Santa Cruz-ing

Went to Santa Cruz for a Saturday wedding. A lovely affair, and thankfully the clouds parted and the rain stopped just long enough for the brief outdoor ceremony, dinner by a fire indoors, and dancing under the stars to a VERY hot local band (never caught the name).

The food was beautiful, delicious, and healthy. The bride studied environmental science at UC Santa Cruz and now lives with her spouse on Maui, where the couple plans to create a healing center on land she inherited from her father. They are dedicated to the vision and inspired about life, and the energy of the day -- as well as the food -- was light and lovely. Shown here: the appetizer buffet, including lots of raw veggies and goat cheese crostini with dried tomato and walnuts or parsley and capers. Orchids graced the plates and the tables in the dining room, a beautiful symbol of the spirit of Aloha.

Sunday the super-spouse and I strolled around Capitola, just south of Santa Cruz, one of the great beach hangouts in all of California. Had lunch at Paradise Sushi, where lime and pine nuts and various kinds of veggies are as likely to show up in your nori rolls as fish. Then discovered, to our delight, that one of our favorite Sonoma County wineries, Armida, has a tasting room in the village. Sampled some wonderful wines and brought home a stellar Russian River zinfandel, a special treat to be enjoyed on my birthday, coming up next weekend.

After a stop at Light House Point in Santa Cruz to watch the tail end of the sea kayak competition taking place there, we headed north. Drove home along the coast, revisiting some favorite old haunts -- San Gregorio State Beach, the quaint seaside village of Half Moon Bay.

It was another beautiful and fun northern California road trip. Are we not blessed?

Tags: Santa Cruz Capitola vegetarian cooking zinfandel