I attended Santa Cruz’s first Vegan Chef Challenge Awards — a challenge encouraging local chefs to expand vegan options at their restaurants — and I was blown away by the creativity and range of flavors and textures on display. Twenty-eight local restaurants participated, with community voting taking place throughout April. Here were my three best bites from the awards ceremony:
The Ono Potato from Pono Hawaiian Grill — winner for Most Imaginative Dish — featured a cross-section of baked sweet potato topped with guacamole, garbanzo beans, pistachios, pomegranates, microgreens, and a drizzle of Pono Island Chili Crunch. It was a study in contrasting colors, textures, and flavors — creamy, spicy, crunchy, and fresh — while still being hearty and satisfying. Chef Fernando Vazquez Lomeli who created the dish shared: “It was a big challenge for me, because I’m not vegan. It was really hard to figure out the flavors, textures, and colors, and make sure that people enjoy it.” I’d say he absolutely succeeded.
Bookies Beetaroni Pizza — winner of the People’s Choice Best Pizza award — was another standout. Bookie’s signature Detroit-style dough was topped with house-made Badger Flame beet pepperoni, red sauce, vegan mozzarella, and vegan parmesan. The beet pepperoni had such a convincing texture and flavor that I didn’t miss traditional cupping pepperoni one bit. I really hope this makes it onto the regular menu because I’d happily order it again.
VIM took Overall 2nd Place for their Almond Rhubarb Galette. The pastry was impressively flaky and “buttery,” while the rhubarb jam filling struck the perfect balance of tart and sweet — an ideal final bite of the afternoon.
What surprised me most was just how full and satisfied I felt afterward — I didn’t even eat dinner that night! The dishes showcased just how inventive, flavorful, and satisfying vegan cuisine can be, and honestly inspired me to eat vegan more often.
If you’re looking for a great lunch salad on the Westside, my current go-to is the Oaxacan salad at @copal.santacruz . It checks every box: crisp lettuce, corn, black beans, tortilla strips, Cotija cheese, avocado, red onion, tomatoes, and a smoky chipotle dressing that ties it all together. It includes your choice of protein — I always go for the grilled prawns. Fresh, flavorful, and packed with all the textures you want in a really satisfying salad.
The portion is generous enough to share (or take some home). I like to pair it with the amarillo mole taco appetizer — crispy fried mushrooms topped in a rich, flavorful sauce and pickled red onion. Together, they make the perfect lunch for two.
And for the early lunch crowd: they open at 11:30am.
Bonus for parents: the kids menu is such a good value — $10 gets a choice of quesadilla, burrito, or steak plate, plus a drink and dessert.
Save this for your next salad craving 🥗
Best Bites of April (excluding Pebble Beach Food & Wine):
- @11thhourcoffee tiramisu latte - a delicious treat
- @fullsteamdumpling ramen - a warm hug in a bowl
- copal.santacruz Oaxacan salad - the perfect lunch salad
- @realtaco56 super taco - the crispy carnitas was so good
- @izzys_ices NY pizza - it’s the real deal
Save this for your next food outing 😊
And just like that, another pizza spot is born! Sleight of Hand Pizza’s wood-fired sourdough pizzas now have a permanent home in newly opened Cruz Room 831 on the corner of Bay Ave and Mission St.
You may know Sleight of Hand’s delicious pizza from their many pop-ups, or you may have witnessed Justin’s epic dough tossing skills (he’s a 14 time world pizza champion!).
The energy is high - it is a family-friendly space with vintage video game machines, live sports on TV, and a stage for live music.
The thin pizza crust is some of the best I’ve had in town. Some of our family’s favorites are the Margherita (classic!), the Bee Knees (pepperoni, red pepper flakes, and honey), and the Truffle Formaggi (mozzarella, fontina, goat cheese, Parmesan, Calabrian chilis, arugula, and white truffle oil). The That’s My Jam pie placed in the top 5 in the 2026 International Pizza Challenge and is a creative twist on the classic pairing of watermelon and mint (salted watermelon jam, stracciatella, sliced serranos, mozzarella, fresh mint, and cotija).Arugula caesar and spring greens salads complete the menu (they also offer a gluten-free quinoa dough).
Cruz Room 831 (owned by Matisse and Daniella Selman) handles the bar and desserts, serving beer, wine, sodas and milkshakes. The strawberry milkshake was generous and delicious, topped with whipped cream and bits of strawberry. The chocolate cake and cookies & cream flavors looked yummy too. Desserts include chocolate-dipped cheesecake, ice cream sandwich, and chocolate dipped banana.
They’re already taking to-go phone orders, call 831-400-6285.
📍1520 Mission St, Santa Cruz 95060 ⏰ Open daily 5-11pm (closed Tuesdays)
Still buzzing from the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Tasting Pavilion—such a delicious escape. Here are my Top 5 bites & sips:
- Bay scallop ceviche by Chef Alvin Quinol (Alvarado Street Brewery, Monterey) — an elevated chip-and-dip with crispy dulce seaweed and perfectly seasoned tortilla chips
- Tuna tartare with crispy nori by Chef Jose Mejia (Bud’s at La Playa, Carmel) — a whimsical nori tube filled with slightly spicy tuna, yuzu, and togarashi
- Tanqueray Dirty Martini & Fries — mini martinis with duck fat frites, anchovy brown butter crumb, Arbequina EVOO aioli, crispy rosemary, and lemon-coriander salt
- Fun Mom Wines “Driveway Rosé” — the name pulls you in, the light, refreshing Grenache–Pinot blend keeps you sipping
- Sweets by Santana Rodriguez (Qouign, Monterey) — hand-painted bonbons, Mexican hot chocolate with marshmallows, and a passionfruit-coconut mini entremet
See my full list: /blog/pbfw-at-15-5-wow-bites-5-great-sips-5-diy-ideas/ Thank you @ediblemontereybay for sending me on this fun assignment!
Save this for your next Monterey or Carmel food crawl 🍽️
You should know:
- @eathookandline will now be open on Weds 4-9pm starting 4/22
- @cavalletta.restaurant has new spring hours Thurs-Mon 5-8:45pm
- @fullsteamdumpling is available on DoorDash now and is doing a pho pop-up on Sunday 4/19 5-9pm
- @roadhousedavenport is now open Mon-Fri at 8am - get your coffee and burrito!
- @scmatchaco has launched - buy online (subscribe and save 15%) or get some at @matcha.by.the.sea at the Carmel farmers market Thursdays 10am-2pm
- @catcloudcoffee will be open till 9pm on First Fridays at @abbottsquaremarket
Gluten-free pastries that actually taste this good — moist, tender, and not too sweet? Switch Bakery & Bistro is the gluten-free bakery Santa Cruz has been waiting for.
Co-owners Joshua and Amanda have been a farmers market staple for years, and now have a permanent brick-and-mortar serving baked goods, pastries, bread, focaccia, and a rotating lunch menu (think sandwiches, pizzas, and soups). Everything is made in-house with local, seasonal ingredients.
If you see any of these in the case, it’s a must-order:
* chocolate lovers cake
* lemon poppyseed cake
* brownie with marshmallow topping + dark chocolate drizzle
Everything is really good — and yes, it truly doesn’t taste gluten-free (you know what I mean).
A 100% gluten-free, celiac-safe bakery like this is rare. One that also highlights local organic produce? Even better. They also offer alternative sugar options (like monk fruit), sugar-free , keto, and vegan items, plus custom cakes and bread delivery.
📍1016 Cedar St Santa Cruz, CA 95060 ⏰ Tues–Sat 11:30am–5pm
Save this spot for your gluten-free go-tos 🍰
Best Bites of March (in chronological order):
- @el_salchichero_butcher_shop “Wild Nettle” special sausage of the month - get them before they’re gone
- @thealleyoop chicken wings - crispy outside, juicy inside, and two dipping sauces
- @bungalow_bakes_cakes mini cupcake - the perfect bite of dessert
- @gran_gelato_caffe coffee gelato - tough choice between that and the black cherry panna cotta
- @homesoquel Golden Nugget oysters with pink lemonade granita
Save this list for your next food outing 😉
Gran Gelato Caffè just opened on Cedar St, serving some of the creamiest, housemade gelato in a dozen rotating flavors!
Everything is made in-house, and owner Sandro Costanzo (also behind Pizzeria La Bufala) walked us through the gelato and pastry program.
We tried the mixed berry, passionfruit, and chocolate — all super smooth, vibrant, and not overly sweet (the passionfruit really stood out).
Try your favorite flavor in a cup or cone, go for an affogato, or take home up to 4 flavors in a quart (dangerous in the best way).
Don’t skip the Torta della Nonna — delicate pastry filled with lemon curd, topped with powdered sugar and toasted nuts. Light, citrusy, and well balanced.
They also offer pastries, salads, frittatas, crostini, panini, and pizza — making it an easy all-day kind of place.
📍 Gran Gelato Caffè
525 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
⏰ Tues–Sun: 10am–3pm, 4–8:30pm
Save this spot for your next dessert or snack run 🍨
You should also know:
- @humblesea ’s oceanfront beer garden on the wharf is back open for the season Thurs 2-sunset and Fri-Sun 12-sunset (hours subject to change due to weather)
- @palmettosuperfoods has opened downtown on Pacific Ave
- @prettygoodadvicerestaurant has opened a new location in San Jose! Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm 125 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95112
- @eastendgastropub now has Baja fish tacos on Thurs nights!
- @scrumptiousfishandchips and @steelbonnetbrewing are starting British Pub Nights featuring fish n chips and English and Scottish-style ales every second Friday of the month
