Queen of Tarts: The Farm's fruit tart is tops. (Christina Waters)
FARM FRESH It is a well-known local secret that The Farm is one-stop shopping for almost all occasions, but especially during the winter holidays. The reasons are many. For one, there's an amazing gift shop attached to this popular cafe landmark. And at Christmas time the shop is bulging with glittering, imported ornaments, culinary accessories, jewelry and other boutique non-generic gift items. Two, there's a vibrant cafe offering breakfast, lunch and dinner long on locally sourced ingredients and handmade soups, salads, sandwiches and quiches. Three—and here's the part I'm interested in focusing on—The Farm is the home of some highly reliable, beautiful pastries. Case in point: the legendary fresh fruit tart, designed like a festive Mayan mandala in concentric circles of red, orange and green. Crowned by fat seasonal berries, the tart offers the fruit mosaic atop a layer of cream cheese and a frame of tender, flaky crust. For $24 you can make 12 people very happy—or make six people ecstatic. It's your call. At 6790 Soquel Drive in Aptos. Questions? Call 831.684.0266.
POST-TURKEY STRESS SYNDROME You know what I mean. You've had all the Norman Rockwell food you can handle until, well, the next holiday dinner. So now it a great time to remember your favorite non-WASP dining rooms. Don't your tastebuds cry out for Szechuan peppercorns, or chili oil, or salsa, or wasabi after you've put away 7 million calories of pumpkin pie? Mine do. So that's why this year I'm thankful all over again for Naka Sushi on 41st Avenue, miniature home of the most ultra-authentic sushi in the area. I'm also hot for La Cabaña and their soft, pliant snapper tacos. Ditto O'mei's very comforting, fire-hot Red Oil Dumplings. Armed with a jar of fiery tamarind chutney (see the aisles of New Leaf, Shoppers or Whole Foods) I can transform any blandesque chicken breast into something worthy of a Mumbai New Year's Eve gathering. Can your mashed potatoes match up to any of these intense flavor experiences? Probably best not to compare. But since we do live in an area especially gifted with affordable, spice-intensive ethnic eateries, we can cleanse our tryptophaned palates with ease.
GQ PICKS KINCH Very smart of them, too. Our own Santa Cruz native David Kinch—whose renowned Manresa restaurant continues to maintain two Michelin stars—was just named GQ Magazine's “Chef of the Year.” Check out the current issue to read the long, glowing profile on the highly conceptual cuisinartist. Or check out the online page to learn more about the surfer-turned-chef.
Send tips about food, wine and new dining discoveries to Christina Waters at [email protected]. Read her blog at http://christinawaters.com.
