Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival 2014: Here’s what you get to taste!

Posted on January 16, 2014 by admin
Snake & Butterfly Chocolate is a vendor at the 2014 Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival

Snake & Butterfly Chocolate is a vendor at the 2014 Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival

The 2014 Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival is Sunday (1-4pm, Cocoanut Grove) with more than 25 vendors.

Benefiting re-entry student scholarships via the UC Santa Cruz Women’s Club, the chocolate festival is a popular event you don’t want to miss! Read more in this overview article, and keep reading for vendor information and some chocolate sample details to whet your appetite!

Watch for a few more sample details to be published tomorrow.

Snake & Butterfly Chocolate is an award-winning South Bay company that refines organic, fair trade chocolate from the bean. Snake & Butterfly makes small batch artisan chocolate using traditional stone melangers, using three basic ingredients: cacao beans, cocoa butter and sugar. They do not use emulsifiers or artificial ingredients. This chocolate is then used to create plain and flavored bars, truffles and confections — many suitable for vegans. At the Chocolate Festival, Snake & Butterfly will be sampling a variety of plain and flavored bars (Salt & Almond, Ginger & Nib, Bacon Toffee, Cherry & Chili), truffles, and caramels. The entire chocolate line will be for sale, too. Snake & Butterfly has recently opened their first retail location in Historic Downtown Campbell, where you can find all their creations as well as a collection of other local organic artisan products.

Original Sin Desserts & Catering was founded by UCSC graduate Tanya DeCell. Original Sin will be serving Oaxacan black Mole made with both Guittard and Scharffenberger chocolate. As with all of DeCell’s food, it is made from scratch using all-natural ingredients (locally sourced and organic wherever possible). Original Sin caters both private and business events, with a special emphasis on food and wine pairings.  DeCell is the primary chef for several wineries including Silver Mountain, Soquel, Sante Arcangeli and Wargin Wines.

Lifestyle Culinary Arts, a fabulous local company (read article)  who participates at the festival every year, will have this wonderful treat available:
• Chocolate Mousse Topped Pretzel with Banana Caramel

India Joze, a restaurant that serves delicious food, is attending the festival for the first time and will offer:
• A Filipino pork dish with cocoa sauce, plus (tentatively) chocolate chai and “wok roca”

Alfaro Winery, who also participated last year when wine was included for the first time, will pour:
• 2012 “A” Estate Chardonnay and 2012 Gimelli Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel

The Details
Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival
Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz 95060
Sunday, January 19, 2014 from 1-4pm

Follow me on Twitter @santacruzfoodie.

Posted in Benefits, Events, Food & Food News, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival 2014: Here’s what you get to taste!

Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival with wine, food, and more benefits UCSC scholarships

Posted on January 16, 2014 by admin
Treats from previous Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival

Treats from previous Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival

The 7th annual Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014 benefits UCSC scholarships, and I have lots of delicious food and wine highlights to share. The event is from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Cocoanut Grove by the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

The Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival brings together more than two dozen vendors. Last year’s festival welcomed wineries for the first time, and that tradition continues in 2014.

Participants range from local confectioners and bakers like Snake and Butterfly, Original Sin Desserts & Catering, and Saratoga Chocolates, to local restaurants like Chocolate and India Joze, to vendors from other states (like Theo Chocolate from Washington). Other local companies who will be present include Zizzo’s Coffee, Mission Hill Creamery, and wineries Sones Cellars, Alfaro Family Vineyards, and Silver Mountain.

I’ll publish information about specific items vendors will have for you to taste, and more details on some of these companies,  later tonight and tomorrow so watch for Part 2 and Part 3!

Each vendor will have treats such as truffles, cake, or ice cream available in exchange for a tasting ticket. Buy tasting tickets at the event (admission is free) or online. Each $15 purchase gets you six tickets. Another note: there will be a silent auction, cupcake decorating ($3) and some vendors are also selling chocolate products—remember that Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching!

The festival benefits re-entry student scholarships at UC Santa Cruz, for students returning to higher education after an extended absence, often students who are also parents or military veterans. The chocolate festival is presented by the UCSC Women’s Club, a nonprofit organization open to women of both the campus and local communities. The club has meetings throughout the year (except for the summer) with engaging speakers, and also hosts interest groups including book clubs. In the last 37 years the club has awarded over 330 scholarships totaling nearly $230,000 to deserving women and men for research activities, tuition and childcare.

The Details
Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival
Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz 95060
Sunday, January 19, 2014 from 1-4pm

Follow me on Twitter @santacruzfoodie.

Posted in Benefits, Events, Food & Food News, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival with wine, food, and more benefits UCSC scholarships

Mushroom cooking demos & activities for kids at Santa Cruz Fungus Fair

Posted on January 11, 2014 by admin
Mushroom latte at a previous Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. Photo Credit: Debra Johnson

Mushroom latte at a previous Santa Cruz Fungus Fair. Photo Credit: Debra Johnson

Mushroom fan alert: the 40th Annual Santa Cruz Fungus Fair is this weekend — you can watch cooking demos, buy mushroom-related food, see lots of unusual mushrooms, and more. The event is at Louden Nelson Community Center in downtown Santa Cruz. Also—if you’re a mushroom lover, check out the web site for NEXT weekend’s Big Sur Foragers Festival (Jan. 17-19, 2014).

The event began Fri. January 10 and most events are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sat-Sun. January 11-12 .
Enjoy cooking demonstrations, lectures, lots of unique mushrooms on display, and kids’ activities. Plus, there are many mushroom-themed food selections for sale.

The Fungus Fair draws more than 2,000 visitors each year. I went a couple years ago and it was quite enjoyable. A special habitat display area, beautifully arranged, will showcase hundreds of mushroom species commonly found in the Santa Cruz/San Francisco/Monterey Bay area. A Kids Room offers hands-on projects such as clay mushroom building and face painting.

The program schedule includes a Sunday 3-4 p.m. appearance by Jozseph Schultz (founder/chef of restaurant India Joze). He is doing a demo and audience members will get to taste samples. Schultz’s travels include Bali and Turkey, and he is a talented cook and storyteller. He’s authored cookbooks such as “India Joze International Mushroom Cookbook.”

See complete schedule.

The fair is hosted by the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz, a non-profit organization that aims to expand the understanding and appreciation of mycology (study of mushrooms) and to assist the general public, related institutions, and societies to further this goal. Its biggest event is the annual Fungus Fair.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

The Details:
Admission: Sat-Sun – $10 Adults, $5 Seniors & Students, free for kids under 12
Location: Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center Street (at corner of Laurel) – some street parking available at center; another option is further down Center Street near the police station

Posted in Cooking & Chefs, Events, Food & Food News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mushroom cooking demos & activities for kids at Santa Cruz Fungus Fair

Upcoming Santa Cruz restaurant Assembly hires veteran San Francisco chef

Posted on January 9, 2014 by admin
Carlo Espina will be Executive Chef at Santa Cruz restaurant Assembly (photo credit: Nader Khouri)

Carlo Espinas will be Executive Chef at Santa Cruz restaurant Assembly (photo credit: Nader Khouri)

The team behind Santa Cruz’s The Penny Ice Creamery and The Picnic Basket are opening their first full-service restaurant – Assembly – in a few weeks. They just hired Carlo Espinas as Executive Chef, and this is great news for the local dining community!

California Culinary Academy alumnus Espinas is moving to Santa Cruz next week, leaving his current chef position at San Francisco’s Comstock Saloon. After Espinas’ 2005 CCA graduation he worked at Incanto under chef Chris Cosentino, where he learned a lot including the importance of seasonally changing menus (you may recognize Cosentino’s name from TV’s Top Chef Masters and Chefs vs. City). Espinas also worked at SF restaurants such as Piccino Café, where he served as opening chef, and Camino, where he worked under Russell Moore who spent 20 years at Chez Panisse.

Assembly, opening in the next couple months at 1108 Pacific Ave.,  is slated to be a 100-seat restaurant with “rustic California Cuisine.” Speaking of his culinary styles and passions, Espinas says, “…My food tends to skew towards Mediterranean and regional American cuisine. California is the intersection of all of this: amazing produce and growing seasons that are coupled with rich cultural traditions from all over the country and world.”

Espinas is excited to cook for the Santa Cruz community and to make Assembly visitors feel like family. His own family is a big influence on his vision. “I am one of six in my family and I have 46 cousins, just on my mom’s side. Coming from a large, extended Filipino family, I grew up in a culture that centers around the table; chatting, laughing, and eating,” he explains. “I like food that brings people to the table, that facilitates conversation and cheer; and food that excites and satiates. I often think about my family when I cook…it keeps me grounded and focused on food that is tasty, tantalizing, but approachable.”

Assembly co-owners Kendra Baker and Zach Davis couldn’t be happier that Espinas said yes to their job offer. Baker first met Espinas when she was pastry chef at SF’s Bar Tartine, and has been keeping tabs on him ever since. “I knew Carlo was one to watch,” Baker says. “When Zach and I started talking about people we would want to work with, he immediately came to mind.”

Pastry Chef Anna St. John will also be part of the Assembly team. An experienced Penny staff member, St. John will work with Baker to create a range of tantalizing desserts.

It seems there is nothing Baker and Davis can’t accomplish in the culinary world. They started The Penny Ice Creamery with a Cedar Street location in August 2010 and expanded with a Pacific Ave. kiosk in November 2011 and a Pleasure Point location in February 2013. They also run beachfront café The Picnic Basket. What’s next? Hard to imagine, but in the meantime I can’t wait to try Assembly!

Follow me on Twitter @santacruzfoodie.

Posted in Cooking & Chefs, Restaurant News, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Upcoming Santa Cruz restaurant Assembly hires veteran San Francisco chef

Santa Cruz restaurant Kianti’s 10th anniversary party with specials and prizes

Posted on January 2, 2014 by admin
Pasta at Kianti's in Santa Cruz

Pasta at Kianti’s in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz restaurant Kianti’s is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Fri. January 3, 2014 with fun activities and great specials on pizza and more. Kianti’s has been offering excellent pizza and pasta, including affordable and delicious kids’ selections, since it opened in 2004.

The anniversary party lasts all day, with 10-cent sodas, $10 one-topping pizzas, $10 t-shirts, cake, champagne, pizza spinning, and prizes. Customers can win t-shirts, hoodies, gift certificates, and bottles of Kianti’s house wine (red and white). The raffle grand prize is a family-size pizza each month during 2014. Approximate raffle times are 4, 6, and 8 p.m.

More info:

  • It’s also Warriors game night. Show up in Warrior gear and receive an additional 10% off of your check.
  • Bring the kids from 2-4 to meet the new Kianti’s mascot (you can also help name him!)

The Details
Kianti’s Celebration Party: Fri. January 3, 2014, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Location: 1100 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, (831) 469-4400

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

Posted in Restaurant News, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Santa Cruz restaurant Kianti’s 10th anniversary party with specials and prizes

Santa Cruz and San Jose restaurants open on New Year’s Eve 2013, Part 2 of 2

Posted on December 29, 2013 by admin

arya kabobYesterday I published details on many Santa Cruz area restaurants – plus a couple in Los Gatos — offering dinner on New Year’s Eve 201; here are a few more highlights for Santa Cruz area venues plus a couple in San Jose and Cupertino.

Santa Cruz Area

Solaire at Hotel Paradox
On New Year’s Eve Solaire is doing a multi-course prix fixe dinner with reservations required; call (831) 600-4545. Also, Hotel Paradox is throwing a party; buy tickets online. The party is 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. and costs $25, which includes DJ and dancing plus a champagne toast.
611 Ocean St, Santa Cruz

Soif
Soif is serving a $75 prix fixe multi-course dinner with a $35 optional wine pairing supplement. Dinner starts with an amuse bouche trio: roasted beet, ricotta, & maple-ginger pecans; Kumamoto oyster with apple & cured Meyer lemon; shrimp shumai with mushroom kombu. Customers then get to select their appetizers, entrees and desserts from a delightful array of choices including appetizer shellfish chowder with pork belly confit, radish, and basil; entrée bison striploin with cavolo nero, roasted Chanterelle mushrooms & potato-onion cream, and dessert olive oil cake with Hachiya persimmon. Make reservations by calling (831) 423-2020. Note that Soif will be closed from Jan 1-17 for its annual winter break.
105 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz

Booka
On New Year’s Eve Booka is offering a prix fixe menu plus live music. With a special four-course dinner, Booka and Executive Chef Eli Epstein promise to take attendees on a culinary tour “…around the Mediterranean Sea that will wow your taste buds, with flavors from Spain, France & Italy.” For reservations and information call (831) 685-9500.
8041 Soquel Drive, Aptos

Hula’s Island Grill and Tiki Room
Hula’s is open on New Year’s Eve serving its regular menu. Plus, Tuesdays is always “Happy Hour all night” and the restaurant is honoring that tradition even though it’s a holiday. Reservations are available for parties of six or more and are recommended; call (831) 426-HULA.
221 Cathcart St., Santa Cruz

Chaminade
Chaminade is offering a New year’s Eve masquerade celebration from 7 p.m. – midnight that includes a “unique dining experience,” a 5-hour open bar, and a DJ and dancing. The price is $125 per person plus tax and gratiuity. Call (831) 475-5600 for reservations.
1 Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz

Other Santa Cruz area restaurants serving dinner on New Year’s Eve include:

  • Laili
  • La Posta
  • Bittersweet Bistro
  • Lago di Como Ristorante
  • West End Tap & Kitchen
  • Hoffman’s
  • Red Restaurant and Bar
  • Paradise Beach Grille
  • Chocolate
  • El Palomar
  • Café Mare
  • Au Midi

San Jose & nearby
Arcadia at the San Jose Marriott
Steakhouse Arcadia is offering two seatings on New Year’s Eve. The first is $65 and features a three-course menu that begins with amuse bouche “Truffle Royale” with wild mushrooms, herb salad, sherry vinegar and black truffles. It’s followed by choice of cauliflower soup or Dungeness crab salad, a selection from three entrées, and a selection from two dessert choices. The second seating is $89 and has five courses plus amuse. It starts with the same amuse, followed by cauliflower soup AND crab salad, a third course of crispy pork belly, and a choice of entrée and dessert. Call (408) 278-4555 for reservations.
At the San Jose Marriott, 100 W. San Carlos St., San Jose

Arya
Middle Eastern restaurant Arya is serving its regular menu from 4-7 p.m. Then at 8:30 p.m. it’s hosting a New Year’s Eve party which costs $89 and includes a four-course dinner, champagne toast, party favors, belly dancing, and music. Children are welcome at a discount price. Call (408) 996-9606 for reservations or more information.
19930 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino

Left Bank Brasserie
The Parisian-style restaurant is offering service on New Year’s Eve from 11:30 a.m. onward; the last seating is at 11 p.m. For dinner, there will be a la carte options and a children’s menu in addition to a four-course prix fixe $64.50 menu. Entrée choices include surf and turf with pan roasted filet mignon, garlic butter roasted Maine Lobster tail, star anise carrot puree, and braised escarole. Call (408) 984-3500 for reservations.
377 Santana Row #1100, San Jose

Also open on New Year’s Eve:

• Lark Creek Blue on Santana Row – call (408) 244-1244 for reservations. 378 Santana Row #1100, San Jose

• Bella Mia – Choose a 4-course prix fixe $45 menu or order a la carte. Call (408) 280-1993 for reservations. 58 South 1st Street, San Jose

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Santa Cruz and San Jose restaurants open on New Year’s Eve 2013, Part 2 of 2

Santa Cruz and South Bay restaurants open on New Year’s Eve, Part 1 of 2

Posted on December 28, 2013 by admin
Innovative cuisine at The Lexington House in Los Gatos

Innovative cuisine at The Lexington House in Los Gatos

Planning to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2013 at a restaurant in Santa Cruz, Los Gatos, or another nearby South Bay city? Here are details and menu highlights for a variety of venues; I’ll publish a few more tomorrow.

Santa Cruz Area

Aquarius
Located at the Santa Cruz Dream Inn overlooking the Wharf, Aquarius is hosting two seatings for dinner on New Year’s Eve: 5-6:30 p.m (three courses, $65) and 9 p.m. (five courses, $85). The second seating includes a DJ and live music, dancing, hats/noisemakers, and a midnight toast. Call 460-5012 for reservations or more information.
175 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

Johnny’s Harborside
On New Year’s Eve, Johnny’s is serving a prix fixe, three-course dinner for $48 that includes a glass of champagne. Call 479-3430 for reservations; the first seating is 5 p.m. and the last is 9:30 p.m. Customers choose one selection from each course. Appetizer options include fresh local crab and citrus bisque. Second course choices include half steamed fresh local dungeness crab with pan-seared crab cake, herb-roasted potatoes, and green bean almondine, and grilled New York strip loin with mashed potatoes, sauteed spinach, provencal stuffed crimini mushrooms, and roasted garlic butter. Dessert selections include Meyer lemon & cranberry bundt cake.
493 Lake Ave, Santa Cruz

Michael’s on Main
The Soquel restaurant is serving a fixed-price $55 four-course dinner with seatings from 5:30 – 9  p.m. Dinner includes a glass of champagne and New Year’s party favors. Call (831) 479-9777 for reservations. Appetizer choices include Corralitos sausage and blue cheese stuffed mushrooms; second course choices include lobster bisque. Entrees include salmon wellington and desserts include cheesecake infused with late harvest moscato.
2591 Main St., Soquel

Hindquarter
The Santa Cruz restaurant is open on New Year’s Eve from 5 p.m. onward. It’s serving the regular dinner menu plus holiday specials. Call (831) 426-7770 for reservations.
303 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz

The Cocoanut Grove
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the oceanfront Cocoanut Grove from 7 p.m. – 1 a.m. Tickets for dinner and the dance are $84; the dance only is $41 in advance and $46 at the door. Entertainment will be provided by The Alison Sharino Band, The Surfing Magician, and Innisfree Celtic Music. The dinner buffet is from Crown Café Catering and includes a glass of sparkling cider or champagne. A no-host full bar will be available.  Call (831) 423-2053 for information or buy tickets at brownpapertickets.com.

Los Gatos Restaurants

The Lexington House
The Lexington House just opened in September 2013, and it’s already gained many fans. The restaurant’s menu features products from local, organic, and sustainable sources skillfully prepared by Chef Philippe Breneman (formerly of Dio Deka and Moana Restaurant and Hotel Group, as well as a stint at Manresa).  For its first New Year’s Eve celebration, The Lexington House is offering a five-course $85 menu featuring “the best of the season.” Beginning with a Cauliflower Veloute and a Caviar Cracker, guests will have options including Diver Scallops with parsnips and brown butter; Fettuccine with uni butter and Dungeness crab; Mills Farro with wild mushroom and a slow cooked egg; Rendered Lamb Tenderloin with golden turnips and hedgehog mushrooms, and Textures of Chocolate and Maple Truffles. Call (408) 354-1600 for reservations.
40 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos

Dio Deka
Award-winning restaurant Dio Deka is offering its annual New Year’s Eve party with two seatings: the first from 6-8:30 p.m. ($95) and the second from 8:30 p.m. to past midnight ($125).  Each features a four-course menu with Greek specialties from Chef Jeff Fitzgerald such as Keftethakia lamb meatballs (I highly recommend these!), Octapothi Scharas – mesquite-grilled octopus, Avgolemono – classic egg-lemon soup with orzo; Lavraki – mesquite-grilled Mediterranean Branzino; Paithakia – Mesquite-grilled double-cut lamb chops; and Brizola – mesquite-grilled prime bone in rib eye. Guests that attend the second seating will receive party favors, a midnight complimentary champagne toast at midnight, and encouragement to ‘dance the night away when the bar opens up onto a dance floor with a live DJ.’ Call (408) 354-7700 for reservations.
210 E. Main St., Los Gatos

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Santa Cruz and South Bay restaurants open on New Year’s Eve, Part 1 of 2

Santa Cruz and San Jose restaurants open or closed on Christmas, Part 2 of 2

Posted on December 23, 2013 by admin
Delicious Mojo Cauliflower at Aptos restaurant Booka, open on Christmas

Delicious Mojo Cauliflower at Aptos restaurant Booka, open on Christmas

Yesterday I published highlights for a few restaurants open on Christmas in Santa Cruz and San Jose. Here are several more.

Also, note some Santa Cruz restaurants will be closed just for Christmas (like Hula’s, closed on both Xmas Eve and Xmas Day, and Johnny’s Harborside & Crow’s Nest, both closing at 3pm Xmas Eve and closed entire Xmas Day) while some shut down for a few days over the holidays:

  • Charlie Hong Kong (closed evening of 12/23 when the food runs out, through 1/1/14 – reopening 1/2/14)
  • Sabieng (closed 12/23 through 12/26 lunch, reopening 12/26 at dinner)
  • Little Shanghai (closed 12/22 through 1/5, reopening 1/6/14 at 11:30 a.m.)
  • Café Iveta (closed 12/25 through 1/1, reopening 1/2/14)

Santa Cruz, Capitola & Aptos restaurants

Booka Restaurant & Bar
On Christmas Eve Booka is offering a prix fixe dinner menu, and on Christmas Day Booka will feature a prix fixe tapas menu. For reservations and information call (831) 685-9500.
8041 Soquel Drive, Aptos

Café Mare
Café Mare is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Call (831) 458-1212 for reservations.
740 Front St, #100, Santa Cruz

Gabriella Cafe
Gabriella Café is open on Christmas Eve until 7:30 p.m. Call (831) 457-1677 for reservations.
910 Cedar St, Santa Cruz

Ideal Bar & Grill
Ideal is open Xmas Eve from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. with a regular menu. On Christmas Day, the restaurant is open 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. For dinner, it’s serving selections including slow-roasted prime rib, turkey with yams, stuffing, etc., and live Maine lobster. Call (831) 423-5271 for reservations.
106 Beach St at the Santa Cruz Wharf, Santa Cruz

Severino’s Bar & Grill
On Christmas Day the restaurant at Seacliff Inn has a buffet from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.  with Black Angus prime rib, Dungeness crab, roasted leg of lamb, and more. The cost is $39 for adults, $17 for kids 5-10, and free for 4 and under. For reservations and information call (831) 688-8987.
7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos

Zelda’s
Zelda’s is open on Christmas Day with breakfast at 7:30 a.m., and a holiday menu & dinner specials beginning at noon. Specials include traditional turkey or maple baked ham dinner ($16.95 adults, $10.95 kids). Call (831) 475-4900.
203 Esplanade, in the Capitola Village

San Jose

Il Fornaio
The restaurant at the Sainte Claire is open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Call (408) 271-3366 for reservations.
302 South Market St (at the Sainte Claire), 
San Jose

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

Posted in Restaurant News, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Santa Cruz and San Jose restaurants open or closed on Christmas, Part 2 of 2

Santa Cruz and South Bay restaurants open on Christmas, Part 1 of 2

Posted on December 22, 2013 by admin
Aquarius in Santa Cruz

Aquarius in Santa Cruz

It’s the countdown to Christmas; do you have your restaurant reservations yet for Santa Cruz or another South Bay area? Here are details and menu highlights for several venues; I’ll publish a few more tomorrow and also let you know of some restaurants that are closed for a few days over the holidays.

Santa Cruz Restaurants

Aquarius
Located at the Santa Cruz Dream Inn overlooking the Wharf, Aquarius is serving a special 3-course prix fixe menu on Christmas Day from 1-8:30 p.m. The cost is $48; there will be a kids’ menu available. Entrée choices include 12-ounce prime rib with horseradish crème fraiche and roasted root vegetables, and chanterelle mushroom pappardelle. Call (831) 460-5012 for reservations or more information.
175 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

Chaminade offers a Christmas Eve buffet from 5-9 p.m. The cost is $46.95 for adults, $15.95 for kids 6-12, and free for kids under 6. On Christmas Day the restaurant is serving a buffet from noon-6 p.m. The price is $49.95 for adults, $16.95 for kids 6-12, and free for kids under 6. Visit the holiday web site to view menus. Call (831) 475-5600 for reservations.
One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz

Hindquarter
The restaurant is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 12/24: Hindquarter is open from 5-9 p.m. 12/25: Hindquarter is open 2-8 p.m. The restaurant is serving the regular menu plus holiday specials. Call (831) 426-7770 for reservations.
303 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz

Solaire at Hotel Paradox
On Christmas Day Solaire is offering a four-course prix fixe menu from noon-8p.m.: $45 for adults, $35 for seniors, $14 for kids 6 and older, and free for kids 5 and under. For reservations call (831) 600-4545.
611 Ocean St, Santa Cruz

Also note that Hoffman’s is open on Christmas Eve, but closed on Christmas Day. For Christmas specials visit the restaurant’s web site at hoffmanssantacruz.com.

San Jose

LB Steak
The Santana Row restaurant is open on Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. It’s offering a regular menu at lunch. At dinner there will be a limited regular menu, plus a special $64.50 prix fixe four-course dinner (the prix fixe selections are also available a la carte). Entrée choices include crispy roast pork shoulder with parsnip puree, roasted cauliflower, cipollini onions, and salsa verde. Call (408) 244-1180 for reservations.
334 Santana Row, Suite 1000, San Jose

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

Posted in Restaurant News, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Santa Cruz and South Bay restaurants open on Christmas, Part 1 of 2

Whole Foods Market Dungeness crab, Wellshire ham, & Capitola holiday tastings

Posted on December 19, 2013 by admin
Wellshire spiral ham at Whole Foods Market

Wellshire spiral ham at Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market in Northern California, including stores in Santa Cruz and Capitola, has lots of tasty offerings for the 2013 holiday season including Dungeness crab and Wellshire Spiral Sliced Hams. I’ve had the great fortune to eat both in the last couple weeks, and highly recommend them. More details are below.

Also, Whole Foods Market (WFM) in Capitola is offering holiday tastings on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 12 -2 p.m. Each department will be handing out samples of at least one product; rumor has it that the crab and/or ham will be available to taste!

Wellshire Spiral Sliced Cooked Half Hams are sold exclusively at WFM, not in any other grocery stores. Because they are spiral sliced, it’s easy to just pull off however much or little you want at a time instead of taking the time and energy to carve. The hams have no preservatives, nitrates or antibiotics; the animals are fed very wholesome grains. The cost is $3.99/lb. for semi-boneless, cooked, seasoned uncured ham and the meat is moist, flavorful, and wonderfully addicting! I brought home an 8-pound ham, and I can’t believe how many meals I ate. These included:
• Split pea soup with ham
• Ham sandwiches
• Ham, cheese & avocado omelettes
• Ham & pineapple pops (really easy recipe from the Whole Foods collection)
The Dungeness crab at WFM Capitola is delivered fresh from San Francisco fisherman six days a week, specifically from Pezzolo’s Seafood at Pier 45. You can taste the freshness, and the WFM Seafood Department staff members do a fantastic job of cracking and cleaning your whole, cooked crabs (free if you ask). The crab is really meaty and delicious; my family ate ours cold and dipped various bites into lemon, butter, or both. Some nice seeded baguettes and a side dish of brussels sprouts were the perfect accompaniment; of course, some people will choose to heat their crab and everyone has their own preferences for what to eat with crab! Bon Appetit.

Bonus: if you buy 3 crabs or more, you get $1.00/off per pound (the initial cost varies depending on market price that day).

The crab is “Super Green Rated” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. What does that mean, you wonder? As stated on WFM’s site: It’s “good for the environment and good for health… the Monterey Bay Aquarium has identified seafood that’s ‘Super Green,’ meaning that it’s excellent for human health and is caught or farmed responsibly. The Super Green list highlights products that are currently on the Seafood Watch ‘Best Choices’ (green) list, are low in mercury and are good sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.”


WFM Santa Cruz Area Location Details:
Both stores open 8am-9pm daily


Whole Foods in Capitola:
1710 41st Ave, Capitola 95010 (831) 464-2900
Whole Foods in Santa Cruz:
911 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz 95062 (831) 426-9901
If you’re on Twitter, follow me @santacruzfoodie.

Posted in Events, Food & Food News, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Whole Foods Market Dungeness crab, Wellshire ham, & Capitola holiday tastings