Secrets to homemade pasta will be revealed at Pasta Night up at the 1440 Multiversity Teaching Kitchen on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Executive Chef Kenny Woods, who designs and executes menus for the handsome new retreat center, will lead a small gathering through a hands-on pasta workshop, with wine pairings and dinner, too.
There are many of us who love pasta, and secretly wish we knew a few tricks about finessing dishes to delight and impress our guests—or simply to enjoy with family. Well, Woods will reveal some professional techniques for participants, such as learning to create and stuff classic tortelloni with whipped lemon ricotta, winter greens, and more.
After you’ve learned to create this Northern Italian farmhouse classic, you can relax and enjoy the creation, along with two other savory dishes and two wine pairings. The pasta intensive happens in 1440’s brand new, state-of-the-art teaching kitchen classroom, and will finish up with Chef Woods sharing his tiramisu secrets. You’ll be able to whip up your own homemade version of this creamy dessert after the evening workshop.
Woods is devoted to using the freshest local ingredients from farmers markets for his campus menus, and Pasta Night is no exception. “What’s great about our farmers markets is that everything is grown right here, in our own backyard,” he says. “My job is to have the food be itself, not mask it. Fresh and simple. That’s how you eat healthy.”
Quickly check to see if there are any spaces left for this exclusive night with Chef Kenny Woods and a passionate group of foodies. And since alcohol will be served to those who wish to pair it with the menu—attendees should be 21 years and older.
Pasta Night is 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8. $90. 1440 Multiversity, 800 Bethany Drive Scotts Valley. Tickets on eventbrite.com.
Ice Cream Happy Hour
A sweet idea from the folks at Assembly in downtown Santa Cruz. Yes, they already have a happy hour special on draft beers and wines by the glass—half off from 3-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. But now there’s also a special “double for the price of a single” deal on designer ice cream scoops at The Penny Creamery (same folks as Assembly), from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Something to brighten up your late afternoon! theglassjar.com.
Cocktail 101: Part 2
After extensive Facebook contretemps, I have discovered a few things that might help you (and me) navigate the expanding world of the New Cocktail currently happening in our neck of the woods. Some old-school cocktails, e.g. the martini, the Sidecar, cater to those who enjoy the irreplaceable flavor of the central liquor involved in the cocktail, e.g. gin and/or brandy and Grand Marnier. Others, including ace Avanti mixologist Katie Cater, reminded me that a good cocktail requires a balance of ingredients and that the alcohol needn’t be the dominant flavor note. It might be any number of herbal or fruit ingredients. So when we see “gin” as one of the items in a multi-ingredient cocktail, that doesn’t mean that gin has a starring role. Silly me. I was still on the page where cocktails contained few ingredients and highlighted the central liquor involved. The New Cocktail can be a glamorous mixture of anything that tastes fabulous, even if alcohol plays a minor role. Got that?
Catch My Act
If you couldn’t reserve a place at my New Leaf Westside event Heightening Your Food Pleasure, then sign up for the second act from 1-2 p.m. next Wednesday, Nov. 15. Free and lots of fun. newleaf.com/events.
