In the first installment of this week’s column, Lookout wine expert Laurie Love relays what she saw and tasted at the Uncork Corralitos event, fills out her impressions of Scotts Valley newcomer Saison Cellar & Wine Bar and gives you some upcoming wine events to plan for.
Food & Drink
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Bad news for crab fleet, downtown food boom & numbers to know
In her weekly roundup of news and notes from the Santa Cruz County business community, Jessica M. Pasko talks to local fishermen about yet another delayed start to the Dungeness crab season, the latest openings and closings across the region and a $325,000 price tag for a fencing company that is up for sale.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Dungeness crab season delayed again this year, another blow to Santa Cruz fishing industry
Commercial Dungeness crab season had been set to open Nov. 15, but amid concerns about whale safety that have delayed the season in recent years, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife has pushed it back to at least Dec. 1. “For many fishermen, this means there’s no income right now,” one veteran says, “and they’re hanging by the threads.”
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Cidery fun, crab season delayed and local chef Yarr robbed in Bobby Flay showdown
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. Stay in touch with me by text throughout the […]
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
In Watsonville, farmworkers, students and activists demand state reduce pesticide use, boost organic farming
Students, farmworkers and doctors urged the state’s Department of Pesticide Regulation to restrict the use of harmful pesticides and push farmers to adopt organic practices during a gathering Monday in Watsonville. Residents shared personal stories of health issues, calling for greater protection for farmworkers and their communities. Some speakers drove from hundreds of miles away to participate in the meeting. The department will consider public comments before finalizing a new strategic plan.
Posted inFood & Drink
Vegan-friendly downtown Santa Cruz restaurant Cafe GSC closes amid financial struggles
Santa Cruz’s Cafe GSC, formerly Cafe Gratitude, closed earlier this month due to financial difficulties after 13 years in business. The downtown restaurant served an organic, plant-based menu and was a vestige of a once-flourishing chain of Cafe Gratitudes that at its height had nine locations in California.
Posted inFood & Drink
Pretty Good Advice, Rock N Roll Donuts plus 8 more new restaurants headed to downtown Santa Cruz
Ten new food and beverage businesses are planned to open in downtown Santa Cruz, at least two within the next few months. A city official says there is “a lot of interest” in food-related businesses, suggesting a new wave of options along Pacific Avenue. Meanwhile, two recent closures and a long-delayed remodel show how difficult it can be to keep the doors open.
Posted inFood & Drink
From Burgundy to the Santa Cruz Mountains, Saison’s Mark Bright brings fine wine to new Scotts Valley wine bar
Ben Lomond resident Mark Bright is the beverage director and co-founder of Saison Hospitality Group and a respected sommelier. Now, he’s bringing his wine knowledge and passion to Scotts Valley with the opening of Saison Cellar & Wine Bar, which will focus on hand-selected wines from Europe, particularly Burgundy, France, as well as the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Posted inEnvironment
Some Pajaro Valley farms are paid to solve California’s water crisis by returning stormwater to the ground
Can agriculture, long considered a drain on the state’s water resources, help solve California’s water crisis? In the Pajaro Valley, some farmers are being paid to return stormwater to the ground. The effort is part of a joint project among local agencies, landowners and UC Santa Cruz to install groundwater recharge basins on some local farms. Participating farms receive cash rebates based on how much water they capture. But while early results are promising, many challenges remain.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Mushroom lovers rejoice, a worthy winemaker dinner, Jayne Dough’s Capitola digs
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. Stay in touch with me by text throughout the […]