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.
… Santa Cruz County is home to a vibrant network of u-pick farms where visitors can harvest their own strawberries, tomatoes, apples, flowers and more, from spring through fall. On Monday, Lookout released a guide to local u-picks — as in, “you pick,” in case that wasn’t obvious – at farms offering everything from dahlias in the mountains of Ben Lomond to vegetables and lavender in the Pajaro Valley.
With produce at our fingertips, why bother trucking out to the fields? The answer is simple for Beeline Blooms flower grower Karla DeLong. “It brings joy,” she told me. “And it is an amazing memory-maker for families.” Check out the guide here.
… Seabright and Santa Cruz Harbor-area business owners are reporting steep declines in sales following the full closure on June 23 of the Murray Street Bridge, a key artery for commuters, tourists and locals. With the shutdown expected to last through early 2026 — and partial closures continuing into 2028 — many fear the long detour could permanently change the flow of business in the neighborhood.
Brady’s Yacht Club owner Karen Madura’s biggest fear for the next few years is that the length of the closure will cause people to change their daily habits – that they’ll start stopping somewhere else on their new route home for a beer at the end of the day, a pizza for dinner or a cup of coffee on the way to work.
“The fact that this project is taking so long is really daunting,” she said, and hopes that people won’t forget about the small but vibrant neighborhood during bridge construction. “It’s important for the community to show appreciation for the Seabright area. It’s its own little vital pocket and a fun alternative for people to go to.” Read the story here.
… Tuesday is opening day for Mad Yolks’ new location in Pleasure Point. After unveiling the first one in downtown Santa Cruz at the end of 2022, twin brothers Henry and Peter Wong brought the second spot to 830 41st Ave., the building recently occupied by Flashbird, and before that Kaito Ramen and Pink Godzilla Sushi.
Known for its fluffy breakfast sandwiches on homemade brioche and larger brunch dishes with Asian culinary influences, the Wong brothers are adding a breakfast burrito to Mad Yolks’ Pleasure Point location. “Along with making it a cozy place to hang out, we wanted to bring in some special menu items that reflect the local community,” Peter told me last week. Read my story for more info on the new spot.
… Here’s a cute art installation for culinary types: Pleasure Point art gallery And Friends is hosting a monthlong exhibition of butter dishes created by ceramicists from all over the world, including Santa Cruz County. More than a dozen artists are offering one to four pieces, with playful and stylish takes on the format. All will be for sale. The only rule? They have to be functional, i.e., safely – and beautifully – hold butter. The show runs July 19 to Aug. 17, with an opening reception on Saturday, July 19, from 3 to 5 p.m.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Keep your eye out for bluefin tuna at local fishmongers like H&H Fresh Fish and Ocean2Table – I brought some home last Wednesday for a mid-week sashimi treat. For 30 years, bluefin were the poster child for overfishing. But due to successful international conservation efforts, the species is bouncing back, and the effects are being seen locally. Once hunted to endangered status, both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch list pole-and-line-caught bluefin as a sustainable choice. Read my story from last October on the surprising bounceback, which includes tips on how to purchase responsibly.
LIFE WITH THE BELLIS
My family has been spending a lot of time in our garden lately, so I thought I’d give you an update. First, I’m proud to say after last year’s disaster – amazing what a lack of water and attention will do to kill a garden … who knew! – our vegetable garden is thriving due to the enthusiastic care of Marco, 4, and Cecilia, 2. The eggplants, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers aren’t ripe yet, but we’ve been enjoying the lettuces, herbs and chard. We replanted the blueberry bushes away from the strangling mint to a sunny spot we think they’ll like better.
We also added four new fruit trees: a pomegranate and a Santa Rosa plum in the backyard, and a Hass Bacon avocado and a Bartlett pear in the front yard, joining the lemon, apple, apricot and peach. We also added a wisteria that we hope will grow along the front of our garage. The whole site has come a long way since we scraped off the lava rock garden 2½ years ago. Now, I’m dreaming of a lavender installation in the strip between our sidewalk and the road in front of our house …
FOOD NEWS WORTH READING
➤ Tipped workers could soon see changes to their taxes once the “no tax on tips” provision in President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” goes into effect. Workers will be able to deduct $25,000 in tips annually from their taxable income, until they make $150,000 or more. But experts say the bill itself is likely to negate any benefits; in the end, lower-income workers will lose $560 on average due to cuts to SNAP and Medicaid benefits. (NPR)
➤ Republic National Distributing Company, one of the biggest alcohol wholesalers in the U.S., announced it’s leaving California in September and laying off more than 1,700 workers. The company is facing financial strains after years of declining wine sales nationally. (KQED)