The SB Post

Olio Pizzeria Opens: Love at First Bite

Olio e Limone is the standout star of Santa Barbara's Italian cuisine scene and, much to the delight of their patrons and local foodies, owners Alberto and Elaine Morello introduced sister restaurant Olio Pizzeria this week. This is major news for our relatively small town that's big on [good] food!

The casual enoteca and bar is tucked into the back of Victoria Court and sits next door to the original restaurant. The warm, inviting space is much larger than you'd expect from the exterior of the unassuming entrance.  High ceilings, yellow washed walls, rich woods, multi-colored Italian glass light fixtures and stonework details create a cozy atmosphere. Even on the "soft" opening night, the bar seats were full and clearly will become the most coveted seats in the house with views of the wood-fired pizza oven.

The menu is vast and varied, offering several pizzas along with salads, meats, cheeses and other contorni - "veggies and side dishes," as the fun, text-filled placemats translated for us.  The helpful Italian food glossary and other key phrases encourage Italian speaking and, if you're not familiar with the language, let you figure out some of the mystery ingredients on the menu for yourself.

My dinner companion and I shared a half carafe of the Beckmen Cuvee Le Bec, one of the many local wines on their list. The carafe option presents a nice compromise to ordering by the glass and committing to a whole bottle - I'm falling for this place already!

In the spirit of sampling, we split two refreshing salads that complemented each other well: a salad of blood orange, fennel and olives and a simple preparation of artichoke with shaved parmesan and lemon. Both were drizzled with the Olio e Limone extra virgin organic olive oil, produced by the Morellos with olives sourced from Alberto's hometown in Sicily.

We couldn't decide between the margherita pizza or the quattro formaggi, so we put the deciding into the hands of our very helpful server, who did not hesitate to steer us towards the quattro formaggi. (Full disclosure:  I'm a vegetarian, so that narrowed our choices, but I still had plenty to choose from.) And he did right by us. It was a cheese lover's dream. In one bite you could taste the smokiness of the mozzarella, and in the next bite detect the veins of blue in the gorgonzola. We had no problem polishing off the perfectly-sized pizza - not overwhelming for one and just right for two.

The grand finale of my inaugural Olio Pizzeria meal was the panacotta with chocolate and hazelnut dessert. Craving a hint of chocolate, it was love at first bite.

Olio Pizzeria is located at 11 West Victoria Street, between State Street and Chapala Street, in Suite 21. They are open for lunch Monday-Saturday and dinner daily. Take-out pizza orders are welcomed.

Santa Barbara Brunch Guide

Home or away, weekends and brunch go hand in hand. Whether you're easing into the day, celebrating a special occasion or seeking an antidote for a late night out on the town, brunch satisfies morning cravings with a hybrid menu of breakfast classics and luncheon dishes. So where's a foodie to go in Santa Barbara come brunch-time?

Tupelo Junction is where it's at for brunch daily with a Southern-inspired menu that includes such delights as Dungeness Crab Cake and Potato Hash with avocado salsa, poached eggs and lemon butter sauce and - the ultimate crowd pleaser - Vanilla Dipped French Toast with homemade berry syrup & fresh whipped cream. Served in mason jars, their perfectly crafted bloody mary's are garnished with diced bell pepper and a fresh crab claw. Jeannine's is a well-known bakery with two Santa Barbara locations and one in Montecito. Their sweet stuff is sinfully good, but their breakfast and brunch menus offer plenty of delicious savory dishes to start the day. The Huevos Rancheros is heavenly but only available on weekends, so the Breakfast Quesadilla is a good alternative if you stop in midweek. Of their three locations, the Figueroa Street spot downtown is the most spacious and has lovely outdoor seating in La Arcada Court. You might have to fight for a seat at D'Angelo Pastry & Bread, located on Gutierrez Street between State and Chapala Streets. It's a favorite of celebrity chef and Santa Barbara resident Cat Cora, who is partial to the Eggs "Rose" - two poached free range eggs and Mediterranean artichoke spread served atop freshly baked, toasted kalamata olive bread. Yum.

On the Sunday-only front, Paradise Café is pure Santa Barbara and the patio setting can't be beat. Try the Santa Ynez Omelet, Blue Corn Waffle or Huevos Valenzuela. Elements Restaurant and Bar definitely doesn't suffer from patio envy, with their prime perch across from the stunning Courthouse sunken gardens. You can linger here for hours enjoying the views while sipping on bottomless mimosas ($16) and digging into elevated classics like their Elements Eggs Benedict styled with poached eggs, buttermilk biscuit and smoked salmon lobster hollandaise. High tail it to The Hungry Cat for deluxe bloody mary's, super fresh local seafood specialties and hearty (but not so "heart healthy") entrees like Chorizo Gravy with cornmeal biscuits, braised greens and fried eggs. If you want to go all out and indulge, look no further than the Sunday Brunch at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara. The sheer quantity of different items available on the buffet menu is astounding - it actually takes up two rooms! It's a class act all the way at the Four Seasons and you can enjoy stunning ocean views while you eat. And walk it all off at Butterfly Beach across the way when you're done.

Arnoldi's Café recently started serving breakfast on weekends (7:30am-11:30am). While it's not technically brunch, if you're an early riser it can qualify! Arnoldi's is a Santa Barbara institution that specializes in authentic, no frills Italian fare and their sprawling back patio is especially inviting. Bocce ball and breakfast - need I say more?

San Ysidro Ranch Tops Travel+Leisure’s World’s Best List

Santa Barbara's own San Ysidro Ranch was named "the best resort in the continental U.S. and Canada" by Travel+Leisure magazine in their August 2010 World's Best issue. Not only was it ranked #1 in the U.S., but it was #4 in the whole wide world.

It's a pretty impressive and well-deserved endorsement. San Ysidro Ranch is a downright dreamy spot, set on 500 lush acres in the foothills of Montecito with mountain and ocean views. Aside from the property's stunning grounds and attention to every luxurious detail, privacy and discretion are part of the appeal. None of the individually-decorated 41 cottages share a wall. And the residential style décor makes you feel right at home - or in someone else's fabulous home. 

San Ysidro Ranch has a distinct sense of place and exudes grace. Since opening in 1893, it's been a preferred retreat for notable writers, politicians and celebrities. The Ranch has quite a storied romantic history, too. Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh exchanged their wedding vows in the garden under the moonlight. J.F.K. and Jackie O. honeymooned in the now-named Kennedy Suite. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin said "I do" while hiding away in that very same suite.

Don't be turned off if the room rates are out of your budget - the restaurants and bar are open to the public and offer a healthy serving of the property's magical ambiance. The Stonehouse is the more formal of the two restaurants, while the Plow & Angel downstairs is more casual and has a bar. Both have delightful patios, which are lovely as can be, especially on a warm evening before the sun goes down.

Congratulations to our friends at San Ysidro Ranch, including the gracious General Manager, Seamus McManus, who you are quite likely to meet if you find yourself on that glorious patio enjoying a glass of local wine...paired to something scrumptious cooked up with ingredients sourced from our local waters and their organic garden!

Spur of the Moment Summer Travel Savings

News flash for you last minute planners and deal seekers out there! Today, we introduced our new "Spur of the Moment" travel planning tool, which makes a spontaneous visit to Santa Barbara super simple and easy to plan all summer long. We know that your travel budget and vacation time are sacred, and we want you to find that amazing deal. So when you have the urge to take a midweek breather on the coast, or crave a quick weekend escape, take a look at "Spur of the Moment" to see what's available on short notice. Visit SantaBarbaraWeeklyDeals.com to find a cheat sheet listing the best available hotel rates for the given week, two-for-one attraction offers and upcoming special events. If you live close by and visit often, sign-up to receive the "Spur of the Moment" travel deals email, which will land in your inbox every Monday through Labor Day.

Here's another savings tip: If you're on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner or San Joaquin routes, visit the Santa Barbara Car Free Project website to get access to a 20% discount on Amtrak tickets to Santa Barbara. Once you're in town, show your Amtrak ticket to receive more discounts through the Car Free Project's "Take the CAR out of your CARBON Footprint" program. The 20+ attractions, tour companies and restaurants offering the Car Free discounts are listed here.

Check that out. We've given you ways to save on accommodations, transportation and things to do. Wow, that could add up to an entire extra day/night of fun-or just more money in the bank!