beekeepers

NOSH TOWN First came the kale salad with chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and lemon tahini ($15) and then a seafood paella made with saffron CONVIVO A WORLD OF FLAVOR IN EVERY BITE by Claudia Schou risotto, uni butter, mussels, clams, and prawns ($28). For the seasonally inspired burrata salad, Chef McNee creates a kabocha squash purée with mascarpone and pomegranate molasses, plates it and finishes the dish with sweet red beets, apple, crispy fried Brussels, creamy burrata, and Ojai Mission figs. Convivo’s shareable dishes combine perfectly with recipes from entirely different continents, offering the very best of diverse cultures. An egg dish with sautéed tomatoes and Tunisian harissa is baked and served in a traditional cazuela ($15); a mixed seafood dish combines shrimp, clams, mussels, octoA mixed seafood dish combines shrimp, clams, mussels, pus, seared ahi, and thick chunks octopus, seared ahi, and thick chunks of sea bass garnished of sea bass garnished with roasted with roasted peppers and is served with a side of lemon peppers and is served with a side of and shallot preserve lemon and shallot preserve ($48). The spit-roasted chicken with olives, almonds, and roasted cauliflower comes with chermoula for dipping ($26). There is also a selection of wood-fired pizzas and flat breads ($10-$23) as well as savory and pungent sides including hummus, baba ghanoush, and halva. Notably, the menu also dabbles in Asian culture with pickled side dishes such as kimchi and Convivo is an Italian fusion restaurant nestled on the ocean side of the Santa Barbara Inn, with tradiJapanese-style pickled cucumber with seaweed and daikon. F or those who want to venture outside their usual comfort zone, Convivo allows diners tional Italian fare married to exotic, rustic world cuisine Most of the seafood, such as sea bass, ahi tuna, and vermilion, served at the restaurant come from local waters. Although the octopus – grilled and served with slabs of pork belly, watermelon radish, and frisée and topped with a poached egg – is from the Mediterranean. Al fresco dining has always been a part of the restaurant’s format; the wooden trellis jutting to expand their cuisine horizons far out from the hotel’s Spanish style architecture and the neatly landscaped palm tree garden beyond the expected. The Italian lends a Mediterranean feel to the dining experience. A tempting handful of boutique Italian fusion eatery nestled on the ocean and Spanish wine selections pair perfectly with the cuisine. side of Santa Barbara Inn offers traServing breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 am to 9 pm daily. 901 East Cabrillo Boulevard. www. ditional Italian fare married to exotic, convivorestaurant.com. rustic world cuisine. Sesame flat breads, seven-hour veal Bolognese served on houseTASTING NOTES WITH ROSEWOOD MIRAMAR WINE DIRECTOR DANIEL FISH

made pasta, charred prawns with W eekends are often highlightshaved fennel, citrus and dukka (a ed by a great brunch outing. mixture of herbs, nuts and spicSitting down with family and friends es from the Middle East), roastand leisurely enjoying a bottle of ed Brussels sprouts seasoned with bubbles or mimosas with a late breakAleppo pepper, lemon juice and fast really does make the days off agave and topped with crispy sweet feel like the weekend. Hugh Davies and sour chicken skin are a few globand the team at Schramsberg craft ally inspired dishes on the menu. this Blanc de Blancs, which loosely

With a blend of cultures, the dishtranslates to “white from whites,” es and flavors are broad and give made of 100 percent Chardonnay diners the opportunity to explore grapes sourced from vineyards new concepts and have an adventurous restaurant experience. Octopus, grilled and served with slabs of pork belly, watermelon radish, and frisée and topped with a poached egg perched along the Northern Coast of California. The Davies family has “The concept is nomad Italian because it borrows from so many other cultures,” said Chef been crafting sparkling wines from Peter McNee. “There’s Mediterranean, Moroccan, Middle Eastern, and Spanish influence, this area for more than 50 years, and but there’s also Californian influence on everything we do here. We do that for a number it is truly one of the great California of reasons, mainly because it’s more interesting from the chef’s perspective, the cook’s sparkling wines. Schramsberg is a perspective, and the kitchen team’s perspective, to have different, interesting flavors on the great case for California sparkling menu and have new ingredients to work with. Nomad Italian allows us to go in any direction wines matching the classic wines of we want.” Champagne. The wine has bright

Convivo opened four years ago, inspired by the trattorias Chef McNee had come to love aromas of green apple, zesty citrus, during his time in Italy. McNee teamed up with Santa Barbara Inn owner Larry Mindel and and orange blossom, which comdirector of operations Amy Svendberg to create this special concept with chef-driven sharplement a variety of classic brunch able dishes. They named it Convivo, which means eat together, to feast. dishes, from a savory crab benedict

These days that’s hard to do. to a hearty, citrus-infused French

After the statewide shutdown, Chef McNee pivoted with a carryout menu called toast. Or try it with one of my favorProvisional, but visually it didn’t hold up to his expectations. “It was just sad to see it go in a ites, Chef Massimo Falsini’s Three Daniel Fish, wine director at Rosewood Miramar, recombox and not presented on a plate as it should be,” he said. Organic Egg and Avocado Toast mends Schramsberg’s Blanc de Blancs.

When the restaurant was allowed to reopen Chef McNee went full force in the kitchen, at Malibu Farms. The acidity of the bubbles will cut through the richness of the eggs and churning out new global recipes (some vegan, some gluten free), each one exquisite and avocado, while the toasty brioche notes of the wine will complement the toast. Pop a bottle perfect in its intricacies. at your next brunch occasion and let the bubbles lift you away. Cheers! •MJ 34 MONTECITO JOURNAL “Raising kids is part joy and part guerilla warfare.” - Ed Asner 10 – 17 September 2020

tographer. We’re sort of the Batman and Robin of the social column; you can’t have one without the other. Because my trip to Marrakesh is canceled, she organized a surprise party at Roger Chrisman’s home in Ennisbrook. He’s the former Commodore of the Yacht Club. He and his wife, Sarah, hosted a small lunch of eight guests. At least I had something to celebrate on the day, otherwise it would have been a total bust.

Lots of people ask about you and are missing your column. How’s writing going?

My column has been on hiatus since mid-May. For a couple of months after the mid-March pandemic closed everything, I tried to bring out a column, which was three pages rather than five because of what was happening, but it just dried up. We intended to bring the column back at the beginning of September, but, at the moment, I’m beginning to wonder, because things are not getting better, they’re getting worse. If I have nothing to cover, essentially, I have nothing to write. It’s a really depressing time.

I’m lucky I’m not ill. I know people have been dying, and I can only feel for those impacted by this. I can only feel for people who are in dire straits, who don’t have a job or lack of physical status. So whatever I’m suffering, they are suffering in spades! Also, there is a lot of indecision going on about schools going back, and I don’t understand why everybody is crying about wearing a mask. Wearing a mask makes good sense to me. I see the pandemic continuing. I mean, I’m not a pessimist, I’m an optimist in all matters, but I don’t see this clearing up until after Christmas.

I love hearing your stories, and I know I’m not alone. How long have you been writing?

At the end of the year, I’m celebrating fifty years in journalism. I started as a junior reporter for The Falmouth

Richard and President George W. Bush at dinner in Montecito

Richard with South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and friend

Packet, a weekly paper, in 1970. Then I moved on to the Cambridge Evening News and the Daily Mirror, which was the biggest selling newspaper in Britain at the time in 1976. I started covering the Royal Family. I moved on to the Daily Mail. My last year in Britain was in 1977, which was the Queen’s Silver Jubilee year. And in betwixt ’76 and ’77, I came to America for the first time, and I was offered a job on New York’s new entertainment magazine, the Star. I said, I can’t do it soon because I have to go back to England for my commitment to cover the Silver Jubilee for the Daily Mail. But I moved to America in New York in ’78 and became the gossip columnist for Rupert Murdoch’s Star. And then he bought New York magazine, and I became one of two editors on the gossip column, which was a more sophisticated gossip column for the intelligentsia. And that’s when I started doing television for my expertise

on the Royal family. I started doing a TV show in Boston, and I was invited to do The Joan Rivers Show, where I became a regular. And that was my trajectory into television. Who would have thought I’d become an anchor with CBS and then a commentator on ABC News?

That’s quite a career! Would you say that you were a little gossip in school? Or how did you get to that part of journalism? Well, I think so. When I was very young, about ten or eleven, I loved reading the gossip columns of the national newspapers. And, of course, there were many of them. The William Hickey column in the Daily Express I really enjoyed reading. Who would’ve known I’d be a regular correspondent for them when I moved to America? I did a show on the USA network called The Joan Rivers Show, every four weeks or so. Then the network found out it was the mostwatched show, so they put in gos

Mineards with author Salman Rushdie

sip segments every day. I signed a contract, and that’s when I became a quote-unquote celebrity.

What was the first moment you realized you were a “celebrity?”

One day, I was with a friend of mine, and we came out of the dry cleaners on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. This young boy came up to me and said, “Aren’t you on The Joan Rivers Show?” And I said, “Oh, yes, I am.” And he said, “My mother loves you. Can I please get your autograph?” (Richard laughs.) The little boy gave me his mother’s name and I wrote it down, then ended with “Pip! Pip! Richard Mineards.” I have always used “Pip! Pip!”

For us Americans out here, what does “Pip! Pip!” mean anyway?

Pip! Pip! is the contraction of “Toodle Pip,” an Edwardian form of goodbye. So that’s how I always used it, even on TV. I said it when I used to host

That’s hilarious! And I used to watch your show years ago! On the subject of journalism, do you prefer writing or to be on TV?

Well, I mean, I started in newspapers already. But I like the immediacy of television. And I certainly like the checks, because they send me a great deal more than, certainly, a newspaper would. When I started as a journalist back in 1970, I got the equivalent of about seven pounds a week, which was about ten dollars. My salary has gone up since then, I have to say. Certainly, my TV contracts enabled me to invest wisely and save for my old age.

Yeah. That makes sense.

And I can’t thank Joan Rivers enough. She was the one who made me sort of a media celebrity. Joan became a dear friend. We lived near each other. I used to live on 66th and Madison, and she would be near 61st and 5th Avenue, I think. She always invited me to parties. In fact, Marlon Brando had the apartment below her, and she was always complaining. “Thank God I’m so thin because he is so fat. Otherwise, I’d never fit into the elevator.” That was quite fun.

Looking back on your long career, who was the most prominent celebrity you’ve met?

Well, the Queen. I mean, how big of a celebrity can you get?

Good point.

In 1977, she was 25 years on the throne. I was assigned to pretty much cover every single day for the Daily Mail. We were allowed to talk to the Queen, with the understanding that what was said could not be recorded. I found her utterly charming. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever talk to the Queen. And here I was, talking to her every other day or so.

So, have you got in touch with any old friends during the pandemic?

I’ve been making a lot of phone calls to England, catching up on what’s going on there. Because, for my 50th anniversary in journalism, I’m trying to get back into England. I’ve taken over a restaurant in Penzance for 28 people, and I’ve hired the harpist to the Prince of Wales to perform for three hours. You know, to hopefully play some baroque, medieval, and classical music. But what I am worried about now is the pandemic, as I said, it’s already scuppered my plans for my birthday in Marrakesh. I just hope it’s not going to impact my 50th-anniversary dinner in England 10 – 17 September 2020

Would you rather be in England than America right now? Where would you feel more comfortable?

Let’s put it this way, I mean, I love Montecito. There are worse places to be in lockdown, as it were. But I would like the variety. So, you know, I like going back there. I always get back for Christmas for two or three weeks. I’m happy being down here. What I am missing, as I said earlier, is the interaction of going out every day. I mean, my diary was absolutely chockablock with events and engagements. And, as I say, maybe now I go out every day to get my latte and my jalapeno bagel, but that’s really about it. So, I just mean essentially watching a lot of old movies on television, reading endless books. Other than that, I can’t wait to be unleashed and to get back to writing again.

Side note, are you a dual citizen?

Yes, I am indeed a dual citizen of the UK and US, having become an American citizen in 2003.

I’m sure many people would love for you to write a memoir. Is that something you’re considering?

I’ve been very lucky in my life. I met a lot of princes, the Queen, and other monarchs. So, there’s certainly a memoir. I had this idea that if I did write an autobiography, I’d call it, There is Life After Lunch. Because when I was at New York magazine, I would very often go out for lunch, and that would morph into a cocktail party. Then that would morph into a dinner, and that would morph into probably attending Studio 54, which was the most exclusive discotheque in the world in its heyday. Because of my position as a gossip columnist, I had no problems getting in. And I knew the owners very well. But, certainly, there are a lot of stories in there.

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LETTERS (Continued from page 38) misogynist, and cites as evidence that “Trump dated a number of beautiful women.” What a shamefully inadequate explanation for a widely accepted fact. 2. Buckley additionally claimed Trump is not a racist because he belongs to Abraham Lincoln’s Republican party, which freed the slaves during the Civil War. Ipso facto, that makes him not a racist? How about when Trump was a Democrat: was he a racist then?

What rubbish! It is ridiculous of you to try to make an equation between sexual behavior and political party affiliations.

Do not attribute to me what is non-critical thinking on your part.

You self proclaim you are “...cheerful, helping others...” It is not helpful to anyone to completely and willfully misconstrue my letter because, it seems, you want to announce that you are a “Conservative Republican” and “love God.”

That sounds like a triple whammy to me.

It must be hard to deal with the inherent contradictions.

I don’t know who your god is, but my simple understanding of gods is that they do not indulge in name-calling, do not intentionally misunderstand good honest English statements as an excuse for blowing off political steam, do not brag about being loving, and gods definitely proclaim it is a sin to tell a lie.

How do Trump’s prevarications sit with you? Or are you going to point to the Democrats’ lies as vindication for Trump’s? I repeat, a poor tactic.

Regarding the remedy for acquiring critical thinking: there are more wise, educated men and women than ever before examining the deplorable state of our beloved democracy. Good books telling truths are everywhere. Our universities are full of political and other academics willing, rightfully, to call out the dismal failings of this administration, with tangible evidence, including the voice of the master himself announcing his labels of “suckers and losers,” names he attributes to American soldiers who have died or lost limbs when fighting for this country.

What is wrong with you?

Facts are “rude news,” you say: Well, here are a few bits of rude news: the Earth is round; two and two are four; the sun is shining today; Trump is a misogynist and a racist.

I ask again: what is rude about stating those facts?

And regarding anger: why are you not angry about the state of our democracy, about all the Americans who have died of COVID? This president is not responsible for the virus’ arrival, but the general consensus is he did not act like the leader he brags he is, by not helping to stem the 185,000 38 MONTECITO JOURNAL deaths.

Why aren’t you angry that children are being kept in cages, from their parents?

Why aren’t you angry about the swamp he created in the White House; seven or more of his swampees have been indicted. Unprecedented!

There is so much more to be angry about. Something is wrong if you aren’t.

Anger used well is good.

Anger is my least revenge, reaction, when someone has a knee on my neck.

Cheerful is good when you’re at a yard sale, or walking your dog.

Maybe you could stop being cheerful long enough to recite, “I love my democratic country and all it stands for, for liberty and justice for all,” and while you’re at it, “All men are created equal; no man is above the law.”

As to my having what you call a “political bias towards Republican men,” you’re wrong again. I admire honest Republicans, like Mr. Mitt Romney who was our Massachusetts governor, or Mr. John Kasich, for his bravery in speaking truth. John McCain.

There are too many good intelligent Republican men to name here, men who have spoken out, written books, told the truth about the reality of this administration.

Nancy Freeman

Oh Beautiful

Ann Wilder’s letter to the editor in the September 3/10 edition said it all! She took the words right out of my mouth and let’s all long-time Montecitans try to keep/restore ‘Montecito Beautiful’!

Jean von Wittenburg

Room for Improvement

Students from Cold Spring and Montecito Union join Santa Barbara Unified for grades 7th to 12th: alumni of Santa Barbara Unified’s under-performing elementary schools. Every Montecito voter decides who leads SB Unified and public school students stuck with the inferior results!

Our secondary schools and community are as good as every local elementary school.

Quality varies from the best with 98 percent student proficiency to the worst at 13 percent proficiency. Low performing schools costing taxpayers way too much in administrative costs have not improved during my 40 years here as an active citizen advocate for accessible, high quality instruction in every neighborhood public school. I live .7 miles between our community’s best – Cold Spring School – and our worst, Cleveland Elementary. In California, there are 5,887 elementary school facilities serving almost 3 million students.

What’s wrong? Bad leadership! Taxpayer complacency. Absent parents. Neighborhood detachment.

Voter awareness of candidate forums is essential to meet the present and future needs of local students for accessible elementary school facilities providing quality instruction to prepare every child for high school, lifelong learning and civic participation.

The Coalition for Neighborhood Schools is hosting a Candidates’ Forum for the SBUSD on Thursday, September 17, at 7 pm on Zoom.

Please RSVP and submit your questions to candidates by email to cns4schools@aol.com to receive the Zoom link. In the subject line, kindly put “RSVP to Forum.”

Denice Spangler Adams 40-year resident, Parent

Is Skin Cancer a Bigger Threat Than Coronavirus?

The COVID-19 pandemic is a petty nuisance compared to the approaching skin cancer catastrophe.

According to February 2020 updates at IBISWorld.com, there are only 5,360 dermatologists in the US who share a combined annual caseload of 196,000 new cancer patients. (See https:// www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/number-of-businesses/dermatologists-united-states/)

Every practicing dermatologist in the United States agrees that unprotected exposure to the sun increases your chances of both basal and squamous cell skin carcinomas. Although most cases are curable if caught early, the medical costs, both public and private, will, with global warming, be a disaster. (See https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/ skin-cancer-facts)

Farmers, fishermen and golfers are less inclined to apply sunscreen because it makes hands slippery and is often viewed as “unmasculine.” Most men, and those who identify as male, consider slathering on skin protection a sign of weakness. These “cancer-deniers” need to be re-educated, surgically (or chemically) feminized and harshly regulated to correct their medical illiteracy.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) the annual cost of treating skin cancers in the U.S. is estimated at $1.8 billion for nonmelanoma and $3.8 billion for melanoma skin cancers. Once diagnosed with a malignancy these “tough guys” could become a huge financial burden to the healthcare system, similar to the way motorcyclists and outlaw bikers (who refuse to wear helmets) end up on life-support, at taxpayer expense.

For societal and financial reasons, reckless millstone-individuals should not be allowed to engage in high-risk sports or sun exposure that will turn them into the fried albatross around the neck (or wallet) of taxpayers. Helmet-less motorcycling and unprotected sun exposure (or sex) are dangerous undertakings.

Other activities worthy of sunscreen and helmets include; mountain climbing, daredevil stunts, tightrope walking, auto racing and especially the blood sports (boxing, rugby, bull fighting, divorce, street luge, hunt ing), skateboarding and, of course, surfing.

Parents should be charged with child endangerment for allowing their children to participate in foolhardy sun bathing, tanning salons, beach BBQs (disguised as piñata parties) that usually lead to drunken orgies – aka skin cancers and unplanned pregnancies.

Restaurateurs who serve meals “outside” must provide hats, sunscreen and eye protection against macular degeneration, photokeratitis, pinguecula, pterygium and cataracts. Sporting event organizers are equally responsible for protecting the spectators and fans from eye and skin damage. (See https://www.caringvillage. com/2017/07/19/top-5-eye-problems-resulting-from-uv-exposure/)

Failure to apply lotions, sunscreens, and ointments or provide a hijab, niqab, burkinis or burkas for their children or wives is criminal neglect. Wearing Islamic clothing reduces the incidence of skin cancers. Vitamin D supplements are safer than cooking your epidermis. (See https://gatesofvienna. net/2016/09/wearing-the-burkini-reduces-the-incidence-of-skin-cancer/)

Despite the preoccupation with COVID-19, -20, or -25, our highest priority should always be child safety and cancer reduction. This can best be achieved through mandatory education, strict monitoring, and regulation of parents. Government tools to achieve this objective include social-shaming, fines, public service, counseling, unscheduled 2 am fullbody epidermal exams, surprise visits by CPS assisted by law enforcement (with flash/bangs or teargas) and, if necessary, incarceration on felony charges for failing to abide by simple, common-sense “cancer-aversion” laws and expert medical guidelines.

As the frequency of deadly heat waves increase worldwide, it’s imperative that Federal Sunburn Laws (FSLs) be enacted requiring everyone to wear hats, sunglasses and sunscreens (SPF 50 or higher) when outdoors or near tanning salons. Voluntary compliance and universal safety monitoring of FSLs will gradually “evolve” and become mandatory. What could possibly go wrong?

If these actions save only one life, it’s worth it.

Dale Lowdermilk, Founder

NOTSAFE(dot)ORG •MJ 10 – 17 September 2020