Quick Bites
SANTA CRUZ Alderwood Pacific now open
Alderwood Pacific (1108 Pacific Ave., 831-588-5651), a new restaurant from the same people who run Alderwood Santa Cruz, is now serving customers. Hours are 4-10 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. The menu features the signature Alderwood Cheeseburger and Hen-of-the-Woods appetizer, plus fresh raw oysters, sandwiches, salads, and fresh pastas. Drinks include cocktails on draft and wine. The location is at the former site of Snap Taco. Learn more at alderwoodsantacruz. com. Alderwood Santa Cruz, at 155 Walnut, is currently closed for renovations.
SANTA CRUZ Clam Chowder Cook-Off selling tasting kits in advance
The annual Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-Off is Feb. 25-26 at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. You can avoid lines on event day by pre-purchasing your tasting kits ($12, six tastes in each) online at beachboardwalk.com/Clam-Chowder-CookOff/. Amateurs compete on Saturday and professionals on Sunday. Judges determine the best Manhattan and Boston Clam Chowders. Members of the public get to vote on other awards like People's Choice. Proceeds benefit the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. Last year's winners included East
Side Eatery led by Derek Rupp, and Ideal Bar & Grill.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY News from Fika Bakeshop
Ben Lomond-based Fika Bakeshop is offering Fat Tuesday buns, also known as semlor, through Feb. 21. Popular throughout Scandinavia, semlor are cardamom-spiced wheat buns with their tops cut off and filled with almond paste and whipped cream. The cut-off top serves as a lid and is dusted with powdered sugar. Semlor are available by special order or at Fika Bakeshop's pop-up events. The next one is 1-4 p.m. Sunday at Venus Spirits Tasting Room (200 High Road). Learn more at fikabakeshopbenlomond.com or on Facebook and Instagram (@ fikabakeshopbenlomond).
APTOS Open house, lunch-and-learn on deck at Thomas Farm
Community Cultural Tours is hosting two upcoming events at Thomas Farm (1690 Pleasant Valley Road). From noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, there is an open house and families are welcome. The cost is $5 per carload and the event includes food preservation demos, farm product tastings, orange and lemon U-Picks, and more. Advance registration is required at eventbrite.com.
There is also a Winter Wellness “lunch and learn” workshop from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Attendees will learn how to make three immune-boosting items: fire cider, curtido (a lightly fermented Salvadorian slaw), and a turmeric, lemon and ginger tonic. The session includes all supplies, recipes, and a light vegetarian lunch with beverages. Buy tickets at eventbrite.com; cost is $60 each (kids 7-14 are $15 with a paying adult) or $100 for two adults.
APTOS Party benefits Aptos History Museum, state parks
A Mardi Gras-themed fundraiser with King Cake, appetiz
ers, jazz music, a silent auction, and a no-host bar will be held from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 21 at Seascape Golf Club (610 Clubhouse Dr.). The best-dressed attendees will win prizes. The main event benefits the Aptos History Museum. There will also be a raffle benefiting Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. John Hibble will lead a presentation on “How Storms Created Seacliff and the Cement Ship.” Tickets are $40 general/$35 for museum members. Contact 831688-1467 or visit aptoshistory.org for information and reservations.
WATSONVILLE El Vaquero Winery wins awards
Family-owned local winery El Vaquero (831607-8118, elvaquerowinery.com) won two awards at the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition last month. In the Carignan/Carignane category, El Vaquero's 2019 One-Eyed Charlie, a $36 bottle, was awarded a Double Gold. In the Cabernet Franc: $30-$39.99 category, the winery's 2018 Cabernet Franc received a Double Gold. That wine is priced at $35. The tasting room is located at 2901 Freedom Blvd. Regular hours are 5-9 p.m. Thursday, 3-6 p.m. Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
SOQUEL Discretion Brewing hosts collaborative event
Discretion Brewing (2703 41st Ave., 831-3160662, discretionbrewing. com) is partnering with Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (FSCSP) on Sunday for an event featuring Discretion's Castle Beach Extra Pale Ale. From 3-7 p.m., FSCSP members will be present. Attendees can learn about the organization's Castle Beach project, which includes new interpretive signs at the beach entrance stating the beach's history. Discretion will be donating to the Castle Beach project fund. Also, save the date for Discretion's 10th anniversary party on March 11. More details will be announced soon.
Scrumptious Fish & Chips popups on tap
Scrumptious Fish & Chips will be at the downtown farmers market from 1-5 p.m. Wednesday, and back at the same time Feb. 22. Their Humble Sea Brewing Co. dates include 4-8 p.m. Feb. 16 and Feb. 23 plus the afternoons during the next two weekends. Other appearances include Seacliff State Beach on the weekends, and Steel Bonnet Brewing Co. See full schedule at scrumptiousfc.com.
APTOS Second Seascape Foods location coming soon
Seascape Foods is opening a second grocery store at 7506 Soquel Dr. (the former site of Aptos Natural Foods, which closed in November).
The original Seascape Foods, at 16B Seascape Village, offers groceries and a deli, sandwich bar and bakery. Owners Julie Kellman and Dan Hunt were honored to win “Business of the Year” in 2019 from the Aptos Chamber of Commerce. They hope to open the new store in March.
WATSONVILLE Eating Healthy Tour at Staff of Life
Staff of Life Natural Foods (906 E Lake Ave.) is holding an Eating Healthy Tour from 4-5 p.m. Feb. 23. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Amanda Garza of Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley and Peggy Bascou, RN, MSN, lead the event, which covers topics such as meal planning and how to build a balanced meal. It's free but you need to register at eventbrite.com. There is a similar tour March 23.
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.