Pajaro Valley Magazine | May 22

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE PAJARO VALLEY

A supplement to The Pajaronian

MAY 22, 2020

BACK IN ACTION

Popular Watsonville restaurants reopen after weeks of closures COVER STORY P4 | THE MIXING BOWL P6 | PHOTO GALLERY P8

2 MAY 22 - 28, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

MAGAZINE

21 Brennan St, Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076 Phone: 831.761.7301

ABOUT

THE COVER

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We are here for all your Real Estate needs

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Cover Story

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Mixing Bowl

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Photo Gallery

CEO & Executive Editor

Dan Pulcrano Publisher

Jeanie Johnson Managing Editor

Tony Nuñez Contributing Writers

Johanna Miller Tarmo Hannula Sarah Ringler Advertising Account Executives

Jazmine Ancira Lupita Ortiz

The housing inventory is at an all time low. This is having a great impact on property values. The supply and demand theory is in full swing, thus driving home values up. If you are considering selling or just want an idea of what your property value is in this current market, reach out to us.

Ed Gagné

Kathy Oliver

egagne@baileyproperties.com CalDRE# 01450406

koliver@baileyproperties.com CalDRE# 01116175

Realtor 831.254.1432

Realtor 831.206.2249

Ed Gagné Local Real Estate Specialist CA BRE #01450406

Honesty • Loyalty • Integrity Extensive local market knowledge!

Community Involvement for over 20 years

Design Director

Kara Brown Design Layout

Hon Truong Cover Photography

Tarmo Hannula

Circle of Champions - Watsonville Office Published by WatsNews, LLC, Watsonville, CA. Entire contents © 2020. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form prohibited without publisher’s written permission.

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MAY 22 - 28, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

hen the countywide shelter-in-place order went into effect in March, certain businesses were allowed to stay open, as long as they were deemed “essential.”

Restaurants were included in this, and plenty of Watsonville’s eating establishments immediately jumped into takeout mode, JOHANNA MILLER adjusting menus and procedures and more to comply with new county and state law.

However, plenty of restaurant chose not to reopen right away— instead, they waited for the right moment. Everyone has gone at their own pace, making decisions based on what they feel is right for their businesses.

The two restaurants featured this week, Cassidy’s Pizza and Cowboys Corner Cafe, are institutions in Watsonville.

Both are incredibly popular and were acutely missed for the two months they were closed.

These eateries found it appropriate to wait—to take stock and even take advantage of the time being closed, whether it was to do renovation work or expand certain services.

I think this is reflective of how we are all coping during the outbreak of Covid-19. Depending on our situation, we decide to go to the grocery store, or order delivery. We choose to work and exercise differently, and no single way is right for everyone.

As long as we are all doing our part to keep ourselves and others safe, we can all find ways to get through this difficult time.

Let’s support these businesses as they come back to life.

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By

By JOHANNA JOHANNA MILLER MILLER && TARMO TARMO HANNULA HANNULA

Johanna Miller

TWO POPULAR EATERIES REOPEN FOR PICK- UP AND DELIVERY OPEN FOR BUSINESS Paula and Juan Diaz have

MAY 22 - 28, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

opened their popular restaurant, Cowboys Corner on Main Street, for pick-up orders.

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hile some Watsonville restaurants have remained open since the countywide shelter-in-place order went into effect over two months ago, many have taken their time adjusting to the industry’s changin g landscape. are now wearing masks, and strict sanitizing is now the norm.

“I’m confident, opening now,” she says. “We are very happy to be able to feed our community while being as safe as we can.”

The most difficult thing about the closures, Diaz says, was not seeing their customers.

“We’ve missed seeing and talking with our customers,” she say s.

“There were people who ate her e every week—we’d know exactly when they would be coming in, what they liked to order… It’s bee n sad that we can’t see everyone.”

Staff has gradually returned, supplies and ingredients stocked and new safety procedures hav e been implemented. Meanwhile , news of the reopening has bee n spreading through word-of-mout h and social media. ➝7

MAY 22 - 28, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

This includes two Watsonville mainstays: Cowboys Corner Caf e on Main Street and Cassidy’s Pizza on Freedom Boulevard.

Cowboys Corner is a breakfast-lunch eatery opened in 200 6 which quickly became a popula r spot. It often sees long lines and waiting lists on the weekends. For many, it has become an institution , a place recommended by any loca l who knows Watsonville’s restaurant scene.

Owners Paula and Juan Diaz reopened their restaurant on Ma y 14 after nearly two months of being closed.

While Cowboys Corner did have a weekday pick-up service previously, Paula Diaz says switching to pick-up only took some time, and they wanted to wait until the y felt it was safe to open. Employee s

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THE MIXING BOWL the second world’s fair, the 1867 Exposition Universelle, held in Paris, where he won a prize and also introduced them to the rest of Europe. I don’t think the untraditional addition of almond flavoring, butter and eggs in this recipe makes them any worse.

BISCOTTI

Tarmo Hannula

BETTER TOGETHER These twice baked biscotti, a common Italian treat at cafes, are great for dipping in coffee, tea or milk.

MAY 22 - 28, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Easier biscotti: twice baked Italian cookies

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I

SARAH RINGLER

talian cookies form their own category inside the cookie world. They often have interesting shapes, are not quite as sweet, and usually are very lightweight and crunchy. One variety, biscotti, are unusual because they are baked twice. There are many variations, but this is the easiest biscotti recipe I could find; and, it turned up in my mother’s recipe box under the heading, “from Dede.” I inherited her recipes and although she is still alive at 97 years old, her cooking and baking days are over. She is currently living in a memory care facility in San Marcos, California.

She used to make these all the time and kept them stored in a cookie tin on her kitchen counter.

These particular biscotti, made with almonds and anise seeds, originated in the Tuscan city of Prato. They are also called cantucci in Italy; “cantuccio” refers to the crusty end of a loaf of bread.

Because they are very light and dry, they are meant to be dipped in a liquid-like coffee, cocoa, tea or dessert wine. Today in Italy, “biscotto” is a biscuit, but the medieval Latin word means “twice cooked.” These cookies are baked twice which allows them to be stored and kept for long periods.

The traditional recipe from the Prato baker, Antonio Mattei, was only made out of flour, sugar, eggs, pine nuts and almonds.

There were no eggs, butter or leavening. He brought them to

2 ¾ cups flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup sugar ½ cup butter, melted 2 tablespoons anise seed 1 teaspoon almond or vanilla flavoring 1 tablespoon water 1 cup coarsely chopped almonds 3 eggs Sift or whisk the flour with baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Melt butter and cool. In a large mixing bowl beat the melted butter, sugar and anise seed. Beat in the eggs until smooth. Add the flavoring and water. Again, beat to mix well.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the egg and sugar mixture. Add the almonds and mix until completely blended.

Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Lightly butter a cookie tin. Divide the dough into three parts. Form each part into a long loaf the length of a shallow cookie pan, and about 2 inches wide by ½ inch high. Line them up side by side leaving space between them.

They will expand, and you don’t want them to touch. Bake for 20 minutes. Don’t overbake. I removed mine when I saw that the ends were turning slightly brown.

Using a long spatula, remove the loaves from the pan and put on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut the loaves diagonally into 5-6 inch long slices that are about ¾ inch wide. Put the slices, cut side up, back on the cookie sheet and bake another 10-15 minutes until they are solid like toast but not browned.

Cool on racks and then store in airtight containers. Makes about 4 ½ dozen cookies.

COMEBACK

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Johanna Miller

“By Sunday there was an hour and a half wait time for food pickup,” Diaz says. “We were very busy. But it felt so good to be back.”

Cowboys Corner, 946 Main St., is now taking to-go orders every day from 6am to 1pm. Phone orders are encouraged, as guests are only allowed inside the restaurant to pick-up and pay at the front door. Diaz says that they are serving the regular menu, unless certain items are unavailable to them.

“Sometimes we just can’t find things, like certain kinds of meat,” she says. “But we’re trying our best to offer everything we did before.”

Pizza place reopens FOOD TO GO Cowboys Corner on Main Street has reopened, offering breakfast and lunch every day. restaurant’s general manager.

Maria Bahena stopped by to pick up her order on day one of the reopening.

“I’m a long-time customer,” she says. “I fully recommend Cassidy’s; their food is great and everyone

TOPS In Their Field

here is so nice. I’m so glad they’re open again.”

Lupe Hammill says much of Cassidy’s success stems from a devoted staff.

“We’re a family here,” she says.

“Everyone that works here is part

of this family and that’s how we get things done.”

For information and to view menus visit cowboycornercafe.com and cassidyspizza.com.

722-3382 1039 Freedom Blvd.

Three Commercial Lots.

Freedom Blvd. Location.

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Zoning Allows Commercial And Multi Residential Development.

Commercial Office For Sale. Seller Is Motivated.

$304,200, $229,500, and $342,000

$495,000

128 Roache Rd, Freedom

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Priced to sell 3 Br-2 Bth 2 acr gar very well cared for home, move in ready condition $559,900

$349,000

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615 Brewington St, Watsonville Bank owned prime Watsonville location 2Br-2Bth, office that can be used as a 3rd bedroom, work shop.

3 Br-1 Bth 2 car gar on a large country lot, just outside of the city limits

$549,000

$602,300

Are You TOPS in Your Field?

Contact Tina 831-761-7359

JOHN ESPINOZA 840-2506

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RAY QUINTERO 707-4659

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1051 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville

MAY 22 - 28, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

After shuttering their popular pizza business for weeks during the Covid19 pandemic, Cassidy’s Pizza, 1400 Freedom Blvd., welcomed its huge base of customers back to its Freedom Boulevard restaurant Monday for pickup orders.

“We’re just so excited to reopen,” says Lupe Hammill, who has owned Cassidy’s with her husband, Tim, for the past 23 years. “We had to pull back and deal with the pandemic and figure out how to get back open while being as safe and healthy as possible. Our customers and their health is our number one concern here: It just took some time to get this done right.”

Indeed, the Hammills took advantage of the closure to have new carpeting installed, deep clean the eatery, post fresh signage and floor stickers to not only inform the public about safety measures, but to also help them feel comfortable while navigating the store.

Hammill says the building has also undergone a full remodeling over the past year.

“Everything’s in place now,” Hammill says. “It took a lot of work. We have hand sanitizers in place and floor stickers for social distancing.”

Cassidy’s, which first opened in 1976, now features its full menu, minus salads (for now).

Tim Hammill says their entire staff of about 30 has been brought back on board and their fleet of around seven vehicles is busy, crisscrossing the map with deliveries. Elena Pesce remains as the

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PHOTO GALLERY

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Tarmo Hannula

MAY 22 - 28, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to tnunez@pajaronian.com or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name of the photographer.

FRESH HARVEST A field worker tends to a lettuce crop along Beach Road in Watsonville.

Tarmo Hannula

WIPEOUT A surfer topples into a crashing wave at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz.

CLOSE UP A California Towhee perches on a rock in Santa Cruz. The common

bird is found abundantly in coastal regions and Baja, California.

MAY 22 - 28, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

a planter box in Santa Cruz.

Tarmo Hannula

Tarmo Hannula

IN BLOOM A Barbados lily thrives in

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SPRING HOMEOWNER’S

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SERVICE GUIDE 1

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FURNITURE

Baker Bros.

31 E 5th Street Watsonville

MAY 22 - 28, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

(831) 722-1776

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HOUSE CLEANING

HOUSE CLEANING

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A-1 JANITORIAL SERVICES

Professional Carpet & Upholstery Steam Cleaning

(831) 724-4409

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HARDY

QUALITY AIR INC. Heating & Air Conditioning 2576 Freedom Blvd.

Watsonville

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CARPET CLEANING

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

AIR CONDITIONING

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ROOFING

ARIANA ROOFING Lic#73748 Make Us One of Your Three Estimates Commercial & Residential Free Estimates Watsonville call 761-1328 Santa Cruz call 462-3036 We won’t make you wait. www.arianaroofing.com

WINDOWS

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EQUIPMENT RENTAL

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YARD MAINTENANCE

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719 OREGON ST.

535 OHLONE PARKWAY

TRAVERS LANE PARCELS

Location, location, location, California Ranch style home, over 1750 sq ft with living and family rooms, formal dining plus eat in kitchen area, fireplace, laundry inside, 1 story, oversized lot, 2 car garage, plenty of parking. Easily made into 3 bedrooms with a wall in the oversized bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms, plenty of room to put a shower in half bath to have another full bath. Room for garden and or puppy run. Work shop on end of garage. Close to most conveniences. Look and purchase today. #4013 $699,500

4 Plus useable acres, inside the city limits of Watsonville.

Build a subdivision, city utilities available.

Close to highway 1 for easy quick access North or South. $4,000,000

2 separate country parcels with a water share each. Maybe Build your dream home. Perhaps modular or Tiny Home. Nice private location, quiet rolling hills. Santa Cruz county, Off Green Valley Rd. Easy commute to work then back home to enjoy the country.

GROUND LEASE

COMING SOON

26 ROOSEVELT ST

428 EAST BEACH ST.

Downtown Watsonville lot available for GROUND LEASE. Many zoning options, list available. Across the street from the Historic City Plaza, seasonal Farmers market, Cabrillo College, bank, retail stores, restaurants, courthouse and parking garage half a block away. $9,500 p/month

Two nice homes on 5.6 usable acres. Santa Cruz county. Main home has over 2000 sq ft with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, open floor plan in kitchen and dining areas, wood burning stove in large living room. 2 car garage, Deck and Yard areas. Plenty of parking. Second home has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, newer paint and carpet in both homes. Work shop, flat fenced areas, private setting. $1,250,000

2 bedroom special, great bones, roomy backyard and great location, close to most Fireplace, conveniences. some hardwood floors, nice and sunny, formal dining room plus eat in kitchen, laundry inside. 1 car garage and long driveway. #4014 $500,000

Craftmens style special 3 bedroom, 2 bath one level home. Remodeled kitchen and baths and immaculate in and out. Gas Stove and newer forced air heat. Formal Dining room, dual glass windows, French doors, deck front and back plus concrete patio with hot tub. Private back yard with shade tree and raised garden area plus lawn. This home has an approximate 700 SQ foot tandem garage and long driveway. White picket fenced front yard and porch is adorable. Close to most conveniences. L# 4010 $599,500

REDUCED

Panoramic Monterey Bay View!!! Estate sized property situated on approx 6 Acres, overlooking the coastline of Santa Cruz, Salinas & the Monterey Bay. Perched on a hilltop this private estate has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and approx 6095 square feet, formal living and dining rooms, two family rooms, country size kitchen, 2 pellet stoves and one wood burning fireplace. You will love the large size of every room in this home. There is an Eagles nest/ Bar room perfect for getting away by yourself. So many amenities, two ovens, two dishwashers, trash compactor, two refrigerators, stainless steel railing around patio to relax and enjoy the view and privacy with family and friends.

Abundant natural light throughout. Gated entry, location is central to Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey & San Benito Counties. 1248 sq feet Shop/Garage with grease pit and one tall door for a motorhome.

INCREDIBLE PROPERTY! BRIGHT & OPEN FLOOR PLAN, BRINGS OUTDOORS IN! VIEWS FROM EVERY ROOM! OCEAN, COAST, VALLEY & MOUNTAINS! SPECTACULAR SUNSETS AND CITY LIGHTS! L#4005 $1,575.000

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MAY 22 - 28, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

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Parcel 15 has 3.02 acres for $200,000.

Parcel 16 has 3.49 acres for $210,000.

SOLD - Parcel 18 has 2.95 acres for $210,000.

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