APTOS
Palapas Restaurant sold, becoming new business
The owners of Palapas Restaurant and Cantina (21 Seascape Village, 831-662-9000, palapasrestaurant.com), Kay Holcomb and Family, announced recently that the venue will be changing ownership. “The new owners (Brandon Smittcamp and Trent Lidgey) are excited to bring the community their take on coastal Mexican cuisine … which will be called Dos Pescados.” The Holcombs opened Palapas in 1990. The last day Palapas will be open is May 18. Smittcamp operates restaurants in Fresno including Saizon. Lidgey owns Campbell-based restaurant One Fish.
SANTA CRUZ
Honey B Market preparing to close
The café Honey B Market (831-332-5245,1005 Cedar St.,honeybmarket.com) is shutting its doors soon. The last day will be announced in the future; owner/chef Katie Belanger says she’ll be open until at least the end of the month and hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday-Sunday. Stay in the loop on Instagram @honeyb.market. Honey B specialties include housemade tempeh and sourdough buns — the latter come with spicy cashew cheese or macadamia pesto. There’s also a popular frittata with organic chickpeas, spinach, and local tofu, topped with cashew tzatziki.
MONTEREY BAY AREA
TV show features local restaurants
KQED’s James Beard and Emmy Award-winning television show “Check, Please! Bay Area” is featuring Santa Cruz and Monterey County restaurants and food venues in upcoming episodes, which air at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays. On April 18, to kick off the 19th season of the series, The Butter House (Seaside), Café Fina (Monterey) and Corkscrew Café (Carmel Valley) will be the focus. Next week, on April 25, Shadowbrook (Capitola), Gizdich Ranch (Watsonville), Villa Azteca (Salinas), and Wild Fish (Pacific Grove) are highlighted. Visit kqed.org/checkplease for details.
SANTA CRUZ
Farmers market breakfast series tickets, plus Live Oak market move
Tickets are on sale for the annual summertime pop-up breakfast series run by Santa Cruz Community Farmers Markets. There will be two breakfasts at the Westside SC location; these are sit-down events where attendees sit at long communal tables and enjoy a meal with local farm ingredients from the market. A July 27 event features food from chef Brad Briske of Home Restaurant and wine from Stockwell Cellars. Aug. 10 has chef Diego Felix of Colectivo Felix and drinks from Equinox Winery. To buy tickets and view details, seesantacruzfarmersmarket.org/campaigns/pop-up-breakfast/. Tickets are $75 or $150; people are encouraged to buy the highest price they can afford so people with less discretionary income can buy the lower-priced ones.Proceeds benefit free public education (FoodShed Project series), Market Match and youth empowerment. Speaking of Market Match, this program is in danger of being eliminated. Learn more including how to take action at savemarketmatch.org.
Also, the Live Oak Sunday market has to move after the end of this month due to a significant rent increase at its current location. As of press time, the market hadn’t yet found its new spot.
SANTA CRUZ
Mother’s Day menu at Manresa Bread
Manresa Bread (330 Ingalls St.,manresabread.com)is accepting pre-orders for Mother’s Day goodies to pick up on May 11-12. Visitexploretock.com/manresa-bread-santa-cruzto place orders. Holiday items includeBerry Shortcakes and Meyer Lemon Cheesecakes. Other selections include Honey Butter Corn Scones and vegetarian and non-vegetarian quiches.
SCOTTS VALLEY
Culinary herb, tomato classes at Love Apple Farms
Registration is open for several Love Apple Farms workshops, including Tomato Masters on April 21 and May 18 taught by Love Apple Farms owner/World Tomato Society co-founder Cynthia Sandberg. Other upcoming classes, all held at 5311 Scotts Valley Drive, include Summer Vegetable Gardening on April 27 and May 19 and Growing Culinary Herbs on April 28. Register at growbetterveggies.com. Call 831-588-3801 for details.
AROMAS
Blossom’s Farmshop has reopened
Blossom’s Farmshop (2033 San Juan Road), on-site at Blossom’s Biodynamic Farm, reopened last weekend with limited hours. Through the fall, hours will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The shop carries herbs, herb salts, ferments, native plants, hydrosols, and salves made from Blossom’s Farm ingredients, plus strawberries and vegetables grown on the former site of Windmill Farm, which Blossom’s owners Delmar McComb and Carin Fortin have taken over. Learn more at blossomsfarm.com.
SANTA CRUZ
Anniversary celebration on deck at Toque Blanche
Toque Blanche (1527 Pacific Ave. 831-426-1351,mytoque.com), is celebrating its 28th anniversary with an event Saturday. There will be a drawing, vendor demos and tastings, and a storewide sale. Toque Blanche is offering free knife sharpening from 9-11 a.m. (limit three per family, excludes serrated). Customers need to visit before 4 p.m. to enter the drawing; prizes include Le Creuset pieces plus items from Oxo, Rancho Gordo, Shun and Wusthof.
CAPITOLA
Passover food fromGayle’s
Gayle’s Bakery (504 Bay Ave., 831-462-1200,gaylesbakery.com)has Passover food available by pre-order. Customers are encouraged to order early; quantities are limited. Passover dinner, available cold to-go after 8 a.m. April 22, includes braised brisket, zucchini-potato latkes, haroset, and more. A la carte options include latkes. Matzo Ball Soup is available April 22-28. Desserts include coconut and chocolate coconut macarons.
APTOS
Early bird tickets for Mother’s Day tea at farm
Community Cultural Tours is hosting a pre-Mother’s Day tea from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 11 at Thomas Farm (1690 Pleasant Valley Road). Attendees will enjoy a traditional cream tea with scones, cream, and farm jams plus an assortment of finger food and more. Cost is $70 for adults or $120 for two adults if purchased before April 20, or $80 / 2 for $140 after that. The price includes food and a fresh flower bouquet from the farm. Make reservations and get details at eventbrite.com.
APTOS
Wine dinner with Eden Rift
Persephone (7945 Soquel Drive, 831-612-6511, persephonerestaurant.com)is hosting a Winemaker’s Dinner withLester Estate Wineson April 28. Cost is $175 in advance.The menu will feature five wine and food course pairings such as 2021 Treviso Pinot Noir accompanied by steak carpaccio with raspberry and blue cheese, and 2019 Syrah paired with braised short rib with mushroom-Parmesan risotto, snap peas and almond gremolata. sauce. See full menu and get tickets atexploretock.com/persephone-restaurant-aptos/event/475840/lester-estate-wine-dinner.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
News from Anouchka Bakery
Anouchka Bakery (anouchkabakery.com) has brought back its Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies; these popular treats have a buttery shortbread base. It is also currently offering Candied Ginger Sweet Scones, Sundried Tomato Savory Scones, and more. Place orders online, via email (anna@anouchkabakery.com), or phone (831-234-9949). Order each week by Thursday at 10 a.m. for Friday pickup or delivery.
Also, the bakery announced it will soon begin popping up at markets operated by the Santa CruzCommunity Farmers Markets. Its first appearance is at the downtown Santa Cruz Wednesday market from 1-5 p.m. May 1.
CARMEL
Restaurant earns James Beard finals spot
The 2024 James Beard Awards announced the finalists for its restaurant and chef categories. Carmel’s Chez Noir is a finalist for Best New Restaurant, competing with nine other restaurants across the country. Learn more about the restaurant, which was awarded one Michelin star last summer, at cheznoircarmel.com. Read the list of finalists atjamesbeard.org. The winners will be revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 10.
Quick Bites, compiled by Tara Fatemi Walker, is your weekly helping of Santa Cruz County restaurant, food, and drink news. Send items tosentinelfood@gmail.com(Sunday 7 p.m. deadline for that week’s column). Want local food & drink news as it happens? Follow the Sentinel’s food crew on Twitter @santacruzfood.
