Eats

Another year rides the bullet train into history, leaving us with a blur of memories steeped in area wines and the fragrance of Santa Maria-style cookery. A look back reveals a landscape of pungent falafels, fresh sushi, cooking competitions, and mail-order barbecue. Personal chefs have gone organic, winemakers embraced unusual varietals, and new wineries continue […]

You’ve bought toys for the kids, sweaters for the in-laws, and shiny cans of car wax for the man who has everything. If you’re still in the dark about what to get for wine-loving friends and relatives this holiday season, consider these timely ideas and vintage delights. Those who are new to the wine world […]

Fresh, tasty bread ranks high among life’s most delightful staples, and Santa Maria residents now can choose from 16 different kinds of handcrafted loaves for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Since Nov. 10, when the Panera Bread bakery-café opened in the new College Square complex, the heavenly scents of flour and yeast meeting oven heat have […]

Take one look at the schedule of events on tap at Santa Barbara County wineries, and it’s evident that the region’s vintners take great delight in the holiday season. Offering a diverse lineup of activities, area winemakers clearly intend to jumpstart the season of wonder and merriment. On Friday, Dec. 5, embrace the joy of […]

Once again, the time has come for Central Coast hosts to plan weekday meals and festive feasts in the name of seasonal fun. With the arrival of Thanksgiving Day—the official launch of the holidays—they dust off family recipes and break out their favorite cookbooks in a bid to create both traditional dishes and foods with […]

Tasters exploring Santa Barbara County’s wine country have long faced the dilemma of whether to pack a meal or take a chance on finding food when hunger strikes. Traditionally a logistical challenge along the wine trails, lunch just got a little easier. Located on a restaurant-less stretch of Alamo Pintado, Rideau Winery has solved the […]

Deep in the heart of autumn, families begin gearing up for the holiday season. With Thanksgiving just days away, Central Coast area hotels and restaurants ride to the rescue with a spate of innovative menus and relaxing spa packages for both hosts and their guests. If relatives are headed your way in the upcoming weeks, […]

Los Olivos, once a sleepy country village where dogs lounged in the middle of the road, has matured into a wine-centric burg with a main drag wryly known among locals as “tasting room row.” In mid-summer, the number of tasting rooms doing business along Grand Avenue—the two blocks that constitute downtown—totaled 16. On Oct. 9, […]

A beloved local institution has gone national with an innovative method for delivering restaurant-quality meals to tables across the nation. And it’s not just your average restaurant quality, either, but prime steaks and savory seafood grilled, Santa Maria-style, over a live red oak fire. The Hitching Post I, founded in Casmalia 56 years ago by […]

Community spirit runs deep among Santa Barbara County winemakers, a convivial bunch of science-minded artists who universally appreciate their lucky lifestyle. When asked, they rarely hesitate to lend a helping hand, whether the request involves equipment loans, technical advice, or donations to a worthy cause. This year, seven area winemakers have joined People Helping People, […]

Gentlemen, fire up your ovens, grills, and breadmakers! Tie on those manly aprons and head for the kitchen—it’s time once again to brandish your giant spoons at Real Men Cook, the Arts Outreach annual fundraiser and lively showcase for brawny local talent. This year’s event, slated for Oct. 25 at Flag Is Up Farms, marks […]