Dinner club thrives in San Lorenzo Valley

It was six short months ago when Ben Lomond’s Colly Gruczelak hosted the first meeting of the Santa Cruz Mountains Gourmet Dinner Club.
Since then, the club has grown to 57 members from all walks of life and is thriving as it spreads its branches into the community.
“There is a wide variety of depth and experience,” said member Susan Kirk, who organizes the group’s special events. “And everyone in the club does know how to put on a beautiful dinner.”
Dinners are the first Sunday of each month, and the host for that month prepares a gourmet dinner for six other club members. Many of the dinners are themed, and the guests bring wine and dessert.
“We are not a snobbery group,” Kirk said. “Yes, it’s gourmet, but you should not have trepidation, because we really have fun. What’s better than feeding people?”
One member, Bill Franzosa, joined the club after overhearing customers at his favorite restaurant talking about it. Franzosa has “yet to actually have a bad experience” during his time with the club.
“I just love to cook and drink good wine” he said.
His favorite meal so far was hosted by Felton residents Tess Cain and Thomas Howard.
The Caribbean-themed meal included ceviche in cucumber cups, a stacked salad made with jicama, grilled peppers, avocado, goat cheese, radishes and pine nuts, and chicken tortilla soup. The main course for the evening was caramelized plantains with coconut rice and coconut shrimp.
“The best part about our club is meeting new people with similar interests in good food and wine,” Franzosa said.
Food and talk both feature prominently during the Sunday dinners. While enjoying classy dishes, the members’ conversations range from food and wine to life in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Cain has enjoyed both cooking and meeting new people with varied interests.
“We were shocked when four strangers walked into our house,” said Cain of the first meal she prepared. “But within the first 10 minutes, we felt that we just met our four best new friends. It was magical.”
Community work
The dinner club has also expanded recently from its once-a-month dinners at homes in the San Lorenzo Valley to an organization interested in helping those in need.
“I’ve found that (the club) has a real diversity and a commitment to community service,” Cain said.
Besides setting up a bank account for its community work, the club has donated a dinner for six as an item to be auctioned off at Mountain Community Resources’ benefit dinner, titled The Italian Affaire, 2009.
The Sept. 11 benefit at In Vino Veritas in Scotts Valley will feature cocktails, dinner and a live auction run by Bob Slawinksi.
The club has plans for a formal Mother’s Day brunch and has considered hosting teas where girls in the community can dress up nicely and enjoy a formal occasion.
At a glance
Interested in getting involved? The Santa Cruz Mountains Gourmet Dinner Club continues
to look for new members.
INFO: Colly Gruczelak, 336-8098
or

cz****@sb*******.net












Proceeds from such events would help local young people or nonprofits.