My wife would be the first to tell you that I’m not the most prolific planner of dates. She wouldn’t mean it in any harsh way though; she’s particular, and I’m lazy, so I’ve always been more comfortable with her planning our outings and such.
That’s why she was a bit surprised when I told her not to plan anything for us on the Sunday of Nov. 6. Was it true? Was I really planning something? Actually, yes!
A friend of mine had accidentally purchased two tickets to Opera Santa Barbara‘s production of Bizet’s Carmen on a day he couldn’t make it, so he gave the tickets to us (thanks, David!). My wife and I are both classical music fans—she’s actually a classical singer—and so we were excited to make the daytrip to Santa Barbara to catch the iconic opera live.
But a trip to Santa Barbara includes a variety of possible stops along the way. I decided to take us the Highway 154 route, through Los Olivos. One of our favorite restaurants is there, Sides Hardware and Shoes, a Brothers Restaurant.
If you didn’t know, the Brothers (Jeff and Matt Nichols) used to prepare the food at Mattei’s Tavern. When they left Mattei’s they opened up Sides, which is named after the historic business that used to occupy the building in old town Los Olivos. It’s a more casual atmosphere than their Red Barn restaurant in Santa Ynez, and specializes in burgers, sandwiches, salads, and even tacos.
We’ve both been longtime fans of the Brothers’ food, but Sides hits you right where the mouth waters. I’m talking about bacon. The bacon on the menu at Sides is aptly called “bacon steak” and is essentially slow-cooked pork belly. It’s insane. And if you get it on a burger, you probably won’t be hungry for most of the remainder of the day.
Los Olivos is a great little spot, and my wife and I often have several favorites shops that we hit up, like Honey Paper for cards and writing stuff or Global Gardens for a fresh olive oil and vinegar tasting. But we got a late start that day, and we needed to get over the San Marcos pass immediately after our satisfying meal to make the 2:30 p.m. curtain time for Carmen.
Taking the San Marcos pass isn’t ideal for anyone afraid of heights or potential car wrecks (there are a number of roadside memorials on the pass). But if you drive safe, the view is incredible. It’s also a direct shot down the mountain into Santa Barbara. We made it to State Street with just enough time to get to the Granada Theatre.
And what a venue! It was my first time at the Granada since its restoration in 2008 by the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts. The performance hall is truly grand with its ornate golden interior and plush red seats and curtains. My buddy hadn’t spared any expense and we sat literally front row, close enough to see down into the orchestra pit.
The conductor was Opera Santa Barbara’s Artistic Director Kostis Protopapas, who began the overture with gusto. The soloists were spectacular as well. Leann Sandel-Pantaleo was an evocative Carmen, tugging on the heartstrings of Harold Meers’ Don Jose. My wife and I were incredibly impressed by Jeanine De Bique, who played Micaela, the good-hearted love interest of Don Jose. The soprano was born in Trinidad and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. The clarity in her voice had my wife and I fawning during intermission and after the second half.
We closed the night with a shopping spree up and down State Street, humming and whistling the tunes from Carmen. We knocked out several holiday gifts here and there, including some great kitchen items at Sur la Table, which is totally our spot. Another one of our spots is The Andersens Restaurant and Bakery. We go for the bakery, with its Danish-style treats. It’s a great snack to have with some hot tea while resting the legs after a long trek up and down State Street.
To steal the verbiage of a beer mascot and popular internet meme, I don’t always plan the dates, but when I do they get plenty of approval from the wife!
Arts Editor Joe Payne is trying to plan more dates. Send him your suggestions at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 1-8, 2016.