Eats

Santa Maria has a new Greek restaurant, and don’t worry, I promise not to make any tired jokes about Olympian gods or whatever while I tell you about it.  Souvla had a soft opening on Feb. 23 in Santa Maria, and the first day was pretty much an epic success. Crowds filtered in throughout the […]

I used to have a friend who delighted in collecting vintage toys and collectibles. He spent every spare penny he had snapping up everything from original Star Wars toys to comic books to Ghostbusters memorabilia and lots more. The thing is, he never really seemed to enjoy it much. They sat in pristine boxes on […]

As we say goodbye to Valentine’s Day, the world’s most romantic holiday, we eagerly anticipate the next most romantic holiday—President’s Day. OK, well maybe that’s not exactly true. But we can look forward to spicing up President’s Day by celebrating Wine Country Weekend from Feb. 15 through 18. (Can I do a segue or what?) […]

One of my personal commitments for 2019 is to have a better relationship with my food. By that I mean, to understand where it comes from, what it is made with, and what it does to my body. Most importantly, I want to start making more of my own food—growing my own vegetables, making my […]

As I type this, I’m singing the words of one of my favorite songs loudly to myself: 1972’s “The Candy Man” by the late and great Sammy Davis Jr. The music is an appropriate accompaniment to this story, although the song might be more aptly titled, “The Candy Family” or “The Candy Shop” (this is […]

“No butter!” This is what the waitress is yelling in my general direction, standing in the middle of the dining room. She is fed up. The entire restaurant is the size of a large closet. The kitchen appears to be a tiny compartment through a curtain. The chef is a mysterious figure that might be, […]

You may know Los Olivos as a quiet nook where some of the region’s best wine tasting rooms are, but there’s another thing about it you may not know. It’s also the perfect spot for breakfast. At the Bear and Star Restaurant, a Fess Parker family venture headed up by star chef John Cox, breakfast […]

I’m a sucker for awards shows (I wear an actual fancy dress to watch the Academy Awards from my house, and I treat the Emmys like a religious holiday). With the Golden Globes wrapping up and the Oscars right around the corner, what better time to announce the first ever Rebeccamendies, my picks for the […]

No matter how you chew it, 2018 was a mouthful.  In Santa Maria and Orcutt, new ventures dotted the landscape, as an ever-changing and evolving populace sought out more unique eats. The Santa Ynez Valley continued to increase its presence as the dominant local food scene. It was a year I Rebeccamended everything from big […]

The minute I tasted the baked beans at Anthony’s, a new sports bar in Guadalupe, I instantly recognized something familiar. The smoky sweet beans had something different about them–a little kick of a heat that finished smooth at the end. I hadn’t tasted anything like this in years, but I instantly recognized the strong Southern […]

The first thing I learn about Leyla Williams is that she is full of non-stop energy. I was told this before I spoke to her, but nothing could have prepared me for her endless supply of joy and fervor, especially when it comes to talking about her and her husband Brad’s coffee shop, Good Seed […]

It was already dark just before 6 p.m. as we cruised down the rural Los Olivos road, but thankfully it was glowing at Global Gardens. The long, pale branches of the olive trees there were festooned with bright holiday lights, wreathing the picnic area of Theodora “Theo” Stephan’s farm stand property with a welcoming shine. […]