As other restaurants become louder, O’mei becomes even more precious. Handsome, intimate and cozy, the dining rooms of O’mei provide true culinary—and conversational—oases, where the food has never been better and you can actually converse in words of more than one shouted syllable.
Articles by Christina Waters
Q&A: Andre Beauregard
Emerging winemaker Andre Beauregard has just released a Syrah and a Rose of Syrah 2010 under his new West Cliff Wines label. Part of a prominent family of local winemakers, he made his name locally as wine buyer at Shopper’s Corner.
Dining With Local Stars at Gabriella
Just how was this going to work, I wondered? A flotilla of us were convening on the main dining room of Gabriella Cafe in hopes of hearing the loquacious über gardener Orin Martin orate on the topic of peppers, while his artist wife Stephanie demystified a few complex points of intaglio printing.
Q&A: Ed Watson of Zameen
Five years ago, Ed Watson opened Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine in Aptos, in partnership with his father-in-law Mike Assar. He took time to talk about Zameen’s new food truck and new mobile menu.
Bantam Adds To Santa Cruz’s Pizza Revolution
The Westside’s newest pizzeria-in-progress, Bantam, is almost ready for prime time. “Sometime in November” is what proprietor Benjamin Sims predicted as he showed me around the spacious scrubbed and polished industrial space at the edge of Fair Avenue, across from New Leaf. The obvious centerpiece of the new restaurant is the Mugnaini wood-burning pizza oven, handsomely tiled by Sims’ cousin, at the center of the exhibition kitchen.
Q&A: Robert Marsh
Robert Marsh is a well-known Central Coast wine rep whose portfolio includes the top Santa Cruz Mountains wineries. He spoke to me about breaking into the business, changes in the industry and some of his own favorites.
New Pizzeria Captures Elegant Spirit of Avanti
While the rest of you were feasting on sugary candy corn, we spent our traditional Halloween dinner at Avanti. The “old” Avanti, a.k.a. the new Pizzeria Avanti, where Jeremy Geise, son of owners Paul and Cindy Geise, has grown gracefully into his role as resident host.
Foodie File: Rebecca Campbell
Since moving to Santa Cruz in 1982, Rebecca Campbell has been famous for her muffins. After selling them at stores around town, she opened Rebecca’s Mighty Muffins on Front Street in 1986. After opening two more stores, she closed them all in 2006 and walked away from the business for a while. In 2008, she brought her muffins back to farmers’ markets, and this year she opened Rebecca’s at the Tannery.
Q&A: Rebecca Campbell
Since moving to Santa Cruz in 1982, Rebecca Campbell has been famous for her muffins. After selling them at stores around town, she opened Rebecca’s Mighty Muffins on Front Street in 1986. After opening two more stores, she closed them all in 2006 and walked away from the business for a while. In 2008, she brought her muffins back to farmers’ markets, and this year she opened Rebecca’s at the Tannery.
Deb Perelman Comes to Bookshop Santa Cruz
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. She will talk about cooking and her new book, “The Smitten Kitten,” Sunday, Nov. 4.
