The fine tradition of waiter racing will be part of the Bastille Day celebration in downtown Santa Cruz July 14.
No, it is not too early to make your Bastille Day plans, which absolutely must include this year's pulse-pounding culinary reality show—the Soif Waiter's Race. Make sure you're at Pacific and Walnut on Sunday, July 14th, 1pm for the spine-tingling action as waiters show off their best moves, all in the interest of fun (and outstanding Facebook photo ops). Don't forget to stick around for a special Three-course Bastille Day spread @ Soif, $45 per person (non-inclusive). Call 831.423.2020 to reserve your spot. And while I'm on the subject of Santos Majano (chef @ Soif), you will want to savor Majano's cooking, at its finest enjoyed outdoors, at the Route 1 Farms Summer Farm Dinner, pairing Majano's specialties with wines from Odonata — Sunday, June 30th. Participants get to stroll the farm, take a tour with farmer Jeff Larkey, then sit down to several courses prepared in the fields, paired with Denis Hoey's terrific wines. This is a terrific al fresco event—what better way to dine locally, drink locally, and enjoy the summer locally. Check the website for your tickets.
Bene for Caffe Bene: Talked with Ken Botelho this week, the guy who has been laying down great espresso drinks for 25 years—and inhabits that cozy, funky, irrepressibly Santa Cruz spot at the top of Cedar Street. It's true that he played hardball with the South Korean group who wooed his coffeehouse name, “Caffe Bene.” And Botelho got the deal he wanted. “I sold the name to a company who wanted to open lots of Caffe Benes all over California, ” Botelho said. “Originally they wanted just the domain name, but I told them it was all or nothing.” So Botelho got what he admits was “a good deal for me — it made it worth it for me to stay here.” So now the Caffe Bene name is under license—and don't be surprised it you hear of other places called Caffe Bene popping up in other regions. Only they will never be the same as Botelho's vintage coffeehouse, which will continue to do its thing exactly like it always has. For sure, it does seem as though people get excited when a new coffee place opens. But it's also great when the vintage, seasoned places can continue on as caffeinated forts for equally seasoned locals. Molto bene, Ken.
That's the “original” Caffe Bene, at 1101 Cedar Street (425-00441).
Seasonal Sensations. That would be the cherries and fingerling potatoes at current local markets. Ditto the strawberries and blueberries (UCSC Farm & Garden). I'll swear I had a pale pink-skinned fingerling from Happy Boy Farms last week that was the finest potato I'd ever tasted. Enough to make a grown Bavarian cry. Also this seasons young onions, Meyer lemons and giant sunflowers are worth your attention right now. And I never, ever leave the Saturday Westside Market without at least one slice of fresh-baked tea cake from Companion Bakery. Current to-die-fors are the moist rhubarb and the banana bread loaded with walnuts and dates. These are carbs worth consuming!
Life's Too Short Not to….treat yourself to a scoop of Salted Caramel artisan ice cream made by Mission Hill Creamery. Even better, try some of this utterly enchanting blend of the sweet and the salty, chased by a shot of espresso. Do this at the downtown Santa Cruz Mission Hill Creamery ice cream shop at 1101B Pacific Avenue—noon – 10pm, Sun-Th, and noon – 11pm Fri & Sat.
