Eats

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. […]

At the top of the new fall menu at Root 246 is a famous quote from beloved chef and television personality Julia Child. “People who love to eat are always the best people.” The quote is a fitting kickoff not just for the menu but for the chef behind its execution. Chef Crystal “Pink” DeLongpré, […]

In the beginning there were few—vendors, that is. The year was 1978. The campy soundtrack from Grease was heating up the charts. It was a sunny Saturday morning and a handful of local farmers gathered at the old Young’s Giant Food parking lot on Broad Street in SLO.     They didn’t know it then, but […]

When a red wine glass is on the table in front of you, the waitress is handing you a glass of Eberle Mill Road Viognier, and it’s not even noon yet, you know you’re in for a good Sunday brunch.  Pecans, bacon, and apples coated in poppy seed vinaigrette are forthcoming as Gary Eberle launches […]

Humberto Hernandez opened his first restaurant at the age of 16 in Jalisco, Mexico. He had spent the past five years learning to cook at home and working in kitchens and thought he was ready to take the next step.  “We had a little bar and food,” he said. “It was hard because it was […]

Dannika Stefano had big dreams for herself growing up in Guadalupe. The makeup artist-turned-private chef spent her youth dreaming of going to Hollywood to pursue her dreams.  “I was in the beauty industry doing makeup for a long time, since getting out of high school,” she said. “I came to Los Angeles to pursue acting […]

I  love to try new things. In my role here, I’m always looking to find the newest places to spotlight, hoping to give readers some fun fresh culinary ideas. But sometimes, I like to go back and visit the classics. That’s what brought me into Papa Napoli‘s in Santa Maria. I have some pretty fond […]