VegFest on deck at the fairgrounds

The 2025 VegFest is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Attendees can expect more than 100 exhibitors with plant-based restaurants, vegan treats and free food sampling. There will be local beer, wine and hard cider for sale as well as live music, speakers on topics including nutrition and health and plant-based cooking demos. Kids’ activities will include face painting.

Admission is free for kids 12 and under. For adults, it’s $5 in advance or $10 at the door. For tickets and details including a full vendor list, visit vegfestsantacruz.org.

Nonprofit Little Hill Sanctuary is presenting the event to “bring the local community together to celebrate and learn about a plant-based, cruelty-free, animal friendly, and environmentally sustainable lifestyle.”

CAPITOLA

The Daily Grind will open in Capitola Mall

The Daily Grind, formerly located at the Capitola Mercantile in Capitola Village, is opening very soon in the Capitola Mall food court. Hours will be 9 a.m. to noon and 12:30-5 p.m. daily. Visit thedailygrindcapitola.com. The menu offers Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Co. organic coffee and espresso, plus donuts, bagels and a few pastries.

“We plan to offer monthly coffee memberships where customers can save money and time,” says owner Josh Fisher, who has many positive mall memories. “I grew up running around the Capitola Mall as a kid.”

Fisher also owns Left Coast Sausage Worx (Leftcoastsausageworx.com) in Capitola Village, which has been open since 2016, and recently opened beer garden BrewTopia (Brewtopia831.com) in Capitola Village.

Restaurant Walk tickets available at the door Wednesday

Capitola Coast Lions Club hosts the annual Santa Cruz Restaurant Walk, with 20 downtown Santa Cruz venues, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday and you can buy $40 tickets in front of Kianti’s Pizza (1100 Pacific Ave.) beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Restaurants will provide samples of a menu item to attendees. Front & Cooper and Big Basin Vineyards will provide drink samples to those 21 years and older.

For a full list of vendors and other details, or to purchase tickets online, visit eventbrite.com/e/santa-cruz-restaurant-walk-tickets-1297237555449. A portion of proceeds benefits nonprofit Common Roots Farm (commonrootsfarm.org).

Registration open for kids’ cooking camps

Ohlsen Foods, a small business that provides healthy lunches at local schools, is offering its second annual season of weeklong summer camps at Ohlsen’s commercial kitchen. There are three themed sessions in June and July: American Region and Around the World, parts one and two. Camp is five days long and includes lunch prepared by the campers.

Each theme has sessions for ages 7-10 and for ages 11-14, with a choice of half or full days. Register or get more information at ohlsenfoods.com/camps.SOQUEL

Tickets on sale for Art and Wine Fest kickoff party

The Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce is hosting a kickoff garden party to the 2025 Capitola Art and Wine Festival (which takes place Sept. 13-14 in Capitola Village). The Secret Garden Soiree is 2-5 p.m. June 8 at Bargetto Winery, 3535 N. Main St.

The cost is $60 until Friday, and $75 after that. Buy tickets and see details at master.capitolachamber.com/events/details/capitola-art-wine-kickoff-party-06-08-2025-3030. Attendees, who must be at least 21 years old, will receive appetizers, a souvenir glass and wine tasting from festival wineries.

There will also be a silent auction. If you have questions, call 831-475-6522.

SANTA CRUZ

Bookie’s Pizza adds pasta nights

Bookie’s Pizza, located at the Sante Adairius Rustic Ales Portal (1315 Water St.) is now offering pasta night every Wednesday. They launched the new promotion with spaghetti and meatballs. The second week, rigatoni with vodka sauce and ‘nduja was served.

Also, it’s going to be donating 20% of sales once a month to a local charity. The first event occurred on April 30 from 4 p.m. to closing, and Bookie’s and Sante Adairius both donated 20% to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County.

SANTA CRUZ

Summer Block Party series starts Friday

The fifth annual Midtown Summer Block Party series, operated by Event Santa Cruz, starts at 5 p.m. Friday and occurs weekly until Aug. 29. The outdoor midtown Santa Cruz space (1111 Soquel Ave.) features a lineup of local food vendors and musicians. For this first event, the Alex Lucero Band, Ripatti Rose, members of Ancestree and Swan Porter are joining together; four bands will become one and perform. Watsonville Munchiess and Achilles are appearing on Friday and again June 6.

Cracked Cookies and Solstice Foods are appearing Friday, and Taevada Treats is popping up on June 6.

Also, rotating local artists sell their wares at booths and occasionally nonprofits staff a booth at the event. Each week the festivities end around 8:30 p.m. For details, visit eventsantacruz.com.

WATSONVILLE

Pick strawberries at Gizdich Ranch

Gizdich Ranch (55 Peckham Road, 831-722-1056, gizdich-ranch.com) recently began its u-pick strawberry season.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, people can visit and pick berries to take home for a fee; note that no cash is accepted for the u-picks, only credit or debit cards.

You can bring your own containers or purchase a box. Gizdich also has a pie shop and deli.

SANTA CRUZ

June Mondays at Hula’s support Community Action Board

Hula’s Island Grill and Tiki Room (221 Cathcart St., 831-426-4852, hulastiki.com) will donate 10% of sales on Mondays in June to Community Action Board (cabinc.org). The Mahalo Mondays program, benefiting nonprofits, is occurring through November.

The July recipient is the Cabrillo Music Festival.

SANTA CRUZ

Tickets available for Chaminade wine dinner

Tickets are available for the next installment of Chaminade Resort & Spa’s Vine to View Farm to Table dinner series, which is June 6.

The four-course feast features food paired with beverages from The Prisoner Wine Co. John Anthony Vineyards. Courses include Unshackled Sauvignon Blanc ’21 with heirloom tomato, burrata and more; and Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon ’21 and a dish featuring ingredients such as Westholme Wagyu beef and New Bedford scallops.

Tickets are $155 per person; there is also an overnight package available at a higher cost. After June 6, the next series date is July 11 (Caymus Vineyards).

Call 831-465-3452 or visit chaminade.com/santa-cruz-restaurants/wine-dinners for details and tickets.

SANTA CRUZ

Kianti’s offers dads and grads promotions

Kianti’s Pizza and Pasta Bar, at 1100 Pacific Ave., has a few grad and dad-themed specials, running through June 15.

These include takeout specials: spicy breadsticks, salad and pizza or pasta for $55, or the same plus two signature cocktails for $75. These packages are for takeout, curbside or delivery.

Visit kiantis.com or call 831-469-4400 for details.

Quick Bites, compiled by Tara Fatemi Walker, is your weekly helping of Santa Cruz County restaurant, food and drink news. Send items to sentinelfood@gmail.com (Sunday 7 p.m. deadline for that week’s column). Want local food and drink news as it happens? Follow the Sentinel’s food crew on X @santacruzfood.