Wild Mushrooms
By Melissa Petitto   |   November 7, 2023

The mushroom is getting its due time in the spotlight right now and with just cause. This miraculous fungi, which is more of a fruit than a vegetable, is one of the coolest things we consume from nature. Not only is the mushroom incredibly nutritious, but it also plays a vital role in plant health […]

It’s a Local Thing: The Hamptons and Montecito: A Culinary Love Affair
By Gabe Saglie   |   October 17, 2023

Michelin star or not, Montecito and The Hamptons share riviera and foodie status. On the map, they’re opposites, split by a 3,000-mile expanse. But Montecito and The Hamptons – both aspirational coastal enclaves – mirror each other in special ways, from idyllic weather and the bon vivant lifestyle they both promote, to the sophisticated travelers […]

 

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SBC Food Action Network
By Steven Libowitz   |   October 10, 2023

It was back in 2011 that UCSB environmental studies professor Dr. David Cleveland published his white paper indicating that 99 percent of the produce grown in Santa Barbara County was being exported elsewhere. That statistic alone wouldn’t be so startling given that agriculture and food is the number one industry in Santa Barbara County. The […]

Beets
By Melissa Petitto   |   October 10, 2023

The beet, such a unique vegetable in both flavor and its vibrant colors. I’ve noticed over the many years that I have been a chef, that you either love or hate beets, and there is not much in between. For the lovers, this week is for you. I originally created this recipe for Rosh Hashanah […]

Art After Dark: A Visual Feast at Mar Monte
By Zach Rosen   |   October 10, 2023

We eat with our eyes, and this Tuesday, October 10, guests will get to do both at Art After Dark – an evening of culinary creations curated to the art nestled around Mar Monte Hotel in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. The evening begins with a reception on the hotel’s Front Terrace that overlooks the […]

Fish and Chips
By Rebecca Lee Moody   |   September 26, 2023

So, say you’re in a situation where once every week you cannot cook for an entire 24 hours, but the family still needs to eat, and let’s add in it’s the 16th century (no DoorDash). What do you do? You invent fish and chips. That’s the answer, and that’s what happened for Jews living in […]

Egglplant
By Melissa Petitto   |   September 26, 2023

“Wow!” is all I could say when walking through the farmers market this weekend. Summer is definitely my favorite season of produce and with all of the rain we had last season, the bounty at the market is just breathtaking. Eggplant is on my mind this week… although it was a hard decision to make! […]

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  • Montecito Moms: Sophie McNally
    By Dalina Michaels   |   August 22, 2023

    Sophie McNally, a visionary entrepreneur and owner of the company Kitchenette, is changing the way people interact with food through innovative technology. And she is doing it right here in Montecito! “We moved to Montecito during Covid. During that time, we were so worried about the virus and I didn’t trust going out to eat, […]

    The Cucumber
    By Melissa Petitto   |   July 4, 2023

    Santa Barbara, it’s sunny and finally summer and all I want are cooling foods. The Farmers Market is bursting with produce, but what jumped out this week is the cucumber. Its many varietals with English, Kirby, and Persian being the ones easiest to find. They each have their specific usage but can easily be substituted […]

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    Cherries
    By Melissa Petitto   |   June 20, 2023

    The Farmers Market colors are saving me during this rainy, overcast, gray June. Walking through and looking at all the bountiful produce, envisioning what I will make once I take them back to my kitchen, is saving me from a major case of June Gloom. This week my daughter and I were drawn to the […]

    Broccolini 
    By Melissa Petitto   |   June 6, 2023

    Broccolini – a gorgeous green hybrid blend of traditional Asian vegetable gai lan and broccoli – was created in Japan in 1993. What once was hard to come by is now a staple in the United States, and loved for its tender and sweet flavor. The long succulent stems of broccolini, along with its sweet […]

    Local Favorite Brings New Flavors in SB Brasserie
    By Zach Rosen   |   May 30, 2023

    I, like many, was heartbroken when it was announced that the Black Sheep Restaurant was up for sale in 2020. Local foodies mourned the idea of losing another beloved downtown restaurant. Even if the establishment lived on under new ownership, it would not have been the same. For me, their white marinated anchovy crostini exemplified […]

    Herbs!
    By Melissa Petitto   |   May 23, 2023

    So many incredible things to taste, smell, and explore at the Farmers Market this week. I honestly had a hard time deciding what to write about, but I chose herbs because we often overlook the medicinal properties of these intriguing flavorful add-ons that tend to take a back seat to the main ingredients in recipes. […]

    Baker’s Bash
    By Richard Mineards   |   May 23, 2023

    Uber party planner Merryl Brown and Ashley Adelson hosted a blooming boffo bash at Villa Corbeau, Ashley’s charming Riven Rock estate, just a tiara’s toss or two from the $15 million, six-acre home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The fun sun-soaked fête celebrated former Ojai resident Loria Stern’s Eat Your Flowers: A Cookbook, […]

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