K. REKA BADGER

“We always look forward to meeting and greeting our customers,” Righetti added, “and to renew friendships with our fellow entrepreneurs in the local food and wine community.” Based in Los Alamos, Full of Life Flatbread makes its customary appearance, complete with a wood-fired oven that looks more like a mosaic-covered work of art on wheels. […]

The ongoing celebration of homegrown food, freshly baked bread, and artisanal cheeses heralds a renewed appreciation for long-held traditions. And those lucky enough to remember visiting the local little old winemaker to fill an empty jug right out of the barrel can rejoice at the latest blast from the past. In an odd blend of […]

Finally, a Central Coast restaurant where simplicity rules and flashy fare takes a back seat to homemade comfort food. Located in Lompoc, Valley Soup and Sandwich offers healthy alternatives for hungry diners who appreciate hearty soups, salads, and sandwiches. Valley Soup and Sandwich is the brainchild of Mark Ashmalla and his sister-in-law, Leslie Rindscliesch, who […]

As harvest begins in earnest, Santa Barbara County wineries want to remind us what all the fuss is about. While workers gather grapes for the next vintage, local vintners gear up to celebrate California Wine Month this September by showcasing a selection of new releases. From Zaca Mesa comes liquid history in the form of […]

The fertile land in and around the Santa Maria Valley supports an incredible variety of fruits, vegetables, and row crops. Although wine grapes seem to receive the lion’s share of the attention and glory, it’s the less glamorous bounty—the radishes, cabbage, celery, carrots, and lettuce—that first put the region on the culinary map. A seaside […]

A quiet berg of antique shops, art galleries, and family-owned eateries, Los Alamos lies only slightly off the beaten path. On the sleepy main drag of Bell Street, things got a lot more animated in January, when Bedford Winery reopened its tasting room. Located next door to Café Quackenbush, the tasting room provides a friendly […]

Due to cooler-than-average weather this summer, garden tomatoes have taken awhile to blush completely crimson and the zucchini hasn’t yet exploded into zeppelin-sized specimens. Despite a slow start, however, gardens up and down the Central Coast are beginning to pump out plenty of fresh, ripe produce. The harvest of backyard bounty comes just in time […]

Most wineries proudly display a bottle or two draped with medals trumpeting wins at a wine competition. Ribbons of gold, blue, and Cabernet purple bedeck tasting bars, along with the occasional wine goblet-topped trophy. Wine competitions take place year round, in all kinds of venues. They may be sponsored by magazines, staged for charity, or […]

Here on the Central Coast, farms and backyard gardens produce tender edibles all year long. Our ocean waters yield fresh seafood, and area ranchers grow a variety of livestock, making it relatively easy to follow the lead of the locavore movement and “eat locally.” In a shining example of the movement’s best intentions, the folks […]

Since horse-and-buggy days, folks in the relatively isolated Santa Ynez Valley have looked out for one another, sharing tools, helping to build neighbors’ barns, and tending those who were ill. That collective spirit hasn’t changed, and the Valley continues to thrive as a cooperative community ready to rally behind those in need. Located in Los […]

Mild, sweet, or hot as a sizzling summer day, there’s a fresh salsa to suit just about every dish and edible dipping item. Equally perfect for snacks on the patio or as part of the main meal, this versatile condiment deserves a prominent place on the table. Salsa (Spanish for sauce, gravy, or dressing) is […]

Often taking a back seat to flirty Pinot Noirs and roguish Rhone varieties, Chardonnay nevertheless persists as a worthy partner for food and fun. Golden, gorgeous, and capable of displaying tremendous stylistic differences, it remains one of the world’s most popular wines. Santa Barbara County vintners, in concert with the Santa Maria Valley Wine Country […]