The Princess and the English Pea
By Melissa Petitto   |   May 9, 2023

The English pea is popping up at the farmers market and I made the most divine soup out of them… I even tricked some clients by making it vegan and they were amazed! The English or garden pea is a shell pea, meaning the pod is too fibrous to eat. These gorgeous pods are not […]

Strawberry Fields
By Melissa Petitto   |   April 11, 2023

The Central Coast has some of the most amazing strawberries I have ever tasted. They are beginning to make an appearance again and I for one am so thrilled. At one of my favorite Farmers Market vendors, I asked about the crop this year and was told that many of the fields were flooded with […]

 

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Costa on the Coast: A New Brunch Locale with a View
By Zach Rosen   |   March 28, 2023

Brunch is often the best part of a weekend. Walk along Cabrillo St. on an early (but not too early) weekend day, and the winding lines outside of restaurants will confirm the popularity of this all-encompassing meal that straddles breakfast and lunch. While many locals have their favorite place to brunch, there is a new […]

Eat the Rainbow
By Melissa Petitto   |   March 28, 2023

Well, it’s raining again, and all I keep thinking about is spring and all the veggies that this amazing rain will bring. I am quite ready for spring salads and color and fresh, vibrant kitchen creations. So, that’s what I am going to do this week! The soggy Farmers Market and I are on the […]

Secret’s Out: New San Ysidro Ranch Dinner Experience Takes Guests Underground
By Gabe Saglie   |   March 21, 2023

There’s a new culinary experience at the San Ysidro Ranch – and it’s top secret. The Secret Cellar premiered in December, building on the luxe property’s famous world-class dining but offering something totally exclusive. It brings diners underground – past the Stonehouse patio, past the entrance to the Plow & Angel and down the stone […]

A New Conscious Way of Creating Dips and Salsas
By Amélie Dieux   |   March 21, 2023

It all started a year ago with a spontaneous conversation around food here in the heart of Montecito. Suddenly, Jennifer Markham (owner, founder of Oaks Culinary Group and SkinnyDips & Salsas) and Bryan Goligoski (culinary artist), both residents of Montecito, realized that there wasn’t a variety of healthy seed-based dips and salsas available on the […]

More to Love In Carpinteria
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 21, 2023

In last week’s edition, we told you about Bettina’s plans to open a new location in Carpinteria. This week, word on the street is that Chef Mollie Ahlstrand, formerly of Trattoria Mollie on Coast Village Road and then on State Street, is opening an Italian market/deli on Casitas Pass Road, in the same shopping center […]

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  • Bettina to Expand 
    By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   March 14, 2023

    Late last week, Bettina owners Rachel Greenspan and Brendan Smith announced on social media that they have signed a lease for a new location in Carpinteria, as part of a multi-tenant development project coming to Linden Avenue.  The new location will be more casual than the Montecito Country Mart location, and will be more of […]

    An Ode to the Carrot
    By Melissa Petitto   |   February 14, 2023

    Walking through the Santa Barbara farmers market this week, I keep coming back to the carrot. This often-overlooked vegetable is one that when at its peak, is so utterly sweet and delicious that it can be eaten without adornment.  I love the colors of the heirloom carrots – bright purple with an orange center, radiant […]

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    Designing the Dessert
    By Claudia Schou   |   February 14, 2023

    One of the most memorable aspects of dining out is a well-made dessert that sets the tone for a night on the town.  On the heels of the awards season, the world’s fashion designers are preparing to roll out their latest luxury creations. Similarly, local pastry chefs have added to their menus a smörgåsbord of […]

    Foraging Thyme: The Dance from Ballerina to Chef
    By Melissa Petitto   |   January 31, 2023

    Little did I know that my life would take the turn from young ballerina to celebrity personal chef in NYC or later that I would end up as Executive Chef and partner in a meal delivery start up in Santa Barbara. And now, I get to write to you, the readers of the Montecito Journal, […]

    Wellness Providers
    By Montecito Journal   |   January 12, 2023

    Elevated, Luxurious Dental Practice Cosmetics, Implants, & Aesthetics Serving the Santa Barbara & Montecito Community Hlavaty Dental Arts737 Garden Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101(805) 564-3600www.hlavatydentalarts.com Nonprofit wellness organization whose mission is to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. Montecito Family YMCA591 Santa Rosa LaneMontecito, CA 93108(805) 969-3288www.ciymca.org/montecito Premium personal training services including Private […]

    Food from the Heart:  Delivering Warm Meals and Human Connection
    By Claudia Schou   |   December 27, 2022

    It’s a process that stretches from the kitchen to the bagging stations to the doorstep of a client in need of food and comfort. And each time it happens, it brings Food from the Heart one step closer to completing its mission of serving every needy resident in the Santa Barbara region.  Food from the […]

    Faye Levy on Jewish Cooking: A Diaspora of Flavors
    By Claudia Schou   |   December 20, 2022

    On a recent afternoon I received a random phone call from a senior woman who lived in Hope Ranch. She introduced herself as Vibeke Einhorn. She said she had a box of cookbooks, and that she was moving into an assisted care facility, and would I want them. Her kind, dignified voice and fondness for […]

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