Johanna Miller
Food: Savory crepes from Mr. Z’s
Mr. Z’s Crepes and Teas is one of a handful of businesses to recently arrive at The Hanger, a new complex near Watsonville Airport. I’ve already been out to grab one of their tasty bubble teas. This week I tried one of their large savory crepes for $12. It came with oven-roasted turkey, basil pesto, red onion, arugula and swiss gruyere. All of it was flavorful, but the star of the show was the homemade crepe itself (they make them in-house). I’d recommend eating in as the shop is comfortable and airy, and the staff friendly.
Drink: Coffeeville’s teas
A recent trip to the dentist prompted me to cut down on sugar and coffee, so now I’m drinking a lot more tea. I stopped by Coffeeville and ordered a cup of genmaicha—a Japanese green tea that is mixed with roasted popped brown rice. It’s often nicknamed “popcorn tea.” I first tried it at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco and been a fan ever since. Coffeeville owner Kendra McQueen said I was the first person to ever order it. I will definitely be back for another cup soon.
Fun: WHS presents: “The Outsiders”
Watsonville High School Drama’s production of “The Outsiders” is fantastic, and I encourage everyone to go see one of the final performances this weekend. Based on S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age novel of the same name, the play is full of emotion and action with a dash of humor. The young actors and crew have beautifully brought the story to life, and the fact that the girls are playing the boys’ parts, and vice versa, adds a unique twist. Visit WHS Drama’s Facebook page for information.
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Tarmo Hannula
Barceloneta
For dinner on Saturday night my wife Sarah and I tried the new Santa Cruz restaurant, Barceloneta. The place opened in October and has been crowded ever since. The bright and modern interior, with a busy open kitchen off in one corner, and the friendly staff made for a warm welcome.
We started with their bombas, potato balls filled with sausage, deep-fried and served with a special spicy sauce, which is one of the most popular tapas in Spain, and most typically found in Barcelona. They were great. Sarah got their pork ribs and I got their grilled lamb skewers that came with Moorish spices, cumin yogurt and Charmoula. I felt the lamb could have been cooked a little longer, but it was a tasty dish. The costillas, or smoky pork spare ribs, exploded with a tangy, sweet glaze they call a “sticky harissa-honey-lime sauce.” The ribs were perfectly cooked and served piping hot.
Their website describes their menu as Spanish tapas, paella, churros, and cocktails. Special from the bar: classic sangria, Flamenco Margarita and Rebujito (sherry, sparkling lemonade and mint.) I got their Mexican Coke, which is different from the soda typically served in the U.S. in that it is made with sugar cane. Reservations are recommended. They’re at 1541 Pacific Ave., Suite B. Phone: 900-5222. Hours: 5-9:30 p.m. six days; closed Tuesday.
