APTOS

Jack’s Bao restaurant closes its doors

The Aptos branch of Jack’s Bao (49 Rancho Del Mar) has abruptly and permanently closed. The venue, with a menu focused on steamed buns, soup dumplings and noodle wonton soups, had only been open since September 2024. The original Jack’s Bao location in Monterey (751 Cannery Row, jackbao.com), which opened in May 2024, remains open.

CAPITOLA

Coffee Conspiracy now open

Owner Eddie Alaniz recently opened Coffee Conspiracy in the former Starbucks location at Capitola Mall (1855 41st Ave. Suite F01). Hours to start are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. He plans to expand these down the line. Also, there will be occasional weekend popups in the future with rotating food and baked goods.

Alaniz formerly ran a downtown popup at 111 Locust St., which closed last September. He started Coffee Conspiracy in 2020. Alaniz roasts his own coffee (and sells packages) and sources only from family-run farms that pay fair wages. Visit coffeeconspiracy.co or follow Coffee Conspiracy on Instagram @coffeeconspiracyco for details.

APTOS

Menu additions at Persephone

Persephone (7945 Soquel Drive, 831-612-6511, persephonerestaurant.com) recently made a couple menu changes. Its signature Budino is now served with butternut puree, chanterelle mushrooms, fried shallots and balsamic reduction. Also, a new selection is burrata with pomegranate, Fuyu persimmons, Brussels sprouts and prosciutto. Hours are 5-8:30 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday.

WATSONVILLE

Salmon feed benefits students and programs

The Santa Cruz Fly Fishing Club is holding its annual fundraising dinner on Feb. 1 at the Pajaro Valley Rod and Gun Club (557 ½ Lakeview Road). There will be appetizers and a dinner of grilled wild-caught Alaskan salmon, and the evening includes door prizes and a raffle. The club holds this event to fund local and statewide wildlife habitat conservation efforts as well as local high school scholarships for students going to college with a focus on environmental degrees. Tickets are available in advance at santacruzflyfishing.org/product-category/annual-fundraiser or at the door if it’s not sold out. Cost is $40.

FELTON

The Grove hosts Lunar New Year event

The Grove Café and Bakery (6249 Highway 9, 831-704-7483, thegrovefelton.com) is hosting “Chopstix Revival: Lunar New Year” on Jan. 29. The event is from 6 p.m. until sold out, and it’s first come, first served. “This special evening pays homage to Chopstix Restaurant, the beloved eatery that once stood where The Grove is now,” says chef and owner Jessica Yarr, who invites the community to “celebrate with dishes and recipes inspired by Chopstix’s legacy.”

SANTA CRUZ

Beer, benefit on tap for women’s biking organization

The “She Adventures Film Tour,” a collection of short independent films celebrating adventurous women, is screening at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave. Cost is $21 and ticket buyers are invited to arrive at 6 p.m. and purchase beer pints from Sante Adairius Midtown Portal. A portion of ticket and beer sales will benefit the nonprofit Girls Rock (girlsrock-mtb.com). Visit riotheatre.com/events-2/2025/1/25/sheadventure for tickets and more information.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Wild edible plant walk on deck

Forage is hosting “Wild Edible Plants & Medicinals with Tea Party” from 2-5 p.m. on Jan. 30 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Attendees will join clinical herbalist and wild foods chef Alexandra Hudson for “a walk through local wild plants and medicinals in Santa Cruz. Learn, harvest and enjoy a tea party made with the plants you gather. Perfect for all levels.” The cost is $90. Learn more and register at foragesf.com. The business also hosts mushroom foraging walks in Santa Cruz and Los Gatos (ones in the near future are sold out), and hands-on cooking classes with acorns and bay nuts, including one in Los Gatos on Jan. 31.

Erik’s DeliCafé hosts Aptos History Museum benefit

Erik’s DeliCafé is holding a Dine for a Day Fundraiser for the Aptos History Museum from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Customers can order in person or online at order.eriksdelicafe.com (choose the Aptos location, 102 Rancho Del Mar, 831-688-5656). A portion of sales will be donated to the Aptos History Museum for rent and operational costs “to help keep their doors open and continue to serve the community.”

Equinox closes, becomes Private Press Brewing tasting room

Owner Jennifer Jackson has closed the Equinox Wine Cellars tasting room at 334 Ingalls St. Suite C (in the Swift Street Courtyard). Her husband Barry Jackson, winemaker for Equinox, died unexpectedly in September at the age of 72.

Private Press Brewing will be opening a small tasting room at this location in the next few months. “The high-gravity barrel-aged beers of Private Press will be poured on site,” says owner Brad Clark, who also co-owns Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing with business partner Adair Paterno (owner of Sante Adairius Rustic Ales). “Private Press started in 2019 as a membership-based brewery crafting malt forward beer styles that are aged in spirit barrels and blended,” adds Clark. Private Press has operated with no tasting room for the past five years selling beer quarterly to 800 members.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Scrumptious Fish and Chips popups

Scrumptious Fish and Chips (scrumptiousfc.com) has upcoming popups. It will be at Scotts Valley’s Steel Bonnet Brewing from 4-8 p.m. Friday and Jan. 31 and at Humble Sea Brewing Co.’s Westside Santa Cruz location from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Also, the food truck recently added a menu item, its first-ever dessert: apple fritters. They are made with Granny Smith apples, beer batter and topped with powdered sugar.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Sugar Bakery physical storefront temporarily closed

As we mentioned in November, Sugar Bakery is moving to 2750 41st Ave. Suite E, Soquel (the former site of Crumbl Cookies, in the same plaza as Safeway) in the future. It was formerly at the Capitola Mall food court; the shop closed a few days ago after more than two years. The new location is much larger. Sugar Bakery is known for sweets like macarons, cake, brownies and cookies. The Soquel location’s opening date is to be announced. Stay in the loop by following Sugar Bakery on Instagram @SugarBakeryCo (where you can also message to place orders) or by visiting sugarbakeryco.com.

News from Anouchka Bakery

Anouchka Bakery (anouchkabakery.com) is featuring lemon sugar cookies this month. It is also currently offering chocolate chunk scones, iced cinnamon rolls and more. Place orders online, via email (anna@anouchkabakery.com), or phone (831-234-9949). Order each week by Thursday at 10 a.m. for Friday pickup (at Botanic and Luxe downtown) or local delivery.

Also, the bakery is popping up at the Westside Santa Cruz farmers market on Saturday.

Charlie Hong Kong donates to Gault School

Charlie Hong Kong (1141 Soquel Ave., 831-426-5664, charliehongkong.com) will contribute a portion of the day’s proceeds to Gault Elementary School on Monday. Customers do not need to mention any fundraiser. The donation will support programs and resources for Gault. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

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.