Tag Archives: East Side Eatery
Santa Cruz County food/drink closures & changes, as of March 19, 2020

photo courtesy of HOME web site
Hi everyone – I wanted to help share some information in this unprecedented environment. As this is constantly evolving and I don’t have the time or resources to gather everything at once, I am starting with one list today & including hours where I have them.
I will add a second list soon, with more in each of these categories, and try to do revised and/or additional lists in the days to come. I wish you all continued good health.
Please email me at tara@santacruzfoodie.com if you have information to share, that I can add to future lists/articles (I have some more ready to share but if I keep typing I will never finish & be able to share these).
Grocery stores
- New Leaf Community Markets reduced hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, newleaf.com
- Trader Joe’s reduced hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, traderjoes.com
- Safeway: reduced hours depending on location, safeway.com/
Farmer’s Markets – these are currently open:
Downtown Santa Cruz Wednesday
Aptos/Cabrillo College Saturday
Westside SC Saturday
Live Oak Sunday
Restaurants
Alderwood: reopening Tuesday with takeout and delivery menu, alderwoodsantacruz.com
Bad Animal Books: Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday from 4-7 p.m., take-out “family meals” with curbside pick up. Emergency first responders get a 50% discount. Order at badanimalbooks.com.
Blue Bunny Tacos: closed until further notice
Charlie Hong Kong: noon-9 p.m., takeout (curbside pickup). They will cater & deliver to serve first responders, medical/hospital staff & government workers, charliehongkong.com
Dharma’s: closed for the foreseeable future.
East Side Eatery from Pleasure Pizza: 11 a.m.-8 p.m., takeout/delivery only, with curbside pickup for online orders, pleasurepizzasc.com
Home: takeout with curbside pickup, taking phone orders between 1-6pm, 831-431-6131, homesoquel.com
La Posta: takeout with curbside pickup, lapostarestaurant.com
Lago di Como Ristorante & Pizzeria: takeout/delivery including free delivery to limited areas, menu with family-size options through April 7, lagodicomoristorante.com
Laili: takeout/delivery, lailirestaurant.com
Nick the Greek: takeout/delivery, nickthegreeksj.com/locations
Panda Express: takeout and delivery, pandaexpress.com
Pasatiempo Golf Course: MacKenzie Bar & Grill is closed until further notice; Hollins House is doing take-out dinner. thehollinshouse.com/restaurant
Pono Hawaiian Grill: closing downtown location for the foreseeable future
Shadowbrook: closing until at least April 7.
Soif: takeout with curbside pickup, soifwine.com
Surf City Sandwich: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., takeout or delivery, see surfcitysandwich.com.
Tortilla Flats: closed until further notice
Vim Dining & Desserts: closed until further notice
Zameen: all branches will be closed through at least Sunday.
Breweries & wineries
- Big Basin Vineyards closed the Boulder Creek and Saratoga tasting rooms until further notice.
- Humble Sea Brewing Co. is to-go only.” Hours are Monday-Thursday 2-7 p.m. and Friday-Sunday noon to 7 p.m. Visit humblesea.com.
- Sante Adairius is offering to-go sales, from noon to 6 p.m. daily. Visit rusticales.com.
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Homeless Garden Project food events in Santa Cruz

Tomato, Thai basil & mozzarella bites will be available at HGP’s Pop Up Store Sept. 1. Photo credit- HGP Facebook page
Homeless Garden Project has two Santa Cruz events coming up that sound positively delicious.
Friday, Sept. 1, 5:30-8 p.m.: Tomato & Friends HoeDown
Homeless Garden Project invites the community to its Pop Up Store for a “taste of the Farm.” Attendees can taste—fresh from the vine—goodies like tomatoes, tomatillos and padron peppers. There will also be special treats created by HGP’s Enterprise Manager, Angie Smith, including tomato, Thai basil & mozzarella bites and blistered padrons with avocado crema. Plus, enjoy live music by Anthony Reyes. In addition to being HGP’s Farm Manager, Reyes is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who plays traditional roots/ Americana inspired music while incorporating elements of classical, jazz, and blues. Read more on HGP’s Facebook page.
Location: 30 W Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
Saturday, Sept. 16, 3:30-7 p.m.: Homeless Garden Project benefit dinner
HGP is holding an organic benefit dinner at its farm, the latest in its Sustain Farm Dinner series. Sustain is a seasonal gourmet dinner series featuring organic produce from the farm, wine pairings, and guest speakers discussing sustainable topics. This time the keynote speaker is Tom Steyer, founder & president of NextGen America. The admission fee, $150, benefits HGP. Read more and purchase tickets online.
A different chef will prepare each of the dinner’s four courses. Derek Rupp, Owner and Chef at East Side Eatery, will prepare flatbread pizza appetizers. Sara LaCasse, Chef Consultant for Earthbound Farms, is preparing Farm lettuces and herbs with pickled farm vegetables in ginger vinaigrette, while Passionfish owner/chef Ted Walter will create an entrée of chili-lime chicken served with grilled corn, Early Girl tomatoes and Cotija cheese. Aubergine pastry chef Yulanda Santos is providing dessert: zucchini cake with roasted strawberries and lavender-lemon cremeux.
In 2007, Steyer and his wife, Kat Taylor, founded Beneficial State Bank, an Oakland-based nonprofit bank that invests any profits back into the community. They are committed to sustainable farming practices through Pescadero’s TomKat Ranch, an 1800-acre cattle ranch that produces grass-fed and finished, pasture-raised beef. “Programs like the Homeless Garden Project are crucial to combating homelessness and ensuring all Californians have access to educational opportunities, job training and stable housing,” says Steyer. “In California, we have a responsibility to care for our most vulnerable communities, and that’s why we must continue to fight for progressive policy solutions.”
Location: HGP Farm, Shaffer Road at Delaware Avenue, Santa Cruz
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Pleasure Point Street Fair: family-friendly benefit with great food and drinks
Next Saturday is the fourth annual Pleasure Point Street Fair in Santa Cruz, with a variety of local food and drinks for sale. The event, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Portola Drive between 38th and 41st Avenues, has free admission.
The fair includes two stages with eight bands, a kids’ area, and nearly 100 vendors selling arts, crafts, and food.
Food and drinks include:
— Ate3One Food Truck: Philly Cheese Steak, Vegetarian Cheese Steak, Poke Nachos, New Bohemia Brewing Co’s Pulled Pork, Naughty Fries
— Pono Hawaiian Grill Food Truck: Poke Bowls with seaweed salad and rice, poke plate, 2 different fish, pork bowls: Kahlua pork, kimchi and rice, spam musubi, charsiu pork manapua, poke salad (3 different poke with seaweed salad, carrots and purple cabbage)
— Zameen’s Mediterranean Food Truck: gyro, red chili chicken wrap, pulled pork sandwich, roasted sweet potato wrap, strawberry and goat cheese salad, sweet potato fries.
— New Leaf Community Markets: Fresh Salads, Sandwiches and rice bowls
— Lucy’s Hot Dogs: Hot dogs and sausages
— Real Good Fish: Salmon/Avocado Poke, Smoked Salmon, Salmon Collars & Fins
— Santa Cruz Fish Company: Fish Tacos
— Conscious Creations: Acai Bowls, Coconut Water, Yerba Mate, Rice Bowls, Combo Plate, Wraps and Tacos
— Pleasure Point Business Association: Burgers and Veggie Burgers
— Expanded Beer and Wine Garden: New Bohemia Brewing Co’s lagers and New Leaf’s private label Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
— Misc: kettle popcorn, shave ice, organic cotton candy, vegan gelato, ice cream, donuts, dip n’ dots
The kids’ zone will includes crafts with Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery and Woodworm Party Store plus face painting.
Live music at the fair will include Americana, rock, blues, surf and reggae performers such as Coffee Zombie Collective and UTurn. Other highlights include a skateboard contest organized by the Santa Cruz Boardroom.
The nonprofit beneficiary of this year’s fair is the Jay Moriarty Foundation (last year’s was Surfrider; the year before that was the Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group). The Moriarty Foundation will receive $2,500. In addition, “Jay Week” features a different activity each day to support the foundation.
Here are some food/drink highlights:
- Mon June 20—East Side Eatery is donating a portion of the evening’s sales
- Tues June 21—The Hideout is donating a portion of the day’s sales
- Wed June 22—Zameen Restaurant and New Bohemia Brewing Co. are both donating a portion of sales (the latter via Pints with a Purpose)
- Thurs June 23—Chill Out Cafe is donating a portion of the day’s sales
The Jay Moriarity Foundation was created “in the spirit of legendary waterman Jay Moriarity to support local programs that improve the quality of life for our community and environment, and educate and assist our youth.”
Details: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, June 25
Location: Portola Drive between 38th & 41st Avenues
Follow me on Twitter @santacruzfoodie.
Lots of food & drinks at Saturday’s family-friendly Pleasure Point Street Fair in Santa Cruz
This Saturday is the third annual Pleasure Point Street Fair in Santa Cruz, with a variety of local food and drinks for sale. The event, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Portola Drive between 38th and 41st Avenues, has free admission.
The fair includes two stages with nine bands, a kids’ area, and more than 75 vendors selling arts, crafts, local services, and food. Food selections include products from New Leaf Community Markets, East Side Eatery, Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine, The Point Chophouse, Lucy’s Hot Dogs, Surf City Sandwiches, and India Gourmet. A beer and wine garden will offer traditional European-style craft lagers and pale ales from Capitola’s New Bohemia Brewing Co. and several wine selections from Bonny Doon Vineyard.
The kids’ area will have face painting, crafts, and a photo book. Kids between 3-8 can also play at June Bugs Gym on Portola for $10/hour.
Bands at the fair include reggae, rock, and funk musicians. The headliners are Coffee Zombie Collective at the New Leaf Stage and El Cuadro Verde at the NuBo Stage, both performing at 3:30 p.m. I saw Coffee Zombie Collective perform last month as they received a 2015 NEXTtie award and they were fun and fantastic. Here is the full music schedule.
Other highlights include a skateboard contest organized by the Santa Cruz Boardroom, and a dunk-a-surfer dunk tank. Proceeds from this activity and from other parts of the event will be donated to Surfrider Foundation. The 2014 Pleasure Point Street Fair donated $2,000 to the Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group. The Pleasure Point Business Association presents the event. David Adams, Association president, is excited about this year’s fair, which, he promises, will be “bigger and better.”
For more information, call 419-8433 or visit pleasurepointstreetfair.com.
Details: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, June 27
Location: Portola Drive between 38th & 41st Avenues
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Great 2013 Gourmet Grazing festival raised money for Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group

Asian Tuna Tartare on rice crisp & slaw with candied ginger peanut dressing from The Chef’s Table. Photo courtesy of SCCBG
The annual Gourmet Grazing on the Green features a wonderful atmosphere, amazing food, and lots of delicious wine and beer. The 10th annual Gourmet Grazing, a sell-out, was held Saturday Sept 21, 2013 and raised important funds for the Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group. Everyone had a great time, even with the rainy weather! Read my preview article.
If you missed it this year, I recommend planning ahead for 2014. Buy your tickets early, either online or at New Leaf Markets. Because only a limited number of tickets are sold, the festival doesn’t get overly crowded. It’s enjoyable for families (I brought my young daughter) and individuals of all ages.
Here are some highlights from the 2013 festival to whet your appetite for 2014!
Food
- Café Rio: Rio Prawn Spring Roll with mung bean noodles, sprouts, carrots, green onion, basil, and mint
- Johnny’s Harborside: Gazpacho Seafood Cocktail with Calamari, Scallops and Shrimp and garnished with Baby Romaine and a Watermelon Radish
I must confess I had seconds of both of the above; they were that good!
- The Whole Enchilada / Haute Enchilada: Delicious and refreshing Peruvian Ceviche with shrimp, Peruvian corn, onion, clam juice, sweet potato, mango, cilantro, habanero chile, and fresh lime juice.
- East Side Eatery (Pleasure Pizza’s newest spot): Chicken Pozole which was hearty and satisfying, especially given the weather. It had a fun “add your own toppings” spin including green onions, queso fresco, and jalapenos. Apparently the version at the restaurant itself also includes avocados, so I’m sure it’s even better there!
- Fresh Prep Kitchens: Mushroom and Asparagus Quinoa Risotto
- The Chef’s Table: Asian Tuna Tartare on rice crisp & slaw with candied ginger peanut dressing (see photo)
- Severino’s: Lobster Ravioli in a cherry-white wine-cream sauce
- MacKenzie Bar & Grill at Pasatiempo: Pulled pork slider with coleslaw (very addicting!)
- Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine: Lamb & Beef Gyro Wrap with heirloom tomatoes, lettuce & tzatziki sauce, served with Beet Salad
- Solaire at Hotel Paradox: Sous vide shortrib over sweet polenta
Beer and Wine
- Kathryn Kennedy: the winery poured a few exclusive bottles of their 2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, for the lucky few that had a chance to taste before it was all gone!
- Santa Cruz Ale Works: Santa Cruz AleWorks IPA, Santa Cruz AleWorks Kolsch
- MYKA Cellars: 2012 Mitzi Unoak Chardonnay, 2012 Malbec Dry Rose, 2011 Kane Cabernet Sauvigonon
- Santa Cruz Mounting Brewing: Madame Grey – Milk Honey Stout infused with earl grey, Fresh Hop Black IPA, Wilder Wheat
SCCBG has funded cancer research and local groups — including many that support people living with cancer — since 1995. The organization was started by a small group of friends who used to play tennis together once a week; they had each lost a relative or friend to cancer and wanted to do something to make a difference. The first event the group hosted was a Spring Forward Against Cancer Tennis Tournament and Celebration; these tournaments are still held each year. Proceeds from SCCBG’s events, including this year’s Gourmet Grazing, benefit these local cancer support and research organizations: Hospice of Santa Cruz County, Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support and Services, The Katz Cancer Resource Center, UCSC Cancer Research, and WomenCARE.
On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.