K. REKA BADGER

As 2010 drifts away on a tide of rain, a recap of yesterday’s news evokes tasty memories of a year-gone-by. Here in the Eats column, we’ve learned cooking skills, explored farm-fresh ingredients, and sampled the fare at local eateries. We’ve dabbled in wine and art, planned wine country excursions, and kept up with the latest […]

What is it about the arrival of a new year that calls for a beverage alive with crystalline bubbles? Happy toasts delivered over spirits or still wine just don’t seem as festive as those made while lifting glasses teeming with ascending columns of sparkling light. With all the attributes of a fine wine, Champagne pleases […]

Between bouts of holiday shopping and fits of party planning, thoughtful minds turn to the mysteries of the season. They juggle not only the timeless wonders of Earth cycles and religious revelations, but also the questions surrounding peculiar food items traditionally dished up at this time of year. For instance, speculation abounds about mincemeat. What […]

Revelers move trees into their homes, plan gala parties, and prepare to lift their glasses high in praise of festive feasts. ’Tis the season for getting together, and thoughtful hosts are busy searching for just the right wine to complement their holiday fare. When carefully chosen, wines enhance each dish without swamping delicate flavors or […]

At this time of year, even die-hard humbuggers find it impossible to resist the tempting aromas drifting from kitchens up and down the Central Coast. Regardless of race, creed, or constitution, hunger strikes and tastebuds tingle at the mere thought of the delectable dishes connected with this festive season. There’s something about the heart of […]

Just in time for holiday planning and gift buying, local wineries open their doors for a gala passport weekend. Hosted by Santa Maria Valley Wine Country, the event features the wares of four different wineries paired with small bites prepared expressly to match each vintage. This year’s event, called Flights and Bites, is slated for […]

For those who drink wine only on special occasions, Thanksgiving offers an ideal excuse to open a bottle or two of the wonderful stuff. Wine lovers who pop the cork for any reason at all—“All the lights were green!” or “It’s Monday!”—derive endless pleasure from matching new finds and old favorites to their Turkey-day recipes. […]

They’re proudly rotund, lightly pleated, and sport the happiest shade of orange imaginable. Welcome harbingers of end-of-the-year holidays, pumpkins deliver a dose of good cheer, especially as the season of diminished days slides toward the winter solstice. Pumpkins make us smile and lend themselves to a variety of fun, including fall decorating, family feasts, and, […]

Believe it or not, summer has slipped into history and the mid-winter holidays loom just around the corner. Rather than resist the inevitable flipping of the calendar pages, why not grab a wine glass and get a head start on the celebration? Aiming to ease oenophiles into the next round of festivities, the members of […]

Deep in the fiber of Santa Barbara County’s winemaking community courses a strong current of selfless service. When asked, local vintners don’t hesitate to lend a helping hand and are ever willing to share technical advice, the tools of their trade, or their wares for a worthy cause. Since 2008, a group of winemakers has […]

Autumn has arrived, and the time has come to decorate the house with goblins and oversized pumpkins, while ducking flurries of wind-swirled leaves. Among the fragrances offered by crisp air and rain-dampened soil, sensitive noses will detect the tempting aromas of grilled, stewed, stir-fried, and baked delicacies prepared by kitchen-savvy gents who make their home […]

All festivities on the Central Coast combine optimism, edible plenty, and a call to lend a hand to worthy causes. Area residents gathering to celebrate the joys of harvest are ready to have some fun, while helping to improve the lives of their neighbors. Among Santa Maria’s annual events is the Harvest Festival, slated for […]