Jozseph Schultz caters New Music Works’ 35th annual Avant Garden Party, plus brews for a cause
Hard to believe that the annual New Music Works Avant Garden Party and afternoon concert is 35 years old. This has always been one of those delicious old-fashioned outdoor concerts of edgy new music, wine and scrumptious appetizers. I fondly recall events past with Irene Herrmann at the keyboard, premieres of Chris Pratorius compositions and New Music Works founder Phil Collins filling the afternoon air with glorious guitar solos. Everybody came—Lou Harrison, Audrey Stanley, Tandy Beal. And always there was Jozseph Schultz, wizard of the wok, whipping up avant garde dishes filled with spices and expertise. Clad in leather, a massive kitchen machete at his side, Schultz defied every laid-back statistic available by firing up the wok and proceeding to produce dish after sizzling dish of items as mysterious as they were irresistible. Expect him to work his Avant Garden Party magic again on June 7. This year’s open-air feast of sights and sounds pays special tribute to chef “India Joze” Schultz, who has contributed his culinary chops these many years to benefit players and performers of New Music Works. So, yes, there will be outstanding flavors to be sampled while soaking up the hottest sounds, like Aza’s Moroccan Berber tunes, Brazilian jazz from Riviere & Simon, Singing Wood Marimba Ensemble playing incandescent Zimbabwe percussion, Bill Walker’s slide guitar, the fabulous Ariose Singers performing Rautavaara’s Suite de Lorca, and the celestial harp of Jennifer Cass interpreting music by Lou Harrison and John Cage. Expect nonstop finger foods by India Joze—free with the price of admission—and there will be fine wines and teas available as well. Splurge on vibrant music and al fresco flavors. This is real, live experience—sensory enjoyment, all to benefit the ongoing experimental brilliance of the New Music Works. $20 advance; $23 door (seniors $15 adv/$18; students $10). Order online at brownpapertickets.com. 2-6 p.m., Sunday, June 7, The Garden, 2701 Monterey Ave., Soquel. newmusicworks.org.
Educational Brew
Bring your thirst on over to Discretion Brewing on 41st Avenue on Monday, June 1, where 20 percent of the day’s beer sales will support farm camp scholarships for local kids at the Live Earth Farm Discovery Program. Discretion Brewing calls it “Love Monday,” their in-house program targeting local, nonprofit organizations. And on June 1 the beer sales donation will go to help Live Earth Farm’s ongoing opportunities for young people to visit the farm and learn about organic farming, local food systems, and nutrition.
Manresa is Chosen
According to a group of hardcore elite gourmets—Opinionated About Dining—the best restaurant in the country, Saison, is just up the road in San Francisco. And coming in at number four is Manresa. The always forward-looking Los Gatos restaurant is the brainchild of Santa Cruzan David Kinch, whose intricately seasonal menu is fueled by the gardens of Love Apple Farm in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Congratulations, once again, to Kinch and company.
Swanton Strawberries
Better than ever are these astonishingly fragrant, stunningly flavor-intensive strawberries grown just up the road at Swanton Berry Farms. I bought some last week when my mom was up visiting from San Diego and we went ballistic over them. Simply sliced and served—these succulent berries need no sweetening, no cinnamon, nothing—they conjured memories of childhoods “when berries had real flavor,” as my mom put it. Try New Leaf Community Markets or head up Highway 1 to get them at their freshest.
PHOTO: Jozseph Schultz juggles sweet peppers outside his Front Street restaurant India Joze. CHIP SCHEUER
