Tag archives: pizza

A Hardcore Passion for Pizza
By Christopher Matteo Connor   |   January 2, 2024

What does pizza and punk have in common? Maybe more than you think! Both can be cheap and fast, but also contain the potential to have lots of substance. There’s attention to the ingredients. It seems simple, but all put together, it can be something powerful and moving. And tasty… depending on what punk shows […]

Bettina to Expand 
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 14, 2023

Late last week, Bettina owners Rachel Greenspan and Brendan Smith announced on social media that they have signed a lease for a new location in Carpinteria, as part of a multi-tenant development project coming to Linden Avenue.  The new location will be more casual than the Montecito Country Mart location, and will be more of […]

Jazz, Pizza, Art and Old Friends: What More Could a Gal Ask For?
By Leslie Westbrook   |   October 19, 2021

“New York City is back!” I exclaimed to Gianni Valenti over a drink at Birdland, the 70-plus-year-old jazz club and theater cabaret that he’s owned for the past three-plus decades, on 44th Street in New York City. “It’s half back,” he corrected me, adding that his longtime landlord was very understanding of the economic climate […]

In Business: Persona Pizzeria
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 7, 2021

Persona Pizzeria on State Street has reopened under new ownership, despite statewide stay-at-home orders that have shut down indoor and outdoor dining in the majority of counties in California. “We know it’s not the optimal time to open a new business, but we are super COVID-safe and looking forward to offering the same delicious, freshly […]

Revolver Debuts New York Style Pizza Pies
By Claudia Schou   |   December 17, 2020

Proprietors Nick Bodden and Ronald Allen are the quintessential do-it-yourselfers of Santa Barbara’s food scene with an approach not unlike early rock ‘n’ roll musicians like Elvis who made their own recordings in order to get their sound noticed. Bodden and Allen do that with their creative recipes and passion for food.  Prior to debuting […]

Ca’ Dario Opens on Coast Village Road
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 30, 2020

Despite the inability to fully open and seat and serve diners, Dario Furlati, owner of the Ca’ Dario restaurants, has softly opened his newest location on Coast Village Road, offering dinner for takeout. “It’s been a long time coming, and I’m happy I can finally open the doors,” he told us earlier this week, behind […]

Bettina Celebrates 1st Anniversary
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 7, 2019

Last week marked the first anniversary in business in Montecito for husband and wife team Brendan Smith and Rachel Greenspan, owners of Bettina in Montecito Country Mart. “It’s been a lot of work, but an overwhelmingly positive experience,” Greenspan told us earlier this week.  Riding on the coattails of the success of their mobile pizza […]

Giovanni’s Closes on Coast Village Road
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 17, 2019

After 32 years in business, Giovanni’s on Coast Village Road closed its doors earlier this week. Owner Alex Noormand, who has spent six days a week at the pizzeria for the last 32 years, tells us the closure is “heartbreaking,” and he will miss seeing his loyal customers day in and day out.  The space […]

Bettina Opens in Montecito Country Mart
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   November 1, 2018

Nearly two-and-a-half years after signing their lease in Montecito Country Mart, Bettina owners – and husband-and-wife team– Brendan Smith and Rachel Greenspan opened the doors to their Neapolitan-style pizza place on October 29.  Following the success of their mobile pizza catering concept, Autostrada, Smith and Greenspan wanted to open a brick and mortar space to […]

The Pizza Lady
By James Buckley   |   November 23, 2017

While at Montecito Village Grocery, I spotted Emily Mullisen surrounded by boxes of Table 5 frozen pizza and offering tastes of her company’s product. Table 5’s pizza dough is made with a mix of cornmeal and wheat, giving its crust a heft not often found in pizza. Table 5’s top seller is the mushroom-and-basil combo […]