shop also offers juice cleanses, both online and in stores—including at its Northern California locations. There are cleanses geared towards beginners, and towards more experienced cleansers. If you order online, you need to purchase a 3- or 5-day cleanse. If you go to a store, you can buy products for a one-day cleanse.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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A Taste of Santa Cruz 2014 features 30 restaurants, wineries

Food from 2013’s "A Taste of Santa Cruz"

Food from 2013’s “A Taste of Santa Cruz”

The 10th annual “A Taste of Santa Cruz,” at the Cocoanut Grove on Thursday, Nov. 13, features approximately 30 participating restaurants, wineries, and breweries. The event runs from 5:30-9 p.m. and benefits first-time home buyers. Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door. Buy tickets online. For more information, visit the site www.atosc.com or call 831-464-2000.

Attendees sample food and drinks, and all proceeds from the event benefit the Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS Housing Foundation grant program that provides closing costs for first time, low-income home-buyers in Santa Cruz County.

Participating food providers include Aldo’s, Assembly, Chaminade, Paradise Beach Grille, Pleasure Pizza’s East Side Eatery, Crow’s Nest, Hula’s, Johnny’s Harborside, Mission Hill Creamery, Shadowbrook, The Point, The Kitchen at Discretion Brewery, Stagnaro Bros. Seafood, and Woodstock’s Pizza. Wineries and breweries include Trout Gulch Vineyards, Storrs Winery, MJA Vineyards, and Uncommon Brewers.

Other highlights at the event: more than 100 raffle prize packages from local businesses and artisans. Prizes include a Las Vegas penthouse stay, four floor seats to a Santa Cruz Warriors game, and four club seats plus VIP parking to a SF Giants game.

Several hundred people attend this event, raising approximately $30,000 annually. Purchasing your tickets in advance is recommended.

Event location: Cocoanut Grove Grand Ballroom, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz

If you’re on Twitter follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Whole Foods Market pies and paleo/vegan pie classes

Pumpkin pie for the holidays

Pumpkin pie for the holidays

Whole Foods Market in Santa Cruz and Capitola each have upcoming pie events: this month, Santa Cruz has a four-part pie class series that includes vegan and paleo options, and Capitola has a small tasting event this Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014.

WFM Santa Cruz pie class
Santa Cruz’s Whole Foods (911 Soquel Ave.) invites the community to attend one or all four free classes that will teach you how to make traditional pumpkin pie as well as restricted-diet versions. Classes will be 45 minutes long and will include samples. Participants will receive recipes and shopping lists. Marketing and Community Outreach Team Leader Lily Hussey encourages attendees to use the class time as “an open forum for holiday-related questions.” Call or visit the store’s Customer Service Desk to sign up; the class size is limited.

WHAT: Pumpkin Pie 4 Ways
COST: FREE
WHEN: Paleo Pumpkin Pie
November 11th 6 – 6:45 pm

Gourmet Pumpkin Pie
November 13th 6 – 6:45 pm

Classic Pumpkin Pie
November 18th 6 – 6:45 pm

Raw Vegan Pumpkin Pie
November 20th 6 – 6:45 pm
WFM Capitola pie tasting
This Saturday, Nov. 8, from 2 -4 p.m., the store invites you to visit its bakery and sample three pies that are perfect for Thanksgiving. You can try apple, pumpkin, cranberry crumble, or all three. In fact, if you vote for your favorite, you have a chance to win a free pie! There will be at least a couple winners; if you don’t win, you can purchase the 10-inch pies for $19.99.

Unfamiliar with cranberry crumble? It used to be in stock at Whole Foods, but in 2013 it wasn’t available. Many people asked for it last year, so they decided to bring it back. If you haven’t tasted it, Saturday afternoon’s a great time to visit the shop.

Whole Foods Santa Cruz is located at 911 Soquel Ave. Call (831) 426-9901 for more information.

Whole Foods Capitola is located at 1710 41st Ave. Call (831) 464-2900 for more information.

On Twitter? Please follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Flavors of Pacific Grove features local chefs, restaurants, wineries

Flavors of Pacific Grove boasts many chefs, restaurants, and wineries

Flavors of Pacific Grove boasts many chefs, restaurants, and wineries

The Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce hosts “Flavors of Pacific Grove: A Celebration of the Great Chefs of Pacific Grove” on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at The Inn at Spanish Bay.

The event is $50 per person and attendance is limited to 300. Tickets must be purchased and picked up prior to the event, which is projected to sell out. There will be live music from The Money Band.

Chefs and restaurants will be serving appetizers, and wineries will be pouring tastings. Featured chefs include Cindy & Ted Walter (Passionfish), Marietta & Pierre Bain (Fandango), Briana Sammut & Guillaume D’Angio (The Beach House Restaurant), Mark & Julie Davis (Vivolo’s Chowder House), Jeff Weiss (jeninni kitchen + wine bar), Gina Juntaradarapun (Pacific Thai Cuisine) Danny Abbruzzese (Asilomar Conference Grounds), Jordan Champagne (Happy Girl Kitchen Co.), Tamie Aceves (Crema), and Dory Ford (Point Pinos Grill). Wineries include Cima Collina, Percherone McFarland, and Pierce Ranch Vineyards.

There will be silent and live auctions—prizes include trips, restaurant certificates, accommodations and golf packages. Proceeds will benefit the Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Centers.

For details and/or tickets see www.pacificgrove.org or call 831-373-3304.

Event location: The Inn at Spanish Bay, 2700 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach

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Michelin-star-winning-Manresa at weekly Santa Cruz pop-up with bread, pastries

An assortment of creations from Manresa Bread Project. Photo credit: ManresaBread on Twitter

An assortment of creations from Manresa Bread Project.
Photo credit: ManresaBread on Twitter

Breaking news: Manresa Bread, which had its first appearance at POPUP in Santa Cruz this summer, will be at POPUP every Wednesday through the end of 2014, starting today, Oct. 22. A diverse and delectable selection of breads and pastries will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., or until products sell out.
Highlights may include Manresa levain, polenta sour dough, monkey bread, curry squash streusel muffins, cinnamon raisin loaf, hazelnut brown butter cake, onion gruyere tarts, sesame flax sourdough, and pecan sticky buns.

These POPUP appearances supply bread- and pastry-loving Santa Cruzans with some unique offerings, while simultaneously enabling Manresa Pastry Chef Stephanie Prida and baker Avery Ruzicka (consulting for Manresa Bread) to create an abundance of sweet and savory treats.

Manresa Bread is also currently available at the Campbell and Palo Alto farmers markets on Sundays.  The Manresa Bread Project began in 2013, led by Prida and Ruzicka, who was head baker at Manresa Restaurant at that time.

As you may know, back in July there was a major fire at the Michelin-star-winning Los Gatos restaurant Manresa, causing it to close for a few months. So this is actually the only way to get anything “Manresa-related” at the moment. If you’re missing David Kinch, you can see him at Bookshop Santa Cruz next Monday at 7 p.m. at a free event, in conversation with renowned New York pastry chef Brooks Headley (of Del Posto, New York City’s only four-star Italian restaurant) to celebrate Headley’s new cookbook “Fancy Desserts.”

Unfamiliar with POPUP? It’s a small downtown Santa Cruz storefront right next door to restaurant Assembly, on 1108 Pacific Ave. near Cathcart. Chef Kendra Baker and partner Zachary Davis—the team behind Assembly, The Picnic Basket, and The Penny Ice Creamery—host rotating food vendors in this space.

Baker is the former executive pastry chef at Manresa, where she worked for executive chef/owner David Kinch. Now Kinch’s Manresa Bread is being hosted by Baker and POPUP. It all comes full circle!

Baker and Davis launched their pop-up spot in April. Although most vendors appear only on occasion, not on a weekly basis, chef Noah Kopito and his Mortal Dumpling business have proven so popular that they are regulars. On Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can select from steamed buns and honey glazed baked BBQ buns, and they usually offer one entrée with rice.

  • For more info on POPUP, see heypopup.com.
  • For more info on Mortal Dumpling, see mortaldumpling.com
  • To follow Manresa Bread Project on Twitter, see twitter.com/ManresaBread.
  • To follow me on Twitter, see twitter.com/santacruzfoodie.
  • For more on the Kinch/Headley event, see bookshopsantacruz.com.
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Seasonal specials at Capitola restaurant Shadowbrook include international 3-course Sundays

Shadowbrook has been serving great food in Capitola for more than 65 years

Shadowbrook has been serving great food in Capitola for more than 65 years

I am a big fan of Capitola restaurant Shadowbrook and I just learned that they have a special menu every Sunday night from October through March, except for holidays. For the restaurant’s Ports of Call promotion, each month they “visit” a different country and offer a three-course $29.95 fixed-price dinner with two appetizer choices, two entrée choices, and two dessert choices that are from that country-of-the-month’s cuisine. Also, Shadowbrook serves up an optional wine pairing for each course ($12).

October’s country is Italy. Appetizer choices include Pappa Pomodoro (tomato and bread soup garnished with virgin olive oil and ricotta). Entrée selections are Pollo Alla Cacciatora (chicken braised in tomato, onion, white wine, with porcini mushrooms) and Ragu Bolognese (meaty tomato sauce; ground filet mignon and New York steaks, carrot, onion, tomatoes; served over tagliatelle pasta). Dessert choices include Cannoli (ricotta-stuffed pastries).

From October through May, there are Winemaker Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. at Shadowbrook. Each week the restaurant spotlights a different Santa Cruz Mountain appellation winery. The winemaker is on site and flights of wine (sample-sized portions) are served in the bar area: the Rock Room Lounge. There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres to accompany the wine.

Also remember that every Tuesday — not just during winter — Shadowbrook hosts Two-fer Tuesdays with two-for-one prices on pizzas, small plates and starters if you dine in the Rock Room. There are also several cocktail, wine, and beer specials on Tuesdays at the Rock Room.

Restaurant Location: 1750 Wharf Road, Capitola (831) 475-1511

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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