Here, find a curated list of the best food and drink events in Santa Cruz County for the coming week. At the top, I share my picks of unmissable local happenings.
Sure, you can have breakfast with Santa Claus, but if your kids are anything like mine, the real celebrity of the holiday season is the Grinch. If your family leans more green and grouchy than red and jolly, the Winter Wonderland: Breakfast with the Grinch at Simpkins Family Swim Center in Live Oak on Saturday might be for you. Dig into a pancake breakfast with sausage, eggs, muffins, hot cocoa and juice, and grab a photo with the Grinch, followed by a visit to the holiday market with local vendors and artists. Tickets are $7 for kids and $15 for adults.
Venus Spirits is hosting its third annual bartender competition on Monday at 8:30 p.m. at the Westside Santa Cruz tasting room. I was a judge last year, and was absolutely blown away by the skill, creativity and athleticism – those shakers were flyin’! – of the contestants, all of whom sling drinks at Santa Cruz-area bars. It’s free to watch and open to the public, with food for purchase by Sarah Bargetto starting at 8 p.m.
Best of Santa Cruz County food and drink events, Dec. 12-18
Here are some upcoming local food and drink events you might be interested in:
Friday, Dec. 12
- Samuel Louis Smith Wine Tasting | 5 p.m. @ Saison Cellar & Wine Bar
- Crafts & Cocoa | 6 p.m. @ Scotts Valley Community Center
Saturday, Dec. 13
- Aptos Farmers Market | 8 a.m. @ Cabrillo College
- Winter Wonderland: Breakfast with the Grinch | 9 a.m. @ Simpkins Family Swim Center
- Holiday Sweets Workshop | 10 a.m. @ Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farm
- Holiday Food & Wine Pairing | 1 p.m. @ Aptos Vineyard Tasting Room
- Holiday Wine Tasting, Appetizers & Jazz Trio | 1 p.m. @ Roberts Ranch Vineyards
- Medicinal Mushrooms for Cold and Flu Season | 1 p.m. @ London Nelson Community Center
- Gingerbread Cookie Workshop | 2 p.m. @ Lito’s Community Cafe and Market
- Winter Wine Stroll to benefit Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter | 4 p.m. @ Staff of Life Natural Foods, Santa Cruz
Sunday, Dec. 14
- Breakfast with Santa | 8:30 a.m. @ Kennedy Center
- Brunch with Santa | 9 a.m. @ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Dream Inn Breakfast with Santa | 9 a.m. @ Dream Inn Santa Cruz SOLD OUT
- Fermentation Basics | 10 a.m. @ UCSC Cowell Ranch Hay Barn
- Madson Wines Holiday Market Party | 1 p.m. @ Madson Wines
Monday, Dec. 15
- Three Cheers: Third Annual Bartender Competition | 8 p.m. @ Venus Spirits Tasting Room
Tuesday, Dec. 16
- Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Fundraiser at Bookie’s Pizza | 5 p.m. @ Bookie’s Pizza inside of Sante Adairius Rustic Ales Portal
Thursday, Dec. 18
- Persephone Restaurant Thursday Night Pasta Special | 5 p.m. @ Persephone Restaurant
- MYCOMIXER @ Far West Fungi | 2 p.m. @ Far West Fungi Store and Cafe