Welcome to Lily Belli on Food, a weekly food-focused newsletter from Lookout’s food and drink correspondent, Lily Belli. Keep reading for the latest local food news for Santa Cruz County – plus a few fun odds and ends from my own life and around the web.
… Before we set August fully in the rearview, don’t miss my roundup of the best things I ate and drank last month. It’s full of great suggestions that will still be around in September, including a poke “burger,” a duck sandwich at a Sichuanese restaurant, a fresh take on a classic wedge salad and an incredible tomato fettuccine. Read it here.
… On Saturday, I spent a few hours roaming around the inaugural Best of the Best All-Star Fest, a food and art festival with more than 80 vendors, including some of the most talented culinary pop-ups and stalls in the tri-county area. I was impressed with the variety, and while some lines were long, I stuck with shorter waits and was never disappointed.
Standouts included an ube ice cream-topped halo halo dessert from Bay Area Filipino food stall Street Stix, a killer smash burger from Santa Cruz pop-up Bubb’s Burgers, a refreshing pineapple agua fresca with homemade chamoy from Santa Cruz’s Chamoy Waves, an elote lobster roll by Food Talk in Santa Cruz, and a peach cobbler cinnamon roll from forthcoming Watsonville spot Cake & Roll Bakery.
Major kudos to event organizers Collective Santa Cruz and Daniel J. West, aka Instagram influencer Double Meat Please, for putting on a great event.
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… Mark your calendar for these fun food and drink events this fall:
Tuesday is Applefest at the Felton farmers market. Head over before 5:30 p.m. for apple activities, live music, face painting and seasonal goodies.
The Capitola Art & Wine Festival returns to Capitola Village this Saturday and Sunday. The event is free, and festival glasses for wine tasting are $20 plus $1 for each tasting token.
The Santa Cruz County Fair returns Sept. 16-20 to Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, with food vendors, a carnival, agricultural exhibitions, live entertainment and more. Tickets are $20.
On Sept. 19, the Bonny Doon Art, Wine & Brew Festival comes to Crest Ranch from 2 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 for unlimited tasting, an art exhibition and live music.
Also on Sept. 19, Farm Discovery at Live Earth hosts its Rooted Fall Feast at the Corralitos farm. Tickets start at $150.
… FYI: Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville opens its seasonal apple u-pick this Saturday on weekend days through the fall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Head down for some autumn fun and one of Nita’s famous pies. More info on its website.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Gooder Foods, the maker of Goodles, agreed to be purchased by Barilla, the world’s largest pasta producer, the companies announced Thursday. CEO Jen Zeszut said in a media release that Goodles will continue to operate independently out of its headquarters on River Street in Santa Cruz, with no staff changes. Here’s the story.
ON THE MENU
Driven by personal obsession, I’ve combed Santa Cruz County bars and restaurants for exceptional takes on martinis. Along the way, I spoke with bartenders and aficionados on why this 150-year-old drink is experiencing a national resurgence, and the best ways to make sure that customers get exactly what they want when they order this customizable cocktail. Shaken or stirred? Watch for the list later this week.
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
Dahlia u-pick farm Beeline Blooms is hosting an end-of-summer party this Friday evening. Dahlia Dine & Dance goes from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ben Lomond farm, with a menu created by Rose Acres Kitchen featuring pizzas and salads made with Sea To Sky Farm produce, alongside live music by Banjo & Blossom. Its sensational flower u-pick goes until mid-October.
LIFE WITH THE BELLIS
I’m fairly conscious of what my children, Marco, 5, and Cecilia, 3, eat, with a strong emphasis on nourishing foods, balanced meals, and low sugar. But I allow those rules to fly out the window when we go to the beach.
My family was at our favorite spot every afternoon over Labor Day weekend, and when the tinkling of the ice cream cart chimed across the sand, Marco and Cecilia would run. I like to let them get whatever they want, despite the fact that there are some truly unhinged options: ice cream bars shaped like cartoon characters with mysterious flavors, brightly colored popsicles that stain their tongues, and frosted treats with a paragraph of ingredients that I can’t decipher.
While I inwardly cringe at some of their choices, this is my version of “everything in moderation.” At home, we’ll go back to our healthier normal, but I like to just let them enjoy their chosen ice cream at the beach – blue and pink tongues and all.
FOOD NEWS WORTH READING
➤ A potential “super” El Niño could bring another devastating blow to California’s commercial fishing industry. Warm ocean temperatures would impact the sensitive Dungeness crab and salmon populations, two key fisheries in Santa Cruz County. (Los Angeles Times)
➤ President Donald Trump issued new executive orders that make it easier for cattle ranchers to process and sell beef directly to consumers, a move aimed at placating cattle ranchers angered by his plan to increase beef imports to combat record-high beef prices. (NPR)