Rebecca and Zach put the finishing touches on the kiosk last Wednesday.
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Pastor-al Fantasy In my world,Tacos Morenois synonymous with the mighty al pastor taco, that simple, incomparable offering of corn, pink beans and salsa complicated by sensuous pork. Can your $3.15 do this? Two soft, warm corn tortillas overflowing with mounds of spicy barbecue pork, fat pinto beans, shredded cabbage, a dusting of cilantro and arguably the best salsa in town. That's what I stumbled upon last weekend at the 1601 41st Avenue version of Tacos Moreno. I adore the magic of Moreno, but hate the lines at the 30-year-old original on Water Street. Well, the Mid-County version of this time-honored taqueria is spacious enough to put an end to long lines outside the door. Too bad I had to get back to work or I would have popped a Bohemia and enjoyed the taco to its absolute fullest. Tacos Moreno is the thinking woman's alternative to junky fast food, and don't forget it! 1601 41st Ave., Capitola; open 9:30am–10pm; 831.464.8810.
Vine Hill Tasting Room Countdown The latest addition to the Ingalls Street wine neighborhood should be open for business Dec. 3-4, and lovers of design will have plenty to ogle. Mark Primack's innovative diagonal entry leads to a cozy expanse of “serrated” tasting counters topped with Carrara marble and zinc—and these are only some of the pleasures-in-progress soon to be unveiled. A cork ceiling is one sly touch, quoting the corks in Vine Hill's wine bottles—and there will be more surprises as the area's newest tasting facility lays on the finishing touches in time for the Grand Opening date.
Penny for Your Kiosk Nov. 9 was a great day for Santa Cruz connoisseurs of frozen dairy desserts, as the second Penny Ice Creamery location opened shop in the kiosk in front of Bookshop Santa Cruz. Sporting a menu of regularly featured flavors—including the always popular Bitter Caramel and Verve Coffee, plus ice cream and sorbet flavors of the day—the kiosk also has its own specialty found nowhere else in the Penny kingdom: the Parisian ($4.50), an espresso served alongside an ice cream bon bon. We couldn’t resist trying the ginger float ($5.50), a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream floating in organic Artisan Elixirs Golden Ginger. Made in Santa Cruz by Oswald bartender Hans Losee, this is real ginger ale with a good-natured bite to it. Delish! (With additional reporting by Traci Hukill)
Send tips about food, wine and new dining discoveries to Christina Waters at [email protected]. Read her blog at http://christinawaters.com.
