Quick Bites

Mother's Day preorders are open at Companion Bakeshop, for picking up on May 13 at the Westside Santa Cruz or Aptos location. Items available are a Mother's Day Basket ($100, filled with products like an apron, scone mix, honey, and more) and whole, gluten-free frittatas ($32 or $28, bacon or vegetarian). Order by May 11 at companionbakeshop.squarespace.com/preorders.

Firefly Tavern, which offers weekend brunch and daily lunch and dinner at 110 Walnut Ave. (former 99 Bottles of Beer location), opened a few days ago. Co-owner Hans Losee also owns Firefly Coffee House. The menu includes sandwiches (such as a double cheeseburger or pastrami with homemade pickles) and other dishes including Chopped Salad or Soba Noodle Sauté with chicken confit. Drinks include beer, wine, and wine-based cocktails. Current hours are 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 11 to 5 Sunday. For more information, follow Firefly Tavern on Instagram @firefly_tavern.

Cookbook author Nancy Singleton Hachisu, who many refer to as the most authoritative voice in Japanese home cooking, is appearing at Bookshop Santa Cruz at 7 p.m. on May 16. The event celebrates Hachisu's newest tome "Japan: The Vegetarian Cookbook," which features 250 recipes. This is more than a cookbook: she includes intriguing content like essays exploring culture and traditions associated with Japanese vegetarian food, and her experiences traveling across Japan.

Hachisu, who grew up in Northern California and spent many summers visiting Santa Cruz and Aptos, is married to a Japanese farmer, and has lived in Japan since 1988. She said she is very excited to return to Bookshop Santa Cruz, one of her favorite stores. Bookshop Santa Cruz was her first bookstore signing with her first book, "Japanese Farm Food" (2012). "The people who came that night were so engaged and created such a positive energy that I always remember it as one the best bookstore talks I have given," she says. "It was clear — and still is today — that Bookshop Santa Cruz fosters a community dedicated to books (obviously!) but also a community of people who are interested in coming out to listen to what the authors have to say in person."

Hachisu has written for renowned publications including Food & Wine and National Geographic Food and participated in the "Salt" episode of Netflix's "Salt Fat Acid Heat." Register for the free event and learn more at bookshopsantacruz.com/nancy-singleton-hachisu.

HōM Korean Kitchen (1102 Pacific Ave.), which featured customizable bowls with proteins like organic tofu or Korean steak and several banchan (vegetable) choices, has permanently closed. Owner Konant Pi opened the location in 2018 after successfully running two other locations in San Jose and San Francisco. Those locations remain open. Learn more at homkoreankitchen.com.

Anouchka Bakery (anouchkabakery.com) is offering key lime pie for Mother's Day delivery; order by May 12. The pies, which include graham cracker crust and citrus custard filling topped with whipped cream, cost $25 each. Place orders online, via email ([email protected]), or phone (831-234-9949).

Anouchka is also having a popup from 2-5 p.m. May 13 at Botanic & Luxe (110 Cooper St.). Key lime pie (by the slice or whole pies) and Mexican wedding cookie packs will be available to purchase.

Blossom's Farmshop (2033 San Juan Road) is holding its grand opening May 14, on Mother's Day. That day, hours will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Moving forward, hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The shop carries ferments plus plants and herbal products. Blossom's, a diversified, biodynamic farm that creates nutrient-dense foods and herbal health and skincare products, used to operate a shop in Corralitos. This new store is located at its own farm. Learn more at blossomsfarm.com.

Scrumptious Fish & Chips are regularly appearing at a new spot: Humble Sea Brewing Co.'s newest location on the Santa Cruz Wharf. You can find Scrumptious from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday and at the same time all remaining Thursdays in May. The Humble Sea Beer Garden on the Wharf is located in the former Miramar Restaurant location.

Also, Scrumptious will be at the downtown farmers market from 1-6 p.m. Wednesday, and back at the same time every Wednesday this month, and at Aptos’ Seacliff State Beach from noon to 6 p.m. every weekend. Other appearances include the Tuesday Felton farmers market. See the full schedule at scrumptiousfc.com.

Effective May 1, Shopper's Corner (622 Soquel Ave., 831-423-1398) has resumed its pre-pandemic hours. The store is now open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Homeless Garden Project is hosting a Sustain Supper on June 17 at its Natural Bridges organic farm, with a multi-course dinner featuring organic farm produce and wine. Two of the four participating chefs have been confirmed: Emily Beggs (Kin and Kitchen, learn about her at kinandkitchen.com/philosophy) and Isabelle Nunes Jackson (formerly with TomKat Ranch, see tomkatranch.org/2022/03/30/a-note-from-our-first-ever-chef-garden-fellow/). The cost is $195 per person, which includes a farm tour, live music and keynote speaker Dick Peixoto of Lakeside Organic Gardens. Proceeds benefit HGP, which provides job training and transitional employment to people who are homeless. See eventbrite.com/e/summer-sustain-supper-registration-616498332107 for tickets and details.

Mutari Chocolate (mutarichocolate.com), which closed its brick-and-mortar shop in 2022, is back for Mother's Day. They are selling items including a Seasonal Chocolate Truffle Box, signature brownies, and take-and-bake cookies. Order online for local delivery, local pickup (downtown Santa Cruz) or nationwide shipping.

Seabright Social (519 Seabright Ave., 831-426-2739, seabrightsocial.com) will contribute 20% of proceeds on May 16 to Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. Customers need to mention the Planned Parenthood Dine for a Cause benefit. Dining hours at Seabright Social are 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8:30 Sunday. The bar closes at 9 on Monday-Thursday and Sunday, and at 10 on weekends.

Mentone (174 Aptos Village Way, Aptos, 831-708-4040, mentonerestaurant.com) brought back outdoor dining last weekend. Its dog-friendly patio will be open for cocktails and brunch from noon to 2:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through the summer. Make reservations at exploretock.com/mentone.

There will be a pre-screening LUNAFEST reception from 5:30-7 p.m. May 17 at the Del Mar Theatre prior to the screening, which begins at 7 p.m. Wines from Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard and Hallcrest Vineyards, poured by the winemakers, will be available — as will Discretion Brewing beer and Santa Cruz Scrumpy.

Proceeds from the reception and LUNAFEST (a program of short films that aim to empower and inspire) benefit WomenCARE, which provides cancer advocacy, resources, education, and support to women, their families, and friends. There is also a Virtual Showing May 17-20. Visit lunafest.org/screenings/hybrid-friends-of-womencare-santa-cruz-ca-051723 for details and tickets. Learn more about WomenCARE at fsa-cc.org/womencare.

Soif Wine Bar & Merchants (105 Walnut Ave., 831-423-2020, soifwine.com) is hosting an Es Okay wine tasting from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday. Es Okay is from winemaker/viticulturist Mike Lucia of Rootdown Cellars. Cost is $15 for the public and free for Soif wine club members.

Also, Soif Spring Six-Packs are now available for $125 plus tax, which is a 20% discount off retail prices. The packs, which include wines such as 2022 Joyce Rose (Arroyo Secco) and 2021 Bura Rukatac Malvasia Bianca Lunga (Croatia), are available during regular wine shop hours: 1-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Quick Bites, compiled by Tara Fatemi Walker, is your weekly helping of Santa Cruz County restaurant, food, and drink news. Send items to [email protected] (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.

Sign up for email newsletters