Some of Santa Cruz's best wines will be featured at Pinot Paradise.
Bonny Doon Tasting Room on the Move: It was when I received a recent email from Roger Knapp, art pioneer and owner of the Davenport Gallery that I began sensing more than one change on our cultural horizon. Knapp's email revealed that, after three years, his colorful Davenport Gallery was closing, and that there would be a farewell party on Sunday March 24th, from 3 to 8pm.
Then came another interesting comment: “The time has come to make way for a new venture in Davenport, the venerable Bonny Doon Winery.” Whoa, I thought, and immediately emailed Randall Grahm, maverick honcho of the aforementioned Bonny Doon Winery. Was it true? “That's a rodge,” Grahm confirmed. There isn't yet a firm departure date, but the winemaker hopes to have his tasting room ensconced in Davenport “maybe May-ish.” Grahm also added that the current architecturally gifted Bonny Doon tasting room space on Ingalls Street “is still very much open for biz, and selling some very serious wines.” So now you know. It's no wonder that the winery that was born re-inventing itself should already be looking ahead. After all the hamlet of Davenport sits at the very base of the region known as…Bonny Doon. Stay tuned!
Pinot Paradise: This weekend’s wine summit is rivaled only by the recent gathering of cardinals in Rome. Winemakers specializing in the notable Pinot Noirs of the Santa Cruz Mountains will come together for workshops, dinners and a Grand Cruz tasting of pinots. The annual Pinot Paradise event is highlighted by The Ultimate Pinot Noir Winemaker Dinner at Shadowbrook starting at 6pm, on Saturday March 23. The price of $125 per person allows you to dine with winemakers from Burrell School, Dancing Creek, hallcrest, Silver Mountain and Silvertip vineyards. Along with pourings of their wines, the dinner begins with pinot pork belly, pickled onions, baby greens and local quail egg. After an intemezzo of sparkling plum-pinot sorbet, the entree of local salmon in Moroccan spices plus beef short ribs braised in pinot and aromatics, precedes and inventive dessert of honey lavendar panna cotta and rhubarb sauce. The meal prepared by Shadowbrook chef Ashley Hosmer will be accompanied by examples of top locally-made pinot noirs. These annual dinners are a rare and wonderful way to actually dine with the winemaker while sampling their signature wines. You can ask questions, listen to behind-the scenes winemaking lore all while enjoying a memorable meal. For reservations for all Pinot Paradise events, including the March 23rd dinner, plus see the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association website.
Spring Thing: Spring asparagus is on the menu at Ristorante Avanti, as well as some delicious new dessert ideas from resident pastry chef Aimee Page. A birthday cake of the month is now a celebratory dessert option, for example this month's citrus chiffon cake with vanilla gelato would prove a temptation, even if it's not your birthday.
Spring comes to Au Midi: Always fine-tuning her menu with seasonal inflections, Au Midi Chef Muriel Loubiere will be taking a week off to ready her kitchen for a new spring menu. “We decided to take a week vacation to be fit and fresh when nature is ready to party. We will be closed from Tuesday March the 19th to Monday March 25.”The restaurant reopens with new lunch and dinner items on Tuesday the 26th of March. Make plans to be among the first to sample the refreshed spring menu at Au Midi—7960 Soquel Drive, Aptos – 831.685-2600.
