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Thursday, March 18, 2010
Vacation: I am taking a vacation and
won't be reporting again until next week sometime. Today's column is
dedicated to
Fess Parker who died today at age 85. Tuesday, March 16, 2010 The End Of An Era: Chef Karim's Moroccan Restaurant at 1221 State Street will be serving its last dinner this Sunday, March 21st. Namesake owner Karim Chhibbane is retiring. "Thank you to all of Santa Barbara, to SIMA, to you John, also to people from other places that traveled and came here many many times," said Chhibbane. "But especially those from Santa Barbara. It’s been a great experience to be with the people of Santa Barbara and feel that I’m home. I’ve never felt for one day that I’m not home." New In The Guide: HobNob Tavern has opened at 21 W. Victoria Street and I added them to the restaurant guide today. The eatery, run by Alberto & Michelle Mastrangelo, replaces Epiphany Restaurant & Bar. Food Network: Celebrity Iron Chef Cat Cora was at D'Angelo Bread recently taping a segment for The Food Network Channel called "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." It airs this Friday, March 19th at 10pm. WineDineTV.com: While at a recent meeting of the Santa Barbara Young Professionals Club (sbypc.org) I learned about a local company named WineDineTV.com run by energetic mother-and-daughter team Judit and Corina Schweller. I spoke with Corina who tells me that they have traveled extensively throughout the most prominent wine regions of Europe and California, educating themselves and others at every opportunity on the flavors and traditions of the regions they toured. Together they have hosted many dinners, seminars and given Cooking Classes that have revolved around creative food and wine pairings. They share their experiences on the web at WineDineTV.com and also on Coastal TV Network. Corina tells me "If you love food, wine and travel then this is your place to explore an ever expanding collection of tasting videos, fresh wine country inspired recipes, and a personable community." St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow and there are many places in town to celebrate including:
Westways:
Reader Wendy sent me a
PDF version
of an article from the current issue of the Auto Club's Westways
magazine that features the owners of
Gino's Sicilian
Express
plus stories about
Los Agaves,
and Goleta
Sushi House. Friday, March 12, 2010 Hot Cookie: Reader Primetime alerted me to the fact that local bakery HotCookie.com was featured on The Rachel Ray show. Online Ordering: South Coast Deli (1436 Chapala St & 185 S. Patterson Ave) now offers online ordering at their web site: southcoastdeli.com Westways: On March 1st I mentioned that the owners of Gino's Sicilian Express were featured in the current issue of Auto Club's Westways magazine. Apparently another local business was also featured:
Thursday, March 11, 2010 St. Patrick's Day: March 17th is coming up quickly. Here are some emails I received about it:
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Restaurant History: A new local restaurant history web site (tinyurl.com/sbdininghistory) has been created by Antonio Gardella (winemaker and fine wine specialist) and James Sly (chef and owner of Sly's restaurant in Carpinteria) that offers a comprehensive list of Santa Barbara restaurants dating back to 1875. Acai Bowls: Blenders in the Grass, a popular smoothie shop with seven locations on the South Coast, now offers Acai Bowls for $6. Here is the official description: "Organic Sambazon Acai blended up super thick with strawberries, banana and a splash of apple juice. Topped with granola, sliced bananas and a touch of honey." Benefit: Thursday March 11th 4-7pm Cafe Buenos Aires will donate $3 to Direct Relief International (aid for Haiti & Chile) for each signature drink purchased ($8). Local musicians including guitarist Chris Fossek are donating their time for the event.
Off Topic: My friend Preston Marx is extremely knowledgeable about
automobiles. To test his skills I periodically take a photo of a beat up
car and ask him to identify it. I was recently hiking at Corral Canyon
in the mountains above Malibu and spotted this wreck (with a tree growing out of
it). Preston tells me it is a 1973 Pontiac Grand Ville (pictured
below) or a 1973 Pontiac Bonneville. I think he might be right. Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010 For Sale: If you are interested in purchasing a restaurant, a pub, a dessertery (is that a real word?), or perhaps a pizza joint, here is a list of local food-related businesses that have been listed for sale this year on bizben.com:
Restaurant Of The Month:
Rudy's - Carpinteria is
the SantaBarbara.com "Restaurant of the Month." Their staff photo
appears on the restaurant guide home page throughout
March. Friday, March 5, 2010 Hob Nob Opening Delayed: The new Hob Nob tavern scheduled to open today at 21 W. Victoria Street, the former home of Epiphany, will instead launch next week. Here is a message from owner Michelle Mastrangelo:
Sushi Catering & Delivery: Periodically I receive emails from people asking if I know of any businesses that offer a sushi catering service. There is a local business name Sushi On Site (sushionsite.com, 805-708-7127) run by Master Chef Arief Norman who offers the service for any occasion including corporate events, weddings and graduations. Norman has a companion sushi delivery service named Sushi2You (sushi2you.com, 805-708-7127). Next day delivery is available in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria. Esau's Remodel: Esau's Cafe at 507 Linden Ave in Carpinteria is closed for remodeling until the weekend of March 13.
Off Topic: Hockey Hall of Fame
member Luc Robitaille and Kathy Mintzer, president of the
Greater Santa Barbara Ice Skating Association, are joined by ice skating
fans for the launch today of the final stretch of a fundraising campaign
for the Ice in Paradise ice skating rink in Goleta. The
organization has raised $2.2 million so far and needs $4 million more by
the end of this year. Construction would then begin and the new rink
would open at the end of 2011. Thursday, March 4, 2010
I'm Taking The Day Off: Why? The
SantaBarbara.com Restaurant Guide celebrates its 14th birthday today. The restaurant guide was
launched
so long ago that Bill Clinton was president, OJ Simpson was on
trial and the song “Macarena” was #1 on the radio. Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Cities Barbecue Closes: Cities Barbecue, known in part for having a polychromatic dairy cow on its rooftop near Santa Barbara High School, is showing typical signs of an eatery that has acquired a permanent home in the Restaurant Cemetery, including being closed during business hours, the interior looking strangely vacant and having a disconnected phone number. Cities Barbecue first opened in July, 2005.
Winter Wine Down: Winter Wine Down
is the Muscular Dystrophy Association's premiere wine and food
tasting event on the Central Coast. Eat, drink, and be merry while
listening to live music and bidding on silent auction items.
Accompanying the wine tasting is a culinary competition, for which they
have once again asked The Restaurant Guy to be a judge. The event takes
place March 20, 2010 at the beautiful Roblar Winery, 3010 Roblar Ave in
Santa Ynez. Hours are 1pm-4pm (VIP starts at noon). General Admission
Ticket are $60 ($45 tax deductible), VIP $100 ($75 tax deductible). Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Photo Blog:
March 1, 2010 - Pictures of
"Soup de l'YMCA" fundraiser for YMCA Campaign
for Youth. The event was held at
State & A Bar and
Grill. Monday, March 1, 2010 Westways: The owners of Gino's Sicilian Express are featured in the current issue of the Auto Club's Westways Magazine. Owner Connie Milano told me a story about their business and the article:
India House Update: India House, the new Indian restaurant and bazaar at 418 State Street, is still waiting for the Health Dept to issue a permit that allows them to open the restaurant part of their business. The bazaar, which sells more than 400 different items from India, opened last Friday. I'll post a note here when the stoves are hot! Fundraiser: I will be a soup judge today at 6pm at State & A Bar and Grill for a YMCA fundraiser.
Grand Opening: Here are a few pics
from Chino's Rock &
Tacos grand opening party in Isla Vista last Saturday. Friday, February 26, 2010
Epiphany Closes: Epiphany Restaurant & Bar at 21 W. Victoria Street closed their doors for good last week. They will be replaced by a "modern tavern" named Hob Nob starting Friday, March 5th. Photo Blog: February 25, 2010 - Recently I wrote stories about Fresh & Easy and BevMo! coming soon to Santa Barbara. Before those names appeared in my blog I had never seen or heard of either company. Last night I was in Manhattan Beach and noticed a mall that had both companies in the same building, each on a different side. I decided to take a peek to see what they look like inside and snapped a few fuzzy photos with my iPhone.
Off Topic: Friday, March 5th at noon
there will be a press conference to announce the donation of land for
a new ice skating rink in Goleta. The press conference will be held
under a tent canopy on the site of the new ice skating rink -- on Santa
Felicia behind the Home Depo next to the parking lot at Girsh Park. The
cross street is Storke and Santa Felicia. The land is being donated by
Wynmark Company President Mark Linehan, owner of the Camino Real
Marketplace in Goleta to Ice in Paradise and the Greater Santa Barbara
Ice Skating Association. Thursday, February 25, 2010 Chipotle Coming To Goleta: About a year ago I mentioned in this blog that Chipotle was considering opening in Goleta some day. It appears that "some day" will be this summer. Chipotle has decided that their second South Coast location will be 270 Storke Road, next to Rusty's Pizza in the former home of Soccer Action USA.
Special Guest: "Jackass" TV star
Chris Pontius confirmed he will attend the grand opening of
Chino's Rock & Tacos
- Isla Vista this Saturday. There will be taco eating contests
12:30, 6:30 and 9:30, free food, $1 beers 11-4, Chino's Girls, beer
tasting and giveaways. Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Pop Culture: Last Saturday while at a fundraiser for Direct Relief International I had a chance to try some fruit sodas made by a young couple from Buellton. Their company "Pop Culture Beverage Company" will launch this summer. I was amazed how good their drinks tasted. Normally I avoid these type of sodas because they are always too sweet, too strong or too fake. Some how Pop Culture figured out how to do fruit sodas right and I am now officially a fan. They use organic fruit, organic evaporated cane juice and water. That's all. They are currently in talks to have Whole Foods Market become a distributor. To contact them visit popculturebeverage.com. Here is their press-release:
First Anniversary: Live Culture at 11 W. De la Guerra Street is celebrating their one year anniversary on Tuesday March 2nd by kicking of the week with a fundraiser supporting the Santa Barbara Youth Music Academy. Members and mentors of the music youth academy will be playing throughout the week.
Yellow Pages: In your 2010 Verizon yellow pages you may have noticed that some restaurants try harder than others to get your attention. Some restaurants list just a name and phone number. Others have 1/8 page, 1/4 page, 1/2 page and 3/4 page ads. A select few restaurants, however, have gone the extra mile to let their services be known by taking out a full-page color ad. They are:
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Downtown And Out: The Downtown Brewing Co. at 3744 State Street officially closed their doors for good today. All of the kitchen equipment and furniture was piled up in the parking lot today. I called headquarters in San Luis Obispo to confirm the closure. The brewery first opened on upper State Street in May, 2007. Thanks to reader Patrick for the tip.
India House Opens Friday: A new
restaurant and bazaar named "India House" serving North Indian
Muglei and Tandoori Cuisine hopes to open this week at 418 State Street,
the former home of Scavenge. If the health inspection is completed
today, according to owner Krishan Gupta, they will have a soft opening
this Friday. The 6,000 ft business will be a combination 160-seat Indian
restaurant and bazaar selling more than 400 different items from India.
Gupta, whose family has been making and selling Indian goods since 1910,
also owns an open air market at 518 State Street next to Pierre Lafond
Wine Bistro. Fresco Coming To Solvang: Fresco Cafe, which has locations at 3987 State Street in Five Points Shopping Center and at 5940 Calle Real in Goleta, plans to open "Fresco Valley Cafe" at 442 Atterdag Road in the heart of Solvang. A lease was signed by owners Aric Christopher and Matthew Raab last week. The opening is scheduled for mid-summer. Rumor
Machine: After a recent tune-up from Make It Work and a fresh
set of ink cartridges, all that was left for the Rumor Machine to be
fully functional again was a stack of 100% recycled paper. To get extra
mileage out of my paper supply I always print on both sides. So, yesterday, I took
the stack of restaurant rumor print-outs from 2009, turned them upside
down and put them in the paper tray.
Photo Blog: February
20, 2010 - Wine auction benefit for Direct Relief
International Monday, February 22, 2010
Fresh & Easy Update: Last week I
published news that Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is planning
to open a location at 336 N. Milpas Street. I called some existing
businesses at that address and it appears that Fresh & Easy will be
taking over the entire building. An employee of one of the business told
me that Whitefoot Meat Market, a Mexican restaurant, a nail salon
and any other businesses at 336 N. Milpas will all have to close or
relocate. Fresco 15th Anniversary: Fresco Cafe Five Points will celebrate fifteen years of operation on Sunday May 23rd with a huge block party (food, drink and fun will be the order of the day). Leslie Lembo will be part of the entertainment lineup. Grand Opening: Chino's Rock & Tacos which opened at 6530 Pardall Rd in Isla Vista last month is planning to have a grand opening party this Saturday, February 27th. For more information call (805) 968-5118.
National Pancake Day: IHOP,
represented locally at 1701 State St, 4765 Calle Real in Goleta and 1114
Casitas Pass Rd in Carpinteria) plans to celebrate National Pancake Day
on Tuesday, February 23. From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., IHOP will give you one
free short stack (three) of their buttermilk pancakes. IHOP asks that
you consider making a donation to support local children's hospitals
through Children's Miracle Network or other local charities. Friday, February 19, 2010 Lettuce B. Something: Reliable sources tell me that the owner of Whiskey Richards (435 State Street) has leased out the space formerly occupied by Lettuce B. Frank (413 State Street) and intends to open an eatery of some kind that will include sliders and a variety of late-night eats. It sounds like activity on the 400 block of State Street is starting to pick up. Earlier this week I announced that Q's (409 State Street) has been leased and is being renovated. I am now hearing that it might become a sports bar. Epiphany Renovation: Epiphany Restaurant & Bar at 21 W. Victoria Street is closed for remodeling until March 3rd. I am told that they have been wanting to paint, re-do bathrooms and floors for some time. Building Purchased: Tommy Byrne, owner of The James Joyce, just purchased the building at 511 + 513 State Street that currently houses the James Joyce and Wahoo's Fish Taco. The purchase price was $2,810,000 and escrow closed last Wednesday. Byrne was represented by John J. Thyne III and Forrest Buchannan from Goodwin & Thyne Commercial.
Thursday, February 18, 2010 Tuttini Closing This Sunday: Tuttini bakery & coffee shop at 10 E. Carrillo Street is closing their doors this Sunday, February 21st. I spoke with owner Susan Sullivan who told me that they have experienced declining sales during the last 24 months and had a difficult rent structure. Sullivan tells me she hopes to reopen elsewhere in Santa Barbara and is actively looking for a new location that will have much more seating than was available at the Carrillo Street address.
Photo Blog:
February 17, 2010 -
Wine, cheese &
chocolate pairings at
Elements Restaurant &
Bar. Handmade gourmet truffles were provided by Jessica
Foster Confections. We also enjoyed a variety of appetizers.
Tastings will be available on the 3rd Wednesday each month from
4:30-6:30pm. $18 Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Elements Update: I received a message this morning about upcoming events at Elements Restaurant & Bar 129 E. Anapamu Street:
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
News From Q's: Word on the street is that the space formerly occupied by Q’s at 409 State Street has a new tenant who owns several night clubs in town. I am told that a major renovation of the interior is now underway |
On The
Side opens in IV: A sports bar and restaurant named “On
The Side” opened yesterday at 6521 Pardall Road in Isla Vista, the
birthplace of The Habit Burger Grill and Kinko's Copies Corp. Unlike
most eateries in Isla Vista that require you to order at the
cash register, On The Side will be a full service restaurant with a wait
staff.
Coming
Soon: Bay Roadhouse Bar & Grill:
It's Time To Hob Nob: A "modern
tavern" named Hob Nob will be opening next Friday, March 5th at
21 W. Victoria Street. Hob Nob will replace Epiphany Restaurant &
Bar which, after 8 years in business, closed its doors last
week. "Hob Nob is our vision of a place where you can come as you are,
whether it is a quick bite to eat before the theatre or a group cocktail
gathering, perhaps a romantic dinner for two," said owner Michelle Mastrangelo. "We have merged the bar with the restaurant to become one."
BevMo: When I broke the story about
BevMo in the 
Say Hello To
BevMo! The leading alcoholic beverage-lifestyle superstore
retailer in the western United States has signed a lease at 3052 State
Street (where State meets De la Vina), the former home of Thomasville
Furniture. Beverages & More! (BevMo!) provides alcoholic and
non-alcoholic beverages and “goes with” products such as specialty foods
and snacks, cigars, glassware and related bar and wine accessories.