Cranberry chutney Thanksgiving recipe and ready-to-go meals in Santa Cruz

Posted on November 15, 2012 by admin

 

One example of Lifestyle’s beautiful, delicious food: wine-soaked pears prepared for a holiday party

Lifestyle Culinary Arts chef/owner Andrea Mollenauer has graciously shared her recipe for Signature Cranberry Chutney (see below). She’s also taking orders for Thanksgiving dinner or Thanksgiving sides. Mollenauer, a graduate of Cabrillo College’s Culinary Arts program, is a fabulous chef and caterer. Deadline to place order is 8pm Friday, Nov. 16. Email andrea@lifestyleculinary.com or call (831) 588-4515 to get full menu or place order. Pick-up is Wed. Nov. 21 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. or Thurs. Nov. 22 8:30-10 a.m. at Lifestyle’s kitchen at 504A Front Street.

Lifestyle’s Thanksgiving menu highlights:

  • stuffed boneless turkey breast, white meat ($15.95, serves 2-3)
  • whole cider brined seasoned turkey — ready to roast, stuffed with apples, onions, citrus, herbs (all-natural, cage-free, 16-18 pounds, $52, serves 15-20)
  • signature cranberry chutney (tart and sweet, $5.95/pint)
  • stuffing (chicken apple sausage w/pecans & green apple $10.95, apple, sage & dried cranberry $9.95; each serves 4-6)
  • maple roasted brussel sprouts w/pancetta ($11.95, serves 4-6)
  • Companion Bakery bread loaves & Kelly’s Bakery rolls

Recipe for Lifestyle’s Signature Cranberry Chutney

Ingredients:

3 stalks celery

2 apples, peeled

1 white onion

½ cup crystallized (sugared) ginger

1 ½ cups cranberry juice

¼ apple cider vinegar

1 ½ -2 cups sugar

12oz. bag fresh cranberries (more if needed or watery.) Note -sauce thickens as it cools.

 

Preparation:

-Dice celery, apples and onion finely (1/4 inch dice)

-In large saucepan, sauté 3 ingredients until tender but not mushy (approx. 5 minutes)

-Add minced ginger part way through the sautéing.

-Add juice, vinegar and sugar and bring to a boil.

-Let simmer to thicken juice slightly (approx. 10 minutes)

-Add cranberries and cook until they have popped and incorporated (approx. 10 minutes)

-Taste sauce to adjust sweetness.

-Remove from heat and let set. Refrigerate to help thicken.

 

Recipe Courtesy of Lifestyle Culinary Arts, www.lifestyleculinary.com

 

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Second Harvest Food Bank hosts holiday food drive kickoff lunch in Santa Cruz

Posted on November 9, 2012 by admin

Second Harvest Food Bank invites you to “Set a Plate for Kate”

Second Harvest Food Bank is having a kickoff lunch for its annual holiday food drive  on Nov. 13 in Santa Cruz. The event is at the Cocoanut Grove from 11:30a.m. – 1p.m. The lunch will be a buffet, and the program will include the event’s co-chairs speaking about why they are involved with Second Harvest. Tickets are $25; purchase online. For more information, email bly@thefoodbank.org or call (831) 722-7110, x226.

People are encouraged to attend this lunch to find out how they can help this holiday season. Distribution at Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County has increased by 32% in the last five years. Second Harvest needs donations of time, money, and food – what a great way to give back this holiday season!

Second Harvest Food Bank (831-722-7110, located in Watsonville) distributes several million pounds of food per year to local families, children, individuals and seniors in our community through over 180 agencies and programs. The organization helps 55,000 people each month. You can donate online — every $1 you give becomes four healthy meals that Second Harvest can distribute, and these meals include fresh fruits and vegetables.

Founded in 1972, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County was the first food bank in California and is the second oldest in the nation. It began by distributing food from a parking lot in Santa Cruz to groups operating the Breakfast For Kids programs.

Second Harvest’s current campaign is themed “Set a Plate for Kate.” The campaign messaging includes the idea that if certain people gave up their “luxury items” even for one day, a lot of hungry people could be fed. For example, by skipping a $5 latte you could purchase 20 meals for Second Harvest, and instead of going out to a $50 restaurant dinner, if you gave the money to Second Harvest this would provide 200 meals! That is some serious food for thought.

Event details:

  • Second Harvest Holiday Food Drive Kickoff Lunch, Nov. 13 11:30a.m. – 1p.m.
  • Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz 95060

 

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Food Trucks at First Friday Art Tour in Santa Cruz

Posted on November 2, 2012 by admin

The Truck Stop, selling fish tacos and other items, is one of 3 local food trucks at Cruzio’s parking lot Nov. 2 for First Friday.

Friday, Nov. 2 in Santa Cruz is this month’s “First Friday Art Tour” with lots of art, food, and drinks to feast on, including several food trucks gathering in one spot near an art exhibit. On Fri. Nov 2 from 6-9 p.m., you will find three food trucks at the parking lot of Cruzio at 877 Cedar Street.

The exhibit at 877 Cedar will be “The Art of Surfing,” a collection of surf art including multimedia from Jimbo Phillips, Lucas Gasperik, and Olin and Sander Borgeson and works from photographers Matt Kurvin and Ryan Craig. There will also be surfboards by Ward Coffey, all on display from 5-9 p.m.

The trucks are:

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

 

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Wine dinner and other news at Santa Cruz restaurant Johnny’s Harborside

Posted on November 1, 2012 by admin

 

Guests enjoying 2011’s benefit wine dinner at Johnny’s Harborside

Santa Cruz restaurant Johnny’s Harborside has several food and drink specials of note, and a benefit winemaker dinner in November (the restaurant does an annual benefit each autumn; each year it picks a different organization or program to support).

 

Winemaker Dinner Nov. 9

The winemaker dinner at Johnny’s Harborside is on Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. It features six food courses, each with a wine pairing from Joyce Vineyards, and benefits Cabrillo College’s Culinary Arts program. The cost is $75 per person exclusive of tax and gratuity. Seating is limited; for reservations call (831) 479-3430 or email info@johnnysharborside.com.

 

Johnny’s Chef Evan Lite and a team of culinary students will prepare the dinner; attendees will have the opportunity to speak with Russell Joyce, winemaker and owner of Carmel Valley’s Joyce Vineyards, plus educators from Cabrillo’s culinary program. Attendees will be seated “family-style” at long tables. Here are a couple course highlights to whet your appetite; note that menu items may change slightly. The first course is Trio of Pokes (Salmon, Ahi, Hamachi) with cucumber aioli, sesame sand, and spring roll wrap. The wine pairing is Small Batch Dry Riesling. The third course is Pan Seared Day Boat Scallop with uni risotto, butter braised leeks and fennel, and lobster broth. The wine pairing is 2011 Black Mountain Chardonnay, Santa Lucia Highlands. Other selections include Saffron Citrus Panna Cotta and Red Peppercorn Crusted Wild Boar Strip Loin. Other wines include 2010 Pedregal Vineyard Merlot, San Benito.

 

Wine benefit through January

Also: from Sept. 19, 2012 until Jan. 1, 2013, Johnny’s Harborside is donating funds from all Joyce Vineyards wine sales at the restaurant to Cabrillo’s program ($1 from every glass and $4 from every bottle).

 

Weekday lunch specials

Johnny’s has weekday lunch specials that rotate; each includes a petite or half sandwich with a small salad and a cup of chowder for $10.

 

Current selections

Monday: Jr. Cheeseburger with Grilled Onions, Secret Sauce, Shredded Lettuce & Tomato

Tuesday: Ceviche Tostada with Shredded Lettuce, topped with Sour Cream & Guacamole

Wednesday: BBQ Pulled Pork Slider with Buttermilk Fried Onions & Cider Slaw

Thursday: Grilled Chicken & Bacon Clubhouse Sandwich

Friday: Grilled Salmon Sandwich with Baby Greens Cucumbers & Tomato Caper Tartar Sauce

 

$20 Monday dinner

On Monday nights from 5-8:30 p.m., the restaurant has a special 3-course menu for only $20 – and that includes a sampler glass of wine! For each course, customers get to choose between two items. The wine is a 3-ounce pour and there are two choices (one red, one white). On one Monday in October, appetizers included grilled bruschetta with bufala mozzarella and tomato bacon relish and entrées included shrimp pasta with spicy ancho sauce.

Johnny’s Harborside, (831) 479-3430, 493 Lake Avenue, Santa Cruz 95062

Hours:

M-Th 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Fri 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Sat 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Sun 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Brunch served Sat and Sun 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Restaurants and chefs participate in 2012 Santa Cruz chili cook-off

Posted on October 26, 2012 by admin

Many restaurants, professional chefs, and amateur chefs are participating in the third annual Chili Cook-Off at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk on Saturday October 27. Admission is free, but if you want to partake of chili the “tasting kits” cost $9 (includes 5 taste tickets, spoon, cup, and People’s Choice voting ballot). A portion of tasting kit sales will be donated to the Beach Flats Community Center.

The competition features four categories:

• Amateur Red

• Amateur Vegetarian Red

• Professional Red

• Professional Vegetarian Red

Awards (including plaques and cash) will be given to Best Chili in each category, People’s Choice, Most Tasted, and Most Original Booth.

Here is the schedule:

9:00am-10:00am Preparation period (No heat- 1 hour)

10:00am-1:00pm Cooking period (3 hours)

10:00am Tasting kits go on sale

1:00pm Public tasting begins

4:00pm Winners announced in beach amphitheater

Last year’s winners included two chefs from The Picnic Basket in Santa Cruz (Ryan Hoyt and Mark Denham) and one chef from Smoqe in Aptos (Aaron Duncan). Smoqe has since closed, but Duncan is now part of a new venture called Beast BBQ.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie

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Santa Cruz restaurant news including Pizzeria Avanti and Tramonti openings

Posted on October 26, 2012 by admin

New Italian restaurant Tramonti in Santa Cruz’s Seabright neighborhood

Santa Cruz’s recent restaurant news includes three new restaurants (with two Italian spots, Pizzeria Avanti and Tramonti) and a couple closings. I can’t wait to try the new places!

Recently Opened

Pizzeria Avanti

As I reported in my summertime article, the new location of Ristorante Avanti opened in late July (at 1917 Mission) and Avanti’s owners announced – to Avanti fans’ delight –  that the old location (1711 Mission) was being transformed into a more casual eatery focused on pizza. Well, that venue finally opened on Tuesday, October 16. For now, it’s serving dinner only, but lunch service will be added on weekdays beginning November 1. The menu features New York-style pizzas, and other items such as calzones (right now it’s filled with fresh ricotta, prosciutto, and mozzarella), Caesar and mixed salads, soups, and antipasto plates (you can choose salumi, cheese, or both). Also on the menu as of Monday, October 22: artichokes from local Rodoni Farms, a padron appetizer, and a seasonal brussels sprouts salad.

Current hours: Sun-Thurs 5-9 p.m. and Fri-Sat 5-9:30 p.m.

(831) 425-1807, 1711 Mission, Santa Cruz

Tramonti

The Seabright neighborhood has a new Italian restaurant: Tramonti. In the former location of Taqueria Cancun, Tramonti is open for lunch every day except Sunday, and open for dinner daily. The menu features individual-sized pizzas (13 inches, thin-crust Italian-style), pasta, calzones, and salads, plus several kids’ selections including “a kid-sized serving of gnocchi with tomato or butter and parmigiano.” The gnocchi is homemade, and the restaurant’s signature dishes include Calzone Tramonti (tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto cotto, shaved mushrooms, and one farm-fresh organic egg). Janice Coury, a native Santa Cruzan, operates Tramonti with the assistance of folks including Beppe Vitagliano, who recently moved from Italy – where he ran his own pizzeria –  in order to be a part of the new restaurant.

Hours: Mon-Sat 12-2:30 p.m., 5:30-10 p.m. and Sun 5-10 p.m.

(831) 426-7248, 528 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz

Oyunaa’s

This Mongolian restaurant is located in the space next to the Rio Theatre that formerly housed Backstage Lounge. The menu includes several dumpling selections: two filled with beef (one steamed, one fried), one filled with chicken, and one vegetarian option with spinach, shiitake mushrooms, and tofu. Also available: a few salads, soups (beef noodle or Russian beet and beef), and rotating specials such as baked chicken with Mongolian seasonings and lamb riblets with rice and salad.

Hours: Daily except Tuesdays, 5-11 p.m.

(831) 469-9900, 1209 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz

Recently Closed

Backstage Lounge in Santa Cruz (see above)

Green Valley Grill in Watsonville

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie

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Santa Cruz celebrates Food Day: events at farmers market and Charlie Hong Kong

Posted on October 24, 2012 by admin

Pledge to “eat real” for Food Day 2012

Wednesday, Oct. 24 is Food Day in Santa Cruz, and there are a couple local events occurring.

Food Day is simultaneously an annual nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable and sustainable food. People are urged to “eat real;” the goal is to build a movement of Americans who want “healthy, affordable, and delicious food produced in a sustainable and humane way. Last year was the inaugural Food Day, and included more than 2,300 events in all 50 states. Read more at the Food Day website and the Food Day Facebook page.

At 5 p.m. at the Wednesday Downtown Farmers Market (Cedar and Lincoln Streets), Mayor Don Lane is reading a proclamation declaring Oct. 24, 2012 as “Food Day Santa Cruz.” Right before his reading there will be a press conference about Proposition 37 (regarding the labeling of GMOs) with several farmers from the market. The conference was organized by Pesticide Watch. The proclamation’s highlights include mentions of the town’s natural food grocery stores (and the fact that they accept SNAP/food stamps), our many handcrafted artisan food purveyors committed to using local products from organic farms, UCSC’s Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) and CASFS’ farm apprentice program, and many restaurants being awarded “The Golden Carrot” for serving healthy options.

At the Santa Cruz restaurant Charlie Hong Kong (1141 Soquel Ave at Seabright), on Oct. 24 at lunchtime customers can get their photos taken holding a flyer that says “I EAT REAL” (after signing the flyer). Owner Carolyn Rudolph is sending these photos to folks who will attach them to the petition that the Real Food Movement will present to Congress.  Also, CHK is handing out free samples of coconut rice pudding all day (until they run out), as a gift to customers for eating healthy, sustainable, affordable, fair food.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie

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A Taste of Santa Cruz benefit features 30 restaurants, wineries and breweries

Posted on October 21, 2012 by admin

Crab wonton at Aquarius, a participant in 2012’s A Taste of Santa Cruz

The 8th annual “A Taste of Santa Cruz,” at the Cocoanut Grove on Thursday, Oct. 25, features 30 participating restaurants, wineries, and breweries. The popular event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and benefits first-time home buyers; tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door. Buy tickets online.

Attendees sample food and drinks from 30 restaurants, food vendors, breweries and wineries. Proceeds from the event go toward the Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS Housing Foundation grant program that provides closing costs for first time, low-income home-buyers in Santa Cruz County.

Participating food providers include Casablanca Inn & Bistro, El Palomar, Fresh Prep Kitchens, Aquarius, Chaminade, Johnny’s Harborside, Le Cigare Volant, Hollins House, Paradise Beach Grille, Cowboy Diner, Michael’s on Main, Solaire, Suda, and Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine. Wineries and breweries include Trout Gulch Vineyards, Beauregard Vineyards, Seabright Brewery, Santa Cruz Ale Works, and Uncommon Brewers.

Other highlights at the event: a silent auction with over 100 items, a raffle with an iPad prize, live music, and an appearance by the Derby Girls. The silent auction starts at 5:30 p.m. and closes at 7:30 p.m. Prizes include restaurant gift certificates plus vacation lodging in Lake Tahoe, Puerto Vallarta, and New Orleans.

Because several hundred people attend this event each year, purchasing your tickets in advance is recommended.

Event location: Cocoanut Grove Grand Ballroom, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz 95060

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie

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Santa Cruz restaurant Charlie Hong Kong launches BYOB rewards program with free food

Posted on October 14, 2012 by admin
Signature rice bowl at Charlie Hong Kong

Signature rice bowl at Charlie Hong Kong. Photo credit: Charlie Hong Kong

Always a pioneer when it comes to creating eco-conscious business practices, Santa Cruz restaurant Charlie Hong Konghas launched a program to reward to-go customers who bring their own bags. Carolyn Rudolph, who co-owns CHK with her husband, created “Develop the Bag-It Habit.” How it works: if you bring your own bag to pick up a to-go order, you will get one stamp on a card. You need to collect 10 stamps, and then on the 11th visit you receive a free Signature Bowl or Rice Bowl (your choice; excludes salmon or prawn topping). CHK is giving away the reward cards from now until the end of 2012, and a person has until the end of May 2013 to complete the card (or multiple cards — there are no limits on number of cards a person can redeem, as long as it’s by May 31, 2013).

Develop the Bag-It Habit began on Saturday, September 15, 2012, also known as Save Our Shores’ Coastal Cleanup Day. Rudolph thought this was the perfect day to begin the program. In fact, she donated the entire day’s profits from CHK to Save Our Shores. She is very passionate about protecting the environment, and hopes that rewarding people for bringing their own bags will reinforce the practice.

CHK discontinued using plastic bags 1 1/2 years ago. A sign in the parking lot reminds people to bring their own bags for to-go orders, but Rudolph says many customers still show up empty-handed. Since CHK no longer offers plastic bags, customers end up either going without any bag, or using recycled boxes that the restaurant sometimes has on hand. “I noticed that people have become accustomed to bringing their own bags to the grocery store, yet this has not become a habit at restaurants,” said Rudolph. Over the last 1 ½ years, CHK has actually prevented over 60,000 plastic bags from entering our environment. Discovering this statistic made a big impact on Rudolph. “It got my mind going. If just our one restaurant can have this kind of impact, what if other restaurants discontinued handing out plastic and paper bags as well?” Great idea; I share Rudolph’s hope that this program can spur other local restaurants to hop on the bandwagon.

Charlie Hong Kong, 1141 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz (831) 426-5664

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie

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Menu announced for benefit dinner with Alice Waters & Homeless Garden Project

Posted on October 12, 2012 by admin

Homeless Garden Project’s Natural Bridges Farm, the site of a benefit dinner with Alice Waters on Oct. 13

The menu for tomorrow’s benefit dinner for Homeless Garden Project in Santa Cruz, with special guest Alice Waters, has been announced.
Attendees will dine on delicious food created by four prominent local chefs, and the menu features produce from HGP’s farm plus other local treats (Companion Bakery bread, Fogline Farm sausage, etc.)

See below for details, and buy tickets for $200 — includes all food and local wine pairings — at www.alicewaters.homelessgardenproject.org. Online tickets will be sold until 2 p.m. on Oct. 13, unless the event sells out before then. Read more about the event in my preview article.

The event starts at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 with three separate passed appetizers:

1) Dinner Bell Chicken Liver Mousse on Companion Bakery Crostini
2) Oven-Dried Molino Creek Tomatoes with Thyme and Fresh Ricotta
3) Tart with Natural Bridges Farm Chard and Seasonal Herbs

The food continues with a sit-down three-course meal.

First Course: Endless Summer Salad of Natural Bridges mixed greens, roasted carrots and beets, fried padron peppers, fresh chevre

Second Course (vegetarian option available): Dinner Bell Heritage Grilled Chicken on a Sourdough Crouton topped with Fogline Farm Sausage, Mushroom Duxelles and Dry-Farmed Tomato-Basil Sauce with Natural Bridges Sautéed Greens

Third Course: Strawberry, lavender and almond trifle featuring Swanton Berry Farm strawberries and Natural Bridges Farm lavender

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie

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