Local officials call this female sea otter 841, raised in captivity, the otter has been climbing aboard and commandeering surfer’s boards as they wait for waves at various Santa Cruz beaches. (Photo by Mark Woodward/Native Santa Cruz)
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
New flavor at Marianne’s Ice Cream
Marianne’s Ice Cream (mariannesicecream.com) has created a new ice cream flavor to honor Santa Cruz’s famous otter. The ice cream, Otter 841, is cinnamon caramel featuring chunks of snickerdoodle dough from local Pacific Cookie Co. A portion of proceeds will be donated to ocean conservation efforts.
SCOTTS VALLEY
Aunt Lali’s Treats, Food Trucks A Go Go change hands
LaLi Kates, who founded Aunt LaLi’s & Food Trucks A Go Go, has sold her businesses. The new owner is Scotts Valley resident Josh Swart. Beloved community member Kates has operated her ice cream truck for 19 years, taking it to neighborhoods, school events, baseball and softball games, parties, and more across Santa Cruz County. She founded Food Trucks A Go Go eight years ago, which brings food truck events to Skypark and other locations many times each year. “I am so excited to jump into this exceptional business that LaLi created and established,” says Swart. “I am beyond thrilled for Josh to acquire and grow these businesses,” says Kates. She will accompany Swart at a few events as the ownership transition occurs.
SANTA CRUZ
Namaste Grill & Bar is open
Namaste Grill & Bar (303 Beach St., 831-713-5430, namasteindiabistro.com/namaste-grill/), with Indian food and pizza, opened on June 30. Hours are noon to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon to 10:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday. The menu includes small plates (like traditional samosas, fries with an Indian twist, and dumplings), chicken wings (such as tandoori-flavored), and 10 pizza varieties (vegetarian and non-vegetarian, with mostly Indian flavors). Nepalese owner/chef Dilip Gurung opened Namaste India Bistro a year ago at the former site of Vasili’s on Mission Street. He also operates Namaste branches in Los Gatos and Monterey.
SANTA CRUZ
Anniversary specials this week at The Point
The Point Kitchen & Bar (3326 Portola Dr., 831-476-2733, thepointkitchenandbar.com) is celebrating its fourth anniversary with specials created by co-owners Erasmo Garcia and Joel Casillo, who run the kitchen. These additions, which will be offered through Sunday, include starters like spicy artichoke hearts, entrees such as honey jalapeno baby back ribs, and a burger & brew combo (includes a half-pound grass-fed beef patty, brioche bun, and local draft beer). Co-owner Josh Parmelee invites customers to visit at 6 p.m. Friday for a special video shoot that will be added to The Point’s website.
CAPITOLA
Mystery bags available at Cheese Shop 831
Cheese Shop 831 (3555 Clares St., 831-515-7406, cheeseshop831.com) now offers Mystery Bags. Some of them have cheese only; others have cheese and accompaniments like crackers, jam, honey, or chocolate. Recent themes have included “A Taste of Spain” and “Cheddars of the World.” Prices vary but each bag costs less than if a person bought the contents individually. Visit the website to sign up for the shop’s newsletter and stay in the loop about upcoming events, specials, etc.
Also, Grilled Cheese happy hours are continuing. From 4-6 p.m. (or earlier if sold out) Wednesday through Saturday, the shop — which offers grilled cheese sandwiches made to order — is offering a basic grilled cheese (cheddar) for $5 or your choice of the current two special varieties for $8.
SCOTTS VALLEY
Chardonnay, potato chip pairing at Pelican Ranch Winery
Pelican Ranch Winery (2364 Bean Creek Road, 831-332-5359, pelicanranch.com) is hosting a workshop on Saturday “probing which wine (a White, a Rose, or a Red) goes with the potato chip,” says winemaker Phil Crews. Some history from Phil: “On Dec 3, 1933, the U.S. Prohibition ended, and Chardonnay wines began a California comeback journey … there were only two venerable Chardonnay vineyards remaining in the entire state” (one was in the Santa Cruz Mountains). “Also, sometime in 1932, the potato chip began its journey to sweep CA and the entire nation. This occurred because Herman Lay, an American businessman, borrowed $100 and founded the H.W. Lay Distributing Company.”
SANTA CRUZ
Labor Day pre-orders at Manresa Bread
Labor Day pre-orders are open at Manresa Bread. Order items including mini-sized (four-inch) coconut cream pies and chocolate silken pies (layers of chocolate fudge, chocolate pudding and whipped cream) at exploretock.com/manresa-bread-santa-cruz. Pickup is Sept. 2-3 at 330 Ingalls St.
Also, Manresa Bread is offering whole Berry Shortcakes next weekend. Order online for same-day pickup. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
SANTA CRUZ
Full Steam Dumpling, Pajaro Pastures partner for popup
Full Steam Dumpling and Pajaro Pastures are collaborating for a popup from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. (or earlier if sold out) Sunday at the Live Oak Farmers Market (15th and East Cliff Drive). There will be smoked whole hog Banh Mi and pork egg rolls featuring Pajaro Pastures meat. Also, there will be vegan mushroom Banh Mi.
Watsonville
Tickets available for fall farm dinner
Tickets are on sale for Farm Discovery’s annual benefit dinner on Sept. 23 at Live Earth Farm (172 Litchfield Lane). Tickets are $200 and up at app.galabid.com/wonderfallfeast/items. The multi-course meal, featuring produce from the farm, will be prepared by chef Jessica Yarr (The Grove) and is described as “plant forward.” Chef Diego Felix (Fonda Felix) is making appetizers. The event includes local wine and beer, live music, and silent and live auctions. Learn more at farmdiscovery.org/event/wonder/. Proceeds benefit Farm Discovery’s environmental and nutrition education programs for local youth.
APTOS
New weekend brunch at Café Sparrow
Café Sparrow (8042 Soquel Drive, 831-688-6238, cafesparrow.com) is launching weekend brunch this Saturday. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Selections include vanilla bean French toast, Dungeness crab Benedict, and signature breakfast with eggs, bacon, potatoes, and toast. Café Sparrow serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is dinner nightly from 5 p.m. The restaurant accepts lunch and dinner reservations online or by phone.
APTOS
Chef demo at farmers market
The Aptos farmers market, located at Cabrillo College (6500 Soquel Drive, montereybayfarmers.org), has monthly cooking demos through September that feature locally grown seasonal produce. These are from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. This Saturday chef D.J., a staff member of H&H Fresh Fish Co., will be leading the demo and will prepare a halibut dish with greens. The market runs from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday, all year long.
Quick Bites, compiled by Tara Fatemi Walker, is your weekly helping of Santa Cruz County restaurant, food, and drink news. Send items to [email protected] (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.
