SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Hidden Fortress closing Watsonville roastery and café

The last day of business for Hidden Fortress Roastery Café (125 Hangar Way) is Jan. 18. “We plan to continue roasting coffee however we can,” said owner Amelia Loftus in an email to customers. “And just as we did in our humble beginnings, we’ll keep our mobile business at farmers markets and events going. Plus, we are working to keep the Santa Cruz café open as it is really starting to shine!”

In July 2024, Hidden Fortress opened a kiosk inside Cruzioworks at 877 Cedar St. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Products available include coffee, espresso drinks, cookies and breakfast burritos.

SANTA CRUZ

Wharf restaurants reopen faster than expected

As reported last week, wharf businesses had temporarily closed after a portion of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed in December. Originally the closure was expected to last several weeks, but many businesses reopened on Saturday. These include restaurants Riva, Woodies, Firefish Grill, Makai, Gilda’s and Olitas, plus candy store Marini’s and wine bar Vino by the Sea. The Stagnaro Bros. seafood market also reopened, and the Stagnaro Bros. restaurant is reopening on Thursday.

SANTA CRUZ

Santa Cruz Mushrooms storefront opens to the public

Family-owned business Santa Cruz Mushrooms (1970 17th Ave., santacruzmushrooms.com) recently opened its storefront to the public on an ongoing basis. Previously, it offered mushroom pickups only with advance orders. Customers can enter the Live Oak mushroom farm and browse items including fresh and dried mushrooms, and tinctures. Owner Chris Phillips uses organically grown oak sawdust to grow a variety of mushrooms including oyster, lion’s mane, trumpet, shiitake and pearl. His restaurant customers include Shadowbrook and Tortilla Flats. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.

SANTA CRUZ

Short-term closure at Lago di Como and Bottega del Lago

Italian restaurant Lago di Como (21490 E. Cliff Drive, 831-454-8257, lagodicomoristorante.com) and Italian market and deli Bottega del Lago (1701 Portola Drive) are closed for winter breaks through Thursday. They will reopen on Friday. Lago di Como’s regular hours are 5-9 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.

Bottega del Lago, from the owners of Lago di Como Ristorante and Pizzeria, opened in October. The venue offers ready-to-eat food like panini, pizza and croissant sandwiches, ready-to-heat items like homemade lasagna, and refrigerated ready-to-cook fresh pasta and house-made pesto. Espresso and cappuccino are available, along with fresh gelato. Many pantry items imported from Italy are also available. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, and closed Tuesday.

For details, follow the business on Instagram @bottegadellago.Mushroom festival this weekend

The Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz is collaborating with the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History to host the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair from Friday through Sunday at the London Nelson Community Center (301 Center St.). The fair offers a display of hundreds of local fungi species and draws thousands of visitors. There are speakers and kids’ activities. Items for sale include books and mushroom-related items. Date, time and admission prices vary. Learn more, including details about recommended “timed entry” advance ticket purchase, at ffsc.us/fair.

Venus Spirits hosts mocktail class

Venus Spirits is hosting an interactive mocktail class at its tasting room (200 High Road) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday. Attendees of “Elevated Elixirs: Dry January Edition” will enjoy hands-on instruction and leave with creations plus recipes. Tickets are $85 at my-site-102720.square.site. Visit this site to also learn details about upcoming events including a distillery tour and guided tasting (Jan. 18) and a whiskey and chocolate pairing (Feb. 10).

FELTON

Early bird tickets available for May mushroom festival

Far West Fungi is hosting the second annual Santa Cruz Mountain Mushroom Festival from May 3-4 at Roaring Camp (5401 Graham Hill Road) and early bird discount tickets are available through Monday. Visit scmmfest.com for tickets and details. The two-day event includes cooking demos (chefs Jessica Yarr, Brad Briske and more), cultivation workshops, panel discussions, food, beer and wine.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Popups at Steel Bonnet Brewing Co.

A few food trucks are appearing at Steel Bonnet Brewing Co. (20 Victor Square, 831-454-8429, steelbon.net) in the near future. Scrumptious Fish and Chips appears from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and returns at the same time all the remaining Fridays in January. Kikuchi Yakitori is popping up from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, and Shockwave pops up from 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 16.

Winter closure at Izakaya West End

Izakaya West End (334 Ingalls St., 831-471-8115, westendtap.com) is closed for a winter break through Thursday. It will reopen for dinner service at 4 p.m. on Friday. Izakaya, a self-described “Asian inspired gastropub,” is located at the former West End Tap & Kitchen (and operated by the same people who used to run West End). Regular hours are 4-8:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, noon to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and noon to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

Quick Bites, compiled by Tara Fatemi Walker, is your weekly helping of Santa Cruz County restaurant, food and drink news. Send items to sentinelfood@gmail.com (Sunday 7 p.m. deadline for that week’s column). Want local food & drink news as it happens? Follow the Sentinel’s food crew on Twitter @santacruzfood.