Alderwood closes its doors

Alderwood (155 Walnut Ave.) has suddenly and permanently closed. After a temporary closure in early 2024, the restaurant reopened in June 2024 with a new executive chef, Mikey Adams. Alderwood was the only Santa Cruz restaurant recognized in the Michelin Guide.

“Thanks to its promise of serving delicious cuisine with local and sustainably sourced ingredients, this lively spot stands tall. Set upon a busy downtown corner, it virtually screams easy breezy, despite being nowhere near the coast,” Michelin wrote. “But due to the vision of Jeffrey Wall (forager and photographer extraordinaire), the entire aesthetic feels natural, chic, and contemporary.”

The owners also formerly operated Alderwood Pacific, which opened in 2023 while the Walnut Avenue restaurant was closed for renovations. Alderwood Pacific only lasted a few months before closing.

“After careful consideration and reflection, we have made the difficult decision to close our doors,” read the beginning of a statement posted by the restaurant on Instagram. “It is bittersweet to say goodbye to this chapter filled with unforgettable moments and shared experiences.”

Coffeetopia expands hours

The Live Oak location of Coffeetopia (1443 Capitola Road, 831-476-7181, coffeetopia.com) has expanded its hours. It is now open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Mackenzie Chocolates opening for two days

Mackenzies Chocolates (1492 Soquel Ave., 831-425-1492, mackenzieschocolates.com) closed its shop last month after 40-plus years in business, but there was high customer demand and it’s doing some popups. Mackenzies is open for two days, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday. The shop will sell limited quantities of many popular selections including truffles, nut clusters, peanut butter mice, rocky road, almond bark and English toffee. There will also be mini heart bags, caramel apples and more.

To be alerted to the next popup, visit the website and click Join Email List. “We are not having set hours, so it is week by week,” says co-owner Ian Mackenzie. The best source of current information is the website, which he is keeping updated with hours and days open.

Rose Acres Kitchen launches grab and go options

Rose Acres Kitchen is now offering freshly prepared Grab & Go meals from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Thursday and Friday at Enterprise Kitchen (100 Enterprise Way). Selections include gluten-free and vegan food. Pre-orders are available but not required.

Also, Rose Acres Kitchen is continuing its weekly Dinner Club. Every Friday, it releases a new weekly menu, and customers must order food by Sunday at 9 a.m. in order for the owners to buy enough ingredients at the farmers market. Orders are ready for pickup or delivery the following Thursday. Recent selections include winter squash soup, roasted root salad, chicken yakisoba, vegetarian buddha bowl, and passionfruit chia pudding. Learn more at roseacreskitchen.com or on Instagram @rose_acres_kitchen.SANTA CRUZ

Bedda Mia now serving lunch

Starting this week, Italian restaurant Bedda Mia (736 Water St., 831-201-4320, beddamiarestaurant.com) is serving lunch. Special lunch selections include signature salads and focaccia bread sandwiches; some dishes from the restaurant’s dinner menu will also be available. Bedda Mia is now open 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 4-9 p.m. Wednesday through Monday (closed Tuesday).

WATSONVILLE

Crab feed benefit on deck

Tickets go on sale Saturday for the annual Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation Crab Feed, March 1 at Crosetti Hall at the fairgrounds. A limited number of tickets are available. The menu includes fresh crab, chicken, garlic bread and clam chowder. There will also be a live auction and a drawing. Proceeds benefit the foundation, which supports the fairgrounds. One current project is to help complete the expansion of Heritage Hall. Learn more at fairgrounds-foundation.org.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Penny ice cream for breakfast, Valentine’s news

The Penny Ice Creamery (thepennyicecreamery.com) is holding its annual Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at all locations. It will serve items such as Goldilocks five-grain porridge with brown sugar walnuts, pastries, bacon, and breakfast sundaes: homemade lemon cake with Verve Coffee ice cream, chocolate sauce and more.

Also, the ice cream shop has $14 Valentine’s heart-shaped ice cream pies, featuring dark chocolate ice cream, sea salt, caramel, and a gluten-free chocolate crumb crust. You can preorder beginning Saturday (pick up Feb. 10-14) while supplies last.

SANTA CRUZ

Valentine’s offerings at Dream Inn

Dream Inn Santa Cruz (175 West Cliff Drive, 831-740-8069, dreaminnsantacruz.com) is offering a Sweetheart’s Escape Package the entire month of February. It includes daily breakfast for two, a bottle of Champagne and Marini’s chocolates.

Also, Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge at Dream Inn (831-740-8138, jackoneillrestaurant.com) is offering a fixed-price three-course dinner from 5-9 p.m. on Feb. 14. Appetizers include Dungeness crab bisque with winter truffle and crème fraiche. Entrée choices include filet of beef and crab duo, rack of lamb, roasted lingcod, raviolis, and harvest paella. Cost is $95 and reservations are required.

SANTA CRUZ

Bantam offers prix fixe Valentine’s dinner

Bantam (1010 Fair Ave., 831-420-0101, bantam1010.com) is doing a four-course prix fixe dinner on Valentine’s Day. Cost is $105 per person. Reservations are required; call the restaurant or email bantam1010fair@gmail.com.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Pizza Week begins Wednesday

The inaugural Santa Cruz Pizza Week starts Wednesday and lasts until Feb. 9. More than two dozen participating restaurants in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Capitola, Soquel, Aptos, and Watsonville are offering special pizzas and deals throughout the event. Here are a few highlights: Cavalletta (pizza with house-made meatballs and herbed ricotta for $26), La Marea (two options including Green Dreams pie with arugula pesto, melted leeks, green garlic cream, burrata and more: sourdough pan pizza for $20 or $6 per slice), and Vinocruz (selections include an apple brie sourdough flatbread with ingredients like onion confit and prosciutto, and focaccia pizza with assorted toppings). Learn more at santacruzpizzaweek.com.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

J & M Sourdough Bagels partners with Peoples Coffee

J & M Sourdough Bagels has a new collaboration with Peoples Coffee (1200 17th Ave. #130, Santa Cruz). Customers at Peoples can now order J & M bagels and cream cheese shmears, specialty bagel sandwiches and Detroit-style sourdough pizza made with J & M sourdough pizza dough.

Also, starting Wednesday the J & M storefront inside hair salon Jayne & Co (5980 Highway 9, Felton), which opened in December, will carry coffee from Peoples. It’s adding a couple sourdough sweet breads in the future. The J & M shop is open 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, or earlier if sold out. Learn more at jmsourdoughbagels.com and stay in the loop on IG @jandmbagels.

SANTA CRUZ

Tickets available for Meals on Wheels lunch

The 12th annual Food from the Heart luncheon, benefiting Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County, is Feb. 14 at Chaminade Resort & Spa (One Chaminade Lane). Tickets are $120 per person. The event includes a gourmet lunch, program updates, a raffle, and an auction. Visit communitybridges.org/events for details and tickets. A Community Bridges program, Meals on Wheels works to enhance seniors’ lives by providing “healthy meals and friendly human contact.”

SCOTTS VALLEY

Pinot wine tasting at Pelican Ranch

Pelican Ranch Winery (2364 Bean Creek Road, 831-332-5359, pelicanranch.com) is hosting a horizontal wine tasting with five 2021 Pinot Noirs at the tasting room from noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Benny Davis Jr. will perform acoustic music.

CAPITOLA

Menu additions at Gayle’s Bakery

Gayle’s Bakery (504 Bay Ave., 831-462-1200, gaylesbakery.com) recently added four new salads. These include kale and crispy lentils with feta, slivered almonds, green olives and cumin/lemon dressing, and a beet and orange salad with ingredients including red onion, baby spinach and a tangy vinaigrette. Learn more at the website or on IG @gaylesbakery.

MONTEREY COUNTY

Restaurants earn James Beard accolades

The 2025 James Beard Awards recently announced semifinalists for its restaurant and chef categories. Jonny Black at Carmel’s Chez Noir (cheznoircarmel.com) is a semifinalist for Best Chef: California, competing with 16 other chefs across the state. Among the chefs in the running, six are from the San Francisco Bay Area. These include Nite Yun at Lunette in San Francisco.

Read the full list of semifinalists at jamesbeard.org. The final nominees are announced April 2. Winners will be revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony in Chicago on June 16.

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.