12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Day Four: ice cream, nuts, and Asian food

Posted on December 15, 2012 by admin

Holiday mix from Nut Kreations in downtown Santa Cruz

It’s Day Four of Santa Cruz Restaurant Examiner/Santa Cruz Foodie’s “12 Days of Christmas Giveaway.” Today’s prize is a bounty from three generous local businesses: Mission Hill Creamery, Nut Kreations, and Charlie Hong Kong. See end of article for prize details.

 

These three businesses all have great products available for stocking stuffers (and Nut Kreations has bigger items as well). Here are the details.

 

Organic ice cream venue Mission Hill Creamery has some fun stocking stuffers: $5 in Creamery Bucks wrapped and packaged in a sugar cone. If you haven’t visited lately, new products include; Chocolate Dipped Ice Cream Bars, Rich and Thick European Sipping Chocolate, Organic Spiced Chai, Lulu Carpenter’s Artisan Roasted Coffee (whole bean coffee in 12 oz package comes with free coffee drink of choice), and a selection of cookies and other treats from the Buttery. Don’t wait too long to do Xmas shopping; they’ll be closing at 3pm on Christmas Eve.

1101B Pacific Avenue (near Cathcart) in downtown Santa Cruz — across the street from Hoffman’s and Kianti’s, (831) 216-6421

http://www.missionhillcreamery.com

 

Nut Kreations has a new Holiday Mix that is perfect for gifts. You can put it in your own bag as a stocking stuffer, or choose to buy one of the many containers the store sells for a conveniently packaged gift. The mix ($12.99/lb.) has Roasted Salted Cashews, Raspberry Honey Almonds, Toasted Peas, Red Dark Chocolate Cranberries, Dark Chocolate Raisins. Nut Kreations has gifts starting at $3.99. Nut assortments in clear trays range from $12-$25, while tins are available from $15-50.
Some of co-owner Mina Feuerhaken’s favorite holiday items are:

  • Chocolate Cherries
  • Sea Salt & Pepper Pistachios
  • Orange Honey Almonds
  • Red Walnuts
  • Dark Chocolate Banana Chips
  • White Chocolate Coconut Curry Cashews
  • Chocolate Toffee Hazelnuts

 

104 Lincoln St (near Pacific Avenue) in downtown Santa Cruz, (831) 431-6435

http://www.nutkreations.com/

 

Organic Asian restaurant Charlie Hong Kong has gift cards that make excellent stocking stuffers or gifts. You can get them in any denomination. Make sure you plan ahead if you’re planning on buying one for a Christmas gift; CHK will close around 9 p.m. on Dec. 23 and won’t reopen until Jan. 2 (it’s an annual closure they do, giving employees long vacations and doing maintenance & improvement projects). On Dec. 23, if you go in for dinner, owner Carolyn Rudolph says it will be “fun and festive…as we get creative, using our ingredients, as certain products run out.” After they close on Dec. 23, CHK donates any leftover food to Santa Cruz’s homeless shelter.

1141 Soquel (at Seabright), (831) 426-5664

http://www.charliehongkong.com/

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THE CONTEST:

Reminder — during the entire “12 Days of Christmas” promotion, each person can only win one prize.

DAY FOUR PRIZE – Mission Hill Creamery gift certificate for 2 sundaes (worth up to $15), Nut Kreations gift certificate for $10, and Charlie Hong Kong gift card for $20

 

To enter, email your name to tfatemiwalker@yahoo.com and include the words “Holiday Bounty.”

Or post a comment to this article on my Facebook page.

Either way, the entry deadline is Sun. Dec. 16 at 6 p.m.

The drawing will take place that evening; the winner will be notified via email.

 

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12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Day Three: Wine Club of the Santa Cruz Mountains

Posted on December 15, 2012 by admin

The Wine Club of the Santa Cruz Mountains offers a variety of wine

It’s Day Three of Santa Cruz Restaurant Examiner/Santa Cruz Foodie’s “12 Days of Christmas Giveaway.” Today’s prize has been donated by the Wine Club of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Wine Club prides itself on offering “hard to find, premium wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains.” Wineries involved with the club include Alfaro Family Vineyards, Cooper-Garod Estate Vineyards, Regale, Savannah Chanelle, and Skov, just to name a few.

 

What you will win if your name is drawn: a bottle of 2008 San Andreas Red from Black Ridge Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The wine has a retail value of $49; it’s a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.

 

Here are notes from Bill Brosseau, winemaker (as stated on the Black Ridge site):

 

Deep purple hue. This Red Blend opens up with nice aromas of black pepper, bacon and ripe cherry. With some aeration, notes of blueberry and blackberry add to the complex profile. These aromas transition nicely in the palate with a layer of custard flavor to keep the palate feeling rich, yet soft. Silky tannins and bright acidity keep this red blend restrained, making it a wonderful pairing for most cuisine. This wine finishes with a rich, smooth, and vibrant end. Drink now through 2019.

 

In Santa Cruz and in nearby communities, there are lots of great places to buy local wine – whether at an actual winery, a retailer, or through a club like this one. Local wine can be a thoughtful holiday gift for that wine lover on your gift list.

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THE CONTEST:

Reminder — during the entire “12 Days of Christmas” promotion, each person can only win one prize.

The Wine Club of the Santa Cruz Mountains is giving away one bottle of 2008 San Andreas Red from Black Ridge Vineyards. The winner will need to pick up the bottle from the club in Soquel.

To enter, email your name to tfatemiwalker@yahoo.com and include the words “Holiday Wine.”

Or post a comment to this article on my Facebook page.

Either way, the entry deadline is Sat. Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.

The drawing will take place that evening; the winner will be notified via email.

 

 

 

 

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Breaking Santa Cruz restaurant news: Le Cigare Volant closing…plus couple openings

Posted on December 14, 2012 by admin

Bacon, potato, fontina and rosemary pizza at Bantam

It was announced this morning that Le Cigare Volant, the restaurant at Bonny Doon Vineyard’s  Westside tasting room, is closing on Dec. 31. Other Santa Cruz restaurant news includes two recent restaurant openings, Bantam and Lago di Como Ristorante & Pizzeria, plus Zameen launching its own food truck.

Le Cigare Volant will remain open until the end of the year. The tasting room will be closed for a short vacation in early January, but will remain open at its current location (328 Ingalls St. in the Swift St. Courtyard). Bonny Doon Vineyard’s leader and winemaker, Randall Grahm, had this to say regarding the impending closure: “The restaurant business is not for the faint-hearted, nor for anyone who cannot devote 200% of his or her attention to it. We are re-focusing on the things that we are very good at – making wine, that is, and the occasionally too-clever-by-half wine package. This has been an incredible, mostly very joyous ride for us, and we wish to thank everyone – our customers, vendors, and exceptional staff – who has been part of this once in a lifetime otherworldly experience.”

Recent Openings

Lago di Como Ristorante & Pizzeria

Just two days ago, on Dec. 12, the restaurant Lago di Como Ristorante & Pizzeria opened up in the former location of Nuevo Southwestern Grill (831). Currently the restaurant is closed on Mondays. It’s open Tue-Thurs and Sun from 5 – 9:30 p.m., and Fri-Sat 5 – 10:00 p.m. Looking forward to trying it out!

(831) 454-8257, 2-1490 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz

http://lagodicomoristorante.com/

 

Bantam

Former Ristorante Avanti chef Benjamin Sims and his wife Sarah opened Bantam on November 17.  The venue has been hopping ever since, drawing lots of happy diners. The rotating menu has featured excellent dishes including homemade tortelli and other stuffed pastas, spaghetti with squid, chicory caesary salad, Dungeness crab salad, and wood-fired pizza with combinations like el Salchichero pepperoni/black olive/jalapeno/arugula, porcini mushrooms/gremolata/egg, and wild nettles/pecorino. Current hours are Mon-Thurs 5 – 9 p.m. and Fri-Sat 5 – 9:30 p.m.

(831) 420-0101, 1010 Fair, Suite J Santa Cruz

facebook.com/Bantam1010

Zameen Food Truck

The great Aptos Mediterranean restaurant Zameen has gone mobile! Inspired by shows like The Great Food Truck Race, Zameen’s owner Ed Watson decided to add a truck and “street food” to the restaurant’s offerings. It served its first food in late October. Items include wraps such as spicy piri-piri chicken or gyros (the latter features seasoned meat with tomatoes, salad & tzatziki sauce), beet and goat cheese salad, falafel, and specials like pulled pork sandwich with pomegranate BBQ sauce. For now, its regular stop is at UCSC’s Performing Arts parking lot from 11:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m. on weekdays (although it’s taking a hiatus while students are gone for Winter break). The truck accepts credit cards.

Main restaurant number: (831) 607-9292

http://www.facebook.com/ZameenMediterraneanFoodTruck

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12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Day Two: Win Direct Trade coffee or buy as a gift

Posted on December 13, 2012 by admin

Santa Cruz’s Community Agroecology Network is offering a great coffee and chocolate gift package for the holidays

It’s Day Two of Santa Cruz Restaurant Examiner/Santa Cruz Foodie’s “12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!” See end of article for how to win a great coffee and chocolate prize. And if you haven’t finished (or started…) your holiday shopping, here’s a special item to consider for coffee or chocolate lovers and/or direct trade fans on your gift list.

 

It’s a holiday package from Santa Cruz’s CAN (Community Agroecology Network) that supports small-scale coffee farmers in Nicaragua and Mexico. This season, the gift package costs $22 and shipping is free. It includes one pound of AgroEco coffee roasted by Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company (your choice of Nicaraguan light or dark roast, or Veracruz dark roast) plus 5.5 ounces of chocolate-covered espresso beans and a holiday card.

Order the package here. For delivery by Christmas, you need to order by Dec. 14. If you order by Dec. 21, you are guaranteed delivery by New Year’s. When you buy this package, you can add an (optional) donation to the Youth Leadership Project Fund in the amount of $5, $10, or $20. This supports CAN International Youth Network for Food Security, a two-year initiative that targets the youth population of rural communities in Mexico and Central America, giving them skills, techniques, and knowledge to create locally-owned businesses that will provide support to CAN’s ongoing agroecology-based food security projects. AgroEco®Coffee is the product of a collaboration among small-scale coffee farmer cooperatives, coffee roasters, university scientists, and CAN. Through this collaboration, farmers receive technical support, ongoing ecological monitoring, and evaluation of sustainable farming practices.

 

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THE CONTEST:

Reminder: as I mentioned yesterday, during the entire “12 Days of Christmas” promotion, each person can only win one prize.

CAN is giving away one holiday coffee/chocolate package worth $22.

To enter, email your name to tfatemiwalker@yahoo.com and include the words “Holiday Direct Trade Coffee.”

Or post a comment to this article on my Facebook page “www.facebook.com/SantaCruzFoodieExaminer.”

Either way, the entry deadline is Fri. Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.

The drawing will take place that evening; the winner will be notified via email and CAN will mail them the prize.

 

 

 

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12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Day One: Santa Cruz holiday cookies

Posted on December 12, 2012 by admin

Front Street Kitchen in Santa Cruz is a co-op kitchen that offers catering, culinary classes, and more

Front Street Kitchen opened in early 2012 in Santa Cruz, and it is the first participant in the Santa Cruz Foodie/Santa Cruz Restaurant Examiner’s “12 Days of Christmas Giveaway.” That’s right: today is Day One of TWELVE DAYS of food-related giveaways! You can win a great prize (limited to one per person for the duration of this promotion). Keep reading for how to enter contest.

 

Front Street Kitchen is a co-op kitchen that offers catering, culinary classes, and more. There are three talented local caterers involved, including Andrea Mollenauer (you may recall that during the Thanksgiving season, she shared her cranberry chutney recipe).

On Sunday Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. FSK is holding a community workshop entitled Holiday Cookie Baking. The owners emphasize this will be “more like a holiday community gathering” as opposed to a class. Here is the description:

We will be baking, decorating and exchanging some of the season’s favorite recipes; coffee and hot apple cider will be served. Bake in our well-equipped commercial kitchen with friends and family, take home both finished and ready-to-bake holiday treats for your holiday.

To make it even more fun, there are some optional festive activities:
* Recipe Exchange – bring 10 copies of your favorite holiday cookie recipe to share
* ‘Cutest Apron’ contest – winner takes home a prize!
* Special Holiday packaging ideas – available for purchase. Or bring your own packaging to transport your loot and save on paper waste

The cost is $25 per adult, and $10 per child 14 and under with participating adult (maximum 2 kids per adult for reduced rate). To RSVP, so FSK knows how many goodies to prepare, call (831) 588-4515 or email info@frontstreetkitchen.com. The venue is located at 504A Front Street; for more information see FSK’s web site and Facebook page.

 

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NOW FOR THE CONTEST:

One lucky reader will win FREE ADMISSION to Holiday Cookie Baking.

To enter, email your name to tfatemiwalker@yahoo.com and include the words “Holiday Cookie Baking.”

Or post a comment to this article on my Facebook page.

Either way, the entry deadline is Thurs. Dec. 13 at 6 p.m.

The drawing will take place that evening and the winner will be notified via email.

Good luck and happy holidays!

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Restaurants and shops participate in benefit for Santa Cruz AIDS Project

Posted on November 29, 2012 by admin

New Leaf founder Scott Roseman created BizAid for AIDS with SCAP more than 20 years ago

Many businesses, including restaurants and shops, are participating in “BizAID for AIDS” which benefits the Santa Cruz AIDS Project (SCAP). Businesses are donating a percentage of their sales or profits to SCAP, and the program runs from Nov. 23-Dec. 2, 2012 (the duration includes World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1).

Food lovers should know that restaurants Aloha Island Grill, The Bagelry, Charlie Hong Kong, Gayle’s, and Hoffman’s are contributing, plus New Leaf Community Markets. New Leaf founder Scott Roseman and SCAP began this annual campaign 22 years ago.

Here is the full list of businesses supporting BizAID For AIDS in 2012:

  • Aloha Island Grill
  • Aptos Jewelers
  • The Bagelry
  • Bogner Sheet Metal
  • Bookshop Santa Cruz
  • Bosso Williams
  • Bruce’s Medical Plaza Pharmacy
  • Charlie Hong Kong
  • Community Printers
  • Eco Goods
  • The Garden Company
  • Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria
  • Hoffman’s Bistro and Patisserie
  • Island Home and Garden
  • Journeyworks Publishing
  • LEGS
  • The Literary Guillotine, Inc.
  • Lloyd’s Tire Service
  • Many Hands Gallery
  • Massie Tax and Financial Planning
  • New Leaf Community Markets
  • Nickelodeon Theatres
  • Pacific Edge Climbing Gym
  • Pacific Trading Company
  • Pacific Water Works
  • Palace Office Supply
  • Pedaler’s Express (PedEX)
  • Redtree Properties, LLP
  • Santa Cruz Properties
  • Shoreline Press
  • Sockshop & Shoe Company
  • Synergy Organic Clothing

As stated on its web site, the Santa Cruz AIDS Project serves men, women and children who are HIV positive living in Santa Cruz County. SCAP’s mission is to promote and participate in a comprehensive and compassionate response to HIV and AIDS through education, advocacy, and supportive services. Care services (all free of charge) include case management, access to medical care, financial assistance, food bank, volunteer support, and support groups.

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Santa Cruz & San Jose restaurants for Thanksgiving 2012, Part 2

Posted on November 19, 2012 by admin

Salmon entree at Lark Creek Blue in San Jose

 

 

Here are several Santa Cruz and San Jose restaurants – including Santana Row’s Lark Creek Blue – open on Thanksgiving, so you can make your reservations for dining out on Thursday, Nov. 22 if you aren’t in the cooking mood.

 

For a few other choices, see:

Santa Cruz Restaurants for Thanksgiving

Aquarius, open from 12:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, is offering a $45 prix fixe three-course menu for adults, and a special kids’ meal for $15. A local jazz trio will perform from 2:30 – 6:30 p.m. Appetizer choices include Pumpkin Panzanella with roasted pumpkin, apple, arugula, brioche, pepitas, and apple cider vinaigrette and Vanilla Poached Gulf Prawns with baby fennel, mushrooms, pancetta, and truffle cream. Entrée choices include Traditional Turkey Plate with chestnut and sage stuffing, potato puree, baby vegetables, rosemary gravy, and cranberry sauce, and Sweet Potato Gnocchi with lacinato kale, brown butter, mushrooms, and pecorino cheese. Desserts include Pumpkin Pie with cinnamon whipped cream and Maple Spice Cake with sweet mascarpone, pomegranate seeds, and orange-ginger syrup.

175 West Cliff (at the Santa Cruz Dream Inn), Santa Cruz, (831) 460-5012

Ideal Bar & Grill has a few options including Traditional Turkey Dinner ($18.95 captain’s portion, $14.95 adults, $9 kids): herb-roasted sliced turkey served with homemade gravy, maple-roasted yams, green beans and carrots, garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing, and orange-cranberry sauce. Another selection is Herb Crusted Prime Rib ($22.95 petite cut, $25.95 full cut) served with garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, and horseradish cream sauce.

106 Beach Street (at the Santa Cruz Wharf), (831) 423-5271

Café Gratitude is serving a free Thanksgiving feast with raw, vegan selections. The meal will be served from 12 – 3 p.m. and include a beverage, entrée, and dessert.

103 Lincoln Street, Santa Cruz, (831) 427-9583

Sanderlings has an all-day buffet; the price is $42.95 for adults, $19.95 for kids 2-12, and free for kids under 2. The buffet is open from 1:30 – 7:30 p.m. Selections include Spinach Salad with Crumbled Bleu Cheese, Glazed Pear, Caramelized Walnut, and Cranberry-Walnut Oil Dressing, Roasted Beets and Arugula Salad with Feta Cheese and Pomegranate Dressing, Cheddar -Corn Muffins with Jalapeno-Honey Butter, Domestic and Imported Cheese and Dried Fruit, Sweet Corn and Bacon Chowder with Sautéed Minced Onions, Sage Butter Roasted Turkey Breast with Apple-Sourdough Stuffing, Sorrel Seared Salmon with Large Pearl Couscous, Spinach and Cioppino Sauce, and Rosemary Roasted Prime Rib of Beef with Creamed Horseradish and Au Jus. The kids’ buffet includes turkey fingers and macaroni and cheese.

One Seascape Resort Drive (at Seascape Beach Resort), Aptos, (831) 662-7120

Michael’s on Main has dinner seatings at 3, 5, and 7 p.m. The restaurant is serving a 3-course prix fixe meal for adults ($28) and a special meal for kids 12 and under ($12). The adult dinner features choice of soup or salad, entrée choice (selections include oven-roasted turkey with sides such as garlic mashed potatoes and green beans with caramelized shallots, or Osso Bucco, or pistachio-crusted salmon), and choice of dessert (options include pumpkin cheesecake and cranberry orange bread pudding).

2591 Main Street, Soquel, (831) 479-9777

San Jose Restaurants

Lark Creek Blue on Santana Row opened on August 1, 2012 (it replaced Lark Creek Restaurant Group’s Yankee Pier which closed on July 15). For Thanksgiving, the restaurant has a special “Maine Lobster for the price of Turkey” promotion. Customers receive a 3-course prix fixe dinner, with either traditional Thanksgiving turkey plus “farmers market sides” or a pound-and-a-quarter live Maine lobster with “traditional accompaniments.” The price is $45 for adults, $22.50 for kids 10 and under (it’s half the size of the adult portion), and free for kids under 3. Lark Creek Blue will also be offering dishes from its regular menu including steak and seafood.

378 Santana Row, Suite 1100, San Jose, (408) 244-1244

The Fairmont San Jose is serving a special Champagne Harvest Buffet; seatings are from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (every half-hour). The cost is $58 per adult and $29 per child 5-12, plus tax and 22% gratuity. Kids under 5 are free, and there will be a special kids’ buffet and entertainment. Buffet highlights: a selection of salads such as Artichoke, Oyster Mushroom and Fingerling Potato Salad with Shallot-Mustard Vinaigrette and Caesar Salad with Garlic Focaccia Croutons, hot options such as Sage Basted Roast Tom Turkey, Herb Roasted Sea Bass with Saffron Israeli Couscous, Lemon Butter Sauce, Smoked Bacon and Chicken Apple Sausage, a waffle station, an omelet station that switches to a pasta and mushroom station at 2 p.m., a carving station with prime rib and honey baked ham, and desserts including chocolate dipped strawberries and pumpkin pie. For full menu, see http://www.fsjholidays.com/.

170 South Market St, San Jose, (408) 998-3960

 

 

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Santa Cruz Whole Foods Market Thanksgiving: Deadline to order is Monday

Posted on November 18, 2012 by admin

Roasted Southwest Turkey Dinner from Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market in Santa Cruz and Capitola is offering many options for Thanksgiving Dinner; you need to order in person or online by Monday, November 19. A traditional turkey dinner costs $99.99 (serves up to 8) and includes an oven-roasted whole 10-12lb. turkey from Sonora-based famiy-owned Diestel, herb stuffing, cranberry relish, turkey gravy, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie. The same dinner with an organic turkey costs $149.99. Other selections include a Southwest turkey dinner for $119.99 (serves 8), a “vegan Thanksgiving dinner for 2” ($39.99), and a “Health Starts Here dinner for 4” ($79.99).

If you’d like to order a turkey a la carte, Whole Foods features several different types including Diestel in both organic and regular varieties. For example, Diestel’s roasted petite is $54.99 (6-8 lbs.) and Diestel’s organic roasted petite is $64.99 (6-8 lbs.).

There are lots of other enticing options, including “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 Butternut Collard Pozole ($6.99), Butternut Squash & Apple Soup ($6.99), Garlic Baked Brie en Croute ($11.99), and/or Dungeness Crab Brie Mac n Cheese ($23.99), among other dishes.

If there’s something you taste 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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Gluten-free cornbread Thanksgiving recipe plus gluten-free Thanksgiving pie available in Santa Cruz

Posted on November 18, 2012 by admin

Gluten-free Maple Corn Skillet Bread from Melinda’s Gluten Free

Melinda Harrower, chef/owner of Santa Cruz company Melinda’s Gluten Free, has a great Thanksgiving recipe for Gluten-free Maple Corn Skillet Bread (see below). She says, “My philosophy of eating gluten free is to keep it simple when mixing flours, so I thought I would share my recipe for gluten free maple cornbread. It is a skillet bread that bakes up beautifully and has a little sweetness with a little saltiness.” The recipe is also adaptable for cornbread stuffing. Good news: Harrower is accepting orders for her Thanksgiving gluten-free pies.

An avid baker who is gluten-free herself, Harrower has products at several local businesses. For example, her buns are at Betty Burgers and Aptos Burger Co., her pancakes, bread and buns are at Johnny’s Harborside, and her bar cookies are at Verve.

PIES: Pumpkin and pecan are available; 9-inch is $18 and 6.75-inch is $15.  The deadline to place an order is 5 p.m. Mon. Nov. 19: call (831) 239-9098, email  melinda@melindasglutenfree.com, or contact Harrower using the web site form at http://melindasglutenfree.com/. Pies are available for pick up at Fresh Prep Kitchens (1601 41st Ave) on Tues. and Wed. Nov. 20 and Nov. 21.

Gluten Free Maple Corn Skillet Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sorghum flour

1/2 cup potato starch

1/3 cup white rice flour

2/3 cup ground corn meal (I prefer a medium grind)

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon xanthan gum

1 cup plain yogurt

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup melted sweet cream butter

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Directions:

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place an 8-inch skillet into the oven for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk together flours, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum and salt. In a separate bowl, combine yogurt, eggs, syrup and butter. Add liquids into the flour bowl, mixing until just incorporated. Reduce the heat to 375 degrees and place mixture in the warm pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until the center is done. Test with a toothpick, and when it comes out clean it is done.

(If you don’t have a skillet, place into a 9×13 pan and bake for 20-25 minutes).

Cool and enjoy!

* Sorghum flour is a light, slightly sweet gluten-free flour that I love to use – note from Melinda

Recipe Courtesy of Melinda Harrower  

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Restaurants for Thanksgiving in Santa Cruz and San Jose, Part 1

Posted on November 17, 2012 by admin

Dinner at Casablanca in Santa Cruz

It’s almost Thanksgiving – time to make your reservations if you’re going out to eat! If you want to dine in the Santa Cruz or San Jose area, here are a few to consider for November 22, 2012. I’ll be publishing more options in the next few days.

Santa Cruz Restaurants

Bittersweet Bistro will have a Thanksgiving buffet. Served from 12:30 – 6 p.m., the price is $49.95, (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 Free Range Turkey with Pan Gravy, Slow Roasted Prime Rib with Au Jus and Horseradish crème fraîche, Teriyaki Salmon, Classic Glazed Corralitos 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

 

Hoffman’s is open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Brunch menu selections are available from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., regular dinner menu selections are available from 2:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. (including new dishes such as BLT Wedge Salad), and a traditional turkey dinner will be served from 12 p.m. onward.

1102 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz (831) 420-0135

 

Casablanca Inn & Bistro is serving a prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner; the cost is $40 for adults and $12 for those 12 and under. It’s available from 2 – 8 p.m. and comes with a choice of appetizer, entrée, two sides, and dessert. Entrée choices are roast turkey, prime rib, or – for the kids — macaroni & cheese or butter macaroni. Side choices include corn bread dressing, crispy brussels sprouts, and smashed potatoes.

101 Main, Santa Cruz (831) 426-9063

 

Chaminade is serving Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 6 p.m. The cost is $47.95 for adults, $17.95 for kids 6-12, and free for kids under 6. Selections include brined whole roast Tom turkey, stuffed roast lamb leg, prime rib au jus, butternut squash ravioli, house-smoked pork loin, and a large seafood display with dishes such as teriyaki salmon and green lip mussels with Thai vinaigrette. Salads include baby spinach with cranberry balsamic, candied pecans, and gorgonzola. The kids’ buffet has macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets and curly fries, and pasta with butter and Parmesan cheese.

One Chaminade Lane, (831) 475-5600

 

Solaire has a four-course Thanksgiving feast from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. for $38 (adults) and $19 (kids 3-12). The restaurant is also offering a “day after” to-go turkey leftovers box for $15. Other selections include butternut squash soup ($5) and pumpkin pie ($4).

611 Ocean (inside Hotel Paradox), (831) 425-7100

 

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, entrée (choices include roast turkey with focaccia sausage stuffing or parmesan-crusted tilapia), side dishes, and pasta (choices include four cheese ravioli and gnocchi). Dessert is also included; selections include pumpkin praline cheesecake and tiramisu. 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 (Santana Row) (408) 423-8973

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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