Cooking for Solutions: Great Chefs, Wine, and Demos at Monterey Bay Aquarium

Posted on May 20, 2011 by admin
Cooking for solutions

Sustainable Foods Celebration at a previous year's Cooking For Solutions

The 10th Annual Cooking for Solutions celebration, May 20-22 at Monterey Bay Aquarium, features more than 70 chefs, 60 wineries, plus sustainable seafood and much, much more. The event is billed as an “elegant and engaging way to discover how your choices protect the health of soil, water and ocean wildlife.”

The Friday night festivities have been sold out for some time, but Saturday and Sunday feature many activities to choose from – including events that are free with regular Aquarium admission. Highlights of the programs that do cost extra: Alton Brown from The Food Network appears on Saturday (sold out) and Sunday (not sold out), and Robert Irvine from Dinner: Impossible appears on Saturday (not sold out). For more info see event web site.

If you want to learn more about sustainable seafood, organic agriculture and sustainable winemaking at information booths, you can do this for free at the Sustainable Foods Celebration (at Aquarium galleries Sat/Sun 10am-6pm) once you’ve paid regular Aquarium admission. You can attend cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs, sample sustainable, seafood (from the Whole Foods Market Seafood team), taste produce from local farmers, and taste other products including Santa Cruz’s own Penny Ice Creamery ice cream.

I highly recommend catching Mark Dommen’s free demos on Saturday or Sunday. The talented chef is from One Market in San Francisco. Here is a crab cake recipe he shared with my readers on Examiner.com.

  • Sat 1:30-2:15pm: Dommen cooks Cedar Plank Grilled Wild Alaskan Salmon with spicy greens and warm miso vinaigrette
  • Sun 11:45am-12:30pm: Dommen prepares Pan Seared Pacific Cod with a curry mint vinaigrette

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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American Craft Beer Week at burger, Red, 99 Bottles of Beer in Santa Cruz

Posted on May 16, 2011 by admin

Santa Cruz is hosting many events for American Craft Beer Week

It’s American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) May 16-22, 2011, and Santa Cruz venues including the restaurant burger are hosting a range of activities. See details for burger below. ACBW began six years ago, and 2011 is the first time there will be events in all 50 states.

On Wednesday May 18, downtown Santa Cruz bar and restaurant Red (1003 Cedar St.) is pairing dishes with beers from participating breweries; call 425-1913 for more info.

On Friday May 20, 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall (110 Walnut Ave.) will offer beer from each of the participating breweries. Call 459-9999 for more info.

The restaurant burger (1520 Mission St.) is offering 7 days of special beer and food menus. There will be menu items cooked with and paired with one of each participating brewery’s ACBW featured brews; call 2SC-BRGR for more info. Also see this article for more on burger including its promotion for National Hamburger Day later this month.

Special food items at burger this week will include “jalapeno popper s’mac” and smoked porter bbq back ribs with a side of creamy garlic mashed potatoes (or you can substitute a spinach blue cheese salad).

burger schedule

Monday May 16

Sierra Nevada Tap Takeover & Bike to burger

There will be over 10 draft selections.  Also featuring “bike to burger” promotion: if you bicycle to burger, you can keep the beer glass and refills are only $3

Tuesday May 17

Night Of The Belgians

burger will be serving Belgian ales from magnums and jeroboams including Chimay Grande Reserve and Duvel Limited Edition 2010

Wednesday May 18

New Belgium Tap Takeover & Bike To burger

Over ten draft selections from New Belgium including La Folie, Vrienden and Le Terroir

Food items include pulled pork sliders slow-cooked in Fat Tire, pecorino beet salad with wilted spinach, baby spinach salad with cranberry vinaigrette, Cara Cara orange, and toasted almonds, and arugula/chevre salad with cranberry vinaigrette.

Also featuring “bike to burger” promotion: if you bicycle to burger, you can keep the beer glass and refills are only $3

Thursday May 19

Beer Can Chicken Dinner

Wood-fire-oven-roasted chicken, cole slaw, shoestring fries, and can of beer for $7.75

Friday May 20

Santa Cruz Aleworks Tap Takeover

No other details available

Saturday May 21

Uncommon Brewers Tap Takeover

Food items include pulled pork sliders slow-cooked in Uncommon Brew Golden State Ale

Sunday May 22

Farmer Beer Geek Brunch Buffet

Farmers Market brunch buffet featuring farm fresh eggs, southern fried chicken, wood-fire-oven-made waffles, southern gravy, home fries, bacon, fresh fruit and yogurt parfaits, and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice (price starts at $9.95). Drinks include mimosas, champagne cocktails, bloody marys, and beer.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Celebrate National Hamburger Month: free food at The Counter including Santana Row

Posted on May 12, 2011 by admin

May's Burger of the Month, Carne Asada, at The Counter

National Hamburger Month is May 2011 and popular burger spot The Counter is having a special promotion.

Every Monday in May, customers get a free premium topping (normally $1.00) with any burger purchase. These include house-made guacamole and chili. This promotion is good at all US locations.

The remaining Mondays in May: May 16, May 23, and May 30.

Also of note for May: the “burger of the month” at all Northern California Counter locations, including the one at San Jose’s Santana Row, is Carne Asada. The Counter at Santana Row has a full bar, plus beer and wine including local selections.

If you’re not familiar with The Counter, it’s a great place with many options including more than 25 toppings for burgers. You choose your main burger (100% hormone- and antibiotic-free angus beef, turkey, veggie, or grilled chicken), your size (1/3 or 2/3 lb. or 1 lb.), your cheese (from classic American or cheddar to Danish blue or jalapeno jack), up to 4 free included toppings (such as roasted corn and black bean salsa), one sauce (such as roasted garlic aioli or honey mustard), and your bun (English muffin, hamburger bun, or honey wheat bun – or none if you want “burger in a bowl” (then you pick a bed of lettuce blend or mixed baby greens). With all the choices that The Counter carries, there are more than 312,000 sandwich combinations.

The Details

The Counter “Custom Built Burgers”

Locations include San Jose’s Santana Row at 3055 Olin Avenue Suite 1035

(408) 423-9200

Open Monday-Thursday11am-10pm

Friday-Saturday 11am-Midnight

Sunday 11:30am-9pm

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Santa Cruz Bike Week: Free breakfast, popsicles, and more

Posted on May 11, 2011 by admin

New Leaf Westside: one of many venues serving free breakfast to cyclists Thurs. May 12

For Santa Cruz Bike Week 2011, many businesses around town are offering bicyclists free breakfast and other food.

On Wednesday May 11 from 5-7pm, if you bike to Penny Ice Creamery you get a free popsicle (also read about Penny’s other promotions). Location: 913 Cedar Street

On Friday May 13 from 7-10am, bike to Samba Rock Café for free acai bowls and pastries. Location: 291 Water Street

And on Thursday May 12 it’s the big “Bike to Work/Bike to School” event with free breakfast at many spots around town for cyclists.

These include:

Jamba Juice (Pacific Avenue @ Water Street)

  • Free Smoothies and Oatmeal from Jamba Juice
  • Free Verve Coffee
  • Free Bike Maintenance From Spokesman Bicylces
  • Free Massages from Cypress Health Institute
  • Free Acupuncture/Acupressure from Dr. Mariposa Bernstein
  • Free Berry Samples from Freewheelin Farms

New Leaf Community Market (Fair Avenue and Ingalls Street)

  • Free Breakfast and Coffee from New Leaf
  • Free Bike Maintenance from Another Bicycle Shop
  • Free Massages from Cypress Health Institute
  • Free New Leaf Promotion
Cabrillo College (6550 Soquel Drive, in front of the Hawkshop Bookstore)
  • Free Breakfast From Local Businesses
  • Free Ugly Mug Coffee
  • Free Bicycle Maintenance from Cabrillo College Bike Coop

Here is the complete list of free breakfast sites. On Thursday May 12, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing (402 Ingalls St.) is also donating $1 from every pint sold to the Bike to Work program.

For more events associated with the 24th Annual Santa Cruz County Bike Week, click here. Also see yesterday’s article about Santa Cruz restaurant burger’s special promotion.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

 

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Celebrate National Hamburger Month with specials at Santa Cruz restaurant burger

Posted on May 10, 2011 by admin

The Santa Cruz restaurant burger is offering specials to celebrate National Hamburger Week (May 8-15, 2011) and National Hamburger Month (May). The Westside restaurant first opened a year ago and features more than two dozen options including burgers with choice of Humboldt grass-fed beef, Diestel turkey patty or homemade veggie patty. Varieties include the Chuck Norris (it “kicks”) with  jalapeno jack cheese, the Dolly Parton (double burger), and the Don Ho  (sliders with fresh pineapple and bacon aioli on Hawaiian sweet rolls).

Coming soon: details on burger’s “Craft Beer Week” from May 16-22, 2011.

Specials

  • May 9-15, 2011: It’s the 24th Annual Santa Cruz County Bike Week, so if you bike to burger you get a free soda with any burger purchase. Actually, this promotion will go on indefinitely (not just for Bike Week!) to encourage people to be ecological.
  • May 27, 2011: On National Hamburger Day burger will be offering “wimpy sliders” for $1.25 (minimum purchase of three required) or guests can order a “Walter Sack Lunch” with three wimpy sliders and a can of Olympia beer for $5.

National Hamburger Month was reportedly created by Ohio burger company White Castle in 1992.

Details on burger:

1520 Mission St, Santa Cruz 95060, (831) 425-5300

Hours:  Daily 11am-10pm

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Art and chocolate tour in Santa Cruz this weekend

Posted on May 7, 2011 by admin

This weekend, on May 7-8, there is an art and chocolate tour in Santa Cruz. The event takes place from 11am-5pm on both Saturday and Sunday, so it could be a nice post-Mother’s Day Brunch activity if Mom is an art fan.

Twelve local artists are opening their studios to the public, and all studios are within a mile of each other in the Live Oak/Pleasure Point area. The artists, who include James Aschbacher, Beth Shields and Mike McClellan, work in a variety of genres including painting, mixed media, sculpture and ceramics. Free chocolate treats will be available for sampling at each studio.

Free brochures with maps are available at Palace Arts on 41st Avenue, Santa Cruz Art League, Lenz Arts, Bookshop Santa Cruz and Pajaro Valley Gallery. Or you can download a map at  www.MaggieHellmann.com/artandchocolate.html.

Call 462-9337 or email Maggie@MaggieHellmann.com for more information.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Where to go on Mother’s Day in Santa Cruz and nearby: Restaurants part 2

Posted on May 6, 2011 by admin

Deep-fried ravioli appetizer at Ristorante Italiano

Dining out on Mother’s Day is a fun way to honor a great mom, and Santa Cruz has many restaurants offering special menus this Sunday. See Part 1 for more restaurants in the Santa Cruz area, one in Half Moon Bay and one in Glen Ellen, and see below for the second and final group of restaurants I am highlighting. Happy Mother’s Day!

Crow’s Nest

The Santa Cruz harbor restaurant with a great ocean view, always a bonus for special occasions, will be serving a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday. Call (831) 476-4560 for reservations. 2218 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

Ristorante Italiano

Ristorante Italiano is serving Mother’s Day dinner beginning at 4pm on Sunday. The restaurant is offering a free tiramisu with dinner. Call (831) 458-2321 for reservations.

555 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

Hindquarter Bar & Grille

Hindquarter will be offering brunch on Sunday. From 10:30am-2:30pm, the restaurant will be serving its regular lunch menu plus a few Mother’s Day specials. Hindquarter will be serving its regular dinner menu from 5:30pm plus it will have dinner and dessert specials for Mother’s Day. Call (831) 426-7770 for reservations.303 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

Bittersweet Bistro

Aptos restaurant Bittersweet Bistro is serving Mother’s Day champagne brunch from 9am-2pm. The buffet includes Strawberry-Chipotle Glazed King Salmon, Greek Style Roasted Leg of Spring Lamb, Bourbon Glazed Corralitos Ham, Bittersweet Grand Marnier French Toast, Classic Eggs Benedict, Made to Order Omelets, Housemade Scones, Croissants & Muffins, Beet Salad, and Tomato Mozzarella Salad – plus a dessert extravaganza including chocolate fountains. There will be a special kids’ table with Grilled Cheese, PB & J Sandwiches, Chicken Fingers and Cookies. The price is $52 Adults, $18 Children 6-12, and $5 Kids Five and Under. For the 9:00 a.m. seating only, receive a $10 discount per adult. Call (831) 662-9799 for reservations.

787 Rio Del Mar Boulevard, Aptos

Sushi Garden

If you plan to go to Sushi Garden for Mother’s Day lunch or dinner, be sure to pick up this week’s Good Times. On page 26 there’s a coupon for a free roll on Mother’s Day, good on lunch orders of $20 or more and dinner orders of $40 or more. It’s good at both locations.

820 Bay Ave., Capitola, (831) 464-9192 and 1441 Main St, Watsonville, (831) 728-9192

Chaminade

The Chaminade offers its annual Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet from 9am-3pm; the price is $49.95 (adults), $17.95 (kids 6-12), and free for kids under 6. Call (831) 475-5600 for reservations.

One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz

The Point Chophouse & Lounge

Mother’s Day brunch specials include candied walnut waffles ($9), Monterey Bay Eggs Benedict ($14), and $4 bloody marys and mimosas. Brunch is from 9am-3pm; call (831) 476-2733.

3326 Portola Dr., Santa Cruz

Whole Foods Santa Cruz

The supermarket’s Santa Cruz location offers Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday from 10am-noon. Breakfast foods like cage-free eggs, fresh pastries and more will be available for $2 each. And Moms get free coffee from 8am-noon on Mother’s Day! Call (831) 426-9901 for more information.

911 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz

Hoffman’s

Hoffman’s, located in downtown Santa Cruz, is serving Mother’s Day brunch and dinner. The restaurant is featuring its regular menus plus specials during both meals. Call (831) 420-0135 for reservations.

1102 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Where to go on Mother’s Day in Santa Cruz & Bay Area: Restaurants, Part 1

Posted on May 5, 2011 by admin

Mother’s Day is around the corner – better make dining reservations if you haven’t already; some places including Cocoanut Grove are fully booked – but here are details on other restaurants in Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay, and one in Glen Ellen. I’ll post more tomorrow.

Santa Cruz & Aptos Restaurants

Bonny Doon Vineyard’s Cellar Door Restaurant

Cellar Door in Westside Santa Cruz is serving Mother’s Day brunch beginning at 11am. Menu highlights include smoked fingerling potatoes with aioli ($6), fried padron peppers and smoked chevre ($9), warm cabbage salad with a fried farm egg and pork belly ($16), and banana pain perdu ($8). Call (831) 425-6771 for reservations.

328 Ingalls Street (in Swift Street Courtyard), Santa Cruz

Mint

Mint, a Scotts Valley restaurant and wine bar, will be serving brunch on Sunday from 11am-3pm. Offerings include Crab & Shrimp Louie, Chicken Curry Salad, Tri Tip Salad or Sandwich, Grilled Rack of Lamb, and Shrimp w/Cheese Tortellini and Creamy Basil Mint Pesto Sauce. Call (831) 438-5900 for reservations.

4652 Scotts Valley Dr., Scotts Valley

Ma Maison Restaurant

Ma Maison in Aptos is offering a sit-down Mother’s Day brunch menu from 10am-1pm. For reservations call (831) 688-5566. The menu includes Eggs Benedict, omelets, fresh fish, and filet mignon.

9501 Soquel Drive, Aptos

Johnny’s Harborside

Santa Cruz restaurant Johnny’s Harborside is offering special dishes for both brunch (10am-2:30pm) and dinner (2:30-9pm) in addition to its regular menu. Mother’s Day brunch specials include crab, caramelized onion and asparagus omelet with choice of roasted potatoes, hash browns, fruit, or polenta ($14), vegetarian quiche ($11), and crepes filled with mixed berries and cream cheese ($9). Dinner specials include Bay Shrimp Salad with White Truffle Vinaigrette, Mixed Greens, Walnuts & Grapes ($8) and Grilled Halibut with Mimosa Vinaigrette, Asparagus & Root Vegetables ($28).  Call (831) 479-3430 for reservations.

493 Lake Ave, Santa Cruz

Out of Town: Glen Ellen
Interested in making Mother’s Day a big event with a longer journey? Travel to the Glen Ellen Inn for Mother’s Day brunch. And check out the cottages while you’re there – you may be enticed to stay the night or make future plans for a weekend getaway. The brunch menu features a broad variety of items such as Eggs Benedict, oysters, House-Cured Lamb Pastrami Sandwich, Artichoke & Stilton Ravioli, Salmon Nicoise Salad, and Snake River Kobe Burger. Call (707) 996-6409 for reservations.

 

13670 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen

Half Moon Bay

Cetrella

Cetrella is offering a three-course prix fixe Mother’s Day brunch from 10:30am-2:30pm for $40. Reservations are recommended; call (650) 726-4090. For each course, guests choose one selection. First course choices are Leek Soup with green onion-truffle croquette or Goat Cheese Quiche with mixed field greens. Second course choices include Lobster Ravioli with corn nage and roasted cherry tomatoes. Desserts include Sweet Cream Panna Cotta with strawberry and rhubarb compote.

45 Main Street, Half Moon Bay 94019.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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Cinco de Mayo in Santa Cruz and nearby: Restaurant celebrations & specials plus local event

Posted on May 4, 2011 by admin

It’s Cinco de Mayo 2011 and there are many restaurants in Santa Cruz and nearby having celebrations and/or specials, plus there is a festival in Davenport this weekend. Here are some highlights.

Restaurants

Nuevo Southwest Grill

Nuevo, with friendly service and consistently delicious Mexican food, offers a great special on Thursday May 5. It’s serving a margarita and two tacos (with choice of filling) for $7.95 from 11am-9pm.

Location: 21490 E Cliff Drive (at 15th Ave), Santa Cruz (831) 475-2233

Mint

The Scotts Valley venue Mint, which features a wine bar, will have nightly specials on Thursday May 5 and Friday May 6: Nachos Every Which Way, Ceviche, Grilled Shrimp w/Orange Chipotle Honey Mustard Sauce, Grilled Lime Marinated Salmon w/Ginger Lime Butter, and Tacos (your choice of Carnitas or Shredded Chicken).

Location: 4652 Scotts Valley Dr., Scotts Valley (831) 438-5900

El Palomar

The popular downtown Santa Cruz restaurant and bar El Palomar, which recently won awards including Best Chips & Salsa, Best Mexican Restaurant, Best Tacos (for the taco bar area) and Best Margarita in Good Times’ annual Best of Santa Cruz poll, has lots of Cinco de Mayo activities on Thursday. There will be a shot bar, giveaways, Mariachi music, Hornitos girls, and local DJs.

Location: 1336 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz (831) 425-7575

Cilantro’s

Cilantro’s, the sister restaurant to El Palomar, is also featuring lots of entertainment on Thursday—plus drink specials. Cilantro’s will have music from mariachis and bands such as Red Eye Jedi and Grito Dolores, plus a DJ. Drink specials include $2 Bud & Bud Light drafts from 3-5pm. Cilantro’s also won a Good Times award in 2011: Best Watsonville Restaurant.

Location: 1934 Main St., Watsonville (831) 761-2161

Davenport Festival

The annual Cinco de Mayo festival in Davenport is Saturday, May 7 from 11:30am-4pm. There will be Mexican food, live mariachi music, dancing, a kids’ carnival, and a silent auction and raffle. Proceeds benefit the Davenport Resource Service Center (DRSC). For more information call (831) 425-8115 or email drsc@cabinc.org. DRSC serves as an advocate and resource for the area’s culturally diverse and low-income population.

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

 

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Hula’s Island Grill and Tiki Room hosts benefit for Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center

Posted on April 29, 2011 by admin

Festive Hula's in downtown Santa Cruz benefits nonprofit organizations on Mahalo Mondays

Go out for dinner or drinks at the downtown Santa Cruz restaurant Hula’s Island Grill and Tiki Room on Monday nights in May, and part of your bill will benefit the deserving Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center.

During the month of May 2011, Hula’s is donating 10% of all sales on Monday nights to the Santa Cruz Women’s HealthCenter.  Hula’s is a popular and festive venue; in fact, it just won two awards in Good Times’ Best of Santa Cruz poll: Best Exotic Dining and Best Exotic Drinks for concoctions such as  the Lilikoi Margarita with passion fruit puree.

Go to the restaurant/bar from 4:30pm onward on May 2, 9, 16, 23, and/or May 30 to benefit the Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center. This promotion is part of the restaurant’s Mahalo Mondays Community Giving program; each month a different non-profit organization receives 10% of Monday evening food and drink sales. Hula’s has donated over $10,000 a year in the last couple years to local organizations via Mahalo Mondays proceeds.

The menu at Hula’s features Hawaiian fusion dishes and other choices; highlights include slow roasted pulled pork, jungle tofu, wasabi ahi, macadamia-encrusted mahi mahi, and sweet potato fries. Hula’s also offers a tiki bar with tropical drink specialties. Reservations are required for parties of 6 or more; call (831) 426-4852.

The Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center, located at 250 Locust Street, is a nonprofit community-based clinic that provides affordable and quality medical services to women and children.

Please follow me on Twitter @santacruzfoodie.

The Details

Hula’s Island Grill and & Tiki Room, 221 Cathcart Street (between Cedar and Pacific), Santa Cruz 95060 (831) 426-4852.

Hours: Open for dinner every night beginning at 4:30; lunch on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 to 4:30

Mahalo Mondays in May benefit S.C. Women’s Center

On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.

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