Eats

Any winemaker worth his or her salt will readily admit that wine is not made, it’s grown in the vineyard. Dedicated viticulturists agree, and though they’re the ones who tirelessly feed, water, prune, and tie up the vines, they usually credit sun and soil with performing the alchemy that yields fat berries full of wondrous […]

The roast turkey, glistening ham, and juicy prime rib are just a memory, and the holiday pies and frosted cookies have been eaten down to the last crumb. With the new year well underway, many revelers feel the urge to simplify not only their social calendars, but their diets, too, by incorporating lighter fare, along […]

During the sun-drenched days of summer, fans root for their favorite golfers and baseball teams, and when winter rolls around, they pile into football stadiums and basketball arenas, ready to cheer the action. Just as sports have their seasons, so, too, do many wines.     Searing hot days call for crisp white wines that cool […]

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, […]