Darrie Ganzhorn from the Homeless Garden Project wil be part of a panel discussion at the HGP farm supper on Saturday, Oct. 5.
Santa Cruz Weekly and Edible Monterey Bay are teaming up for a gala farm supper to benefit the Homeless Garden Project onSaturday, Oct. 5 at 3pm at the HGP’s Santa Cruz farm. The multi-course al fresco meal will be prepared by top local chefs including Brad Briske of La Balena, Kendra Baker from the Penny Ice Creamery, Passionfish’s Ted Walter and Sierra Mar/Post Ranch Inn’s John Cox. Tickets are $75 and will include a farm tour, local wines, all-organic ingredients, music by Casey Frazier and a panel discussion on “Food, Community and the Health of the Central Coast.” Participating in the discussion will be Live Earth Farm’s Tom Broz, New Leaf Markets’ Scott Roseman, Darrie Ganzhorn from the Homeless Garden Project, Tabitha Stroup from Friend in Cheeses Jam Company and reps from Second Harvest Food Bank. It should be a spectacular harvest afternoon with exciting food and stimulating discussion. Come and honor our local food heroes. This event will sell out quickly! Purchase tickets athttps://fallfarmsupper-localheroes.eventbrite.com.
La Posta Delivers: Brick Pressed Chicken—pollo al mattone—at La Posta takes the humble fowl to new levels of wow. The four of us plowed through some of La Posta’s menu last week and found ourselves loving big bowls of green tagliatelle with housemade sausage, sensuous manicotti and a good-looking entree of chicken al mattone, “under the brick.” Bronzed and moist, the Fog Line Farms chicken breast arrived wrapped in prosciutto, which ramped up the poultry's flavor even more. Accompanying were plump squares of spinach polenta and roast artichokes—indecently fabulous! Housemade Santa Rosa plum ice cream with greengage plums made intriguing dessert flavor contrasts. Not only does this kitchen never, ever disappoint, but the service just cannot be touched. Warm and forthcoming…More great salads from the surprising kitchen of Pizzeria Avanti. Last week’s special showcased tender local Monterey Bay calamari in a salad with radicchio and cabbage, avocados and exceptional heirloom tomatoes. Stunning.
Wines to Love: Check out the 2010 Pecchenino Dolcetto San Luigi ($18 @ Shoppers), a big, lusty, not-simplistic bit of blackberry-laden red wine with a suggestion of bay leaves and iron oxide in its deep tissue. It is absolutely out of the ballpark with pastas and pizza, and definitely a partner to barbequed items, from pork chops to chicken. Treat yourself!…Denis Hoey of Odonata is smiling a lot over his latest bins of grapes. He believes the harvest this year not only “looks very good,” but so far represents a distinct improvement over last year’s. Taste Hoey’s wines at the appealing Odonata Tasting Room located at 2343 Mission Street next to Companion Bakeshop. The 2013 vintage might be one to watch…Bargetto Winery once again has revealed its playful side with a new red wine release, Tuxedo Red, named for the winery’s resident feline and labeled with a charming image of Tux created by artist Vanda Lavar ($18). The black and white cat, beloved of the tasting room manager and company, is also the official mascot of the Bargetto 80th anniversary (1933-2013) Harvest Dinner happening on Oct. 5. Call (831) 475-2258 for details and reservations…Gourmet Grazing on the Green is Sept. 21 at Aptos Village Park, noon-4pm. Enjoy live music, fine wines, locally crafted beers and oodles of tasting from fine local restaurants. $65 benefits the Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group.
