Muriel Loubiere’s Au Midi in Aptos is part of the area’s French cooking boom. Photo by Chip Scheuer.
Bantam Update: The sleek new pizza cafe at the corner of Ingalls and Fair avenues is just about finished. On a recent drive-by, I spotted workers swarming all over the long counters, putting finishing details on the pizzeria-in-progress owned by chef Benjamin Sims and his wife Sarah Knight. Industrial chic looks to be the interior dress code of what should prove to be a major hangout for Santa Cruz foodies, scheduled for opening around November 1.
Autumn Arrives Au Midi: A few updates for fans of Muriel Loubiere’s impeccable French cooking. Lunches at the Aptos bistro are now closed for the season, and the new hours of operation at Au Midi are Wednesday to Sunday, from 5:30-9pm. Also, every Wednesday will be Crepes Day, featuring a crepe appetizer, a crepe entree and, yes, a crepe dessert, in addition to the regular menu. But pasta has its day, too, at Au Midi. That day is Thursday, when four pasta specials will regularly join the evening menu. If you’re as happy as we are that authentic French cooking is so abundant in our smallish region, then make reservations for Au Midi, located at 7960 Soquel Drive in Aptos. 831.685.2600. www.aumidi.com.
The Live Earth Farm Discovery Program will be featured in the Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing Thank You Thursday program on October 25, 2012. This is a great program, where one dollar from every beer sold on that day at the wildly popular, rambunctious beer hall goes to a designated non-profit. Work up a thirst and hoist a pint of IPA or whatever fires your rockets on that day, and the funds raised will help LEFDP provide ongoing opportunities for youth to visit Live Earth Farm to learn about organic farming, local food systems and nutrition. And this, in turn, helps local, underserved youth (not underserved in the beer sense, btw) build confidence by learning to be actively engaged in their communities and their environment.
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing features a wide selection of organic, handcrafted beer and is open every day from noon to 10pm. It is located in the Swift Street Courtyard at 402 Ingalls St. on the Westside of Santa Cruz. This is the place to enjoy appealing, organic, hand-made brews in the company of excitable guys and gals, often wearing surfing gear, bike togs and lots of stuff sporting the Columbia and O’Neill logos.
By Bread Alone: My vote for top “lifeboat situation” bread—you know, the bread you would grab when fleeing some sort of hypothetical danger—is the seeded sourdough from Companion Bakers. This is bread that gives “gluten” a good name. It is so fragrant you’ll think you dropped into a medieval bakery just as the loaves emerged from the oven. You can scoop some up at the charming little bake/coffee shop at 2341 Mission Street, or just head for the farmers’ market early enough to score a warm, round loaf before they’re all gone. 831.252.2253.
Speaking of Farmers’ Markets: October 30 is the final Felton Farmers’ Market of the season, and that means the vibrant outdoor market will host its Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest from 2:30-6:30pm. Pumpkins are provided and children of all ages (ahem) are encouraged to participate. The market unfurls in the parking lot of St. John’s Catholic Church, Russell Ave & Highway 9. For more info, visit www.scfm.org.
