Your guide to Santa Cruz County.
Dining Guide to Santa Cruz County
What's New In The World Of Dining
Its Organic, Ethnic Diversity, Fusion and Terroir!
In this socially-conscious area, it's not surprising to find many restaurants who implement cutting-edge practices like offering diners more diverse menu selections including sustainable seafood choices, vegan dishes and carbohydrate counts. Partnerships between organic farms and restaurants are the norm and you will find menus featuring organic fruits and vegetables, organic range-free meats, organic wines and tables decorated with organic bouquets.
The community's ethnic diversity is reflected in the area's selection of global dining rooms. Eateries range from French bistros and Tyrolean inn to an authentic Oaxacan tacqueria. You will find most continents of the world are represented at a variety of of dining rooms that feature ethnic specialties to national cuisines.
As with the popularity of ethnic dining, so is the blending of cultures and food styles at "fusion cuisine" dining rooms. A chef's creativity shines when combining the flavors and foods from the Pacific Rim, France, Italy and other global places in presentations of new and innovative gastronomic masterpieces
Along with creative fusions comes the balance and blending of terroir influences. Area chefs are well versed in the infused characteristics of land, climate and growing methods that define locally grown foods. This knowledge is often the driving guide in creating pairings of complimentary foods with wines from the region. The result is the preparation of dishes which defines the culinary characteristics and flavors of the Santa Cruz Region.
Farmers' Markets
Live Oak Farmers' Market
East Cliff Shopping Center
East Cliff and 15th Ave., Santa Cruz
831-454-0566, www.santacruzfarmersmarket.org
Sunday, 10am - 2pm, May - November
Monterey Bay Farmers' Market
Cabrillo College
Soquel Ave., Aptos
831-728-5060, www.montereybayfarmers.org
Saturday 8am - noon, year round
Santa Cruz Community Farmers' Market
Cedar and Lincoln St., Santa Cruz
831-454-0566, www.santacruzfarmersmarket.org
Wednesday, 2:30 - 6:30pm, year round
UCSC Farm and Garden Cart
Bay and High Streets, Santa Cruz
831-454-0566, casfs.ucsc.edu
Tuesday and Friday, noon - 6pm, June - October
Watsonville Certified Farmers' Market
Watsonville Plaza
Main Streent, Watsonville
831-726-7266
Friday, 3 - 7pm, May - October
Santa Cruz Coast Wineries
Wine Words
The language of wine has specific references to the intricate levels and influences of the winemaking process from earth to the table.
View a list of words often used to descripe the flavor and tase of wines.
Appellation vs. Terroir
Appellation is a term which describes teh geographic region where wine grapes are grown.
The Santa Cruz Mountains wine growing appellation covers a large geographic region that reaches from south of San Francisco through the Pajaro Valley and Watsonville, and from the Pacific Ocean to the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountain range. Read more...
Wine Boot Camp
An ultimate fantasy experience for wine lovers. Find out more...
Santa Cruz County Wine Map
Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries
Interested in wine tasting in Santa Cruz County? View our directory of each winery along with contact information.
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Dining Profiles
Kianti’s
Read Kianti’s Dining Profile
View Kiantis Ad
www.kiantis.com
Café Cruz
Read Café Cruz Dining Profile
View Café Cruz Ad
www.cafecruz.com
Manuel’s
Read Manuel’s Dining Profile
View Manuel’s Restaurant Ad
www.manuelsrestaurant.com
Restaurant Directory
Beach Street Café
Café Sparrow
Cilantro’s
Gayle’s Bakery
Kianti’s
Limoncello
Manuel’s
Severino’s Bar & Grill
Silver Spur
Wharf House
Zelda’s
