SANTA CRUZ

Sleight of Hand chefs earn accolades

Sleight of Hand Pizza co-owner and chef Justin Wadstein is now a 14-time World Pizza Champion. He received first place for masters division dough-tossing acrobatics at the recent International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas. Also, Sleight of Hand employee Nate Santarini received honors in the traditional pizza category. He placed third in the “U.S. southwest region” category and fourth in the world.

Sleight of Hand continues three weekly popups: 2-7:30 p.m. Mondays at Humble Sea Brewing Co.’s Westside location (820 Swift St.), 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Avanti Restaurant (1917 Mission St.) and 4-8 p.m. Thursdays at Balefire Brewing Co. in the East Cliff Village shopping center (21517 E. Cliff Drive). Stay in the loop — and read details of the above pizza wins — by following the business on IG @sleightofhandpizza.

WATSONVILLE

Slice Project open at The Hangar

Slice Project, which focuses on pizza and beer, recently opened its second location at The Hangar (45 Aviation Way, Suite 6) Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and noon to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The original location (300 Main St., 831-319-4851), which opened in 2019, serves customers from noon to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. Friday and 2-9 p.m. Saturday. Both locations are closed Sunday. Slice Project offers New York-style pizza by the slice or whole pie, square Detroit-style pizza pies and craft beer. Visit sliceprojectpizza.com for more information and follow them on Instagram @sliceprojectpizza.

CAPITOLA

Dani O Bakeshop expands hours

Dani O Bakeshop, located in the Capitola Mall food court, is now open two extra days each week. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, or earlier if sold out. Also, on Wednesday, the eatery is launching a new offering: organic Straus soft-serve ice cream with options for gluten-free cones. To celebrate the launch that day, there are free mini cones while supplies last.

Menu highlights include house-made bread and pastries like sourdough bread and plain and chocolate croissants, and a croissant breakfast sausage smash burger with Glaum eggs, local sausage, Gruyere and chimichurri. Learn more or place advance orders via Instagram @daniobakeshop.

SANTA CRUZ

The Chocolate Studio expands offerings

The Chocolate Studio (912 Cedar St.) recently broadened its offerings. The café, which opened in February, now has an expanded savory menu that it serves starting at 11 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Dishes include a smoked trout salad featuring Spade and Plow chicories and peppery greens, and a charcuterie board with selections from El Salchichero plus sourdough toast from Dani O Bakeshop and Big Sur Sea Salt.

Hours at The Chocolate Studio are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Daily selections include Dani O baked goods (like ham and cheese croissants and chocolate croissants with White Label Chocolate batons), White Label Chocolate bars and Mutari Craft Chocolate (like dark sipping chocolate to enjoy at the café and truffles). Coffee and espresso from Ikon Roastery are also available. Stay in the loop by following on Instagram @thechocolate studiosantacruz.

Menu additions at Venus

The Westside location of Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen (200 High Road, 831-600-7376) recently added new drinks and a sandwich to its weekend lunch service. Available from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, these include Bloody Mary flights (a trio featuring Venus vodka, aquavit and blanco agave) and a Reuben sandwich with house-made corned beef. Learn more at venusspirits.com/vsckwestside.

Temporary hours at Cheese Shop 831

Cheese Shop 831 (3555 Clares St. Suite V, 831-515-7406, cheeseshop831.com) has shorter, temporary hours while the owner goes through some medical challenges. Shop hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Kitchen hours (for made-to-order grilled cheese sandwiches and more) are 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. As always, Cheese Shop 831 is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

BOULDER CREEK

Easter at Scopazzi’s

Scopazzi’s Restaurant (13300 Big Basin Way, 831-338-6441, scopazzisrestaurant.com) will be open Easter Sunday for breakfast starting at 10:30 a.m. The menu includes crab cake benedict, omelets, steak and eggs, sandwiches and salads. Dinner starts at 4 p.m. Specials include chicken cordon bleu with wedge salad and New York style cheesecake. The regular menu will also be available. Reservations are recommended.

Easter offerings at The Buttery

The Buttery (702 Soquel Ave., 831-458-3020, butterybakery.com) has several Easter offerings to pre-order online. These include hot cross buns, coconut macaroons, nest-shaped macaroons and bunny ear cakes. For the full menu, visit the website.

SOQUEL

TspVanilla offers Easter cookie kits

Local baker TspVanilla, also known as Shelby Aszklar, is offering “Paint your own Easter cookie sets.” These cost $15 and include four iced Easter themed sugar cookies, one paint palette and two brushes. Order online at shop.castiron.me/tspvanilla-1/shop. TspVanilla occasionally has popups with products such as sourdough bagels, and does custom orders of cookies, cupcakes and cakes.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Events on deck at Inversion Winery

Inversion Wines (75 Mount Hermon Road, 831-419-5036, inversionwines.com) has upcoming events including guest food vendors. This Friday, it’s hosting bingo at the tasting room from 6-7:30 p.m., and L’Appetito Wood-Fired Pizza from 4:30-8 p.m. On April 19, Inversion will host live music with Cloe Hubbard from 3-5:30 p.m. and Cousins Maine Lobster truck from 1-7 p.m. L’Appetito Pizza returns from 5-8 p.m. April 25 (with trivia 6-7:30) and from 1-7 p.m. April 26 with Dave Muldawer performing music from 3-5:30 p.m.

Easter, dog-related events at Chaminade

Chaminade Resort & Spa is offering an Easter buffet from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 20. Cost is $85 for ages 13 and up, $25 for kids 4-12 (exclusive of tax and gratuity), and free for 3 and under. The menu includes prime rib, snow crab claws, eggs benedict, French toast, assorted pastries and more. For reservations and menu, visit chaminade.com/santa-cruz-restaurants/easter-sunday-brunch. Also, there are Easter egg hunts open to brunch and resort guests on the hillside.

Chaminade is hosting its first “Pawsh Retreat,” with free admission, from 1-5 p.m. April 26. The event features pet activities, adoption opportunities, art, training, dog massage and “food and beverages whether you are on two legs or four.” Chaminade developed a “Paws & Relax” dog menu just for this occasion, including a barkuter-ie board, paw-casso peanut butter and banana bites and tail wagging tacos. Beverage options include paw-secco and pup-uccino. Event organizers say there will be “a range of food specials for human companions” at The View, which will extend into the courtyard for this special event. Learn more and register at chaminade.com/things-to-do-santa-cruz/pawsh-dog-retreat.

Easter treats from Anouchka Bakery

Anouchka Bakery is offering organic Easter bunny cupcakes; you need to place orders by April 16 either online at anouchkabakery.com, by email at anna@anouchkabakery.com or phone at 831-234-9949. Featuring carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and coconut fur, these are available for delivery or pickup April 18 (at Botanic and Luxe) or pickup at the Westside Farmers Market on April 19.

APTOS

News from Pino Alto restaurant

Restaurant Pino Alto (Sesnon House, 6500 Soquel Drive), which the Cabrillo College Culinary Arts Department operates, has re-opened after spring break. Lunch is available from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and dinner is served from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. The lunch menu through April 30 has a contemporary American theme; dinner’s theme through May 8 is small plates inspired by the Middle East and North Africa. Call 831-479-6524 for reservations, which are recommended but not required. Visit pinoaltorestaurant.org for details including current menus.

Also, the restaurant is hosting a spring tea party brunch on Mother’s Day weekend. Tickets will be available on May 2.

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 and drink news as it happens? Follow the Sentinel’s food crew on X @santacruzfood.