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.
In Corralitos, the fourth annual Uncork Corralitos returns Saturday to the Alladin Nursery & Gift Shop. This garden party highlights food, wine, beer and cider made locally. Guests can taste libations from 11 wineries, three breweries and two cideries, and My Mom’s Mole, Chubby’s Tacos, Parker Picks and Pana Food Truck will be on site with food for purchase, plus live music by the Alex Lucero Band. General admission tickets with unlimited tasting from 1 to 4 p.m. are $60. VIP tasting tickets with early entry from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and access to a special wine tasting on the patio at nearby Vaquero Winery are an additional $40. This is a fundraiser hosted by Freedom Rotary for BirchBark Foundation, the Salvation Army Watsonville Corps and Boy Scout Troop 505.
On Tuesday, James Beard award-winning cookbook author Joshua McFadden will come to the Cowell Ranch Hay Barn for a book signing and discussion – and I’m excited to be on stage with him as the interlocutor! His new cookbook, “Six Seasons of Pasta,” follows the 2017 release of “Six Seasons: A New Way With Vegetables,” and focuses on how to use store-bought dried pasta to create seasonal dishes at home. Each $48 ticket includes admission and a copy of the book. This event is hosted by Bookshop Santa Cruz.
Best of Santa Cruz County food and drink events, Oct. 17-23
Here are some upcoming local food and drink events you might be interested in:
Friday, Oct. 17
- World Bread Day at Toque Blanche — with Ankarsrum! | 9 a.m. @ Toque Blanche
- Watsonville Farmers Market | 2 p.m. @ Watsonville Downtown Plaza
Saturday, Oct. 18
- Organic Agriculture Día de Esperanza Festival | 8 a.m. @ Esperanza Community Farm
- Aptos Farmers Market | 8 a.m. @ Cabrillo College
- Harvest Festival at Wilder Ranch State Park | 11 a.m. @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Apple Tasting | 11 a.m. @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Wine & Déjeuner d’Ouvrier *French Worker’s Lunch* | 11:30 a.m. @ Roberts Ranch Vineyards
- Uncork Corralitos | 1 p.m. @ Alladin Nursery & Gift Shop
- First Annual Pig Roast BBQ Bonanza | 1 p.m. @ Tanuki Cider
- Halloween Cookie Workshop | 2:30 p.m. @ Lito’s Community Cafe & Market
- Sustain Supper | 3 p.m. @ Homeless Garden Project’s Natural Bridges Farm
- Dinner in the Dark | 5:30 p.m. @ Aptos Park Clubhouse
- Saints & Sinners Speakeasy | 6:30 p.m. @ The Landing | 21+
Sunday, Oct. 19
- Live Oak Farmers Market | 9 a.m. @ East Cliff Village Shopping Center
- Organic Agriculture Día de Esperanza Festival | 10 a.m. @ Esperanza Community Farm
- Spooky Sunday | 11 a.m. @ Davenport Roadhouse
- Farm to Jar: Veggie preservation workshop. | Noon @ Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farm
Tuesday, Oct. 21
- Bookshop Santa Cruz Presents: Joshua McFadden | “Six Seasons of Pasta”| 7 p.m. @ Cowell Ranch Hay Barn
Thursday, Oct. 23
- MYCOMIXER @ Far West Fungi | 2 p.m. @ Far West Fungi Store and Cafe
- Persephone Restaurant Thursday Night Pasta Special | 5 p.m. @ Persephone Restaurant