Toni with a baked dish
Food & Fun
From tailgate tastings and potlucks to chef dinners, our foodie fun events are scattered throughout the year.
Is it a coincidence that "FFSC" also stands for Fun and Food in Santa Cruz? (Yes, but we'll take it!)
We get together for tailgate tastings, potluck* dinners, and sit-down dinners; as well as demonstration-style cooking programs. Organized foodie fun events are scattered throughout the year. Some recurring favorites are listed below, and we announce others on a case-by-case basis.
Not sure what to bring to a mushroom potluck? Explore some of our members' recipes for inspiration!
Also see our tips on how to clean and store mushrooms, from drying to salt-preserving to freezing and more.
* For all FFSC potlucks, any wild mushroom dish must adhere to the species list for potlucks, serve at least 10 people, and be labeled with a descriptive tag. See our Potluck Essentials page for details.
Popular FFSC Culinary Events
Learn more about some of our most popular culinary events below, and see the schedule lower on this page for a schedule of upcoming culinary events.
Fermentation Friday workshop
Shane Peterson, Master Fermentologist of Farmhouse Culture fame, will be our fearless leader. He’ll do a demo, share tastings, and instruct us in creating a few of our own ferments to take home. Join us and bring a friend !
Friday, May 1 5:30pm-8:30pm
Register at the link below. FFSC members should login to get the access code to buy tickets at the member price.
Beer and Mushrooms Picnic
As our stories turn to morel hunts and spring kings, we gather for a co-op potluck picnic with the Central Coast Zymurgeeks, a local homebrew group. (Wouldn't you go just to say you had MET a "Zymurgeek"??)
5 days to the eventApr 21, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PMLillian's Italian Kitchen, 1148 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USAGet to know this month's speaker over a sit-down meal with a smaller group.
15 days to the eventMay 01, 2026, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PMSanta Cruz Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USAShane Peterson, Master Fermentologist of Farmhouse Culture fame, will be our fearless leader. He’ll do a demo, share tastings, and instruct us in creating a few of our own ferments to take home. Join us and bring a friend ! Attendance is limited so advanced tickets will be required.
30 days to the eventMay 16, 2026, 11:30 AM – 3:30 PMVisit ffsc.us/beer for location detailsPrepare to enjoy a fun-filled day with a bunch of Fungiphiles and Zymurgeeks! Our spring picnic is coming up, and you won’t want to miss it.- 33 days to the eventMay 19, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PMSpecial Noodle - Time honored dishes wit, 415 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USAGet to know this month's speaker over a sit-down meal with a smaller group.
