Chili Cook-off seeking contestants

Registration is open until Oct. 18 for teams to enter the annual Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Chili Cook-Off, which takes place Oct. 26. Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Chili (amateur and professional), People’s Choice, Most Tasted, and Best Theme. Two chili types are eligible: ones with meat, and vegetarian. The entry fee is $75, and each team receives Boardwalk All-Day Rides Wristbands, event T-shirts, and a complimentary parking pass. For information including the official entry form and rules, visit beachboardwalk.com/chili-cook-off/. A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park. Treasure Cove is a universally accessible playground planned for Capitola (visit countyparkfriends.org/jadestpark.html for details).

Menu additions at Dos Pescados

Dos Pescados, at 21 Seascape Village (the former site of Palapas), has added a few menu items. These include Burrito Mojada with ingredients including braised chicken and salsa verde, and Carne Asada with black garlic, cipollini onions and beech mushrooms. Other current selections include several seafood choices like Kampachi (currently flown in from Hawaii) with leche de tigre, coconut and habanero. The most popular menu selections include grilled fish tacos (ingredients include sashimi grade seafood and achiote); halibut crudo with chili negra aguachile and avocado; and street corn with chili lime aioli, cotija and lime. There are vegetarian and vegan selections. Tortillas are made on-site.

Co-owner/chef Trent Lidgey, who is chef/owner at One Fish Raw Bar in Campbell, has 20 years of culinary experience including working at Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn in San Francisco. He has traveled extensively in Mexico. “Taking over the former Palapas space, we have big shoes to fill,” says Lidgey.

“We are here for the people of Aptos and have been constantly tweaking our menu based on guests’ feedback. We’re excited to continue to grow with the Aptos community.” The restaurant opened in July. Current hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Learn more at dospescados.com or call 831-662-9000.

Tickets available for Chaminade dinner series

Tickets are available for the next two installments of Chaminade Resort & Spa’s annual Moon Dinner series, which is in partnership with UC Santa Cruz experts in astronomy and astrophysics. Attendees will enjoy interactive stargazing paired with a three-course dinner and wine pairings, coinciding with unique moments in the moon’s cycle and including up-close views with a telescope. The Waning Crescent Moon Dinner is Sept. 22. Cost is $85 plus fees; visit chaminade.rezdy.com/649722/waning-crescent-moon-dinner to buy tickets and view the menu. The last dinner of the season is Oct. 17; buy tickets at chaminade.rezdy.com/659314/last-quarter-moon-dinner.

The Vine to View Dinner Series’ next event, Oct. 11, is a multi-course dinner paired with wine from Beauregard Vineyards. Tickets are $147.50 plus fees. Call 831-465-3452 or visit chaminade.rezdy.com/633041/beauregard-vineyards-vine-to-view-wine-dinner for details and tickets.

APTOS

Pino Alto restaurant now open

Restaurant Pino Alto, which the Cabrillo College Culinary Arts Department operates, has reopened at Sesnon House, 6500 Soquel Drive. Lunch is available 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and dinner is served 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Call 831-479-6524 for reservations. Visit pinoaltorestaurant.org for more information including menus. Also, there is a special Beer Maker’s Dinner with Discretion Brewing in early October.

APTOS

Wine dinner with MJA Winery

Persephone (7945 Soquel Drive, 831-612-6511, persephonerestaurant.com) is hosting a Winemaker’s Dinner with MJA Winery on Sept. 29, and it’s the final Persephone Winemaker’s dinner of 2024. Winery owner Marin J. Artukovich (the namesake of MJA) will be in attendance. Cost is $185 plus tip and fees, in advance. The menu will feature six wine and food course pairings such as 2020 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir “Wink,” Regan Vineyard accompanied by orange-rosemary pasta with trout. See full menu and get tickets at exploretock.com/persephone-restaurant-aptos/event/502617/mja-winemakers-dinner.

BEN LOMOND

Tickets on sale for Mountain Community Resources benefit

Tickets are on sale for the 39th annual Mountain Affair, Oct. 25 at Highlands Park Senior & Community Center, which includes a dinner, local wine, live music, and a silent auction. Tickets are $125 each. Visit CommunityBridges.org/Events for information. The event benefits Mountain Community Resources, a Community Bridges program that serves San Lorenzo Valley with services including food distribution, emergency preparedness, and crisis support.

SANTA CRUZ

Church Oktoberfest coming up

Messiah Lutheran Church (801 High St.) invites the community to Oktoberfest Santa Cruz’s 25th anniversary celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. There will be homemade German food, a huge selection of German beers and wines, live music from German polka band The Thirsty Nine, and a German costume contest. Family-friendly activities include a live petting zoo from 12:30-2:30. Admission is free; there is a fee for food. For more information, call 831-423-8330.

WATSONVILLE

Apple pie contest winners announced

Aptos resident Julie Titus was recently awarded the top prize (Best in Show) in the 47th annual Apple Baking Contest. Held at the Santa Cruz County Fair on Sept. 11, the competition is sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. Winners were selected for each of the three divisions: Youth, Adult and Masters. Visit the Farm Bureau’s site at sccfb.com for a full list of winners.

SANTA CRUZ

Thursday specials at Big Basin tasting room

The Big Basin Vineyards Tasting Room & Wine Bar (525 Pacific Ave., 831-515-7278, bigbasinvineyards.com/visit/santa-cruz-tasting-room/) is currently offering Throwback Thursdays from 4-9 p.m. The winery selects a different wine each week from its cellar and offers it for $15 instead of $22. This week, it’s 2015 Coastview Vineyard Pinot Noir; next week 2010 Coastview Vineyard Syrah will be featured.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Changes to Staff of Life sushi offerings

Local resident Yoni Jacobson is now running the sushi bar as independent business YK Sushi at both Staff of Life locations. Yoni Jacobson used to run the bar as the owner of franchise AFC, which is a statewide company. The new arrangement “allows her more freedom to use local ingredients as well as set her own menu,” says Dave Jacobson, who is Yoni’s husband. “Being a Korea native, she has added both a beef bulgogi and a mushroom vegetarian kimbap roll as well as a simple BiBimBap bowl.” Yoni’s experience includes working as a sushi chef at Mobo Sushi for 16 years.

SANTA CRUZ

Tickets for special teas at Vim

Vim Dining & Desserts (2238 Mission St., 831-515-7033, vimsantacruz.com) is hosting a tea on Sept. 29. There are still some indoor and outdoor reservations available. The theme is California Road Trip.

The next tea is Oct. 27 with a Halloween theme. Online reservations will be released at noon Oct. 13. Vim’s teas, which cost $70 per person, are usually held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the last Sunday of the month. The cost includes sweet and savory goodies and tea.

WATSONVILLE

Salsa event on tap

The Watsonville Youth Center is hosting Salsa y Salsa from 3-7 p.m. Saturday at 30 Maple Ave. There is salsa-tasting and judging, live salsa music by Edgardo Cambon and Candela, and salsa dancing.

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 & drink news as it happens? Follow the Sentinel’s food crew on Twitter @santacruzfood.