The Craft of Hospitality
Hearth Homes ushers in the next chapter of the historic inn downtown
Hearth Homes ushers in the next chapter of the historic inn downtown
Designers Katie Labourdette-Martinez (left) and Olivia Wahler (right) attend to every detail.
Written by Jessica Ritz | Photographs by Blake Bronstad
Honoring the past and positioned for the future, THE CRAFT HOUSE INN is “a modernized B&B that has its own story to tell,” says interior designer Olivia Wahler. She and Katie Labourdette-Martinez, her Hearth Homes Interiors cofounder (and sister-in-law), have breathed new life into the Arts and Crafts–style property, which formerly operated as the Glenborough Inn and White Jasmine Inn.
“Everything we do is with an eye toward restoring and reviving the original elements”
“We want families to come stay and create core memories,” Labourdette-Martinez adds. And with four bedrooms and four and a half baths, it’s an ideal one-stop-shop celebration buyout. Plus there’s a separate Lotus Suite that sleeps two.
The emphasis on kin is no surprise, given that the entire enterprise is a family affair. Lucas Martinez, president of Hearth Homes, which also includes hospitality arm Hearth Home Stays, is
Labourdette-Martinez’s husband and Wahler’s brother. Chef Julian Martinez of Barbareño, who oversees the property’s culinary offerings, is a third sibling and rounds out this powerhouse team.
The house dates from the early 20th century, so “we tried to update everything without taking away any of the character,” Labourdette-Martinez explains. “We mixed a little here and there to give it more of a modern feel,” Wahler notes. Bold wallpaper from House of Hackney emblazons the dining room where the rich original woodwork has been restored. Dressers were repurposed into vanities, but the kitchen and bathrooms are outfitted with contemporary comforts.
The venue is now part of the Hearth Homes Stays portfolio. “Everything we do is with an eye toward restoring and reviving the original elements,” says Lucas Martinez, who adds that they’re privileged to be the stewards of a beautiful historic property. “We don’t take that responsibility lightly.” 1327 Bath Street, Santa Barbara, thecrafthouseinn.com
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In Love with Landscape
ATKINSON GALLERY, at Santa Barbara’s City College, is one of the best places locally to see contemporary art, thanks to the insightful exhibitions by its talented director, John Connelly.
Soumya Netrabile, 2 P.M. in the Park.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter | Photography by Tony Mastres
“The artists approach landscape in various ways using a variety of different media, but all have a deep respect for the art history of landscape depiction.”
ATKINSON GALLERY, at Santa Barbara’s City College, is one of the best places locally to see contemporary art, thanks to the insightful exhibitions by its talented director, John Connelly. New Landscapes Part I, which is on view through December 8, is the first of a two-part exhibition exploring the nature of landscape, with a focus on land, sky, and sea. Part I features work by Whitney Bedford, Diedrick Brackens, Manuel López, Cruz Ortiz, Jonathan Ryan, and Jonas Wood. Beginning January 22, New Landscapes Part II will include pieces by Ann Craven, Maureen Gallace, Porfirio Gutiérrez, Jordan Nassar, Soumya Netrabile, Robyn O'Neil, David Benjamin Sherry, and Gabriela Ruiz. According to Connelly, the artists approach landscape in various ways using a variety of different media, “but all have a deep respect for and offer a response to the art history of landscape depiction.” Humanities Bldg., H-202, SBCC, 721 Cliff Dr., Santa Barbara, gallery.spcc.edu.
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Perfect Imperfection
Ojai native MARK CHURCHILL has been making pottery for more than 30 years.
Ceramicist Mark Churchill in his studio.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter | Photography by Marian Schulze
Ojai native MARK CHURCHILL has been making pottery for more than 30 years. For much of that time, he worked as an apprentice to local master Frank Massarella; Churchill’s apprentice is Kiran Sahgal. Collectively they belong to Ojai’s ceramics lineage, which famously stretches back to renowned clay masters Vivika and Otto Heino and, of course, Beatrice “Beato” Wood.
Churchill’s own style is evident in his creations, which fuse his unique talents with Japanese and Korean aesthetics and techniques. Over the past decade he has been perfecting his version of the moon jar, a large, round porcelain vessel whose origins date to Korea’s Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). Revered historically as the embodiment of Confucian ideals, moon jars remain highly prized and collected worldwide. An 18th-century example recently fetched $4.5 million at Christie’s in New York.
“The thing about the moon jar is it’s completely perfectly imperfect,” Churchill says. “It has very formal elements; the opening at the top has to be wider than the outside diameter of the base.” It may sound simple, but moon jars are constructed by joining two large bowls together, which is no easy task. Porcelain clay is extremely tricky to work with, and disasters—like cracks—can occur at any stage in the process (drying, firing, cooling). “When I started making them, if I got one out of 10 not to crack, I’d be really lucky,” he admits, adding, “they’re supposed to be difficult. To me, the point of them is that they take everything you’ve got.”
There’s more to them, though, than their rigorous technical aspects. As a master potter once told Churchill, “When you hold your own moon jar it should feel like your mother’s embrace.”
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Modeling the Masters
Gifts inspired by some of Santa Barbara’s legendary leading ladies.
Gifts inspired by some of Santa Barbara’s legendary leading ladies
Modern Moves
The Santa Barbara High School graduate who defined contemporary dance
Martha Graham
Rose-cut black diamond necklace, $1,550, Baxter Moerman; Quarry large spire hairpin, $184, Jake & Jones; Lapointe dress, $1,750, Allora by Laura; small huggie earrings, price upon request, Silverhorn; Rali Couture rings, price upon request, d’Offay; Eternity bangle, $110, Marisa Mason; Jamie Haller ballet slippers, $425, Whistle Club; Martha Graham: When Dance Became Modern, $40, Chaucer’s Books.
Shape Shifter
The “Mama of Dada” crafted Ojai into an artist enclave
Beatrice Wood
Bespoke bangle, $10,680, Daniel Gibbings; Bunny Ball, $580, Susan Cronin; Cornwall Moon garden vase by Jean Victor, price upon request, Eider Studio; Reign of Beauty ring, $12,900, Jes MaHarry; The Micro Peak bag in gold, $1,900, Alexander McQueen; Venus Bee Trap (42x30 in., oil on panel), $3,000, Cynthia James Fine Art; Elongo Florals shawl in indigo, $495, Johanna Ortiz.
Gritty Glam
The original “It Girl” with a Santa Barbara story
Lexi car coat, $442, Catherine Gee; white gold chain and diamond necklace, price upon request, Bryant & Sons; Women’s Club earrings in antique silver, $1,650, Balenciaga; Loeffler Randall Ada knot heels, $350, Diani; Le Superbe crew neck with feather cuffs, $325, LOU; Lapima Teresa sunglasses in capim, $540, Occhiali Fine Eyewear; Jackie 1961 large shoulder bag, $5,500, Gucci; Sapphire Soothing Facial Oil, $78, Bella Vida Santa Barbara.
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Cruz in Control
During its 82-year existence, 11 directors have led the SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART (SBMA).
Amada Cruz, the Eichholz Foundation Director of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter | Photography by Sara Prince
During its 82-year existence, 11 directors have led the SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART (SBMA). Only one of these individuals was female: Ala Story, whose tenure ended in 1957. Now, nearly seven decades later, Amada Cruz has been selected as SBMA’s Eichholz Foundation Director.
This is not to say the museum has ignored women. Mercedes Eichholz and Leslie Ridley-Tree, two formidable Santa Barbara philanthropists, each chaired the organization’s board of directors. And the Women’s Board, the museum’s wildly successful fund-raising group, has significantly shaped SBMA since 1951. But Cruz’s appointment signals a different era, as a new generation of women steps into high-profile leadership roles at several key Santa Barbara cultural institutions.
Cruz was nine months old when her family emigrated to the United States from her birthplace, Havana, Cuba. After graduating from New York University with a fine arts/political science degree, Cruz began her art-world ascent as a curator, with stints at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Early on she was strongly encouraged to apply for directorship positions, and she has followed that path for much of her 30-year career. Cruz ran a renowned art residency program (Artpace in Texas), directed Bard College’s Center for Curatorial Studies Museum in New York, and was director of the Phoenix Art Museum. Most recently, Cruz served as executive director of the Seattle Art Museum.
Compared with the Seattle institution, which has three large venues hosting nearly a million visitors per year, SBMA is intimate, attracting 150,000 annual guests. But the size disparity is what attracted Cruz to Santa Barbara. “I can actually get my arms around this place,” she says. “At this point in my career, I want something a little more manageable. I also want to think about communities and making connections, more than taking care of facilities. I’d like to focus more on mission.”
For Cruz, SBMA’s mission statement is critical. “It is the North Star for everything the museum does,” she says. “I am very attracted to the mission statement, which is very simple in many ways but very important to think about: ‘integrating art into the lives of people.’ That means the museum is not an ivory tower; that means that everyone here believes that art can have an effect on people’s lives.”
Given the reality that museums must compete to stay relevant in a world of virtual entertainment, Cruz knows this mission is no small task. But she has considered what an ideal museum could be. “A place that really provides meaning for people. A place that has connections to a lot of communities, so people come and they feel like it’s their museum,” Cruz says, adding, “I think that really the only future for museums to survive is for people to actually feel they have ownership. People want to see themselves in museums. That is very important to keep in mind.” 1130 State St., Santa Barbara, 805-963-4364, SBMA.net.
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Mary Nobles Conrad
(1935-2023)
(1935-2023)
Our tribute
Written by Joan Tapper | Photographs courtesy of Kendall Conrad
For roughly three decades the aspiring authors and famous literary lights of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference knew her as the power behind the scenes. Barnaby Conrad Jr may have held center stage of the annual series of weeklong workshops, panels, and presentations, but Mary Nobles Conrad—who died on November 1 at age 88 at her home at Rincon Point, Carpinteria—was organizer, hostess, and the person who made it all happen.
“Dad brought the writers, but she was the producer...She made the conference happen.”
Her connections to Santa Barbara reached back decades. She was born in 1935 and grew up in Pasadena, but her prominent family spent entire summers at San Ysidro Ranch, where she enjoyed horseback riding in the hills. “She always loved coming here,” remembers her daughter, Kendall Conrad. “This was her holiday place.”
Mary went to school in Baltimore but returned to California to attend the Montecito School for Girls (now Casa Dorinda) and play tennis, a sport she excelled in. It was in Montecito that she met her first husband, William Slater, whose parents lived on Buena Vista Drive. The couple married in 1953, when Mary was 18, and the family, which soon included two sons—William Slater III and Michael Slater—eventually settled in Belvedere. After an amicable divorce in 1962, she married Conrad, an author, artist, bullfighter, and nightclub owner. A successful interior designer, Mary was also a lively hostess, and the Conrad home in San Francisco frequently welcomed actors, writers, and other celebrities.
But Santa Barbara beckoned. The family would come down every summer and spent Christmas here as well. “I think she got more and more attached to it,” says Kendall. “She said, ‘Let’s sell San Francisco, and move to Santa Barbara and start a writer’s conference.’ That was the intention.”
She and Barnaby built a house at the beach next to land her sister Annabel owned, and they moved in 1973, the same year the conference began. The roster of speakers that first June were Ray Bradbury (who became a regular), Ross Macdonald, Budd Shulberg, and Jessica Mitford. They set the tone for the decades that followed, with Barnaby calling on well-known writers who lectured and socialized with conference attendees. The literati ranged from Cristopher Isherwood, James Michener, Gore Vidal, and Alex Haley to Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, Elmore Leonard, Eudora Welty, Amy Tan, and Fannie Flagg, who famously began as an attendee and went on to become a best-selling novelist. “Dad brought the writers, but she was the producer,” says Kendall.” “She made the conference happen.”
After one year at Cate School, the conference moved to the Miramar Hotel, where the informal, slightly bohemian atmosphere encouraged interaction and gave rise to late-night “pirate” sessions that the event was famous for. After 32 years the Conrads sold the conference to Monte Schulz, the cartoonist’s son, who has kept it going, celebrating the 50th anniversary last summer.
Barnaby Conrad passed away in 2013, but Mary reached into her memories and memorabilia to produce the Santa Barbara Writers Conference Scrapbook with Armando Nieto and Matthew J. Pallamary. Published in 2017, it gave rise to a documentary movie for which she was executive producer. “I had pictures and press—everything, including the parties,” said Mary in an interview when the book came out. “I wanted to have people know that this happened in Santa Barbara.” Both the book and the film pay tribute to the people who led and attended the conference and to its inspiring, accessible vibe. “There was a wonderful rubbing of elbows,” she added.
Over the years Mary lent her support to other organizations and causes, from animal welfare, the local fire department, veteran organizations, and cancer research, and she remained an enthusiastic hostess. “Christmas was always a big party,” says Kendall.
And her legacy lives on at the writer’s conference, notes its director, Grace Rachow, who points to Mary’s wisdom and foresight as a core reason for its success even after five decades. “Although Barnaby Conrad was known for being a raconteur,” adds Rachow, “Mary was an excellent storyteller in her own right. Her work on the SBWC Scrapbook brought forth many luminary tales we had not heard before, and her vision had a real impact on the careers of several generations of writers.”
Mary is survived by her sons, William and Michael Slater; her daughter Kendall Conrad; her stepchildren, Barnaby Conrad III, Cayetana Conrad, and Winston Conrad; her grandchildren Will and Adam Slater, Morgan, Conrad, and Sammy Slater, and Luisa and Femanda Cameron; and great-grandson Kai Slater.
To read more about Mary Conrad’s leadership with the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference, click here:
The Conrad family have been contributors to Santa Barbara Magazine for decades, including designer Kendall Conrad on the cover a record three times:
Wild About Harry’s
The atmosphere is retro chic in the Ranchero Room of Harry’s Plaza Café, where the walls display more than 1,500 photos in an impressionistic vision of Santa Barbara’s past.
Table for one in the back
Pictures of Santa Barbara’s horse-and-buggy days set the scene for a contemporary diner in Western garb.
Written by Joan Tapper | Photograph by Blake Bronstad
The atmosphere is retro chic in the Ranchero Room of Harry’s Plaza Café, where the walls display more than 1,500 photos in an impressionistic vision of Santa Barbara’s past. The restaurant, opened in 1968 in Loreto Plaza by the eponymous Harry Davis, is itself an icon. When John Scott renovated some 20 years ago, he restored the décor just as it had been, down to the patterned wallpaper, the globe chandeliers, the classic red banquettes, and the inimitable photographic images. The menu is classic, too, with hearty entrées like prime rib and tri-tip with baked potatoes, iceberg lettuce salads, omelets, soups, and sandwiches. The bar and booths extend from the entryway, but the Ranchero Room is more private. It has been the site of countless welcome and farewell dinners, association meetings, and other celebratory occasions—all toasted with the other iconic element at Harry’s: a strong cocktail. Cheers!
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Easy Does It
Earlier this year, restaurant industry powerhouse and Montecito resident Sophie McNally began her mission to win the hearts and nourish the souls of busy families through the launch of her new culinary company, KITCHENETTE.
Sophie McNally’s healthy bet on Kitchenette
Kitchenette founder Sophie McNally uses quality ingredients, flash-frozen at peak freshness to preserve taste and nutritional value.
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photographs by Blake Bronstad
Earlier this year, restaurant industry powerhouse and Montecito resident Sophie McNally began her mission to win the hearts and nourish the souls of busy families through the launch of her new culinary company, KITCHENETTE. In an effort to fight food waste, monitor its carbon footprint, and aim for sustainability, Kitchenette delivers tasty gluten-free, nutrition-packed, family-style frozen meals made with high-quality ingredients, ready to heat and enjoy later. The service started with a handful of meal options available for pre-order and recently expanded its seasonal lineup to include a plant-based Buddha bowl and a zero-refined-sugar, date-sweetened chocolate-chip-cookie roll, plus two-portion versions of its family-style meals, as well as separate sides and mains. A convenient gift program is now available, and Kitchenette items have debuted at Santa Barbara’s cool new corner grocery store The Eddy. getkitchenette.com
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Family Values
SAARLOOS + SONS is a family-owned and -operated winery that’s been four generations in the making.
Great wines with a side of sarcasm at Sarloos
Keith Saarloos represents the third generation in the family business.
Written by Hana-Lee Sedgwick | Photographs by Sara Prince
SAARLOOS + SONS is a family-owned and -operated winery that’s been four generations in the making. Their tasting room, which is situated inside a house built in 1886 (now refurbished and coated in sleek black paint), has long been a fixture in the Los Olivos wine scene. “Our tasting room is truly an extension of our living room, a place we get to welcome and host people daily,” says Keith Saarloos, a third-generation steward of the family business. “Our aim has always been to be a place where people can relax, have fun, and experience a sense of ‘nowstalgia,’ which I like to describe as the feeling of being fully present but also having a nostalgic attachment to the moment.” On offer here are estate-grown Rhône and Bordeaux varietals, many of which proudly bear the names and faces of family members. In addition, Saarloos & Sons continues to delight guests with its famous cupcake pairing, part of a long-standing collaboration with local favorite Enjoy Cupcakes. 2971 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, saarloosandsons.com
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Vineyard Hoedown
For Paula Tabalipa, her latest venture, TABALIPA WINE CO., represents a major career shift.
Paula Tabalipa and husband Michael Greenberg toast to the release of her first vintage of rosé.
Written by Caitlin White | Photographs by Renata Amazonas
For Paula Tabalipa, her latest venture, TABALIPA WINE CO., represents a major career shift. The Brazilian wardrobe stylist and costume designer recently moved to the Santa Ynez Valley with her husband, Michael Greenberg. The couple bought a home in Santa Ynez during the pandemic, and, shortly afterward, a historic vineyard down the hill from their house came up for sale. Getting into the wine world seemed to make sense, so the couple acquired the vineyard, and Tabalipa’s company issued its first vintage this summer.
“We wanted people to not only try the wine, but also experience the vineyard and the land.”
Working with local winemaker Dragonette, Tabalipa began to learn the business. She describes her first release as “a pleasure-driven Santa Ynez Valley rosé,” designed for sipping on hot summer days. To get the word out and to convey a sense of the terroir behind the wine, Tabalipa hosted a release party at the couple’s Living Life vineyards. Themed as a hoedown, the event included activities like hayrides, an acoustic set from Donavon Frankenreiter, a rodeo, a hot-air balloon, Santa Maria barbecue, and, of course, plenty of rosé.
“We wanted people to not only try the wine, but also experience the vineyard and the land,” Tabalipa says. “We’re representing the region, so we had Santa Maria barbecue and Finley Farms had a station of incredible tomatoes with burrata and pistachios. We had Lucky Hen’s incredible charcuterie boards. It was almost a farmers’ market setup. It was also a celebration of love, because my husband and I got married this summer in a very small ceremony, but then we decided to throw this party. The launch of the wine was also a celebration of our happily ever after.” tabalipawineco.com
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Toasting a Decade
In its tenth year of welcoming guests to the tasting room at its hilltop Santa Maria Valley estate, PRESQU’ILE WINERY has much to celebrate.
The estate’s 10-year-old tasting facility
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photographs by Heather Daenitz / Craft & Cluster (Picnic, Simon); Courtesy of Presqu'ile Winery (Tasting Facility, Wine & Food)
In its tenth year of welcoming guests to the tasting room at its hilltop Santa Maria Valley estate, PRESQU’ILE WINERY has much to celebrate. Drawing on their Southern hospitality roots, the Murphy family continues to provide spot-on service while keeping the greater good in mind. Presqu’ile’s admirable sustainability efforts, which include its certified organic estate vineyards, have earned the winery the even more rigorous SIP Certified standing. Moreover, Presqu’ile is working toward its goal of being net zero, thanks in part to the estate’s 774-panel solar farm, which produces nearly 500,000 kilowatt-hours per year, an offset equal to the annual energy use of 45 average homes. The estate also includes a one-acre, organic vegetable-and-herb garden, which chef Julie Simon uses for her globally influenced, seasonal menus.
Presqu’ile has expanded its offerings to five different tasting experiences: an Estate Tasting Flight, highlighting new and current-release estate wines; the Wine & Food Experience, featuring a curated tasting flight paired with a mezze picnic; the Estate Horseback Tour & Tasting, a trail ride through the 400-acre property, also culminating with food and wine; and the Wine & Food Tour, a private walk through Presqu’ile’s wine caves and winery, ending with a pondside food-and-wine pairing. For larger groups, there’s Wine & Bocce on a private terrace. 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, presquilewine.com
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Poetic Pours
When sommelier and wine director Hayden Felice was dealt the pandemic hand of a forced career shift, he partnered with friend and fellow wine enthusiast Andrew Fitzgerald to start TRIPPERS & ASKERS wines.
A lineup of Trippers & Askers wines.
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks
Owners Hayden Felice (left) and Andrew Fitzgerald.
When sommelier and wine director Hayden Felice was dealt the pandemic hand of a forced career shift, he partnered with friend and fellow wine enthusiast Andrew Fitzgerald to start TRIPPERS & ASKERS wines. Felice parlayed nearly 20 years of beverage-industry experience—including work in New York with chef Tom Colicchio’s Crafted Hospitality, in Los Angeles for chefs Roy Choi and Ludo Lefebvre, and at Acme Hospitality in Santa Barbara—into 200 cases of wine that would eventually increase to become the duo’s 1,200-case label.
Officially launched in the fall of 2022 with two vintages and six cuvées, Trippers & Askers focuses on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah from organically farmed, sustainable vineyards. The pair’s minimalist approach produces lighter, restrained, mineral-driven wines, all crafted by Felice in a downtown Santa Barbara winery.
The partners’ passion for winemaking is coupled with their collective interest in literature and photography, reflected in their labels and the names of each wine. “Trippers & Askers” is a nod to poet Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself #4.” The cuvée names are inspired by passages in cherished poems, and the label photographs were taken on the owners’ travels.
“The pair’s commitment to the community is evidenced by the label’s donations to 13 different nonprofits within its first year.”
The pair’s commitment to the community is evidenced by the label’s donations to 13 different nonprofits within its first year, and both owners are active on local nonprofit boards: for Felice that is the Santa Barbara School of Squash, which mentors local underserved youth; Fitzgerald serves on the board of CALM, whose mission is to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities throughout Santa Barbara County. trippersandaskers.com
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Ranching Out
Central Coast traditions run deep at ALISAL RANCH, which is set in an oak-studded landscape of rolling hills in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Activities at WILDWONDER include a trail ride.
Written by Joan Tapper | Photographs by Teal Thomsen, Darcy Hemley, Talia Helvey
Central Coast traditions run deep at ALISAL RANCH, which is set in an oak-studded landscape of rolling hills in the Santa Ynez Valley. Founded as a cattle ranch in 1843, the 10,500-acre property was transformed into a luxury working ranch almost 80 years ago. Today, along with the cattle and horses, there’s a determination to add some 21st-century attention toward women’s empowerment and wellness of mind, body, and spirit to the western-flavored hospitality.
It all comes together October 1 through 4 with the experience of WILDWONDER, the latest installment of a women’s retreat that highlights the work of female chefs and winemakers along with yoga at Alisal Lake, trail rides, guided hikes, and other stylish activities, like floral workshops.
Those leading workshops, cooking demonstrations, chef dinners, and wine pairings include Claudette Zepeda, who has focused on regional Mexican and indigenous ingredients in her culinary career and is the woman behind Chispa Hospitality. Mirela Taribo and Tara Gomez, founders of Camins 2 Dreams, will present tastings from their winery, which sources fruit from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Culinary educator and cookbook author Jeanne Kelley will also offer insights and lessons from her newest offering, Vegetarian Salad for Dinner.
For personal growth, participants will enjoy intention setting, meditation sessions, plant walks, and a wreath-making workshop, while the western theme will be carried out with horseback rides, axe throwing, some festive line dancing, and an opportunity to select a Lovely Bird hat and create one’s own signature hatband. Rates: from $820/night single occupancy; $1,240 double. alisalranch.com
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Uncharted Waters
Hallstein is becoming the water of choice in the design and dining world
Hallstein is becoming the water of choice in the design and dining world
Hallstein Water welcomes guests to a lunch at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Los Olivos.
Written by Caitlin White | Photographs by Kim Reierson
What’s the perfect water to serve at a wine tasting? Most sommeliers would say it’s one that doesn’t interfere with the palate’s sense of taste, which puts HALLSTEIN WATER at the top of the list.
Hallstein is sourced from a deep artesian aquifier at the base of the Dachstein Glacier near Obertraun, Austria. The entire Dachstein and Hallstatt-Salzkammergut region is a UNESCO World Heritage site based on its historical significance of prolonged human activity yet unblemished landscape. Plenty of stateside food and drink connoisseurs are beginning to see the appeal of this incredibly pure water, including Santa Barbara retreat San Ysidro Ranch.
The water’s purity is the result of a high pH level, a lack of sodium, a higher than normal amount of dissolved oxygen, low nitrate and carbon content, and a balanced ratio of calcium to magnesium. All these elements contribute to the water’s propensity for cleansing the palate and make it a great pairing for wine tastings.
Among the connoisseurs who understand the appeal of this pure libation are those at Artiste Winery in Los Olivos, which now offers the water along with its own limited-edition wines. One of Hallstein’s founders, Elisabeth Muhr, was in Los Olivos to explain why the product makes a difference when it comes to tasting chef-driven cuisine and fine wines and spirits. Leather-goods designer Kendall Conrad also hosted a lunch at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection, where Muhr and CAP Beauty founder Kerrilynn Pamer discussed the importance of clean drinking water for overall wellness.
It’s still rare to find outlets that carry Hallstein in the states, but that’s another reason it’s a good fit for Artiste—the Los Olivos winemakers don’t sell their vintages to any other outlets or distribute them at all. These wines can only be found within their own tiny California community, and now Hallstein water is available there, too. It’s also available for one-time purchase or subscription through the brand’s website. hallsteinwater.com
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Family Flavor
Seventh-generation Central Coast rancher Elizabeth Poett gathers stories and regional recipes for her debut cookbook.
Seventh-generation Central Coast rancher Elizabeth Poett gathers stories and regional recipes for her debut cookbook
Poett harvests tomatoes from a garden on Rancho San Julian, which has been in her family as a beef operation since 1837.
Written by Keith Hamm | Photographs by B.J. Goolnick
Writing a cookbook, it turns out, is near and dear to the act of cooking itself. Both endeavors demand proper technique to combine just the right amount of ingredients. Good timing is critical, too, whether you’re pulling that brisket off the grill or serving up your writing project for mass consumption. And, of course, there’s presentation. Just ask seventh-generation Santa Barbara County cattle rancher and cooking-show star Elizabeth Poett, author of THE RANCH TABLE: RECIPES FROM A YEAR OF HARVESTS, CELEBRATIONS, AND FAMILY DINNERS ON A HISTORIC CALIFORNIA RANCH. (HarperCollins, $40)
“I want the book to teach people about agriculture and the ranching community and how people have been working on the land for generations.”
About 10 years ago, Poett started sorting the book’s main ingredients, a trove of handed-down family recipes, some handwritten in Spanish by her great-great-grandmother. Around the same time, she began hosting big country lunches centered on fresh local ingredients topped off with ranch tours and talks on the property’s history.
Poett then refined her techniques, from braising to baking to canning, for streaming audiences worldwide with the 2021 debut of the Magnolia Network’s Ranch to Table cooking show. That a full-blown cookbook would come next just made sense.
“I really wanted the book to be an introduction to the ranch and the region,” Poett says, crediting lifelong friend and the book’s co-author Georgia Freedman with “helping me put myself out there.”
“Like the show,” she adds, “I want it to teach people about agriculture and the ranching community here and how people have been working on the land to produce food for generations.”
After a short history of Rancho San Julian—owned by her family since 1837—she writes about ranch life and her cooking and hosting philosophies, then rolls out the recipes by season.
For example, spring includes a Santa Maria–style tri-tip with pico de gallo, a centerpiece of Central Coast barbecues. Summertime grilled peaches are followed by beef empanadas and her great-grandmother’s enchiladas. Fall dinners include veggies harvested from the garden behind the ranch’s 200-year-old casa. Winter favorites include a three-cheese grilled sandwich on sourdough with onion jam, plus Mexican wedding cookies and cowboy brittle. Poett closes with a classic New Year’s standing rib roast and perhaps a Golden State old-fashioned or two.
All said, the book is 320 pages filled with 120 recipes, plus more than 150 color photographs by B.J. Goolnick, who also serves as the director of photography for Ranch to Table, now in its fourth season. Talk about presentation: Goolnick’s eye sweeps from the maple drizzle on a stack of blueberry-yogurt pancakes to generational portraits and candid smiles that will be passed down as surely as those old family recipes.
“Being able to share this history and these recipes, it’s very personal,” Poett says. “It means a lot that my kids have the same flavors in their lives as their great-great-grandparents had. And having this connection to food, to cooking seasonally and cooking for lots of people—I love all those things.” Available at Chaucer's Books.
Lemon Buttermilk Fried Chicken Drizzled with Honey
When I make fried chicken, I brine drumsticks in a mixture that has lots of rosemary and lemon to add a distinctive California flavor, then I drizzle honey on the chicken just before serving. If you’ve never deep-fried anything before, the process might seem intimidating, but once you try it, you’ll see that it’s very straightforward. The trick for me is to get my cooking station organized before I start: I prepare my flour mixture and pour my buttermilk in a bowl and set them on the counter next to the stove, and I have tongs and a potholder or oven mitts nearby. That way, when I start frying, I won’t have to walk away from the stove or go looking for something; I can just focus on cooking.
From The Ranch Table by Elizabeth Poett. Copyright © 2023 by Elizabeth Poett. Reprinted by permission of Magnolia Publications/William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
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Leisurely Vibes
Once a quiet Western town, Los Olivos today is a wine destination worthy of more than just a day trip.
Once a quiet Western town, Los Olivos today is a wine destination
worthy of more than just a day trip
Written by Hana-Lee Sedgwick | Photographs by Sara Prince
“Wine is all about slowing down and sharing the experience, so the tasting room needed to be relaxed.”
Driven by the belief that all great wine starts in the vineyard, LIQUID FARM is dedicated to producing terroir-driven Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that express the uniqueness of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Contemporary details and botanical accents highlight the tasting room, creating a casually alluring environment that owner Jeff Nelson explains was intentional: “Wine is all about slowing down and sharing the experience, so the tasting room needed to be relaxed—from the style of the décor to the eclectic seating arrangements that allow people to converse with other guests.” Following a tasting, be sure to browse the collection of culinary items and housewares, which Nelson regards as “natural extensions” of the food and wine lifestyle. Keep an eye out for new additions in the mercantile, including a line of furnishings, in the coming months. 2445 Alamo Pintado Ave., Ste. 101, Los Olivos, liquidfarm.com
Directly across the street, STOLPMAN VINEYARDS’ spirited tasting room consistently draws wine enthusiasts seeking to sample estate-grown wines from the Stolpman family’s Ballard Canyon vineyard. In addition to classic Syrah and Rhône wines, the family offers a range of refreshing, chillable reds and pét-nats as part of their So Fresh label developed by Pete Stolpman and his wife, Jessica. Sip and savor a flight from either brand in the convivial setting of the tasting room, complete with a dog-friendly patio, enclosed with a charming white picket fence. 2434 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos, stolpmanvineyards.com
In their quest to venture into the culinary realm, longtime friends Randy Spendlove and Jennifer Wood discovered the perfect location to launch OLIVE + LAVENDER FARMS late last fall. Located at the former stagecoach stop at Lansing’s Crossing, just outside of downtown, the picturesque property—home to idyllic lavender fields and more than 100 olive trees—blends nature’s splendor with local flavor and a laid-back ambience. Here you can enjoy complimentary samples of estate-grown and locally sourced olive oils and artisanal vinegars, then stay to play a game of cornhole, indulge in a bring-your-own picnic, or wander around the dog- and kid-friendly farm. “Randy and I find great joy in curating an environment where people can immerse themselves in the property, savor our olive oils, enjoy a leisurely picnic, and simply unwind,” says Wood. “We’re thrilled to fuse our passion for food, music, family, and friends, and welcome people to experience our magical slice of Los Olivos.” 2450 Alamo Pintado Rd., Los Olivos, oliveandlavenderfarms.com
In downtown Los Olivos, BLAIR FOX CELLARS offers friendly vibes and quality wine bottlings. Pay a visit to the tastefully rustic-modern space to sip handcrafted Rhône varietals and blends from owner and winemaker Blair Fox. A Santa Barbara native, Fox, along with his wife, Sarah, can often be found personally pouring wines for visitors, a testament to the couple’s commitment to providing an authentic experience. “We’re an ultra-boutique family winery, so everything we do is a reflection of us,” he says. “Our goal was to cultivate a space that mimics the rustic, laid-back vibe of the Santa Ynez Valley. So once you step through the door it feels approachable and inviting rather than intimidating or pretentious—a place where you know you’ll have fun, taste good wine, and be treated like family.” 2477 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos, blairfoxcellars.com
ONE TO WATCH
Family-owned DONNACHADH is set to unveil its inaugural tasting room this fall. Housed within a spacious, newly constructed building in Los Olivos, the tasting room will provide an ideal setting in which to sample the brand’s organically farmed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Gamay Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, each noted for its expressive minerality and depth of character. donnachadh.com
“The space is comfortable and casual, like going to a friend’s house.”
When the pangs of hunger call, the newly unveiled MARGERUM offers a delicious reprieve. The space is charmingly quaint, stocking an array of wines crafted by owner and winemaker Doug Margerum that span his eponymous Rhône-focused label and the Burgundian varietals of his second label, Barden. Along with the wine, a medley of intriguing food pairings will delight the palate. Expect quintessential wine-tasting accompaniments, like cheese and charcuterie, as well as more unconventional offerings inspired by Margerum’s frequent travels to Japan, such as sushi-centered bento boxes featuring bites of tender unagi sashimi, bluefin tuna with avocado and shiso leaf, and Dungeness crab with fragrant vanilla-bean sauce. Also noteworthy are Kumamoto oysters, perfectly paired with a glass of bubbly Barden Blanc de Blancs. 2446 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos, margerumwines.com
FOUR BROTHERS WINE CO. is a thriving hub of activity where wine, community, and curated events intersect. Born from a home grape-growing and winemaking hobby, owner Chris Blasman and his three brothers have created a flourishing boutique brand dedicated to making Rhône varietal wines, as well as limited quantities of Pinot Noir, from vineyards throughout Santa Barbara County. Additionally, Four Brothers often hosts a diverse lineup of events, from art shows and live musical performances to comedy and trivia nights, drawing a steady stream of people to its rustic tasting room and spacious outdoor patio. 2935 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, fourbrotherswine.com
BEYOND THE GRAPE
Winemaker Jessica Gasca may be best known for producing nuanced single-varietal and single-vineyard wines for her label, Story of Soil, but her creativity expands beyond grapes with the recent launch of GOODS LOS OLIVOS. Situated inside a towering structure outside her tasting room, the small boutique is filled with local, eco-friendly goods curated for thoughtful living, from candles and jewelry to throw blankets and books. 2902 San Marcos Ave., Los Olivos, storyofsoilwine.com
Extend your visit into a weekend getaway at the FESS PARKER WINE COUNTRY INN, located in the heart of town. Since its acquisition by the late Fess Parker in 1998, the inn has become a cherished retreat for travelers looking for a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Recently the inn unveiled a contemporary refresh that was guided by the vision of designer Oliva Villaluz. Now all 19 rooms and suites boast an elegant look and feel, with hardwood floors, wrought-iron four-poster beds, cozy in-room fireplaces, and a sophisticated country-chic aesthetic that enhances the inn’s appeal. “We wanted the rooms to be someplace you look forward to returning to after a day of wine tasting and exploring the Santa Ynez Valley,” says proprietor Ashley Parker Snider. “We hope our guests leave feeling rested and inspired by the beauty of the valley, the wines, and our little inn.” Complementing a stay are enticing amenities like a heated pool and gym, a boutique, and the on-site restaurant, Nella Kitchen & Bar, which has a loyal fan base for its perfectly topped pinsas and mouthwatering Italian fare. 2860 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, fessparker.com/inns-and-cabins
SAARLOOS + SONS is a family-owned and -operated winery that’s been four generations in the making. Their tasting room, which is situated inside a house built in 1886 (now refurbished and coated in sleek black paint), has long been a fixture in the Los Olivos wine scene. “Our tasting room is truly an extension of our living room, a place we get to welcome and host people daily,” says Keith Saarloos, a third-generation steward of the family business. “Our aim has always been to be a place where people can relax, have fun, and experience a sense of ‘nowstalgia,’ which I like to describe as the feeling of being fully present but also having a nostalgic attachment to the moment.” On offer here are estate-grown Rhône and Bordeaux varietals, many of which proudly bear the names and faces of family members. In addition, Saarloos & Sons continues to delight guests with its famous cupcake pairing, part of a long-standing collaboration with local favorite Enjoy Cupcakes. 2971 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, saarloosandsons.com
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An Afternoon of Garden Delights
Lotusland Acknowledges Three Decades of Horticultural Achievement.
Lotusland Acknowledges Three Decades of Horticultural Achievement
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography by Elizabeth Messina and Isaac Hernandez
It was truly a celebration of “Where the Wild Things Grow” on Saturday, July 22, when Ganna Walska Lotusland opened its grounds to patrons of its annual fundraising gala, sponsored by Nora McNeely Hurley and Michael Hurley, in memory of Marjorie Reeds McNeely, with co-chairs Joseph Marek, Ashley Adelson, Caroline Thompson, and Merryl Brown. This year the always glittering and sold-out event not only marked the 30th anniversary of public access to the world-renowned garden but also paid homage to the living collection of rare and endangered plant species on the property.
Guests began their afternoon with a stroll through the gardens, pausing along the way to strike a pose for photographer Kim Reierson, listen to the sounds of Tingsha in the Japanese Garden, marvel at Eros Biox of LA Stilt Circus, enjoy a tarot card reading by Mary Wessely, and choose seeds from the plant collection to take home.
There were botanical elixirs to sip, cocktails by The Flair Project, wine by Presqu’ile Winery, and hors d’oeuvres by Duo Catering, which also provided the gourmet al fresco dinner, with wine pairings by Antica Terra, on the Great Lawn.
After dinner, guest auctioneer Geoff Green, of the Foundation for City College—with special appearances by James Brayton Hall of the Garden Conservancy and August Bernstein of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel—led spirited bidding for six spectacular items, Among the prizes were a VIP Las Vegas Experience with Katy Perry, a one-of-a-kind jeweled pendant from Silverhorn, and an opportunity to design your own garden pergola or greenhouse with acclaimed architecture firm Shubin Donaldson.
Of course, there were other treasures growing all around, an ongoing botanical tribute to the vision and generosity of the garden’s founder, Ganna Walska herself.
Family Hours
When envisioning a sophisticated members-only club, teepee-filled playrooms and applesauce happy.
Written by Danielle Torres | Photographs by Blake Bronstad
When envisioning a sophisticated members-only club, teepee-filled playrooms and applesauce happy hours are probably not top of mind. But for Santa Barbara–based entrepreneur Erin Kanaley, the concept is one and the same. After countless less-than-relaxing outings with her young twin boys, Kanaley sought to create a space where parents can unwind and kids are free to play and explore. The result is bungalo805, Santa Barbara’s new private gathering space, which offers everything from a stylish café and bar to a media room, play pen, kitchen, and art lab. Rotating pop-in classes offer a broad range of activities, spanning family cooking workshops, music courses, fitness workouts, language lessons, storytelling, and much more. Chair massages and chiropractic adjustments are also on the menu. Kanaley sums up the concept best: “It is great for coworking, arts and crafts with your littles, a glass of wine and snack, pop-in classes, or chilling in the Boobie Lounge while cleaning your jewelry and snagging a foot massage.” Clearly, something for everyone. 28 W. Figueroa St., Santa Barbara, bungalo805.com
Clockwise from top: The Play Pen keeps young ones happily corralled; nursing parents can enjoy stylish comfort in The Boobie Lounge; a glass of wine is the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon of play; The Media Room provides entertainment for all.
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Not Just Red
When it comes to flowers, the rose always takes first place. Having one named in your honor is an accolade reserved for the lucky few.
The view from Rose Story Farm.
Written by Lorie Dewhirst Porter
When it comes to flowers, the rose always takes first place. Having one named in your honor is an accolade reserved for the lucky few. (Julia Child’s rose is butter yellow and reportedly smells like licorice.) THE COLOR OF ROSES (Ten Speed Press, $35) celebrates the queen of flowers in glorious detail. Written by Danielle Dall’Armi Hahn, a Great Rosarian of the World, and chockablock with photos by Victoria Pearson, the new book is a delightful compendium of 300 varieties organized by color.
For more than 20 years, Hahn has helmed Rose Story Farm in Carpinteria. Her book focuses primarily on roses hybridized after 1867 and offers invaluable advice about planning a rose garden and choosing varieties. The lush photographs are left unretouched on purpose, enabling readers to see the blooms as they actually exist in nature. As Hahn says, “Perfection has no place in a garden.” Available at Chaucer’s Books.
Reprinted with permission from The Color of Roses by Danielle Dall’Armi Hahn, copyright © 2023. Photographs copyright © 2023 Victoria Pearson. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.
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Color Forms
When Lissa Zwahlen needed space where she could create, she found it in Montecito.
Written by Elizabeth Varnell | Photographs by Sara Prince
When Lissa Zwahlen needed space where she could create, she found it in Montecito. Now the always inventive AQUARIUS COCKTAIL designer has shaped her 300-square-foot workroom into a boutique, complete with garments in the bold hues that define her unique women’s collections.
Along the coral-colored wall behind her worktable are racks of her latest introductions, including voluminous striped tops with ribbons, taffeta skirts, and tunics, alongside essentials such as her washed-silk T-shirts, pants, and skirts. There are also reworked vintage pieces like polos with brocade puff sleeves and army pants with tuxedo stripes. A midcentury Heywood-Wakefield dresser, an aluminum coatrack, acid yellow shelves, and bamboo chairs round out the space where the designer—a force behind Roxy, with a long career creating for Quiksilver, Gotcha, and other California brands—spends her days dreaming up the small-run designs made in downtown Los Angeles. 1152-2 Coast Village Rd., Montecito; open Friday through Monday, appointments suggested: info@aquariuscocktail.com, aqcclothing.com