Gourmet dinner club turns 1

The Santa Cruz Mountains Gourmet Dinner Club is celebrating its one-year anniversary with an open house at the home of the group’s founder.
The open house will be from 2 to 8 p.m. April 18 in Ben Lomond.
As part of the club, members host gourmet dinners for six other people the first Sunday of each month, with cooking responsibilities rotating among members.
Other couples take wine and dessert to complete the meal.
The club, which has 58 members, has gone untouched by the difficult economy, founder Colly Gruczelak said.
“Where can you go for approximately $50 to $60 for two people?” she asks.
The club hopes to keep growing, to usher in new ideas and new faces to share gourmet dinners with. Already, club members have plans for an annual New Year’s dinner and Fourth of July barbecue, in addition to regularly scheduled meals.
The group has also been involved in the community, donating a dinner package to Mountain Community Resources that went for $400 at auction.
And this Saturday, April 10, the club will have a booth at the Scotts Valley Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to spread the word.
Reservations are required for the April 18 open house.
For information: Colly Gruczelak, 336-8098.