The best Indian food on the Central Coast is in Santa Barbara at Bibi Ji. Indian-American sommelier Rajat Parr teamed up with Alejandro Medina to offer the taste of Parr’s family’s cooking right on State Street. They have a hyper-local focus on ingredients. Their aim of blending traditional Indian flavors as the foundation, while also …
A cozy spot that feels like home is exactly what Bell’s owners, Daisy and Greg Ryan, wanted in their first restaurant. And for Chef Daisy, who is from the Santa Ynez Valley, it was also about family, community, and coming home. It was great timing, as the building that used to house Bell Street Farm …
Soup is one of my all-time favorite meals; I could eat it every day during winter, spring and fall. And sometimes in the summer. If you like to make your own stock, soup makes an incredibly delicious, hearty and healthy meal. And making stock is easier than you think. The first thing I do is …
I love Syrah. To me, it outshines California Cabernet Sauvignon in pairing with foods, especially those from the Rhône area of France, or cool-climate Syrahs from California. I thought pairing wine with a dish for this post would be a good idea, but then thought using the wine in the dish was even better. I …
Summer on the Central Coast means grilling in your own backyard! If you’re keeping it healthy, here are 2 main dishes for the grill that keep it lighter. So invite some friends over, fire up the grill and chill some drinks…it’s going to be a great weekend! First up, burgers. I love burgers, but eating …
I had just spent some time in Spain, Basque country to be exact, where I’d eaten so much amazing seafood. Octopus charcoal-grilled or swimming in fragrant broth, fish caught that day then wood-oven fired with wine and garlic and zesty, salty sardines to start every meal. When I returned, I decided to make this Grilled …
Every year about now, the biggest sporting event in America rolls around: the Superbowl. There are many famous things about this game: the rivalry of the teams, the personalities of the players, and the best commercials of the year. But my favorite thing about the big game is the food. Now I don’t mean chips …
After a long New Year’s weekend, we had a fridge full of leftovers and a craving for comfort food. My friend the Comedienne thought up this recipe as she rummaged through a fridge-full of delicious dinner, snack and cocktail-mix remnants. It’s great after the holidays or any time you have a lot of leftovers in …
I love soup. I eat soup for lunch almost every day, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. There’s something so satisfying in this steaming bowl of broth, cooked vegetables, meats and just plain nourishment for the soul. Especially when it’s cold or rainy outside (or over-air-conditioned inside) and the soup has been cooking all …
