Gabriella Café opens kiosk

The owner and chef of Gabriella Café, Paul Cocking and Gema Cruz, just launched new kiosk Gabrielita Tamaleria, located near Pizza My Heart on Pacific Avenue. The menu will focus on takeout tamales (including chicken mole). Breakfast burritos and fish or pork tacos are also planned.

Gabriella Café (910 Cedar St., 831-457-1677, gabriellacafe.com) is no longer open on Tuesdays. Lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. Weekend brunch remains 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Dinner is available 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

Back Door Banh Mi expands hours

Back Door Banh Mi is now open on Saturdays. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday at Full Steam Dumpling (1001 Center St. at the Santa Cruz Art Center). Customers order online at backdoorbanhmi.com and pick up to-go food at Full Steam Dumpling. Back Door Banh Mi opened in October 2024. The menu features items like banh mi sandwiches made with Manresa Bread Po-boy loaves (including a vegetarian mushroom medley option), a noodle bowl, and Vietnamese egg rolls.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Pinot wine tasting at Pelican Ranch

Pelican Ranch Winery (2364 Bean Creek Road, 831-332-5359, pelicanranch.com) is hosting its first wine tasting of 2025 at the tasting room from noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Owner-winemaker Phil Crews promises “five Pinot wines from our library that commemorate remarkable conclusions by wine experts: ‘California Pinot Noir has had several recent outstanding years, but the 2019 growing season brought the grape to new heights in the Santa Cruz Mtns.’ You can partake in handmade, Bronx-inspired pizzas available from our kitchen or bring your own small bites,” says Crews.

The Neighbor’s expands drink menu

The Neighbor’s (711 Pacific Ave.), which serves beer, wine and cocktails, recently added a few additional whiskeys. There are many nonalcoholic options including nonalcoholic spirits and espresso cold brew lattes. The current food menu consists of a fruit and cheese platter (with two of the cheeses imported from Ireland); more selections will be added in the next month or two. The Neighbor’s, which opened in December, describes itself as a “queer café and pub that gives back.” It is starting a Monday movie series next week and hosting “Big Gay Trivia Night” on Jan. 23. Also, the café/pub regularly hosts pop-up markets featuring LGBTQ+ artists. The next one is Feb. 7. Learn more at theneighborspub.org or on Instagram @theneighborspub. Hours are 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday to Sunday.

APTOS

Chowhound announces cooking class

Chowhound is offering an Italian-themed cooking class from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 29. The hands-on class, which costs $125, is held in a private house in Aptos (address will be given out upon reservation). Limited to eight attendees, the session ends with a sit-down meal and wine pairing. Dishes will include “authentic Italian carbonara made with Rummo Lenta Lavorazione pasta, celebrating the origins of the dish paired with white wine from central Italy to represent the region” and a winter Caprese salad with fresh burrata and red beetroot with basil. Reserve your spot by emailing Denise@chowhoundcooks.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Chowder Cook-off seeking contestants

Registration is open until Feb. 7 for teams to enter the annual Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Clam Chowder Cook-Off, which takes place Feb. 22-23. Cash prizes will be awarded. Two chowder types are eligible: Boston and Manhattan. The entry fee is $75, and each team receives two Boardwalk All-Day Rides Wristbands, two event T-shirts and a complimentary parking pass. For information including the official entry form and rules, visit beachboardwalk.com/clam-chowder-cook-off. A portion of proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the city of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. Last year, more than $130,000 was raised.

SANTA CRUZ

Oyuki Sushi Nikkei offers anniversary discount

Oyuki Sushi Nikkei (1010 Pacific Ave. Suite F, 831-201-4212, oyukisushi.com) is offering a 15% discount on food and drinks for one day only to celebrate its 1st anniversary: Jan. 15. This is also valid for takeout orders at the restaurant, which offers sushi and Peruvian food. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon to 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday (closed Sunday).

CAPITOLA

Raclette parties return Cheese Shop 831

Cheese Shop 831 (3555 Clares St., 831-515-7406, cheeseshop831.com) recently brought back its Sunday afternoon Raclette parties. These are held every week from noon to 3 p.m. (or earlier if sold out) and will continue until the end of February. Raclette is served on top of traditional boiled new potatoes, cornichons, pickled onions, charcuterie (vegetarian options available) and baguette slices. There are no reservations needed. Unfamiliar with raclette? Originating in Switzerland, cheese is heated by fire or through a machine. Then the melted part is scraped off and usually served with boiled potatoes, etc.

Also, in honor of National Cheese Lover’s Day on Saturday, Cheese Shop 831 is handing out free mini grilled cheeses (starting at noon). There will be a raffle plus free cheese tasting all day.

SANTA CRUZ

Chaminade hosts Sinatra night

Tickets are on sale for a Sinatra-themed night on Feb. 8 at Chaminade Resort & Spa (1 Chaminade Lane, 831-475-5600, chaminade.com). Cost is $150 per person plus tax. The event includes no-host cocktails (6:30 p.m.) and an Italian dinner buffet from chef Avram Samuels (7-8 p.m.) followed by a show and dancing until 10 p.m. Reservations are required. Performers will be vocalist David Hamilton and the band Essence. Visit chaminade.com/santa-cruz-restaurants/sinatra-show-at-chaminade for tickets and details.

SOQUEL

Mushroom cuisines at Tortilla Flats

The restaurant Tortilla Flats (4616 Soquel Drive, 831-476-1754) is offering Fungi Fiesta from Jan. 21-26. Special dishes include mushroom tacos and wild mushroom crepes (handmade truffle crepes with portobello, oyster and shiitake mushrooms with a touch of cheese, topped with amarilla sauce). Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday). Follow the restaurant on Instagram @tortilla.flats.soquel.

SANTA CRUZ

Football specials from Kianti’s

Kianti’s Pizza and Pasta Bar (1100 Pacific Ave., 831-469-4400, kiantis.com) has football promotions available, valid through Feb. 9 (Super Bowl Sunday). Customers can choose between two packages for curbside or delivery. Order online or by phone. A food-only package includes chicken wings and a 14-inch pizza. A food-and-beer special includes the same items plus two 16-ounce cans of Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing beer (choice of Pacific IPA Organic or Swift Street Amber).

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 Twitter @santacruzfood.