Peet’s Coffee and Tea offers two limited edition peaberry coffees during August 2013

Posted on August 17, 2013 by admin

 

Peet's Coffee and Tea limited edition India Peaberry coffee

Peet’s Coffee and Tea limited edition India Peaberry coffee

Peet’s Coffee and Tea recently released two very-limited-edition coffees, Kenya Peaberry and India Peaberry beans. I had the opportunity to sample both, and can recommend them.

Both are $18.95/lb. and available by ordering online through August 20, and you can buy the India Peaberry beans at at your local Peet’s (including the San Francisco Bay Area). The end date for purchasing at local stores varies depending on location.

The Kenya peaberry grows at an elevation of 5,000 feet. The coffee bean results in a cup of coffee that is full-bodied and features subtle hints of caramel and vanilla. The India peaberry, from Elkhill Estate in India, brings bold, sweet flavors to coffee brewed from these beans.  Elkhill Estate is UTZ certified, meaning coffee produced from there meets strict environmental, social, and economic criteria. This gives Elkhill Estate employees access to housing, healthcare, a living wage and a crèche (day nursery) for working mothers.

After the peaberry beans come from India and Kenya, they are roasted at Peet’s LEED Gold Certified Plant in Alameda, California. There are only three roasting dates for these very limited editions: August 7, August 14, and August 21. After roasting, the coffee is packed and shipped on the same day.

To find the Peet’s Coffee & Tea near you, use the Peet’s online store locator.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Win tickets to Vins Des Montagnes Santa Cruz wine event with free food and wine

Posted on August 16, 2013 by admin
Wine barrels from an SCMWA winery

Wine barrels from an SCMWA winery

The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association (SCMWA) is giving away two tickets to Vins Des Montagnes to one of my Examiner.com or Santacruzfoodie.com readers. See end of article for how to enter, and keep reading for details on this family-friendly wine event and auction.

SCMWA, representing wineries from Half Moon Bay all the way to Corralitos, is hosting the Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Auction on August 25, 2013 from 2-5 p.m. Buy tickets online for $55 (tickets will be $65 at the door). Tickets for kids under 12 are $15. The French-themed event takes place at Roaring Camp Railroads ‎ in Felton, and the adult ticket price includes wine tasting, food, and the chance to bid on silent and live auctions to benefit SCMWA. Auction items include magnums of fine wine, wine tastings and tours, tickets to things ranging from a Stanford game to Gilroy Gardens, and hotel lodging.

For more information contact the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association at (831) 685-VINE (8463) or e-mail contact@scmwa.com.

Participating wineries
Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery
Beauregard Vineyards
Big Basin Vineyards
Black Ridge Vineyards
Bonny Doon Vineyard
Bruzzone Family Vineyards
Burrell School Vineyards & Winery
Byington Winery & Vineyards
Cinnabar Winery
Clos LaChance Winery
Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards
Dancing Creek Winery
Fernwood Cellars
Heart O’The Mountain
Hunter Hill Vineyard and Winery
Martin Ranch Winery
Muns Vineyard
Naumann Vineyards
Nicholson Vineyards
Odonata Wines
Pelican Ranch Winery
Portola Vineyards
Roudon Smith
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
Sante Arcangeli Winery
Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards
Silver Mountain Vineyards
Silvertip Vineyards
Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyards
Travieso Winery
Villa del Monte Winery
Woodside Vineyards

Participating restaurants and food vendors
Birk’s Restaurant
Bruno’s BBQ
Monterey Chocolate Company

****
THE CONTEST
Fine print: employees of Examiner.com are not eligible for this promotion
The winner will receive complimentary admission for two to Vins Des Montagnes (total value is $110).

To enter, email your name to tfatemiwalker@yahoo.com by Tuesday, August 20 at 9 a.m. and include the phrase “SCMWA event.” The drawing will take place later that day; the winner will be notified via email and tickets can be picked up at will call.

On Twitter? Please follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Start of the school year means parents need healthy recipes: how about strawberries?

Posted on August 11, 2013 by admin
Get a recipe to make this skinny strawberry sandwich at the California Strawberries web site

Get a recipe to make this skinny strawberry sandwich at the California Strawberries web site

Hard to believe, but it’s already the time when many kids are returning to school, which means lots of parents are thinking about how to incorporate healthy recipes into a packed schedule. Fresh vegetables and fruits can help with this strategy, and the California Strawberries web site has tips and recipes including “Skinny Strawberry Sandwich” (see below) which the California Strawberry Commission recommends as an after-school snack.

Registered dietitian and acclaimed author David Grotto (101 Foods That Could Save Your Life) includes strawberries on his list of recommended foods to help maintain a healthy daily diet. Locally grown California strawberries are packed with beneficial antioxidants and nutrients including potassium and fiber. In fact, a serving of just eight strawberries contain more vitamin C than an orange! I’ll post one more article in the next few days that will contain another strawberry-related recipe, and some back-to-school ideas and tidbits on this sweet and popular fruit.

Skinny Strawberry Sandwich

Ingredients
8 ounces Neufchatel cheese or low-fat cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
4 English muffins, split and toasted
2 cups (about 10 ounces) sliced stemmed California strawberries

Preparation
In food processor, process cheese, honey and zest until well mixed, or mix in bowl with wooden spoon. Spread 1 tablespoon cheese mixture on cut side of 1 muffin half; top with 1/4 cup strawberries. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 8 open-faced sandwiches. Makes 4 servings.

Tip: Make cheese mixture ahead and store in refrigerator.
Nutritional Information
215 calories; 5 g fat; 11 mg cholesterol; 277 mg sodium; 37 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 7 g protein, 20 % calories from fat

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Santa Cruz First Friday Art Tour Food/Restaurant Highlights include food trucks

Posted on August 1, 2013 by admin
Attendees at First Friday Santa Cruz enjoying dinner from a food truck

Attendees at First Friday Santa Cruz enjoying dinner from a food truck

Friday, Aug. 2, 2013 in Santa Cruz is the next “First Friday Art Tour,” and there are events, exhibits and food choices to satisfy people with a variety of tastes. Here are a couple highlights.

Mission Hill Creamery is hosting artist Jamie Taylor on Fri Aug. 2. He will be at the delicious ice cream shop from 6-9 p.m. to show and discuss his work. Taylor comments about his art: “It is exciting to me to be utilizing a broader range of my aesthetic sensibilities to make my paintings, so that they continue to present different possibilities of comprehension, resulting in the creation of something both mysterious and concrete.” Check out the art and taste some wonderful sweet treats at the same time. Mission Hill Creamery owner Dave Kumec utilizes organic ingredients in his artisan ice cream like Straus milk and cream, Windmill Farm strawberries, and Lone Oak Farms apricots.
Location: 1101B Pacific (next to Taqueria Vallarta)

The True Olive Connection hosts painter Hannah Dalbey, who will be at the shop from 6-8:30 p.m. Her work will be on display until September 4. Dalbey says: “Painting has been my creative expression for over 35 years…My objective has been to bring out the spirit of the subject. I learned that color, shape, value, line and texture are the underlying essence of painting.  It is always the same whether I am painting a face, a body, an animal, a landscape or a still life.  Abstract and non-objective art has become an exciting way to work with just the essential components of painting.   Having the freedom to experiment with creativity in its myriad forms has been a great joy!” The True Olive Connection is known for its great First Friday spreads which include free bread and olive oil, olives, wine, and other goodies. The shop sells many oils, nearly 20 balsamic vinegars, plus mustards, hot sauces, and more.
Location: 106 Lincoln St (just off Pacific), Santa Cruz

It’s been announced that food trucks will be at the August 2 First Friday Santa Cruz, at the Wrigley Building. Past First Fridays have featured The Truck Stop and Low N Slow Mobile Cuisine.
Location: 2809 Mission St (in Westside SC)

The free First Friday tour happens every month, rain or shine, at different venues including restaurants, cafes, wineries and galleries. It was founded by the Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Arts.

Follow me on Twitter @santacruzfoodie.

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Peet’s Coffee & Tea releases single cups to make at home – discounts available

Posted on July 27, 2013 by admin

peets singlesPeet’s Coffee and Tea recently released its first retail Single Cups which people can make at home with their own K-cup machines. The company spent five years doing research and testing in order to create a high-quality product. The new Single Cups are available for purchase online, at grocery stores (including Safeway and Raley’s in Northern California) and at your local Peet’s.

A package of 10 retails for $9.99, but right now if you buy 5 boxes online, you can get them at a discount for $42.45 instead of $49.95. Single Cups come in the following five varieties: Major Dickason’s Blend, Café Domingo, French Roast, House Blend, and Decaf House Blend.

So far I’ve sampled the Major Dickason’s Blend and the Decaf House Blend, and I found both of them to be full-bodied and very satisfying. Other Peet’s fans agree with me; if you look online you’ll find comments such as this one: “Just had my first Peet’s Single Cup (French Roast)-it’s amazing. Blows the competition away; it tastes like real coffee and I’ve been waiting a long time for this” (Mark W). A friend of mine who has sampled almost all of the varieties has this to say: “I found the Peet’s K-cups to be quite faithful to the corresponding beans in their retail stores.  In particular, their robust K-cups tend to deliver a smoother taste than that of their competitors. Their Decaf House Blend K-cup is especially good.  Mr. Peet knew what he was doing when he blended these coffee beans from Latin America to yield their signature medium-bodied roast.  It has the full flavor of their caffeinated House Blend; but for those who prefer a decaf coffee, this just might be it.”

As I mentioned, this new Peet’s product was in development for several years.  Peet’s tasted more than 2,000 cups, and tested every single-cup technology available in North America and Europe, to create the single serve cup that meets its high standards. The company designed a different dose for each specific blend (to the tenth of a gram!), and is using a unique mesh-like filter that allows essential coffee oils and more flavors to pass into each cup, unlike paper filters that can trap flavors and prevent enough of them from reaching the cup.

To find the Peet’s Coffee & Tea near you, use the Peet’s online store locator.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Wharf to Wharf party & 4th anniversary celebration at Whole Foods Market Capitola

Posted on July 26, 2013 by admin
Photo station from previous birthday party at Whole Foods

Photo station from previous birthday party at Whole Foods

Whole Foods Market in Capitola is having a fourth birthday celebration and post-Wharf to Wharf party on Sunday, July 28, 2013 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Whole Foods is a sponsor of the popular annual race that draws 15,000 runners, but you don’t have to be a race participant to attend the party.

Some of the highlights? A taco truck that includes fish tacos, product samples from many vendors including delicious Diestel Family Turkey Ranch and Verve Coffee, and live music from local band The Beach Cowboys. Plus, there will be beer tasting with proceeds benefiting the Santa Cruz Teen Kitchen Project, face painting for the kids, desserts, and photo stations (see photo above for an example from last year).

Another fun element: there will be a scavenger hunt, and all players who complete the hunt will receive a free treat and a chance to win a $100 WFM gift card. Four randomly selected winners will be drawn.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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

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Gilroy Garlic Festival: Former Top Chef Carla Hall, country singer Charlie Worsham, thousands of garlic fries

Posted on July 25, 2013 by admin
35th Anniversary Herbie Bobblehead for the Gilroy Garlic Festival

35th Anniversary Herbie Bobblehead for the Gilroy Garlic Festival

The 35th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival from July 26-28, 2013 includes former Top Chef contestant Carla Hall (now on ABC-TV’s “The Chew”), country singer Charlie Worsham, an increased grand prize for the garlic cook-off, and lots of delicious food for sale.

The garlic cook-off takes place Saturday July 27 with eight amateur chef finalists competing for $5,000 —  just a couple years ago, the prize was only $1,000. The finalists are from near and far, including Morgan Hill, CA (Chardonnay, Dijon, Garlic and Herb Basted Rotisserie Leg of Lamb served with Roasted Garlic Tapenade and Quinoa Tabouli) and Hawaii (that finalist is preparing Mahi-mahi Laulau with Shiitake Risotto). Hundreds of chefs send in their recipes ahead of time – some as early as December – and the eight finalists come to the festival and prepare their recipes in front of a live audience.

Worsham’s performance is also on Saturday (at 1:30 p.m.), and he is just one of 44 concerts on three stages over the three-day event.

The Gilroy Garlic Festival includes lots of other activities besides Saturday’s competition; see web site for details. Two events of note: Friday, July 26 at 2pm is the debut Garlic Bowl, a cooking contest between chefs from Fresno State, San Jose State, and UC Berkeley, and Sunday July 28 at noon is the Garlic Showdown hosted by Carla Hall, where four professional chefs battle for top billing. Following that battle, Chef Hall will conduct a cooking demo.

The “Gourmet Alley” is open all three days. It features cooking demonstrations and many foods for sale including garlic bread, garlic chicken wings, garlic fries, sweet potato fries, BBQ pulled pork pizza, garlic scampi, and garlic ice cream. Interesting statistics: at the 2012 festival, dishes sold included approximately 5,000 servings of scampi plus more than 12,000 servings of garlic bread and more than 13,000 servings of garlic fries.

Parking is free. Discount tickets ($2 off) are available at Raley’s, Bel-Air and Nob Hill locations throughout Northern California as well as online at http://gilroygarlicfestival.com. Online ticket purchases also give buyers a $2 discount on Gourmet Alley Combo Plates.

The Details
35th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival
Christmas Hill Park, Gilroy, CA
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
July 26, 27, & 28, 2013
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
Tickets: Adult $17, Children (ages 6-12) & Seniors (60+) $8, Kids under 6 are free

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2013 California Beer Festival with food, beer, and music at Aptos Village Park

Posted on July 23, 2013 by admin
The 2012 California Beer Festival at Aptos Village Park

The 2012 California Beer Festival at Aptos Village Park

The 2013 California Beer Festival on August 10 features food from restaurants and other vendors, plus live music and of course lots of beer. Event organizers have announced that tickets usually sell out so it’s recommended you buy online. General admission tickets are $45 and include beer samples and a souvenir cup; there are also “designated driver” tickets for $25 (includes free meal from any food vendor plus bottled water) and VIP tickets for $70 (includes early admission and more).

More details: the event is at Aptos Village Park, the beer samples are 3-ounce pours, and the festival gates open at 12:30 p.m. for general admission ticket-holders. Tasting begins at 1 p.m. and the festival ends at 5 p.m. There will be approximately 70 craft beers on tap. Breweries participating include Lagunitas Brewing Co., Anderson Valley Brewing Col, Hangar 24 Craft Brewery, Sierra Nevada, Anchor Brewing, and Seabright Brewery. Food vendors include Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine, Cruz-N-Gourmet, Lucy’s Hot Dogs, and Mission Hill Creamery.

There are three live bands performing including Foreverland, a 14-piece tribute band to Michael Jackson. All parking will be at Cabrillo College and a courtesy shuttle will bring you to the Park (Please refer to map under “Map & Directions” section at the web site).

Proceeds benefit the Gen Giammanco Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial support to student athletes to assist in their pursuit of both scholastic and athletic success in Santa Cruz County.

Aptos Village Park is located at 100 Aptos Creek Rd, Aptos 95003

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Win Whole Foods Market gift card and read about new summer upside down cake

Posted on July 19, 2013 by admin
New Summer Peach-Blueberry Upside Down Cake at Whole Foods Market

New Summer Peach-Blueberry Upside Down Cake at Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market has a new, delicious peach-blueberry upside down cake and you can win a gift card to purchase this and/or other items of your choice! Read end of article for giveaway details.

Earlier this month, Whole Foods Market launched this seasonal dessert at all of its stores. It retails for $6.99. Current ingredients include whole wheat and almond flour, Greek yogurt, olive oil, and blueberries and peaches; because it’s seasonal, the upside down cake might feature other fruit come autumn. The peach-blueberry variety will be available through the summer. I had the opportunity to sample this dessert over Independence Day weekend, and can highly recommend it. The cake was moist, light, and unique.

Also, I was at Whole Foods Capitola yesterday doing some shopping and noticed that the cake is on sale for only $3.99 (!) through July 25, 2013 (this offer’s good at Northern California stores).

If you decide to buy a cake to serve as a selection during a summer barbecue, remember that Whole Foods has lots of grilling options including pre-made burgers and yummy shrimp kabobs.

CONTEST
Prize: A $20 gift card to Whole Foods Market.
To enter, email your name to tfatemiwalker@yahoo.com and include the words “Whole Foods.” Deadline to enter is Sun. July 21, 2013 at noon.
This contest is open to readers of Tara Fatemi Walker’s Examiner.com and Santacruzfoodie.com sites. Employees of Examiner.com are not eligible for this promotion.

On Twitter? Please follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Win free burritos for 20 years from Chipotle Mexican Grill

Posted on July 11, 2013 by admin
Win free burritos through Chipotle’s Adventurrito contest

Win free burritos through Chipotle’s Adventurrito contest

To celebrate its 20th anniversary in business, the restaurant Chipotle Mexican Grill is holding a three-week treasure hunt leading up to a grand prize of free burritos for 20 years. And there isn’t just one grand prize winner, there are 20!

“Adventurrito” begins on Saturday, July 13, 2013, which is the exact day of Chipotle’s anniversary. There will be a series of 20 online puzzles and daily prizes. During the first 19 days of the contest, Chipotle is giving away free burritos for a year (that’s one burrito a week for 52 weeks) to 20 contestants each day. On the last day of the contest, the first 20 players who finish the puzzle first will be awarded the Grand Prize of free burritos for 20 years (that’s one burrito a week for the next 20 years).

Specific details: Chipotle will unlock a daily puzzle at 20:20 Mountain time each night at Adventurrito.com (so 7:20 p.m. Pacific time, or California time). Once the puzzle is unlocked, players who attempt to answer the puzzle before 20:20 Mountain time on the following day will be entered into a daily lottery to win a year of free meals at Chipotle (20 winners will be selected each day). If a player has answered all of the 19 daily puzzles correctly by 20:20 Mountain time on Thursday, August 1, the twentieth puzzle is unlocked and that player has a chance to solve the puzzle and win the grand prize. In order to participate, players must register at Adventurrito.com — where you can also get more rules and details on the contest, like how to get puzzle hints in the form of haikus or “Hai-clues,” and extra entries for referring friends.

“Twenty years in, we are changing the way people think about and eat fast food,” said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle. “That vision has connected with a lot of people and helped to make them very loyal customers. In celebrating this milestone, we thought giving something special to our customers was the right thing to do, since they have given so much to us over the years.”

The first 19 puzzles will vary from easy puzzles to more challenging ones, and will incorporate Chipotle history as well as its commitment to food from more sustainable sources. Each will be accompanied by a video clue presented by “friends of Chipotle,” including celebrities, athletes, political leaders, and farmers.

Note that you don’t have to purchase any Chipotle food to enter the contest. However, if you haven’t tasted Chipotle’s newest menu item, delicious sofritas, you might want to try it sometime soon. You can read more about it in my June article.

Bon appetit and good luck! On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

 

 

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