Eats

A sweeping landscape of Bien Nacido Vineyards in Santa Maria graces the cover of Vines & Vision: The Winemakers of Santa Barbara County, a new book from writer Matt Kettmann and photojournalist Macduff Everton. The duo first collaborated in early 2017, when Kettmann contributed a chapter to a group cookbook, Around the Table: Recipes and […]

Somewhere between the realms of pizza and focaccia, wishful cravings became reality in the form of pinsa—one of Nella Kitchen and Bar’s signature Italian dishes. Described as a reinterpretation of an ancient recipe, the main characteristic that sets this Roman-style pizza apart from traditional pizza is its lightness. “Pinsa comes from the Latin ‘pinsera,’ meaning […]

Throughout his teaching career of 35 years, lifelong Orcutt resident Brad Bunkelman taught classes for two departments at Santa Maria High School, science and fine arts. “I enjoyed teaching in both subject areas,” said the local retiree, about his career before segueing into his longtime hobby as a home winemaker. “I think making wine is […]

“One of the most rewarding things in this change of occupation was going from smelling cow manure to smelling coffee,” said Dutch Bros Coffee co-founder Dane Boersma on the company’s website, referring to his former career in the dairy business.  In 1992, Dane and his brother, Travis Boersma, co-founded Dutch Bros Coffee in the Pacific […]

With a new year comes a new beginning for local winemaker Clarissa Nagy, who announced a big change for cnagy wines near the end of 2020. On Dec. 26, Nagy said goodbye to her winery’s original tasting room, which closed its doors for good after six years of operating on South Gray Street in Old […]

I think we can all agree, the world is hungry for a new year. As 2020 finally comes to a much needed close, let’s all take a deep breath and recognize the silver linings that either warmed our bellies or quenched our thirst during the past 12 months. No matter what 2021 has in store […]

Whether it whets your appetite or not, there’s something objectively pure and life-fulfilling about seeing a tiny taco on top of a cupcake. It’s like crossing something off a bucket list you never thought was there to begin with.  But this particular taco was made of fondant icing, like many of home baker Terri Wahlberg’s […]

The tried-and-true—and still apropos—idiom “the bee’s knees” is a bit of an understatement when describing the husband-and-wife duo behind Cuyama Homegrown.  “It’s the most pure honey you could ever dream about,” said Jean Gaillard, co-owner of the farm with his wife, Meg Brown, while discussing the two bee hives on their property. One of the […]

Drilling and hammering noises bled into my Zoom call with Santa Ynez chef Anthony Carron before prompting a change of scenery.  “It’s hard to find a quiet place at a construction site,” Carron said while stepping outside of a vacant building in downtown Solvang. The large space, currently being remodeled, was once home to The […]

In 30 years, the Sta. Rita Hills hasn’t let Greg Brewer down.  “I’ve been reflecting a lot on my relationship with this place,” the Brewer-Clifton winemaker said. “I’m very loyal to this place. I’m very provincial in that way. I’ll always work here. I’ve only worked here.”  He describes his relationship with the region as […]

Santa Ynez Valley chef Anthony Endy went up against celebrity chef Bobby Flay on Flay’s own show last April—and beat him. Endy got the best of Flay on the Beat Bobby Flay show in an episode that aired in June, giving Endy—the executive chef at Alisal Guest Ranch in Solvang—a boost as the ranch reopened […]

This year has been particularly hard on the owners of Alfie’s Fish & Chips in Lompoc, Mike and Nellie Sewall. Similar to other Santa Barbara County restaurants, the pandemic has forced the longtime Lompoc establishment to shut down not once, but twice.  And on top of that, Nellie has been battling cancer. “I was diagnosed […]