Santa Cruz holiday shopping: restaurant bonus gift certificate offers

Dry aged filet mignon from Paradise Beach Grille

Dry aged filet mignon from Paradise Beach Grille

If you’re in Santa Cruz or Capitola and still have some holiday shopping left to do, you’ll be happy to know that several restaurants are offering “gift certificate bonus deals.” Here are a few options:

  • Takara Japanese Restaurant & Grill: Buy a $25 gift card and get a $5 voucher. Offer available until December 24, 2013.
  • Paradise Beach Grille: Buy an $80 gift certificate and get $100 instead.
  • Hoffman’s Bistro & Patisserie: Buy a $50 gift card and receive a free $10 gift card. Visit web site to print offer.
  • Hula’s Island Grill: Purchase a $50 gift card and get a $10 card free. Purchase $100 and get a $20 card free. Offer available until December 24, 2013.
  • Erik’s Deli: Buy a $25 gift card and receive a free “sandwich with character” or entrée. Offer expires Jan. 2, 2013.
  • Peet’s Coffee and Tea: Buy a $25 gift card and receive a free medium beverage. Offer valid Dec. 16-24, 2013 at participating Peet’s retail locations.

Also, as of Mon. Dec. 16, Costco in Santa Cruz had several restaurant gift certificate bargains, including Manuel’s (buy two $50 gift cards for $80), Kianti’s (buy four $25 gift cards for $80), Coldstone Creamery (buy four $10 gift cards for $28), and Peet’s Coffee and Tea (buy five $20 cards for $80).

Happy holiday shopping!

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Green Mountain Coffee and Lindt Sweets for Christmas Treats

Spicy eggnog coffee from Green Mountain Coffee

Spicy eggnog coffee from Green Mountain Coffee

There are lots of sweets and special coffees available for Christmas treats, including a few selections from Green Mountain Coffee and Lindt Chocolates.

Green Mountain’s two holiday coffees are Gingerbread and Spicy Eggnog. They are both light roasts, and the eggnog variety features cinnamon and nutmeg. Both are good on their own to make cups or pots of coffee, but they also make flavorful additions to baked desserts if you like experimenting in the kitchen.  You might consider them for stocking stuffers or hostess gifts for your next holiday party; they’re available seasonally until supplies run out. They come in bags or K-Cups, online or at stores nationwide.

Lindt has released its newest truffle variety, LINDOR Sea Salt truffles, in time for the holidays but it’s actually available indefinitely (not just for the winter season). These yummy treats can be found online  and in Lindt stores across the country. Although these also make a great gift, once you taste them you might just decide to keep them for yourself. They come in 25-piece and 75-piece bags.

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Holiday shopping 2013: Santa Cruz artisan food and gift sale

Cardamom Tuesday Silk Road elixir, available at Sunday's artisan food and gift sale

Cardamom Tuesday Silk Road elixir, available at Sunday’s artisan food and gift sale

Santa Cruz’s Front Street Kitchen is hosting an exciting artisan food and gift sale just in time for your holiday shopping needs. The event is Sunday, Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Event organizers have announced there will be “all local, handmade, small batch gifts” plus live music, samples from selected vendors, an artisan gift basket raffle, and free admission.

Vendors include Farmer Freed with culinary salt blends; Fish Princess Farm with salsa, preserved lemons, and chutney; and Cardamom Tuesday with artisan elixirs that you can use in coffee, homemade soda, cocktails, and more.

Other products are chocolate truffles, toffee, jams, ice cream club memberships, gluten-free baked goods, food-based beauty and bath products, and several sweets from local high school ROP students.

I can’t wait to do some shopping and support local independent businesses at the same time! Happy holidays.

Follow me on Twitter @santacruzfoodie.

The Details:
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sun. Dec. 15, 2013
Front Street Kitchen, 504A Front St., Santa Cruz
(831) 588-4515

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Support Santa Cruz students via the ROP Culinary Holiday Bake Sale

Holiday cookie assortment from the ROP Culinary Holiday Bake Sale

Holiday cookie assortment from the ROP Culinary Holiday Bake Sale

Culinary students from the Santa County ROP (Regional Occupational Program), in local high schools, have created a bounty of goodies for a holiday bake sale. Treats are on sale through Dec. 15, 2013.

There are six different items available:
Holiday cookie assortment (1 dozen $6, 2 dozen $10, 5 dozen $24; choices vary – email or call for details)
Chocolate-covered holiday pretzels ($4.50)
Banana gingerbread loaf (3.5 inch loaf $3 or 3 for $8; 5.5 inch loaf $6)
Holiday chocolate cherry black forest log with meringue decorations ($24)
Chef’s signature chocolate ganache (8-oz jar $6; 12-oz jar $12—use this peppermint dark chocolate sauce over ice cream or melt into coffee for a delicious drink)
Christopher’s candied nut assortment ($8; candied pecans and cashews with dried cranberries & rosemary, for a snack or a holiday salad topping)

Andrea Mollenauer, Advanced Instructor for the ROP program, is very excited about this holiday sale. “It gives the kids an opportunity to get real-world hands-on experience while simultaneously providing affordable treats for parties, friends, colleagues, or just for yourself—the possibilities are endless!”

Customers are encouraged to give the ROP students as much advance notice as possible for order fulfillment. There are flexible pick up & delivery times (location is the Front St. Kitchen in downtown Santa Cruz at 504A Front).

For more information or to order, contact Andrea at 831-588-4515 or andrea@lifestyleculinary.com.

Treats from ROP culinary students will also be on sale at the Artisan Holiday Food & Gift Sale at Front St. Kitchen on Dec. 15: watch my web site for more info on that in the next couple days!

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Delicious holiday offerings and gifts from Peet’s Coffee and Tea

Peet’s Holiday Blend 2013 Gift Package for $25

Peet’s Holiday Blend 2013 Gift Package for $25

If you haven’t done all your Christmas shopping yet, and you have gift recipients who are tea or coffee lovers, Peet’s has some great ideas including special holiday packages.

Holiday teas include Holiday Breakfast Blend ($11.95/tea tin, $9.95 tea bags), a strong black tea that features Darjeeling and other varieties, and the flavorful Good Hope Spice Blend ($6.95/tea bags, only available during the holidays) which includes South African honeybush, orange peel, and allspice.

Peet’s uses “the best of the best” crops each year to create its holiday coffee blend. The 2013 Holiday Blend ($15.95/lb.) features beans from Indonesia, Kenya and Panama. It’s bright, rich and sweet without any one flavor overpowering another: a fabulous blend. Holiday Blend is available in Single K-Cups for the very first time this year ($13.99/box of 16).

Peet’s has put together many holiday treats plus gift packages in a variety of price ranges. Some are available online only, like “A Taste of the Holidays Gift Box” ($49) with tea, coffee, and various sweets. Many items are available at stores, like peppermint bark and snowflake-decorated mugs. Below are details on two packages available online; one is quite affordable and one is a splurge for that special someone!

$25 Peet’s Holiday Blend Gift Package—see photo above—includes a one-pound bag of Holiday Blend and a festive limited edition holiday mug.

$250 Peet’s Ultimate Holiday Convenience Package—includes the one-touch Cuisinart single serve brewer and an array of Peet’s Single Cups including the 2013 Holiday Blend, Café Domingo®  and Major Dickason’s Blend®, as well as two limited edition holiday mugs.

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Santa Cruz holiday shopping opportunities this weekend include gourmet food gifts

Fudge sauce from Desperately Seeking Chocolate, a vendor at Jingle Shells

Fudge sauce from Desperately Seeking Chocolate, a vendor at Jingle Shells

There are several Santa Cruz holiday shopping opportunities this weekend; here are two events that include gourmet food gifts.

Handmade Gifts $25 & Under Saturday

Saturday, December 7 is the 6th annual Handmade Gift Sale of $25-and-under items, from 10 am-4pm at Center Street Grill. There are gifts including artwork, handcrafted pens, aprons, wallets, and purses. The culinary items include local jams and preserves, gourmet honey, and confections. Read more.

 The Details: Saturday, December 7, free admission

Location: Center Street Grill, 1001 Center St, Santa Cruz

 

Jingle Shells at Seymour Center Sunday

Sunday, December 8 is the annual Jingle Shells Arts & Crafts Festival at Long Marine Lab’s Seymour Marine Discovery Center from noon to 5:30 pm, followed by the “festive whale lighting” at 5:45pm. Participants can explore the Seymour Center’s exhibits and aquarium, visit Ms. Blue (giant blue whale skeleton), look for migrating gray whales from the shipwreck deck, and meet local artisans while shopping for unique holiday gifts including jewelry, ceramics, handmade soaps, and seaglass. Vendors include three related to food: Desperately Seeking Chocolate will be offering dessert sauces including Single Malt Whiskey Fudge, Ginger Habanero Fudge, and – new this year – Balsamic Fudge. Twins Kitchen creates innovative jams and mustards using seasonal and organic fruits from local farms. Flavors include Strawberry Balsamic Jam with rosemary, Black Pepper Raspberry Vanilla Jam with lavender, and Apricot Bourbon Mustard. Farmer Freed  makes culinary salt blends using local organic ingredients. Seymour Center will be serving free hot cider. While you shop, you can enjoy live music. Also note that the Center’s Ocean Discovery Shop (this is separate from the special vendors appearing that day) is offering 10% off all purchases on Sunday.

The Details

Sunday, December 8: Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and students, and free for Friends of Long Marine Lab members, UCSC undergrad students, and kids 3 and under

Location: Seymour Marine Discovery Center at Long Marine Lab, 100 Shaffer Road (past Natural Bridges State Beach, at the end of Delaware Avenue).

For anyone unfamiliar with the Center, it’s dedicated to educating people about the role scientific research plays in the understanding and conservation of the world’s oceans. Read more at Seymour Center’s web site or call (831) 459-3800.

 

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Santa Cruz, Monterey, & San Jose restaurants for Thanksgiving, Part 2

Bacon-wrapped sturgeon at Restaurant 1833, a variation of which the restaurant will serve at Thanksgiving

Bacon-wrapped sturgeon at Restaurant 1833, a variation of which the restaurant will serve at Thanksgiving

Here are a few Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Jose restaurants open on Thanksgiving, so you can make reservations for Thursday, Nov. 28 if you’re planning to dine out. A few restaurants, including Booka in Aptos, will be closed.

For more choices, see:

Santa Cruz and San Jose restaurant highlights, Part 1

Walnut pie and other Thanksgiving food from Whole Foods Market in Santa Cruz and Capitola

Thanksgiving food from Lifestyle Culinary Arts in Santa Cruz (it’s too late to order, but you can plan ahead for next year and article includes link to cranberry chutney)

Santa Cruz & Aptos

Aquarius is offering a $48 prix fixe three-course menu from 1-8:30 p.m. (a kids’ menu will also be available), and complimentary valet parking. The Minor Third Jazz Trio will perform from 4 – 8 p.m. For family-style whole turkey dinners to go, contact Gus Siggins at gsiggins@jdvhotels.com.
175 West Cliff (at the Santa Cruz Dream Inn), Santa Cruz, (831) 460-5012

Ideal Bar & Grill has a few highlights beginning at 11 a.m. including:
• Traditional Turkey Dinner $15.95 for 12oz, $19.95 for 16oz
• Slow roasted Prime Rib $24.95 12oz, $27.95 16oz
• Homemade desserts including Pumpkin Pie
106 Beach Street (at the Santa Cruz Wharf), (831) 423-5271

Café Gratitude is serving a free organic, vegan feast as its “Second Annual Community Appreciation Meal.” The lunch will be served from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
103 Lincoln Street, Santa Cruz, (831) 427-9583

Sanderlings has a three-course prix fixe menu; the price is $34.95 for adults. There is also a $17.95 meal (one course) for kids. Soup/salad choices include Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. Four entrée choices include Sage Butter Roasted Turkey Breast or Grilled Salmon with Polenta Cake, Roasted Red Peppers, Baby Artichoke, Spinach, and Nage.
One Seascape Resort Drive (at Seascape Beach Resort), Aptos, (831) 662-7120

Severino’s Bar & Grill is offering a buffet; the price is $32 for adults, $16 for kids 5-10, and free for kids 4 and under. The buffet is open from 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Selections include fresh salads, butternut squash soup, vegetarian ravioli, salmon Dijon, honey glazed ham, leg of lamb, roasted turkey with all the traditional sides, and homemade desserts.
7500 Old Dominion Court (at Seacliff Inn Beach Resort), Aptos, (831) 688-7300

Monterey
Restaurant 1833 is serving a special $55 three-course prix fixe menu that begins with an amuse bouche. Reservations are highly recommended. Menu items include:

  • Mushroom Soup with truffle butter, brioche, chives
  • Root Vegetable Salad with pomegranates, winter greens and espelette
  • Bacon Wrapped Sturgeon with herb puree, roasted carrots, maple sherry sauce
  • Chestnut Ravioli with apple, sage, cashew and apple cider
  • “The Turkey” with a choice of white or dark meat and served with cranberry sauce, green beans with almonds, potato puree, sweet potato marshmallows, stuffing and gravy
  • Choice of Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll with buttered pecan ice cream and maple syrup or Chocolate Financier with hazelnut cream and cranberry coulis

Also, Chef Levi Mezick’s famous Bacon Cheddar Biscuits will be available a la carte.
500 Hartnell St., Monterey, (831) 643-1833

Cannery Row Brewing Company’s Chef Daniel Furey will offer a traditional Thanksgiving meal including:

  • Artisanal Greens with spiced and candied pecans and cranberry vinaigrette
  • Smoked Turkey with giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, served with Green Bean Casserole, Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing
  • Pumpkin Cheesecake with pumpkin seed brittle and spiced Chantilly cream

The three-course menu is available for $32 per person as well as a la carte for $18.95 for the Smoked Turkey dish. The regular menu will be available and the restaurant will be open for regular hours, 11:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.; bar is open until 12:00 a.m. Reservations are recommended but walk-ins are welcome.
95 Prescott Ave, Monterey, (831) 643-2722

San Jose

The Fairmont San Jose is serving a special Harvest Buffet from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The cost is $67 per adult and $33 per child 5-12. Kids under 5 are free. Buffet highlights include Alaskan King crab legs, sage basted roast turkey, honey baked ham with port wine sauce, and a lavish pastry display. There will also be gourmet salads and an omelet and pancake station. For full menu, click here.
170 South Market St, San Jose, (408) 998-3960

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Restaurants for Thanksgiving 2013 in Santa Cruz and San Jose

The dining room at Solaire in Santa Cruz

The dining room at Solaire in Santa Cruz

It’s almost Thanksgiving – time to make your reservations if you’re going out to eat! Want to dine in the Santa Cruz or San Jose area? Here are a few to consider for November 28, 2013. I’ll be publishing more options in the next couple days.

Some local restaurants, including Johnny’s Harborside in Santa Cruz Harbor, will be closed.

Santa Cruz, Aptos, Soquel Restaurants

Chaminade offers a Thanksgiving buffet from noon to 6 p.m. The cost is $49.95 for adults, $16.95 for kids 6-12, and free for kids under 6. Customers are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz County. Toy drive participants will be entered into a drawing to win a 50-minute massage at The Spa, Sunday Brunch for two in the Sunset Restaurant, or an overnight stay for two. Selections include roast Tom Turkey, roast lamb leg, butternut squash ravioli, a seafood assortment, gourmet salads, and pumpkin apple soup.
One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz (831) 475-5600

Solaire has a four-course prix fixe Thanksgiving feast from noon – 8 p.m. for $45 (adults), $35 (seniors 65+), and $14 (kids). Children 5 and under are free. Appetizer choices are bacon-wrapped prawns and cheddar grits or wild mushroom risotto; soup/salad choices include roasted butternut soup; entrée choices include Diestel turkey, Kurobuta pork prime rib with herb spaetzle, or artichoke agnolotti. Dessert options include pumpkin pie or triple chocolate cake.
611 Ocean (inside Hotel Paradox), (831) 600-4545

Bittersweet Bistro will have a Thanksgiving buffet. Served from 12:30 – 6 p.m., the price is $53.95, (Adults) $22 (Kids 6-12), or $7 (Kids 5 and Under). Parties that are seated right at 12:30pm receive a 5% discount. The menu includes Roasted Traditional All Natural Turkey with Pan Gravy and Gluten Free Gravy, Slow Roasted Prime Rib with Au Jus and Horseradish crème fraîche, Teriyaki Salmon, Classic Glazed Applewood Smoked Ham, Baked Candied Yams, Persimmon Waldorf Salad, Classic Caesar Salad, Tossed Asian Salad, Maple Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, and a special kids’ buffet table. Desserts include a chocolate fountain and miniature versions of “famous Bittersweet desserts.”
787 Rio Del Mar Boulevard, Aptos (831) 662-9799

Michael’s on Main is serving Thanksgiving dinner from 2-8 p.m. The restaurant will offer a 3-course prix fixe meal for adults ($32) and a special meal for kids 12 and under ($15.95). The adult dinner features choice of soup or salad, entrée choice (four selections are oven-roasted turkey with sides such as garlic mashed potatoes and green beans with caramelized shallots, Osso Bucco, pistachio-crusted salmon, or a vegetarian dish with grilled portobello), and choice of dessert (options include pumpkin cheesecake and cranberry orange bread pudding).
2591 Main Street, Soquel (831) 479-9777
San Jose Restaurants

Maggiano’s on Santana Row is doing a prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner; it’s $36.95 for adults and kids 5-12 are $17.95. The family-style dinner includes bruschetta, salad (families get to choose two of four salads offered), entrée (choose two of three entrees offered, including roast turkey with focaccia sausage stuffing or parmesan-crusted tilapia), side dishes (choose two), and pasta (choose two from selections including four cheese ravioli or gnocchi with Italian sausage). Dessert is also included; choose two from five selections include pumpkin praline cheesecake and tiramisu (I’ve heard the tiramisu is fantastic!). There are also take-out options: choose a $185 full-meal package that serves approximately five people or order a la carte.
3055 Olin Avenue, Ste. 1000 (408) 423-8973

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New walnut pie and other Thanksgiving 2013 dishes at Whole Foods Market in Northern California

New Brown Butter Walnut pie from Whole Foods Market

New Brown Butter Walnut pie from Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market in Northern California, including stores in Santa Cruz and Capitola, is offering many options for Thanksgiving Dinner. You need to order in person or online by Tuesday, November 26. They have a brand-new holiday pie this year called Brown Butter Walnut, and I was given a complimentary one to try. Let me tell you: it’s delicious!

A traditional turkey dinner costs $99.99 (serves up to 8) and includes an oven-roasted whole 10-12 lb. turkey from Sonora-based famiy-owned Diestel, herb stuffing (4 lbs.), cranberry relish, turkey gravy, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls (12), and pumpkin pie. The same dinner with an organic turkey costs $149.99. Other selections include a “vegan holiday dinner for 4” ($79.99), and a “Health Starts Here dinner for 8” ($119.99).

Brown Butter Walnut pie, and the other holiday pies (Pumpkin, Apple, Blackberry Lime) are made with 100% all-butter crust. Other ingredients include whole fruit (no pieces or purees) and California-grown walnuts. The pies come in a reusable/returnable pie tin. Customers can keep and reuse the pie tins or collect ten and return them for a free pie.

If you’d like to order a turkey a la carte, Whole Foods features several different types including Diestel in both organic ($3.99/lb.) and regular ($2.99/lb.) varieties. Something new for this year: all Diestel turkeys (both organic and regular) are now verified non-GMO.

A la carte sides include “Foodie Favorites Side Dish Collection” with items like Sage Sausage Sourdough Stuffing, Sweet Potato Mash, and Apple Cranberry Crunch Pie ($69.99 serves 4 or $99.99 serves 8). Or choose Chestnut Soup ($9.99), Fig Baked Brie en Croute ($14.99), or Dungeness Crab Brie Mac n Cheese ($23.99), among other dishes.

If there’s a dish you eat during Thanksgiving and you want to have it again – either at Christmas, Hanukkah, or another time – all of Whole Foods holiday menu will be available until the end of the year.

Santa Cruz Area Location Details:

Both stores open 8am-9pm daily
Whole Foods in Santa Cruz:
911 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz 95062 (831) 426-9901
Whole Foods in Capitola:
1710 41st Ave, Capitola 95010 (831) 464-2900
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Santa Cruz’s Lifestyle Culinary Arts offers tasty Thanksgiving food to serve at home

 

Lifestyle Culinary Arts' presentation at the Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival

Lifestyle Culinary Arts’ presentation at the Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival

Lifestyle Culinary Arts chef/owner Andrea Mollenauer has announced her 2013 Thanksgiving menu, and she’s taking orders until Friday, Nov. 22. See below for menu highlights.

Mollenauer is a graduate of Cabrillo College’s Culinary Arts program, and a talented chef. She also serves as Advanced Instructor for ROP culinary high school classes in Santa Cruz County and sits on the Cabrillo Culinary advisory board.

Email andrea@lifestyleculinary.com or call (831) 588-4515 to get full menu or place order.

Pick-up is Wed. Nov. 27 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. or Thurs. Nov. 28 8:30-10 a.m. at Front Street Kitchen in downtown Santa Cruz (504A Front Street).

Last year Molleanauer shared her Signature Cranberry Chutney recipe with my readers; click here and scroll down for recipe.

Lifestyle’s 2013 Thanksgiving menu highlights:
• stuffed boneless turkey breast, white meat – ready to roast($15.95, serves 2-3)
• whole cider brined seasoned turkey — ready to roast, stuffed with apples, onions, citrus, herbs (18-22 lbs., $50, serves 20-25)
• signature cranberry chutney (tart and sweet with a hint of ginger, $5.95/pint)
• stuffing (apple, sage & dried cranberry $9.95, serves 4-6)
• maple roasted brussel sprouts w/apple pancetta ($11.95, serves 4-6)
• Companion Bakery organic sourdough loaves & Kelly’s Bakery dinner rolls
• pumpkin & pecan pies

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