Plus: Second Harvest Food Bank needs your help this season
Heading north from Santa Cruz, a scenic nine-mile drive bordered by fields and trees leads to the Davenport Roadhouse. Entering through the warm vestibule, the lunchtime air was lusciously scented with wood oven aromas.
Following a remodel two years ago, the large space on the left now holds a fully stocked bar. A small gift cabinet is laden with local products such as Bonny Doon Farm's soaps and Isvara Organics shampoo.
At the front counter, baked goodies join Numi organic teas, lattes made with Uncommon Grounds fair trade coffee, pizza, tamales, and sandwiches.
On the right, across the dining room's golden granite-like floors, murmurs of conversation joined jazz playing in the background. It was easy to forget that the highway was just steps away.
The deep menu includes farm-fresh salads ($9-$12), wood oven pizzetis ($9), sandwiches ($10-$14), pasta ($15-$19) and Roadhouse Specials ($11-$28).
The popular Chilean-spiced Crab Cakes ($14) were already sold out, so I started instead with the Central Coast Spinach Salad ($11). Fresh baby leaves were tossed in a lemon-basil dressing, topped with kalamata olives, pink tomato dices, thin red onion slices, and snowflakes of rich feta cheese. Chiffonade of basil and end-of-the-season mint leaves added zest.
A pair of Stuffed Pork Chops ($21) was accompanied by yellow smashed potatoes whose bits of soft potato and skin added texture. The one-inch chops oozed juices from its basil and cheese stuffing, perfect for moistening the flavorful lean meat.
Happy Hour Tuesday through Thursday features half-price appetizers and $3 draft beer, house wine and well drinks. Enjoy live music on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Pamper yourself or your holiday guests with a Roadhouse ocean view guest suite.
Davenport Road House at the Cash Store , 1 Davenport Ave., Davenport, 426-880. Full bar. Café and Bakery open daily from 8 a.m. Serving lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, and weekend breakfasts.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties is the central reservoir of food donated by businesses, individuals, and even the USDA. Sending this nourishment through a network of non-profit agencies, allows the agencies to focus their funding on their missions, which range from providing low income daycare, domestic abuse recovery, and elementary school science education.
Searching through my full pantry I encountered a can of chicken noodle soup that I will never eat. Shelf-by-shelf I quickly filled two brown paper bags. Fire stations accept these items year-round.
Operating with a slim 6 percent overhead, volunteers are always needed. Carmelita, Manager of the hotline and outreach programs, takes calls from clients in need, many first-timers in tears over losing a job or house. Her team needs more volunteers, especially with bi-lingual skills, to direct people to appropriate services.
Carmelita says staple foods are needed, such as beans, rice, canned foods, even sugar. Turkeys are in high demand, and can be brought frozen to the Watsonville warehouse. Some grocers hosting holiday food drives will arrange for turkeys to be delivered.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties , 800 Ohlone Parkway, Watsonville, 722-7110.
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