Equinox winemaker and founder dies

Barry Jackson, founder and winemaker for Equinox Wine Cellars, died unexpectedly on Sept. 12 at the age of 72. Jackson’s long career in the wine field began with studying oenology at Fresno State and working for Paul Masson Winery. Barry and his wife Jennifer produced Equinox’s first sparkling wine in 1989 and opened their Westside Santa Cruz facility in 2006. They both devoted a great deal of time doing consulting and hands-on assistance for other wineries wanting to produce sparkling wines under their own labels. These included Wente, Kathryn Kennedy and Bonny Doon.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

News from farmers markets

Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets (santacruzfarmersmarket.org), which hosts the downtown, Felton, Live Oak, Scotts Valley and Westside markets, recently announced a few changes and additions.

Melrose Cafe appears at the Westside and Live Oak markets every weekend with a 100% market-sourced ready-to-eat menu. Owner and chef Cameron Meyers’ experience includes working with Companion Bakeshop and The Midway. Wise Goat Organics now sells its popular sauerkraut, hot sauce, nut butters, and more each Sunday at Live Oak. Dumpling-maker Nomad Momo has returned to the downtown and Westside markets.

Gluten-free Switch Bakery is downtown every Wednesday and is rotating through a few other markets including Westside this Saturday and Oct. 26, and Live Oak this Sunday and Oct. 27. In the future, Companion Bakeshop will be expanding their menu offerings at all markets including hot items at Westside and Live Oak.

New hours at Ibiza

Ibiza (1541B Pacific Ave., 831-900 -5222, ibizasantacruz.square.site) has new hours. It is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday). The eatery, from the owners of Barceloneta (which Ibiza replaced), opened last month and includes vegan and gluten-free options. There is counter service plus indoor and outdoor seating. To stay in the loop, follow Ibiza on Instagram @ibizasantacruz.

Eat pie for a good cause

Pie for the People (pieforthepeople-santacruz.org) is holding its next fundraiser from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the Homeless Garden Project farm on Shaffer Road at Delaware Avenue. Proceeds benefit Digital NEST (digitalnest.org), which creates sustainable, scalable technology learning centers for Latinx youth to foster equity. Attendees are encouraged to bring a savory or sweet vegetarian pie, plus a $5-or-more donation per person. “If baking isn’t your thing, just bring an extra dollar or two,” say event organizers. Pie for the People, on Instagram @pieforthepeoplesc, raises money for local non-profits by hosting seasonal community pie potlucks.

SOQUEL

Taste of Soquel coming up

The annual Taste of Soquel, a benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank, runs noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Congregational Church of Soquel, 4951 Soquel Drive. Participating restaurants and beverage providers include HOME, Sawasdee Thai Cuisine, El Chipotle Taqueria, Café Cruz, Emozioni Pasticceria, Bargetto Winery, Vino Cruz, Soquel Cider by Everett Family Farm and Discretion Brewing. The $30 adult admission covers all food and beverage tasting. Tickets for ages 12-20 are $10. There will be kids’ activities and live music by The Earth Rangers, Coffee Zombie Collective and Extra Medium. Purchase tickets at the church or at eventbrite.com/e/a-taste-of-soquel-2024-tickets-1000482699687.

APTOS

Business showcase features small bites, wine

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce is hosting a business showcase from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Seascape Golf Club (610 Clubhouse Drive). The free event features goodies from Aptos BBQ, Seascape Golf Club, Shadowbrook Restaurant, Seascape Foods, Sevy’s Bar and Kitchen, Driscoll’s, New Leaf Community Markets, Fog’s End Distillery, Martinelli & Co. and Bargetto Winery. Also, local businesses will provide raffle prizes. For information, visit aptoschamber.com or call (831) 688-1467.

CAPITOLA

Gayle’s offers High Holy Days menu

Gayle’s Bakery (504 Bay Ave., 831-462-1200, gaylesbakery.com) has special offerings for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Order early; quantities are limited. To view menus, visit the homepage and click “Menus” then “High Holy Days.” A Rosh Hashanah dinner for Oct. 2 features braised beef brisket, latkes, couscous and roasted beet salad. A la carte selections for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are available Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 11-12; these include matzo ball soup, Challah and Rugelach.

SANTA CRUZ

Tickets going fast for Food Bank fundraiser

Second Harvest Food Bank (thefoodbank.org) is hosting its annual Chefs’ Dinner on Oct. 15 at Holy Cross Hall (170 High St.). The multi-course meal features local wine pairings. Seven local chefs are donating their time and expertise: Jesikah Stolaroff (Vim), Avram Samuels (Chaminade), Desmond Schneider (Pete’s Fish House), Damani Thomas (Oswald), Tatiana Glass (Avanti), Ben Hillan (Sanderlings/Seascape Resort) and Nick Sherman (Trestles). Tickets are $275 at app.giveffect.com/campaigns/32816-chefs-dinner-2024. This is Second Harvest’s largest annual fundraiser, with a goal of ensuring every child in Santa Cruz County has access to nutritious meals.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Anniversary party at Steel Bonnet Brewing Co.

Steel Bonnet Brewing Co. (20 Victor Square, 831-454-8429, steelbon.net) is hosting a nine-year anniversary party from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. Parker Presents … Oysters is there from 2-5 p.m., with Uncle Josh’s Rollin’ Snack Shack in the afternoon and Shockwave Food from 5-8 p.m. The kid and dog-friendly event will have live music, face painting, a raffle and lots of beer.

WATSONVILLE

Pick apples at Gizdich Ranch

Gizdich Ranch (55 Peckham Road, 831-722-1056, gizdich-ranch.com) recently began its u-pick apple season. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, people can visit the ranch and pick apples to take home for a fee. Gizdich also has a pie shop and deli. Customers are welcome to picnic on-site or take food to-go.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Food trucks at Skypark Friday

The monthly Scotts Valley Food Truck Friday series continues from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Skypark (361 Kings Village Road). Participating food trucks will be S.C. Eatery, Epoch Eats, SnB, Scrumptious Fish & Chips, Pana, Mattia Pizza, Cracked Cookies and Rollin Snack Shack. Local band The Essentials and Brenda’s Face Painting will appear. Leashed dogs are welcome.

DAVENPORT

Tickets on sale for harvest dinner

Tickets are on sale for the 2024 Santa Cruz Permaculture Harvest Dinner, Oct. 12 at the farm (on Highway 1 near Año Nuevo State Park). Tickets are $135 until Oct. 4 and $145 after that. Kids are $75. The event includes a farm tour, guest speaker Rumi poet Eric Schneider, and dinner from chef Tod Nysether with courses like Corn Pudding with Sungold Tomatoes and Basil Oil and Moroccan Chickpea Kefta Kebab. Buy tickets and learn more at santacruzpermaculture.com/farmdinner/.

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.