Gazing out a window from the lounge at the Dream Inn’s Aquarius restaurant on a sunny mid-afternoon, the wharf stretched out on sapphire water while seagulls had the Cowells Beach sand to themselves.

Over our heads, pendant white surfboards faced the incoming waves, surrounded by soft strains of jazzy big-band music.

Oyunaa’s brings traditional Mongolian nomadic fare with a dash of Russia to midtown 

In the 1970s, Mongolian barbecue chains spread like wildfire into strip malls across America. I recall gathering my choice of raw vegetables from a buffet and handing them over to a cook who would add meat and stir-fry it on a griddle; rather like the American version of Japanese teppanyaki without the cleaver acrobatics and flying shrimp.

The long menu at Watsonville’s Cadillac Café offers sensory satisfaction 

At any time of year, I find visiting the rural landscape rejuvenating. On a recent drive down Freedom Boulevard, cows on a hillside freely grazed on newly greened grass, while bright bundles of persimmon orbs dangled from leafless branches.

The Lean Chef reports that the American Heart Association has designated pork tenderloin a Heart-Healthy food. According to the USDA database, a cooked 3.5-ounce serving of the tenderloin has only 1.2 additional grams of fat compared to a skinless chicken breast. It’s also well-stocked with B-vitamins.

Local chefs offer creative winter menus on December 25th

I was in college when my parents transferred to South Carolina, so for many holidays, it was just my grandparents and I. Although I once cooked a turkey dinner for them in my tiny apartment, on appliances older than I was, most of the time we celebrated at a restaurant. It was a treat having my grandparents to myself, watching the winter waves from the comfort of Ideal Bar and Grill.

Take Thai flavors to the beach, or enjoy the cozy atmosphere of To Thai For’s café

Although Capitola Village already is home to two Thai restaurants, To Thai For adds a unique element to the culinary cornucopia. More café than restaurant, by mid-day, owner Mona Prakrong had already filled numerous takeout orders for neighboring businesses. She also offers an array of specialty coffee drinks to rev the locals’ morning engines.

In French, à santé, is a common toast which means “to health.” In Capitola, Sante Adairius is a craft brewery whose ales, in November, earned the People’s Choice Award at the West Coast Barrel Aged Beer Festival.

At Props, you’ll find American and international flavors, whether you’re ready to snack or dine

Familiar faces from Santa Cruz’s downtown restaurant scene have landed at the Watsonville Airport, opening Props Restaurant and Lounge serving “classic American cuisine with a modern flair.”

The ingredients were simple and real, but the results were extraordinary. Sweetened egg custard, vanilla, cream and half and half were placed in a canister surrounded by rock salt and ice.

Cooking from scratch with local and unique ingredients ensures Solaire a bright future

I once went to the Holiday Inn on Ocean Street to research an article on their food, and what I found was nothing to write home (or to you) about. There was kind of a bar, manned by a staff member who kind of knew how to make a few drinks, and some edible appetizers. The recent remodel of that space, in what is now Hotel Paradox, is miraculous and the food that comes from its kitchen, not only is based on local and organic products, but is also decisively creative with numerous house-made surprises.