Tag Archives: events
Casablanca Inn bazaar with food, drinks, art — plus benefit for Sonoma fire victims
Gordo Gustavos at Event Santa Cruz’s “Big Westside Block Party” in June (Photo credit Yvonne Rew-Falk)
Event Santa Cruz is hosting “Bazaar at the Casablanca Inn” this Friday night, Oct. 20, from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
The all-ages event is at 101 Main St. in Santa Cruz. Admission is $1 at the door. Guests are encouraged to register at eventsantacruz.com.
Attendees can enjoy cocktails, craft beer from area breweries, local food, art, crafts, and more. Venus Sprits will be serving Moroccan Nights, a cocktail crafted just for this event.
Featured vendors include:
– Chuy Santa Cruz
– Coco Virostko (artist)
– Flora and Fauna
– Gordo Gustavos
– H&H Fresh Fish Company
– Lion and Lamb Studios
– MÄKSE BAR
– NotPie Cakery
– Peak Original
– Sleight of Hand Pizza
– Upcycled Skate Art
– Venus Spirits
– Verdant California
– Wetfeet Photography
Guests will have a chance to check out ESC’s first-ever car show: the “Event Santa Cruz’in.” Mobile businesses and unique rides are going to be featured, including:
– Brew Cruz’s “Slowboy”
– Ya Doggie
– Gordo Gustavos new food truck
– Tepui Tents
– Sandbar Solar & Electric
In addition, ESC is teaming up with Yoso Wellness Spa and Santa Cruz Socialites to “Gather for Sonoma.” Attendees are encouraged to bring items or dollars to donate in support of those impacted by the recent wildfires in Sonoma County. Blankets, sheets, personal hygiene items, new and lightly used clothing, new socks and underwear, diapers, baby bottles, and gift cards to stores like Safeway and Target will be appreciated and delivered. One hundred percent of the items and money will be provided to victims, evacuees and first responders.
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Cornucopia of collaborations at Event Santa Cruz Paradox party
From Awe Shucks Oysters, a “new raw, dressed style called tomato relish” available at the July 21 event (Photo courtesy of Awe Shucks Facebook page)
Event Santa Cruz is hosting “ Collaboration on the Lot” this Friday night at Hotel Paradox’s front parking lot (611 Ocean St.), where several collaborations by local businesses can be viewed and consumed. These products include “Bombshell Oysters” (Awe Shucks Oysters teaming up with MJA Vineyards); a cherry bomb ice cream float (Marianne’s Ice Cream and NuBo); and a signature Event Santa Cruz cocktail (Hotel Paradox’s Solaire Restaurant & Bar is creating this by partnering with local Venus Spirits).
Admission to the 5:30-9pm event is free but attendees need to pre-register at collabonthelot.eventbrite.com. There will be lots of food and drinks to purchase and to sample. Note there is no parking in the Paradox parking lot. They’re asking people to park in the County Bldg. lot after 5pm. There will also be a valet parking option at the hotel ($15) at the entrance on Ocean St.
Featured vendors include:
Agency
Ate3One
Awe Shucks Oysters in collaboration with MJA Vineyards
Drunk Monkeys Food Truck
Flora and Fauna
Friends In Cheeses Jam Company
Gordo Gustavo’s BBQ in partnership with Humble Sea Brewing Co.
In the Redwoods collaborating with Yarn Shop Santa Cruz
Kinderwood Farms
MÄKSĒ BAR
Marianne’s Ice Cream produced with New Bohemia Brewing Co.
Monterey Bay Murals in partnership with The Ville
Mountainside Jewelry
Saucey’z
Solaire Restaurant + Bar in partnership with Venus Spirits
Stripe
This Tiny Ocean collaborating with Davenport Sea Glass
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Annual crab feed Saturday at Saratoga’s Mountain Winery
Cold and hot crab, plus sauces, at the 2015 Mountain Winery crab feed. Credit: Mountain Winery
The Mountain Winery in Saratoga is offering its popular annual all-you-can-eat crab feed on Saturay, January 28. The cost is $105 for adults, $55 for kids 3-11, and free for kids under 3. Advance online ticket purchase is required. Parking is free.
The event takes place at the winery’s Historic Winery Building. Tickets include fresh local crab (choice of cold and/or hot) plus pasta, garlic bread, salad, and dessert. Beverages will be sold separately, and gratuity is not included. When buying tickets, attendees can choose a 4, 4:30 5, 5:30 or 6 p.m. seating. But that doesn’t mean you only have a half-hour or hour to eat. You can choose to have a quick meal or linger for a couple hours. The separate seatings and staggered arrival times are for the purpose of eliminating long lines.
I tremendously enjoyed this event in 2015 and 2016; in 2016, the winery brought in crab from Oregon due to the seafood being unavailable in the Monterey Bay area. How wonderful that local crab is back!
The Details
Crab Feed
Saturday Jan. 28, 4-8 p.m.
Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd., Saratoga
$105 for adults; $55 for kids 3-11
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Food truck, Homeless Garden Project events in Scotts Valley & Santa Cruz
Salad at a previous HGP Sustain dinner. Credit: Crystal Birns
There are many food events occurring this weekend in local cities such as Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley—here are details for a first-time Scotts Valley food truck event Friday and a benefit feast with star chefs at Homeless Garden Project Saturday.
Friday, Sept. 18: Food Trucks a Go Go
Food Trucks A Go Go, a food truck event company, is hosting its first food truck event at Skypark in Scotts Valley Friday night. Attendees can choose from four local trucks, and there are picnic tables at the park. Participating food trucks are Ate3One (Philly cheesesteak, tacos & more), Zameen Mediterranean (falafel, gyros, etc.), The Choke Coach (menu includes artichokes a la carte and as ingredients in other dishes), and Aunt LaLi’s Mobile Café (ice cream and sweets).
Aunt LaLi’s owner, LaLi Kates, has been bringing her treats to the local community for years, and she is the founder of Food Trucks A Go Go. Kates says that for years, both she and her customers have been wanting food trucks in the area, and that the timing is now right to make this happen. Save the date for the next Go Go Gathering: Friday, Oct. 23, same time and place.
Date/Hours: Friday, Sept. 18, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley
Saturday, Sept. 19: Homeless Garden Project benefit dinner
Santa Cruz’s Homeless Garden Project (HGP) is holding an organic benefit dinner at its farm, the latest in its Sustain Farm Dinner series. Sustain is a seasonal gourmet dinner series featuring organic produce from the farm, wine pairings, and guest speakers discussing sustainable topics. The admission fee, $125, benefits HGP; the prices are higher this season because HGP is celebrating its 25th anniversary so the dinners are more extensive and the speakers are nationally known. The dinner held in August featured Greens Restaurant founder Deborah Madison, and Catherine Sneed is Saturday’s keynote speaker. Sneed began the horticulture program at the SF County Jail in 1982. Read more and purchase tickets online.
A different chef will prepare each of the four courses. David Morgan, chef for David Kinch’s soon-to-open The Bywater in Los Gatos (read more in my recent article) will prepare a first course duo: fried green tomatoes, bagna cauda and ricotta cheese; and smoked pork boudin with mustard and pickles. The Food Lounge’s Andrea Mollenauer will prepare a salad for the second course, while Soif’s Mark Denham will create an entrée of tea smoked quail, quinoa & kale “fried rice,” spiced eggplant, blistered padrons, and chimichurri (vegetarian and vegan options are available if ordered ahead). Renowned Aubergine pastry chef Ron Mendoza is providing dessert: Japanese cheesecake with carrot and cilantro. There will also be live classical music performed by a quartet comprised of musicians from the Santa Cruz Symphony.
Date/Hours: Saturday, Sept. 19, 4-7:30 p.m.
Location: HGP Farm, Shaffer Road at Delaware Avenue, Santa Cruz
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Lots of food and wine at biggest Grazing on the Green ever to benefit cancer research
Food at a previous Gourmet Grazing on the Green
The 12th annual Gourmet Grazing on the Green, Saturday, Sept. 19 at Aptos Village Park, has more food and drinks than ever before! As of press time, there are 73 vendors including local restaurants and caterers, other food businesses, and local wineries, breweries, and distilleries. Proceeds benefit the Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group (SCCBG).
The event, which is from noon to 4 p.m., usually sells out so it’s smart to buy tickets ahead of time. Buy $70 tickets at New Leaf Community Markets (downtown, Westside or Capitola locations) or online. If you have a group of 10, you can get tickets for $60 each. Admission includes food, drinks a souvenir wineglass, and live music.
Participating restaurants, farms, and food vendors for 2015 include The Crow’s Nest, Café Cruz, Café Rio, Solaire Restaurant and Bar, Real Good Fish, Niman Ranch, Smart Chicken, New Leaf Community Markets, Ella’s at the Airport, Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine, and Sid’s Smokehouse.
Participating wineries, breweries and distilleries include Alfaro Family Vineyards and Winery, Beauregard Vineyards, Cima Collina, Hunter Hill Vineyard & Winery, Kathryn Kennedy Winery, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, Sones Cellars, Bonny Doon Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, Discretion Brewing, Seabright Brewery, and Venus Spirits.
Non-alcoholic beverages will include drinks from Tulsi Teas, Pacific Coffee Roasting Co., and Pure Valley Water.
Proceeds from SCCBG’s events benefit these local cancer support and research organizations: Hospice of Santa Cruz County, Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Association, Katz Cancer Resource Center, UCSC’s fellowship program for cancer research, the Teen Kitchen Project, and WomenCARE Cancer Advocacy.
More details:
There is free shuttle service every 15 minutes from Cabrillo College Lot E; parking is also free.
For more information on the event, see sccbg.org or call (831) 465-1989.
Aptos Village Park: 100 Aptos Creek Road, Aptos
On Twitter? Follow me @santacruzfoodie.
Santa Cruz, Capitola, Gilroy, & San Jose food and beer events this weekend
Chef Carla Hall learns how to do a calamari flame-up on Gourmet Alley at the 2014 festival
There are many food and beer events occurring this weekend in local cities including Santa Cruz, Capitola, San Jose, and Gilroy. Below are details for a few of them, including two that start today.
Friday, July 24-Sunday, July 26: Gilroy Garlic Festival
The annual Gilroy Garlic Festival includes celebrity chef Daphne Oz (from ABC-TV’s “The Chew”), four chefs competing in the garlic cook-off, and lots of food. The garlic cook-off takes place Sunday, July 26, where the contestants face off in front of a live audience. Following that battle, Chef Oz will conduct a cooking demo. And for the first time, the cook-off stage will also feature a “garlic dream wedding” where contest winners/garlic-loving couple Stacy and Tom Davenport will renew their wedding vows.
As always, the festival’s “Gourmet Alley” is open all three days. It features cooking demonstrations and many foods for sale including garlic bread, garlic fries, pasta with pesto, garlic burgers, Italian sausage sandwiches, garlic scampi, and garlic ice cream. There will also be some vendors giving out food samples. These include Primizie and the company’s all-natural Gouda & Garlic crispbreads, which I recently had the chance to sample. I definitely recommend you find their booth at the festival:. the smoked Dutch Gouda and roasted garlic combine to create a flavorful snack which—warning—is a bit addicting.
Parking is free. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Ticket costs: Adult $20, Children (ages 6-12) & Seniors (60+) $10, Kids under 6 are free.
Location: Christmas Hill Park, Gilroy
Friday, July 24-Saturday, Aug. 1: Silicon Valley Beer Week
This craft beer celebration lasts eight days and includes more than 150 events such as tap takeovers, new release nights, tours, food pairings, parties, seminars, demonstrations, and brewmaster’s dinners. The Silicon Valley Beer Week kickoff party, July 24 from 5-9 p.m., takes place at four different San Jose breweries: Strike Brewing Company (2099 S 10th St #30), Santa Clara Brewing Company (101 E Alma Ave), Hermitage Brewing Company (1627 S 7th St), and Gordon Biersch Brewing Company (357 East Taylor St).
Location: Various bars, restaurants, breweries, etc. in Silicon Valley
Sunday, July 26: Festival del Nopal
At the 6th annual Festival del Nopal, there will be food for sale, music, and an appearance by Ballet Folklorico. Also, there will be a recipe contest and cooking demonstrations with nopales, which are cactus paddles. Admission is free. The market is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and the program runs from noon-6 p.m.
Location: 176 Lincoln St. parking lot, Santa Cruz
Sunday, July 26: Post Wharf-to-Wharf Whole Foods Party
From 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Whole Foods Market Capitola is holding a post-Wharf to Wharf party celebrating the market’s 6th birthday. There will be free samples, a beer garden with 16 featured breweries, a kids’ zone including face painting and activities with June Bugs gym, live music, and free massages. There will also be a BBQ with hot dogs. A portion of beer and BBQ sales benefits the Santa Cruz SPCA. Call (831) 464-2900 for more information.
Location: 1710 41st Ave., Capitola
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Artisan Food Market: Farmer Freed culinary salts, oysters, & other local treats
Spice It Up Salt from Farmer Freed, a vendor at the inaugural Artisan Food Market
Photo credit: Farmer Freed Culinary Salt Blends
Farmer Freed culinary salts and Belle Farms olive oil to enhance your cooking, Mortal Dumpling dim sum and comfort food from Kickin Chicken to provide a delicious easy dinner: these are just a few examples of what will be available at the debut Artisan Market this Friday afternoon and evening at the Food Lounge. See the full list below, and keep reading for more details.
The Food Lounge’s Andrea Molleanauer describes the inaugural Artisan Market as ‘farmers market meets cocktail hour.’ She encourages attendees to stop by whether they want to stock up on delicious food and supplies for the weekend, sit and have a drink after work or grab a snack from one of the pop up vendors. It’s family-friendly, and bound to be a unique, fun event. I know I am excited, what with the wonderful space at the new venue and all the fabulous local food artisans that are participating.
Emily Freed of Farmer Freed is also excited. “Farmer Freed is thrilled to be a vendor at the Inaugural Artisan Food Market because this event will create an opportunity for farmers and local food entrepreneurs (both grassroots and established) to gather together and sell their wares to Santa Cruz community members who are interested in supporting local food related businesses,” Freed shared. “There are so many wonderful people making exceptional food products in the area…I hope there is a lot of cross pollination between vendors, consumers, and tourists at the event, and that the community comes out to support their fellow artisans who work so hard to produce unique food products.”
At Friday’s market, CardamomTuesday’s Naomi Woldemar will be pouring tastes of “The Dirigible,” described as a Negroni-like craft cocktail made with the company’s new Bitter Orange Chocolate Elixir. Like many of the participating Artisan Market vendors, CardamomTuesday is a Food Lounge tenant, using their incubator kitchen. Woldemar will also be selling her CardamomTuesday Elixirs (natural syrups) at the event. These are house made from real food ingredients like green cardamom, Maturi cacao nibs, organic bitter orange, gentian, and saffron. They can be used to sweeten coffee, cocktails, sparkling water, and even be used as marinade for fish.
Friend In Cheeses Jam Company will be debuting their “Drought Responsible Project utilizing either dry farmed or low water need crops to help preserve our precious resources with jars of love.” Tabitha Stroup announced on Facebook that they will be serving Dirty Shirley Cocktails with Pinot Cherries.
This is the first of a planned monthly event. The second one will be Friday, July 10.
Vendors with packaged or fresh foods
- Belle Farms Olive Oil
- CardamomTuesday Elixirs
- Farmer Freed Culinary Salt Blends
- Fish Princess Farms
- Fogline Farm
- Friend In Cheeses Jam Company
- La Onda Sauces
- Mäkse Bar
- Ocean2Table
- Squash & Blossom Alternative Flour Bakery
Vendors with grab n go foods
- Kickin Chicken
- La Marea Oyster Bar
- LionFish SupperClub
- Mutari Hot Chocolate
- Mortal Dumpling
- Melissa’s Mexican Tamales
Beverages
- MJA Vineyards
- Tanuki Cider
Where: Food Lounge, 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz
When: Friday, June 12, 2-7 p.m.
For more info, see facebook.com/scfoodlounge
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Santa Cruz chocolate festival with restaurants and vendors benefits UCSC scholarships
Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival
The 8th annual Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival on Sunday January 18, with lots of food and wine, benefits UCSC scholarships. The event is from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Cocoanut Grove by the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.
The Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival brings together about two dozen vendors. See complete list at womensclub.ucsc.edu/fundraising/chocolate-festival/vendors-list-page.html.
Participants include local confectioners and bakers like Ashby Confections, Marich Confectionary, and Buttercup Cakes & Farm House Frosting, plus restaurants and cafes like Zizzo’s Coffeehouse and India Joze. Other local companies who will be present include Mission Hill Creamery, Lifestyle Culinary Arts, Mutari Hot Chocolate, and wineries Sones Cellars and Bonny Doon Vineyard.
Each food vendor will have treats such as truffles, cupcakes, or ice cream available in exchange for a tasting ticket. Buy tasting tickets at the event (admission is free) or online. Each $15 purchase gets you six tickets. Wine prices are $5 for a souvenir glass plus one tasting.
There will be live music by Jazz by Five, and a silent auction with prizes including Giants tickets, chocolate baskets, and a magnum of wine. Attendees can enjoy activities like cupcake decorating and face painting ($4 each), and have the opportunity to buy chocolate products like Valentine-themed boxes at select booths.
The festival benefits re-entry student scholarships at UC Santa Cruz (for students returning to higher education after an extended absence, often students who are also parents or military veterans). The chocolate festival is presented by the UCSC Women’s Club, a nonprofit organization open to women of both the campus and local communities. The club has meetings throughout the year (except for the summer) with engaging speakers, and also hosts interest groups including book clubs. In the last 30-some years the club has awarded over 330 scholarships totaling more than $230,000 to deserving women and men for research activities, tuition and childcare.
The Details
Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival
Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz
Sunday, January 18, 2015 from 1-4pm
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Santana Row Holiday Wine & Dine benefits Second Harvest Food Bank
Santana Row is hosting a holiday wine & shopping event
Santana Row shops and restaurants are offering a fun holiday event over four Tuesdays in December, and you have two more opportunities before it’s over.
The “Holiday Wine & Dine Around” is Dec. 2, 9, 16, and 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. Participants can enjoy complimentary wine and food tastings, plus shopping discounts, inside several Santana Row shops and restaurants.
Tickets are $15 and proceeds benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. The ticket price also includes a signature Santana Row wine glass. If you donate canned food when you purchase your ticket, you receive a $2 discount (this is when you buy in person through the Santana Row Concierge; note these tickets are cash only). Tickets are also available at SantanaRow.com. If you pre-purchase your ticket, go to the walkway between Left Bank and Sino Restaurant after 5:45 p.m. the night of the event to complete your registration.
You must be 21 years or older to attend. For more information, call the Santana Row Concierge at (408) 551-4611.
Santana Row, which features 70 shops and 20 restaurants, is located near Stevens Creek and Winchester Boulevards.
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December at Shadowbrook: Mexico Sundays, UCSC Women’s Club & Holy Cross benefit
Shadowbrook is featuring Mexico for its international Sunday dinners in December
Tuesday, Dec. 2
From November through April, Capitola restaurant Shadowbrook hosts a “Community Tuesday” series benefiting local non-profit organizations. The restaurant donates one-third of sales on selected nights; usually two or more non-profits share the evening. On Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014, the beneficiaries are the UC Santa Cruz Women’s Club and Holy Cross School.
Make your reservations at (831) 475-1511 or just show up at the restaurant for dinner. Note that Shadowbrook takes some walk-in customers, and its Rock Room Lounge doesn’t accept reservations so that’s a great place to dine at the last minute. Make sure to tell your server you are there to support the Women’s Club or Holy Cross School, and your selected organization will receive 33% of your pre-tax sales including both food and drinks. If you dine at the Rock Room, do not order anything from the Two-Fer Tuesday (2-for-1) promotion; those selections don’t count for the benefit.
The UCSC Women’s Club is a nonprofit organization open to women of both the campus and local communities. One of the Club’s main goals is to raise funds to provide scholarships for UCSC re-entry students. Visit womensclub.ucsc.edu for more information. Holy Cross School is a private Catholic school with kids from preschool age through eighth grade. They have been educating students for more than 150 years. Learn more at holycsc.org.
Sundays: Dec. 7, 14, 21, & 28
Every Sunday night (except for holidays) from October through March, Shadowbrook features an international Ports of Call three-course dinner for $29.95. The country changes each month, and for December Executive Chef Roger Gowen has chosen Mexico.
There are two appetizer choices, two entrée choices, and two dessert choices, plus an optional wine pairing for each course ($12). In December, appetizer choices include Posole Rojo, a Mexcian stew with ancho and guajillo chiles, shredded pork, hominy, onions, and garlic (served with cabbage, avocado, and lime wedge). Entrée selections are Camarones a la Diablo (prawns with garlic, peppers, onions, and chiles), and Chicken Mole (a mildly spiced chile sauce flavored with chocolate), both served with rice and beans). Tres Leches cake is one of the dessert choices.
Shadowbrook Restaurant, 1750 Wharf Road, Capitola (831) 475-1511, www.shadowbrook-capitola.com
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