SANTA CRUZ

Japanese Cultural Fair on deck

The 2025 Japanese Cultural Fair is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Mission Plaza (103 Emmett St.). Admission is free. Attendees can enjoy Japanese food, crafts (including the chance to see food carving art), culture (folk dancing and martial arts demos) and music including two Taiko drumming troupes.

Local food vendors will include Maido Catering, Zen Natural, Sushi Market Sprouts, Kaito Ramen and Watsonville Taiko with dishes such as rice bowls, sushi, musubi rice balls, udon and yakisoba noodles. Mume Farm will sell vegan baked goods, umeboshi and more.

Also, there will be sweets including Taiyaki from the Zen Center and ice cream from the Japanese Cultural Fair. Learn more at jcfsantacruz.org.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Voting for New Leaf beneficiaries underway

It’s time for New Leaf Community Markets’ customers to vote for the new set of local nonprofit beneficiaries of New Leaf’s Envirotoken program. Every time customers reuse a grocery bag at New Leaf, they receive a token worth 10 cents to direct to one of six nonprofits selected by voters at that specific store. These are in the fields of K-12 education, environmental stewardship and hunger relief.

Customers need to vote online by June 17 at newleaf.com/vote. The results will be announced in early July. Since the Envirotoken program was launched 32 years ago, New Leaf has donated over $1.4 million to nonprofits.

APTOS

Food Bank wine fundraiser on deck

The Second Harvest Auxiliary is hosting a wine tasting fundraising event for Second Harvest Food Bank (thefoodbank.org) June 22 at Seascape Beach Resort (1 Seascape Resort Drive). Participating local wineries include Big Basin Vineyards, Kathryn Kennedy Winery, Silver Mountain Vineyards, Birichino Winery and 13 others.

Sip for Second Harvest tickets are $75 for general admission (eight tasting tickets) and $125 for VIP admission at thefoodbank.org/sip25. VIP benefits include special appetizers, a swag bag, a private seating area and more. All proceeds help Second Harvest provide healthy food and nutrition education to local individuals and families in need.

APTOS

Menu additions at Cavalletta

Cavalletta, at 9067 Soquel Drive, recently launched a new menu which includes clams and pancetta pizza plus Early Girl tomato salad with greens, pistachio pesto, burrata, shallots, balsamic glaze, basil and oregano vinaigrette.

Hours are 5-9 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday, and 4:30-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Call 831-661-5010 or visit cavallettarestaurant.com for details and reservations.

BOULDER CREEK

Breakfast expansion at Scopazzi’s

Scopazzi’s Restaurant (13300 Big Basin Way), is now serving breakfast, including omelets, starting at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday-Sunday. In the past, breakfast was only served on Sunday.

Also, there is a new breakfast special: bacon or sausage plus eggs with toast and muffin for $9.95.Lunch starts at noon, and dinner begins at 4 p.m. Call 831-338-6441 or visit scopazzisrestaurant.com for details.

CAPITOLA

New hours at Yogurtland

Yogurtland (831-462-3100) has new hours for the summer. It’s now open from noon to 9 p.m. daily. Visit the store at 1955 41st Ave. Suite A4.

Chocolate adds taco happy hour

Chocolate (1522 Pacific Ave., 831-427-9900, chocolatesantacruz.com) is now offering taco happy hour. It’s from 5-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Friday. Margaritas, made with fresh-squeezed lime juice and Arette premium tequila are $10. Tacos are $5 each.

La Toscana Cru wine night at La Posta

On June 18, La Posta (538 Seabright Ave.) is opening special large format bottles of Tuscan wine: Villa Sant’Anna, Piemaggio Società Agricola, Cantine Dei, Az.Ag. Lisini and Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto. “So many people would love to taste wines from large format bottles, older vintages and small production vineyards,” says owner Patrice Boyle. “By opening a curated selection of large bottles once a quarter, folks can try as much or little as they like, and order anything off the menu: no wine dinner, no large fee for a choreographed tasting. My aim is to make it easier.”

Reservations are recommended at 831-457-2782 or LaPostaRestaurant@gmail.com.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Pinot Noir blending and tasting

Pelican Ranch Winery (2364 Bean Creek Road) is hosting Pinot Noir Blending Challenge from noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $15 or free for wine club members. Attendees will “step into the role of winemaker and craft their own ‘super clone’ Pinot Noir blend. Once finished, participants can compare their creations to Pelican’s own 2021 blend.” Tools such as lab test tubes will be provided.

Reservations are recommended; call or text winemaker Phil Crews at 831-332-5359. Learn more at pelicanranch.com.

ROYAL OAKS

Open house at Garden Variety Cheese

Garden Variety Cheese, led by Rebecca King, is hosting an open house at the farm (Monkeyflower Ranch, 1481 San Miguel Canyon Road) from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. There will be cheese to taste, a milking parlor and creamery tours and a tie-dye T-shirt workshop from noon to 3 p.m. ($25, includes shirt).

Attendees can meet lambs and buy food featuring Monkeyflower Ranch meats and Garden Variety sheep cheese. Beer and wine will be available, plus meat, yogurt, eggs and more to take home. The event is free except for a $10 per car parking fee. Learn more at gardenvarietycheese.com/openhouse.

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.