Nicole Ruiz Hudson Contributor Profile

Daytripping through the wineries of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains

Follow our path through idyllic landscapes to discover these low-key high quality vineyards. The idyllic landscape of Alfaro Family Vinyards. (Photo by Nicole Ruiz Hudson) Looking for a wine country adventure, but don’t feel like making the long haul to navigate weekend crowds in Napa or Sonoma? Try sipping your way through the wonderful wineries of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains instead. Small, family-owned and tucked into serene settings, these quietly competitive wineries ...

Meet the popular pop-up bakers on the rise in Silicon Valley

Tian Mayimin and John Shelsta have used short (and sweet) appearances towards long-term success Brioche tarts by John Shelsta. Front: Orange-pistachio with vanilla custard. Back: Berry brioche with vanilla streusel and vanilla custard. (Photo by Nicole Ruiz Hudson) “There’s nothing warmer and friendlier in terms of a product than a loaf of good bread.” As a baker, Tian Mayimin might be a bit biased in her assertion, but it’s still pretty hard to ...