SANTA CRUZ

The Chocolate Studio pop-up now open

Chef Stephen Baumier has opened café The Chocolate Studio at 912 Cedar St., the former site of Flower Bar. It’s in a soft launch stage, selling treats like baked goods from Dani O Bakeshop (bread and pastries including chocolate croissants with White Label chocolate batons), White Label chocolate bars (like 58% salted brown butter milk) and Mutari Craft chocolate (like dark sipping chocolate to enjoy at the café, confections sold by the piece including truffles and bottled hot chocolate mix to make at home). Coffee and espresso from Ikon Roastery is also available. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. The Chocolate Studio will be open until at least April; for now, it’s billed as a “three-month popup.” Stay in the loop by following on Instagram @thechocolatestudiosantacruz.

Beaumier plans to expand The Chocolate Studio’s offerings in the near future. Savory selections plus cheese and charcuterie will be on the menu soon, as will beer, wine and a large variety of non-alcoholic drinks, including elevated handmade sodas. Beaumier says his vision for The Chocolate Studio is “similar to a Parisian café.”

Mutari, led by Katy Oursler, is launching weekly Friday pickups at the café in early March for Mutari’s brownies and cookies. Watch for details on IG @mutarichocolate. Available with advance ordering, these were extremely popular when Mutari used to have a café on Front Street. Also, Mutari’s website (mutarichocolate.com) is taking orders for select products for local delivery, pick up and shipping nationwide.

MOSS LANDING

The Haute Enchilada closes its doors

Café and gallery The Haute Enchilada (7902 Moss Landing Road) has closed. After a temporary closure in January, it reopened again, but the owner just announced this new, immediate closure. “The January 16 fire incident at the nearby Moss Landing battery storage facility, as well as the new fire incident on February 18 have made it impossible for us to continue public operations,” read part of a statement posted by the restaurant on social media. “The recent fires at the Vistra facility have introduced uncertainties that we cannot overlook. We hope to welcome you back when it’s safe. In the interim, we intend to limit the use of our space to private events only. Stay updated by visiting hauteenchilada.com.” The Haute Enchilada has served customers for more than 20 years.

SOQUEL

Golden Fu Wah becoming Fuji Sushi

Restaurant Golden Fu Wah (4610 Soquel Drive, 831-515-7508), open since 2015, has become Fuji Sushi. During a transition period, the owners are still serving Golden Fu Wah’s Chinese menu while adding the new Fuji Sushi menu. In the future, only the Fuji menu will be available. Selections include sashimi, sushi and ramen. Lunch options include teriyaki or sushi bento boxes served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Restaurant hours are 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, 4-9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 4-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

SOQUEL

Sugar Bakery now open

Sugar Bakery is now serving customers at 2750 41st Ave. Suite E (the former site of Crumbl Cookies, in the same plaza as Safeway). Items for sale include macarons in several flavors, chocolate chip cookies, brownies and honey cake. Hours are currently 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (closed Mondays); they will expand in the future. The bakery used to be at the Capitola Mall food court; it closed in December to prepare for the move to this much larger location. Stay in the loop by following Sugar Bakery on Instagram @SugarBakeryCo or visiting sugarbakeryco.com.

BEN LOMOND

Dreamers now serving customers

Dreamers (9217 Highway 9, 831-289-3012), which opened earlier this month, serves breakfast and lunch from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Breakfast selections include omelets, scrambles and Salisbury steak and eggs. Lunch options include housemade burgers and brown sugar baked beans. The owners plan to add dinner service in the near future, probably between 5-7 weeks from now. Dreamers is housed in the former location of Casa Nostra.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Burger Week begins Wednesday

Santa Cruz Burger Week returns Wednesday until March 9, with 35 restaurants offering $12, $15 or $18 burger specials. Here are a few highlights: Chunk’s Sandwiches (two options including a collaboration with neighbor Cheese Shop 831 featuring an 8-ounce burger with Italian Taleggio DOP cheese, bacon, house-made aioli and more), Bruno’s Bar and Grill (three selections including The Fig Lebowski with Calabrese peppers, brie, fig preserves and bacon) and Oblò Cocktails & Kitchen (three selections including a vegan portobello burger with toppings like avocado aioli, tofu and arugula). Learn more at santacruzburgerweek.com.

APTOS

Pino Alto Restaurant reopens

Restaurant Pino Alto (Sesnon House, 6500 Soquel Drive), which the Cabrillo College Culinary Arts Department operates, has re-opened. Lunch is available from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and dinner is served from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Lunch selections include salad, soup, burgers and sandwiches; dinner choices include appetizers and entrees (including vegetarian options). Call 831-479-6524 for reservations, which are recommended but not required. Visit pinoaltorestaurant.org for more information including current menus.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Ocean2Table expands pickup options

Community supported fishery Ocean2Table, which offers fresh seafood with no subscription requirements, has expanded its local pickup options. Santa Cruz County customers can now pick up fresh fish for no extra fees at four locations, including three that are hosted by community members. These are in westside Santa Cruz, midtown Santa Cruz, Soquel and Felton. Delivery is still an option with fees starting at $7 and it’s offered on various days, depending what area you live in. In addition to seafood, Ocean2Table offers foraged mushrooms and several other produce items plus local chicken and dairy on a rotating basis. Learn more and sign up for email alerts at getocean2table.com.

CAPITOLA

Pizza My Heart benefit for Teen Kitchen Project

The nonprofit Teen Kitchen Project is the beneficiary of a fundraiser March 4 at the Capitola branch of Pizza My Heart. The “Dine-for-TKP” event, where 30% of proceeds will be donated, is from 4-9 p.m. at 2180 41st Ave. Customers need to mention Teen Kitchen Project when they order in person, by phone at 831-475-6000 or include the code TK35 when ordering online at pizzamyheart.com. 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.

APTOS

Chili cook-off benefits homeless community

The eighth annual fundraiser to benefit shower trailers and more for local homeless men, women and children is from 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, Building 7000 at Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive. Titled The Great Chili Cook-Off, it’s hosted by the faith communities group Mid County Homeless Coalition. There will be chili, cornbread, dessert, drinks and live music. Attendees will vote for People’s Choice and judges will determine winners for beef, meat (not beef) and vegetarian chili. Cost is $20 and free for kids under 11. Get tickets at eventbrite.com/e/8th-annual-great-chili-cook-off-twin-lakes-church-tickets-1224366576389. For more information, contact 831-325-9615 or midcountyhomelesscoalition@gmail.com.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Inversion Winery to start trivia nights

Inversion Wines (75 Mount Hermon Road, 831-201-4892, inversionwines.com) is launching trivia nights. The first one is from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday. Regular hours at the winery are 4-8:30 p.m. Friday, 1-7 p.m. Saturday and 1-6 p.m. Sunday.

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.