Check List
Classic pieces with a fresh KULE twist and a wink to iconic autumn staples of the ’70s
Classic pieces with a fresh KULE twist and a wink to iconic autumn staples of the ’70s
All items available at KULE Pop Up at Montecito Country Mart through December 31, and kule.com.
See the story in our digital edition
Don’t Miss…
The 38th annual Santa Barbara Vintners Festival’s Grand Tasting will be held at the Old Mission Santa Inés on Saturday, October 8
Written by Anush J. Benliyan
The 38th annual Santa Barbara Vintners Festival’s Grand Tasting will be held at the Old Mission Santa Inés on Saturday, October 8, and promises attendees the chance to taste vino from more than 50 nearby wineries, as well as gourmet fare from 30-plus regional restaurants and chefs. Enjoy live music as you meet and mingle with winemakers and winery owners. Pick up some new skills at a variety of culinary and viticulture demos, and don’t forget to stop by the Bubble Lounge to sample some bruts. 1760 Mission Dr., Solvang, sbvintnersweekend.com
See the story in our digital edition
Surf ’n’ Turf
With their Coast Range restaurant, a powerhouse team of chefs is putting Solvang on the culinary map.
Leather banquettes, custom made-in-Italy sconces, and pressed-tin ceilings set the tone inside Solvang’s Coast Range restaurant.
With their Coast Range restaurant, a powerhouse team of chefs is putting Solvang on the culinary map
Written by Caitlin White | Photography by Sara Prince
Solvang is better known for Danish architecture than fine dining, but last year a trifecta of chefs and a James Beard-recognized sommelier put COAST RANGE on the map as a destination steakhouse. Helmed by Anthony Carron (800 Degrees Pizza), Steven Fretz (Church Key), and acclaimed pastry chef Lincoln Carson (Bon Temps, Mes Amis)—as well as partners Hillary Calhoun and Joseph Sabato—the place has a wine list from sommelier and winemaker Rajat Parr that’s the cherry on top. Flanked on one side by a casual sister spot, Vaquero Bar, which opened in April 2021, Coast Range started offering indoor and outdoor dining on Mission Drive last fall.
Chef Anthony Carron, General manager and mixologist Joseph Sabato, Chef Steven Fretz
Head inside for a Victorian-meets-maritime feel—think leather booths, velvet curtains, and a sea captain’s portrait—and begin with a whole grilled California artichoke with “good butter” and melty pecorino, or try a spectacular daily fresh crudo bathed in shiro dashi, a Japanese chili paste called yuzu kosho, and baby cilantro. Next, a boatload of fritto misto including calamari, broccolini, and pepperoncinis is accompanied by furikake aïoli, Thai chili dipping sauce, and key lime. You’ll find those dishes on the brunch menu, served from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Monday.
Reservations are highly recommended for the dinner menu, which is available starting at 5 p.m. Thursday to Monday and offers a hearty steak list filled with impeccable cuts from purveyors like Delmonico and Creekstone. Make any steak into a surf-and-turf combo with lobster tails always on offer, or indulge in oysters on the half shell and chilled shellfish for a seafood fix. Steakhouse staples like French onion soup and wedge salads round out the evening appetizers—or splurge on Regiis Ova caviar and call it a night. Before you go, brioche donuts with brown-butter glaze make for a fluffy, flawless finish, courtesy of Chef Carson. 1635 Mission Dr., Solvang, 805-624-5420, coastrange.restaurant
See the story in our digital edition
Fessing Up—Twice
April 2022 brought a grand refresh of the legendary FESS PARKER WINERY’s tasting areas and experiences, at the portfolio’s Los Olivos vineyard property along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.
A Kodiak Greenwood photograph of Fess Parker’s favorite spot on the family ranch is printed on metal and hung as a triptych above the floor-to-ceiling fireplace in the refreshed Fess Parker Winery tasting room, on the Los Olivos vineyard property.
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks
April 2022 brought a grand refresh of the legendary FESS PARKER WINERY’s tasting areas and experiences, at the portfolio’s Los Olivos vineyard property along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. Elevated updates and additions to the venue’s interiors and exterior tell the tale of the Parker family’s history in the Santa Barbara region. They also provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere for more private tastings and leisurely lounging while paying homage to the family’s famous patriarch, the late Fess Parker. Memorabilia from Parker’s acting career decorate the revamped space, and the family’s 30-plus years of winemaking history is showcased in the new Library Room Wine Tastings: private experiences with customizable tasting flights of four Fess Parker library wines. In September the Fess Parker Funk Zone tasting room opens in downtown Santa Barbara, offering wines from Fess Parker Winery and from the family’s boutique Epiphany and Fesstivity labels. 6200 Foxen Canyon Rd., Los Olivos, 805-688-1545 and 116 E. Yanonali St., Santa Barbara, 805-770-2041, fessparker.com
See the story in our digital edition
Rebirth of an Icon
Slated to open in winter 2022, THE INN AT MATTEI’S TAVERN, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION, occupies a historic stagecoach stop in Los Olivos, adjacent to the site of the original Mattei’s Tavern from around 1886.
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photography by James Baigrie
Slated to open in winter 2022, THE INN AT MATTEI’S TAVERN, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION, occupies a historic stagecoach stop in Los Olivos, adjacent to the site of the original Mattei’s Tavern from around 1886. The new property will include 67 guest rooms and cottages that evoke storied Central Coast ranches, farms, and vineyards. Awaiting guests are an outdoor pool with cabanas and a poolside bar called The Shed, a signature spa, and indoor-outdoor event spaces, as well as five venues for daylong dining. Mornings might begin with coffee and freshly baked goods from Felix Feed & Coffee—named for Felix Mattei, the old tavern’s owner—while nights might be capped at The Bar with moody, Western saloon-inspired cocktails.
“The historic cottages at Mattei’s, both historic and the face of the project from Los Olivos, were a unique challenge,” says Ryan Mills, principal designer with DMHA Architecture + Interior Design who worked with Auberge. “It was crucially important to find exactly the right balance to rehabilitate the architecture while elevating the guest experience suitable for a luxurious wine-country resort.”
Dinner at The Tavern, the jewel of the resort’s culinary crown, will be directed by Filipino-American executive chef Rhoda Magbitang, whose kitchen creds include work with chefs Suzanne Goin and José Andrés, as well as executive-chef stints at West Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont and Petit Ermitage. The Tavern will feature California ranch cuisine and fresh ingredients, many of which will be harvested from the on-site garden; an extensive wine list culled from the large cellar; and cocktails incorporating house-infused spirits and botanic-driven tonics. Gin’s Tap Bar—a cozy smokehouse and bar—pays homage to the Goleta birthplace and Chinese heritage of old-time tavern chef Gin Lung Gin, with a menu that combines traditional ranch-smoking techniques with the flavors of Shanghai. 2350 Railway Ave., Los Olivos, 844-837-2999, aubergeresorts.com/matteistavern
See the story in our digital edition
Perfect Pairing
Some collaborations seem destined to happen. Like the combination of art by COLETTE COSENTINO and two late-summer releases from ARTISTE WINERY—a sparkling rosé and a Chardonnay.
Anna Rice (left) and Colette Cosentino in the painter’s Santa Barbara studio.
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography: Exterior, Sara Prince; portrait and bottle, Kim Reierson
Some collaborations seem destined to happen. Like the combination of art by COLETTE COSENTINO and two late-summer releases from ARTISTE WINERY—a sparkling rosé and a Chardonnay.
“It was serendipitous,” says Anna Rice, who owns Artiste with her husband, winemaker
Bion Rice. The label had partnered with 50 artists over the years, but only a couple had been local, something Anna wanted to remedy. When she walked by Colette’s Santa Barbara studio and later happened to meet the artist, she felt “the universe had spoken.”
The labels feature details of a huge glittering woodland canvas Colette had worked on for the last five years. When they unrolled it, notes Anna, “the color and the notes of the rosé and Chardonnay seemed to coalesce.” The painting is “very effervescent. You can taste the bubbles! With the official launch [of the wines], we’ll feature Colette’s art in the tasting studio and gallery in Los Olivos through the fall.” The full mural will later be on display in Colette’s Anapamu Street studio.
“It was extra cool to do a wine label,” says Colette, who has created wallpaper and textiles in addition to her fine art. “I’m excited by the possibilities.”artiste.com; colettecosentino.com.
See the story in our digital edition
Joie de Vivre
Under the rustic spell of the Santa Ynez Valley
Under the rustic spell of the Santa Ynez Valley
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photography by Sara Prince
Seeking a lavish wine country retreat? SUNSTONE VILLA offers a taste of France in the Santa Ynez Valley to Sunstone Winery’s Club members and other private parties. The 8,500-square-foot residence—conceived, designed, and outfitted by the winery’s founders, Fred and Linda Rice—opened in 2012 after a decade of construction. Built with limestone salvaged from chateaus in Aix-en-Provence, Normandy, and the Loire Valley, the villa also features wood beams, rafters, and roof tiles reclaimed from a 19th-century French lavender factory. Now a private residence for Sunstone’s current owners, Teddy and Djamila Cabugos, the villa includes five master suites, eight fireplaces, a billiards room, an underground wine cellar, and multiple terraces and patios with sweeping mountain and vineyard views. Continuing enhancements to the property’s landscaping, furnishings, and fixtures elevate the luxe factor for wine club members; attendees of special celebrations, corporate events, and galas; and myriad photography and filming projects for which the villa often “stars” as a Provençal estate. 125 N. Refugio Rd., Santa Ynez, 805-688-9463, sunstonewinery.com
“A taste of France perched on Refugio Road”
See the story in our digital edition
Cinema Paradiso
A new tome for cinephiles
A visual slice of All About My Mother, 1999, directed by Pedro Almodóvar
A new tome for cinephiles
Cinema in Flux by Roger Durling, $100, or $250 for an autographed copy.
Written by L.D. Porter
It takes courage and ingenuity—not to mention an ironic sense of humor—to pluck joy from a worldwide pandemic, but that’s exactly what the indefatigable Roger Durling, executive director of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), has achieved with his new book, Cinema in Flux: A Year of Connecting Through Film. What began as Durling’s daily email blast to SBIFF supporters recommending films to watch during the COVID lockdown, has morphed into a must-have coffee-table tome. Director Max Barbakow, whose film, Palm Springs, is profiled in the book, penned the introduction.
It’s a cinema master class in book form, containing a year’s worth of choices culled from every imaginable genre, including black-and-white classics, indies, horror, adventure, animation, documentary, rom-com, and more. Of these, 126 films receive thoughtful commentary combined with history, stylistic insights, and cogent revelations only a dedicated cinephile and film teacher like Durling could possibly arrive at. While acknowledging that some picks may not be an easy watch, Durling stresses the importance of confronting difficult themes, such as those in the late John Singleton’s groundbreaking 1991 film, Boyz n the Hood (which garnered Singleton an Academy Award nomination, the first such nomination for a Black director): “There are films that are ultimately so well-made and filled with so much truthfulness and artistry that despite the harshness of their subject, their experience becomes essential.” Bravo! Available at Sbiff.org.
Barn Raising
Lompoc’s latest lure is one for wine and design buffs alike
Backen & Gillam Architects and L.A.-based interior designer Amber Lewis collaborated on the restoration of The Barn at The Hilt
Lompoc’s latest lure is one for wine and design buffs alike
Written by Jessica Ritz
We’re in the wine business because we love to share our passion,” says Armand de Maigret, estate manager of Jonata and The Hilt. As of this past summer, THE BARN AT THE HILT ESTATE offers a distinctive experience in the Santa Rita Hills AVA. Howard J. Backen and Silvia Nobili of noted Backen & Gillam Architects helmed the restoration of the barn that dates from 1914. Also new is a sumptuously appointed tasting room by in-demand L.A. interior designer Amber Lewis and a 50,000-square-foot winemaking facility. The 3,600-acre site south of Lompoc is ideally located “for the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay we want to make—wines with elegance, with presence, with personality,” de Maigret notes. Now The Barn at The Hilt expresses those values in its physical environment, too. By appointment only. 2240 Santa Rosa Rd., Lompoc, 805-564-8581, THEHILTESTATE.COM.
Tailor Made
When Ryan Shand couldn’t find pieces that suited the sensibilities of a not-yet-30 female in a senior management position, she created her own.
Limited-edition pieces made with upcycled vintage fabrics
Written by Charlotte Bryant
When Ryan Shand couldn’t find pieces that suited the sensibilities of a not-yet-30 female in a senior management position, she created her own. “As a young professional, I am constantly looking at who inspired me,” explains Shand, 29, who had held positions at both Saatchi Art and Honey. SHAND’s eponymous women’s wear line—designed in a home studio and crafted in Los Angeles—features pleated vintage men’s trousers, altered to fit women, with silk paneling, antique military buttons sourced from around the world, and boxy blazers with oversize shoulders. The details are all indicative of how the designer herself wishes to be perceived—bold and brave with presence and power, like the women who have influenced her designs. The Hall, a mustard suit, is named for an ABC executive, and others in the collection honor celebrated designer Nina Freudenberger and Shand’s mother, Susan. Originally from Santa Barbara, Shand pursued her career in Chicago and Los Angeles before she realized that any professional limitations she had placed on life here were mental. The influence of the Central Coast’s natural surroundings is evidenced in her warm color palette, while her garments’ sophisticated tailoring harks back to Santa Barbara’s old Hollywood connections. Shand also casts an eye toward sustainability, with her use of dead stock, upcycled fabrics, and reworked vintage pieces from around the world. Available online and at The Shopkeepers. SHANDLA.COM.
Seed to Shelf
We’re not just a brand, we’re farmers first and foremost. I love that we are nurturing plants to their full potential.
Sara Rotman at her Buellton farm
“We’re not just a brand, we’re farmers first and foremost. I love that we are nurturing plants to their full potential.”
Full-spectrum CBD/THC capsules in three signature restore, relief, and relax formulas; most Wellfounded products are available at Farmacy Santa Barbara. For more information, follow @wellfoundedbotanicals, or visit WELLFOUNDED.COM.
WHO Sara Rotman, cannabis farmer and plant-based wellness CEO.
WHAT Wellfounded Botanicals launches its first full-spectrum tinctures, signature capsules, and a luxury fragrance.
WHERE At Rotman’s Buellton farm, the cannabis in Wellfounded products is sun grown, and her wellness/beauty line is developed with native California ingredients like safflower oil and antioxidant-rich pomegranate oil.
LOOK FOR A much-anticipated collection of high-end topicals for head-to-toe self-care including body balm, face oil, body splash, and body oil later this year.
Full Moon Rising
A historic family farm ushers a fresh take on life.
In restoring the farm buildings, Leanne Schlinger brought back the original forest green and white color palette.
A historic family farm ushers a fresh take on life
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer | Photographs: Lauren Maeve Photography
Leanne Schlinger, who owned and operated Santa Ynez Vacation Rentals for 15 years, has moved from managing multiple properties to focusing on just one. When her mother passed away two years ago, she inherited the 10-acre family farm in Santa Ynez Valley with its pre-stagecoach-era roots and immeasurable sentimental value. While grieving—and pregnant—Schlinger spent months restoring the place, honoring its heritage with historic paint colors while modernizing the outbuildings from cottages to chicken coops. Between planting crops and raising animals, she is bringing Full Moon Farms to life. “At first I didn’t even know where the key to the tractor was!” she says, adding that it’s been a learning curve from day one. “I had to YouTube how to use a John Deere.”
Aside from a couple of zaps by the electric fence and a few equine escapees (all safely returned), the farm has quickly become a respite for her family and visitors seeking a dose of country life. Locals buy fresh eggs and produce, guests attend intimate gatherings on everything from wreath making to crafting elderberry syrup, and shoppers frequent the online mercantile for locally made sustainable goods. In the future Schlinger envisions more collaborations and children’s programming, but for now the farm is home—a place to raise her budding family and bring the simple joys and lessons of farm life to others. “There’s always something to do or look after. Once you paint the last fence post, it’s time to start over again,” she says. “It’s a bit like going back in time.” FULLMOONFARMS.COM.
Beyond the Blogs
What happens when two bloggers become good friends? A collaboration, of course.
A Wrel Living table set with Good Kind Work plates, Rough Linen napkins, and other made-in-California homewares.
Written by Jennifer Blaise Kramer
What happens when two bloggers become good friends? A collaboration, of course. WREL LIVING is the brainchild of Samantha Wennerstrom and Alicia Lund, named after their children (Willow, Rex, Elin, and Lila). “We’ve been friends for over 10 years, living parallel lives, blogging, getting married, having kids,” Wennerstrom says. “The last couple years we’ve enjoyed our time at home making things extra special, swapping recipe and tabletop ideas.” In launching an online shop, they’ve curated “favorite finds,” while tapping into their network of makers and brands to collaborate on one-of-a-kind pieces. The California-inspired capsule collection of lifestyle goods include pitchers, bud vases, dinnerware, and more dreamy items that represent their entertaining aesthetic and friendship. Adds Wennerstrom: “It’s all about bringing friends and family around the table.” WRELLIVING.COM.
Faded Glory
Award-winning photographer Mike Eliason turns his eclectic journalistic eye on all corners of the county…
A timeworn sign at a drive-in movie theater in Lompoc evokes cinematic images as fleeting as the puffy clouds in the blue valley sky.
Photography by Mike Eliason
Award-winning photographer Mike Eliason turns his eclectic journalistic eye on all corners of the county in Santa Barbara and Beyond: The Photography of Mike Eliason ($40, Beach Ball Books). A native of Carpinteria known for everything from sports images to feature photos, Eliason includes the offbeat and exotic along with the iconic shots of land- and seascapes, the natural world, architecture, and people, while also serving as public information officer for the SB Country Fire Department. Available December 1 at local bookstores and at SHORELINEPUBLISHING.COM.
Whoa, Alli!
Alli Addison, of the lifestyle brand Milton Menasco, rounds up her top picks for fall with western flair and a dash of cowgirl spirit.
Alli Addison, of the lifestyle brand Milton Menasco, rounds up her top picks for fall with western flair and a dash of cowgirl spirit
Addison is the great-niece of late American artist Milton Menasco.
Written by Gina Tolleson | Photography by Alli, Elizabeth Hay
ONE TO WATCH
WHO Alli Addison, 37, mother of two, designer, equestrian, and the face behind the Instagram brand @miltonmenasco.
WHAT “Milton Menasco was established in 2019 as a lifestyle brand to honor the work of my great uncle and the ranching lifestyle of my ancestors—but brought up to date. The result? An inclusive and unique collection of art, wearables, and goods for the modern-day horse girl and horse boy.”
WEAR “Fall on the coast has me yearning for vintage knits, rustic denims, a neutral palette of creams, tans, rust, and black, with added sterling embellishments. I’m looking for feminine accents combined with masculine scale, celestial details, and subtle western nods. This, of course, extends into the home, with intoxicating fragrances, sensory experiences, well-curated coffee-table books, and a range of artworks that create a relaxed, simple, yet elegant space.”
LOOK FOR “This fall I am launching a new collaborative mini capsule with Tenlea Hunter that’s overflowing with space-cowboy, horse-girl energy that will leave you wanting to shoot for the stars and lasso the moon. Our exclusive Starry Night felt hats in black and bone were crafted for us by our friends at Stetson, and it feels like the beginning of something truly epic.”
APPLE DOESNT FALL FAR “My family has lived in the area for seven generations, in Santa Barbara and on the Mexican land grant known as Rancho Nipomo, living a life rooted in ranching, farming, and trade. Simply riding the horses in the same hills as my great-great-great-grandparents, driving between Santa Ynez and Los Alamos—which served as my family’s trade route—or walking the steps of the Old Mission gives me a sense of place that is hard to describe. While my father’s side of the family is tied to this community historically, my mother’s side of the family has its own story: My great-granduncle was the famous equestrian artist Milton Menasco. His classical equestrian elements—particularly an exacting eye for both the confirmation and disposition of the horse—all became heavy influencers of my own personal style and passions.”
UPCYCLE 101 “Vintage goods with equestrian and western flair will always be a mainstay at Milton Menasco, as we believe in sustainable, locally sourced, ecofriendly, and handmade goods. And we certainly believe in second chances. Even for garments! With many items 40, 50, even 70-plus years old, the condition is typical of their age, but their story continues with a new generation of horse lovers.”
PICO, 805-344-1122, in Los Alamos is our go-to date night restaurant choice. I recommend the subtly spicy Lost Almost margarita.
Also in Los Alamos, SISTERS GIFTS AND HOME, 805-720-1110, @sistersgiftsandhome, has some of the best local equestrian and western antiques and collectibles in the valley.
Absolutely requisite for any local horse folk, JEDLICKA’S, 805-688-2626, in Los Olivos encompasses the best of both worlds, with everything needed for the western or English rider.
FAVOUR, 805-693-8998, in Santa Ynez can do no wrong when it comes to contemporary women’s wear in the valley.
Heading East
Where to stay and play in Palm Springs
Views of the 65-foot saltwater pool at The Colony Club.
Where to stay and play in Palm Springs
The desert beckons as autumn in Palm Springs promises warm days and cooler nights. Special events highlight the signature style and sports of the area, including Modernism Week’s Fall Preview (October 14-17) and the BNP Paribas Open (October 4-17). Of course, you can always simply laze at the pool.
Hotelier, design guru, and Montecito resident Steve Hermann has completely renovated the venerable Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows into a stylish 57-room getaway with bold patterns and a fresh new look. Built by Purple Gang member Al Wertheimer in the 1930s, the hotel was a longtime favorite of L.A. celebs. Today it’s a luxe adults-only oasis with lush gardens, an inviting spa, and the sleek Colony Club restaurant. Says Hermann, “We looked to old Hollywood as well as the French and Italian Riviera of the 1930s and ’40s for inspiration.”
“We looked to old Hollywood as well as the French and Italian Riviera of the 1930s and ’40s for inspiration.”
Morocco meets the Mediterranean at the Korakia Pensione. Behind the wooden doors of the grand Moorish entrance are two historic villas with bungalows, rooms, studios, and suites arrayed around two pools and each individually appointed with antiques and handcrafted furnishings. What could be more relaxing than breakfast in the courtyard, afternoon tea in the art-filled library, massages in the indoor-outdoor spa lounge, and vintage movies under the stars. Add sound baths, yoga sessions, and a meditation practices for a truly serene stay.
With just 11 adults-only accommodations, Dive Palm Springs offers the intimacy of a boutique resort with the retro aesthetic of the 1960s French Riviera. Each room has its own vivid color theme, while the image of Lulu (the hotel’s neon diving girl artwork) unites it all. Enjoy an aperitif in the Peacock Lounge, where the curated playlist features music by Françoise Hardy and other Gallic notables. C’est si bon.
Desert to-dos
Toast to the artistic vision of Cecil Beaton—legendary British photographer and designer—at Bar Cecil where chef Gabe Woo’s sybaritic menu includes The Fifty Dollar Martini.
At Soukie Modern, founded by “rug addict” Taib Lotfi, you’ll find not only vintage Moroccan floor coverings but also unique bags, kimonos and caftans, candles, pillows, and poufs.
Kick up your heels at Pappy + Harriet’s, the historic BBQ restaurant, bar, and music venue in nearby Pioneertown where Modest Mouse takes the stage on September 24.
Hit the Road
The tastiest food trucks, trailers, and carts to track
The tastiest food trucks, trailers, and carts to track
Written by Anush J. Benliyan
Fess Parker Winery recently introduced the MOBILE BUBBLE SHACK, a moveable version of its charming Bubble Shack in Los Olivos. The converted 1969 Fireball trailer serves up Fesstivity sparkling wines—Sta. Rita Hills blanc de blancs, brut rosés, and blanc de noirs—by the glass or bottle on the grounds of the winery on Saturdays and Sundays. Los Alamos farmer Carla Malloy stocks her mobile ELDER FLAT FARM stand with organic produce like artichokes, heirloom tomatoes, swiss chard, pomegranates, and melons, as well as gorgeous blooms (including edible flowers), fresh eggs, and Sideyard Shrubs. Check her Instagram to know when she’ll be parked at Bell’s next. Malia Christensen and Makena McGinley are the sisters behind the adorable vintage mobile bars you might have spotted around Santa Barbara and the Central Coast. THE PETITE FLEET of transformed trailers and mail cars are perfect for parties, pouring delectable libations—wine, bubbly, beer, and handcrafted cocktails—and nonalcoholic beverages like lavender lemonade kombucha. For your next java fix, stop by the pint-size NEIGHBORS COFFEE CART, parked in front of Global Eye and Four Brothers Wine in Los Olivos. The electric mini coffee truck focuses on Central Coast roasters like Dart Coffee Co. and Dune Coffee Roasters. Chef Clark Staub’s new FULL OF LIFE FLATBREADS truck—a refurbished 1952 Chevy cab-over—offers a mobile version of the beloved Los Alamos eatery, firing up fresh artisanal breads and flatbreads loaded with locally sourced ingredients like whole-milk mozzarella, roasted mushrooms, and caramelized onions. Also available for “field bakes” for private events, the Full of Life truck will be cooking up a storm this fall, with a schedule of ticketed dinners, including “In the Heart of Harmony,” Table & Vine Supper Club’s family-style meal in the tiny town of Harmony (September 30), and an Outstanding in the Field dinner with Lompoc’s Ampelos Cellars (November 1). And don’t miss Nicholas Priedite’s moveable feast behind Bell’s in Los Alamos at his eponymous PRIEDITE BARBECUE pop-up. The budding pit master is celebrated for his modern take on old-school brisket, ribs, house-made ranchero sausage, and pulled pork, all of which he smokes over local oak.
Photographs by Elder Flat Farm, Collin Dewell; the petite fleet, Lacie Hansen, Neighbors Coffee Cart, Sara Prince; Priedite, @troxphotos (John Troxell).
Car Crazy!
The Montecito Motor Classic returns on October 10 with a fleet of rare and unique vehicles.
The Montecito Motor Classic returns on October 10 with a fleet of rare and unique vehicles.
“I love cars,” says Dolores Morelli Johnson, founder of the Montecito Motor Classic. Her absolute favorite—a rare white 1963 Rolls Royce—will be on display on October 10 at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, along with a cherry red 1967 Mustang, a 1956 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupe, a “Rita Hayworth” concept car, and some 150 other jaw-dropping examples of automobile artistry. Entrants’ fees go to support the Santa Barbara Police Activities League (SBPAL) and the 911 At Ease International foundation, while visitors attend free. Start your engines!
Written by Joan Tapper
Once Upon a Time
A sleeping beauty awakens
A sleeping beauty awakens
The Falls; The Inn’s oak-shaded suite entrances
Buellton’s ZACA CREEK, which slumbered for nearly two decades, has reawakened as a romantically reimagined mini-resort with THE TAVERN and THE INN. The former, an on-site restaurant and bar helmed by executive chef and James Beard House alum Cullen Campbell, is anchored by fresh organic ingredients sourced from local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen—menu musts include barbecued Winfield Farm Mangalitsa pork collar; Sunrise Farms whole lettuce salad with Scribe Verjus dressing; and ahi crudo with basil, cara cara oranges, and peanuts—and a bar program that highlights bourbons, ryes, and regional tequilas and mezcals. Meanwhile, The Inn at Zaca Creek is perfect for pampered overnighters or property buyouts. Six individualized guest suites, accessed through hand-carved alder-wood doors with contactless key-code entry, boast rustic stonework, majestic bath areas with rainfall showers and deep soaker tubs, and curated lighting that focuses on ornamental headboards and accent pieces. Inn and private event guests receive exclusive use of The Falls, where cascading waterfalls and a sparkling, cabana-lined bio-lagoon invite luxurious wine-country lounging. 1297 Jonata Park Rd., Buellton, 805-688-2412, ZACA-CREEK.COM. A.F.S.
Photographs: Facade, Danielle Honea Photography; Interior and Escargot, Michelle Ramirez Photography; bar and bio-lagoon, Lena Britt Photography.
Take a Bow
What’s next for Santa Barbara’s celebrated winemaker Greg Brewer
What’s next for Santa Barbara’s celebrated winemaker Greg Brewer
Written by Gabe Saglie | Photography by Jeremy Ball
Winemaker Greg Brewer believes his latest honor— “Winemaker of the Year,” bestowed by Wine Enthusiast Magazine—belongs to the entire Santa Barbara wine community. “Through my entire career, everything I’ve learned, my inspiration, the nurturing, all the dynamics—they’re all from Santa Barbara,” he says. “I am this place.” Notably, his win marks the first nod for a county vintner in the award’s 21-year history.
Brewer pours a glass of 2015 Brewer-Clifton Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
The 51-year-old Brewer, who gained fame as Melville’s winemaker for almost 20 years, though 2015, launched the celebrated Brewer-Clifton label in 1996 with then-business partner Steve Clifton; he sold it to Jackson Family Wines in 2017 but stayed on as winemaker. He also makes acid-driven Chardonnays for the Diatom brand and cool-climate Syrahs for Ex Post Facto. A 120-acre Sta. Rita Hills vineyard dubbed Perilune, whose development he’s spearheading, will begin producing its first Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vintages this year.