A new ray of sunshine is radiating from the old California town of Los Alamos. Her name is Sonja. Sonja Magdevski, of Malibu. The blonde beauty opened a charming wine tasting room in a prime location in downtown Los Alamos a month ago, and the townsfolk have lovingly taken her under their collective wing ever […]
WENDY THIES SELL
Posted inFood & Drink
Dine-out deal
Three-course meals for $20? It’s not a dream. It’s Restaurant Week!
If you eat out only one week this year, make it January 22 to 28. At least 16 restaurants will serve up the deal of the year during Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Week. To kick off 2012, local restaurants will offer three-course special tasting menus for just $20.12, delighting both taste buds and wallets. Here’s […]
Posted inNews
Interpreting the signs
Central Coast kids growing up with an invisible disability thrive at a stellar school
Hours after our so-called “perfect baby girl” was born, not only was she put to the test, but so was our idea of perfection. My husband and I were moments from dressing Sienna Dorothy in a pink velour onesie, tucking her in an infant car seat for the first time, and gingerly driving her home, […]
Posted inNews
Interpreting the signs
Central Coast kids growing up with an invisible disability thrive at a stellar school
Hours after our so-called “perfect baby girl” was born, not only was she put to the test, but so was our idea of perfection. My husband and I were moments from dressing Sienna Dorothy in a pink velour onesie, tucking her in an infant car seat for the first time, and gingerly driving her home, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Rising star
Creativity, dedication, and hard work spell success for a local winemaker
The national spotlight is shining on a talented, young Santa Maria winemaker. Forbes magazine has selected 25-year-old Gavin Chanin for its first-ever “Top 30 Under 30” issue highlighting movers and shakers younger than 30. The group was described by the publication as tomorrow’s brightest stars. Chanin joins the likes of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Dinner clubs
Santa Maria has a long history of dining out in droves, and the tradition continues today
A couple of years ago, I started a “dinner club” with three girlfriends: We met at a different restaurant every month for camaraderie and cuisine. It was an enjoyable way to try a variety of dining establishments, stay in touch with pals, and support the local restaurant industry. I had heard of other such groups, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Festive fizz
Look no further than the Central Coast’s many scrumptious sparklers for New Year’s Eve
If you usually just grab any bottle of mass-produced sparkling wine at the grocery store for your New Year’s Eve celebration, ring in 2012 by popping open a bottle of “bubbly” made closer to home instead. A surprising number of Central Coast wineries produce sparkling wine; all are available in nearby wine tasting rooms, and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Merry munchies
A local chef shares his old and new Christmas traditions and a candy recipe
More than any other time of year, Christmas tends to tap into one’s desire for tradition. This weekend, hundreds of millions of people around the world will celebrate Christmas with their favorite family traditions. [image-2] For me, it’s a mix of old and new: sharing with my children the fond holiday traditions I remember as […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Foodie gift ideas
Three books by Central Coast authors make ideal holiday presents for food and wine lovers
A much-publicized trend this holiday season is to “shop small” and buy local; support your hometown businesses to keep them afloat during these tough economic times. Here are three ways to do just that, if you’re looking for holiday gifts for the cook or oenophile in your life. What could be a more appropriate holiday […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Forty Buck Chuck?
Tales from the 2011 Santa Barbara County grape harvest
The intoxicating aroma of concentrated black cherry hangs in the air at a local winery—almost as much as does the anticipation as the priciest wine grapes Dave Potter has ever purchased hibernate in barrels. Usually passionate about Rhone varietals—Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre—Potter is trying his purple-stained hand at Pinot Noir as well this year. “I’ve […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Sweet charity
Local wineries generate goodwill giving away the fruits of their labor
In this season of giving, we are reminded to do what we can to improve the lives of those less fortunate. Residents on the Central Coast have generously raised millions of dollars over the years, allowing nonprofit groups to do their important work. It is worth mentioning that the local restaurant and wine industries contribute […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Thanksgiving leftovers
Central Coast chefs share recipes
In the days following Thanksgiving, instead of reheating your turkey dinner in the microwave oven, how about trying something new and exciting this year? Three Central Coast chefs were kind enough to share their favorite leftover turkey recipes: Chef Rick Manson of the Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe, Chef Ryan Gromfin of Central City Market […]