Andrew Steingrube

At Los Freseros Paleteria in Ben Lomond, Elizabeth Ramirez and Hugo Moreles serve Mexican-inspired desserts, savory snacks and warm hospitality, from concha ice cream sandwiches to fruit piled with chamoy and treats.

Brittny Beshore and Cliff Nelson are giving Bay Bar & Grill a fresh identity in Capitola Village, pairing elevated sports-bar fare and cocktails with live music, local art and a revamped coastal atmosphere.

Taqueria Los Viejones brings handmade heirloom tortillas, quesabirria, tacos and traditional Mexican cooking from a successful food truck to a new Water Street restaurant.

La Placa Italian Cuisine brings Bedda Mia and La Placa Family Bakery together in Scotts Valley, pairing Sicilian dishes with pastries, gelato, espresso and family tradition.

Ideal Bar & Grill pairs three-meals-a-day dining with an experienced management team and a front-row location beside Santa Cruz’s Main Beach.

Nashville Fire Chicken brings made-from-scratch hot chicken sandwiches, tenders and customizable heat to its new home inside the Capitola Mall food court.

New Capitola shop Toriman Japanese Market pairs hard-to-find Japanese groceries with ready-to-eat favorites including yakitori, bento, miso soup, rice bowls and slow-simmered sukiyaki.

Chef Nongluk Ritter brings recipes rooted in her childhood in Thailand to Poon Sup Thai Cuisine, the new Scotts Valley restaurant she owns with husband Myles Ritter.