K. REKA BADGER

Young and promising, the new year has already delivered welcome rains and renewed hopes. Equally full of promise, Santa Maria’s Town Center greets 2010 with fresh paint and a sunny atmosphere, as well as a line up of local merchants and restaurants ready to serve the community in style. Nearly two years ago, Greg Kozak […]

In the mid-1980s, pioneering winemaker Tony Austin spelled out the relationship between wine and art in boldface letters at his Los Olivos tasting room. In the Kern Health 2006 issue of Bakersfield Magazine, he reiterated the sentiment when he told wine writer Mike Stepanovich, “Wine is art. It just happens to be consumable art.” Austin […]

[image-3] In 2010, Central Coast foodies can easily turn over a fresh oven mitt and learn some nifty culinary tricks in the process. By putting in just a few hours a week, aspiring chefs and domestic kitchen jockeys alike will not only discover a world of recipes and techniques, but also build a solid foundation […]

Thumbing through cookbooks and old family recipes, party planners anticipate the arrival of guests. ’Tis the season for convivial gatherings, and with them comes an irresistible parade of holiday foods and beverages. After choosing the menu, hosts consider the wines that will bring out the best in each dish. They know that by matching delicate […]

In the heart of December, friends and families gather to enjoy long nights and laughter, despite the winter chill. They celebrate the season and welcome the new year, happily fueled by a variety of festive foods. Classic holiday appetizers include smoked and aged cheeses with crackers and bread, as well as pretzels, roasted nuts, and […]

Try as we might, there’s no denying it: Christmas looms, merry and bright, and we’ve got shopping to do. Fortunately, living in Santa Barbara County makes selecting gifts for wine and food lovers a fairly easy task, whether we’re wrapping up a special vintage or planning a wine country getaway. Universally welcome and always the […]

Chill winds and short days make this the perfect season for visiting with friends over fabulous dishes of soul-warming food. To encourage diners to sample the fare at area restaurants, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor and Convention Bureau has launched Dine Out: Santa Maria Style, a two-week bonanza of gustatory delights. […]

Want to avoid the retail rush of Black Friday and still scoop up some early gifts? If you’re looking for edibles, imbibables, or just the right gadget for the wine-loving foodies on your list, plan to snap up some deals during Wine Christmas Passport Weekend, hosted by Santa Maria Valley Wine Country. Slated for Saturday […]

A young couple with astonishing energy, Becky and Dave Corey make running their two-person business, CORE Wine Company, look easy. The Coreys make and market the wine, design the labels, and—with a few exceptions—farm the grapes pretty much all by themselves.   This past Labor Day, amid the activity of their ninth harvest, the Coreys […]

It’s common knowledge that caffeine fuels the newsgathering trade, but few journalists actually buy a coffee shop for ready access to their favorite brew. One young scribe, the Sun’s own calendar editor, has done just that, adding another job description to his crowded résumé.   Joe Payne and his fiancée, Candice Merás, recently became the […]

The Portuguese and Swiss-Italian ranchers who settled in the Santa Maria Valley created a signature cuisine featuring succulent beef grilled over a red oak fire. Arriving on their heels at the dawn of the 20th century, Japanese farmers brought with them an equally compelling culinary tradition that showcases ocean-fresh fish and just-picked vegetables.   Since […]