Weekend at the Buttery
The Weekend Scene at The Buttery: Lively and—given the weather—getting livelier each week. Not only does the Buttery make some of the best coffee in town, it also puts my taste buds in touch with the amazing and always addictive Zucchini Muffin. Armed with these ingredients, I like to loll out in the side patio and listen to some sweet fiddle, guitar and mandolin music. Is it true that Paul and Emily Rangell have successfully cloned themselves? How else can they be making beautiful music literally everywhere, at once? Well, no matter. They are. Serious breakfasts and freshly conceived lunch fare are also available at The Buttery—wildly popular and justly so. But I'm still one of the muffin and coffee types. Only Burt Levitsky has a more spartan and regular habit. The Buttery holds down the corner opposite Shoppers at 702 Soquel Avenue & Branciforte, and it's open daily from 7 to 7. Yum…Farmers Markets all over the county are loaded with asparagus, green garlic, the first of the season strawberries, and acres of tulips.
Valdo Prosecco: Rita Bottoms (author, traveler, former head of UCSC Special Collections) tasted this dry bubbly in Venice, asked Shoppers to order it, and served it—generously—at her recent book publication soirée at La Sirena antique & collectibles emporium. The Ingalls Street front patio literally dripped with local literati and fans of Tom Bottoms' oil paintings and Rita's piquant notations. The book is Riffs & Ecstasies: Venice (available at La Sirena). The prosecco is an unbelievable $11.99 at Shoppers Corner. Crisp and dry, it positively drives every other prosecco right off the sparkling map. Get some. Drink some. Sparkle and bubble!
Pizzeria Avanti Happy Hours: This just in! Jeremy Federico from Pizzeria Avanti emailed to let me know that the cozy pizzeria on Mission Street now has happy hours, Monday through Wednesday in the bar area. “From 5:00 to 7:00 we are offering 1/2 price 12'' pizzas and $2.00 off beer and wine,” the proprietor told me. Now this is the sort of offer I find hard to resist, especially since Pizzeria Avanti wines by the glass are already a low $8 each! Also—listen up Westside neighbors—Pizzeria Avanti now offers Westside Wednesdays. This means that diners will have a choice of any 12″ pizza and a glass of wine for $15. “Or they can bring some friends and choose any 16'' pizza with a bottle of wine for $30.00,” Federico explained. The full menu is still available during both events. Sounds like a cost-effective plan. Pizzeria Avanti, 1711 Mission St., SC 831.425-1807 —it's what's for dinner!
Paging Avanti: The other Avanti, Ristorante Avanti has a secret weapon—pastry chef Aimee Page, creator of the astonishing citrus chiffon cake with buttermilk gelato. Page, a former baker at India Joze is now creating gorgous desserts and pastries at Avanti, as well as making classic celebration cakes for custom birthday and anniversary events at the restaurant. Recently the restaurant catered a 95th birthday party out on the semi-private side dining deck, which has outdoor heaters incidentally. For the occasion, Page created a multi-tier cake complete with brilliantly colored roses made entirely of icing. The pastry chef makes custom cakes for in-house parties, but she also creates daily temptation such as a special tiramisu, using almond flour that is gluten free! The Avanti dessert menu also features Page's butterscotch Budino with salted caramel topping, and a cookie plate with French macaroons, biscotti and homemade fig newtons. Amazing sweets!
