SANTA CRUZ

NUBO shutters doors

The brewery and taproom New Bohemia Brewing Co. (1030 41st Ave., nubobrew.com), also known as NUBO, has shuttered its doors. Co-founder and brewmaster Dan Satterthwaite announced the closing on Instagram late last week, and included the fact he has brewed more than 100 different lagers and ales during the brewery’s nearly-nine-year tenure. He expressed gratitude for the wonderful support from the community, great staff, and lots of good memories. Satterthwaite also wrote, “My children are my focus of the future. Time is too short, and they will soon be creating their own destiny. I just want to share as much time as I can loving and laughing with them before they make their own way.”

SANTA CRUZ

Oblò Kitchen + Cocktails serving customers

As we reported last November, Café Mare — which had been open for 21 years — closed after the owner decided to retire. Marco Paoletti and Andrea Loporcaro, the owners of Sugo (which remains open), have opened the restaurant Oblò at this site (740 Front St.). Oblò means porthole in Italian. Appetizers include arancini, mussels and sauteed mushrooms. Entrees include filet mignon, lamb chops, mushroom risotto, seafood paella and a signature burger (with a ribeye meat patty, caramelized apple and onion, and more). There are several specialty cocktails plus mocktails, wine, and local beer. Hours are 4:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Call 831-600-7770 or visit oblosc.com for more information.

WATSONVILLE

Brewery Watsonville Public House now open

Watsonville Public House is in a soft opening stage at 625 Main St. It’s a nonprofit, community brewery that will donate a portion of proceeds to local nonprofits. Current hours are 4-8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The kitchen is not yet open; in the meantime, customers are welcome to bring in their own food (including tamales from neighboring restaurant The Tamal Factory). The drink menu includes beer, cider, wine and sparkling NA beverages. On March 1, Geezer Doggz will be selling bacon-wrapped Mexican hot dogs at the brewery. Learn more at watsonville.pub and follow Watsonville Public House on Facebook or Instagram @watsonville.pub.

SANTA CRUZ

Clam Chowder Cook-Off results

The annual Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook-Off, which benefited the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department, was last weekend. Here are some of the professional competition results as determined by a panel of judges. Seascape Golf Club’s team won first place in the Boston Category, followed by Latin Asian Fusion (a Campbell catering company) in second and Dream Inn’s Jack O’Neill Restaurant in third. Jack O’Neill also earned Best Theming for its booth. The Coasties team, composed of chefs from the U.S. Coast Guard, earned the top spot for Manhattan chowder. Redwood Sluggers (UCSC Dining) came in second, and Dominican Oaks was third. There were also People’s Choice awards, which were determined by attendees: Ideal Bar & Grill won for Boston, Redwood Sluggers for Manhattan. Learn about all the winners, including the amateur competition results, at beachboardwalk.com/Clam-Chowder-Cook-Off.

CORRALITOS

Pajaro Pastures offers subscriptions

The ecological ranch and farm Pajaro Pastures now offers a customizable subscription program. You can change items as often as you like and pause or cancel anytime. Subscribers commit to a $150 minimum per month and can receive monthly or twice-monthly orders. Items include grass-fed beef selections (filet mignon, carne asada, ground beef, brisket, and more), Heritage pork (tenderloin, pork belly, spicy Italian ground pork, etc.), pasture-raised lamb and chicken, and eggs. Pickup at Pajaro Pastures is free; delivery is also available ($8 for Santa Cruz County). Visit pajaropastures.com to learn more and sign up.

MOSS LANDING

Blossom’s Farm takes over former Windmill Farm site

As we reported last year, the owners of Moss Landing-based Windmill Farm — Ronald Donkervoort and Cate Geyer — announced plans to retire and move to Europe. They retired in January. Now the team behind Blossom’s Biodynamic Farm (blossomsfarm.com) in Aromas, Delmar McComb and Carin Fortin, are leasing the land formerly known as Windmill Farm and are going to keep growing the strawberries, carrots and other produce that Windmill was renowned for. They also bought the farm’s equipment.

APTOS

Aptos Vineyards, Café Sparrow partner for event

Aptos Vineyards and Café Sparrow are collaborating for a wine and food pairing event on March 28 at Café Sparrow (8042 Soquel Dr., 831-688-6238, cafesparrow.com). The cost is $175 per person. There will be five food courses and five locally made wines. Advance reservations are required by calling the restaurant.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Popups at Steel Bonnet Brewing Co.

A few food trucks are appearing at Steel Bonnet Brewing Co. (20 Victor Square, 831-454-8429, steelbon.net) in the near future. La Fenice Pizza pops up from 4-8 p.m. Friday, My Mom’s Mole appears from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, and Pizza Bones is there from 5-8 p.m. March 7 and 4-8 p.m. March 23. Other appearances include Scrumptious Fish & Chips from 4-8 p.m. March 8, 15, 22 and 29, and Cali Caracas from 3-7 p.m. March 9 and 16 plus 4-8 p.m. March 21.

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.