Casa Rositas now La Jaiba Brava

La Jaiba Brava is the newly renamed restaurant at 2608 Portola Drive. Owner Francisco Enriquez bought Casa Rositas in 2019. Earlier this year, the restaurant was closed for a few months for renovations (including a remodeled bar) and it reopened on Aug. 30. At that time, Enriquez changed the restaurant name to La Jaiba Brava. He kept all of the original menu items and added a few seafood specialties from Tampico, Mexico, where his family is from. The current chef has worked there for 40-plus years. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (closed Tuesday), 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Call 831-346-6907 for details. The restaurant’s name pays homage to a soccer team in Tampico.

Back Door Banh Mi now open

Back Door Banh Mi is open on limited days: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at Full Steam Dumpling (1001 Center St. at the Santa Cruz Art Center). Customers order online at backdoorbanhmi.com and pick up food at Full Steam Dumpling. Banh mi sandwiches made with Manresa Bread Po-boy loaves (including a vegetarian mushroom medley option), egg rolls and Vietnamese chicken salad are available.

Menu changes at Oyuki Sushi Nikkei

Oyuki Sushi Nikkei (1010 Pacific Ave. Suite F, 831-201-4212, oyukisushi.com) recently added more vegan and special rolls to its menu. Also, it now offers a 10% discount for UCSC students on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (valid with current ID). Maynor Lopez and Carla Estrada opened the restaurant, which offers sushi and Peruvian food, in January. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon to 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday (closed Sunday).

SCOTTS VALLEY

Food trucks at Skypark Friday

The 2024 Scotts Valley Food Truck Friday series will hold its last installment from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at Skypark (361 Kings Village Road). Participating food trucks are Taquizas Gabriel, Pesce Veggie, Pana, Kuki’s Bowl, SnB, Cracked Cookies and Rollin Snack Shack. The Scotts Valley Educational Foundation is hosting a beer/wine garden to benefit Scotts Valley’s public schools. Local band The Deadbeats will perform and there will be a pumpkin patch and a Halloween dog costume contest. Visit facebook.com/events/857432716345613 for details.

Restaurant fundraisers benefit Teen Kitchen Project

The nonprofit Teen Kitchen Project is the beneficiary of upcoming fundraisers at local restaurants. On Oct. 23, vegetarian restaurant Dharma’s (4250 Capitola Road, dharmasrestaurant.com) is donating 20% of that day’s proceeds to the nonprofit. Dine in, carry out and deliveries are included. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.Three Erik’s Deli locations (Soquel Drive, Scotts Valley and Watsonville) are doing a similar event from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 6. Once again, dine in, takeout and delivery are valid for the fundraiser.

Teen Kitchen Project (teenkitchenproject.org) helps teens learn to create nutritious meals in commercial kitchens that are then delivered to individuals and families that are in crisis due to serious illness.

SANTA CRUZ

Ideal announces winter specials

Ideal Bar & Grill (106 Beach St., 831-423-5271, idealbarandgrill.com) has brought back its weekday locals specials. These are available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for the next few months: baby back ribs on Monday ($19.95), surf and turf Tuesday ($21.95), live Maine lobster Wednesday ($24.95), Cioppino Thursday ($23.95) and prime rib Friday ($24.95).

SANTA CRUZ

Anniversary celebration at Chocolate on deck

Chocolate (1522 Pacific Ave., 831-427-9900, chocolatesantacruz.com) is celebrating its 25th anniversary with promotions from Nov. 1-3. From noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 1, discounted cocktails and mocktails are available. From noon to 10 p.m. Nov. 2, there are anniversary specials and discounted special drinks. From noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 3, anniversary lunch specials and discounted cocktails and mocktails are available. Owner David Jackman opened Chocolate in November 1999. The restaurant seats arriving customers until 10 p.m. for dinner on weekends and 9 p.m. all other nights. “And now we have returned to a long lunch service every day of the week,” says Jackman. “So, we are celebrating a return to being here all afternoon and evening, serving cocktails, meals and desserts as well as the miracle of a quarter century of service.”

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Restaurant Week returns Wednesday

Santa Cruz Restaurant Week runs from Oct. 23-30. The eight-night event showcases two dozen local restaurants. Diners can choose from three-course, fixed-price dinner menus for $35, $45 or $55 depending on the restaurant. Menus often include several options each for appetizer, entrée and dessert. Learn more and view menus at santacruzrestaurantweek.com.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Companion Bakeshop accepting Thanksgiving pie orders

Customers can now place Thanksgiving pie pre-orders to pick up at both the Santa Cruz and Aptos Companion Bakeshop locations. Visit companionbakeshop.com to place orders. Selections include pies (like apple, pecan, lemon buttermilk, traditional pumpkin or gluten-free pumpkin); take-and-bake cinnamon rolls; pumpkin teacake loaves; and frozen pie dough to bake at home. Pickup is Nov. 26-27 and Thanksgiving is Nov. 28.

SANTA CRUZ

Chili Cook-off coming up

The annual Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Chili Cook-Off is Saturday. Kits go on sale at 10 a.m. and tasting begins at 1 p.m. For $15, you get samples from eight booths plus a People’s Choice ballot. Two types of chili are offered: ones with meat and vegetarian. There are professional and amateur categories. Prizes will be awarded for Best Chili, People’s Choice and more. For details, visit beachboardwalk.com/chili. A portion of proceeds benefits Jade Street Park’s Treasure Cove (countyparkfriends.org/jadestpark.html), which is a planned universally accessible playground.

SANTA CRUZ

New hours at Venus Spirits

The Venus Spirits tasting room (200 High Road, 831-600-7376, venusspirits.com/tastingroom) has new hours. It is now open 3-8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1-8 p.m. Saturday and 1-7 p.m. Sunday. Stay in the loop on Instagram @venusspirits.

APTOS

Persephone hosts Japanese popup

Persephone (7945 Soquel Drive, 831-612-6511, persephonerestaurant.com) is hosting the popup Le Jaja on Oct. 28 and Nov. 4. There are no reservations; it’s first come, first served from 4 p.m. to sellout. The menu is described as “Izakaya and Vin Vivant” with Japanese-inspired small bites, ramen and natural wines from across the world. Chef Gavin Honda is leading the popup. His experience includes time in France and Japan. Learn more on Instagram @persephone_restaurant or @gavinhonda.

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.