A Touch of Paris
o-owners Elizabeth Colling and Nicholas Barainca
Written by Caitlin White
Photogrpahy by Studio Arna
Pinks and creams create a calm, French-influenced café space that transitions effortlessly to night
Flaky, expertly folded apple galettes, golden clusters of homemade granola in impossibly chic packaging, frothy chai lattes, and lots of baby pink decor—these are all hallmarks of the current iteration of MERCI, a French-style bakery in the Montecito Country Mart. But there’s more in store for this little shop, which has been under the stewardship of co-owner and chef Nicholas Barainca for the last few years. His partner and cofounder, chef Elizabeth Colling, left Santa Barbara to spend several years in France.
Colling recently returned to Montecito, and she and Barainca have big plans to expand Merci. They’re keeping what’s already been working—breakfast starting daily at 8 a.m. and a full lunch menu of soups, salads, grain bowls, sandwiches, and plates served until 3 p.m. But expect dinner service in the weeks to come, with a fresh dose of French infusion. Scallop crudo with calamansi mignonette and beef tartare with dijonaise and green lentils are examples of standouts to start. Cavatelli dotted with chanterelles in a rich beurre blanc or a classic steak au poivre are on offer as mains, plus a pitch-perfect espresso crème soufflé as a sweet finish. 1028 Coast Village Rd., Santa Barbara, mercimontecito.com
