Food & Drink
Posted inFood & Drink

Despite sudden Llano Seco Meats closure, local butchers say there’s still plenty of high-quality pork

by Lily Belli

Llano Seco Meats, one of the Bay Area’s largest suppliers of heritage pork, ceased production in mid-September, leaving a sizable hole in the sustainable pork market and causing an outcry from Bay Area chefs and online. But local butchers and farmers say it hasn’t drastically affected the availability of high-quality pork products in Santa Cruz County.

Posted inFood & Drink

Santa Cruz bars and restaurants sound alarm on city’s new rules for outdoor dining

by Jessica M. Pasko and Lily Belli

The City of Santa Cruz issued temporary permits for restaurants to shift to outdoor dining in a hasty response to the statewide COVID state of emergency, which forced the closure of indoor dining facilities during the pandemic. But starting as early as March, business owners will have to go through traditional permitting if they want to keep their outdoor dining spaces. Some restaurateurs say the slow, complicated and expensive process threatens their businesses.

Posted inFood & Drink

Pouring Hispanic culture into craft beer, Buena Vista Brewing booms

by Lily Belli

At Buena Vista Brewing Co., Chuck and Phil Ornelas channel their Hispanic heritage into their beers. Just four years ago, Buena Vista was a backyard hobby; now, the brothers are in the process of opening a new taproom and brewery in downtown Watsonville and recently purchased Watsonville’s three-year-old Slough Brewing Collective. Their success reflects the growth of brewery ownership by people of color in an otherwise stagnant industry.

Posted inPolitics & Policy

Revenue from county’s disposable cup tax falls short as officials struggle with tracking and compliance

by Max Chun

Santa Cruz was the first county in the U.S. to tax single-use cups. At the time, it estimated the tax would raise $700,000 a year. But staff now say the tax will likely bring in just $280,000 a year, or about 40% of originally projected revenue, in part because the county has no central way to track the number of businesses giving out disposable cups, nor how many are complying with the program.

Posted inFood & Drink

Shopper’s Corner customer spotlight: Joe Thompson and Katie Fick

by Interviews by Paul Eisenberg / Shopper's Corner

In the heart of Santa Cruz lies a grocery store that offers more than just groceries. Shopper’s Corner, a beloved community supermarket, is a place where convenience meets community. Today, we meet Katie and Joe, two dedicated patrons who share their impressions and culinary experiences. Katie, originally from upstate New York, fondly remembers her first […]

Sign up for newsletters

Get the best of Lookout Santa Cruz directly in your email inbox.

Sending to:

Gift this article