The SB Post

Looking for Endless Summer this Spring Break? Head to Santa Barbara

Posted On: Friday, Feb 24, 2012 10:51 AM

It's easy to fall into that endless summer groove in Santa Barbara, and I'm not just talking about the consistent 70-degree late winter temps and sunny skies--although the mild climes certainly don't hurt. More than the weather, I'm referring to those classic feelings of summer; action-packed days spent in the ocean or nearby mountains followed by lingering evenings downtown where patio seating and good service are par for the course. Those five-star memories you simply don't want to end, so you stretch them out as long as possible. Maybe you follow up your Santa Ynez wine tour with some live music at the Granada Theatre or perhaps you complement a day exploring the Channel Islands with an evening of fresh farm-to-table coastal cuisine while you take in views of a harbor sunset. Whatever your mid-summer night's dream, Santa Barbara most likely has it, ready and waiting for you, this spring. Here are some ideas and imagery to get you inspired for this year's spring break, Santa Barbara-style. 

 

Photo: J. Sinclair 

1. Pick the perfect place to stay: Whether it's road tripping with your tent in tow, cozying up at a local B&B or retreating to a full-service luxury resort, you and your budget will be comfortable at one of Santa Barbara's many hotel and hideaway options.

2. Line up the activities: They say it takes a lifetime to experience all of Santa Barbara and maybe they're right, but be it spontaneous decision making or diligent pre-planning, you'll want to pack in as much as possible during your time here. Choose from a wide variety of outdoor recreation, family-friendly activity, arts and cultural events, guided tours or visit one of the area's many pristine beaches and parks.

 

Photo: J. Sinclair 

3. Enjoy a festival or event: Spring means celebration in Santa Barbara. From celebrating Earth Day in its home town to tasting the best of the area's viticulture during the Vintners Festival, it's a prime time to coincide your travel with a local fête.

 

Photo: J. Sinclair 

4. Wine and Dine: And we don't mean in the traditional grab-a-bite-and-a-brew sort of way. There's a reason the most famous movie about wine ever made was made here. Just as Miles and Jack showed us in Sideways, Santa Barbara wineries are as inviting in flavor and quality as they are in vintner personality. Couple your favorite chardonnay or pinot with a plate of locavore gastronomy. With the access to locally-sourced, fresh produce, seafood and quality meats year-round, Santa Barbara's culinary scene is not to miss.

 

5. Get the insider scoop: In addition to free travel guides to both help you plan your trip as well as make the most of it while you're here, there are many other resources you can access that will provide you with the local insight, news, events and information to ensure your Santa Barbara getaway is all-time. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ or view the new Santa Barbara video short series, sure to put you in that mid-summer mindset.

Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone: A Storied Locale with Contemporary Flavor

Posted On: Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 1:39 PM

You've probably driven by the Funk Zone-or maybe even through it-not knowing you were in the midst of one of Santa Barbara's newest revitalizations. On a recent Friday, I ventured down to the district to take advantage of two things: a gorgeous 70-degree January afternoon and the traditional gyros served at Metropulos Fine Foods Merchant only on, you guessed it, Fridays. (Sidenote: I'm particular to the favorite Greek dish, but this quaint fine foods market is worth hitting up Monday through Saturday for a fresh sandwich, boxed lunch or assortment of unique wines and cheeses.) What I saw was not a scene the name would imply, but instead, the furthest thing from it. Local artists created masterpieces of public art. Others wandered into local wineries, such as Kunin and Municipal Winemakers, for an afternoon tasting on a warm winter day. People chatted on storefront steps as they soaked up the sun. It was obvious that the Funk Zone is fast becoming one of SB's hot spots, even when not coupled with a seventy-degree day.

Located between the Pacific Ocean and the 101, the Funk Zone got its name years ago for being just that: a somewhat desolate section of downtown that had all but been forgotten. But in recent years, the area has undergone a slow but steady facelift, catering to Santa Barbara's roots with winemakers taking up shop, entrepreneurs opening new doors and longtime locals refurbishing the historic buildings, which now house an eclectic mix of stores, restaurants and other contemporary culture.

The area doesn't have a funk so much as it has a vibe. The New York Times thinks so, too. A recent NYT Travel feature highlights the new Funk Zone flavors-all of which offer a fun paradox of modern trade housed in historic architecture. Aged warehouses and forgotten scuba stores are now flush with winemakers, surfboard shapers, textile shops and inviting eateries. The article will get you excited to visit, but the vibrancy of the Funk Zone is what is sure to keep you coming back for some of Santa Barbara's truest colors.

epicure.sb - 1st Annual Feast with Local Fishermen & Women

Posted On: Monday, Oct 24, 2011 5:33 PM  - 1 Comment

On Saturday afternoon, we joined more than 50 locals and visitors to toast (and taste!) Santa Barbara seafood at the “1st Annual Feast with Local Fishermen & Women.” Laurence Hauben, a celebrated local chef who offers weekly Market Forays, put us to work prepping local produce and fresh catch including pacific lobster, rock crab, Santa Barbara Spot Prawns, local urchin, octopus and more.

Indulged: Of course the seafood was the star of the show, and my favorite was the fantastically fresh Halibut Tartare in Cucumber Cups. Cioppino was the main course, and while we prepped, the fish stock wafted through the garden, emitting the most intoxicating aroma and setting the mood for lots of culinary camaraderie among the stand-in sous chefs.

Imbibed: You can’t have local seafood without local wine! Seth Kunin did the honors and provided beautifully bright, locally produced Kunin Wines for the event. A chilled glass of the Stolpman Vineyard Viogner hit the spot as the afternoon sun waned and the cooking heated up!    

Inspired: In between chopping, peeling and generally avoiding touching the slimy stuff, I got a chance to speak with some of the guests of honor about their life at sea, passion for their trade and challenges they face to protect their livelihood and the creatures that sustain them. Stephanie Mutz, local urchin diver (the only female, local urchin diver), marine biologist and president of Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, told us about her involvement in guiding our local fishing operations to sustainable futures. One of her projects is developing a CSF (community-supported fishing program) in partnership with University of California at Santa Barbara. Similar to CSAs (community-supported agricultural programs), CSFs allow community members to purchase pre-paid shares of the weekly catch distributed through scheduled home deliveries of locally caught fish and shellfish.

In a press release about the project, Kim Selkoe, a marine ecologist at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis at UC Santa Barbara said, "The CSF is about our local fishermen getting credit for the regulations that they adhere to and giving them a leg up on imported seafood products that may be illegally caught, improperly labeled, and potentially contaminated."

While the stories were different from lobster fishermen to urchin divers, the take-away was clear – know your seafood seasons and support local operations. Luckily for us, Santa Barbara’s access to fresh seafood is about as easy as it gets with the weekly Fishermen’s Market (Saturday mornings at the Harbor), many locally owned seafood shops and the new CSF program.

Here are a few additional photos of the memorable event:

epicure.sb - Oct 19th: Chocolate & Wine Pairing Class

Posted On: Friday, Oct 21, 2011 2:26 PM

The Wine & Chocolate Pairing Class at Margerum Wine Company was a true delight for wine and chocolate lovers alike!  The class was set up around the bar in the Margerum tasting room and led by Jillian of Margerum and Jessica of Jessica Foster Confections. The tasting room was decorated with hints of fall with pumpkins and gourds of all colors and sizes adding to this enjoyable epicure.sb event.

Indulged – Expertly paired with each wine were handmade chocolate truffles. The truffles included White Chocolate Green Tea, Dark Chocolate Chai, Dark Chocolate Rosemary, Dark Chocolate Coffee and White Chocolate Lavender coated with Salted Marcona Almond. To properly experience the combination of the wine and chocolate, we were instructed to take a sip of the wine and then a nibble of the truffle and repeat. That way the flavors and aromas of each had a chance to unite. We were blown away with the hints of flavor at the end of each taste.

Imbibed – The flight paired with the truffles included the following Margerum Wine Company selections:  2010 D Sauvignon Blanc (with White Chocolate Green Tea Truffle), 2009 M5 Rhone Blend (with Dark Chocolate Chai Truffle), 2007 UBER Syrah (with Dark Chocolate Rosemary Truffle), 2007 Colson Canyon Syrah (with Dark Chocolate Coffee Truffle), and 2010 Late Harvest Viognier (with White Chocolate Lavender & Salted Marcona Truffle). My personal favorite was the UBER paired with the Dark Chocolate Rosemary. The boldness of this wine complemented the strong essence of the rosemary. The Late Harvest Viognier with the White Chocolate Lavender & Salted Marcona Almond was also quite unique as the salt on the almond added a new element and kick that complemented the Viognier nicely.

Inspired – After this mouth-watering and scrumptious flight, I am inspired to start enjoying more wine with chocolate at home. In the past, I have opted for some stinky cheese to partner with my glass of vino, but this experience showed me that a sweet option is just as enjoyable if not more so at times. Jessica was extremely informative and fun in addition to being a talented truffle maker. I will definitely be using these truffles as Christmas gifts this year for my lucky family and friends.

epicure.sb - October 6th: 1st Thursday

Posted On: Thursday, Oct 13, 2011 4:58 PM

1st Thursday is an evening of art and culture in Downtown Santa Barbara. On the first Thursday of each month, participating galleries and cultural art venues open their doors from 5 to 8 p.m. offering the public free access to art and fun in a social environment. The October 6th event hosted a handful of epicurean-inspired art exhibits such as Whatever the Cuisine by Andre Monlleo on view at Bella Rosa Galleries, a meet-and-greet with the co-founders of Edible Communities – the nation’s largest publishing company dedicated to the local foods movement, and the art of flan was put to the test at CASA Magazine as they hosted their 3rd Annual Flan competition.

The outdoor performances along State Street really took the cake though as Santa Barbara Canning, a company dedicated to teaching and continuing the effort to encourage sustainability throughout Santa Barbara, offered food canning demonstrations on the Santa Barbara Museum of Art corner, and the historic Casa de la Guerra played host to the 3rd Annual Downtown Taste-Off. The featured category for this year’s Taste-Off was chocolate - yum!

Indulged – Cuisine is rarely featured during 1st Thursday, as the main focus is art. However an exception was made for the October event while epicure.sb was in full force.  The Downtown Chocolate Taste-Off certainly had my sweet tooth aching as seven downtown restaurants entered their best chocolate rendition for judging. Entries included decadent items such as Valrhona Chocolate Fondant with Lemon, Double Chocolate Mousse Pie, Triple Chocolate Crunch Truffles,  a gluten-free and vegan chocolate cupcake and more! Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro ultimately stole the show with their Salted Caramel Bittersweet Chocolate Tart with Cantilly and Caramel Oreo Popcorn. This salty-and-sweet combination had everyone going in for a second bite, and the dish walked away with the night’s honor of Best Chocolate.

Imbibed – Close to 20 different venues along the 1st Thursday route offered wine for art-lovers to enjoy while they perused the walls and chatted with fellow artists. Many of the wines poured were from local vintners right here in Santa Barbara County.

Inspired – 1st Thursday embraces culture at every stop on the map! Upwards of 40 cultural venues took part in the October event and showcased a local artist or musician. The artwork changes from month to month to keep the evening exciting, and you can always count on Santa Barbara locals to pop up on State Street with their own unique musical renditions and art displays. At the end of the night, I walked away feeling stuffed with both chocolate and culture!

Indulge, Imbibe & Get Inspired with us at epicure.sb

Posted On: Thursday, Oct 6, 2011 6:20 PM

In October, Santa Barbara's bounty brims with harvests from the sea, the orchards, the fields and the vineyards which deliver the essential ingredients that make up a deliciously rich month we call epicure.sb! No matter where you go - from Stearns Wharf to State Street to Santa Ynez - there are opportunities to quench your cravings for cuisine, libations & culture, and indulge in Santa Barbara's tastefully refined way of life.

This month, we'll document our epicurean experiences around town, noting culinary treats we Indulged in, liquid concoctions we Imbibed and cultural observances that Inspired us. Check back often for tasty tips to uncover Santa Barbara's culinary & cultural hidden gems.

It's not too late to join us! Reserve your seat at epicure.sb with special hotel packages, and check out the full menu of events at www.epicuresb.com.

Cheers!

epicure.sb: taste the very best of Santa Barbara this October

Posted On: Monday, Aug 8, 2011 4:35 PM

This October, Santa Barbara serves up another helping of epicure.sb: a month to savor santa barbara. Now in its 3rd year, this community-wide celebration has ripened to become the crescendo of our culinary calendar with 31 days and 75+ ways to celebrate cuisine, libations and culture.

To whet your appetite, here's a quick taste of the 2011 epicure.sb line-up. For the full menu, visit epicuresb.com, and reserve your seat at the table with special epicure.sb hotel packages.

CUISINE: Seasonal dishes, tasting events and winemakers’ dinners are on the menu at dozens of participating restaurants. Tackle the “Eat Local Challenge,” presented by Edible Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers’ Market, and brush up on sustainable living with educational events including cooking demos presented by Whole Foods and gardening classes at Fairview Gardens’ Center for Urban Agriculture. The second annual SOL [Sustainable-Organic-Local] Food Festival (Oct. 1) features exhibitors and vendors representing every aspect of the food system, a farm animal petting zoo, inspiring workshops and a chef competition. Join in more lively, food-centric fun at the California Avocado Festival (Oct. 7 - 9), Harbor & Seafood Festival (Oct. 8), California Lemon Festival (Oct. 15 - 16) and Santa Barbara Chowder Fest (Oct. 23).  

LIBATIONS: Wine, microbrews and spirits take center stage at dozens of special tasting and pairing events throughout October. Join the wine-country buzz during the Celebration of Harvest (Oct. 8), or stay downtown and go car-free with Santa Barbara Pedicab, offering special rates for Urban Wine Trail tasters all month. Celebrate the season with Oreana Winery’s Rocktoberfest (Oct. 1) or Carr Winery’s Italian Sunday (Oct. 2). Sample regional microbrews at the Santa Barbara Beer Festival (Oct. 15), and learn the craft at Whole Food’s DIY Beer Making Class (Oct. 8). Please the palate at Margerum Wine Company’s “Wine & Chocolate Pairing Classes,” and get loose at Wildcat Lounge’s 3rd Annual Mai Tai Tasting (Oct. 20).  Sip, swirl & save with discounted tastings and special wine pairings at area restaurants throughout October.

CULTURE: Feed your mind and soul with epicurean-inspired art exhibits, live performances and cultural events. Discover “Julia Child’s Santa Barbara” on Road Scholar’s multi-day, educational tour. Uncover Santa Barbara’s “dry” past at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum’s Speakeasy & Stills: Prohibition in Santa Barbara exhibit highlighted at a scandalous reception with whiskey and wine (Oct. 13). Let the artistic juices flow at with Pies & Paint, a pie-tasting and painting session (Oct. 15). Get out of your gourd at the Contemporary Arts Forum Pumpkin Carving Contest and Fall-Themed Wine Tasting (Oct. 28). Sip & stroll through downtown Solvang on Third Wednesday & Wine Walk (Oct. 19). Gallery hop at 1st Thursday (Oct. 6), a monthly evening of art and music that takes a special focus on the culture of food and drink in October at more than 30 participating downtown venues.

Sunshine Celebrations Are in Santa Barbara’s Forecast!

Posted On: Friday, Jun 10, 2011 1:49 PM

"June gloom" got you down today? Sunshine celebrations are in our extended forecast! The weekend of June 25 & 26 is shaping up to be a fabulous fête of Santa Barbara's best assets: summer sun, local wines and organic cuisine. Here are three great events to put on your calendar:

• Summer Solstice Parade (June 24 – 26) – We take our sunshine seriously in Santa Barbara, and our annual Summer Solstice celebration is the largest, single-day arts event in the county, drawing crowds of over 100,000 dressed-up sun lovers. This year, for the first time ever, the festivities are stretching to include three days, kicking off with an afternoon of music in Alameda Park. Enjoy the eclectic parade, live music, arts and crafts, children's activities and more as the entire city gets loose for some fresh-air fun! http://bit.ly/gTjmv6
• Annual Santa Barbara Wine Festival™ (June 25, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.) - Swirl, sip and savor Santa Barbara wines at this alfresco event where 70 Central Coast wineries pour tastings alongside savory and sweet culinary delights. A summertime favorite, the festival takes place at the picturesque Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History under a canopy of oak trees and among wooded walking trails. http://bit.ly/fmSSS8
• Feast in the Field (June 25, 5 p.m.) – At this first-time event, Stolpman Vineyards, Palmina Winery and Santa Barbara Winery are uncorking their Italian varietals for “Feast in the Field” on June 25. Join in the epicurean fun at what is sure to become a classic Wine Country soiree. Enjoy side-by-side wine tasting, organic local cuisine and good times under a 300-year-old oak tree at Stolpman Vineyards. An added bonus, the $55-per-person ticket price includes complimentary tastings at all three wineries throughout the weekend. http://bit.ly/l7cn8w

Need more excuses to escape to Santa Barbara? Browse our Calendar of Events, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for last-minute deals and drive-worthy events.

Only-in-SB Father’s Day Fun

Posted On: Friday, Jun 3, 2011 11:15 AM

Father’s Day is coming up on June 19. Instead of the usual necktie, treat dad to a memorable only-in-Santa-Barbara experience. We have plenty of father-friendly outdoor adventure, food-and-wine (and beer) fun and unique ways to impress dear ol’ dad! Here are just a few ideas for Father’s Day experiences and gifts:

• Tough Guy Wine Tasting – For an ideal day out with dad, Cloud Climbers' "Back-Country Wine Tour" combines off-roading in a classic, custom CJ8 Scrambler with stops at four wineries and a no-frills picnic lunch. Or skip the wine and stick to the dirt on the “It’s a Blast Mountain Tour,” a four-hour mountain adventure including trap shooting, a short hike and a stop at Cold Springs Tavern to toast the day with a brew.
• Brew Cruise – Check out Santa Barbara’s microbrew scene with Santa Barbara Beer Tours and learn something along the way. Cruise to three breweries (Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, Hollister Brewing Company and Island Brewing Company) for tastings and behind-the-scenes production tours. Full lunch and a souvenir glass is included in the $80/person pricetag. Want to celebrate dad early? Grab a pair of tickets to the 2nd Annual Zoo Brew on June 11 when the Santa Barbara Zoo hosts 20+ local and regional breweries for an afternoon of tastings and animal encounters.
• Book Him at Bootcamp - Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort presents their first annual "BBQ Bootcamp" Oct. 27-30, 2011, with special guest Grillmaster and Hitching Post II owner Frank Ostini. During this three-night, four-day program, guests will hone their grilling skills, gain grilling confidence and learn the ins-and-outs of Santa Maria-style BBQ. There’s also horseback riding, golf and visits to the spa. In the evenings, local guest chefs and winemakers will man the grills, and guests can sit back and taste some of the rich varietals for which the Santa Ynez wine region is known. The package includes studio accommodation with wood burning fireplace for three nights, welcome basket with Western-style weekend amenities, all meals and special dinners with local celebrity chefs, winemakers and brew masters and more.
• Dine with Diversions – Santa Barbara has tons of restaurants with great food and fun games. Take dad to locals’ favorite Arnoldi’s Café for Italian eats and bocce ball on their full court. Or belly up to Dargan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant for delicious traditional fare, live music and an entire room of darts, pool and more! Just thirsty? Head to the Carr Winery tasting room (on the Urban Wine Trail), and sip local vintages while playing shuffle board.
  
• Paddle Battle - Get stoked on Stand-Up Paddle Surfing with one of our many outfitters. Or take the adventure up a notch (or two!), and book a guided Channel Islands kayak excursion with Adventure Company of Santa Barbara or Channel Islands Outfitters, whose knowledgeable guides will fill you in on the island habitat and marine life while you paddle. Channel Islands National Park & Marine Sanctuary, is considered the "Galapagos of North America" because of its pristine, isolated setting, which is home to over 150 unique species.

SB Brew Buzz

Posted On: Friday, May 20, 2011 5:57 PM

Memorial Day and summer’s start are just around the corner, and with longer, hotter days, it feels like time to crack open a cold one! We might be known for buttery chardonnays and earthy pinot noirs, but Santa Barbara is home to some stellar local breweries. Seven in fact…

On the south side, Carpinteria is home to Island Brewing Company, a production facility and tasting room with a sea breeze and an ocean view. Union Ale, The Brew House and Santa Barbara Brewing Company are lively, full service restaurants pouring their own beers as well as international brews. Telegraph Brewing Company, which made Wine Enthusiast’s list of top 25 beers in 2010, has a tasting room in SoCo (south of Cota Street) and is sold in select markets and served in local restaurants and bars. New on the scene, Corks n’ Crowns is a combo wine-tasting/beer-tasting room in the Funk Zone and a great stop for a palate cleanser when you’re cruising the Urban Wine Trail. Always hopping Hollister Brewing Company opened its doors in May 2007 in Goleta and offers gastropub fare best washed down with beers made onsite. And in Buellton, Firestone-Walker Brewery’s Taproom restaurant features their four award-winning beers, in addition to four alternating beers, on tap.

Cheers to a hot summer and cold beers!