Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 23) Field totable The many tastes of Santa Cruz County begin as seedlings in the rich sandy loam unique to the Central Coast. Warm sunny days offset cool foggy nights creating one of the most distinctive geographical areas to form a virtual Shangri-La of cuisine. The roots of Santa Cruz County cuisine literally lie in the soil. The abundance of locally grown fruits and vegetables provides inspiration for the many celebrated chefs within the county. A number of chefs are known for creating menus in harmony with the seasons to highlight locally-grown items at their peak. Farmers markets throughout the county are veritable boutiques of nature, where you can browse at leisure. Many of these markets host special cooking and gardening-related events. And speaking of fresh, nearly every restaurant offering seafood in town features salmon, Dungeness crab, sand dabs, sole, and other succulent choices, harvested straight from the Monterey Bay. Daily catches become nightly specials at restaurants throughout the county, in particular on the Santa Cruz unhurried bevy of regulars. Sample the tastes of Santa Cruz County Restaurant in Capitola. This landmark eatery features Winemaker Wednesdays, October through April, when local wines take center stage. Or try Soif in Downtown Santa Cruz for other delicious pairings. Soquel Village’s Michael’s on Main restaurant offers specially selected local wines to complement sumptuous dishes. For just wine, the Bargetto Winery tasting room in Soquel Village is a scenic choice. Whether your culinary preference takes you to an outdoor market bursting with fresh produce, a romantic hideaway, or a bustling Mediterranean-themed sidewalk bistro, Santa Cruz County offers the perfect gastronomic destination. For a complete list of recommended dining options, see page 59. Bon appétit! Municipal Wharf where you’ll find some of the best clam chowder in the county. Locals know that another seaside destination for delicious fare is Pleasure Point, where cafes cater to an For the perfect accompaniment to local cuisine, the celebrated wines of the region rank among the best in the country. In fact, the Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation is one of the oldest wine growing regions in the United States. Over 40 wineries throughout the area, many of them small and family-owned, benefit from the region’s microclimates. Visit a tasting room, or try one of the many local restaurants which serve these handcrafted wines. In addition, the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association hosts a number of events, featuring exclusive tastings. Pairing food with wine has been par for the course at restaurants like the historic Shadowbrook “ most menus feature organic and locally-grown items and ingredients, and restauranteurs take great pride in the short distance from farm to table.” paSSport maGazine, auGuSt 2008 23 Photo: Paul Schraub/CVC www. s a n t a cr u z co u n ty. t r a v e l http://www.santacruzcounty.travel
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.