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.
… A Monterey County-based brewery is heading north with a new location in Aptos. Seaside’s Other Brother Beer Co. recently signed a lease for the former Doon To Earth tasting room at 10 Parade St. in Aptos Village. The cozy, 1,400-square-foot space will have a small kitchen, beer from Other Brother as well as wine and hard cider, with indoor seating and an outdoor patio.
Evan Loewy, who co-owns the brewery with four other business partners, told me that one of the reasons they chose this spot is its proximity to food businesses that they admire, including Penny Ice Creamery, Mentone and Cat & Cloud Coffee.
After completing the permitting process with Santa Cruz County, Other Brother plans to start construction in the spring and aim to open by late summer next year. Read the story here.
… Part coffee shop, restaurant, bar and workspace, downtown Santa Cruz’s 11th Hour Coffee has reopened after a three-month remodel. New floors, a renovated dining area and a bigger café, along with an expanded event lineup, have revitalized what has become a vital downtown hub.
Joel Estby – who owns 11th Hour with his brother, Brayden Estby – told me that 11th Hour’s downtown location was always more than just a coffee shop. “Our ideal description is a ‘third space’ where people can feel comfortable and make friends,” he said. “We want to sell really great cocktails and really good coffee, but it’s the people that make the space.” More details here.
… The fourth annual Santa Cruz County Cocktail Week is getting an upgrade, and is now Cocktail Month. Throughout October, visit more than 20 participating bars throughout Santa Cruz County to experience special cocktails, such as an ube margarita at Pono Hawaiian Grill in downtown Santa Cruz; a Pear Necessities martini at Obló Cocktails & Kitchen in downtown Santa Cruz; and the Smoke & Dagger, a smoked bourbon cocktail at Izakaya West End in Santa Cruz.
Created by Event Santa Cruz in partnership with Santa Cruz Vibes magazine, this event draws attention to the county’s vibrant cocktail culture. Head to eventsantacruz.com for the full list of participants, and check out Event Santa Cruz’s YouTube channel for video tutorials on how to make the special cocktails at home.
… A reminder that Open Farm Tours is this Saturday and Sunday. For one weekend a year, small family-run farms throughout Santa Cruz County open their doors to visitors for U-picks, demonstrations, tours, tastings, crafts and more. Here’s more info about this family-friendly event.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Many of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz County source at least some of their ingredients from local farms, but few share chef Katherine Stern’s commitment to creating a menu based almost entirely on what’s grown and produced within Central California. At The Midway, her restaurant near the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz, she estimates that she sources 95% of her ingredients – even pantry items such as honey, sea salt, capers, walnuts and miso – directly from farmers and Monterey Bay-based purveyors. I spoke with Stern about the joys and challenges of this passion.
NOTED
I’m honored to be a presenter at Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce’s Women Leadership Summit on Thursday, Oct. 17, at Mount Hermon Conference Center in Felton. My talk is at 2:30 p.m., on my unconventional path to becoming a food writer. Tickets to the all-day event are $150 for non-members/$125 for members.
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
Second Harvest Food Bank’s annual Chef’s Dinner is coming up on Tuesday, Oct. 15. This is one of the food bank’s largest fundraisers, where eight local chefs come together to create a six-course feast. The event takes place at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Santa Cruz. Tickets are $275 per person.
LIFE WITH THE BELLIS
On Saturday, my husband, Mike, and I took our kids – 3-year-old Marco and 1-year-old Cecilia – to Arata’s Pumpkin Farm outside of Pescadero. This is one of those super-sized pumpkin patches with pony rides, a petting zoo, bounce houses, hay rides, train rides and a corn maze, plus a dozen varieties of pumpkins and decorative squash. I worried that it might be overwhelming, but it was actually really fun. Mid-morning, we picnicked at a shady table, and Mike brought back a slice of cold pumpkin pie from the snack shack. It wasn’t anything special, but I think pumpkin pie is like pizza – it’s hard to have a bad slice. And, like pizza, it’s best eaten by hand, nose first.
FOOD NEWS WORTH READING
➤ American portions have ballooned since the 1980s, but customers now say they’re in favor of smaller sizes. According to a recent industry report, more than 75% of consumers say they want smaller portions for less money. National chains are responding with new menu items and might soon rethink oversized, value-driven offerings. (The New York Times)
➤ Wildfire smoke doesn’t just harm humans and animals – it impacts plants, too. A new study from UC Davis found that some Central Valley pistachio, walnut and almond orchards are experiencing long-term health issues after the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons, with crop losses of as much as 20% to 60%. (San Francisco Chronicle)