saulbass

I have a reservation for Manresa for Oct 16 for my birthday which i am really looking forward to We will all be having a chef's tasting prepared without any shell-fish, pork or rabbit We will most likely be bringing wine for the occasion for a group of 8 Does anyone who has been have any input as to a good line-up or varietals etc From the menu on their the Manresa website i was thinking alsace (most likely PG or Guwerz), pinot noir (CA or Burgundy) and Port (1977 for birth year) Any advise would be greatly appreciated Thanks So Much

1. The French Laundry 2. Omei 3. Gary Danko

Sorry for the out of date information and for missing your Moreno/Vallerta recs in your prior posts. I grew up in Santa Cruz but have not been there for any great length of time since 1995 - although i do make it back 5-6 times a year including this coming weekend. I would also add 99 Bottles downtown - Seems to have a good student atmosphere and Good bar type food (kris-cut fries etc) and potentialy Seabright brewery as well

I'd say the best values in Santa Cruz (aside from Omei which although a little more expensive i would still consider a great value) are: Mexican Food - Cant believe no one mentioned this yet: Try Tacos Morenos (on Water Street), Tacqueria Vallerta (on Either Pacific, Soquel (midtown) or 41st Ave), Costa Brava (not the one downtown but the large stand at Seabright and Murray?), I'm not a big fan of Tacqueria Santa Cruz but it is worth a shot (Either Soquel or Mission) Breakfast: Zacharys, Linda's Seabreeze Cafe, Silver Spur, Aldos Other: Zoccolis, The Crepe Place, Pleasure Pizza A little different: India Joze, Darma's

Molino Creek Farms has produced dry farmed tomatoes in Northern CA for years. I remember getting them at the Santa Cruz farmers market many years ago. They are without a doubt the best tomatoes i have ever tasted

Sushi Masu (West LA) Da Silvano (The Village NY) Balthazar (Soho NY)

Thx for the advise I will try to get to one of your suggestions soon saul

I grew up in Santa Cruz, CA and have sinced moved to Los Angeles. My favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz was/is Omei. Does anyone have any recommendations in the LA area for chinese in the same style as the Omei restaurant? Any help would be greatly appreciated as I can only get back to Santa Cruz so often. Thx saul