Restaurant closures due to wharf collapse

On Dec. 23, a portion of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed during unexpected swells. Approximately 150 feet of the iconic structure was destroyed after having already been in the middle of a repair project to fix damages from earlier storms. Many businesses, including several food-related ones, will be closed for at least a few weeks. These include wine bar Vino by the Sea, candy store Marini’s (its other locations remain open) and restaurants Riva, Stagnaro Bros., Woodies, Firefish Grill, Makai, Gilda’s and Olitas.

APTOS

Green Papaya Authentic Thai now open

Green Papaya Authentic Thai opened in mid-December in the former location of Café Sparrow at 8042 Soquel Drive. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. The menu includes several traditional Thai soups (plus a specialty pumpkin variety), curry and noodle dishes and grilled selections like Thai BBQ chicken and a lamb chop marinated with Thai herbs. For more information or to place a takeout order, visit greenpapayaaptos.com or call 831-661-5102.

New Starbucks near Dominican Hospital

A new Starbucks location at 1520 Soquel Drive, across the street from Dominican Hospital, opened in early December. Hours are 4:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday, 4:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 831-621-8743 for details.

CAPTIOLA

New menu items at Busy Bees

Busy Bee’s Café & Catering (1200 41st Ave. Suite B in Begonia Plaza, 831-854-2212, busybeescafecatering.com) recently added a limited-time menu item: the Stinger Bee breakfast burrito. It features carnitas, eggs, onions, serrano peppers, cabbage, cheese, pan-fried potatoes and chipotle aioli. Based on customer demand, it may be added to the menu permanently.

Also new on the menu: mini-sized homemade pecan pies. Regular Busy Bee’s menu selections include biscuit sandwiches and freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Busy Bees will be closed on Wednesday Jan. 1. For details, follow on Instagram @busybeescafecatering or visit their official site.

SOQUEL

Vinocruz continues Wednesday buffet

Wine bar Vinocruz (4901 Soquel Drive, 831-426-8466, vinocruz.com) offers a Wednesday-only buffet. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Savory selections include quiche (vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices), tarts and focaccia bread pizza. Sweets include fruit tarts (such as lemon) and crumbles (like apple or triple berry). All the food is prepared by Adorable French Bakery. The unlimited buffet option costs $20. Or customers can choose a $15 option and select three items from the buffet. With both, you receive spring green salad, freshly sliced baguette and brie.Also, Vinocruz continues to rotate its wine selections. Caymus Vineyards, Mathis Wine, DeVincenzi Cellars and Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards are some of the wines currently being served.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Local Dungeness crab season finally starting

After several delays, the start of the commercial Dungeness crab season is Jan. 5. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife had postponed the season’s launch in order to prevent whales getting tangled up and stuck in fishing ropes. There is a condition with the announcement: Fleets will operate under a 50% trap reduction. This means less crab will be available, so customers should expect higher prices.

SANTA CRUZ

Hotel Paradox hosts Bookshop Santa Cruz mixer

The Bookshop Santa Cruz Winter Reading Program has a mixer at 7 p.m. Jan. 8 at Hotel Paradox (611 Ocean St., 831-425-7100, hotelparadox.com). This event is free and open to the public; food, drinks and books require additional fees. Visit bookshopsantacruz.com/wrp to read more about the program, which challenges adults to read three of the store’s eight recommended books by Feb. 28. Those who succeed will earn rewards from Pacific Cookie Company, Birichino Winery and Bookshop Santa Cruz. At the mixer, bookstore staff will give a brief presentation on each book selected for this year’s challenge and will be available to answer questions. Also, one of the eight authors — Ritu Mukerji — will be present.

SANTA CRUZ

Short-term closure at Hanloh

Hanloh Thai Food (1011 Cedar St., inside Bad Animal Books) is closed for a winter break from Dec. 30-Jan. 9. It will reopen on Jan. 10. Regular hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For details, visit linktr.ee/hanlohthaifood.

SANTA CRUZ

Menu changes at Fonda Felix

Fonda Felix (402 Ingalls St., 831-889-0653, fondafelix.com) recently added two items to its menu: bacon breakfast burritos and vegetarian breakfast burritos. Each comes with black beans, onion, potato, Monterey Jack cheese, eggs and spices.

There are also a couple new “limited time only” selections. These include “choripán in a blanket” (grilled sausage and chimichurri wrapped in a fluffy dough). Learn more on their website.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

News from Spontaneous Confections

The newest creation from pastry and confections business Spontaneous Confections, Dubai chocolate bars, is now available at two eateries: Togo’s in Scotts Valley (266 Mt. Hermon Road) and Beach Hut Deli in Santa Cruz (381 Soquel Ave.).

You can also order Spontaneous Confections’ desserts, including mini tart trios, through owners and Santa Cruz residents Justin and Stephanie Lenorovitz. Visit spontaneousconfections.com or message on Instagram via @spontaneousconfections. Spontaneous Confections also holds occasional popups around town.

SANTA CRUZ

Chubbs Chicken holiday closure

Chubbs Chicken Sandwiches (831-600-6813, chubbschickensandwiches.com) is closed for two weeks for the holidays. It will reopen Jan. 8, with its pickup window at 766 Chestnut St. (near 11th Hour Coffee). Regular hours are 5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. The business specializes in fried chicken sandwiches (regular and Nashville style) and also offers fried oyster mushroom sandwiches, gluten-free buns and sides like coleslaw and mac and cheese. Follow the eatery on Instagram @chubbschickensandwiches.

BIG SUR

Fungus Face-off tickets going fast

Limited tickets are available for the annual Fungus Face-off on Jan. 25. Cost is $135; purchase tickets at eventbrite.com/e/big-sur-foragers-festival-fungus-face-off-2025-tickets-1061539596509. Attendees can sample mushroom creations by a variety of chefs and drink wine from many wineries. The face-off, which is at Big Sur Lodge, 47225 CA-1, is a key attraction of the annual Big Sur Foragers Festival — which is Jan. 25-26. Face-off restaurant participants include ALTA Bakery, Big Sur Lodge, Café Carmel, Esalen, Fernwood, Post Ranch’s Sierra Mar and Rio Grill. Beverage providers include Bernardus Winery, Flywheel Wines, LadySomm, Scheid Family Wines, Twisted Roots and Wrath Wines.

For more information and tickets to all events, including mushroom hikes on Jan. 25-26, visit bigsurforagersfestival.org. As always, Big Sur Health Center will receive proceeds from the festival.

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.