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. Check out all of my food and drink coverage here.
… Silver Spur fans, I have an update on the Soquel restaurant’s upcoming move to the former Jeffery’s location in Santa Cruz, which closed in January. The original move was scheduled for this month, but co-owner Daniel Govea told me that his family is now aiming for the end of November. “Definitely before the end of the year,” Govea said last week.
The dining room is ready, and they are in the final stages of completing the kitchen, including waiting for final approval from the county health department. Silver Spur will have the same staff and menu, with the addition of beer, wine and mimosas, and the advantage of a larger, more modern space, Govea told me in May.
… Mane Kitchen & Cocktails in downtown Santa Cruz is celebrating its one-year anniversary Wednesday night from 5 to 8 p.m. with Martinis & Blinis, an official launch party with drinks and small bites. A $45 ticket ($57 at the door) gets guests a welcome drink from a cocktail fountain, two mini martini flights with three petite versions of the classic cocktail, paired with caviar blinis, plus live music.
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… Last week, Capitola wine bar Cork & Fork celebrated a move to a new location near the Capitola Mall. Although the address is 1955 41st Ave., it’s located off of Clares Street in the same building as European Wax Center and Starbucks. Cork & Fork was originally located in Capitola Village, and continues its tradition of live music four nights a week and casual wine, beer and drink-friendly bites.
… Looking for fresh marigolds for Día de los Muertos? Watsonville’s Mariquita Farm is popping up at La Posta restaurant in Seabright on Wednesday with bushels of organic, bright orange flowers, sweet end-of-season tomatoes, prickly pears and specialty citrus. The pop-up goes from 5 to 7 p.m., and customers can pre-order their goods for quick pickup at mariquita.com.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Antojitos, the colorful, indulgent Mexican snacks that range from loaded chips and fresh fruit to elaborate ice cream creations, are gaining popularity in Santa Cruz County, with family-run shops bringing a taste of home to new communities. I had so much fun researching this story — check it out here.
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
This Friday is the season finale of Scotts Valley’s Food Truck Friday at Skypark, and of course it’s Halloween-themed. In addition to food trucks, beer and wine and live music, there will be a free screening of “Hocus Pocus 2” after the sun goes down. Costumes are encouraged.
LIFE WITH THE BELLIS
My family of four is going all-in on a group costume this year, and I’ve spent more than a month gathering everything we need to go as the four main characters from the film “Wreck-It Ralph.” But if you need a little help thinking of a last-minute costume, I have a few food-themed ideas for you:
Ghost pepper: Cut out eyes in a red bedsheet and put a green knit cap on your head for the stem.
Broccoli: Put on an all-green outfit and spray-paint or dye a curly wig — the bigger the better — and you’ll look positively cruciferous.
Ina Garten: An oversized blue button-up, a chic brunette bob and a giant martini glass are all you need to be this domestic goddess. How easy is that?
Chef Julian Slowik and Margot from “The Menu”: I love this as a couple’s costume. Splatter a chef’s coat with blood to become the disillusioned, murderous chef played by Ralph Fiennes, while a red wig with bangs and long satin dress, also splattered with blood, could recreate Anya Taylor-Joy’s character. Don’t forget to grab cheeseburgers at the end of the night.
FOOD NEWS WORTH READING
➤ California growers removed nearly 10% of the state’s vineyard acreage amid falling wine sales and a grape surplus, but it might not be enough. There are still too many grapes, and some growers expect to pull more vineyards this winter to get supply in line with demand. (San Francisco Chronicle/$)
➤ As diesel prices top $8 a gallon, independent truckers hauling produce and meat across California are feeling the effects. Fuel costs are eating into their profits, and some drivers are shortening their routes or considering leaving the industry, raising concerns about food prices. (KQED)