Lily Belli relates the stories behind a trio of up-and-coming Santa Cruz County bakers, notes a great showing in Las Vegas for a local pizza purveyor and spotlights the Santa Cruz Vegan Chef Challenge, beginning Wednesday.
Lily Belli on Food
A Tuesday newsletter from Lookout food & drink correspondent Lily Belli – subscribe here.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Heat wave’s crop impact, new downtown gelateria and openings of note
In her Tuesday newsletter, Lily Belli checks in on how locals growers fared during last week’s heat wave, spotlights Gran Gelato Caffè in Santa Cruz and notes food & drink business openings downtown and in Aptos.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Good news for salmon fishers; chef Sarah Bargetto’s Venus Beachside feast; Outstanding in the Field’s local 2026 dates
California gives recreational and commercial salmon season the go-ahead for spring, a Soquel-raised chef shines at Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen Beachside in Aptos and where a famous roving farm-to-table dinner series will set up in Santa Cruz County this year – you’ll find all that and more in Lily Belli’s Tuesday newsletter.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Damage from fatal Capitola Village fire shuts restaurants; chefs coming to Bookshop; Aptos Vineyard closing tasting room
News, notes and coming events from the Santa Cruz County food & drink scene are in focus in Lily Belli’s Tuesday newsletter.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Cat & Cloud’s union push; AI controversy at Salty Otter; April’s vegan chef challenge
In the return of her Tuesday newsletter, Lily Belli notes unionization efforts at local coffee chain Cat & Cloud and a downtown Santa Cruz restaurant changing its logo over artificial intelligence backlash, and looks ahead to a plant-based April.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Margins Wine closing, tasty Lunar New Year celebrations and seeking Oahu recommendations
In her Tuesday newsletter, Lily Belli reports on Margins Wine closing after 10 years, spotlights tasty ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year and solicits recommendations ahead of a trip to the North Shore of Oahu.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Whither Jeffery’s, a taste of Bad Animal’s new fare and notable anniversaries
The fate of Eastside Santa Cruz restaurant Jeffery’s, Bad Animal’s new global bistro fare and milestones for local food businesses are all on the menu in Lily Belli’s Tuesday newsletter.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: January’s best bites, previewing Woody’s at Watsonville Airport and art for foodies
In her Tuesday newsletter, Lily Belli recaps her favorite Santa Cruz County menu items from last month, previews the new tenant at Watsonville Municipal Airport’s restaurant and notes upcoming local art events that might appeal to foodies.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Passing the baton at Alta Organic Coffee; El Toro Bravo is back; Living Swell Kombucha’s brick-and-mortar spot
In her Tuesday newsletter, Lily Belli spotlights a changing of the guard at a Westside coffee stalwart, the reopening of a Capitola Village fave, where you now can find Living Swell Kombucha outside of local farmers markets and plenty more in Santa Cruz County food & drink.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: The dangers of death cap mushrooms; El Toro Bravo set to reopen in Capitola Village; a peek inside SARA’s Cellar
In her Tuesday newsletter, Lily Belli writes about a fungus for foragers to beware of, notes the reopening of a Capitola Village Mexican standby and previews a chance to taste some exclusive brews at Sante Adairius.