SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Burger Week begins Wednesday

The annual Santa Cruz Burger Week starts Feb. 22 and runs through Feb. 28. Restaurants will offer burger specials, including select vegetarian options, for $10, $12 or $15. Participating restaurants are located in Aptos, Capitola, Felton, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Soquel. Learn more and view menus at santacruzburgerweek.com.

APTOS

Pino Alto restaurant reopens

Restaurant Pino Alto (831-479-6524), which the Cabrillo College Culinary Arts Department operates, has reopened at Sesnon House, 6500 Soquel Drive. Lunch is available 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, dinner is served 5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Visit pinoaltorestaurant.org for more information, including menus.

SANTA CRUZ

Temporary closure for Lago di Como

Lago di Como Ristorante & Pizzeria (21490 East Cliff Dr., 831-454-8257, lagodicomoristorante.com) has closed to do a redesign of its interior space. The restaurant, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in December, is set to reopen on March 15. Lago will post updates on Instagram @lago_di_como_ristorante.

WATSONVILLE

Tamales fundraiser benefiting the arts

Pre-order tamales through Friday to pick up Sunday, and your purchase benefits the Watsonville Center for the Arts (375 Main St.). “A group of amazing parents are hosting a tamale fundraiser to support our new art space,” says an Arts Council Santa Cruz County representative. “Last summer, we opened in downtown Watsonville to create space for artists of all ages to practice dance and music. Together with a collective of groups, they’re bringing the space to life.” The groups include Esperanza del Valle and White Hawk Indian Council for Children. The Center is also home to afterschool arts education program Mariposa Arts. Tamales cost $15 for six and $30 for 12; flavors are “red pork” or “jalapenos and cheese.” Get more information and order at bit.ly/wca-tamales or text 831-359-9203.

APTOS

Café Sparrow shifts hours for next three weeks

Café Sparrow (8042 Soquel Dr., 831-688-6238, cafesparrow.com) is offering dinner only for a short time instead of both lunch and dinner. “We have decided to give our employees a little break after a very busy year,” the restaurant announced. “We will not be closing all shifts, but will be closed for lunch for three weeks.” Lunch will start again on March 13. Dinner hours, 5-8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 5-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, will remain the same. Dinner reservations can be made online.

SANTA CRUZ

Tickets available for Pie Ranch benefit at Fonda Felix

Tickets are available for Fonda Felix’s next event, 5 p.m. Saturday at 402 Ingalls St. All proceeds support storm recovery at Pie Ranch. There will be food cooked by chef Diego Felix, live music from Lucas Lawson, a booth to learn more about Pie Ranch recovery work, and farm goodies available for purchase. The cost is $85 which does not include drinks; these will be available for a fee. Attendance is limited to 30. “The heavy rains and strong winds hit us hard, affecting the strides we have made towards recovery since the devastating CZU fire in 2020,” says Pie Ranch. “Two large trees fell on our newly installed 30,000-gallon water tank, destroying it. At the Cascade Regenerator Farm, the two hoop houses that serve our farmer participants have been ruined by the strong winds.” They have a rough estimate of $100,000 in damages. To learn more and buy tickets, visit eventbrite.com/e/pie-ranch-storm-fundraiser-dinner-at-fonda-felix-tickets-528751529057.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Tasting at Pelican Ranch Winery

Since it is Santa Cruz Burger Week, Pelican Ranch Winery (2364 Bean Creek Rd., 831-332-5359, pelicanranch.com) is hosting a tasting of five Pinot inspired wines from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday to answer the question Do Pinot wines go with burgers? “Pinot noir or Rosé of Pinot noir can be a good wine pairing with burgers, especially those made from a lean beef or other meats like turkey, chicken, bison, or vegetarian burgers,” says winemaker Phil Crews. “Alternatively, the deep and complex structure of a Pinotage can complement the rich flavors of a grass-fed beef burger.”

CORRALITOS

New owner, name for Blossom’s Farm Store & Coffee Shop

Blossom’s Farm Store & Coffee Shop (2904 Freedom Blvd., 831-319 4048, facebook.com/blossomsfarmstoreandcoffeeshop) has been sold. The new name is Lito’s Community Café & Market. They will be closed March 1-3 to complete the transition. New owners Charlotte and Lazaro will continue the coffee shop along with local produce, gift items, and a selection of Blossom’s apothecary and fermented items. Blossom’s, a diversified, biodynamic farm that creates nutrient dense foods and herbal health and skincare products, is going to open a new farm shop at its own Aromas farm on March 17. Learn more at blossomsfarm.com.

Penny continues ice cream discounts

The Penny Ice Creamery (thepennyicecreamery.com) offers “Penny Hours” from 4-6 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at all four locations (two in Santa Cruz, one in Scotts Valley, and one in Aptos). Customers will receive a double scoop for the price of a single.

Food events at Stockwell Cellars

The winery Stockwell Cellars (1100 Fair Ave., 831-818-9075, stockwellcellars.com) has food trucks and live music from 5:30-8:30 p.m. every Friday. During these times, they do not accept reservations. This Friday, the Miches and Ceviches food truck will be present.

Also, on Sunday there is a special Winter Food & Wine Pairing event with dishes from Feel Good Foods including Little Gem leaf with Dungeness crab, gold beets, avocado, and Chardonnay dressing, paired with 2020 Chardonnay Steel. There are two seatings, each for 90 minutes: 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. It’s complimentary for club members and $30 for non-members. Advance reservations are required.

Annual Meals on Wheels lunch around the corner

The 10th annual Food from the Heart luncheon, benefiting Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County, is March 17 at Chaminade Resort & Spa (One Chaminade Lane). The event includes a gourmet lunch, program updates, and a live auction. Tickets are $100 per person. Visit communitybridges.org/events for details and tickets.

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.