Wine examiners visit Cellar Door Café, Linwood’s and declare SC Restaurant Week a success

October 27, 7:22 PMSanta Cruz Wine ExaminerJune Smith & Jerry Starr

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Linwood's at Chaminade for Santa Cruz Restaurant Week
Jerry Starr

Succumbing to the lure of Santa Cruz Restaurant Week, the wine examiners took full advantage of specially priced meals at two not-to-be-missed restaurants.

The premiere week was held from October 1-8, 2009, featuring a week of prix-fixe (fixed-price) dining in over two dozen Santa Cruz top dining spots, sponsored by Santa Cruz Weekly newspaper.

Local chefs created special three-course menus including appetizer, entrée and dessert for only $25. Three options for each course were offered, so any patron could easily find a dish to enjoy.

Dining at upscale Chaminade Resort

Linwood’s Bar and Grill at Chaminade offered a feast of the senses, not only for an unparalleled view of Monterey Bay from the dining room, but also for fresh, elegantly presented California cuisine. Add to that the eye-catching discovery of a $15 million dollar renovation of the resort on a hill. The website describes it perfectly: “Enjoy color palettes inspired by California coast, contemporary Spanish furnishings and world-class amenities.”
The restaurant features local organic ingredients and a good selection of locally produced Santa Cruz Mountains wines.

Santa Cruz Restaurant Week menu:

1st course

Roast Beet, Tomato, Watermelon Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Mache Lettuces with Figs, Crumbled Blue, Balsamic Mint Vinaigrette
Zucchini and Ricotta Flan with mixed Herb Pesto

2nd course

Filet of Sirloin with Mushroom Essence served with Farm Produce and Mac/Cheese
Examiner Smith paired this with Martin Ranch 2005 Merlot, $10.

Local Black Cod with Cioppino Sauce

Brined and Quick 12oz Roast Pork Chop with Meyer lemon and sage nage (sauce)
Examiner Starr paired this with Bargetto 2006 Pinot Grigio, $9.

Note: Many of the flavor-packed vegetables adorning entrees come from the four-acre Ace Organics farm of bartender Steven Haas, who grows approximately two dozen varieties.

3rd course

Gizdich Apple Tart with vanilla ice cream
Lemon Glace with berry coulis
Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with fresh berries

Café at Bonny Doon Tasting Room

The Cellar Door Café provided not only a culinary treat, but the novel experience of dining with other Santa Cruz food lovers at one of the community tables. Read the review here.

Santa Cruz Restaurant Week has been declared a success, both by organizers and a delighted public. Some of the restaurants enjoyed such customer interest that they are continuing with some aspect of the $25.dinner plan, Hindquarter Bar & Grille in Santa Cruz and Davenport Road House are two such restaurants. Scotts Valley resident Mary Joan Rodriguez and a companion made the drive to Sanderlings at Seascape Resort and raved about everything that they ordered.

By June Smith

Related article,
Silicon Valley Restaurant Week by Jerry Starr