Dining Among the Natural History

By Richard Mineards | July 4, 2023

Pam Valeski, Maurice Singer and Hyon Chough, Terry Valeski, Stacy Byers, and Luke Swetland (photo by Priscilla)

Primary sponsors Farmers & Merchants Bank with the Walker family and guests celebrating at the Folded Hills table (photo by Priscilla)

Oenophiles and gourmands were out in force at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History when the popular venue hosted the region’s premier food and wine event, attracting 1,400 supporters to the sprawling 17-acre Mission Creek campus, raising more than $200,000 for the museum’s programs and exhibits.

Around 200 VIP tickets, giving early access to special wine vintages and exhibits, were sold by last December, while the rest were gone in the spring, clearly indicating the demand for the ever popular sold-out 35th annual festival.

“We are also very lucky with the weather,” says President Luke Swetland. “The June Gloom made way for blazing sunshine and blue skies. Mother Nature was looking over us.”

The fun fest featured more than 100 food and wine vendors, including Brander, Carr, Folded Hills, Foxen, Margerum, and La Lieff vineyards, and Loquita, Finch & Fork, and Rare Society.

As usual, the event offered a Designated Driver Program to help over-imbibers return home safely.

I’ll drink to that….