Virtual cooking class on deck
Denise Ward and Mirella Savegnago will lead a virtual cooking class 6-7 p.m. March 8 in honor of International Women’s Day. Participants are encouraged to cook during the session. The menu is Sicilian orange linguine with smoked salmon, olives, and bread crumbs.
Cost is $48; this includes a food pack with Prosecco plus Seascape Market ingredients. There is also a $25 option that does not include ingredients. Registration is available through Eventbrite until March 6; search “Cooking with Denise+Mirella or Sicilian Orange Pasta.” For details, contact 831-6005794 or denise@chowhoundcooks.com.
Pelican Ranch hosts wine tasting Saturday
Pelican Ranch Winery (2364 Bean Creek Rd., 831332-5359, pelicanranch.com) invites customers to learn the difference between Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer this Saturday in the garden. The flight will include glasses of three Pelican Ranch Vitis vinifera wines: 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (pre-release), 2019 Chardonnay (described by the winery as mediumbodied with notes of apple, fig, melon, and pineapple) and 2018 Gewürztraminer. Patrons are encouraged to make reservations and to bring their own cheese and crackers.
Early bird pricing for Homeless Garden Project CSA
It is National CSA Week, and Homeless Garden Project just announced that early bird pricing is available for those who sign up by April 1 for its 23-week CSA which starts in May. With the discount the regular pick-up is $650 (instead of $700), or $475 (instead of $525) for the u-pick option where you harvest produce yourself at the Westside Santa Cruz farm. The season runs May 21 through Oct 22. Customers get a weekly basket of Certified-Organic vegetables, flowers, herbs and fruit grown by trainees, staff and volunteers at the HGP organic farm. Each share feeds approximately 4 adults and includes a flower bouquet. Additional options include the popular value-added offering ($120 extra) for an HGP food product every other week during the regular season (12 total), including jams & jellies, seasonings, and baking mixes. Visit homelessgardenproject.org/csa.
Café Rio temporarily closes its doors
Café Rio (131 Esplanade, caferioaptos.com, 831-6888917) has decided to temporarily close until Santa Cruz County restaurants are given the go-ahead to serve customers inside their dining rooms once again. “I will post our opening date as soon as we know, and don’t forget about our sister restaurant Flats Bistro next door,” owner Jeanne Harrison posted on social media last week. Flats Bistro (113 Esplanade, flatsbistro.com, 831-661-5763), remains open daily for takeout and outdoor dining. The menu includes pizza, sandwiches, salads, and pastries.
Quick Bites, compiled by Tara Fatemi Walker, is your weekly helping of Santa Cruz County restaurant, food and drink news. Send items to sentinelfood@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); on Instagram (@ santacruzfood); or on Facebook (Santa Cruz Food).