WATSONVILLE

Restaurant Ella’s at the Airport closes its doors

Ella’s at the Airport (100 Aviation Way) has suddenly and permanently closed. A message posted on social media last week announced, “Due to unexpected circumstances, we’ve made the difficult decision to close.” The owners also thanked the team and its guests for their support.

The restaurant had been open since 2015. Original owner T. Ella King, who opened her first restaurant Café Ella in 2007, sold Ella’s at the Airport to new owners in 2022.

SOQUEL

Emozioni hosts outdoor pizza party

Emozioni Pasticceria is hosting a party, Napoli Pizza Popup, from 4-8 p.m. Friday at the courtyard in front of its pizzeria and bakery (2841 Porter St. Suite B). Admission is free, and items including pizza, pastries and gelato will be for sale. There will also be music. Learn more on Instagram @emozionipasticceria.

Hanloh earns accolade

Downtown restaurant Hanloh Thai, led by chef Lalita Kaewsawang, received recognition on the L.A. Times Top 101 California Restaurants list, which was recently released. The only Santa Cruz restaurant to make the list, Hanloh Thai has been open since 2022 at 1011 Cedar St. as a residency inside Bad Animal, which is a natural wine bar and used/rare bookshop.

Restaurant critic Bill Addison included these comments: “Lalita serves a monthly rotating menu of studied dishes that often includes Monterey Bay cod in herb-fragrant broth. May such an enterprise grace every community in California.” To make reservations or learn more, visit linktr.ee/hanlohthaifood.

Menu changes at Tramonti

Tramonti, at 528 Seabright Ave., recently added a few menu items including mussels Marinieres, lobster-crab-asparagus ravioli and braised short ribs and polenta. “Also, burrata and caponata, roast beef carpaccio and Branzino are back by popular demand,” says co-owner Luca Viara. “We have two new California wines served by the carafe, and we still have our Tramonti Boxes for $22.” These entrée and salad combinations are available to-go anytime, and for dine-in at lunchtime.

Drinks include Sangria, an extended mocktail list and non-alcoholic and regular beer and wine. Hours are noon to 3 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon to 3 p.m. and 4:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. For reservations, call 831-426-7248 or visit tramontisantacruz.com.

The Point completes patio renovations

The Point Kitchen & Bar, at 3326 Portola Drive, recently revamped its patio. “We added new chairs, shades, heaters, and fresh plants and even gave the wooden fence a beautiful new stain,” says General Manager Erick Gonzalez.

Also, since the restaurant won second place for its clam chowder in February’s Boardwalk cook off, it has served the award-winning soup for about 10 days each month. The 2025 competition was the first time The Point had entered.For information or reservations call 831-476-2733 or visit thepointkitchenandbar.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Tickets on sale for Wine Walk

Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Surf City Vintners are presenting the Surf City Wine Walk from 1-4 p.m. July 12. Attendees will enjoy wine poured in designated tasting locations on Swift Street, including wineries plus Gazelle Bikes Experience Center and Illuminée Studio.

Big Basin Vineyards, Bottle Jack Wines, David Bruce Winery, Inversion Wines, Madson Wines, Rexford Winery, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, Silver Mountain Vineyards, Sones Cellars and Stockwell Cellars are participating. Buy tickets for $50 at winesofthesantacruzmountains.com/events/surfcityww/ in advance. Tickets increase to $55 the day of the event.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Bay Area Burger Week continues

As we reported last week, Bay Area Burger Week, which lasts until June 29, features restaurants in many counties including more than a dozen in Santa Cruz, Capitola, Felton, Scotts Valley and Aptos. Learn more at bayareaburgerweek.com/restaurants.

Highlights from two eateries: Pono is offering The Flying Pig with Hawaiian pulled pork, grilled Spam, grilled pineapple, island slaw, Pono Island Chili Crunch, and teriyaki drizzle on a King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bun with a side of french fries. The Salty Otter Sports Grill is doing three burger specials including Funnelicious (funnel cake waffles as buns) and Sticky Bourbon Bacon.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Wine tasting at Pelican Ranch

Pelican Ranch Winery, at 2364 Bean Creek Road, is offering tasting of chilled wines from 1-6 p.m. Saturday, which are the winery’s new summer hours. Snacks are available from the onsite pizza kitchen.

Also, owner Phil Crews invites customers to “grab Solstice Wine Packs (six- or 12-bottle specials) ready to take away at unbeatable prices.” For details, call 831-332-5359 or visit pelicanranch.com.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Skypark food truck series continues Friday

The monthly Scotts Valley Food Truck Friday series continues 5-8 p.m. Friday at Skypark (361 Kings Village Road). Sales at the beer and wine garden benefit the Scotts Valley Education Foundation. Participating food trucks are S.C. Eatery, Tacos El Jesse, Italia Fire, Pana, Scrumptious Fish and Chips, Spontaneous Confections, Solstice Foods and the Rollin Snack Shack. The event features live music and face painting. For details, visit foodtrucksagogo.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Bittersweet drink and treat block party on tap

Collective Santa Cruz and 11th Hour Coffee are collaborating for the Bitter Buzz Block Party from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday on Chestnut Street and Squid Row. Admission is free.

Participating drink vendors include 11th Hour with cupping and flights, Sante Adairius Rustic Ales with a special IPA beer release and Bitter Ginger with mocktails. Food specials include ones from Back Door Banh Mi and Chubbs Chicken and sweets vendors include Benni Pops and Dani O Bakeshop. Other vendors will sell goods like jewelry, and Brenda’s Face Painting and Pet Shop Santa Cruz (with snakes and reptiles) will be present.

Visit Collective Santa Cruz on Instagram @collectivesantacruz for more details.

SANTA CRUZ

Menu additions at Hokkaido

Hokkaido Ramen House, at 1901 Mission St., is now serving milk tea, fruit tea and lemonade. Selections include brown sugar tea latte with crystal boba, passion fruit refresher tea and rose blossom lemonade. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Call the restaurant at 831-439-2021 or order online at clover.com/online-ordering/hokkaido-ramen-house-santa-cruz.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

News from Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets

Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets announced a benefit increase for Market Match customers at the downtown market, which moved to Cedar Street — from Walnut to Church — earlier this month. Thanks to a grant from Kaiser Permanente, customers with CalFresh/EBT cards (formerly known as food stamps) can receive up to $20 in matching funds when they swipe a card for tokens. Matching funds are usable for fresh produce only. This offer is valid from July 2 through the end of 2025.

There is a clear need for Market Match; since the program launched at the downtown market in May 2020, the average number of weekly EBT participants has increased from 35 to 200.

Also, the Scotts Valley market, which is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the Boys & Girls Clubs parking lot (5060 Scotts Valley Drive), offers free FoodShed Project activities this week. The theme is Summer Sweets and highlights include the opportunity to use a bicycle-powered blender to make a smoothie.

Visit the website at santacruzfarmersmarket.org for information.

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.