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.
… After years of uncertainty tied to a proposed senior housing development, Silver Spur found a new home for its original Santa Cruz location. The longstanding breakfast and lunch spot will move into the former Jeffery’s Restaurant location at the corner of Soquel Avenue and Capitola Road, about 1.5 miles from the current Silver Spur spot at Soquel Drive and Mattison Lane.
Daniel Govea, who co-owns the Spur with his father, Juan Valencia, said they aim to reopen at the new location by October after remodeling the restaurant. Silver Spur 2.0 will have the same menu, staff and specials, and will double the amount of seating, including more seats at the counter.
Sadly for fans of Jeffery’s, the news seals the fate of the all-day diner that stood at that corner for more than 50 years. It closed suddenly in January. Read the full story here.
… On May 1, I sat down at a long table with dozens of parents and community members at the second annual Spring Farm Dinner at Live Oak School District’s farm. The meal – prepared by high school students with help from chefs – celebrated the first year of production at the farm.
Over the school year, the site grew 17 varieties of vegetables and herbs – a total of 4,800 pounds of produce – and welcomed more than 1,500 students from kindergarten through eighth grade as an outdoor classroom. In addition to Spring Farm Dinner, it hosted an autumn Pumpkins & Pancakes party and an Earth Day celebration.
When I first covered this project in 2024, the farm was just a twinkle in LOSD nutrition director Kelsey Perusse’s eye. It was so satisfying to see the facility – just one of four school farms in the state! – come to fruition, and the positive impact it has had on the district in just one year. Here’s the story.
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… Last fall, food assistance temporarily dried up for nearly 35,000 Santa Cruz County residents as a result of a federal government shutdown. Now, Second Harvest Food Bank is turning to community members to find solutions to continue helping families in need, Lookout’s South County correspondent, Tania Ortiz, wrote in a story out today.
On Friday, Second Harvest is hosting its first symposium on food insecurity at Cabrillo College. The event will feature workshops that show the relationship between food insecurity and health, housing and senior living, and help attendees understand the shifting state of food security in Santa Cruz County.
People can share their ideas to address the issue, too. “I always say that the best ideas are out there, and sometimes it’s just creating the space to be able to listen to those great ideas and give some life to them,” said Second Harvest CEO Erica Padilla-Chavez. Here’s more information.
… Farmers in Santa Cruz County are reacting to skyrocketing fuel and petroleum-based fertilizer prices as a result of the Iran War by raising prices on produce, wrote Lookout contributor Dieter Holger today. In California, diesel prices have climbed to their highest level in history at an average weekly price of $7.57 a gallon in early April, up from around $4.64 in early January.
Dick Peixoto, owner of Lakeside Organic Gardens in Watsonville, said he’s raising prices of his vegetables by 10% in upcoming contracts due to diesel. “Some of them are going to kick in a month, some of them are going to kick in six months, some of them kick in a year,” he said. Read the story here.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Java Junction’s River Street café will remain open after a local restaurant owner agreed to purchase the business, preserving staff and operations. The deal reverses a planned closure driven by steep rent increases, construction disruptions and declining sales. Java Junction owner Michael Spadafora said the buyer owns several Santa Cruz restaurants, but he declined to identify them without their permission. Here’s what you missed.
EVENT SPOTLIGHT
Santa Cruz VegFest returns to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds on June 6. The all-day festival celebrates a plant-based and environmentally sustainable lifestyle. More than 100 vendors will offer everything from vegan treats, cruelty-free fashion, arts and crafts, cooking demos, kids activities and live entertainment. Tickets are $5 to $10.
LIFE WITH THE BELLIS
The manufacturer recalled my wire grill brush this week. The news did not come as a surprise. After hearing about the dangers of wire grill brushes for months – the little bristles can come off, end up in food and cause major health issues if ingested – I ignored the danger in my own backyard. Nothing cleans quite like a grill brush, but it’s time to face the music and get a new tool.
So, fellow grillers, what are you using to keep your grate clean? Heating it up, spraying it with water and using a wooden spatula to dislodge stuck bits seems promising; this is how I clean my cast-iron pan. Has anyone tried these grilling stones? And be honest – does using half an onion really work? I have strong doubts. Email me at lily@lookoutlocal.com.
FOOD NEWS WORTH READING
➤ Food is getting less nutritious due to a sneaky pollutant. Abundant carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is damaging vital crops, including wheat, potatoes and beans, resulting in fewer vitamins and minerals than they did a generation ago. With many parts of the world already experiencing nutrient deficiency, the results could be dire, especially for women and children. (Washington Post/$)
➤ The late chef, writer and world traveler Anthony Bourdain’s early years as a young writer and cook will be the subject of a biopic. “Tony” stars Dominic Sessa alongside Antonio Banderas, and depicts a transformative summer in Provincetown, Massachusetts, in 1975. Bourdain’s estate officially approved the film. (People)