Linda’s Seabreeze supports fire relief

Linda’s Seabreeze Café (542 Seabright Ave., 831-427-9713, seabreezecafe.com) is hosting a benefit to help those affected by the recent Southern California wildfires. From Saturday through Monday, it will donate a percentage of sales to three organizations: World Central Kitchen (wck.org), the Pasadena Humane Society and the American Red Cross. Hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Monday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.

New chili crunch at Pono

Pono Hawaiian Foods recently launched a new retail product: Island Chili Crunch. Jars are available in mild and spicy options. Described as an “Ono Island style chili oil crunch made with Aloha,” it’s sold at both Pono restaurant locations: Pono Hawaiian Grill (120 Union St., Santa Cruz) and Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap (3744 Capitola Road, Capitola).

Customers can also order chili crunch online at ponohawaiianfoods.com, and have it shipped anywhere in the U.S. Pono Hawaiian Foods continues to sell signature products like furikake seasoning, with varieties like Nori Komi, wasabi and island yuzu.

Sleight of Hand, Avanti partner for weekly event

Sleight of Hand Pizza (Instagram @sleightofhandpizza) and Avanti Restaurant (1917 Mission St.) recently started a collaboration. Every Tuesday night, Avanti, which used to be closed on Tuesdays, will offer its cocktails, beer and wine while Sleight of Hand creates the food offerings. “We will start small, with 11 and 14-inch pizza pies and a few simple appetizers,” says co-owner and chef Justin Wadstein.

Also, Sleight of Hand is continuing its Monday popups at Humble Sea Brewing Co.’s Westside location (820 Swift St.). These happen weekly from 2-7:30 p.m. It also recently started a weekly Thursday popup from 4-8 p.m. at Balefire Brewing Co. in the East Cliff Village shopping center (21517 E. Cliff Drive).

Valentine’s dinner at Ibiza

Ibiza (1541B Pacific Ave., 831-900-5222, ibizasantacruz.square.site) is offering a special paella dinner on Valentine’s Day. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and the cost is $75. The four-course meal features chicken and chorizo paella (vegetarian option is available) with maitake mushrooms, farmers market vegetables, goat cheese with honey and pistachios and more. Also, there are a limited number of takeout dinners available. See the full menu and purchase advance tickets at the website.

Humble Sea Galentine’s Market on tap

Humble Sea is hosting its third annual Galentine’s Market from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the taproom (820 Swift St., 831-621-2890, humblesea.com). The event will showcase more than 15 fermented beverages from women-lead producers (including beer, cider, wine and kombucha, which will be served all day) such as Sante Adairius Rustic Ales, Fruition Brewing and Sincere Cider. There will be an outdoor gift market featuring businesses owned or co-owned by women, including food vendors, bakers, jewelry makers, floral artists and more. These include Scrumptious Fish & Chips, Yakitori Toriman, LaurelBakes, Pachamama, Woll, Triple Moon Design, Loma Pottery, Kin Within, White Rabbit Makes and Madison Wanamaker. 10% of sales will be donated to Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Scrumptious Fish & Chips popups

Scrumptious Fish & Chips has several upcoming popups. It will be at Steel Bonnet Brewing in Scotts Valley from 4-8 p.m. Friday and at the same time the following Friday. Also, it is appearing at the aforementioned Galentine’s event, from noon to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Humble Sea Brewing Co.’s Westside SC location, and at the same venue from noon to 7 p.m. Feb. 22, as well as noon to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23. See full schedule at scrumptiousfc.com.

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 & Chips dates are above. Shockwave pops up from 5-8 p.m. Thursday and at the same time Feb. 20. La Fenice Pizza appears from 4-8 p.m. Saturday and Cali Caracas pops up from 4-8 p.m. Feb. 22.

SANTA CRUZ

Bakery popup at Verve Coffee

The Magical Baker will sell a large variety of vegan, gluten-free goodies from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or earlier if sold out) Sunday at Verve Coffee Roasters, 816 41st Ave. The menu features raspberry rose sugar cookies, caramel delight shortbread bars, gochujang blondies, chocolate hazelnut cupcakes and more. For full menu and details, visit the business on Instagram @mariasgfbakery.

SANTA CRUZ

Valentine’s pizza from Kianti’s

Kianti’s Pizza and Pasta Bar (1100 Pacific Ave., 831-469-4400, kiantis.com) has a few Valentine’s Day specials on Friday available for dine-in, takeout or delivery. These include a heart-shaped pizza (one topping, family size), the same pizza plus a bottle of Kianti’s Rosso or Bianca wine and a combo meal with choice of spicy breadsticks or pizza rolls, an individual salad and two pizza or pasta entrees.

BOULDER CREEK

Valentine’s lunch, dinner at Scopazzi’s

Scopazzi’s Restaurant (13300 Big Basin Way, 831-338-6441) will be open Valentine’s Day, serving lunch at 11:30 a.m. and dinner starting at 4 p.m. The lunch special is dry rubbed grilled salmon served over strawberry spinach salad. Dinner specials include rolled prosciutto prawns with goat cheese and red pepper aioli, accompanied by an arugula pomegranate salad and triple chocolate mousse cake. The regular menu will also be available. Reservations are recommended.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Wineries celebrate Passport Day

The next Passport Day for the Santa Cruz Mountains wineries is Feb. 22. Passport holders are welcomed into more than 30 participating wineries, each offering unique experiences (such as special flights, entertainment or food trucks). Some wineries that are usually closed to the public are accessible on Passport Days. Passports are $90 for one or $150 for two, with choice of physical or digital format, and are good for one year. To buy or learn more, visit winesofthesantacruzmountains.com/events/passport. With passports, customers enjoy a complimentary tasting flight at each winery and gain access to promotions throughout the year.

SCOTTS VALLEY

DIY winemaking event at Pelican Ranch

Pelican Ranch Winery (2364 Bean Creek Road, 831-332-5359, pelicanranch.com) is offering a DIY winemaking event for $20. “Reservations are required for noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday or Feb. 22, and it’s by appointment only for Feb. 23,” says winemaker Phil Crews. “Create a delicious 2021 Pinot noir wine that you can take away for future merriments.” The winemaking team will organize visitors into groups and after a brief instruction invite them to create a personal wine by mixing three different components. “The wine making tools consist of 2021 Pelican Ranch Pinot noir from bottles labeled by their grape clones: Pommard, 667 and 777,” adds Crews.

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 X @santacruzfood.