Two weekend events: Assembly adds brunch service & Hop N’ Barley Fest expands

Posted on June 28, 2014 by admin

Bread pudding from Assembly’s new brunch menu

Assembly Serving Brunch

Popular downtown restaurant Assembly is launching weekend brunch service beginning Saturday, June 28. The restaurant will open at 9am and, according to co-owner Zach Davis, “feature a menu of seasonally inspired bunch favorites including house baked pastries and breads.” Choices include savory bread pudding with broccoli, Gruyère, hollandaise and a poached egg; see photo above. Can’t wait to try the newest creations from Chef Carlo Espinas!

And there’s more: To celebrate the new brunch menu, this weekend Assembly is featuring guest Verve Coffee Roasters baristas crafting complimentary Verve espresso drinks for diners.
1108 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, http://assembleforfood.com

Hop N’ Barley Fest

Also on June 28, it’s the 5th annual Hop N’ Barley beer and bbq festival. Most events are on Saturday at Sky Park in Scotts Valley, but this year the festival has expanded from one day to two. There are approximately 60 breweries participating, and there will be live music. Saturday is the main event with beer and barbecue, with gates opening at 10 a.m. and beer starting at noon. The gates close at 5 p.m.

On Sunday, there is a morning disc golf tournament at DeLaveaga and an afternoon craft and home brew competition. Tickets range from $25-80, but it’s free for non-beer-drinkers including kids – event organizers emphasize that “kids and dogs are welcome.” The Hop N’ Barley beer and bbq festival benefits non-profit Community Housing Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.

Skypark, 361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley, hopnbarley.org

If you’re on Twitter, follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Santa Cruz’s Chaminade launches 2014 Farm to Table Wine Dinners

Posted on June 24, 2014 by admin
Ravioli from Chaminade’s June 6 Farm to Table Dinner. Photo credit: Fereshteh Fatemi

Ravioli from Chaminade’s June 6 Farm to Table Dinner. Photo credit: Fereshteh Fatemi

It’s officially summertime, and here in Santa Cruz we have one more reason to celebrate: Chaminade Resort’s annual Farm to Table Dinner series has begun! The always-enjoyable series showcases local farms and local wineries.

I had the pleasure of attending 2014’s debut event on June 6, and it lived up to my high expectations. I’ll provide some details below; meanwhile, I would go check your calendars right now for the rest of the season and make reservations—which are required—for one of the dinners.
2014 Chaminade remaining dinner dates are:

  • July 11
  • August 15
  • September 12
  • October 10

The cost is $80 per person and that includes hors d’oeuvres (served at the 6 p.m. reception), family style dinner (starts at 6:30 p.m.), dessert, and wine (served at reception AND dinner). Tax and gratuity are excluded. Call (831) 475-5600 or visit web site for details, including specific wineries/farmers for particular nights. The specific menu is posted as each event draws near.

Back to the June 6 dinner, created by the talented Kirsten Ponza. Chef Kirsten, who was promoted to Executive Chef in September 2013, is a delightful person to talk to about food and cooking. She knows a lot, and is excited when you ask her questions or make specific comments about a dish. Many people, including myself, relished our conversations the other night. When I asked her about the event, she said, “I love the Farm to Table series for many reasons.  I get to talk to my guests attending and really get a feel for how they want their food…I also love the interaction with the local farms and wineries…The farmers can explain much better than I how much love and effort it takes to make something grow!” She also adds that it allows her to be very creative and “…hopefully change some minds out there on food people would like to eat.”

Throughout the evening, selections from Pelican Ranch Winery were poured including Gewurtztraminer, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. The wines were thoughtfully paired with various courses. Winery owner Phil and Peggy Crews were in attendance, and Phil shared a few facts about his Capitola winery and wines.

The produce featured in many dishes was from Santa Cruz’s Yellow Wall Farm, and owners Allen and Judy Rose Hasty were also at the event. Allen engaged the crowd with a couple anecdotes, and told attendees that although the farm mainly sells to restaurants and New Leaf Market, they do run a Saturday morning farm stand when the season really gets going later in the summer. Based on the freshness and flavors of the produce I tasted, I’ll be sure to seek that stand out. Chef Kirsten is a big fan: “Judy and Allen are true farmers in the sense that they care about everything that goes into the food they grow.  The earth, the plant, the product.  They are a great team that always has a smile and you can really tell that they love what they do!  We here at Chaminade have had a solid relationship with them for several years now and I always look forward to the time when they email to say what’s available.”

At the reception, there were four appetizers including strawberries stuffed with smoked blue cheese and pancetta. I’m going to try making this at home, knowing I won’t get a version quite like the one I tasted, but I was absolutely inspired by the blend of flavors and textures. And it’s perfect for right now when fresh organic strawberries abound in Santa Cruz. Chef Kirsten said it was actually Yellow Wall Farm’s current delectable crop of strawberries that helped inspire the stuffed strawberries, in addition to the gazpacho (which I’ll discuss soon). My other favorite appetizer at the reception was stuffed tempura squash blossoms. Absolutely perfect, these included goat cheese, basil, lemon zest and juice, and a light fritter batter.

At the sit-down dinner, our starter was a generous bowl of strawberry hazelnut gazpacho. It was incredible: creamy, and not too sweet. The Belle Farms olive oil and chive garnish complemented the soup beautifully, in terms of both taste and aesthetics. The first course of baby romaine with citrus avocado relish and third course of duck confit with Mediterranean cous cous were very pleasing, but I was even more taken with the second course. The baked ravioli (see photo at beginning of article) were served with a rich, wonderful medley of gourmet mushrooms – oyster, trumpet, shiitake, portabella, and cremini – and a savory tomato/herb Aurora Crème sauce. Dessert was the perfect finish, a honey mousse atop jasmine-scented cake, served with delicious raspberry dessert wine from Pelican Ranch.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.
The Details
Farm to Table Dinner Series
Monthly through October 2014: Selected Fridays at 6 p.m.
Courtyard Terrace at Chaminade Resort, One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz 95065
(831) 475-5600
$80 per person

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Summer goodies and a BBQ party at Whole Foods Market Capitola

Posted on June 17, 2014 by admin
Lemon Kale Soofoo Salad at Whole Foods Market Capitola. Photo credit: Michelle Fry, WFM Capitola

Lemon Kale Soofoo Salad at Whole Foods Market Capitola. Photo credit: Michelle Fry, WFM Capitola

Whole Foods Market in Capitola has you covered for Summer 2014, with lots of goodies for sale and a fun party on Saturday, June 21.

First, your body can be literally covered with a vast selection of ‘green’ sunscreen. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) announced in 2014 that Whole Foods carries the highest percentage of “green” rated sun products of any retailer! “Sunscreen is one of the most important skin care products you can buy to protect your skin, and we’re happy to offer the largest selection of ‘green’ rated sunscreen to our shoppers,” said Jody Villecco, global quality standards coordinator at Whole Foods Market. One of the many green sunscreens WFM carries is BurnOut Eco-Sensitive SPF 35. Made by a Santa Cruz company, it’s fragrance-, chemical-, and oil-free, works on both the face and the body, and is enriched with plankton extract, aloe vera, and antioxidant vitamins. To see the EWG’s 2014 Guide to Sunscreens, visit ewg.org/2014sunscreen.

Next, Whole Foods has some great seasonal items that are perfect for taking to the beach. The other day I sampled the Summer Corn and Orzo Salad and the Lemon Kale Soofoo Salad. Both were delicious and refreshing, and they’d also make good side dishes for a barbecue. The corn salad was a hit with my three-year-old daughter. If you’re unfamiliar with Soofoo, as I was before doing some research, here’s a couple facts: It contains five types of grains, three types of lentils and brown rice. It has 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving. It was an excellent ingredient in the Soofoo Salad, which also has dried cranberries, almonds, and feta and was a nice blend of crunchy, sweet, and salty. Read more about Soofoo and get lots of recipes here. Whole Foods Capitola’s Marketing and Community Outreach Team Leader Michelle Fry shared with me that she often uses Soofoo as a base for a healthy dinner or a fun salad addition—especially in the winter, to add warmth and heartiness to a salad. I can’t wait to try her tip next winter, and in the meantime I’ll be buying more of the summertime Soofoo salads like Lemon Kale!

During the summer, blueberries are always popular with the whole family, and Whole Foods has some especially sweet ones this season. They’re organic, and they are yummy on their own at the beach or home, or as the ingredient for recipes like Blueberry Peach Crumble (see recipe below). Or if you want your berries all wrapped up in a ready-to-eat pastry, Whole Foods now makes “mini pies” in addition to their regular-sized pies. They come in flavors including blackberry lime, cherry, and apple.

Last but not least, the store is having a Summer Kick-Off BBQ Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. A lunch plate will cost $7 and will include two barbecued kabobs (chicken or beef) plus grilled veggies and potato salad.

Stay up to date with the Capitola store’s events through its Facebook page (click on the events tab under “More” for all upcoming activities). On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

Store Details:
Whole Foods Market Capitola
1710 41st Avenue (across from Capitola Mall)
(831) 464-2900

Recipe from Chef Hollie Greene of JoyFoodly.com – Chef Hollie is working with WFM to help customers make the most out of their fruit and veggies.

Blueberry Peach Crumble

Serves 6
Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 55 minutes

Filling Ingredients
• peaches, 4 (small to medium sized)
• blueberries, 12 oz
• lemon, 1
• sugar, ½ cup
• all-purpose gluten free flour, ¼ cup

Crumble ingredients
• oats, gluten free, 2 cups
• sugar, ⅓ cup
• light brown sugar, ¼ cup (lightly packed)
• salt, ½ teaspoon
• cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon
• butter, unsalted, 1 stick

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375F.
Cut the peaches into medium dice, skin on.
Zest and juice the lemon.
To macerate the fruit: add the lemon zest, lemon juice, ½ cup sugar, and ¼ cup gluten free all-purpose flour to the diced peaches and blueberries and toss well.
Spoon the mixture into 6 small buttered ramekins, or a 9×13 buttered baking dish.
Make the crumble: combine oats, sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and cubed stick of cold butter in a bowl. Rub the mixture together with your hands. When the butter has incorporated into the oat mixture and it is the size of peas, stop mixing. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit.
Place ramekins on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake uncovered for 35 minutes, until the tops are browned and crisp and the juices are bubbly.

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Bay Area restaurants for Father’s Day Part 2 – includes Santa Cruz & Monterey

Posted on June 12, 2014 by admin
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)

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

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Bay Area restaurants for Father’s Day Part 1 — includes San Jose, SF & Monterey

Posted on June 10, 2014 by admin
Buffalo wings and beer at Cannery Row Brewing Company

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.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Santa Cruz & Monterey food & wine events this weekend

Posted on June 6, 2014 by admin
Wine from Comanche Cellars and bread from Carmel Valley Country Bread, featured at Terranova Saturday

Wine from Comanche Cellars and bread from Carmel Valley Country Bread, featured at Terranova Saturday

There are many food and wine events occurring this weekend in Santa Cruz and Monterey. Below are details for three programs on Saturday and/or Sunday, June 7-8, 2014.

Other events include:

  • First Friday Santa Cruz — See firstfridaysantacruz.com for exhibits, and note there are usually several venues offering delicious refreshments to accompany art-viewing
  • Opening night of the Chaminade’s annual Farm to Table Wine Dinner series — read schedule and details at www.chaminade.com/santacruz_restaurants/farmtotable

Santa Cruz Saturday: Strawberry Festival benefiting women’s center
At the Strawberry Festival June 7, which benefits the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center, you can win dinner for 2 at 12 Santa Cruz restaurants. That’s the grand prize of the event’s raffle which has 100 prizes. It’s an annual festival for WAWC (Walnut Avenue Women’s Center), which has worked to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families for more than 75 years. Read more at the WAWC web site at wawc.org. The festival raises funds for youth development services including mentoring, teen pregnancy prevention, teen dating violence awareness, educational workshops, and support groups.

Strawberry Festival 2014 will be held at 303 Walnut Avenue in Santa Cruz from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.  Admission is free, and there will be food available for purchase including BBQ, strawberry shortcake, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and strawberry lemonade. There will also be carnival games, a bounce house, and live music.

Monterey Saturday: Taste wine and cheer for a horse
Terranova Fine Wines welcomes wine and horse racing fans to watch the Belmont Stakes at its Cannery Row store from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 7. The post time for the Belmont Stakes is 3:52 p.m., and Terranova invites guests to help cheer on California Chrome. There will be Comanche Cellars wine tasting, olive oil and balsamic tasting with The Quail & Olive, and bread samples from Carmel Valley Country Bread. The tasting fee will be $10 per person and includes a sample of each wine, along with cheese and bread pairings. A la carte glasses of wine will be $10 each. Samples of olive oils and balsamics are complimentary. Bread, bottles of wine, olive oils, and balsamics will be available for purchase. There will also be a drawing for a signed magnum of Comanche Cellars wine (must be present to win).
315 Calle Principal, Monterey, www.terranovafinewines.com

Santa Cruz Saturday & Sunday: Loma Prieta Winery event
Loma Prieta Winery is having a Pinotage Club Pick-Up Party all weekend, noon to 5 p.m. each day. There will be live guitar music, appetizers, and oysters from local favorite Bill The Oyster Man. Oysters will be $1 each; please bring cash. Painter Jude Bischoff will be exhibiting his nature portraits at the winery on Sun. June 8.
26985 Loma Prieta Way, Los Gatos, www.lomaprietawinery.com

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Artichoke festival in Monterey this weekend has chef demos, kids’ activities

Posted on May 30, 2014 by admin
Chef demo at a previous Castroville Artichoke Festival

Chef demo at a previous Castroville Artichoke Festival

The 2014 Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival, May 31-June 1, has relocated to the Monterey County Fair and Events Center to make room for more food and wine, more people, and bigger entertainment acts. Hours are Saturday Mary 31, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday June 1, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This year the family-friendly 55th Annual Castroville Artichoke Festival has a lot to celebrate, including the recent designation of the artichoke as California’s official state vegetable, proclaimed by Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom. Festival activities include a farmers’ market, arts and crafts vendors, children’s carnival, artichoke eating contest and artichoke field tours.

Two performance stages will offer live music featuring bands Red Beans & Rice, John “Broadway Blues” Tucker, Nu-Horizon, and tribute bands for The Eagles, Doobie Brothers and Santana.

Attendees can enjoy gourmet artichoke dishes, some with wine pairings, plus food demonstrations prepared by Tony Baker of Monterey’s Montrio Bistro and other local chefs. Celebrity chef Ryan Scott, host of San Francisco’s KGO Radio cooking show and a Top Chef Season 4 contestant, will broadcast live from the festival on Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m.

Tickets are available online and at the gate; prices are $10 for adults, $5 for kids 4-12, active military, and seniors, and free for kids three and under.

The Monterey County Fair and Events Center is at 2004 Fairground Road. For details or online tickets visit www.artichokefestival.org.

Follow me on Twitter @santacruzfoodie.

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Whole Foods Market invites food producers to apply for grants

Posted on May 28, 2014 by admin
Whole Foods Market in San Jose

Whole Foods Market in San Jose

Through May 31, local food and body care product makers can apply to receive a grant from Whole Foods Market to grow their business—whether they currently supply the retailer with products or not. This is the first time Whole Foods has offered grants for local producers.

“This can be a significant financial boon for a small producer as it can fund organic certification, Non-GMO Project verification, a down payment on a delivery van, or even a batch of raw ingredients,” said Harv Singh, Whole Foods Market Northern California Regional Forager.

To fund the grants, each of the company’s 40 Northern California stores, including Santa Cruz, Capitola, and San Jose, will host a “5% Day” on July 2 with 5% of the day’s sales going to their local grant recipient. These days typically generate between $3,000 and $6,000 per store. Community members will play a key role in selecting each store’s recipient: Once applicants are gathered, the company will select 120 finalists (three for each store). From June 12 to 19, the public can go to their local Whole Foods store Facebook page and vote on one of the three finalists. Winners will be announced on June 23 so shoppers can support the supplier of their choice on July 2.

To qualify for a grant, producers must grow or make their product in North California or Reno and earn no more than $100,000 in annual revenue. They must meet specific quality standards and carry liability insurance in the event the grant leads to Whole Foods carrying the product in stores. Additional eligibility requirements are outlined on the website; no late applications will be accepted. For more information or to access a grant application, visit localfoodmakergrant.com.
Whole Foods Market has long been committed to supporting local producers. In 2007, the company founded the Local Producer Loan Program, which provides short term, low-interest loans for capital expenditures for small food producers.

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Westside Santa Cruz New Leaf: free store tour plus label reading tips

Posted on May 19, 2014 by admin
New Leaf's Westside location features many classes

New Leaf’s Westside location features many classes

Organic, Santa Cruz-based New Leaf Community Markets offers a diverse range of food, coffee, wine, and cooking events, and some are actually free! There’s one tomorrow at the Westside Santa Cruz New Leaf (1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz) that I highly recommend; see description below. Last fall I took a vegetarian cooking class with the instructor, Elizabeth Borelli, and learned a lot. And this one’s free – you have nothing to lose! Pre-registration is recommended.

Free Store Tour with local chef/author Elizabeth Borelli: 4-5:30 p.m. Tues 5/20/14
Food labels are confusing, but reading them is one of the best things you can do for your health. In fact, studies show that women who read nutrition labels weigh an average of 9 pounds less and have a lower risk of diet-related disease than non-label-readers!  Join the Beanalicious Living author for a fun and engaging review of what to look for on the labels: no nutrition degree required!

For more information, call 426-1306 or see the New Leaf web site at newleaf.com. For the events section, visit http://www.eventbrite.com/o/new-leaf-community-markets-westside-2725205834.
On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Santa Cruz and Monterey County food & wine events this weekend

Posted on May 16, 2014 by admin
Dolmas are one of the delicious foods at Eat Like A Greek! this weekend

Dolmas are one of the delicious foods at Eat Like A Greek! this weekend

There are many food and wine events occurring this weekend in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, from May 16-18, 2014. Here are a few highlights.

Greek food fair in Santa Cruz May 16-18
The 8th annual Eat Like A Greek! Food Faire is in the downtown area next to the Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church. The free festival features live Greek music plus a food including moussaka, dolmas, spanakopita, grilled marinated lamb souvlaki and handmade pastries like kataifi (shredded wheat pastries saturated with honey and spices).

New foods this year include gluten-free options plus two Greek yogurt parfaits: one is made with a sour cherry mixture that comes from Greece, another has organic blueberries, walnuts and local honey. In addition, organizers have added “a bevy of premium Greek white and red wines to the Taverna.” Athena Wolfe, who does marketing for the fair, says that Greece’s agro tourism business–and in particular the wine business–is booming.  “Many of them are winning medals in wine competitions, so we thought we’d offer a sampling to the public at the Food Fair,” shares Wolfe. Other beverages available will include American and Greek beer, traditional Greek spirits, and coffee.
Hours: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, & noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Location: 223 Church St. at the corner of Center.
Call 334-4400 or visit https://www.facebook.com/EatLikeAGreek.

Sustainable seafood festival in Monterey May 16-18
The 13th annual “Cooking For Solutions” is at the Monterey Bay Aquarium May 16-18. There will be “sustainable and organic food from land and sea” plus public presentations and cooking demos by chefs including Alton Brown, all included with aquarium admission. Many additional “food and wine adventures” and culinary salons can be purchased online; some events are sold out. The three-day celebration features more than 90 chefs and 70 wineries and breweries.
Location: Monterey Bay Aquarium, 886 Cannery Row.
For details go to at cookingforsolutions.org or call 648-4800.

Dare to Pair Food & Wine Challenge May 18

Surf City Vintners is hosting the 5th annual “Dare to Pair” food & wine challenge. Cabrillo College is joining with Surf City Vintners to hold the event, as the competition is a benefit for Cabrillo College’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program. Teams of Cabrillo culinary students prepare appetizers, and these are paired with wine from each Surf City Vintners winery. Attendees walk from winery to winery (all located within a couple blocks of each other) to taste the food and wine. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase their skills, and for the public to enjoy their culinary creations paired with our great local wines,” said Eric Carter, director of the Cabrillo Community College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program.

The event takes place Sunday from 12-3:30 p.m. Tickets are $60 in advance (buy from any Surf City winery — see web site  — or at Pino Alto Restaurant on the Cabrillo campus. Call (831) 435-3000 for more information. If tickets do not sell out, they will be available the day of the event for $70.

Participants vote on their favorite pairings for the People’s Choice awards, and a panel of chefs and restaurateurs also judge the competition including Kirsten Ponza (Executive Chef of The Chaminade) and Sheri Moise (owner of Johnny’s Harborside), and Ted Burke (owner of Shadowbrook). There is an after-party at Equinox Champagne Cellar from 3-5 p.m., and the awards ceremony takes place at 4:30 p.m.
Location: Surf City Vintners wineries, Swift Street Courtyard, Swift & Ingalls Streets in Westside
 Santa Cruz

Staff of Life Anniversary Party May 17
The local grocery store is having a 45th anniversary party from noon-4 p.m. Saturday. There will be live music, dancing, BBQ, wine tastings, raffle prizes, product demos, and free samples.
Visit www.staffoflifemarket.com or call 831-423-8632.
Location: 1266 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

Homeless Garden Project Farm Fest May 18
HGP is hosting Farmfest 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. It’s free and there will be kids’ activities (games, face painting, and more), food, live music, and a beer garden operated by Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing Company. Local radio station KUSP is co-sponsoring the festival, which aims to highlight the tangible benefits of community involvement at HGP to encourage those taking a new direction in their lives. “Many people who are homeless and come to participate in our programs tell me that the community at the farm makes a difference in their outlook on the world and in building self-confidence and self-esteem,” says Darrie Ganzhorn, HGP Executive Director. “Farmfest is an invitation to the wider community to join in.”

There will be cooking demos by local chef volunteers including Oai Phan, who is preparing an Asian dumpling with kale. Phan moved to Santa Cruz from Vietnam about 30 years ago, and has volunteered at the farm almost every week for the last five years. Phan says, “Food always brings people closer and nothing makes me happier than to see a big smile on people’s faces when they eat my ‘rabbit food.’
Visit www.homelessgardenproject.org or call 831-423-1020.
Location: Shaffer Road and Delaware Ave. in Westside Santa Cruz

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