Santa Cruz artist James Aschbacher loaned his talents to the new Pasta Mike's label.
Like many of you, I am a big fan of Pasta Mike's, the locally-made product line created by Mike Ruymen. Well, I've been tracking a change in the visual brand of these comfort food accessories, and I recognized the design signature involved. Pasta Mike's new labels are indeed the work of James Aschbacher, the ubiquitous muralist and painter, who designed an image last year especially to express the colorful flavors of Pasta Mike's products. “I wanted him to have something more dynamic,” Aschbacher recalls. “So I created a painting about Mike.” Yep, that’s Mike himself on the label, beard and all, dancing and eating pasta with colorful creatures energized by the playful attitude of alfredo sauce, linguini and of course those fabulous eggplant parmesan raviolis. In a refrigerator case near you—you can't miss 'em.
QUICKIES Nope, Avanti has not yet moved into its new Mission Street location. Cindy Geise says there's lots of interior fine-tuning going on right now, some custom rock work and a new u-shaped bar. But she expects the restaurant to “definitely” be open by February. . . .The revolving kitchen door at Gabriella has swung full circle, and that means that Brad Briske is back, along with former pastry chef Krista Pollock. After a year in Soquel at Main Street Garden Cafe (formerly Theo's), Briske has returned to the kitchen at Gabriella as sous chef. Briske will be working with current executive chef Adrian Cruz. And meanwhile, at Main Street Garden Cafe, Brandon DiFiglio has taken over the kitchen after having worked at The French Laundry and (gasp) el Bulli, the stupendously famous multi–Michelin–starred restaurant in Spain that launched the craze for culinary foams and other alchemical kitchen artistry. Can't wait to see what DiFiglio is up to in the Main Street dining room that stresses organically grown ingredients. (Yes, there will be a test.)
NEW WINE IN TOWN Leslie Fellows, former assistant director of the Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery and now marketing director of Artesana wines, has been working for the past year to bring vintages from her uncle's Uruguayan vineyards to this country. And she's finally succeeded. The Artesana brand will soon be available at Soif for those inquiring aficionados who haven't yet sampled the celebrated Tannat grape of South America. Stay tuned for my tasting notes in the near future. Happy New Year!
Send tips about food, wine and new dining discoveries to Christina Waters at [email protected]. Read her blog at http://christinawaters.com.
