North by North Fest
Oktoberfest in Davenport —who knew? But come to think of it, what a great idea. Bring a major thirst and a sense of fun to the Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant and Inn on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 30, for an outdoor spectacle of great food, beer, live music and lots of stuff to make the kids happy. The event, by the way, helps to raise funds for beach clean-up efforts in Santa Cruz, called Tip the Ocean—developed by LiVBLUE in partnership with the Davenport Roadhouse and Save Our Shores.
This very only-in-Santa-Cruz alliance between an outdoor beef-fest and a beach-awareness program begins at noon each day. The Roadhouse’s chef will be grilling chicken and locally made sausages, plus serving sauerkraut and goulash soup. Look for plenty of full-bodied brews, including IPA and Amber from the Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery. Folk/blues rockers the Coffis Brothers and the alt-country McCoy Tyler Band will get the crowd moving from 2pm–6pm on both Saturday and Sunday. For young ones there’s a bounce house, face painting and games. Proceeds from a raffle of a variety of items from local businesses will be donated to Tip the Ocean. Admission to the event is free.
“The Davenport Roadhouse is very excited to work with J. Nichols to help launch Tip the Ocean,” said Helmut Fritz, who purchased the property with his wife Queenie last year. The Davenport Roadhouse—a landmark since 1906! www.davenportroadhouse.com
Capitola Book Cafe Ups the Java
A win-win coup has occurred over at Capitola Book Café, which has just become the new home of Michaella Olivarri’s Capitola Coffee Roasters & Patisserie. This means that the ever-evolving Book Café now offers an expanded line-up of fresh-baked pastries—mmmmmm, scones fresh from the oven!— and coffee drinks. “The first weekend has been fantastic,” enthused bookstore co-owner Melinda Powers. “The new menu was very well received and our patrons couldn’t be happier. We feel this partnership is a strong step in the right direction for Capitola Book Café.” Olivarri has plans to serve light lunch and dinner fare as well as soups, salads and sandwiches, along with beer and wine. You now have even more reasons to spend quality time in this much-loved local literary landmark next to the 41st Avenue Cinema.
Get Down with Dirty Girl
Manresa sous chef Jacob Pilarski and Post Ranch Inn sous chef Matt Millea are teaming up at a next pop-up dinner featuring the fab fruits and veggies of Dirty Girl Produce of Santa Cruz. It happens at Happy Girl Kitchen Café in Pacific Grove on Sunday, Oct. 7 and while the menu will emerge the day of the event, you can bet it will all add up to an unforgettable feast.
The pop-up dinner concept is wildly popular, and this event teams gifted chefs with celebrated ingredients, including amusing starters, seasonally specific entrees and eclectic endings. Dinner—$55, BYOB!—starts @ 5:30pm at the café at 173 Central Avenue in atmospheric Pacific Grove—call 831.373.4475 for details.
Santa Cruz County Food & Wine Event of the Year
On September 22, from 5-9pm, plan to enjoy outstanding local foods and wines, while celebrating some of the area’s leading locovores—all to support foster care agencies. Formerly of Chez Panisse, chef Luke Wetzel has planned a special menu loaded with organic items. Dinner begins with cheese and charcuterie trays, and then involves a variety of entrees sided with fresh harvested salads and melon courses. Top area pastry chefs will contribute a range of delicious desserts. The event takes place at the “green” Community Foundation Santa Cruz County in Aptos, where your $75 ticket lets you dine with food and wine pioneers including Second Harvest Food Bank’s Danny Keith, Malabar Trading Company’s Annaliese Keller, heirloom seed adventurer Renee Shepherd and Love Apple Farm’s Cynthia Sandberg.
The event’s Silent Auction is loaded with wonderful opportunities, such as wine tasting at Annieglass, a chocolate-making class with Richard Donnelly, a vineyard tour and tasting with Richard Alfaro, and much, much more.
