Deb Perelman will talk about her new book Sunday, Nov. 4.
For the past six years, culinary blog czarina Deb Perelman has been showing her legions of fans how to whip up insanely delicious dishes—yes, items you actually can try at home—and throwing in sexy food images to whet the appetite as well. Her DIY website (www.smittenkitchen.com) captures millions of views each month, and so it will be a big fat relief to her local fans to know that Perelman herself will be coming to Bookshop Santa Cruz this Sunday, Nov. 4, at 7pm, to talk about the pleasure of cooking and to sign her brand-new cookbook, The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. And if that isn’t temptation enough for all you fierce foodies out there, our own Companion Bakeshop, led by Erin Lampel and company, will be preparing three or four of Perelman’s most popular baked goodies (yes, the recipes are in Perelman’s cookbook) for you to savor at the book signing.
What’s not to like here? An appealing, highly approachable new cookbook, the creator/chef/author herself talking about cooking and life, plus samples of her recipes baked by the pastry team of Companion Bakeshop.
Just be there! Early. There will be many others eager to hear Perelman’s remarks and get their hands on her new book. For more details, check the Bookshop Santa Cruz event calendar at www.bookshopsantacruz.com/event.
Zameen on Wheels: Ed Watson opened Aptos’ Zameen five years ago. He was enamored of the Iranian dishes created by his father-in-law, co-owner Mike Assar. To expand the spicy influence of his popular Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, Watson has jumped into the mobile catering galaxy, and the extremely colorful Zameen catering truck just began operations in the Performing Arts parking lot up on the UCSC campus. Monday through Friday, from 11:30am to 2pm, hungry and grateful students, faculty and staff can now grab hot, freshly prepared falafels, kebabs, tzatziki, chutneys and gyros. Oh, and acres of hummus. Also check out the original Zameen at 7528 Soquel Dr., whose attractive interior was designed by cooking entrepreneur Mimi Snowden.
Pizza, Pizza: PizzEria Avanti has opened in the old Mission Street digs of Ristorante Avanti, with a nightly dinner menu strong on locally sourced designer salads and innovative pizzas in two sizes. (I am drooling as I write this.) Meanwhile, a few blocks away, Bantam—our newest pizzeria/cafe-in-progress—is continuing to fine-tune its airy, industrial interior. Chef Benjamin Sims can’t wait to fire up the wood oven, but tells me it will be a few more weeks—mid-November. “Everything is coming along really well at Bantam, better than expected, we are getting super excited.” He’s not the only one.
Stay tuned.
Au Midi Corrections: It seems an outdated email is to blame for my incorrectly implying that the charming French bistro in Aptos—Au Midi—was not open for lunch and dinner. It is open for lunch and dinner. The Pasta Special is the current highlight of the menu. The crepe specials were, literally, so yesterday. D’accord? Pasta, oui. Crêpes, non. Au Midi is located at 7960 Soquel Dr., Aptos. 831.685-2600; www.aumidi.com.
