Sip + Savor
Lion’s Tale Roars in Montecito
While the historic Montecito Inn has hosted an array of dining destinations over the years, its newest addition, Lion’s Tale, has become a mane attraction.
Santa Barbara’s Liquid Gold
There’s more to olive oil than meets the eye, and the palette.
Picpoul: Scarce but shellfishily extroverted
68 acres of the rare Picpoul come to California
Spirits have Arisen in the Hills of Sta. Rita!
Rock 12 Distillery features a disarming assembly of vodkas, liqueurs, and brandies at a palate-enervating stop on Highway 246.
The Stelvin Saga
Scourge of the screw cap By Bob Wesley The prevalence of screw-topped wines these days is remarkable, contrary to the dismissive backlash against them just 20 years ago that suggested they would falter, fade, and exit the oenological stage faster than this list of...
bouchon
A quarter-century celebration of fine wine As I walk into bouchon on a Tuesday evening, the place is joyously hopping with the clink of wine glasses and the laughter of guests, with waiters adroitly gliding between the full tables where diners are enjoying the...
Roblar: A truly immersive experience
By Hana-Lee Sedgwick In the Santa Ynez Valley, Roblar Winery and Vineyards shines as a gem for food enthusiasts and wine lovers alike. Here you can taste wine just steps from where the grapes are grown and savor seasonally inspired cuisine featuring ingredients grown...
Turmeric Golden Milk Tea
The benefits of curcuma golden milk tea are endless. Rich and creamy, this vegan turmeric tea “golden milk latte” warms the body and the soul. Full-bodied chai spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom floats the scent of comfort in the air. INGREDIENTS 2 cups...
Grape Escape
Savor the best of Washington’s Walla Walla Valley By Hana-Lee Sedgwick Lucky for us, some of California’s finest wine regions are just a stone’s throw away. Exploring the wineries of the Central Coast is one of my favorite activities, both professionally and...
Born to chef
Star chef Anthony Bourdain’s masterpiece book, “Kitchen Confidential,” (published in 2000) was more than an entertaining deep dive into the “culinary underbelly” of the restaurant world. It offered inspiration. To some, the wild but true tales from behind the kitchen...
Sip + Sushi:
Doug Margerum is at it again, this time with a gem of a new tasting room in Santa Barbara Wine Country’s charming Los Olivos. The spot offers a new twist on wine-pairing: a bento box with your vino tasting.
Margerum has been raising his glass to customers and friends for over 40 years in Santa Barbara’s hospitality trade, as a restaurateur and winemaker. Known for impeccable wines that he fashions for his own label, as well as consulting gigs to budding and wannabe winemakers, his talents have consistently set a high bar and earned respect for his Santa Ynez Valley estate wines.
Squaring up at Bossie’s Kitchen
by Jeff Miller Among other things, the corner of Milpas and East Canon Perdido streets has long been famous for a cow. Not just any cow, but the beloved plaster “Old Bossy,” on her proud perch atop the 1939 building since the creators of the Live Oak Dairy put her...
A smashing success!
by Jeff Miller What you see is a beautiful burger. What you don’t see is the effort that went into making it appear on your plate at Third Window in downtown Santa Barbara. “When you smash a hamburger, grease goes everywhere,” said Kristopher Parker, who runs the...
Margarita Man is Shaking It Up
Marcos Altamirano has been working in the restaurant business since 1996 when he arrived from his hometown in Oaxaca, Mexico. Not speaking a word of English, he landed at Pascual’s on Victoria Street as a dishwasher, pulling the late-night shift. Fast forward 26 years...