Raising the Bar
By Richard Mineards   |   September 19, 2019

Santa Barbara twosome Ivan and Polly Pelly are enjoying the sweet life! The dynamic duo has just launched Ivan Bar, a new nutritional candy with Macadamia nuts, almonds, chia, hemp and pumpkin seeds, and dates. “I bought my last grocery store snack bar four years ago,” says Ivan, a software engineer from the U.K. “They […]

It’s Child’s Day!
By Richard Mineards   |   August 22, 2019

Statuesque culinary goddess Julia Child, who died two days short of her 92nd birthday in 2004, would have been 107 years of age last week, and many admirers of the first celebrity chef were determined she not be forgotten. Mayor Cathy Murillo joined nearly 200 guests at Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner‘s beautiful Morocco-inspired Montecito […]

 

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Grilling Out
By Richard Mineards   |   July 11, 2019

Hamburgers and hot dogs ruled the menu when the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission held its 11th annual Independence Day barbecue in the parking lot at its newly renovated property on East Yanonali Street. More than 300 homeless guests enjoyed 560 hamburgers and hotdogs, and 27 pounds of macaroni and potato salad, while quaffing hundreds of […]

Cooking with Michael
By Richard Mineards   |   July 11, 2019

Local culinary whiz Michael Hutchings is about give Gordon Ramsay a run for his money! Michael is launching a new cooking show, The Santa Barbara Chef, on the Cox cable network, filming in the Flying A film complex, the original West Coast silent movie studio. The first 30-minute show debuts next month, featuring gourmet recipes […]

Museum Madness
By Richard Mineards   |   July 4, 2019

The popular food and wine festival at the socially gridlocked Museum of Natural History was a sold-out affair. The 32nd annual fest, which had 1,173 guests and raised in excess of $115,000 for the museum’s programs, featured more than 70 premier Central Coast wineries and 30 food vendors on the 11-acre oak-shaded Mission Creek campus. […]

Little Alex’s Celebrates 30 Years
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 25, 2019

Next month marks a special anniversary for Coast Village Road’s longest running restaurant: Little Alex’s in Montecito Country Mart marks 30 years in business on May 8. “We’re still the same as we’ve always been, and that’s why we are around thirty years later,” says Lynette Briner, who owns Little Alex’s with husband, Dan. Still […]

Sushi|Bar to Open on Coast Village Road
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 18, 2019

Sushi|Bar, located inside the Montecito Inn, is the second location of Monarch owner Phillip Frankland Lee’s critically-acclaimed omakase restaurant. Omakase – a Japanese phrase that means “I’ll leave it up to you” – is a free-form, interpretive take on the traditional sushi counter experience; this new location will have a heavy emphasis on Santa Barbara […]

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  • Foodies and Winos
    By Richard Mineards   |   March 21, 2019

    Gourmands and oenophiles were out in force at the Wine Shepherd when the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum threw an intimate bash to mark the 38th year of its popular wine and food festival in June, which is expected to raise $130,000 for educational programs. The fest on the 14-acre campus along the shaded banks […]

    Bella Vista Bash
    By Richard Mineards   |   January 10, 2019

    Social gridlock reigned when tony twosome, Pat and Ursula Nesbitt, threw a heaving holiday bash at Bella Vista, their sprawling Summerland polo ranch. More than 150 guests were welcomed to the bustling beano, catered by the Biltmore, by ballerinas from the Luminario company in Los Angeles, while the Lois Mahalia Choir entertained with gospel and […]

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    Eatery Updates
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 10, 2019

    Several Coast Village Road restaurants have announced new offerings for the new year, including extended hours.  At Coast Village Plaza at 1187 Coast Village Road, Renaud’s is now serving dinner with a “fast casual fine dining” service. Owner Renaud Gonthier said it has been a dream for many years to expand upon his patisserie and […]

    Hey ‘19
    By Steven Libowitz   |   December 27, 2018

    As usual, there are all sorts of options for ringing in the New Year in Santa Barbara, including a brand new event in the increasingly trendy Funk Zone centered around the new Hotel Californian. Just about the entire neighborhood is involved, with events starting at 10 am with the preliminary rounds of the first annual […]

    Buon Appetito
    By Richard Mineards   |   December 27, 2018

    Gourmands were out en-masse when Italian culinary wizard Massimo Falsini cooked a host of delights at the home of software entrepreneur Frank and Allison Paolini for Epicurean Santa Barbara to raise funds for his charity, the Refettorio Program, which helps the homeless. Massimo, who hails from Rome and was executive chef at Solage, a five-star […]

    Los Arroyos Opens in Solvang
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   December 6, 2018

    Earlier this fall, one of Santa Barbara and Montecito’s most popular restaurants expanded north, opening a location in Solvang in the Santa Ynez Valley. “The Valley has needed a Los Arroyos for years, and we are happy to finally have made it happen,” said co-owner Maria Arroyo, who sat down with us recently to show […]

    Vamos to Vicenta’s
    By Richard Mineards   |   November 29, 2018

    Vicenta’s is the latest eatery from prolific restaurateur Carlos Luna, who opened his first nosheteria in 2008 aged just 27, and now includes five branches of Los Agaves and Santo Mezcal on State Street. The 160-seat Mexican restaurant in Goleta was quite bustling when I went for lunch with my trusty shutterbug, Priscilla, and dined […]

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