We’re a bit spoiled here in Santa Cruz, California. Year-round farmer’s markets, craft beer & local wine, fresh fish, and creative chefs and bakers are commonplace. So many menus in town pivot on what’s fresh, local, sustainable, organic and delicious. This abundance of quality and pride in our food source has been gaining appreciation, and now, Santa Cruz has been named the #2 Foodie City in the United States. In celebration of this recent accolade, we’re going to share some foodie favorites happening in #SantaCruzNow.
1. Pizza & Pasta from La Posta
La Posta’s fresh, market-driven menu inspired by the local community of farmers, foragers and fishermen will give an authentic taste of Italy. Try their brick oven pizzas or fresh pastas like the Saffron Tagliatelle with Lamb Bolognese.
2. Hollins House-Made
Often referred to as a hidden gem, Hollins House creates a delicious menu with the freshest ingredients – some even being from the 80 square foot garden onsite. Almost everything, down to the butter, bread and some of the cheeses, are entirely made from scratch; and the chef’s attention to detail in every dish is easily seen and tasted!
3. The Cremer House Delights
The Cremer House is the perfect place to go to sample several of Santa Cruz’s fine crafts – Santa Cruz crafted beers, meats, jams, and of course fruits and vegetables. Heck, they even serve on ceramic plates created by a local artist in Davenport! The Cremer House shares their belief of “supporting and protecting organic farmers. Better for farms, better for the environment, better for you – and it tastes better too.”
4. Penny Ice Creamery from Scratch
The Penny Ice Creamery is the only ice cream shop in town making delicious ice cream in-house, completely from scratch. With locally farmed and organic ingredients, they create an ever changing menu that features a variety of intriguing flavors. A few recent scoops include: Candied Buddha’s Hand, Brown Butter Balsamic, Blood Orange, Tahitian Vanilla Bean, Cardamom Pistachio Chocolate Chip, Candy Cap Mushroom, Honey Yogurt Walnut Jam, and Chocolate Sorbet.
5. Pop-In to the Pop-Ups
In the foodie scene there’s something exciting about deliciousness being offered only temporarily. With limited hours and phrases like “open until sold out”, the foodie buzz is only natural. Just about two years after opening, PopUp continues to offer a variety of guest chefs that grace Santa Cruz with their sought-after specialties. With regulars like Manresa Bread, Lawman Ramen, Mortal Dumpling, & a slew of others, Santa Cruz has fully embraced these temporary eateries. Newer on the scene is the Food Lounge, a commercial incubator kitchen that gives many Santa Cruz chefs who may not have brick and mortar a place to share their passion for food.
Clearly this list is just a small sampling of some foodie favorites, but we’d love to hear from you on what’s your beloved spot, dish or ingredient from Santa Cruz County. Share your #SCFoodieFaves on Instagram for possible repost or blog feature!