Finley Farms is overflowing with organic produce right now, but their beautiful shallots especially caught my eye. Shallots, members of the allium family, are thought to have originated in Central or Southwest Asia and grow in tight clusters like garlic. These small, nutrient-dense relatives of onions offer impressive health benefits. One helpful trick for both […]
Purple always makes me marvel at nature. In purple potatoes, that vibrant color comes from anthocyanins – the same antioxidants found in blueberries. Roots Organic Farm has some beautiful potatoes right now, and the purple varieties contain significantly more antioxidants than regular potatoes. Anthocyanins help neutralize free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, improve artery flexibility, and […]
Recently Trending
More from Montecito
After nearly two months of soft opening evenings, including last weekend’s Tom Scott–Roger Kellaway show that raised the bar musically and otherwise, The Grand on State (right next door to the dear Granada) is having its official (grand) opening on Saturday, May 30. The celebration at the intimate “fine dining and jazz” spot – whose […]
Stone fruit season is here and the white nectarine, my absolute favorite, is featured this week at Burkdoll Farms. Originally from China, the fuzzless skin of this peach varietal is caused by a recessive gene, not a cross between a peach and plum as some believe. These little nutrition powerhouses are packed with fiber, vitamin […]
One week of SB Culinary Experience x Wine Tasting event slated for May 11-17, in partnership with The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts. The Julia Child Foundation’s signature honors, The Julia Child Award, will be announced and presented on Friday, May 14, at Godmothers Bookstore Summerland. 411: https://sbce.events SCA Community Gathering […]
Dried dates are always available at our farmers market, but lately I have been adding them to almost everything from a sweet potato topper with olives and herbs, to a salad addition, to a perfect and healthy vehicle for a dessert, so I thought they deserved an article of their own. Flying Disc Farms has […]
There are places where you immediately sense that something important is being built, even before a single dish is served. On a clear Friday afternoon in Carpinteria, I walked the fields of Rincon Hill Farm as lettuces unfurled in jewel-toned rows, avocado trees punctuated the landscape, and pollinators traced quiet patterns through the air. The […]
I have written about cabbage before, but I honestly believe 2026 in food is the year of the cabbage, so let’s highlight some of the colorful organic cabbages at Roots Organic Farm. The cone cabbage, savoy cabbage, and treviso are all in season and they are sweet, humble, crunchy, and wildly underrated when at their […]
Hello loves! Wonder no more my dears about the latest on new biz in Montecito. I am here with the first dining notes teaser on the soon-to-open Monte’s Restaurant, at 1198 Coast Village Road. Sipping my organic matcha tea as I write this, I can hear you sigh, “The location with the most storied restaurant […]
Read more...
It’s that love time of year, where romance, bromance, and galentines are calling everyone to reach out with love this month. Truly a much-needed experience at this time! Shop and dine local with that special person, including treating yourself! Gifting and Flowers: -For the romantic: Carolina Bucci’s Cuore Collection of heart-shaped rings and pendants in […]
Maybe it was a touch of brioche French toast and some morning laughs on a lazy weekend, or a Saturday prime rib before the big show… or remember the time the whole family got burgers after the hike? As surely as the unforgettable meals they serve, Lucky’s – “Montecito’s Second Living Room” – is endeared […]
I love winter greens and escarole is looking incredible at The Garden Of. This pleasantly bitter green is often found in Italian cuisine, yet originates in the East Indies and is a member of the chicory family. Its botanical relatives are the curly endive, radicchio, and frisee. This high fiber green contains copper, folate, vitamin […]
Mellow. That seemed to be the word used most frequently when I asked friends and peers about their New Year’s Eve. Other years have seen glittering, largely silly, soirées that wrap with a costumed walk to East Beach as the year’s first sun rises. And sure, I had some friends raging in the rain this […]
Chayote Squash, also known as mirliton, choko, christophine, and guisquil, is a member of the Cucurbitaceae gourd family. Daniel Moua Farm has some fine-looking ones right now and these beauties are smooth, light green, and mild in flavor. Most people don’t know what to do with these gourds. They can be eaten raw in salads, […]
