805 Living October 2022

Source: Forbes.com (April 2022). Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC and are not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors pay a fee to Forbes or SHOOK Research in exchange for the ranking. For more information, see www.SHOOKresearch.com.

Source: Barrons.com (March 2022). Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State as identified by Barron’s magazine, using quantitative and qualitative criteria and selected from a pool of over 4,000 nominations. Advisors in the Top 1,200 Financial Advisors list have a minimum of seven years of financial services experience. Qualitative factors include, but are not limited to, compliance record and philanthropic work. Investment performance is not a criterion. The rating may not be representative of any one client’s experience and is not indicative of the financial advisor’s future performance. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors pays a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the rating. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow representative of any one client’s for the ranking. For more Barrons.com (March 2022). 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State and qualitative criteria and selected from a pool of over 4,000 1,200 Financial Advisors list have a minimum of seven years of financial services experience. Qualitative factors include, but are not limited to, compliance record and philanthropic work. Investment performance is not a criterion. The rating may not be representative of any one client’s experience and is not indicative of the financial advisor’s future performance. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors pays a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the rating. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved.

Source: Barrons.com (March 2022). Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State as identified by Barron’s magazine, using quantitative and qualitative criteria and selected from a pool of over 4,000 nominations. Advisors in the Top 1,200 Financial Advisors list have a minimum of seven years of financial services experience. Qualitative factors include, but are not limited to, compliance record and philanthropic work. Investment performance is not a criterion. The rating may not be representative of any one client’s experience and is not indicative of the financial advisor’s future performance. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors pays a fee to in for the rating. is & Company, L.P. All rights reserved. 4748735

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. SIPC. CRC 4748735 05/22 (April on in-person, a fee to Forbes or SHOOK Research in exchange for the ranking. For more information, see www.SHOOKresearch.com.

Features

OCTOBER 2022 • ARTS & CULTURE

PERSONAL PASSIONS, PUBLIC DELIGHTS interests give rise to three museum gems

By Joan Tapper

Photographer Neal Barr creates drama in an image of model Susan Forristal wearing a Bill Blass dress for the April 1974 issue of Harper’s Bazaar. For more about Barr’s life’s work, turn to page 68.

A LIFE IN FASHION Barr’s career behind the camera captured the decades with style

By Joan Tapper

Photographs from The Neal Barr Archive

Photographs by Gary Moss

Departments

Pulse

33 Tracking the Beat of the 805

By Erin Rottman

Finds

39 A Little Rusty

Rich, earth-hued wares set the scene for warmth and comfort this fall.

By Jennie Nunn

42 STYLE: Loafing Around Slip into this season’s new takes on the preppy classic.

By Frances Ryan

46 TRAVEL

By Erin Rottman

58 Events In & Around the 805

By Heidi Dvorak

Arts & Culture

60 Beyond the Ivory Tower

Cool classes inspire students to follow life passions or explore unfamiliar careers.

By Joan Tapper

Upgrades

65 Rock-solid Style   Add an air of strength and enduring quality to home decor with elements made of stone.

By Frances Ryan

86 FOOD: Enhancing the Biscuit

Three Central Coast chefs update the fluffy, flaky favorite with lively flavors.

By Jaime Lewis

90 BEER: Falling for Coffee Brews

Central Coast brewers partner with their favorite roasters to produce an autumn tradition.

By Gabe Saglie

92 DINING OUT

What’s new on the local restaurant scene.

By Nancy Ransohoff Where to Eat Now Sketchpad Pumpkin Spice Culturati

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Luxury Living

Bespoke furnishings customized for you.

TSG Interior Design loves the creative process, collaborating with clients and coordinating many of the little details one never thought existed. We believe the “sofa” is the heart of a room , and we put our heart into everything we do. Make an appointment to visit us soon. We’ll keep the candy bowl full.

“Start with a Sofa ...end with a room”

The Sofa Guy and its TSG interior design team design and build custom furniture (pictured above) and source unique pieces including lighting, rugs, and accessories to deliver the ultimate living spaces.

Editor’s

Life is Art? Art is Life? The Answer Is: Yes

WHEN JOAN TAPPER AND I VISITED the home of Neal Barr, one of America’s elite fashion photographers, he showed us hundreds of photos he’d taken over the course of his epic career. Narrating his journey with the help of his images and his thorough knowledge of and fondness for the fashions of the 1920s, Barr became our bridge to this stylish and visually stunning history. To do the meeting justice, I’d need a lot more space than I have here, but it was an experience I won’t forget. And fortunately, Joan’s story, “A Life in Fashion,” on page 68, takes a more thorough look at the man. I am honored to feature Barr’s extraordinary work on our cover and in that special feature.

Barr is part of the rich vein of creative and artistic devotion that runs deep and wide throughout the Central Coast. We tap that vein for each issue, but every October we concentrate on the local arts and culture scene. Over the years, it seems to me, that many of the stories we’ve run under the “art” umbrella have had topics that overlap with activities from daily life.

In fact, Joan worked extra hard this month to spotlight this sort of development. In “Personal Passions, Public Delights” on page 78, she describes three unique collections—French automobiles, historical figures, and antique natural history art—that are on exhibit at local museums. The themes of these exhibits became fascinations for three individuals, and the range and eclecticism to be found within the resulting collections is quite remarkable and demonstrates the many facets that can illuminate a single subject.

If that weren’t enough, Joan also wrote about some ambitious, forward-thinking classes that young people are able to explore in Central Coast schools in this month’s Arts & Culture department on page 60. Put simply, getting hands-on experience in food service, animal medicine, home construction, and filmmaking before graduating from high school may help students have a clearer idea of what to expect along these career paths.

Whether they’re working with cars, biscuits, beer, or shoes, someone around here is looking at such everyday objects with fresh eyes, preparing to reveal a different perspective to the world. Of course, art needn’t always be collected and exhibited for us to appreciate it. The natural beauty of the 805 surrounds us every day—and it’s certainly as pretty as a picture.

Enjoy it now—the holidays approach! In just a month, we’ll be back with both our salute to Thanksgiving and our annual Giving Back issue, full of artistic, philanthropic, practical, and especially flavorful ideas.

Lynne Andujar Editor in Chief & Publisher edit@805living.com

Putting your values to work for you

Everything we do revolves around you. In fact, we’re committed to advancing equality, celebrating diversity, and doing all we can to shape a more connected world. With your values and our experience, we can create a holistic plan that’s uniquely positioned for your success.

Scott P. Hansen

Senior Vice President, Regional Managing Director 805-777-8375 • scott.p.hansen@wellsfargo.com

Let’s connect

Wells Fargo Wealth Management 2829 Townsgate Rd., Fl. 2, Westlake Village, CA 91361 805-777-8375

Wells Fargo Wealth Management 118 E. Carrillo St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-564-2876 wellsfargoprivatebank.com

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Works that inspire walls

EDITOR IN CHIEF, PUBLISHER, & CEO Lynne Andujar edit@805living.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bernard Scharf

DESIGNER Sophie Patenaude

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Heidi Dvorak, Jennie Nunn (Shopping), Erin Rottman (Travel), Frances Ryan (Fashion, Interior Design)

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR

Greg Clarke

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Gary Moss

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kathy Tomlinson

PHOTO EDITOR Gary Moss photo@805living.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Victoria Woodard Harvey, Jaime Lewis, Nancy Ransohoff, Gabe Saglie, Joan Tapper

RESEARCH EDITOR

Tajinder Rehal

CONSULTING EDITOR

Anthony Head

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Jennifer S. Vogelbach

Fashion, fine jewelry, home furnishings and design, insurance, mortgage, real estate jennifer@805living.com, 818-427-3496

ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Diane Dreyer

Santa Barbara County wineries diane@805living.com, 818-879-3951

Amra Neal

Architects, attorneys, automotive, beauty, dining, education, entertainment, financial/banking, fitness, food and beverage, health, home builders, landscape, nonprofit organizations, senior living, travel amra@805living.com, 310-924-2631

ALL OTHER ADVERTISING QUERIES jennifer@805living.com , 818-427-3496

ADVERTISING DESIGN & PRODUCTION Sophie Patenaude, sophie@805living.com

OPERATIONS MANAGER Carmen Juarez-Leiva

ACCOUNTING Lori Kantor, lori@805living.com

805 Living is published 10 times a year and is a property of 3Digit Media, LLC. 3717 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village, CA 91362

© 2022 3Digit Media, LLC. All rights reserved. 805 Living is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.

805 Living content may not be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopy, without the express written permission of the publisher. 805 Living is not responsible for loss of or damage to unsolicited manuscripts, unsolicited artwork, or any other unsolicited material. Unsolicited material will not be returned. 3Digit Media, LLC, and its affiliates, contributors, writers, editors, and publisher accept no responsibility for errors or omissions with information and/or advertisements contained herein. 3Digit Media’s liability in the event of an error is limited to a printed correction. 3Digit Media does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein and assumes no responsibility for claims made by the advertisers.

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Your domestic subscription includes 10 issues of 805 Living for $25.95. If you have a question about your subscription write to Circulation Department, 805 Living, 3717 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village, CA 91362; or reach us via email at circulation@805living.com.

Welcome to Village at the Park’s highly sought after 4,094 sq. ft. Plan 2 in the Kensington Court development. Unique Craftsman design finishes include overhanging eaves, heavy, tapered columns, and a covered front porch. Largest model in the entire development, designed with a loft area upstairs and retreat off master bedroom. Built in 2007 with 4BR + 3.5BA (Master + Jack & Jill BR upstairs, one BR down)+expanded family room with fireplace. Location is key in a neighborhood and here it is! Private Corner Lot in Village at the Park that Everyone wants. The entryway with hardwood flooring draws you into a layout perfect for entertaining. Soaring ceilings, wide rich wood plank flooring, warm neutral tones & plantation shutters are found throughout the entire house. The first floor is highlighted with generous living spaces, two fireplaces, and a downstairs ensuite bedroom & separate guest powder room. Formal dining room with fireplace adjacent to butler’s pantry. The gourmet chef’s kitchen has stainless appliances, an oversized center island with utility sink, 6 burner stove, commercial vent, granite counter-tops, and walk-in pantry. This spacious kitchen is perfectly situated open to the huge eat in-in area and extended length grand family room with fireplace & custom built-in bookcases. High ceilings with plenty of windows which allows for plenty of natural lighting. Impressive staircase leads to a large loft ideal for a media room or home office. Upstairs you’ll also find large laundry room with soaking sink, 3 ensuite bedrooms plus a grand master suite with fireplace, sitting room & spacious master bath highly upgraded with dual vanities, soaking tub, separate shower, and an incredible walk-in closet. Every detail has been considered, with plantation shutters. and recessed lighting. This property sits on one of the largest corner lots in the community and features a lovely, oversized patio area providing a wonderful outdoor living experience. Low maintenance exterior features delightful vistas from every side. There is a side courtyard. Village at the Park Community amenities include two resort-like pools and spas, parks, sport courts, playground, YMCA, fitness center, bike/ walking paths, shops, and RV parking. Conveniently located close to Metrolink station and the 101 for quick access to Conejo Valley, Thousand Oaks and Los Angeles. Where can you find a newer, luxury home with over 4,000 SF in a great community with this temperate climate?

Beautiful equestrian property located on 1.13 acres graced with giant redwood and corral trees located at the end of a cul-de-sac. This two-story dream equestrian estate home, reminiscent of a French Country estate, features an upgraded kitchen which includes a center island and breakfast bar. Large family room off kitchen with fireplace, exposed beam ceilings and wet bar. Step down living room features vaulted ceiling and fireplace. Formal dining room with views of the garden and arena. Downstairs guest bedroom and full bath. Indoor laundry room. Three car garage. Beautiful wood staircase leads to a huge master bedroom with exposed beam ceiling, fireplace, his and her walk-in closets, large master bathroom with separate toilet and shower. Bedroom French doors open to balcony with gorgeous view of property. Three bedrooms and two baths upstairs. Shaded landscaped lawn and fruit trees. Serene fenced-in vegetable garden. Leaf Filter gutter protection system. Equestrian facilities include 6 stall barn and enclosed tack and feed room. Stalls and barn aisle fully matted. Separate foaling stall. Round pen. Wash rack. Riding arena (approx. 140’ x 90’), felt-sand mix and irrigation. Arena graded for quick drainage. Shed at back of barn for additional storage. Driveway access to back of barn for ease of vet, hay deliveries, etc. Easy pull through trailer parking. Access to miles and miles of riding trails directly from the property. 5-minute drive to Santa Rosa Equestrian Park in Hill Canyon and many more miles of trails. Great location with quick access to 23/118 Freeway, 101 freeway and the Metrolink Station in Moorpark. Award winning Santa Rosa Technology Magnet school district. REDUCED TO ONLY $1,785,000!!

by the California Legislative Woman's Caucus, awarded by the California Senate and Assembly

Affiliated are Coldwell Banker. All Rights Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised by of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC Coldwell supports the Housing Act and

“There’s always more than one book by my bedside,” says Jaime Lewis (Taste/ Food, page 86). “For fiction, it’s Circe by Madeline Miller. For nonfiction, I’m on a real Pema Chödrön streak; right now, it’s When Things Fall Apart.”

“I’m currently reading Stanley Booth’s The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones, a fascinating docu ment of his time with the band in 1969, culminating in the tragic concert at Altamont,” says contributing illustrator Greg Clarke (P.S. Sketchpad, page 104).

Tajinder Rehal

“I just finished reading Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena,” says research editor Tajinder Rehal. “It’s a family drama/murder mystery that was a much-needed escape from the drama in the real world. Once I got threefourths of the way in, I had to stay up late into the night to find out who had done it.”

Steve what a of

Jaime Lewis

Greg Clarke

Behind the Scenes

—Greg Finefrock ( Dining Out , page 92) founder Finney’s Crafthouse Westlake Village finneyscrafthouse.com OWEN DUNCAN; BROWN: BRIAN ANDERSON

We asked some of our featured experts to tell us what book awaits them on their nightstand. These are the writings they’re engrossed in.

“ The Road from the Past: Traveling Through History in France by Ina Caro.”

—Linda Miller (“Personal Passions, Public Delights,” page 78) curator Maximus Gallery Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History sbnature.org

“I am reading Renegade Marketing: 12 Steps to Building Unbeatable B2B Brands by Drew Neisser, because we are planning a Pasolivo store in Orange County.”

—Lorrie Brown ( Taste/Food , page 86) Pasolivo recipe developer Pasolivo Paso Robles pasolivo.com

“Barbara Feldon’s Getting Smarter, A Memoir.”

—Neal Barr (“A Life in Fashion,” page 68) retired fashion photographer, author Camarillo nealbarr.com

“ Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. Great leaders sacrifice their interests for the good of those in their care.”

P ulse

TRACKING THE BEAT OF THE 805

B y E rin Rottman

NEW WAYS TO BUY TIME

Polacheck’s Jewelers (polachecks.com) has expanded, opening a Rolex shop on one side of its current store at the Commons at Calabasas and a Patek Philippe shop on the other side. “The watch craze really started about 20 years ago and has not let up,” says company president Brent Polacheck. “It’s the first purchase for >

In Polacheck’s Jewelers’ new Rolex showroom—one of only 30 in the U.S.—Brent Polacheck stands flanked by timepiece displays beneath a chandelier reminiscent of the brand’s Jubilee watch bracelet.

CREATIVITY IN HAND

Instead of a standard bow, consider a twine-wrapped river rock to top a special gift. Or use pigment extracted from wildflowers to paint a notecard. The new creativity workshops at Soolip (soolip.com), the luxury paper boutique in Westlake Village, cover techniques like these along with classic calligraphy and making jewelry from wax castings.

somebody who really wants to buy themselves something of quality, especially a man. I feel like they buy a watch before a nice car.”

The airy, cream and beige Patek Philippe space displays the luxury watchmaker’s latest timepieces in bird’s-eye maple showcases. The den-like Rolex shop, decorated with dark wood accents and leather club chairs, has a private selling room behind the main floor and a fully stocked bar.

“We really are going after a private environment for our VIPs,” Polacheck says, adding that the stores are a testament to the area. “It’s a true honor for our little town in Calabasas. A store like this you would see on Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive.”

—Erin Rottman

Soolip cofounder Wanda Wen hopes the art-driven experiences will not only teach people how to create beautiful things but also encourage them to access creative offerings in their own communities. “Creativity connects one to themselves, which is so important right now,” she says. “It keeps people rooted and centered. It also keeps you fresh and alive and thinking outside the box.” Workshops are scheduled to run through the fall and again in the spring —E.R.

(Buy Time continued)

Polacheck dons a glove to retrieve a Patek Philippe watch for examination. The latest Rolex models (top) glow from within showcases at their adjacent boutique.

New workshops at Soolip in Westlake Village teach artistic skills, like calligraphy and creative gift-wrapping. THOMAS POWERS; RIGHT GROUPING: COURTESY OF SOOLIP; BOTTOM: GARY MOSS

For more than 25 years, Renaissance Fine Consignment has been a lavish women’s shopping destination, offering accessible highend designer labels at affordable prices. Discover the richness Santa Barbara has to offer at Renaissance Fine Consignment in La Arcada Plaza.

1118 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101

NEW FLIGHTS IN THE FUNK ZONE

Fess Parker Winery (fessparker.com) has expanded into The Funk Zone. The new tasting room in Santa Barbara’s buzzy and eclectic beachside hot spot features flights from the brand’s various projects, including Fess Parker’s own pinot noirs, Epiphany Cellars’ Rhône wines, and the Fesstivity label’s bubblies. Wines are also available by the glass and bottle.

“We’re excited to introduce Fess Parker Winery to a new demographic of wine drinkers in The Funk Zone,” says Ashley Parker-Snider, co-owner of the multigenerational wine brand launched by her father and former Walt Disney television icon, Fess Parker, in Los Olivos in 1989. “We’re looking forward to connecting with Santa Barbara locals and visitors who may not make it over the hill to wine country.”

Fess Parker Funk Zone revamped the space on the corner of Yanonali Street and Gray Avenue formerly occupied by Pali Wine Co. The focal point is a steel-and-tin tasting bar topped with walnut butcher block. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide natural light, and an outdoor patio offers plenty of seating. The late actor who brought Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett to life for a generation would likely be pleased that his wines continue to be an equally important part of his legacy.

—Gabe Saglie

FIT-FOR-YOU FURNISHINGS

Perhaps the launch of a new custom furniture line by Rio Barrett should come as no surprise. The owner of House of Rio Design Co. (houseofrio.com), a fullservice interior design and building firm with a retail shop in Ventura, Barrett is a third-generation interior designer. “It’s just in my blood to design,” she says.

The inspiration for Barrett’s new venture came from her desire to enhance the process of finding the perfect sofa. The new line, which became available last month, includes sofas, sectionals, upholstered ottomans, accent chairs, swivel chairs, and custom beds. Customers choose the style, size, filling type, and fabric from 60 offerings including kid- and pet-friendly options, giving them “the ability to build furniture that fits their space and lifestyle,” says Barrett.

Handmade in Los Angeles, the furnishings will be delivered to clients’ homes within six weeks and can be shipped nationwide. —Nancy Ransohoff

Furnishings and artwork from a new line by Rio Barrett (above), owner of House of Rio Design Co., create a custom look for a living room setting (right).

Enjoy Fess Parker wines by the flight, glass, or bottle at the company’s new indoor/outdoor tasting room in downtown Santa Barbara.

BREWS VIE FOR VALIDATION

At the epicenter of the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara is Validation Ale (validationale.com), a new brewery concept launched by owners Brian and Briana Deignan. Delivering choice, voice, and creativity, ale house–style, the model is unlike any other. The public is invited to submit original recipes, which are produced on-site by head brewer Ryan Hensley. With each frictionless order via QR code, customers determine, over time, the best beers within five categories, while new challengers rise to compete for “validation,” the coveted top rank.

“A big part of what we do is expand the palate, as with wine,” says Brian Deignan, a long-time home brewer who, like participating novice and professional brewers from the community, values experimentation and the resultant thrill of sharing a tall, tasty cold one.

The spacious, sleek interior has an arched wooden ceiling, big-screen TVs, and panoramic windows. A menu of bar bites from the independent kitchen of Kaity Dean and Matt Marsit features: Totchos (crispy fried potato cylinders smothered in beer queso with toppings); ribs; salmon; lobster rolls; and crispy wings in house-made buffalo or mango-habanero sauce; fresh salads; and Validated Burgers, made with Wagyu beef or Impossible “meat,” cooked in the classic style or smashed, and served on a brioche bun. 

—Victoria Woodard Harvey

Arranged beneath a cool wooden ceiling with rounded corners, guest seating at Validation Ale looks onto brewing vats where competitors’ recipes are made.

Celebrating Harvest in Paso Robles

Dine

Wine harvest season in Paso Robles is like Christmas and Fourth of July wrapped into one and is by far one of the best times to visit. Located midway between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, harvest is a weeks-long celebration of the bounties of the region.

The days and nights are long with round-the-clock grape picking, pressing, and barrel ing, but despite the workload, it remains an electric and fun-filled event for the entire community and visitors alike. It’s a time when people from all walks of life, from all around the globe converge upon this iconic wine region to take part, from foot-stomping grapes to simply raising a glass to toast the new vintage. Here’s your insider’s guide on the best ways to experience harvest in Paso Robles.

Paso Robles is a region described as bountiful beyond grapes. Often inspired by the incredible Rhône and Bordeaux varietals grown in the area, these restau rants will truly showcase every touch point of harvest from field to fork to glass.

One of the most sought-after dining experiences in Paso, Thomas Hill Organics, specializes in serving creative, organic cuisine and unique local wines. Featuring an evolving menu, this mainstay right in downtown Paso Robles is perfect for brunch and a start to your day. After wine tasting at L’Aventure, stop at Les Petites Canailles, where the winemaker’s son and the butcher’s daughter have created a most inspired restaurant featuring an elevated and eclectic menu perfect for the most curious eater looking for a surprise. With a menu developed through a French lens with an affinity toward specialty butcher-cut steaks, Les Petites Canailles will impress even the most adventurous diner.

A casual Baja and Sonora-style Mexican menu featuring wood-grilled seafood and carne asada, Finca is located in the historic farmhouse of the Old Hometown Nursery and anchors the Paso Ro bles Market Walk. If you’re looking for an elevated experience in Mexican flavors, try the oak-grilled octopus, ceviche, and a smooth finish to your meal with the moon milk flan.

Wine tasting all day, and ready to kick it into high gear? Perhaps dinner at In Bloom is in order, where the shared plates, ever-changing menu, and new cocktail menu were designed just for this season’s harvest. Bonus—each cocktail pays tribute to great songs—perfect inspiration for creating your own harvest playlist.

Paso Robles’ harvest season marks the perfect blend of warm California sunny days with cool evenings, and after a long day of touring and winding around the vineyards, a steak is just what the doctor ordered. One of Paso’s newest restaurants is Hemmingway Steakhouse, a 1920s-styled epicurean experience featuring the finest cuts of meat including American Wagyu, wild game, and locally grown USDA Prime beef. Come for the steak and stay for a dance in the 300-person ballroom!

ExperienceWhile many visit the Paso Robles area for the casual luxury, dining, and wine tasting, there is an opportu nity to get your hands dirty, too. Check out Farm stead Ed’s Farm Trail where you can go behind the scenes of local farms through unique activities, tours, workshops, and experiences. Learn to make soap, feed baby goats, and get to know a farmer who cares. October is Harvest Wine Month. As winemakers harvest the grapes in the field, many also host winery events specific to this time of year and offer wine enthusiasts unique experiences. Enjoy grape stomps, VIP dinners, behind-the-scenes specialty tours, music events, and more. October traditionally has excep tional weather, when days are warm and nights are cool, a staple for Paso Robles Wine Country and a perfect time to take in the incredible colors, sights, and aromas of harvest. Check in with your favorite winery in advance to book experiences.

Stay

Paso Robles offers an array of lodging options, whether you’re looking for luxury or casual comfort. Family-owned and -operated, the Adelaide Inn is one of the region’s best-kept secrets. The charm ing hotel offers a perfect location to stay during a busy wine-tasting schedule, complete with a pool to cool off on warm days. The Allegretto Vineyard Resort provides a taste of Tuscany right outside of Paso Robles city limits. A vineyard resort complete with a full-service spa and exquisite accommoda tions offers wine tasting, art tours, morning yoga, vineyard tours, and other excursions on site. If you’re looking for an intimate experience, The Piccolo offers a 24-room boutique hotel right in the heart of downtown. Known for its popular Tetto Rooftop Bar, The Piccolo is a perfect walking distance to Paso’s bustling downtown city square. Hotel Cheval combines luxury style with boutique intimacy with its 16-room capacity. Also located right downtown, Hotel Cheval is walking distance to Paso’s shopping and restaurant community and also offers live music on select evenings. If Airbnb is more your style don’t miss The Lofts at the Paso Market Walk to find your home away from home.

Finds THE THIS

2. Twisted taper candleholder in rust ($49); Urban Outfitters: Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, San Luis Obispo, Canoga Park, and Malibu; urbanoutfitters.com.

1. EtúHome small oval ceramic baker in terra-cotta

3. Speckled ceramic hanging wall art in terra-cotta ($399); Crate&Barrel, The Village at Topanga in Woodland Hills, crateandbarrel.com.

4. Ohom Ui ceramic mug warmer set in terra-cotta ($88); Nordstrom, Oxnard and Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park; nordstrom.com.

5. Pampas wreath in rust (28 inches; $60); Crate&Barrel, The Village at Topanga in Woodland Hills, crateandbarrel.com.

6. Be Home “Tam” stoneware pitcher in terra-cotta rose ($68); behome.com. Home mud cloth square pillow in rust ($188); behome.com. Zafferano America “Pina Pro” lamp in rust ($150); Clic, Montecito, clic.com. Rumpl Merino Softwool terra-cotta ($199); Nordstrom, Thousand Oaks and Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park; nordstrom.com.

For more, visit our Pinterest page, keyword: 805living.

By Frances Ryan

SLIP INTO THIS SEASON’S NEW TAKES ON THE PREPPY CLASSIC. Style

Loaf ing Around

1. “Ms. Charlotte” leather loafer in black ($625); theofficeofangelascott.com. 2. Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn “Lens” suede loafers in dark gray ($130); Anthropologie: Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park; anthropologie. com. 3. Hereu “Raiguer Sport” women’s calfskin slingback loafers in squash ($510); hereustudio.com. 4. “Interlocking G” leather women’s loafer in shiny black ($1,050); Gucci, Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park, gucci.com. 5. Ribbed green velvet and reptile print leather loafers ($675); tods.com. 6. “Robin” pony hair loafer in olive ($395); Vince, Malibu Country Mart, vince.com. 7. Vagabond “Alex W” polished leather loafer in black ($185); Madison, Malibu Country Mart, madisonlosangeles.com. 8. Tory Burch “Ballet” suede loafer in river rock ($298); Nordstrom, Thousand Oaks and Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park; nordstrom.com. 

For more, visit our Pinterest page, keyword: 805living.

Finds

Loungy Desert Days

Front desk attendant Cesar Gonzalez offers guests kind, gentle greetings, sets out a continental breakfast each morning, and every once in a while fields mail sent to past residents of Azure Sky (azureskyhotel.com, from $399) in Palm Springs, a former timeshare resort that was repurposed into apartments and is now a 14-room hotel. While the hospitality has turned professional, the residential feel of the place has remained.

“When I travel,” says owner R Henry Courtemanche, “I love being able to have that hybrid of hotel amenities—where you’re waited on and have housekeeping and bar service—but feel at home. We tried to bring the best of both worlds together.”

While the 21-and-over hotel doesn’t have a restaurant on-site, rooms have kitchenettes with refrigerators, induction burners, sinks, and cooking tools. The largest accommodations are 620 square feet, and freestanding hammocks make the private patios feel like mini backyards.

Honoring the mid-century modern architecture of the 1959 buildings, the rooms feature slatted-wood walls and beds with built-in dressers. “The beds are made to look like they’re floating above the stone floor,” says local designer Anne L’Esperance of An Ellipsis Design.

L’Esperance sprinkled in elements reminiscent of the surrounding desert, like white sand–colored paint, soft pink and black artwork made of plaster, and earthy green tiles in the bathrooms. “We were going for a clean, serene, relaxing aesthetic,” she says.

If the palette inspires guests to start unwinding, the lounge pool finishes the job. With an expansive view of the San Jacinto Mountains, it has two shallow ends, offering plenty of space to immerse without treading water. If a guest orders lunch from a food delivery service, the staff brings it out to the pool.

Courtemanche’s vision of an ideal day is enjoying the pool, freshening up in the room, and heading to the lobby, which he calls the living room, for a card game with friends. “Having the living room is great when you’re traveling with a group,” Courtemanche says. “You’re able to congregate in a communal setting and really have a residential feel. It’s like sitting in your living room while someone serves you a cocktail.”

Both ends of the expansive outdoor pool at the boutique Azure Sky hotel in Palm Springs are shallow, allowing for effortless submersion.

The Presidio Gets Greener

It took eight years, $118 million, and 9,300 dump-truck loads of dirt scrounged from all over Northern California to sculpt the area above the tunneled highways that connect San Francisco to the Golden Gate Bridge into new parkland. “It turns out, good dirt is hard to find,” says chief park officer of the Presidio Trust Michael Boland with a laugh.

Angel and Alcatraz islands, the hills of the Marin Highlands, and the downtown San Francisco skyline, “it’s not only a pretty face,” says Boland.

“It’s a great place to spend the day.” Encompassing the Outpost, a two-acre play space built with natural materials, like boulders and tree trunks, and a field station featuring microscopes and field kits, the recreation area also welcomes food trucks.

The Outpost play space (right) at San Francisco’s Presidio Tunnel Tops is designed to resemble local marshlands as plants grow over time. Nearby, a suite at 1 Hotel San Francisco (far right) also has a natural aesthetic with neutral tones and reclaimed wood.

Designed by the firm that helped create New York City’s High Line park, the 14-acre Presidio Tunnel Tops (presidiotunneltops.gov) park links Crissy Field at the waterfront to the Main Post of the former Army site. Although the new national parkland offers views of the Golden Gate Bridge,

The new 1 Hotel San Francisco (1hotels.com/ san-francisco, from $500) on the Embarcadero seems an appropriate base from which to explore the city and the Presidio, as the hotel also honors the Bay Area landscape with native greenery and reclaimed woods.

By Erin Rottman AUBRIE PRICK; RACHEL STYER

Going in Style in Santa Monica

Who can afford a $500,000 Lamborghini? Although still a splurge, the Life Extraordinary package at the recently renovated Viceroy Santa Monica may be more within reach (viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/santamonica, from $11,750/two nights). The package includes a 780-square-foot ocean-view suite, a Lamborghini to drive to a personal Malibu Wine Tour, and a couple’s spa treatment. Guests can also enjoy a private poolside cabana at the resort and a picnic and photography session at the beach across the street.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience that you create for yourself,” says Deepak Mehra, Viceroy Hotel Group area general manager. “This is indulgence. A cruise in a Lamborghini, especially on Highway 1—it’s everybody’s dream.”

Indulging in the Dominican Republic

Developed in the 1970s as a luxury golf destination, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas in the Dominican Republic eventually became a private gated community with yacht and equestrian clubs. This December, the resort is opening its Premier Club (casadecampo.com.do, Premier Club from $899) accommodations within the hotel, “a much more private and exclusive VIP experience for guests,” says senior vice president Jason Kycek.

The Premier Club includes 58 guest suites, an indooroutdoor lounge with a private bar, and a personalized concierge experience. All guests of the resort, whether they’re staying in the Premier Club or not, have access to three Pete Dye–designed golf courses, a private beach and water sports, and Altos de Chavón, an on-site village modeled after a 16th century Mediterranean city.

The biggest draw, however, may be the country itself. “You can build the most beautiful resort in the world,” Kycek says, “but it’s the people that make the difference and make it special.” GROUPING: COURTESY OF CASA DE CAMPA RESORT & VILLAS; RIGHT GROUPING: COURTESY OF VICEROY SANTA MONICA

Please

Luxurious cabanas flank two pools at the Viceroy Santa Monica, where accommodations overlook the Pacific.

New to the 7,000-acre Casa de Campo Resort & Villas in the Dominican Republic, Premier Club suites offer more privacy and personalized service.

NICOLE VAN PARYS & GARY NESEN

Engel & Völkers Westlake Village / Calabasas / Channel Islands nicolevanparys.evrealestate.com | nicole.vanparys@evrealestate.com 805-795-1880 | 960 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 10, Westlake Village

Nicole Van Parys and Gary Nesen, Engel & Völkers Private Office Advisors and Owners, have consistently been nominated top 10 worldwide producers. They are powerful experts specializing in luxury properties throughout Southern California focusing on exclusive communities including Sherwood Country Club, North Ranch Country Club Estates, Hidden Valley, Westlake Village, Hidden Hills, Santa Barbara, and Malibu. Nicole and Gary’s clientele includes but is not limited to celebrities, professional athletes, CEOs, and international clients all seeking luxurious lifestyles. DRE # 01108944

JEFF ADLER

Engel & Völkers Westlake Village jeffadler.evrealestate.com | jeff.adler@evrealestate.com 818-489-6533 | 960 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 10, Westlake Village

A strong negotiator and an advocate for his clients, Jeff Adler is just as much a compassionate, friendly, humorous partner who eases a process that can be quite stressful. Jeff also has the expertise in resolving difficult transactions and will do everything in his power to ensure his clients' success. Five words you can count on from Jeff Adler: trust, integrity, commitment, passion, and service. DRE # 02015969

Engel & Völkers Westlake Village / Calabasas lisashirtliff.evrealestate.com | lisa.shirtliff@evrealestate.com 805-341-4078 | 960 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 10, Westlake Village

Global real estate advisor and brokerage manager at Engel & Völkers, Lisa has been specializing in luxury real estate since 2010. She brings the highest level of integrity, knowledge, and enthusiasm to her profession. Lisa’s commitment to her clients ensures a smooth experience from start to finish, a level of dedication reflected in long-term relationships, referrals, and repeat business. Member of the National Association of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors, and the Conejo Valley Association of Realtors. DRE # 01891301

REALTORS of DISTINCTION

DEBORAH FAGAN

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Realty deborahfagan.com | dfagan@bhhscalhomes.com 818-424-5990 | 1155 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village

With more than 35 years of experience, and a local herself, Deborah is an expert in the Conejo and San Fernando Valley markets. Year after year, she ranks in the top 1% of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realtors nationwide, a clear illustration of her ability and commitment to her clients. Whether selling or purchasing, Deborah is always attentive to their needs and concerns.

ROBIN HAGEY & LISA SCOTT

Beverly & Co. Luxury Properties robinandlisa.com | homeinfo@robinandlisa.com 805-341-7644 | 2535 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village

Experience, personal attention, market knowledge, tough (but kind) negotiators. And proven results. From the minute you decide to buy or sell a home to the close of escrow, we’re with you every step of the way. We pay meticulous attention to detail, we walk you through the contracts and we’re in constant communication as we go through the process. There’s a reason we’re ranked in the Top 1% of Beverly & Co. agents. Let’s talk real estate. It’s our favorite language!

Robin DRE # 01740573 | Lisa DRE # 01896861

TEAM SIGI & PAM

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CA Realty sigiandpam.com | sigiandpam@sigiandpam.com 818-879-2999 | 1155 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village

This powerful, highly dedicated, #1 North Ranch real estate sales team is perennially honored for their presence in the industry’s top 1/2% nationwide in earnings. Team Sigi & Pam dedicate as much time, energy, experience, and investment in marketing to provide the best possible client service in this ever-challenging and changing market. There is no substitute for the experience of Team Sigi & Pam.

KAREN SANDVIG

Coldwell Banker Realty karensandvigproperties.cbintouch.com | karen.sandvig@camoves.com 818-941-7437 | 883 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village

One of Coldwell Banker’s top Realtors locally and nationwide, Karen has been providing real estate services in the LA and Ventura County areas since 2005. Her marketing experience and strategies bring clientele top dollar and many recordbreaking sales. She brings an unparalleled level of service, professionalism, and discretion to each sale. An International President’s Elite award recipient, she will surpass all of your expectations. Call for a confidential appointment today.

REALTORS of DISTINCTION

TERI PACITTO

AVANT ONE Real Estate avantonerealestate.com | teri.pacitto@avantonerealestate.com 805-494-4663 | 2829 Townsgate Road, Suite 100, Westlake Village

Teri is known for her unparalleled level of customer-first service combined with a unique and informed perspective of the real estate market. A local real estate leader for 35 years, she offers a wealth of information, market data, industry perspectives, and market conditions. Recognizing the importance of adding value, Teri has consulted on numerous levels with clients who value her insight. Nationally recognized as a top agent by the 2021 REAL Trends & The Thousands Ranking. DRE # 00997649

KATHY BERNAL Compass

thebernalgroup.com | kathy.bernal@compass.com 818-519-3510 | 2945 Townsgate Road, Suite 300, Westlake Village

Kathy is a consummate professional. Her team—guided by her strong work ethic, honesty, and values—supports, represents, and achieves her clients’ best interests in buying or selling their homes. It’s never just simply about closing the deal! Kathy, a top-producing agent in the Conejo Valley for more than 25 years, holds both foreclosure and short-sale certifications. When you work with Kathy you find a professional whose clients always come first.

TAMARA CAMPBELL

Coldwell Banker Realty calltamara4homes.com | tamara@calltamara4homes.com 805-750-6577 | 883 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village

Tamara Campbell has been recognized in the Top 100 of all Coldwell Banker agents in the Greater Los Angeles area. Tamara’s clients value her hands-on approach, expertise, market knowledge, and integrity above all else. Her commitment to excellence has earned her a stellar reputation and consistent referrals. Coldwell Banker honored Tamara with the International President’s Elite award representing the top 3% of all Coldwell Banker Agents worldwide. Contact Tamara for a confidential consultation to discuss your real estate goals.

KAY FIELDS Compass kayfieldsrealtor.com | kay.fields@compass.com 818-419-1172 | 2945 Townsgate Road, Suite 300, Westlake Village

Kay Fields is a luxury property and accredited homestaging specialist at Compass. With more than 20 years of experience, Kay provides her clients the peace of mind of having a practiced professional as their real estate advocate. Known for her strong work ethic, honesty, and confidentiality to her clientele, she takes pride in offering the highest level of personalized service, always going the extra mile to ensure she exceeds the expectations of her clients.

REALTORS of DISTINCTION

PAUL A. GANGI

Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. paulgangihomes.com | paulgangihomes@gmail.com 818-422-5367 | 971 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 100, Westlake Village

Your real estate interests and goals are my #1 priority. I have lived my entire life in Southern California calling Oak Park home for the past 28 years. This gives me an in-depth perspective on various neighborhoods throughout and beyond. My USD education along with a successful business background in print advertising instilled in me a strong work ethic and excellent communication and marketing skills. Client reviews are my best advocates. See them on Zillow! DRE # 02086188

JUSTINE DAVID

Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. conejovalleyre.com | justinedavid48@gmail.com 818-620-1396 | 971 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 100, Westlake Village

Justine David, Realtor with Pinnacle Estate Properties of Westlake Village, began selling real estate in her native country of South Africa more than 30 years ago. Her tireless work ethic and professional experience in support of her clients has served her well. Her dedicated attention to detail, perseverance, and great marketing and negotiating skills have achieved years of successful results. Justine and her team should be your first choice to achieve your goals of home ownership!

LORI KLASS

Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. loriklass.com | lori@loriklass.com 818-917-3554 | 971 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 100, Westlake Village

With an outstanding reputation and more than 23 years providing knowledgeable concierge service, Lori delivers extraordinary results. An award-winning top producer, she is known for integrity, savvy negotiating, and a commitment to superior client representation. Highly skilled in navigating complex transactions and with a referral-based portfolio of loyal clients in Ventura and LA Counties, Lori takes great pride in consistently exceeding expectations. The relationship doesn’t end when your transaction closes. DRE # 01257716

CHAD MARTINSON AND MARCUS SHAPIRO

Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. msregroup.com | chad@msregroup.com 818-309-7807 | 971 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 100, Westlake Village

With the market shifting, proper advisement is paramount. Homes are seeing price reductions and longer days on the market. Chad and Marcus have a proven listing approach that emphasizes preparation and pricing. These techniques have been very effective in a market driven by rising interest rates. Chad and Marcus both grew up in the Conejo Valley, offer more than 20 years of combined experience, and are top producers with Pinnacle Estate Properties in Westlake Village. DRE # 01827096

PAUL GANGI

REALTORS of DISTINCTION

DIANE BREWER & NIKI MOTZ

Pinnacle Estates Properties, Inc. dianeandniki.com | dianeandnikihomes@gmail.com 805-229-1611 | 971 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village

Diane and Niki have consistently been awarded the honor of top 1% Diamond Club company-wide at Pinnacle in Westlake Village. They have earned their reputation through yielding clients top dollar on the sale of their homes through strategic marketing, hard work, and excellent communication and negotiating skills. They have multiple testimonials praising them for achieving the best possible home sale price, as well as a smooth purchase, with the ideal terms for all of their clients.

MARIA POWELL

Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. mariapowell.com | maria@mariapowell.com 818-535-3303 | 971 Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village

For more than two decades, Maria has specialized in residential real estate sales throughout Southern California, with an emphasis on the Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, and Oak Park areas. She attributes her success to her honesty, hard work, caring nature, and sense of humor. Maria is consistently a top-producer, selling large volumes of homes while treating every client like they’re the only client, always devoting 100 percent.

KAREN BETANCOURT

Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. karenbetancourt.com | kbetancourt4re@gmail.com 805-551-1678 | 971 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 100, Westlake Village

With a 30-year diversified background as a top-producing agent and manager with past escrow experience, Karen’s primary goals are assuring her clients have a satisfying, positive real estate experience and building long-lasting relationships. From consultation to closing, whether it’s assisting in making a welleducated investment decision or utilizing her marketing plan that gets homes sold, Karen focuses on communication, continuously keeping clients informed along the way. DRE # 00869820

CINDI GORTNER & SUZI LIU

Pinnacle Estates Properties, Inc. cindiandsuzi.com | cindigortner@gmail.com 818-489-1226 | 971 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 100, Westlake Village

A highly dedicated top local real estate team, Cindi and Suzi are well known for their outstanding sales results, integrity, and expertise in helping homeowners prepare their homes to sell for more. With a huge inventory of staging furniture and prowess in home design, they are the best choice when it comes to getting your biggest asset ready to list. They also serve on four nonprofit boards and care deeply about their clients and community. DRE # 02014524

RONNA KOVNER PHOTOGRAPHY

REALTORS of DISTINCTION

THE SEEGER TEAM

Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. seegerteam.com | seegerteam@gmail.com 805-490-6601 | 971 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 100, Westlake Village

The Seeger Team has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate business. This mother and daughter team—Judy Seeger and Jen Carlton—also includes a full staff. Judy is an interior designer and will not only clean out her clients’ homes, she will also decorate them for free! The two women work off referrals. They love to help people and give 120% to assure their clients are in good, experienced hands.

JENNIFER LINDSEY & MALLORY CLEMMONS

Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. jenniferlindsey805.agent.pinnacleestate.com jenniferlindsey805@gmail.com 805-796-0901 | 971 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 100, Westlake Village

The Lindsey Group, a team of two powerful military wives who are detail-oriented, dedicated, and skilled at negotiating, live and work locally. Servicing Ventura County and Santa Barbara County buyers and sellers with ease, they understand that time and moments are of the essence and make their clients a #1 priority, making the experience fun and rewarding! The Lindsey Group is notably top 5% companywide. Jennifer and Mallory would be honored to work with you and yours! Jennifer DRE # 10944519 | Mallory DRE # 02191561

SCOTT & MAYETTE PUCKETT

Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. teampuckett.com | teampuckett4re@aol.com 805-890-7857 | 1100 Flynn Road, Suite 101, Camarillo

Scott and Mayette lead the award-winning Puckett Real Estate Team. Spanning four generations of real estate experience, they rank among the top echelon in total production volume. Experience has honed their business focus to what they believe are essential elements: client goals, listening, communication, contract negotiation, relocation and local market knowledge. As Camarillo residents since 1993, they are enthusiastic members of the community and enjoy showing clients the best Ventura County has to offer! DRE # 01199338

GABBY GUTHRIE

Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. realestatebygabby.com | gabby@allaboutyou.info 805-630-1123 | 971 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 100, Westlake Village

Gabby Guthrie has been in the real estate industry for 22 years. Gabby started her career in title insurance sales giving her clients an edge during the selling and buying process. Gabby’s motto is “All About You” and she means it! Her clients will say that she is kind, genuine, and always looks out for your best interest. Whether buying or selling residential real estate in Ventura or Los Angeles Counties, Gabby welcomes the opportunity to speak with you! DRE # 01725920

REALTORS of DISTINCTION

FRANCINE CHALME MEYBERG

Coldwell Banker Realty francinemeyberg.com | fmeyberg5@gmail.com 818-987-7653 | 23647 Calabasas Road, Calabasas

Born and raised in Beverly Hills, Francine Chalme Meyberg has been working in real estate for 34 years. Specializing in the entire San Fernando Valley, the west side, and Ventura County, her motto is “There is no place like home.” Francine is a South Valley Regional Specialist, Luxury Property Specialist, Architectural Specialist, and Relocation Specialist. She has been a consistent multi-million dollar producer and a top producer of Coldwell Banker Realty. DRE # 01065592

ROSEMARY ALLISON

Coldwell Banker Residential callrosemary.com | rosemaryallison@aol.com 805-479-7653 | 883 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village

One of the country’s most successful Realtors, Rosemary set the standard for excellence throughout her career. REAL

Trends ranked Rosemary No. 181 of Top 250 real estate agents in the U.S. based on closed sales volume. Her vision and reputation in the science of marketing the finest estates established her as the most innovative leader in real estate. Rosemary was recognized as “Woman of the Year 2020” and Ventura Counties’ Best Real Estate agent by the Daily News.

MICHELLE OUELLETTE

Sotheby's International Realty aboutmichelleouellette.com | michelle.ouellette@sothebyshomes.com 805-427-1333 | 3075 Townsgate Road, Suite 100, Westlake Village

The Estates Director for the Michelle Ouellette Estates Group at Sotheby's International Realty is highly respected in the community, and she has built a stellar reputation over 35 years as a real estate professional providing extraordinary service with expert guidance for both sellers and buyers with many different real estate needs. A multiple award winner for her consistent success as a Top Producer year after year. There is no substitute for experience.

MELISSA GOBLE

Sotheby’s International Realty propertieswithmelissa.com | melissa@propertieswithmelissa.com 805-680-5851 | 3075 Townsgate Road, Suite 100, Westlake Village

Melissa Goble is a licensed professional Realtor with insightful knowledge and extensive expertise in Ventura County and the San Fernando Valley. Strong negotiating skills and an intelligent marketing approach set her apart, including her extensive team of lenders, inspectors, stagers, and other trades associated with the real estate transaction. Melissa's dedication to high-quality service, one-of-a-kind resources, reputation, and access to discerning clients are powerful advantages that help her clients successfully navigate the real estate market. DRE # 02082550

REALTORS of DISTINCTION

ISABELLE MULLER-GUPTA

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Realty isabellemullergupta.bhhscalhomes.com | isabelle@isabellehomes.com 818-276-6294 | 1155 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village

Originally from Geneva, Switzerland, Isabelle is fluent in English, French, and Italian. She maintains a solid nationwide and global network to serve her clients at the highest level. Specializing in luxury properties and relocations, Isabelle’s integrity and honesty are the heart of how she handles business. Her dedication to meeting her clients’ needs and achieving their goals is always at the forefront of her strategies. Call Isabelle today for all your real estate needs!

ROBB & NIKKI FRIEDMAN

Keller Williams Luxury robbnikki.com | team@robbnikki.com 818-430-3663 | 23975 Park Sorrento, Suite 110, Calabasas

Who says nice people finish last? That is their slogan and they pride themselves in being very easy going with a ton of patience for both buyers and sellers. So much so that they represent both sellers and buyers more than 70% of their listings, which saves money in commission to the sellers and often gets buyers a better deal. Both LA natives know this area like the back of their hands and both have decades in negotiating.

DOUGLAS & ASSOCIATES, MIA WAMSLEY & RACHAEL DOUGLAS

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties douglasassociatesre.com | team@douglasassociatesre.com 805-318-0900 | 1170 Coast Village Road, Montecito

Our team provides our clients with the highest level of service and extensive local market expertise. With combined decades of luxury marketing and sales experience, we are results-driven, passionate, and attentive to every detail of each transaction we work on. We believe in giving back to this beautiful community we are fortunate enough to serve and donate our time and resources to various local nonprofits. Mia DRE # 02128088 | Rachael DRE # 02024147

JULIA KANESAWA, CPA

Sotheby’s International Realty juliakanesawa.com | julia.kanesawa@gmail.com 805-660-8185 | 3075 Townsgate Road, Suite 100, Westlake Village

Julia has more than two decades of experience as a residential real estate broker. She provides refined quality service using her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) background. A great negotiator with elegant execution, she’s highly strategic and hyper analytical using refined tactics. Applying Japanese tea ceremony teaching of “one moment, one encounter; 一期一会” Julia delivers customized, personalized services, and genuinely cares about your decision and long-term wealth. Her goal is to help you plan for your future through real estate investments. DRE # 01302741

REALTORS of DISTINCTION

FRANCINE WEISBECKER

Coldwell Banker Realty weisline1@aol.com 818-388-8725 | 883 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village

Francine is a seasoned professional with more than 22 years in Real Estate and 25 years in business management. She is a consistent top producer and has achieved the Coldwell Banker Realty distinguished designation of "Global Luxury Specialist," awarded to only 25% of Coldwell Banker agents nationwide. She demonstrates the highest integrity and professionalism in all aspects of her work and takes pride in providing personal attention and guidance to every client. DRE # 01278263

BRADLEY WILSON

Wilson + Co. Real Estate wilsonand.co | bradley@wcsir.com 805-550-2113 | 1065 Higuera St., Suite 310, San Luis Obispo

Weaving together honesty, enthusiasm, and strategic thinking, Bradley knows how to think outside of the box. As a thirdgeneration real estate agent raised on the Central Coast of California, he has the ideal foundation for helping clients buy and sell homes. Also a talented artist, Bradley uses his creative vision to curate exceptional opportunities that meet the unique needs of buyers and sellers, including luxury expansive estates, raw land, and everything in between. DRE # 01986303

GRACE LINDGREN

Sotheby’s International Realty gracelindgren.com | grace.lindgren@sothebys.realty 805-794-3243 | 3075 Townsgate Road, Suite 100, Westlake Village

Grace Lindgren, a bilingual Ventura County native, has more than 18 years of experience as a Realtor. She has a true commitment to delivering the highest level of professional services. With Grace’s in-depth market knowledge and association with Sotheby’s International Realty, she provides her clients with cutting-edge marketing and expertise, locally and globally. Consistently focusing on ethics and integrity for each buyer and seller, she effectively navigates the ever-changing real estate market and ensures successful transactions.

LINDA WILSON Wilson + Co. Real Estate wilsonand.co | linda@wcsir.com 805-801-3232 | 1065 Higuera St., Suite 310, San Luis Obispo

Named one of the top “100 Most Influential Agents in Southern California” by Real Estate Executive Magazine in 2016, Linda Wilson has been serving clients on the Central Coast for more than 25 years. Linda is the broker and owner of Wilson + Co. Real Estate in San Luis Obispo, which quickly became one of the most successful and prestigious locally owned and managed real estate firms on California’s Central Coast. DRE # 01045160

Here’s an Idea:

Get six enlightened views of the world by attending THE DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES OF THOUSAND OAKS. Among the featured speakers at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks are ballerina Misty Copeland, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Admiral James Stavridis, marine biologist Cristina Mittermeier, Beatles expert Bob Eubanks, and historian Ken Burns; speakersla.com, bapacthousandoaks.com.

B y H eidi D vorak IN & AROUND THE 805

Through January 7, 2023

THE ARCHITECTURE OF COLLAGE: MARSHALL BROWN

The artist’s first solo museum exhibition includes 25 of his works, in which he cuts out photographs of buildings and rearranges them into unusual structures that appear to float; sbma.net.

Through March 6, 2023

WILDLIFE ON THE EDGE: HILARY BAKER Wildling Museum of Art & Nature, Ojai. Animals—from timid to ferocious—make themselves at home in urban Los Angeles locales as depicted in this Ojai-based artist’s paintings on birch wood. Her recent acrylic paintings are also on view; wildlingmuseum.org.

for home preparation, from Santa Barbara Channel fishermen. Live music, free lectures, boating activities, and vendors hawking food, arts, and crafts round out the day; harborfestival.org.

October 15

THE PARAMOUNT RANCH SONIC BOOM

Paramount Ranch, Agoura Hills. Performances by Rebirth Brass Band, Dustbowl Revival, and Dom Flemons highlight this music festival that benefits the restoration of Paramount Ranch. Also in the offing are craft vendors, food trucks, children’s activities, jam sessions, and beer and wine tastings; betterunite.com/ sonicboom.

October 18 MALPASO DANCE COMPANY

Through October 31 NIGHTS OF THE JACK King Gillette Ranch, Calabasas. Dare to venture down a two-third-mile-long trail into a spooktacular land of jack-o’-lanterns, ghosts, goblins, and pumpkins at this hair-raising Halloween light-show extravaganza. On site are food trucks, the Spookeasy Bar, and a pumpkin carver; nightsofthejack.com.

October 9 CIOPPINO & VINO

Paso Robles Inn. Savor sensational fish stew, complemented by a curated wine selection, at this competition to help benefit the Paso Robles Children’s Museum. Wineries and chefs from local venues participate; cioppinoandvino.com.

October 15

RINGO AND HIS ALL STARR BAND Vina Robles Amphitheatre, Paso Robles. Come for the former Beatles member, stick around for a set by one of the best professional bands around, with members Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Gregg Bissonette, Hamish Steward, and Edgar Winter; vinaroblesamphitheatre.com.

October 15

SANTA BARBARA HARBOR & SEAFOOD FESTIVAL Santa Barbara Harbor. Get your fill of fresh lobster, crab, prawns, and other under-the-sea catches, cooked on the spot or raw and ready

For more on local events, click on Calendar at 805living.com. 3/6/23

Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo. Feel the heat when this captivating Cuban dance troupe tells stories through movement. With 11 members, the touring company uses a collaborative process to formulate its choreography; calpolyarts.org.

October 22

WALK N’ WAG Conejo Creek North Park, Thousand Oaks. Support the Sunshine Kids Foundation, which helps kids with cancer, by attending this Berkshire Hathaway Home Services–sponsored fundraiser featuring a pet costume contest, games, music, and prizes; bhhscalhomes.com/ sunshinekids.

October 22, October 29, November 5

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S

East Ventura County, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara. It’s the world’s largest fundraiser for this debilitating disease, so sign up, get sponsors, and put one foot in front of the other. If you can’t participate in person, check the website for worthy alternatives; act.alz.org.

October 29

HOWL-O-WEEN DOG COSTUME CONTEST

Ventura Harbor Village. Spookiest, most seaworthy, cutest, prettiest, most creative: These are a few of the categories in which outfitted pooches can compete at this kooky competition. Don’t have a dog? Half the fun is just watching; venturaharborvillage.com.

FROM TOP: BURROWING OWL LAX, 2019, ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, HILARY BAKER, COURTESY OF ARTIST; COURTESY OF NEDERLANDER CONCERTS

Ringo Starr

By Joan Tapper

W Beyond the Ivory Tower

COOL CLASSES INSPIRE STUDENTS TO FOLLOW LIFE PASSIONS OR EXPLORE UNFAMILIAR CAREERS.

hat do video recipe tutorials, screenwriting formats, tinyhouse construction, and puppy care have in common? They’re all part of the real-world skills taught in a mind-boggling variety of high school classes across the 805 area.

Filmmaking at Oaks Christian School

At Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, teacher Andrew Christopher has expanded the film program to encompass four years of classes, beginning with what you need to know to make a small film—camera operation and control, basics of editing, storytelling,

scriptwriting, and so on. His second-year class looks at filmmaking through visual art, theater, literature, and music, while advanced students actually make a film—a documentary one year, a feature film the next.

Over the school year, Christopher says, “we pitch ideas in class, narrow them down, and vote. Then we use a screenplay-formatting process to break the story into 15 ‘beats.’ We build the characters and parcel out the writing.” When the script is ready, they work with the school’s theater department to cast the roles, and finally shoot.

A couple of years ago, his program’s first feature, Missperception, was entered in 13 film festivals and won 10 awards. The Colosseum was released last spring >

Career-centered courses (clockwise from top left): Measure twice, cut once is good advice for budding builders at Santa Barbara High School. Meli, Wayne, and JoJo help provide hands-on practice for wouldbe vets at San Luis Obispo High. Rising restaurateurs dish up deliciousness at Oxnard High. Future filmmakers at Oaks Christian High’s advanced film class work on scenes for Missperception TOP, LEFT: NELL CAMPBELL; ANNA BATES; MS. DEBRA GALLAGHER; OAKS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Arts

and is now starting the festival route.

This school year, the students will make a documentary. Finding a subject that they’re passionate about is key, since “it’s a seven-month commitment,” says Christopher. “Each student is a one-man band.”

“What makes this special,” he adds, “is that different kids come with different passions”—writing, using the camera, editing. “I like that I can expose students to different aspects of the industry.”

Restaurant Skills at Oxnard High School

At Oxnard High School, faculty and staff have come to look forward to Fridays, when students in Debra Gallagher’s Food Service and Hospitality class operate a food-court café. Offerings have ranged from breakfast burritos and smoothies to muffins, tortas, and pizza. Along with preparing the food, students have to develop menus, print business cards, and come up with a café name.

The idea, Gallagher says, is to learn how to market a farm-to-fork concept—making dishes and photographing them, putting recipes and tutorials online, and learning technical skills for running a restaurant.

Back in class, students start by making bruschetta, which “teaches knife skills and uses tomatoes and basil from the garden outside the classroom,” says Gallagher. “Later they make bread, and that’s an opportunity for plating and photography, and they do a blog post.”

The students move on to pasta from scratch, then tortillas, and organic pizza crust. They also do a tamale luncheon and learn how to write a business plan.

The Oxnard program also has participated in the national Careers Through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), which holds competitions that culminate in scholarships. Last year, one of Gallagher’s students lined up with 30 other young chefs in the finals in Los Angeles to prepare chicken chasseur, tournée potatoes, sauce, and crepes. He came away with a $2,500 scholarship.

Construction Techniques at Santa Barbara High School

If you swing by Santa Barbara High School, you may notice a small dwelling taking shape. It’s a “tiny house,” the work of students in Caleb Chadwick’s construction techniques classes. “I believe we’re the first district in the nation to do it as a high school class,” says Chadwick, adding that students at Dos Pueblos and San Marcos high schools also build one. The Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara provided initial funding for the tiny

house project in 2015, and the first finished example was auctioned off, as this year’s will be.

Amazingly, the entire construction/woodworking program was almost dead nearly a decade ago when Chadwick took his job. But with the support of the TRADART Foundation for materials and equipment, and with subsequent grants and district financing, the courses have survived and thrived.

Entry-level students begin by making a cutting board, to “show proficiency with the tools and safety practices,” says Chadwick. “And they make great gifts. Students also learn how to wire a plug or light and have plumbing or roofing lessons. Building tiny houses provides access to all that, though to start out, you don’t do the big obvious things.”

Students also can take on more personal projects like “skateboards, surfboards, and snowboards,” says Chadwick. “Overall, they learn that they can make what they imagine.”

Animal Premed at San Luis Obispo High School

At San Luis Obispo High School, agricultural-science instructor Anna Bates has no problem with her students bringing pets to class. In fact, she encourages it, since “it helps them focus,” she says, “and nothing can substitute for practice on real animals.”

Her three courses include small-animal preveterinary medicine, which covers dogs, cats, and pocket pets, like one student’s bearded dragon and another’s skink, named Fossil. Bates also routinely brings in her own three golden retrievers—two of which she has trained as certified therapy dogs—to teach vet techniques in class.

That course alternates yearly with one on large animals, like the horses and livestock that populate the school farm just outside her classroom. This year, there will be 30 pigs, 15 sheep, a dozen cattle, plus chickens, turkeys, and rabbits on hand.

Every year Bates also teaches an advanced class in animal anatomy, physiology, and veterinary medicine. “The kids learn how to train and handle animals,” she says. They identify medical tools and learn hands-on clinical skills, like how to take temperatures and give vaccinations, and they dissect organs to see how they work.

“If the students complete all three courses,” she says, “they can take a certification exam.” Some go on to study animal science or pre-veterinary classes in college; others want to work in the medical profession with humans. “They walk away with an in-depth start to a career pathway,” says Bates. 

Upgrades

Rock-solid Style

ADD AN AIR OF STRENGTH AND ENDURING QUALITY TO HOME DECOR WITH ELEMENTS MADE OF STONE.

By Frances Ryan

Italian Carrara marble cubist sculptures, clockwise from back row, center: “Helena” ($3,895), “Interpose” ($3,695), “Bella” ($3,495), “Ponder” ($3,295), “Repose” ($3,295), “Transect” ($2,795); RH, Westlake Village and Santa Barbara, rhhome.com.

Upgrades

1. New Pacific Direct “Roya” solid teak end table with marble base in natural ($268); For Your Home Furniture, Ventura, fyhfurn.com. 2. Marble clock ($199); Arhaus, Thousand Oaks, arhaus.com. 3. Revelation “Spherical” travertine mini lamp ($339); PTS Furniture, Thousand Oaks, ptsfurniture.com. 4. Arteriors “Maradona” pendant with alabaster shades ($4,030); Cabana Home, Santa Barbara. cabanahome.com. 5. Wyeth Italian travertine nightstand designed by John Birch ($3,755); RH, Westlake Village and Santa Barbara, rhhome.com. 6. “Nero” white marble oval coffee table with brass-coated aluminum base ($899); Crate&Barrel, The Village at Topanga in Woodland Hills, crateandbarrel.com. 7. “Lava” resin stone bookends ($50 for set of two); Crate&Barrel, The Village at Topanga in Woodland Hills, crateandbarrel.com. 8. Revelation “U-Turn” white man-made stone table lamp with brass-finished feet ($855); PTS Furniture, Thousand Oaks, ptsfurniture.com. 9. Made Goods “Darci” carved marble bowl with waves ($500 to $810, depending on diameter); The Sofa Guy, Thousand Oaks, thesofaguy.com. 10. “Wyeth” Italian travertine panel platform bed designed by John Birch ($10,415); RH, Westlake Village and Santa Barbara, rhhome.com. 

For more, visit our Pinterest page, keyword: 805living.

SATURDAY CONCERTS - 7:30PM CONCERTS -

A Life in Fashion

BY JOAN TAPPER PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE NEAL BARR ARCHIVE

Neal Barr’s career behind the camera captured the decades with style.

Neal Barr’s portfolio has spanned both editorial and advertising images. For Harper’s Bazaar ’s April 1971 Paris issue, he photographed Leslie Anne Jones in the flowery folds of a Pierre Cardin dress. For a Revlon fragrance ad in 1970 (opposite) the scene of actress Veronica Hamel sharing a table with an apparently friendly cheetah required separate setups.

Even stationary automobiles can provide moving images: Sharon Tate swathed in fur (above) is a picture of luxury for Harper’s Bazaar in 1967; the budding photographer takes the wheel of his convertible (left) in the early 1950s.

Diana Newman (above) is on her toes during a fashion shoot for Harper’s Bazaar in 1967. Susan Blakeley (left) shimmers in an advertisement for Listerine in 1968. Barr (top, left) attends to minute details during a session in his New York studio. PETER M c DANIELS

S YOU MIGHT EXPECT, there’s a camera on a tripod in the Camarillo home office of noted photographer Neal Barr and sheafs of tear sheets and prints of his magazine editorial and advertising work strewn around a table in another room. What may be more surprising is to find the 89-year-old Barr at his computer, learning new programs to scan his classic fashion images and put together presentations about his career and about the 1920s, a decade that has fascinated him for the last 60-plus years.

That interest culminated in his recently published two-volume 1920s: Fashion’s Most Influential Decade (M27 Editions), a compendium of photos of his collection of garments from a century ago—not just couture but also day dresses, sportswear, coats, boudoir pieces, wedding apparel, hats, bags, shoes, and jewelry, all shown on mannequins in poses that breathe life into the clothing. The book is a stunning magnum opus that is certain to become a bible for fashion and costume designers eager to understand or recreate the apparel of that period. It’s also a reason to celebrate Barr’s varied and glittering photographic career.

Barr was no stranger to the 805 area when he retired here around the year 2000. He grew up in Ventura, where his family owned Barr’s Bakery, and he credits his high school photography teacher for nurturing his own early interest in camera arts. After a stint in the army during the Korean War—he was a regimental photographer while stationed in Germany—he used the GI Bill to enroll in the Brooks Institute of Photography (now defunct) in Santa Barbara. It was then that he discovered he could rent 1920s-era articles of clothing for 50 cents a night and costume his female colleagues as models for class assignments. Occasionally he’d buy one of the dresses, which would set him back $10, no small sum in those days.

Immediately after graduation in 1958, Barr headed to the Big Apple, where he found a job as a studio assistant for Ray Kellman, who shot editorial assignments for Seventeen as well as a host of commercial clients. He also began working for the longtime fashion editor of Ladies’ Home Journal, a legendary figure and exacting taskmaster named Wilhela Cushman, who rewarded his hard work and enterprising spirit by including him on the magazine’s crew during assignments to Rome and Paris. Later he served as an assistant to Irving Penn. All this time Barr was experimenting with lighting, doing photo tests, and building a fashion portfolio.

After five years he was ready to open his own business, and among his first editorial jobs were portraits for Sports Illustrated that included Bart Starr, Sandy Koufax, and the rising boxer then named Cassius Clay.

By 1966, he had assignments for Harper’s Bazaar, and he’d continue to work for the magazine for the next eight years, producing covers, shooting the Paris collections, and

photographing the creations of some of fashion’s greats of the 1960s—Ungaro, Courrèges, Balenciaga, Rudi Gernreich. If you’re lucky enough to sit with Barr as he runs through some of his images from that era, you’ll be regaled by his behind-the-scenes stories of models and designers and tricks of the trade. Those incredible shots of hair curling elegantly behind a beautiful woman’s head? The tresses were pinned to cardboard. The swirling skirts on a couture organdy gown? These required an agile model and a gentle fan. It was a heady and successful time, and Barr went to town photographing feathery couture dresses or devising intricate setups with balloons or bubbles.

As a hobby, he collected clothes from the 1920s, which were available at flea markets and vintage shops and still affordable at 15 or 30 dollars. He found store-stock shoes and unopened boxes of hosiery and began to think about documenting the pieces and building an archive in color, something not possible when the garments were new.

Though he made some photographs at the time, the

project didn’t really take off until Barr retired and returned to California, where he rented a huge warehouse studio to store and shoot what was now a vast collection of clothing for every occasion along with hundreds of accessories from hats to heels. He had also acquired 23 mannequins whose articulated limbs could be interchanged to create lifelike stances. He put together perfect outfits—pairing the right cloche and handbag with an elegant suit, or the right art deco necklace with an evening dress—and photographed them all.

Looking at those images now, after many of us spent the last couple of years in nondescript stretch pants and T-shirts, it’s impossible not to be wowed by these fashions of a century ago—the materials, the detailing, the variety, the sheer gorgeousness, and the way they signaled changes in society, including new freedoms for women. Fascinated by that social history, Barr has gone on to research online images of authors, poets, and film stars of the era.

As for his collection of clothes, the pieces are increasingly fragile, and while they’re stored as archivally as possible, Barr is searching for someone to whom he may gift the pieces. It was a grand treasure hunt to find them, he says, a magnificent obsession to photograph them, and an amazing achievement to preserve them in print for generations to come.

Working on images for his book in his Ventura studio, Barr used mannequins with articulated limbs, arrayed them in lifelike poses, and employed carefully arranged lights to heighten the effect.

Spreads from 1920s: Fashions Most Influential Decade display a treasure trove of garments and accessories. (From top to bottom:) Day dresses from 1928 feature a mock bolero top and are complemented by close-fitting hats and fur stoles. Vanity cases were just the thing for a flapper out on the town. Elaborately detailed dresses from 1925 and 1926 are accented with vivid embroidery.

Beauty and the broach: Model Alexandra Afganisjew wears a Tiffany pin crafted by Donald Claflin for Harper’s Bazaar ’s November 1969 issue.

An ad for Hanes hosiery required sleight of foot on the set, which was a Puerto Rican rooftop.

Adept at shooting indoors and out, Barr got models Jane Gallop and Ulla Bomser to kick up their heels in Central Park in 1967 (top) for a Harper’s Bazaar story. On another occasion he stayed out of the spotlight behind the camera in his New York studio (above) to give direction.

A picture of strength and determination, boxer Muhammad Ali—then known as Cassius Clay—was photographed for Sports Illustrated in 1963, in one of many Barr portraits for that magazine.

Personal Passions,

Individual interests give rise to three museum gems. Delights

BY JOAN TAPPER PHOTOGRAPHS BY GARY MOSS

In putting together an exhibition titled, A Parliament of Owls, Santa Barbara Natural History Museum curator Linda Miller had a wealth of antique images to choose from, including the shorteared owl illustrated by John Gould in the mid-1800s (opposite).

An Avian Who’s Who

At the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum (sbnature. org), an astonishing collection of 4,000 engravings and lithographs owes its existence to the generosity of Peggy Maximus, who designed, funded, and endowed the compact gallery that bears her and her husband’s name. “Peggy grew up in Beverly Hills,” says curator Linda Miller, and became an interior designer in Hollywood. She met John, a commercial artist in New York, and while there, they began acquiring antique illustrations and building a library of natural history art. When Peggy later moved to Santa Barbara, she became a donor to the museum, among other institutions.

“The earliest piece [in the collection] is a German herbal from 1543,” says Miller. Most are from the 1700s and 1800s.” The advent of photomechanical printing changed the print world, so “the collection stops in the early 1880s,” she explains.

The gallery’s endowment calls for three exhibits a year, and the show opening on October 7, A Parliament of Owls, highlights not only the intriguing birds but also 300 years of changes in illustration, from works by amateur naturalists who created them simply for identification tools to those by world-famous artists. The roughly two dozen examples on view are grouped into families: snowy owls, great-horned owls, short-eared owls, and barn owls— including a gorgeous lithograph by John James Audubon.

On the horizon next spring is Drawn by a Lady, a show of botanical prints by female scientific illustrators.

Miller continues to add to the museum’s holdings, filling in gaps with donations and by working with dealers. With its wealth of illustrations, from birds and beasts to plants and shells, she notes, “the print collection parallels the development of science.”

Historical Figures Get Their Close-up

The Ventura County Museum (venturamuseum.org) has had a partnership with artist George Stuart since 1979, when he donated 180 of his incredibly accurate historical figures to the institution. Two years later the museum had a gallery dedicated to his work.

The models—one-quarter life size—include some of the most famous people throughout the ages and across the continents. Kings and queens, warriors and clerics, even a category of “really awful people”—they’re all recreated down to the buttons on their tunics or the feathers in their hats.

Stuart continued to craft his figures, and in 2022, “he >

What motivates a collector? Curiosity? Perseverance? Devotion to beauty? Whatever the original motivation behind these three collections, local museum-goers are the beneficiaries.

Attention to detail is a hallmark of George Stuart’s depictions of historical figures—from the exquisite embroidery on the Empress Dowager Cixi’s robe (opposite) and the jewels in Queen Elizabeth I’s gown (above) to the spaniels at the heels of their namesake monarch, King Charles II (top).

Sleek beauties of an earlier age, the Bugattis, Delahayes, Citroëns, and other vehicles in the Mullin Automotive Museum are exhibited like the art objects they are.

Apparently poised for takeoff, the wheel-less Citroën DS (above) embodies an aeronautical look. Miniature figures (below, left and right) hint at the elegant lifestyle evoked by the prewar designs, while a hood ornament (below, center) presents a sinuous touch. (Opposite, from top:) Drawings outline automotive details. A silvery object of desire catches the light. The dots in Citroën add a French flourish.

donated the remainder,” says acting curator of collections Renee Tallent. “So now we have 319 fully executed figures, plus some props, like a guillotine”—to accompany the doomed royals of the French Revolution—as well as pieces that demonstrate the model-making process.

In the past, the museum has tended to mount shows based on moments in history or cohesive groups. But the current exhibit, Behind the Curtain, takes a different tack. Says Tallent, “We have a little from the full catalog, and we focus on details. We highlight something with a magnifying glass for an up-close look.” Visitors can see the tiny risqué scenes painted on the back of the heels worn by the flamboyant Duc d’Orléans, or marvel at the 152 individually set jewels on Queen Elizabeth I’s dress.

“We work very closely with Mr. Stuart,” she adds. “He has ideas and attachments and a dramatic personality, and he loves to include the scandals of the figures’ lives.

Going in Vintage French Style

“It was love at first sight,” says Merle Mullin, about her husband’s passion for classic French vehicles. “Peter started collecting in the mid-1980s. He always liked cars.” But after an architect neighbor staged a photo shoot in front of the Mullins’ home, featuring a Kelly green Delahaye vehicle from the early 1940s, “it launched Peter on a lifelong journey,” she says.

He acquired his own Delahaye soon after and has continued to collect vintage French cars, housing them in the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard (mullinautomotivemuseum.com), which opened to the public more than a decade ago.

How many cars are there now? “I like to say too many,” answers Merle, director of the museum. Only about 50 are on exhibit at any one time. Currently the elegant Art Decoinspired space is focusing on L’Epoque des Carrossiers: The Art and Times of the French Coachbuilders. “There were many different marques, like brands, and often they were one-off bespoke vehicles,” she explains. “You’d buy a chassis and get a coachbuilder to design the body.”

The exhibit, which will continue until the spring, “shows the beauty of French design,” she says, adding that she’s working on a future show about “women who love their cars.”

Which one does she love? Merle mentions a red Delahaye 165 that was shipped to New York for the 1939 World’s Fair without its engine, which wasn’t yet ready. When World War II intervened, the car was fitted with a Chrysler engine and sold. Then it vanished from view. Decades later Peter located the car and bought it. “It was a wreck,” Merle says. “It took seven years to restore.

“He’s still adding cars to the collection,” she adds. “Collecting is a disease. You don’t get over it.” 

FOOD / WINE / DINING OUT

Enhancing the Biscuit

THREE CENTRAL COAST CHEFS UPDATE THE FLUFFY, FLAKY FAVORITE WITH LIVELY FLAVORS.

By Jaime Lewis

Surf the internet, and you might come to believe that biscuits are among the most challenging dishes to bake. On forums like Reddit, home bakers complain that their biscuits come out tough, rather than flaky, or dense, rather than fluffy. “What am I doing wrong?” they ask. “Why isn’t it working?”

“Biscuits are all about finding the happy medium between overworking the dough and underworking it,” says Tim Veatch, owner and baker at Wayward Baking (waywardbaking.com) in Los Osos. This is a sort of Goldilocks theme among veteran bakers: don’t mix your dough too much, but don’t mix it too little, either. It needs to be j-u-u-u-st right

CILANTRO LIME BISCUITS

“I think of biscuits like a blank canvas,” says Lorrie Brown, recipe developer for Pasolivo (pasolivo. com), an olive oil producer in Paso Robles. “They are delicious just as they are, but I like them even more after adding savory or sweet flavors.”

Unlike butter-based biscuits, her Cilantro Lime Biscuits are made with Pasolivo Cilantro Lime Olive Oil. “It brings a completely different flavor to the biscuits,” she says, adding that they go nicely with chili or as a barbecue side.

Makes approximately 8 large biscuits

2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons Pasolivo Roasted Garlic Sea Salt (available at pasolivo.com)

½ cup Pasolivo Cilantro Lime Olive Oil (available at pasolivo.com)

1 cup buttermilk

2 teaspoons fresh lime zest

⅓ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 cup shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese

Preheat oven 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and roasted garlic sea salt. Add cilantro lime olive oil and buttermilk and stir. Fold in

remaining ingredients.

Also, think about the manner in which everything comes together. “The way that the ingredients are incorporated will determine how fluffy and flaky this biscuit is,” Veatch says. “Cold is the word of the day, when it comes to your ingredients. If you neglect the temperature while mixing, you will get a stodgy puck.” And nobody wants that.

New or nervous bakers could be forgiven for deciding to pass on their biscuit ambitions. But those who take a chance and practice the craft will be richly rewarded. Here, three professionals weigh in with playful, unconventional biscuit recipes—plus tips, tricks, and advice for baking up your best batch yet.

CANDIED GRAPEFRUIT PEEL

Divide dough into eight biscuits and drop onto parchment-lined baking sheet leaving enough space between each biscuit for them to expand. Bake for approximately 12 minutes or until lightly brown and cooked through.

ALEPPO PEPPER–BUTTERMILK BISCUITS WITH HERB-CRUSTED BONE MARROW AND CAMPARIGRAPEFRUIT MARMALADE

“Biscuits, fresh out of the oven, are easily one of my all-time favorite foods,” says Texas-born chef Jason Paluska of The Lark (thelarksb.com) in Santa Barbara. “A little smear of butter and fresh jam is all you need.” In this recipe, he riffs on this idea using roasted bone marrow and homemade Campari-grapefruit marmalade.

“Roasted bone marrow is the world’s greatest butter,” he says. “The bitter peel from the grapefruit along with the Campari really makes this an exciting dish.” Chef’s notes: Ask your butcher to cut marrow bones in half lengthwise. You’ll need a candy thermometer to make the marmalade.

Serves 4 BONE MARROW

1 pound marrow bones, split lengthwise Salt

1 cup finely julienned grapefruit peel (from approximately 3 grapefruits, pith removed)

1 cup sugar

Water (about 6 cups, divided)

CAMPARI-GRAPEFRUIT MARMALADE

2 ruby red grapefruits

6 tablespoons plus 4 teaspoons sugar, divided

¼ cup glucose or corn syrup

1 teaspoon pectin

2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper

3 tablespoons Campari

1 teaspoon salt

ALEPPO PEPPER–BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

2 cups all-purpose flour

1½ teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons salt

1 0½ tablespoons cold butter

1⅓ cups buttermilk

2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper

2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped

2 teaspoons black pepper >

Aleppo Pepper Buttermilk Biscuits, Herb-Crusted Bone Marrow, Campari and Grapefruit Marmalade recipe adapted with permission from Around the Table: Recipes & Stories From The Lark in Santa Barbara (AVP EDITIONS, 2017).

Aleppo Pepper–Buttermilk Biscuits With Herb-Crusted Bone Marrow and Campari-Grapefruit Marmalade are a creative take on biscuits with butter and fresh jam by chef Jason Paluska of Santa Barbara restaurant The Lark.

Taste Food

GARNISH

To prepare the bone marrow: Soak bones in enough salted ice water to cover for 48 hours in the refrigerator. The water-to-salt ratio should be 10 parts water to 1 part salt. Replace salted water periodically until water remains clear. Drain bones and pat them dry.

A half hour before serving, preheat oven to 425°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment. Place marrow bones on parchment-lined sheet pan and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until marrow is hot but not melted. (Tip: stick the point of a paring knife into the marrow to see if it’s tender, then touch the knife tip to see if the marrow is hot all the way through.) Set aside.

To candy the grapefruit peel: Line a sheet pan with parchment. Add finely julienned peel to a small pot and cover with cold water. Bring just to a boil, then remove from heat. Strain, return peel to pot, and add water to cover again. Bring just to a boil and strain again. Add sugar and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil and strain again. Transfer to parchment-lined sheet pan in an even layer and set aside to cool.

To make the Campari-Grapefruit Marmalade: Put ice in a bowl and set another bowl in the ice. Set aside.

Using a sharp peeler, remove peel, all of pith, membranes, and seeds from grapefruits, saving as much flesh as you can. In a saucepan, combine grapefruit flesh, 6 tablespoons sugar, and glucose or corn syrup. Place over low heat and stir with a rubber spatula.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 4 teaspoons sugar and pectin. Add to sugarglucose mixture and whisk. Cook until temper ature reads 220°F on a candy thermometer. (Note: once thickened, the mixture will have slow, thick bubbles.) Transfer to bowl set in ice. When mixture is cold, fold in Aleppo pepper, Campari, candied grapefruit peel, and salt. Store in the refrigerator.

To prepare the Aleppo Pepper–Buttermilk Biscuits: Line a sheet pan with parchment and set aside. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add half the butter and cut it in using a pastry cutter or by pulsing in a food processor, until the mixture forms gravel-size chunks. Cut in remaining butter until chunks are pea-size. Fold in buttermilk, Aleppo pepper, thyme, and black pepper, and mix just until dough comes together. Do not overwork dough. Turn mixture out onto parchment-lined sheet pan, then press flat to 1½ inches thick. Chill dough for at least 1 hour, until it’s cold enough to cut.

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking tray with parchment and set aside. (Note: the biscuits and bone marrow can bake at the same

temperature, in the same oven.) Cut dough into rounds with a #50 round cutter, approximately 2 inches in diameter. Re-press any trim and re-cut, placing biscuits on parchment-lined tray 2 inches apart. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven.

To serve, plate bone marrow and spoon Grapefruit-Campari Marmalade over marrow. Cover with chervil, chives, and tarragon. Place biscuits alongside.

CACIO E PEPE BISCUITS

Having lived and worked in Italy, Tim Veatch of Wayward Baking (waywardbaking.com) in Los Osos often brings Italian sensibility to his bakery’s breads and pastries. “How you cook always bears the mark of where you’ve been,” he says. “The beauty of culinary history, I think, really comes from the mashing of cultures and the bringing together of thoughts and ideas.” Here, he blends flavors from one of Rome’s legacy dishes— caccio e pepe—with Southernstyle biscuits.

Chef’s note: “This is a fluffy biscuit,” Veatch says. “Don’t be afraid of flour. Flour’s going to be your friend here.”

Makes 12 biscuits

4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

2 tablespoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 3 sticks (12 ounces) butter, cubed and chilled 1 cup Parmesan or pecorino cheese, grated 2 eggs, cold 1½ cups buttermilk, cold 1 egg, beaten, or melted butter, optional Additional Parmesan or pecorino cheese, grated, optional

Preheat the oven to 365°F.

Place dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Cut in butter using a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, a food processor, or a hand tool until mixture is the texture of cornmeal. (Small pea-sized chunks of butter in the mix are fine.) Toss in grated cheese.

In a medium bowl, whisk 2 eggs and buttermilk until combined. Add to butter-flour mixture all at once. Mix just until batter comes together. Scrape bottom of bowl and mix again until ingredients are evenly incorporated. Dough will be sticky. Do not overmix.

Coat top of dough and work surface generously with flour. Turn dough out onto floured surface. Flour top of dough, and press it into a flat, even round. Using a rolling pin, gently roll dough to 1 inch thick. Dust off any

additional flour. Using a knife or circle cutters, punch out 3-inch biscuits and place them on a baking sheet. If desired, brush biscuits with beaten egg or melted butter and top them with grated cheese.

Bake for 7 minutes and rotate. Continue baking for 5 to 7 minutes until biscuits are golden brown and spring back to the touch.

SWEET CORN AND CALABRIAN CHILE BISCUIT

While Tim Veatch’s previous recipe made fluffy biscuits, with this preparation, he creates flaky ones. To get the texture right, he suggests erring on the side of underworking the dough, rather than risking overworking it.

Makes 12 biscuits

1 cup freeze-dried corn (available at amazon.com or at well-stocked health-food stores)

3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

2 tablespoons plus one teaspoon baking powder

⅓ cup cornmeal

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1½ sticks butter (6 ounces), cubed and chilled

1¼ cups creamed corn

1½ cups buttermilk

1 tablespoon Calabrian chile paste (available at amazon.com or at specialty grocers)

1 egg, beaten, or melted butter, optional Flaky salt, optional

Preheat oven to 365°F.

In a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind freeze-dried corn into a powder. In a large bowl, mix together all dry ingredients. Cut in butter using a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, a food processor, or a hand tool, until chunks are roughly the size of a dime.

In another bowl, whisk together creamed corn, buttermilk, and chile paste. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and mix just until batter comes together. Scrape bottom of bowl and mix again until ingredients are evenly incorporated. There should still be visible streaks and chunks of butter. Do not overmix.

Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and press it into a rectangle ½ inch thick. Make a letter fold: fold ⅓ of the dough over on itself, then fold the opposite side over that (like folding a letter). Using a rolling pin, press the dough into an even rectangle 1 inch thick. Cut biscuits into 3-inch squares and place them on a baking sheet. If desired, brush each with egg wash or melted butter and dust with flaky salt.

Bake for 7 minutes and rotate. Continue baking for 5 to 7 minutes until biscuits are golden brown and spring back to the touch.

Chervil leaves Chives, sliced Tarragon leaves

Taste

By Gabe Saglie

Falling for Coffee Brews

Craft beer and gourmet coffee began to see a similar surge in popularity with American consumers in the 1990s.

Today, some of the Central Coast’s top beer brewers combine these nuanced beverages to make coffee-infused beers—especially when the weather cools. With National American Beer Day on October 27, this month seems like a great time to spotlight a few.

Raga Porter

Tarantula Hill Brewing Co., Thousand Oaks

“We want to make a beer with coffee in it, not coffee with beer in it,” says Mike Richmond, brewmaster at Tarantula Hill Brewing Co. (tarantulahllbrewingco. com). About a pony keg of cold brew coffee from Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters in nearby Newbury Park goes into a six-barrel fermenter of porter, lending a subtle but refreshing java-inspired acidity with minimal bitterness, Richmond says. Look for it this fall on tap, one of 25 rotating draughts in the tasting room.

Frantic Institution Ale Co., Camarillo

This oatmeal stout is brewed with locally roasted joe from Ventura’s Beacon Coffee. It’s creamy and oaky, with flavors of cola, caramel, and chocolate, says co-owner Shaun Smith, whose family launched Institution Ale Co. (institutionales.com) in 2013.

Coffee adds aroma and flavor, although “the final product doesn’t have a significant amount of caffeine,” he says. Made and sold at Institution’s 15-barrel facility in Camarillo, this limited-release beer comes in four-pack cans ($17) and is available at the company’s Santa Barbara taproom by the glass while it lasts.

Rivermouth Stout Rincon Brewery, Ventura

This beer “has been a staple here for years,” says brewer Kevin Pratt of Rincon Brewery (rinconbrewery.com). Cold-pressed mediumroast coffee from neighbor Beacon Coffee Co. is added to Rincon stout (7.5 percent alcohol) right at the end of fermentation. The coffee flavor here

is “distinct,” Pratt says, “and we’re left with quite a bit of caffeine!” The addition of whole vanilla beans delivers sweet notes, and rolled oats enhance the mouthfeel, he adds. It’s on tap at the Ventura brewery and at the brand’s restaurant locations in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara.

Bigi Bigi Bigi brewLAB, Carpinteria

The crew at brewLAB (brewlabcraft.com) are big fans of their neighbor, Sade Turkish Coffee & Delights and its myriad exotic treats, including robust coffee. Bigi Bigi Bigi, the brewery’s Turkish coffee bean–infused German dark lager, is a friendly homage. “It’s got a really clean finish,” says brewer Peter Goldammer. This 4.7 percent alcohol small-batch release is available only on tap at the brewery—and goes quickly.

Spokey Dokey

Hollister Brewing Co., Goleta Coffee goes directly into Hollister Brewing Co. (hollisterbrewco.com) stout during fermentation to “soften the tannins and keep it from getting bitter,” says head brewer Eric Hatton. The joe comes from Old Town Coffee, headquartered on Goleta’s Hollister Avenue. Roasted barley adds smokiness, and crushed cacao nibs drive bakers’ chocolate–type flavors, Hatton says, adding, “If you’re sensitive to caffeine, you’ll feel it here.” With 6.8 percent alcohol, this fall favorite is on tap through January.

Espresso-O-Boros

Silva Brewing, Paso Robles

Once Chuck Silva’s popular imperial stout, Ouroboros, finishes fermentation, a pound of Brazilian Primavera espresso beans is added to each barrel of beer for a 24-hour cold soak. A collaboration with local Spearhead Coffee, the resulting EspressoO-Boros from Silva Brewing (silvabrewing) is what Silva describes as a powerhouse brew “with lingering flavors of dark caramel, toasted cereal, caramelized sugar, and bittersweet chocolate.” Muscovado and Belgian Candi syrup infuse an exotic molasses essence, he adds.

What’s new on the local restaurant scene.

Dining

Ama Sushi’s Tamago Tofu (egg custard) With Local Uni is served in a pool of dashi and topped with salmon roe.

RESORT REPORT

Seaside Sushi

 Newly opened at Rosewood Miramar Beach (rosewoodhotels. com) in Montecito, Ama Sushi takes its name from the Japanese word for “sea women” in homage to the country’s traditional free divers—the majority of whom are women—who swim the ocean to gather fresh seafood for their villages. Helming the restaurant is chef Kentaro Ikuta, who trained in his native Osaka before spending the last 13 years at Michelin-starred omakase restaurants.

“We are quite fortunate to have the best access to the amazing seafood of California’s Central Coast,” says Ikuta. “My team and I are marrying those fresh, local ingredients with flavors and techniques from Japan for a dining experience that is both exciting and designed to please all palates.”

The menu, which may be enjoyed à la carte in the dining room, on the terrace under tree-hung lanterns, or as an omakase meal at the 13-seat sushi bar, is complemented by an extensive selection of sake, wine, creative cocktails, and Japanese whiskies.

tO uA Growing Gastropub Hit-the-Spot Hybrid RECENT DEBUT NEW CHAIN LINK

 Finney’s Crafthouse (finneyscrafthouse.com) is poised to open in The Promenade section of the Camarillo Premium Outlets. This marks the eighth location for the casual family-owned and -operated restaurant and its first in a free-standing building. “We have been looking for a Camarillo location for years,” says owner Greg Finefrock, “and we are so excited to finally become a part of this amazing community.”

Each of the Finney’s locations is unique in design, but the crowd-pleasing lunch, dinner, and late-night dining menu is steadfast. Look for shareable starters, such as Poke Nachos, Nashville Chicken Sliders, and Buffalo Cauliflower with yuzu sauce, blue cheese, and garlic aioli for dipping. Main events include flatbread pizzas, tacos, salads, gourmet burgers, and sandwiches. It all pairs perfectly with the selection of 30 local craft brews on tap and a roster of craft cocktails. Happy hour Monday through Friday features discounted bites, cocktails, wine, and draft beers.

Finney’s Crafthouse brings its craft beers and comfort food— like the Jalapeño Egg Burger—to Camarillo.

By Nancy Ransohoff TOP: JAKOB LAYMAN OF ROSEWOOD MIRAMAR BEACH; DANIA WILLIAMS; GARY MOSS

 The Fisherman’s Wife Market & Eatery (fishermanswife.com) is making a splash in Thousand Oaks. Chris Williams and his son, Max, both commercial fishers, and Chris’s wife, Dania, offer fresh catch to take home from the market or to enjoy for lunch and dinner at the eatery. Don’t miss the standout ceviche. “We make it in small batches, using my husband’s fresh-caught halibut,” says Dania.

Fisher Max Williams displays a hard-won catch.

Q&A: Brad Wise Rare Society CHEF MOVES

 Chef Brad Wise recently opened a new Rare Society (raresociety.com) location in Santa Barbara, adding to two in San Diego County. A vintage steak house with a modern twist, Rare Society is known for its shareable meat boards showcasing several cuts of beef served with house-made sauces. Here, Wise shares his thoughts about the restaurant’s latest outpost.

As chef and owner of Trust Restaurant Group, you’ve built a loyal following, especially in the San Diego area. What attracted you to Santa Barbara? My wife is from the Central Coast, and it’s here where I first experienced the Santa Maria style of grilling. The concept feels like a natural fit for the area. We’re an open-fire Santa Maria–style neighborhood steak house. Bringing the concept so close to the region where this culinary tradition began inspires us and drives us forward.

JUST OPENED

The Coast Range Team’s Cantina

 Campo del Sol (Instagram @campodelsolcantina) is a vibrant new California cantina in Solvang from the team behind the neighboring Coast Range & Vaquero Bar. Chef-partners Anthony Carron and Steven Fretz, with the help of executive chef Ryan Foley, offer an all-day menu of contemporary and traditional Mexican dishes for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

“When we learned that the Succulent Café [spot] was becoming available, we were inspired to create a space where people can just relax and have a good time,” says Carron. “I’ve spent a significant amount of time in Mexico and have always loved the cuisine, so it seemed like a natural fit and a concept we can have fun with.”

On the starters menu, look for Chicharron de Queso, a crispy Gouda cheese-tortilla combo, and Coctel de Camarones, or prawn cocktail. Ensaladas, quesadillas, flautas, enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas round out the menu, with specialties such as whole grilled fish swathed in red and green salsa and grilled duck breast and thigh in a mole Coloradito (red) sauce. The bar program features an extensive mezcal and tequila list and a collection of inventive margaritas. Outdoor dining options are on the restaurant’s street-side deck and courtyard patio.

New Harborside Eats

 On The Alley (onthealleyventura.com) recently opened a new location in Ventura Harbor Village, expanding on its two others in Santa Barbara and Goleta. The familyfriendly sister restaurant to the popular Brophy Bros. in Ventura Harbor Village and Santa Barbara offers a counter-service menu for all-day dining with indoor water-view seating and breezy outdoor patios.

Among the morning meal standouts are French toast sticks and breakfast burritos. Lunch and dinner items are tried-and-true favorites, like the Alley Burger and the beerbattered fish tacos. Brophy Bros. classics, including the New England clam chowder, fish-and-chips, oysters Rockefeller, and cioppino, are also available. Sip local beers and specialty cocktails. 

SISTER ACT

Chef Brad Wise (right) of Rare Society steak house gets to the meat of the matter at his new Santa Barbara location (above).

On The Alley’s Ahi Tuna Poke is now available at the eatery’s latest offshoot in Ventura Harbor Village.

At Solvang’s new Campo del Sol a bowl of Aguachile de Callitos is a zesty showcase for fresh scallops.

THE DINING GUIDE

Our aim is to inform you of restaurants with great food that you might not have experienced yet. This guide is arranged not by cuisine type, but by style of restaurant. “Fine Dining” choices have an elegant atmosphere and very professional service. Restaurants included under the “Foodie” heading are heralded for their wonderful chef-driven cuisine, regardless of atmosphere. “Good Eats” listings are just that—solid, casual, and delicious. The “Fun, Fun, Fun” category brings you spots geared toward a good time.

New listings will appear in Where to Eat Now in every issue. Please send any comments and suggestions to edit@805living.com.

MORE ON THE WEB: Visit 805living.com for more listings and to make quick and easy reservations at many of the restaurants listed here and on the website through Open Table

Fine Dining

These restaurants have a skilled kitchen team, a lovely dining room, and great service.

BELMOND EL ENCANTO

800 Alvarado Place

Santa Barbara, 805-845-5800 belmond.com/el-encanto-santa-barbara Entrées $26–$54

Great Views, Romantic

The luxe Belmond El Encanto hotel perches atop its seven-acre hilltop property with sweeping city and ocean views. Settle in on the spacious terrace to experience the plant- and seafood-forward cuisine of executive chef Bruno Lopez in dishes such as king salmon, seared diver scallops, risotto with sea urchin or black truffle, glass noodles, and a grains and greens bowl. Taking influences from various California cultures, the menu showcases the flavors of local artisanal ingredients including fresh seafood, caught daily. Wine offerings from Santa Barbara County and around the globe, beers, and cocktails are among a wide selection of beverage choices. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily, although Sunday lunch is replaced with a bottomless Bellini brunch. Afternoon tea is served Monday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. with 24-hour advance notice. In-the-know locals and hotel guests take in the sunset, cocktail in hand, on the terrace.

CA’ DARIO 37 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara and 38 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara and 1187 Coast Village Road, Montecito and 250 Storke Road, Unit B, Goleta 805-884-9419 cadariorestaurants.com Italian; Entrées $11–$30

The flagship of Dario Furlati’s growing restaurant empire sits at the corner of Victoria and Anacapa streets somewhat off the Santa Barbara tourist path but decidedly worth the walk. House-made pastas here come with Bolognese or tomatoes, olives, and capers or smoked salmon, peas, tomatoes, and cream. Terra-cotta-baked chicken, roasted quails with porcini ragout sauce, and fish-of-the-day specials are also available. For faster fare, check out Ca’ Dario Pizzeria Veloce, found inside the Santa Barbara Public Market. People of Goleta, take note: Ca’ Dario Cucina Italiana serves lunch and dinner in a Storke Plaza space decorated with dark woods and white tablecloths. A recently opened Montecito location also serves lunch and dinner.

NEW COAST & OLIVE 1295 Coast Village Road Montecito, 805-690-3920 coastandolive.com Californian; Entrées $20–$55 Saturday and Sunday Brunch Located on the ground floor of the Montecito Inn, this upscale yet unstuffy spot keeps locals and hotel guests happy with its seasonal menu infused with

farmers market ingredients. At dinner, starters like Grilled White Shrimp Salad and Tempura Cauliflower set the stage for main dish options, such as Seafood Pappardelle, Trout Almondine, and Braised Short Rib. A varied brunch menu includes a Cognac Banana Flambé Waffle, along with a roster of egg dishes, acai bowl, salads, sandwiches, burgers, fresh fish, and a market selection of oysters. An international wine list offers a broad assortment from the Central Coast. Lunch is served Monday through Friday.

COAST RANGE & VAQUERO BAR 1635 Mission Drive Solvang, 805-691-9134 coastrange.restaurant Steak & Seafood; Entrées $28–$99 Romantic Partners, chefs, and industry veterans Anthony Carron, Lincoln Carson, and Steven Fretz collaborate with sommelier, winemaker, and James Beard Award–winner Rajat Parr at this classic steakhouse that sparkles with chef-driven creativity. Leather banquettes and custom stained-glass panels add to the ambience in the glamorous dining room, and patio seating is ample. Dinner entrées from the grill include selections like dayboat scallops, from the menu’s “Coast” section, and steak cuts, such as Japanese A5 Wagyu and Creekstone Farms Ribeye, from the “Range” section, all of which can be dressed with seven different sauces. The Vaquero Bar serves cocktails, local wine, craft beer, and a casual food menu that includes Fish & Chips made with local vermillion rock cod. For dessert, brioche doughnuts are made hot-to-order and served with brown butter glaze.

COIN & CANDOR AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL WESTLAKE VILLAGE 2 Dole Drive Westlake Village, 818-575-3000 coinandcandor.com Californian; Entrées $19–$49

At this breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner brasserie, original dishes by chef Jesus Medina are driven by the seasonality of ingredients from local purveyors and influenced by his Latin roots. At dinner, look for seafood and meats from the wood-fired grill, such as Baja California red snapper adobo, along with fresh salads, sides, and housemilled breads. Pastry chef Patrick Fahy’s creative desserts range from Oatta Cota, made with farmers market fruit and cinnamon oat crisp, to Apple Pie Souffle and 10-Layer Chocolate Cake.

THE GALLERY RESTAURANT 30768 Russell Ranch Road, #C Westlake Village, 818-889-1338 thegallerywestlake.com New American and Seafood; Entrées $18–$54

This sleek eatery in The Shoppes at Westlake Village strikes a comfortable balance between casual and upscale, serving a varied menu of classic dishes and updated twists with global influences. Father and son owners Moez and Karim Megji make sure there’s always something new along with mainstays such as steaks and burgers. Look for favorites such as Macadamia-Crusted Halibut with Thai peanut sauce, Oven-Roasted Seafood with yakisoba noodles, and Cajun Gumbo. The sprawling raw seafood bar includes stars like spicy tuna and fresh oysters. The restaurant is open weekdays for lunch and nightly for dinner, and happy hour is every day from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

MORE ON THE WEB

Visit 805living.com for more listings and to make quick and easy reservations at many of the restaurants listed here and on the website through Open Table.

LES PETITES CANAILLES

1215 Spring St. Paso Robles, 805-296-3754 lpcrestaurant.com French; Entrées $17–$40

Offering a taste of Paris in Paso without the pretense, this buzzing French farm-to-table bistro focuses on sophisticated, modern cuisine in a casual, comfortable setting. Julien Asseo, chef and co-owner with his wife, Courtney, received his culinary education in France and honed his skills at Michelin-starred eateries Restaurant Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas and La Fontaine de Mars in France. Following dishes like steak tartare, escargot in puff pastry, steak frites, dayboat scallops, beef cheek Bourguignon, and Le Burger, it’s easy to say oui to crème brûlée or profiteroles for a very French ending.

LUCKY’S

1279 Coast Village Road Montecito, 805-565-7540 luckys-steakhouse.com and 3835 Cross Creek Road, Ste 18 Malibu, 310-317-0099 luckysmalibu.com Steak House; Entrées $16–$69 Saturday & Sunday Brunch

At the Montecito location of this upscale steak house, black-and-white portraits of stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Sammy Davis Jr., Andy Warhol, and Julia Child adorn the walls. The plates and napkins are monogrammed, the patio is tented and heated for year-round enjoyment, and the bar opens an hour before dinner service begins. Steaks can be dressed with seven different sauces, there are eight versions of potato side dishes, and the onion rings should have their own Facebook fan page. The Malibu location in the Malibu Country Mart offers the same mouthwatering steaks, chops, seafood, and cocktails, and carries on the black-and-white theme with an eye-catching jazz-themed mural in the dining room. Seating is also available on the covered and heated outdoor patio. Dinner is served daily in Montecito and Tuesday through Sunday in Malibu. Lunch is offered Monday through Friday in both locations.

MEDITERRANEO

32037 Agoura Road Westlake Village, 818-889-9105 med-rest.com Mediterranean; Entrées $16–$58 Great View, Weekend Brunch

Recently reopened after a major makeover, this favorite of locals and hotel guests retains an elegant yet comfortable vibe. Located on the 17-acre property of the Westlake Village Inn, the all-new design includes an expansive bar for sipping craft cocktails and international wines.

Executive chef Lisa Biondi has reimagined the menus to include bright Mediterranean dishes such as salatim, seasonal Israeli salads and spreads like street corn with lemon, yogurt, feta, and a punch of Aleppo pepper, at lunch and dinner. Dinner entrées include old favorites like classic prime steaks and house-made pastas, along with lamb sirloin souvlaki and grilled whole branzino. Weekend brunch options include Benedicts, shakshuka, pancakes, and waffles. Patios offer views of the lake or vineyard.

NATE’S ON MARSH 450 Marsh St. San Luis Obispo, 805-544-4454 natesonmarsh.com Italian/Contemporary American; Entrées $14–$49

Sunday Brunch

Housed in a charming colonial bungalow, Nate’s on Marsh offers fine dining, hold the pretension. Owner and San Luis Obispo native Nathan Long also presents an extensive wine list with a well-curated selection of Central Coast and Italian bottles, and a full bar. An evolving seasonal menu focuses on local ingredients. Try the Cacio e Pepe (cheese and pepper) with housemade chitarra pasta. The restaurant is open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; the bar opens at 4 p.m. On Sundays, brunch includes dishes like PB&J French Toast made with Back Porch Bakery brioche bread, house-made almond butter, and berry jam and Biscuits and Gravy with house-made biscuits and sausage topped with crispy shallots.

NONNA 951 S. Westlake Blvd., #102 Westlake Village, 805-497-8482 nonna.restaurant Italian; Entrées $18–$45

Great Patio, Romantic

A casually elegant dining room of distressed wood lit with unique light sculptures by artist Timothy J. Ferrie is a beautiful fit for Florence-born and -trained restaurateur Jacopo Falleni. The menu avoids the faddish,

The Hidden

German brat haus Dutch Garden (4203 State Street) has reopened in Noleta, an unincorporated urban area between Goleta and Santa Barbara. New owners Matt English and Charlie Fredericks have expanded the outdoor patio, bumped up the wine list, and kept the décor of gnomes, collectible steins, and checkered curtains. Items from the longtime menu of schnitzel, bratwurst, burgers, sandwiches, and sausages are still made in-house daily and served along with German-style beers, lagers, and ales. Ventura Blvd. | Oxnard, CA 805.988.9333

Where to Eat Now

instead cutting a culinary swath through the Italian peninsula and islands with tradition-rich dishes that reflect Falleni’s Tuscan upbringing ( gnudi with pomodoro sauce), executive chef Pamela Ganci’s Sicilian heritage (arancini), and pasta chef Pamela Ganci’s influences from Bologna ( passatelli with peas). Service is engaging and professional, while Falleni himself fills the role of sommelier and designed signature cocktails for the full bar.

The newest location of L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele (damicheleusa. com) brings to Santa Barbara the classic Neapolitan pies from the original 152-year-old Naples establishment featured in the film Eat Pray Love. Set in a streetside, historic building, this second U.S. outpost (the first one opened in Los Angeles in 2019) boasts an on-site salumeria at the indoor bar and offers outdoor courtyard seating. Traditional dishes include handmade pastas, barley-fed steaks, and the Da Michele board appetizer with fresh burrata, Parma prosciutto, grilled radicchio, endive, and artichoke. Beer and wine offerings hail from California and Italy.

OKU 29 E. Cabrillo Blvd. Santa Barbara, 805-690-1650 okusantabarbara.com

Asian Fusion; Entrées $16–$38

This sleek, contemporary Asian spot across from the beach boasts spectacular ocean and Stearns Wharf views and a lively atmosphere. The first-floor dining room is anchored by a cocktail bar on one side and sushi bar on the other, with an outdoor patio. Upstairs, a dining room with a cocktail bar opens to a roomy patio with an outdoor fireplace and sofas. Menu favorites include Wagyu steak, Miso Yuzu Black Cod, and Crispy Korean Cauliflower. Sip craft cocktails, local draft beer, sake, or a selection from the well-curated wine list spotlighting Santa Barbara County wineries. The restaurant is open daily for lunch, dinner, and happy hour.

ROSEWOOD MIRAMAR BEACH 1759 South Jameson Lane Montecito, 805-900-8388 rosewoodhotels.com/en/ miramar-beach-montecito Californian and Italian; Entrées $19–$55 Great Views, Saturday and Sunday Brunch

Set in a spectacular seaside location, this luxury beachside resort’s seven distinctive restaurants and bars are open to the general public as well as hotel guests. Executive chef Massimo Falsini oversees the dining destinations, which emphasize locally and sustainably sourced ingredients. Caruso’s, the signature oceanfront eatery, is open daily for dinner and features alfresco seating over the sand in addition to a stylish dining room outfitted with deep blue leather booths. Menu highlights include starters such as hand-pulled burrata as well as Baja kampachi crudo, house-made

pastas including the chef’s signature carbonara, uni tagliolini, and main courses such as pan-roasted petrale sole and grass-fed Watkins Ranch beef fillet. Local and international wines and traditional handcrafted signature cocktails are also offered.

UPDATE SAN YSIDRO RANCH 900 San Ysidro Lane Santa Barbara, 805-565-1720 sanysidroranch.com Contemporary American; Entrées $41–$130, Sunday Champagne Brunch $105 Great View, Romantic, Sunday Brunch A spectacular setting at this historic resort combines with its award-winning restaurants and wine cellar for a memorable dining experience. Located inside a 19th-century citrus-packing house, the Stonehouse restaurant has a romantic air with white linen–covered tables set in an inviting dining room featuring woodburning fireplaces and on an ocean-view terrace. The Plow & Angel offers a similarly cozy ambience indoors and on an outdoor patio, where trees provide shade by day and glitter with twinkle lights by night. Tables at the Carriage House, based on availability, are inside enchanting cottages or on a private enclosed patio. Executive chef Matthew Johnson presents a seasonal menu with a bounty of herbs and vegetables from the on-site organic chef’s garden. The lunch menu offers dishes like Crispy Halibut Tacos, while dinner mains include options such as Steak Diane, prepared in the classic style and flambéed tableside. Sip from the renowned wine cellar’s 12,000 bottles containing varietals from around the globe. Sunday brunch at the Stonehouse includes house-made bakery items, starters, entrées, desserts, and Mumm Champagnes.

UPDATE SEAR STEAKHOUSE 478 4th Place Solvang, 805-245-9564 searsteahouse.com Steakhouse; Entrées $29–$155 (shareable) Living up to its name, this restaurant and bar owned by farmer and chef Nathan Peitso serves up expertly prepared steaks and sides. A seasonal menu includes ingredients sourced from Santa Ynez Valley farms and the Peitso family’s Southern California–based Kenter Canyon Farms. Steaks range from a filet mignon center cut to a shareable tomahawk. Pork chops, lamb, and fresh seafood dishes are also on the menu. The same high standards apply to the beverage program, which features a locally focused wine list and inventive cocktails. A separate menu is devoted exclusively to martinis.

THE TAVERN AT ZACA CREEK 1297 Jonata Park Road Buellton, 805-688-2412 zaca-creek.com Brasserie; Entrées $20–$48 Sunday Brunch

Located on a carefully resurrected historic Santa Ynez Valley property, this sophisticated yet warm and welcoming tavern offers dinner, happy hour, and Sunday brunch. Acclaimed chef Cullen Campbell combines a dedication to local ingredients with French and Italian influences in menus that showcase elements like house-made pastas and beef from some of California’s premier ranches. Menus change often, but expect dinner entrées like Barbecued Winfield Farm Mangalitsa Pork Collar and Pan-Seared Salmon with grilled herbs. For Sunday brunch, get fancy with a caviar service or go southern with shrimp and grits. A remarkable selection of Santa Barbara County and imported wines, local beers, and signature and classic cocktails add to the experience. Seating is available inside or on the covered patio. Happy hour and dinner are offered Thursday through Saturday, and Sunday brunch is from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

TIERRA SUR RESTAURANT AT HERZOG WINE CELLARS

3201 Camino del Sol Oxnard, 805-983-1560 tierrasuratherzog.com

New American; Entrées $16–$144 (for 32-ounce rib eye for two), Buffet Brunch $65 Sunday Brunch

Tucked inside Herzog’s winery and tasting room, Tierra Sur specializes in wine-friendly meals made with careful attention to detail. Executive chef Gabe Garcia maintains a local, seasonal vibe at lunch and dinner. Marinated olives and lamb bacon are made in-house. Tapas feature Wagyu sliders and a Margherita pizza with basil-cashew cheese. Watch carefully, and you may see your bone-in rib eye for two prepared on the patio’s wood-burning grill before it is served with fried kale and roasted potatoes. Desserts include frozen custards, vanilla-spiced doughnuts, and a show-stopping Baked Alaska. Surrounded by the coppery glow of the walls and the burnished-wood wine rack that frames the kitchen pass-through, diners may forget they’re at a kosher restaurant in an Oxnard industrial park. The restaurant is closed on Fridays and Saturdays in observance of the Sabbath. Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is served buffet style, with carving and omelet stations and weekly specials inspired by ingredients from local farms.

TRA DI NOI RISTORANTE

3835 Cross Creek Road, Suite 8A Malibu, 310-456-0169 tradinoimalibu.com Italian; Entrées $18–$36, Market Price for Some Seafood Sunday Brunch

Even though locals know what they want without opening a menu, the kitchen at this restaurant in the Malibu Country Mart can still impress the rest of us with its handmade pastas, shaved truffles, grass-fed beef, local olive oil, and salads made with produce from Malibu’s Thorn Family Farm. The spaghetti carbonara manages to be both low fat and delicious, and the seasonal specials are a treat. The well-curated wine list matches the food and offers prime selections for sipping on the patio.

WATER’S EDGE RESTAURANT AND BAR 1510 Anchors Way Ventura, 805-642-1200 watersedgeventura.com American; Entrées $21–$55

This aptly named bar and grill offers well-prepared plates from land and sea in an elegant setting with harbor views. Starters like chorizo crab cakes, garlic shrimp, and the restaurant’s award-winning New England clam chowder set the stage for main dishes such as seared sesame seed–crusted ahi and braised Szechuan short ribs. Brunch, served every Saturday and Sunday, offers appetizers, egg dishes, beignets, and waffles, as well as burgers, sandwiches, and locally sourced fish. Pets are welcome on the patio. Happy hour is every day from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (except holidays).

Foodie

Cuisine that shines regardless of decor, service, ambience, or even views.

BAR LE CÔTE

2375 Alamo Pintado Ave. Los Olivos barlecote.com Seafood; Entrées $26–$50

Daisy and Gregory Ryan, the award-winning team

behind Bell’s restaurant in Los Alamos, join forces with chef Brad Mathews, their partner at this elegant yet unstuffy seafood tavern. Mathews’ background includes stints at Fishing With Dynamite in Manhattan Beach and Morro Bay Oyster Company. Here, he lets the daily catch from the waters off of California, especially the Central Coast, shine in dishes such as Day Boat Scallop Crudo and Santa Barbara Sea Urchin. Emily Blackman curates a list of beer and wine from small West Coast producers and select European estates.

BARBAREÑO

205 W. Canon Perdido St. Santa Barbara, 805-963-9591 barbareno.com

Californian; Entrées $18–$29

This restaurant highlights ingredients from the Central Coast in menus that feature a few changes monthly. Head chef Justin Snyder focused on pastry in his previous culinary lives, evident from the carefully composed salads, tartares, and desserts that emerge from the kitchen. Recurring favorites include starters like avocado roulade made with hamachi crudo and coconut-oolong milk, and cheeky Eggamuffins featuring buttermilk blini stacked with Seascape cheese, speck, and shavings of salt-cured egg yolk. Hope Ranch Mussels with fennel and mustard broth and slow-cooked Wagyu tri tip are also available, along with an extensive inventory of local beers and a wine list that recently garnered a Wine Spectator award of excellence.

BASTA 28863 Agoura Road Agoura Hills, 818-865-2019 bastaagoura.com

Italian; Entrées $16–$55, Pastas $16–$21

Located in Whizin Market Square, Basta is the real Italian deal, serving authentic scratch-made dishes, including pasta and wood-fired pizzas for lunch and dinner. Helmed by Florence-native chef Saverio Posarelli and wife Devon Wolf, the bustling eatery features a menu of tradition-rich dishes that reflect Posarelli’s Tuscan roots, such as the Tagliatelli With Wild Mushrooms and Black Truffle Sauce, as well as grilled steaks and fresh fish. Other standouts include the Wagyu Beef Burger, Grilled Spanish Octopus Salad, and Basta’s take on ramen, Tagliolini in Brodo.

NEW BEDDA MIA

1218 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-770-8777 beddamiasantabarbara.com

Sicilian; Entrées $29–$59, Pastas $26–$36

Presenting a cozy interior decorated with photos of Sicilian scenes and a menu packed with authentic dishes, this restaurant is a love song to Sicily. Chef Alberto Morello and his wife Elaine Andersen Morello, who own and run Olio e Limone Ristorante, Olio Pizzeria, and Olio Bottega in Santa Barbara, operate this warm and welcoming eatery. Alberto’s Sicilian roots show in offerings like his twist on the traditional Sicilian Pasta alla Norma: half-sleeve

pasta tubes imported from Sicily with swordfish, eggplant, tomato, and mint. Fresh seafood is a focus, but meats, including breaded pecorino-crusted lamb chops, share the spotlight. About 40 wines from Sicily, along with other Italian regions and California, make a perfect pairing.

BELL’S 406 Bell St. Los Alamos, 805-344-4609 bellsrestaurant.com

French; Entrées $18–$27

Daisy and Gregory Ryan, alums of Per Se, Thomas Keller’s Michelin-starred New York restaurant, helm this Frenchinspired bistro in the historic town of Los Alamos. Located in a building that served as a bank in the early 1900s and as a biker bar later, Bell’s delivers classics like steak tartare, wild Burgundy snails served with bread from Bob’s Well Bread Bakery down the street, and coq au vin. For lunch, try the French dip made with roasted rib eye. Reservations are available through the website or via email to info@bellsrestaurant.com.

BIBI JI 734 State St.

Santa Barbara, 805-560-6845 bibijisb.com

Indian; $10–$16, Grill $15–$25, Curries $10–$18, Chef’s Tasting $50 per person

A short stroll from Stearns Wharf and the beaches along the Santa Barbara waterfront, Bibi Ji presents an approachable and modern twist on traditional Indian cuisine. The spacious restaurant, designed with a vibrant, eclectic decor, also has a private back patio for dining while taking in the fresh ocean air. Owners Alejandro Medina and James Beard Award–winning sommelier Rajat Parr offer a menu that highlights an abundance of local seafood, traditional coconut curries, a bounty of fresh regional produce cooked in Indian spices, a Chef’s Tasting menu, and an extensive list of natural wines. The critically acclaimed restaurant was included in The New York Times ’ “52 Places to Go in 2019.”

BOAR DOUGH TASTING ROOM

5015 Cornell Road

Agoura Hills, 818-889-2387

boardoughtastingroom.com American; Entrées $16–$28 Sunday Brunch

This cozy hidden gem is a perfect spot for dinner or a bite (or two) before or after a movie at the next-door theater. Sip from an international wine list (the friendly owners, Charles and Joanne Bruchez, are happy to help with a selection) while enjoying starters like charcuterie and cheese boards and bacon-wrapped dates with Manchego, fresh salads, and pizzas. Entrées include sweet and spicy fried chicken breast and crispy pork belly tacos.

For a treat try Blueberry Bliss, a tarte flambé showcasing the all-American berries with goat cheese, thyme, and honey. Sunday brunch features omelets and other egg dishes, waffles

RANDY STROMSOE MASTER SILVERSMITH 2022 San Luis Obispo Countywide Open Studios Tour

You are invited to experience this rare opportunity to visit our private studio and showroom.

October 8/9 & 15/16 10 am to 5 pm

Stromsoe has more than 50 years of experience serving collectors, dealers, museums, and the general public. Our Blue Barn studio is located at 3775 Old Creek on the corner of HWY 46 West, and is easily within a 20-minute drive from Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay, Templeton, Paso Robles, and dozens of excellent wineries and restaurants. This event is sponsored by ARTS OBISPO. Catalogs and maps are available online or at distribution points throughout the county. Visit artsobispo.org for more information. randystromsoe@gmail.com | randystromsoe.com

Where to Eat Now

(banana and Nutella, anyone?), and pizzas like the Mr. Johnstone with marinated salmon (also available at dinner). Happy hour on Wednesdays through Fridays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. offers half-price pizzas and $5 house wines, beers, and sangria.

BOB’S WELL BREAD BAKERY 550 Bell St. Los Alamos, 805-344-3000 and Bob’s Well Bread Bakery at the Ballard Store 2449 Baseline Ave., Suite 101 Ballard, 805-691-9549 bobswellbread.com

European; Pastries and Breads $1.50–$20, Entrées $7–$13

Located in a refurbished 1920s-era service station with its original Douglas fir floors intact, this artisanal bakery is well worth a visit. For the best selection, arrive at 7 a.m. on Thursdays through Mondays, when the doors open and aromatic scones, bagels, kouign-amann, pain au chocolat, and other pastries come out of the ovens. Loaves of naturally leavened, burnished-crust breads follow soon after. Special daily breads include gluten-free Centennial Loaf and pain aux lardons (Saturdays and Sundays). The on site café serves breakfast and lunch (think avocado toast tartine, croque monsieur sandwiches, and grilled bread with pâté and onionbacon marmalade) until 3 p.m. Grab-and-go items for DIY picnics include ficelle sandwiches made with French ham, Emmentaler cheese, and housemade butter. Well Bread Wines created by Doug Margerum are available by the glass or bottle.

BOUCHON

9 W. Victoria St. Santa Barbara, 805-730-1160 bouchonsantabarbara.com Wine Country Cuisine; Entrées $26–$38 Romantic

Bouchon celebrates the local, from its carefully curated wine list to the craftspeople overseeing the successful remodeling of the garden patio at the front entrance. Executive chef Greg Murphy follows suit,

Settle into the bright, modern interior of the newly opened Mokutan (mokutan-japaneseizakaya-restaurant.business.site) Japanese restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara for the choose-yourown lunch combo or a dinner of teriyaki Wagyu rib eye and whole lobster tail topped with Santa Barbara uni (sea urchin) and chives. Udon and sushi rolls are offered all day, and don’t miss the dinneronly omakase sashimi featuring kasugodai (young sea bream), shima aji (striped jack), and other delicacies flown in fresh from Japan. Wednesday through Friday happy hour features house sake, Sapporo and Orion draft beer, and bar nibbles, like chicken drumettes and Japanese sweet potato fries.

using farmers market ingredients in dishes like panroasted local white fish with wilted dandelion greens or a soup featuring white carrots from Tutti Frutti Farms. (Murphy’s Foodie Stroll menu includes a tour of the Tuesday farmers market followed by a threecourse meal with wine for $95 per person.) Add the gracious presence of proprietor Mitchell Sjerven and you have the ingredients for the first Santa Barbaraarea restaurant in a decade to earn the AAA Four Diamond award for excellence.

CAFÉ BIZOU

30315 Canwood St., #14 Agoura Hills, 818-991-9560 cafebizou.com French; Entrées $17–$28

Cozy and candlelit, Café Bizou offers French comfort food in an unstuffy atmosphere. It’s known for wellcrafted classics such as traditional bouillabaisse, lobster bisque, escargots persillade, steak au poivre, double truffle pommes frites, along with plats du jour. Also look for grilled fresh fish, steaks, chops, chicken, pastas, and risotto. This is high-end food without the prices to match. A salad added to your dinner is $2 or $3, and wine buffs rejoice at the $2 per bottle corkage fee.

UPDATE THE DUTCHESS

457 E. Ojai Ave. Ojai, 805-640-7987 thedutchessojai.com Burmese-Californian & Bakery; Entrées $16–$48

This all-day bakery, café, and Burmese-Californian restaurant is run by Ojai residents Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb, restaurateurs of the acclaimed Rustic Canyon Family of eateries in Santa Monica. Here, they partner with pastry chef Kelsey Brito and chef Saw Naing, whose menu reflects his childhood in Burma. In the morning, pair a fresh-baked pastry with locally roasted Bonito coffee. Shareable plates made from locally sourced ingredients hold sway at dinner. Try the biryani, made with organic chicken, basmati rice, and warm spices and covered in house-made puff pastry. The evolving list of South Asian–inspired desserts includes treats such as Passion Fruit Lassi Pie. Sips are market- driven cocktails, regional craft beers, and small- production Central Coast and international wines. Sit in inviting indoor dining rooms, furnished with vintage finds and antiques, or on the vine-draped patio.

E + MON

2805 Agoura Road Westlake Village, 805-371-3693 eplusmon.com Sushi; Entrées $12–$27

Chef-owner Hidetoshi “Teddy” Seike, a restaurateur who was raised in Japan, joins forces with head chef Koji Miyamoto, whose cuisine has earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition, at this stylish eatery in the Westlake Commons. They offer a creative lunch and dinner menu of sushi, sashimi, bao (steamed buns), and Asian salads that spotlight seasonal ingredients. Look for signature rolls such as the E + Mon Crunch Roll, featuring spicy tuna and shrimp tempura with chive mayo, avocado, sesame, sweet soy, cucumber, and citrus sauce. Premium sake, Japanese craft beer, and California wines are the perfect sips.

EMBER RESTAURANT 1200 E. Grand Ave. Arroyo Grande, 805-474-7700 emberwoodfire.com California-Mediterranean; Small Plates $10–$17, Pizzas $18–$20, Entrées $23–$32

Named for the wood fires used to cook the restaurant’s seasonal and farm-fresh dishes, Ember is the project of executive chef Brian Collins, an Arroyo Grande native who shares skills he honed at Chez Panisse in Berkeley and Full of Life Flatbread

in Los Alamos with his hometown. The menu, like the beer and wine list, is locally focused, changes monthly, and includes rustic specialties such as crispy kale and house-made fennel sausage pizza, Jidori chicken alongside a wedge of grilled polenta and farmers market veggies, and grilled rib eye served over roasted potatoes and topped with a decadent garlic confit and avocado chimichurri.

UPDATE FIRST & OAK 409 First St. Solvang, 805-688-1703 firstandoak.com Modern European; Five-Course Tasting Menu $85 per guest; À La Carte Entrées $29–$48

This charming eatery at the Mirabelle Inn was recognized with the Plate designation in the Michelin Guide California 2019. Chef Javier Ramirez combines local ingredients with classical techniques for his seasonal five-course tasting menu, offered in addition to the à la carte menu. Look for dishes such as Roasted Cauliflower with truffle and chive vinaigrette, Kimchi Cracklings, miso-marinated duck breast, seasonal risotto, house-made pasta, local wildcaught seafood, and 28-day aged prime New York steak. A well-curated wine list includes international and Central Coast bottlings and interesting varietals.

FULL OF LIFE FLATBREAD 225 Bell St. Los Alamos, 805-344-4400 fulloflifefoods.com Californian Flatbreads and Entrées $9–$27

Opened in 2003, this down-to-earth gem has become a foodie destination. Dinner is served on Thursdays through Sundays, with lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Owner Clark Staub’s vision rings deliciously true in every bite of the fresh salads, flatbreads, and entrées made with seasonal ingredients from local farmers markets and artisan food producers. For flatbreads, look for the vegetarian Shaman’s Bread with a crunch of New Cuyama pistachios and the Nitrate-Free Pepperoni and Peppers. Diners who sit at the bar can order food there, too, and seating is available outside.

HELENA AVENUE BAKERY 131 Anacapa St., Suite C Santa Barbara, 805-880-3383 helenaavenuebakery.com Baked Goods, California-Eclectic Entrées $4–$14

The artisanal bakery and café is brought to you by the masterminds behind The Lark, Lucky Penny, and Loquita in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone. The address says Anacapa Street, but walk in from Helena Avenue for the quickest access to Dart Coffee drinks and croissants, scones, cookies, and other pastries made with seasonal ingredients. Open daily, the bakery serves breakfast and lunch. Morning meal offerings include dishes like Green Eggs & Ham made with spicy green harissa and grits topped with a fried egg. The lunch menu features salads and sandwiches, plus specials like Nashville Hot Chicken served with house-made pickles. The bakery’s rustic patio is shared by its neighbor, the Santa Barbara Wine Collective, which offers curated tasting flights and wines by the glass and bottle.

HOTEL CALIFORNIAN 36 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-882-0100 thehotelcalifornian.com/santa_barbara_ restaurants/ Eclectic; Small Plates $12–$19

Built on the grounds of the original Hotel Californian less than a block from Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara’s newest resort pays careful attention to all the luxurious details while retaining a casual yet elegant vibe. Its

dining options are equally skilled. Blackbird, a cocktail bar located on the ground floor of the hotel, features lounge-style seating, a creative menu of small plates from executive chef Travis Watson, and inventive cocktails by mixologist Devon Espinosa in addition to local wines and craft beer. (Fans of Alfred Hitchcock will get a kick out of his photo in the dining room.) Located in a separate building from Blackbird, Goat Tree is an order-at-the-counter café with its own patio and, in the dining room, windows with a view of the kitchen. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with grab-and-go options for impromptu picnics.

HOTEL SAN LUIS OBISPO 877 Palm St.

San Luis Obispo, 805-235-0700 hotel-slo.com

Various Cuisines; Entrées $13–$46

Chef Ryan Fancher, who brings a culinary pedigree that includes a stint at Napa Valley’s French Laundry, oversees the dining options at this modern urban resort, which has a playful vibe. A contemporary spin on a classic steak house, Ox + Anchor sets an elegant yet approachable tone for dinner. Large sliding glass walls in the stylish dining room open to a covered alfresco terrace. In addition to signature steaks and seafood, the menu features shared plates like Crispy Crab Cake and Goat Cheese Croquettes. Central Coast wines take the stage on the thoughtfully curated wine list. The bright, casual Piadina offers a fresh California take on Italian cuisine based around the wood-fired oven for all-day service. Adult libations and light bites are served at The Rooftop Terrace and High Bar amid lush planted greenery and a bocce court with views of the rolling hills.

INDUSTRIAL EATS

181 Industrial Way Buellton, 805-688-8807 industrialeats.com

New American; Entrées $10–$18

Part restaurant, part butcher shop, and part takeout, this popular spot is hard to miss—just look for the colorful mural with floating sausages and the retro neon “EATS” sign in front. Inside, you’ll find locally sourced dishes by owner and executive chef Jeff Olsson. The frequently changing menu features an array of wood-fired pizzas, such as rosemary with Parmesan or skirt steak, tomatillo, and queso fresco (a soft, mild, white Mexican cheese). Small plates include chicken liver with guanciale (Italian cured pork), while the sandwich list offers selections like the Crispy Pork Banh Mi. Local wine and beer options are on tap. Check out the deli case for imported cheeses, house-cured meats, and other delicacies.

UPDATE INTERMEZZO BY WINE CASK

813 Anacapa St.

Santa Barbara, 805-966-9463 intermezzosb.com

Modern American; Entrées $19–$52

Located in the historic El Paseo, Intermezzo is the casually stylish sister restaurant to the long-beloved Wine Cask. A collaboration between proprietor John O’Neill and executive chef Josh Brown, the eatery features modern American cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. Favorites include Spicy Capicola Pizza, Shetland Isle Salmon, and the Cask Burger. Nightly specials reflect seasonal farm-fresh picks. Sit by the fireplace or at the copper-clad bar, in the dining room hung with framed photos of O’Neill’s and Brown’s favorite punk rockers, or outside in the interior courtyard or the street-side portico.

LA PALOMA CAFÉ

702 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, 805-966-7029 lapalomasb.com

Californian/Mexican/Spanish; Entrées $21–$30 Weekend Brunch

This neighborhood favorite occupies a historic building and a special place in the hearts of locals. The original La Paloma Café was open from 1940 until 1983; for the next 37 years it was Paradise Café. Now owned by Acme Hospitality, the restaurant offers a creative menu focused on oakgrilled meats and fish, along with seasonal produce. Chef Jeremy Tummel melds Spanish and Mexican influences in dishes such as Santa Barbara Mission Chicken with apple-and–pink peppercorn sauce and Santa Maria–Style Snake River Farm Wagyu Tri Tip. Sip a specialty margarita, local wine, or beer. Seating is offered on a two-level outdoor patio or inside the casual dining room. Dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday; Saturday and Sunday brunch is from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

THE LARK

131 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, 805-284-0370 thelarksb.com New American; Entrées $18–$42 Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone takes flight with The Lark, named for the Pullman train that once made overnight runs between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The past is present in the restaurant’s setting, a former fish market remodeled to include exposed brick walls, subway tile, communal tables, and private booths fashioned from church pews. As culinary conductor, executive chef Jason Paluska oversees a thoroughly modern menu that highlights local ingredients. West Coast oysters with Goleta caviar lime are popular starters to shared plates of roasted chicken with green peppercorn gastrique, depending on the season. Craft brews, wines by the glass, cocktails, and mocktails extend the artisanal spirit into the bar.

LIDO RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 2727 Shell Beach Road Pismo Beach, 805-773-8900 thedolphinbay.com/lido Californian; Entrées $16–$58 Daily Brunch, Great View Chef Richard Pfaff brings his eye for fresh and local ingredients to a menu that echoes the creativity displayed by the art glass in Lido’s dining room. Appetizers include oysters with pink peppercorn mignonette and beef carpaccio with dijon aioli. Entrées include pasta carbonara, house-made burgers, and a generous rib eye with herbed porcini butter. The Chef’s Tasting Menu offers five courses for $75 ($100 with wine pairings). A daily affair, brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. features a three-course plated option with bottomless mimosas as well as à la carte dishes.

LITTLE DOM’S SEAFOOD

686 Linden Ave. Carpinteria, 805-749-7400 ldseafood.com Seafood, Italian; Entrées $23–$28, Pizza $14–$19 Open for dinner, Little Dom’s is the latest culinary venture from Los Angeles restaurateur Warner Ebbink and executive chef Brandon Boudet. Leather booths, a restored wooden bar, and a raw bar create a com fortable old-school ambience. The seafood-forward menu focuses on local fish and includes pizzas from the wood-burning oven, handmade pastas, and Italian classics like chicken Parmesan. Guests get things started with appetizers like chilled, Creolestyle, boiled shrimp and Santa Barbara live uni, and sip local wines, craft beers, and classic cocktails.

LOQUITA

202 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-880-3380 loquitasb.com Modern Spanish; Entrées $19–$42 Great Patio

Pastrami Benedict and egg-white omelets are among the morning meal options at Serendipity Cafe & Bar in Moorpark (serendipitymoorpark. com), but Micheladas, Bloody Marys, and other breakfast cocktails are available all day long. Bar appetizers, like avocado tempura and ahi poke nachos, serve as accompaniment for a wide selection of wines or bottomless beer every day from 7 a.m. to closing. A club sandwich, Beyond burger, and Philly cheesesteak anchor the lunch menu. The late-night steak house offers 28-day aged, hand-cut steaks as well as seafood and roast chicken entrees. Try a signature cocktail, like The Rose Tartini, or one of a long list of specialty margaritas.

Loquita is Spanish slang for a wild, fun-loving girl, but this eatery’s menu and food are seriously irreproachable. Executive chef Peter Lee sources the finest meat, fish, cheese, and produce to create festive, communal, à la carte meals, including tapas, pintxos (small bites typically pierced with a toothpick), and signature paella dishes. Drinks autentico include sangria and Spanish-style gin and tonics. Enjoy the spacious patio with two inviting fireplaces, or try the small-bites bar named, naturally, Poquita.

UPDATE MAD & VIN 1576 Mission Drive Solvang, 805-688-3121 thelandsby.com

Wine Country Cuisine; Entrées $20–$48 Saturday and Sunday Brunch

Located inside The Landsby hotel, this stylish restaurant is named for the Danish words for “food” and “wine.” The menu from chef Beto Huizar features wine country–inspired cuisine with a nod to Solvang’s heritage in dishes such as the Nordic Caesar salad, a mélange of local greens, sauteed garlic shrimp, fried sourdough croutons, and dillcaraway Caesar dressing. At dinner, the Flat Iron Steak with duck fat fries and the Cioppino, paired with selections from a primarily Santa Barbara County wine list, are standouts. Saturday and Sunday brunch presents egg dishes, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and fish and chips. In the bar, happy hour is Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and includes a menu of shareable bites.

UPDATE MADE IN ITALY BISTRO BY ANTONIO SESSA

3825 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Unit F Westlake Village, 805-370-8667 madeinitalybistro.com Italian; Entrées and Pizzas $16–$27 Chef-owner Antonio Sessa and partner and sous chef Giana Barone serve up authentic southern Italian cuisine and warm hospitality at this bustling bistro. Dig into Neapolitan-style pizzas from an Italian wood-fired oven, house-made pastas, fresh insalate and main dishes from family recipes. Try Sessa’s handmade cavatelli ricotta pasta with his nonna’s Bolognese. At lunch, you can’t go wrong with panini, such as the prosciutto with house-made tomato jam. The bistro is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Where to Eat Now

MARU KITCHEN

2728 Townsgate Road

Westlake Village, 805-371-4577

Instagram @marukitchenwestlake Korean; Entrées $15–$30

This family-owned restaurant by Andy and Soojin Jung turns out traditional bibimbap bowls, japchae (glassy sweet potato) noodles, and Korean fried chicken, presented popcorn-style with spicy-sweet sauce. House specialties include creamy ddeok (a chewy, bite-sized rice cake) topped with sesame seeds; kalbi ssam (sliced, grilled beef short ribs); and kimchi gumbo over rice. Beer, wine, and soju are served. Seating is provided indoors or outside on a dog-friendly patio, and takeout is available. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.

Born in the Year of the Rooster, owner-chef Collin Crannell cooks whatever he feels like putting on the menu each day at this foodie version of a neighborhood café located in a Westlake Village shopping center. That’s what’s in the name. On the plate, Crannell—formerly the executive chef at The Lobster in Santa Monica—focuses on from-scratch fare showcasing local, seasonal produce, seafood, and proteins at lunch and dinner. Trademark dishes include crispy gnocchi with roasted cherry tomatoes, Parmesan fondue, and a swirl of aged balsamic, as well as a half chicken with roasted garlic and butternut squash. Wine and craft beers are available (ask co-owner Vicki Crannell for pairing suggestions).

MOUTHFUL EATERY

Familiar faces at the Channel Islands Certified Farmer’s Market, fisher Chris Williams and his wife Dania have opened The Fisherman’s Wife (fishermanswife.com), a new brickand-mortar eatery and fish market in Thousand Oaks. Expect the freshest fish available in lunch and dinner tacos, sushi wraps, salads, small-batch ceviche with housemade tortilla chips, and seared ahi sandwiches on ciabatta. A build-yourown grill plate starts with a choice of the daily catch, or a 16-ounce rib eye, with creative seasonings, like Italian-herbed garlic-panko crust, lemon-caper beurre blanc, or roasted tomato-butter sauce. Sides range from onion rings and fries to cilantro rice or peas with pancetta.

MESA VERDE

1919 Cliff Drive

Santa Barbara, 805-963-4474 mesaverderestaurant.com

Vegetarian; Entrées $9–$16

Chef Greg Arnold is not a fan of the term “vegetarian.” It makes food sound bland and boring, he believes, and what he calls his “plant-based” menu is anything but. A magician in the kitchen, he uses kale, mushrooms, lentils, and just about everything else that grows from the soil to create dishes that pop off the plate. Tacos with black beans, blueberry chipotle salsa, and heirloom tomato are a colorful symphony of acidic and sweet flavors. Flatbread pizza is a specialty, and many dishes are perfect for sharing. Vegan chef Chris Rayman contributes fine desserts, house-made vegan cheese, and gluten-free pizza crust to the seasonal menu. Eat inside or on the patio, which is great for people watching in Santa Barbara’s Mesa neighborhood. Open for smoothies, cold-pressed juices, herbal teas, and coffee in the morning.

MOODY ROOSTER

2900 Agoura Road Westlake Village, 805-370-3131 moodyroosterwlv.com New American; Entrées $13–$30

OJAI RÔTIE 469 E. Ojai Ave. Ojai, 805-798-9227 ojairotie.com

Lebanese-French; Entrées $14–$30

2626 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, 805-777-9222 mouthfuleatery.com Peruvian, Californian; Entrées $9–$14 Kid-Friendly

Don’t let the multicolored chalkboard menu or the solar-powered toy pigs decorating the dining room fool you: This order-at-the-counter café may specialize in salads, sandwiches, and what are called “powerbowls” in a fun, casual atmosphere, but chef and co-owner Luis Sanchez is serious about the food—witness Mouthful’s inclusion on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. for 2015. La Sarita, a sandwich of house-roasted pork shoulder served with fried sweet potatoes and pickled red onions, gets its heat from an aioli made with aji amarillo, a pepper from Sanchez’s native Peru. Additions at dinner might include malbec-braised short ribs on polenta one night and savory chicken stew called aji de gallina the next. Desserts include alfajores, delicate shortbread cookies filled with salted caramel. The Foodies in Training children’s menu includes a turkey slider with fruit, yucca fries, and a drink, all for $6.

NELLA KITCHEN & BAR 2860 Grand Ave. Los Olivos, 805-686-1359 nellakitchen.com California-Italian Entrées $36–$44, Pinsas $14–$35, Small Plates $14–$26

The team behind S.Y. Kitchen in Santa Ynez operates this rustic-chic restaurant and bar located inside the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn. Executive chef and partner Luca Crestanelli oversees the offerings, favoring refined comfort food made with farm-fresh ingredients. The evolving menu features selections of cheeses and charcuterie, small plates, and main courses like Wagyu Short Ribs. Crispy Roman-style pinsa (which has a lower gluten index than pizza) is perfect for nibbling with specialty cocktails, local beers, and Italian drafts, or a glass from the wine list that spotlights Santa Barbara County vintages, including selections from Fess Parker Winery. Warm woods and earth tones make the dining room inviting, and the outdoor patio seating is divine.

NOI DUE TRATTORIA

29020 Agoura Road Agoura Hills, 818-852-7090 noiduetrattoria.com Italian; Entrées $28–$42, Pastas $15–$24

With a hospitality background that includes stints at Le Cirque in New York and Toscana in Brentwood, owner Antonio De Cicco joins forces with chef Daniele Gallo, who grew up with De Cicco outside Naples, Italy, to head up this warm, sophisticated yet unstuffy eatery. Enduring Italian favorites include pastas such as Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe, Eggplant Parmigiana, grilled filet mignon, and branzino. Tiramisu made tableside is a special treat. The wine list offers Californian and Italian labels, some priced at $10 a glass during happy hour.

Strung with white lights, the charming, tree-shaded patio at this casual counter-service spot makes every meal feel like a picnic. Serving dinner and weekend lunch, owners and veteran chefs Claud Mann and Lorenzo “Larry” Nicola focus on Lebanese-Frenchstyle free-range rotisserie chicken, fresh-baked organic sourdough bread, and farmers’ market-driven side dishes, such as caramelized cauliflower and tabbouleh salad. Other offerings include chicken sandwiches, inventive salads, and house-made chocolate-chunk cookies and brownies. At the Winebox, a small stand-alone structure, patrons can order beer and wine from a wine list curated by som melier Emily Johnston, which highlights vintages from Santa Barbara, Ojai, and selected regions in France.

OLIO E LIMONE RISTORANTE, OLIO BOTTEGA AND OLIO PIZZERIA 11 W. Victoria St., Suites 17-18, and Suite 21 Santa Barbara, 805-899-2699 olicucina.com

Italian; Restaurant Entrées $20–$42, Bottega $4–$12, Pizzeria $6–$28

Husband-and-wife owners Alberto Morello and Elaine Andersen Morello preside over these three Italian venues. At the ristorante, salads, seafood, chicken, and chops are served alongside housemade pastas and sauces. Olio Bottega, a casual breakfast, lunch, snack, and retail spot next door, serves egg dishes, Italian croissants, and espresso drinks for breakfast and hot Italian street food specialties and panini on house-made focaccia for lunch. Shop from a selection of Italian specialty products, cocktails, beer, and wine to take home. At the pizzeria, enjoy chicken, fish, and beef entrées, pasta, antipasti, salads, and panini. Pizzas are topped with gourmet ingredients, such as sautéed rapini, spicy salami, and black truffles.

OLIVELLA 905 Country Club Road Ojai, 805-646-1111 ojaivalleyinn.com

California-Italian; Entrées $37–$65 (a threecourse experience is $90 or $150 with wine pairings; four-course experience is $110 or $180 with wine pairings)

Great Views, Romantic

This fine-dining restaurant at Ojai Valley Inn features California cuisine with an Italian twist. From chef de cuisine Andrew Foskey’s menus come beautifully plated dishes like Kabocha Squash Ravioli, Tails & Trotters Farm Tenderloin of Pork, and Wild Pacific Sea Bass. Save room for the Citrus Olive Oil Cake or Crème Fraîche Panna Cotta, just two of execu tive pastry chef Joel Gonzalez’s creative dessert options. Dining spaces include a private wine room as well as a veranda overlooking the first and final holes of the property’s world-class golf course. The restaurant also hosts winemaker dinners.

NEW OX BONE RAMEN

30869 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Westlake Village, 805-532-7396 oxboneramen.com

Japanese; Entrées $18–$34

First popularized at sister restaurant E+Mon in Westlake Village, the ramen at this sleek eatery combines owner Hidetoshi “Teddy” Seike’s nostalgia for the traditional noodle dish of his native Fukuoka, Japan, with techniques perfected by two-time Michelin star–awarded chef Koji Miyamoto. The unique broths are made with premium ingredients: beef bone marrow and oxtail, chicken and fresh

nutrient-rich vegetables, or shitake mushrooms and kombu seaweed. The noodles are fresh, and selections from a wide array of toppings, such as arugula, wood ear mushrooms, and ajitama (marinated, soft-boiled egg), customize each bowl. Also on the menu are Japanese fried chicken and original bites, like Asian Nachos with ground pork and chiles, Crispy rice with Italian-truffle guacamole, Maitake Mushroom Tempura with cumin salt, and Spicy Braised Brisket Bao Buns. Dessert options include Fuji Apple Crumble à la mode and coconut rice pudding made from premium Matsuri rice.

PARADISE PANTRY 218 and 222 E. Main St. Ventura, 805-641-9440 paradisepantry.com Rustic; Entrées $9–$22

Sunday Brunch

This combination café, wine shop, and cheese store occupies adjoining storefronts in Ventura’s historic downtown. Both spaces feature original brick walls and delightfully creaky wood floors. While 218 E. Main St. is devoted to wine sales and cheese and charcuterie displays, 222 offers wine tasting and soups, salads, cheese plates, and pâté samplers. Panini-style sandwiches include the Italiano, packed with arugula and truffle cheese and wrapped in prosciutto. (That’s right: The meat is on the outside.) Named for chef and co-owner Kelly Briglio, Kel’s Killer Mac is made with a new over-the-top combination of ingredients each week. (Gluten-free options are available.) Typically scheduled once a month, Sunday brunch features such dishes as Kel’s crab cakes with Meyer lemon crème fraîche, and French toast made with cinnamon brioche. Join the email list for news of upcoming popup appearances by visiting chefs and winemakers.

PETIT VALENTIEN 1114 State St. #14 Santa Barbara, 805-966-0222 petitvalentien.com French; Entrées $20–$25

Weekend Ethiopian Brunch

Step into this cozy French bistro in La Arcada Plaza for lunch or dinner to feel transported to Paris. Candles glow, glasses clink, and the menu lists such classics as escargot and pan-seared duck breast. But there are also surprises, like the Ethiopian weekend brunch, served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Sunday supper with a different one-time French menu each week. Sip wines from California or France or local beers on tap. Diners are also served outdoors in the plaza.

UPDATE PICO LOS ALAMOS 458 Bell St. Los Alamos, 805-344-1122 picolosalamos.com New American Shared Plates and Entrées $14–$16

The spirit of a one-stop general store lives on in the historic town of Los Alamos, the northern gateway to the Santa Ynez Valley. The outstanding farmerdriven dinner menu by chef Cameron Ingle is based on family-style sharing and changes frequently. Featured dishes might include options like Finley Farms roasted carrots with coriander yogurt and marcona almonds, whole roasted branzino with salsa verde and sautéed spinach, and grass-fed Santa Carota rib-eye steak with red wine sauce and farm greens. Pair the fare with a signature cocktail, beer, or wine from the well-curated list spotlighting small-scale vintners, which earned Pico “Top 100 Wine Restaurant” recognition from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The spacious, refurbished building is also the tasting room of Lane Tanner and Will Henry’s Lumen Wines of Santa Maria. Upscale but down home, Pico is keeping destination diners as well as the local cowboys coming back for more.

ROBLAR WINERY 3010 Roblar Ave. Santa Ynez, 805-686-2603 roblarwinery.com Californian; Lunch Entrées $18–$28

Great Views, Sunday Brunch

The tasting room at this 40-acre estate vineyard offers seasonal lunch and brunch menus from chef Peter Cham with a focus on fresh produce from the property’s farm. Try the prosciutto grilled cheese sandwich with onion marmalade at lunch, offered Monday through Thursday. Birds and Bubbles buttermilk fried chicken, served with rotating side dishes and Roblar’s sparkling wine, is a Thursday special. A “full farm” menu, offered Friday and Saturday, includes smoked salmon deviled eggs, fresh salads, and wood-fired pizzas. Brunch is served on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Online reservations, with a wine tasting option, are encouraged.

RORY’S PLACE 139 East Ojai Ave. Ojai rorysplaceojai.com American; Entrées $18–$36

This cozy establishment owned by sisters Rory and Meave McAuliffe exudes playfulness in its fare, from a little gems salad with persimmon, cured egg, and bread crumbs to a lemon meringue pie dessert with guava jelly. Menus are seasonal, but dishes may include options like roasted half-chicken with woodfired escarole, hanger steak, and pasta with sea urchin. Ciders, beers, and wines are chosen with accompaniment in mind.

SAMA SAMA KITCHEN 1208 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-965-4566 samasamakitchen.com at Topa Topa Brewing 345 East Ojai Ave. Ojai, 805-335-4175 topatopa.beer Asian; Shared Plates $11–$42

This hip spot buzzes with guests who come for wellprepared southeast Asian food made with ingredients sourced from local farms. Shareable plates include the signature jidori chicken wings with sweet and spicy tamarind glaze. A recently opened second location resides within Topa Topa Brewing in downtown Ojai, where the beer-friendly menu echoes the bold flavors of the original location but is especially tailored to pair with a pint. Order at the walk-up window and sit indoors or on the street-side patio.

SANTO MEZCAL 119 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-883-3593 santomezcalsb.com Contemporary Mexican; Entrées $15–$26 Located a block from the beach on the edge of the buzzy Funk Zone, this stylish venture from restaurateur Carlos Luna offers a fresh take on Mexican dishes made with local ingredients. The menu celebrates seafood with plates such as Halibut Ceviche and Camarones al Mescal (Mexican shrimp sautéed in a creamy mezcal sauce). Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily. A full bar pours creative craft cocktails and selections from wine and beer lists with local and international labels. Happy hour hums weekdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

SLATE BISTRO & CRAFT BAR

4850 Santa Rosa Road Camarillo, 805-388-9888 theslatebistro.com Global; Entrées $18–$35

This locals’ favorite has top-notch food and elegant decor, provides friendly service, and exhibits plenty of attention to detail. Craft cocktails, like the Clean Slate, are creative and meticulously made. Starters include fresh sushi, salads, house-made soups, and

fried calamari. Entrées lean toward flavor-packed dishes such as New York Steak with peppercorn sauce, Crispy Chicken with chardonnay-bacon gravy, and Grilled Salmon with sun-dried-tomato chimichurri. Don’t miss the macaroni and cheese side dish.

Two romantically lit patios have fireplaces and heat lamps. Happy hour features deals on appetizers like smoked-pork tacos, beer, wine, and draft cocktails.

New on the scene in downtown Paso Robles is Hemingway’s Steakhouse (ehsteaks.com), offering elevated dinner fare and 1920s-era elegance that evokes the spirit of the late American author who is the restaurant’s namesake. Cuts of locally raised USDA prime beef, wild game, and American Wagyu are prepared via an on-site wet- and dry-aging system, then seared at 1,500-plus degrees, and served with sauces like shallot whiskey glaze. A double-tiered seafood tower and signature cocktails are fitting classics amid the dark wood, chandeliers, and black and gold interior. Brunch is served on weekends.

THE SPOON TRADE 295 West Grand Ave. Grover Beach, 805-904-6773 thespoontrade.com American; Entrées $15–$32

Great Patio, Sunday Brunch

The Spoon Trade serves what chef Jacob Town calls “elevated comfort food” in a bright and comfortable neighborhood hangout. Classic dishes (think: fried chicken, pasta, and upside-down cakes) are reimagined with of-the-moment flavors and local ingredients alongside a progressive beer and wine list.

SUGARFISH BY SUSHI NOZAWA 4799 Commons Way Calabasas, 818-223-9966 sugarfishsushi.com Sushi; À la Carte Sushi and Rolls $5–$15, “Trust Me” Menus $20–$52

Located in The Commons at Calabasas, this outpost of the small chain focuses on high-quality traditional rolls, sushi, sashimi, and sake for lunch and dinner. Sugarfish is best known for its Trust Me meals, its version of omakase, a Japanese phrase that loosely means “I’ll leave it to you.” You can’t go wrong by ordering any of the three—Trust Me, Trust Me Lite, or The Nozawa Trust Me—each of which includes a sampling of sushi, sashimi, and hand rolls; however an a la carte menu is also offered. Seating, either in the sleek indoor dining room or on the spacious patio, is on a first-come-first-served basis. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.

S.Y. KITCHEN

1110 Faraday St. Santa Ynez, 805-691-9794 sykitchen.com Italian; Entrées $20–$38

Located on a quiet side street in Santa Ynez, this cozy spot is an oasis of craft cocktails and rustic

Where to Eat Now

Italian fare in wine and tri-tip country. Executive chef Luca Crestanelli lets his native Italian roots show in house-made pastas such as wild mushroom pappardelle, salmon puttanesca, and a don’t-miss grilled globe-artichoke appetizer. With its firepits and padded lounge seating, The Courtyard is a great place to settle in for pre-dinner cocktails and glasses of local wine or to stay for the whole meal. A lunch menu of salads, pastas, and oak-grilled meats and seafood is served daily.

TRE LUNE

1151 Coast Village Road Montecito, 805-969-2646 trelunesb.com

Italian; Entrées $18–$37

Tre Lune, or “three moons,” is part of the Montesano Group, which owns Lucky’s in Montecito and Joe’s in Santa Barbara—and it shows. The walls are dressed in black-and-white photos of celebrities from yesteryear, the floors are Old World wood, and the tables are covered in blush-colored linen. Teeny tiny chairs mounted high on the wall bear brass plates engraved with the names of regular patrons.

A ring-shaped, rolled pizza-bread appetizer is stuffed with smoked mozzarella and braised radicchio. It’s crispy outside and delicious inside. Pizzas from the stone oven can be topped with roasted eggplant, spicy sausage, or mushrooms and truffle oil. The wide selection of pastas are available in half or full portions. Veal scaloppine, rack of lamb, chicken Marsala, and even a cheeseburger round out the menu and support the extensive Italian wine list.

the optional wine pairings. The regular dinner menu includes Santa Barbara Channel sea bass with gremolata, duck confit with farro and strawberry sofrito, and pan-roasted rib eye with umami potatoes. Desserts echo the elegant simplicity of the restaurant: Bread pudding with bourbon-salted caramel sauce is a traditional standout, joined by newer options like lemon meringue ice-cream tart and a Nutella cheesecake with pretzel brittle. California wines are the focus of the international wine list.

Good Eats

BRENT’S DELI

2799 Townsgate Road Westlake Village, 805-557-1882 brentsdeli.com Deli; Entrées $6–$20

Kid-Friendly

For amazingly good Reuben sandwiches on rye bread piled high with pastrami or corned beef, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing, you can’t beat this slick deli. The booths are cushy and roomy, leaving space for your tummy to expand as you down a four-layer slice of chocolate cake or a plate full of stuffed cabbage rolls. A separate bar also offers the full menu. The patio out back allows for even more seating. A counter up front expedites take-out orders. Brent’s Deli is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

Kaapicat Cafe (kaapicatcafe.com) in Ventura pairs chai, matcha, and coffee beverages featuring brews from nearby Coastal Coffee Collective with pastries from Farmshop bakery in Santa Monica. The café’s signature item, however, is Kaapi, a South Indian filter coffee. Reflecting the heritage of owners Nicholas Babbitt and his wife, Meena, American and South Indian menu offerings include a buttermilk fried-chicken sandwich with tamarind coleslaw and mangoserrano sauce, plus a variety of samosas, idli (a savory rice cake), and masala dosa (a thin pancake) made from family recipes.

WINE CASK

813 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, 805-966-9463 winecask.com

Wine Country Cuisine

Entrées $28–$42; Chef’s Tasting Menu $75 for Five Courses, $95 for Eight Courses

Romantic Founded in 1981, the Wine Cask is pleasing palates with executive chef Jeremy Van Kralingen, a native of Hilo, Hawaii, in the kitchen. Local ingredients still inform dishes at every turn, especially in the tasting menus that feature Santa Barbara County labels in

UPDATE FINNEY’S CRAFTHOUSE 982 S. Westlake Blvd., Suite 2 Westlake Village, 805-230-9950 and 580 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo and 494 E. Main St., Ventura, 805-628-3312 and 35 State St., Suite A Santa Barbara, 805-845-3100 and 857 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, 805-439-2556 finneyscrafthouse.com American; Entrées $10–$16

Happy Hour, Kid-Friendly Consistent and satisfying eats, craft cocktails, 30 brews on tap, and California wines by the glass or bottle define the success of this gastropub by local restaurateur Gregory Finefrock. Lively atmospheres and dependable service augment a well-honed menu served at all locations, while fun distinctions, like a Skee-Ball alley and photo booth in San Luis Obispo, add to the mix. Traditional bar food goes next-level in chef Eric BosRau’s Nashville hot wings and Yuzu Buffalo wings; crispy Cheesesteak Egg Rolls with prime rib and fontina; Fried Chicken and Waffle Bites with sriracha-maple butter; and Mini Lobster Rolls with Tabasco aioli on a soft Hawaiian bun. Dough is made daily for pinsa-style pizzas, which are topped with barbecued chicken, corn or prosciutto, and arugula with spicy honey. Tacos come filled with grilled or crispy mahi mahi and Kahlua Pork Carnitas with kimchi dressing. Lighter fare takes shape in options like Moroccan Salad with mixed greens, dried cherries, feta, chickpeas, and quinoa.

NEW FRESH CURRY CHEFS 33 North Lewis Road Camarillo, 805-384-8066 freshcurrychefs.com Indian; Dine-in Entrées $10–$14 Warm spice aromas beckon at this casual eatery,

which serves authentic Indian dishes, including a roster of vegetarian and vegan options. Start with samosa or tandoori chicken tikka and move on to a tantalizing array of curries or a hearty rice bowl. A must-try is the Bombay Frankie Roll or “Indian burrito,” a street-food dish of curry, fresh vegetables, and chutney wrapped in just-baked naan. Husbandand-wife owners Yash and Kiran Narang also offer do-it-yourself meal kits that come with semiprepared ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, so guests can make their own Indian feasts at home. Prepared dishes are available for takeout, too.

JANE 1311 State St. Santa Barbara, 805-962-1311 janesb.com and Jane at The Marketplace 6940 Marketplace Drive Goleta, 805-770-5388 janeatthemarketplace.com Eclectic; Entrées $9–$34

Devoted fans keep coming back for the well-executed main dishes, pastas, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and daily specials at these sister eateries, which are named for owner Margaret Huston’s mother Jane Moody, whose pictures adorn the walls. The Santa Barbara location is open for dinner, offering entrées that range from grilled duck breast and filet mignon to Chicken Piccata and penne with house-made Bolognese sauce. For dessert, don’t miss the coconut chiffon cake. The Goleta venue is open for lunch and happy hour as well as dinner. The menu there is similar but also includes oak-fired, brick-oven pizzas.

LIMEÑA PERUVIAN EATERY

2388 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, 805-371-1370 limenaeatery.com Peruvian; Entrées $12–$19

For authentic Peruvian specialties served with pride, look no further than this friendly, family-owned café. Sit in the cheerful dining room or outside on the patio and enjoy entrées such as Polo a la Brasa rotisserie chicken and Lomo Saltado Plate, a traditional beef stir-fry dish. Appetizers include ceviche made with fresh halibut and Peruvian corn and Tamal de Pollo con Salsa Criolla, chicken tamales made in banana leaves and topped with red-onion salad. Sip wine and beer from Peru and Argentina or a pisco sour.

OYSTER LOFT

175 Pomeroy Ave. Pismo Beach, 805-295-5104 oysterloft.com Seafood; Fresh Oysters $16 per half dozen; Crudo $14–$27; Entrées $21–$47

Great Views

Savvy seafood lovers get their fix at this buzzing ocean-view spot with an outdoor patio. Oysters, such as Fanny Bay and Kumamoto, are delivered fresh daily and other fresh crudo starters include scallop carpaccio and salmon poke tacos. Preparations change seasonally, but look for pan-seared Pacific halibut and cioppino, chock-full of sea bass, mussels, prawns, and littleneck clams. Non-seafood options include hangar steak au poivre and wild mushroom and asparagus risotto. Go ahead and splurge on the peanut butter–chocolate tower. Happy hour is Mondays through Thursdays (excluding holidays) from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., offering the chef’s choice of oysters

MORE ON THE WEB

Visit 805living.com for more listings and to make quick and easy reservations at many of the restaurants listed here and on the website through Open Table.

Not too fancy, not too expensive, and a good experience all around.

on the half-shell with rice-wine mignonette for $1.50 each, $1 off draft beers, and $7 curated wines by the glass. Dinner is served nightly.

POOKIE’S THAI CUISINE

900 Hampshire Road Westlake Village, 805-381-0094 pookiethai.com Thai; Entrées $7–$13 Kid-Friendly

Downstairs in the Water Court Plaza office complex, owner Pookie creates delicious Thai dishes for lunch and dinner daily. Lunch specials are a steal at $7 to $8 each. She also has a wide selection of interesting salads like the Outrageous Beef Salad with a spicy lime dressing and the protein-rich Yam Yai salad with shrimp, chicken, egg, and peanuts in a sweet-andsour dressing. Noodle dishes are generously sized and include the classic pad Thai and the interesting Hi Yo Silver with fried noodles, shrimp, and bean sprouts. Curries, vegetarian options, and fish dishes (such as the crispy sole with tamarind and chili sauce) give diners lots of great choices not found elsewhere.

THE STONEHAUS

32039 Agoura Road Westlake Village, 818-483-1152 the-stonehaus.com Mediterranean; Sandwiches and Platters $10–$17 Dog-Friendly, Great Views, Kid Friendly, Romantic Patterned after an Italian enoteca, the aptly named Stonehaus starts each day as a coffeehouse, serving kale-berry smoothies along with baked goods, wraps, and breakfast sandwiches from Lisa Biondi, executive chef at the adjacent Mediterraneo at the Westlake Village Inn. It switches to wine bar mode in the afternoons and evenings, when the menu includes charcuterie and crostini platters, salads, panini, and desserts. The outdoor pizza oven is fired up nightly (check website for hours). Wine flights are arranged by regions, varietals, and themes. Patios overlook the waterfall and the working vineyard, which is open for picnicking on Stonehaus fare (check website for information about seasonal tastings and festivals). The picnic tables and bocce ball court are family friendly, and visiting canines get a water fountain of their own near the courtyard fireplace.

VIVA LA PASTA

525 Country Club Drive Simi Valley, 805-522-4249 vivalapastasimivalley.com Italian; Entrées $10–$35

Great Patio

The enticing aroma of sautéing garlic welcomes diners to this popular Italian eatery. Tino Divito, who has logged more than 50 years in the restaurant business and owns the spot with his wife, Maria, knows what his customers want. They come for lunch and dinner to tuck into pastas, like lasagna and manicotti, and house favorites, such as osso bucco, rack of lamb, chicken parmigiana, and veal piccata. Main dishes also include seafood and steaks, pizzas, calzones, and panini. Sauces are house-made, and bread is baked fresh daily.

Fun, Fun, Fun

No visit to Ventura Harbor—or to Ventura, period—is complete without a stop at Andria’s, a locals’ favorite since 1982. On weekends, the fast-moving line to order can stretch out onto the restaurant’s front patio. Additional seating includes indoor dining rooms decorated with vintage photos and fishing gear, and a protected patio with a view of the docks. Charbroiled fresh catch of the day dinners come with rice pilaf, bread, and a choice of salads. Some items are available in stir-fry dishes. But deep-fried is the preferred method of preparation for everything from onion rings (served in a towering stack) to halibut and chips, oysters and chips, popcorn shrimp and chips, and, well, you get the idea. The atmosphere is beach casual: Orders are called out by number when ready, and it’s up to diners to gather utensils, tartar sauce, and other fixin’s from a counter near the kitchen. Beer and wine are available. An on-site fish market is open daily.

BETTINA

1014 Coast Village Road Montecito Country Mart Montecito, 805-770-2383 bettinapizzeria.com Pizza/Italian; Entrées and Pizzas $12–$22

First-timers to Bettina may think they’ve taken a wrong turn and ended up in Italy. At this bustling, cozy neighborhood restaurant patrons sip a Venetian spritz or Negroni and nosh on naturally leavened, Neapolitanstyle pizzas dressed up with inventive toppings. Antipasti, entrées such as chicken cacciatore, and fresh salads are also on the menu, which changes seasonally but always includes vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Lunch and dinner are served daily; online orders are available for pick up.

NEW THE CLIFFDIVER

720 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, 805-370-1585 thecliffdiver.com Mexican; Entrées $13–$20

Owner Ivan Torres serves up inspired Mexican fare, including favorites from the original Malibu location (now closed), like ahi poke tostadas and tacos filled with fresh mahi-mahi, lobster, or gringo-style ground beef, cheese, and lettuce. Look for the Hamachi (yellowtail) crudo with orange aguachile (like ceviche made with orange juice and chiles) or the Surf & Turf Burrito with steak and shrimp. The vibe is casual, and the drinks are made with fresh ingredients by mixologist Rafael Quintana. Try the table-service mimosas served by the pitcher for weekend brunch.

FLOUR HOUSE

690 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, 805-544-5282 flourhouseslo.com Italian; Starters $5–$21, Pizzas $15–$20, Pastas $19–$28

With a sleek interior, dynamic menu, and portrait of Sophia Loren, Flour House isn’t just a pizzeria: It’s a love song to Italy. Co-owner and Salerno native Alberto Russo works magic with imported flour and a Stefano Ferrara pizza oven, the gold standard for traditional pizza napolitana. During Meter Mondays, pizzas are available in different sizes depending on the number in your party: a half-meter for four people includes a choice of three tastings ($28), while a full meter serves eight with a choice of six tastings ($50). Don’t miss Russo’s house-made pastas or the weekday-night aperitivo hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., featuring cocktails such as the classic Negroni and Aperol Spritz as well as beer and wine and appetizers from $4 to $6.

In partnership with its sister restaurant Mad & Vin, The Victor (thevictor.us) recently opened in the Santa Ynez Inn. Look for dishes from chef Beto Huizar like Santa Maria

Tri-Tip Frites with tomato béarnaise sauce; grilled lobster with lardonloaded baked potato; and Kobe Beef Tartare on house made potato chips with capers, chives, and quail egg.

A fan favorite since its star turn in the 2004 movie Sideways, Hitching Post II radiates a western-style steak-house feel with down-home service and hearty portions of Santa Maria–style barbecue. In addition to oak-grilled steaks, the menu features ribs, quail, turkey, duck, and seafood. Sip from the Wine Spectator award-winning wine list that includes a selection of Hitching Post labels.

LUCKY PENNY 127 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, 805-284-0358 luckypennysb.com Californian; Entrées $11–$16

Located in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, this orderat-the-counter spot ranks as one of the city’s most Instagrammed restaurants. The exterior covered in thousands of shiny copper pennies is a draw, but so is the creative menu of close-up-worthy salads, sandwiches, small plates, and wood-fired pizzas. The latter includes such local-place-named favorites as the Milpas, topped with fingerling potatoes, chorizo, and a sunny-side-up egg. Salads are big enough to turn into a meal or to share with a friend who orders pizza. Seating is on a pet-friendly patio adjacent to The Lark restaurant. Coffee is served, along with beer, wine, cider, and a life-giving frosé accented with local strawberries and tarragon.

PEASANTS FEAST 487 Atterdag Road Solvang, 805-686-4555 peasantsfeast.com Seasonal Comfort Food Entrées and Sandwiches $14–$18

Owned by chef Michael Cherney, an alum of Las Vegas’ L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, and his wife Sarah, a hospitality pro, this family-friendly restaurant focuses on scratch-made food from local ingredients. Menu stars like Solvang Hot Chicken sandwich, The Grotto Smash Burger, Local Rock Fish Tacos, and family meals such as Whole Fried Free-Range Chicken are served in the casual earthtoned dining room, on the outdoor patio, and for takeout. Reina’s Ice Cream by the Scoop, made by the Cherneys’ daughter, is a must.

TAVERNA TONY

23410 Civic Center Way Malibu, 310-317-9667 tavernatony.com Greek; Entrées $13–$37

ANDRIA’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT & MARKET 1449 Spinnaker Drive Ventura, 805-654-0546 andriasseafood.com Seafood; Entrées $8–$24 Kid-Friendly

HITCHING POST II 406 E. Highway 246 Buellton, 805-688-0676 hitchingpost2.com Steak House; Entrées $26–$56

This huge space at the northeast corner of the Malibu Country Mart is almost never closed and never empty. There’s always fun to be had: If the classical guitarists aren’t playing, the waiters might be singing. Every meal starts with Greek-style country bread and house-made dip. The roast baby lamb is a specialty of the house for good reasons: The meat is garlicky and mostly tender with some crispy bites. The accompanying potatoes are roasted with lemon juice and the carrots are cooked with dill. Greek coffee is a perfect end here. 

Look to these eateries for festive food, an upbeat atmosphere, and a good time.

P.S. Sketchpad

By Greg Clarke