November 4, 2025 – Following an extensive nine-month renovation of Pebble Beach Lodge, Stillwater restaurant reopened for lunch and dinner today with a plush new look and revamped menu.  The restaurant is the final piece of the renovation, which also included a refresh of the

November 4, 2025 – The Cabernet was flowing and the sun was shining at the luxurious Lexington House Vineyard & Winery Estate on the shores of the ever-shrinking Lexington Reservoir. Premier Cruz last weekend drew a crowd of Cab enthusiasts to indulge in the

October 30, 2025 – Cue the witches and goblins, the newest restaurant in downtown Santa Cruz—Mane Kitchen & Cocktails—will debut Halloween night. It’s very rare for a restaurant to open exactly as predicted, but chef Desmond Schneider and mixologist Julianna Mireles said they would

October 31, 2025 – This sweet and beautifully set place just outside Ben Lomond, has turned into quite the farm since my last visit.  As I drove up the steep driveway to the 4-acre vineyard property, I spied the chicken coop and two energetic

Oct. 24, 2025—The giant eyeball fell from the flimsy plate so fast I could only react.  My hand shot out to catch it midair. Which meant, of course, now I had to eat it. This was a very sudden development. It was also part

October 24, 2025 – A single ray of sunshine illuminated a small patch on the very top of the Boekenoogen ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands as we headed south on an unsettled weather day through the Salinas Valley. Clouds created monstrous castles of

Oct. 21, 2025—The Power Plant in Moss Landing just got a major surge of flavor, by way of both food and drink. Suddenly a small constellation of stars, led by chef Todd Williamson and sommelier Ryan Cooley, have transformed the retail side of the

Oct. 21, 2025—The sun smiled down on a big day for a local restaurant family, streaming in through big windows at Caffé by Rosine’s and setting off the soothing color scheme and stylish tile. And that was far from the only smiling going on.

Oct. 21, 2025—I wasn’t planning on crying happy tears when learning about oppression and genocide, and food’s place in resisting them. But such is the human power of specific, delicious, intensely flavorful recipes author Michael Shaikh reveals after years spent as human rights investigator

Oct. 17, 2025—To the high school counselor who said, “Dress for the job you want,” thank you. Because here I am, dressed for a mess, because the job I want is eating the drippy, saucy, melty and cheesy quesabirria burrito at Aquino’s Birrieria &