SANTA CRUZ

Downtown farmers market moving to new location

The Wednesday afternoon downtown Santa Cruz farmers market, operated by the Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets (santacruzfarmersmarket.org), is moving to a new location in May: Cedar Street between Walnut and Church due to construction of a new mixed-use library project. This location is temporary and will probably last between two to four years. “It includes some exciting new design elements, community programming, events and vendors,” says Nicole Zahm, communication and programs manager for Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets. “Meanwhile, SCCFM continues to work with the city of Santa Cruz on a permanent location for this beloved market in the Downtown corridor.”

Also, there are two pop up breakfasts this summer at the Westside farmers market, and tickets are going on sale soon. The chefs will be Jessica Yarr of The Grove on July 26 and Rodrigo Serna of La Posta on Aug. 9. These Saturday morning sit-down events, which highlight talented local artisans and fresh seasonal ingredients from local farms, raise funds for Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets educational and food-access programs including the Foodshed Project and Market Match. Stay in the loop by either visiting the website to sign up for the email newsletter or regularly checking the website.

SANTA CRUZ

Tarros restaurant closes its doors

Tarros Mexican Restaurant (110 Walnut Ave.) has permanently closed. The venue, with a menu featuring dishes like mole enchiladas and chile relleno, had been serving food under the “Tarros” name since November. Previously, owner Noel Cardona operated the restaurant as CT Lights — with burgers, seafood, salad and more — from July through November 2024, after taking over the spot from the owners of Firefly Tavern. The location formerly housed 99 Bottles of Beer, which closed in 2020 after 28 years in business.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Hakouya adds miso cookies, natto to its offerings

Local business Hakouya, which makes miso and other fermented Japanese products, recently started selling homemade miso cookies and natto (fermented soybeans) at its regular farmers market appearances. So far, they have made miso cookies with chocolate chips, and they plan to make other flavors in the future. Hakouya appears weekly at the Saturday morning market at Cabrillo College and Sunday morning Live Oak market.

Products available include miso (varieties rotate), probiotic miso dressing and sauces (umami hot sauce, mushroom and onion), and Amazake — which are Japanese rice drinks — in flavors like ginger, horchata and matcha. Learn more at Hakouya.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Vegan Furutaya Bakery continues pop ups

Furutaya Bakery, led by local resident and Japan native Hana Frances Furuta, continues to accept preorders to pick up treats at her home-based pop ups on Saturdays. Customers can contact her via DM on Instagram @furutaya_bakery. Chef Hana launched her business in 2024. “Most of what I offer are old world — especially Nordic — vegan pastries,” says Furuta. A recent pop up included Lady Grey tea and dark chocolate bagels, Swedish semla (cardamom cream buns) filled with lingonberry preserves and ermine frosting; kanelstang, which are Danish cinnamon twists; and apfeltaschen, which are brioche buns filled with apples and raisins caramelized in butter and sugar. Also, she regularly offers Mediterranean focaccia with caramelized red onions, Kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes, artichokes and garlic butter.

FELTON

Bagel dogs available at J and M Sourdough Bagels

J and M Sourdough Bagels, which has a storefront inside hair salon Jayne & Co. (5980 Highway 9), recently started making mini sourdough bagel dogs. They are homemade and feature a choice of beef or vegan varieties. The J and M shop is open 7 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.

Also, Peoples Coffee in Santa Cruz continues to stock J and M products including bagels and cream cheese shmears, specialty bagel sandwiches and Detroit-style sourdough pizza made with J and M sourdough pizza dough.

WATSONVILLE

Staff of Life celebrates anniversary with giveaways

To celebrate the fourth anniversary of its Watsonville store, Staff of Life Natural Foods (906 E. Lake Ave., 831-726-0240) is offering giveaways and promotions all weekend. For those 21 and over, there will be free wine and beer tasting starting at noon, Friday-Sunday. Staff of Life is also hosting raffles, store demos and special sales each of the three days. Regular store hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

APTOS

Wine dinner with Byington Winery

Persephone (7945 Soquel Drive, 831-612-6511, persephonerestaurant.com) is hosting its first Winemaker’s Dinner of 2025 with Byington Winery at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Cost is $180 plus tax, tip and fees, in advance. The menu will feature five wine and food course pairings such as tuna carpaccio with fennel and cherry salad in passion fruit vinaigrette paired with Byington Tin Cross Sauvignon Blanc Pine Mountain 2023, and caramelized onion and fromage stuffed ravioli with pork sugo accompanied by Byington Estate Pinot Noir 2018. See full menu and get tickets at exploretock.com/persephone-restaurant-aptos/event/537937/tin-cross-byington-estate-wine-makers-dinner.

SOQUEL

Vinocruz, Adorable French Bakery announce closure

Wine bar Vinocruz (4901 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 831-426-8466, vinocruz.com) is leaving its current location. “After almost a decade of serving our wonderful customers, it brings a mixture of sadness and excitement to let everyone know that Vinocruz and Adorable French Bakery will be closing the Soquel location,” announced the business in an email newsletter. The last day of service is April 27. Meanwhile, it will continue weekly events like trivia Mondays and live music Thursdays.

Vinocruz Bistro and Adorable French Bakery (adorablefrenchbakery.com) will continue serving customers at the Scotts Valley location, 4402 Scotts Valley Drive, which opened last fall.

FELTON

The Grove expands hours

The Grove Café and Bakery (6249 Highway 9, 831-704-7483, thegrovefelton.com) is now open daily. New hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday (with happy hour from 3-6) and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Sunday brunch.

Also, starting in April, the venue is launching weekly Thursday neighborhood nights plus dinner service on Friday and Saturday featuring seasonal dishes and natural wines.

WATSONVILLE

Tickets on sale for July art and wine benefit

Tickets just went on sale for Art & Wine in the Garden with BirchBark, which will be held July 12 at Sierra Azul Nursery (2660 E. Lake Ave.). The annual event features food, wine and the opportunity to purchase jewelry, sculptures and more from several artists. Tickets are $95, which include food plus two drink tickets. Proceeds from ticket sales, as well as a portion of art sold, benefit BirchBark Foundation, a nonprofit that provides urgent financial assistance for life-saving veterinary care and grief support for those in need who have lost beloved pets. Learn more and buy tickets at birchbarkfoundation.org/birchbark-events-collection/2025/7/12/art-and-wine.

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.