Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard. (Photo by Chip Scheuer)
Drumbeats from the Crush of 2012: Winemaker Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards is thrilled with his grapes this year. “Twice as much pinot noir as last year,” he revealed, in the midst of forklifting grapes into his cellar. . . Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyards recently confessed that not only has he planted his first estate vines of pinot noir at his San Juan Bautista vineyards, but he’s also gone against his prior edicts and planted—gulp—Chardonnay grapes! . . . Richard Alfaro, one of a small handful of new world pioneers who actually dedicated vineyard space to the Austrian Grüner Veltliner grape, emailed me from Alfaro Family Vineyards that he has just completed harvesting the versatile white grape and now “there’s Grüner in the tank!” All in all, the 2012 California harvest bodes well for future oenophiles.
The Live Earth Farm Discovery Program will be featured in the Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing Thank You Thursday program on October 25, 2012. This is a great program, where one dollar from every beer sold on that day at the wildly popular, rambunctious beer hall goes to a designated non-profit. Work up a thirst and hoist a pint of IPA or whatever fires your rockets on October 25, and the funds raised that day will help LEFDP provide ongoing opportunities for youth to visit Live Earth Farm to learn about organic farming, local food systems, and nutrition. And this, in turn, helps local, underserved youth (not underserved in the beer sense, btw) build confidence by learning to be actively engaged in their communities and their environment.
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing features a wide selection of organic, handcrafted beer and is open every day from noon to 10pm. They are located in the Swift Street Courtyard at 402 Ingalls Street on the Westside of Santa Cruz. This is the place to enjoy appealing, organic, hand-made brews in the company of excitable guys and gals, often wearing surfing gear, bike togs and lots of stuff with the Columbia and O’Neill logos.
Restaurant Week Post: We joined our food friends Mateo and Francesca Madero at La Posta for a three-course journey through terrific flavors and inventive seasonings from the hand and mind of chef Katherine Stern. A salad of shaved zucchini, heirloom tomatoes and speck led to another app of lovely pizzetta topped with caramelized onion and cherry tomatoes. An entree of succulent pork shoulder was joined by perfect polenta and braised spinach and basil. Almond cake! Espresso and homemade ice cream! Cheese plate with nuts and fruit! How this was possible for a mere $25 is beyond me, but from the reports I’m hearing Restaurant Week definitely gets folks out of their La-Z-Boys!
Autumn Salon @ Gabriella: Make tracks for Gabriella Cafe on Thursday, November 1—All Saints Day—when Orin Martin, eloquent manager of the UCSC Chadwick Garden (see this week’s Foodie File), and his artist wife Stephanie, will talk pepper, kale, apples and printmaking. Orin is one of those transporting orators who can transfix, even while he edifies. And if there is anything about growing that he doesn’t know, it’s not worth knowing. Stephanie—whose impeccable, hand-colored prints and paintings currently grace the walls of Gabriella—will demystify some of her secrets as an intaglio artist. In short, this should be a truly engaging evening, with food and wine to match. Reserve your space early for this four-course dinner. A mere $35—the talk is on the house! For details, consult Gabriella Cafe, located at 910 Cedar St. in downtown Santa Cruz. 831.457.1677.
