Buttonwood Bites

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESSSTAFF WRITER

The Gleason Family Vineyards

Santa Ynez Valley portfolio of brands (Roblar Winery and Vineyards, Refugio Ranch Vineyards, Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard) has launched food service at the hospitality group’s Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard, a 106-acre property in Solvang.

Buttonwood’s new food menu was created by Gleason Family Vineyards executive chef Peter Cham in tandem with Buttonwood’s new, proprietary sous chef, Lee Gottheimer.

The new Buttonwood Farm Bites Menu, which debuted Jan. 14, is being offered Friday through Sunday of each week. The opening version of the menu, which will expand in the coming months as the fields and orchards begin to produce spring fruits and vegetables, will lend itself to Buttonwood’s familyfriendly, American farmland atmosphere.

Featured will be shareable starters like sweet and spicy roasted peanuts with chili powder and smoked sea salt, and jalapeño corn bread with whipped honey butter, which joins other regional U.S. favorites such as ‘Fancy’ Pimento Cheese Spread with Dungeness crab, served with Saltine crackers and pickled Fresno chili.

A salad straight from Buttonwood Farm includes lettuces and shaved veggies in season, sunflower seeds and buttermilk ranch dressing, as a nod to the ranch dressing’s Santa Barbara roots.

Heartier bites consist of rotating grilled cheese sandwich renditions, like a bacon version with aged cheddar, pickled jalapeño, and peach jam made from Buttonwood Farm’s most famous crop; the “Chamburger” (grass-fed beef burger, caramelized onions, house pickles, American cheese); and a barbecued half-chicken with apricot barbecue sauce and Buttonwood Farmsourced cabbage slaw.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Coast artist and London native Annie Hoffman’s exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in Colour” will be displayed through Feb. 28 at Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. For more information, visit anniehoffmann. com.

Her ceramic sculpture, which is wall hanging, floor standing and tabletop, marries cutting edge 3D parametric design software and maker bots with a material as old as human culture itself to create works that feel like they’ve come from a future civilization. Both artists have arrived at these new bodies of work in this new phase of life by natural evolution and inclination. As such, these new generative forms and compositions feel serendipitously aligned with their desire to regenerate, to grow anew.

Mr. Greer was born and raised in Los Angeles. He attended Otis Art Institute in L.A. and Parsons School of Design in Paris before moving to New York City. In 1990, he had his first solo exhibition at White Columns, New York’s “oldest, alternative art space.”

During his 15-year affair with New York, Mr. Greer exhibited as often as possible while also working as an artist’s assistant for such superstars as Jeff Koons.

After returning to Los Angeles,

Please see EXHIBITS on B2

Gleason Family launches new food menu at Solvang winery and vineyard

Originally from Connecticut, Chef Gottheimer graduated from the culinary program at the Art Institute of Las Vegas and went on to work in the kitchens of some of the city’s premier resorts and restaurants such as the Bellagio Resort & Casino, Wynn Las Vegas, Vdara Hotel & Spa, and for the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill at MGM Grand Las Vegas, and then as executive sous chef of the group’s Italian bistro, Cucina, in The Shops at Crystals at CityCenter. Chef Gottheimer relocated to Santa Barbara County in 2018, taking up work with members of the Fess Parker Family as chef at Third Window Brewing, then as executive sous chef at The Bear and Star, formerly at the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn in Los Olivos.

In 2020, Chef Gottheimer moved to Solvang’s Alisal Ranch. As chef de cuisine of the 10,500-acre resort, he worked with guest star chefs from around the country and in particular, some of the most talented barbecue masters in the nation, from whom he learned a variety of classic barbecue techniques, which he has incorporated into Buttonwood’s new winery food program.

Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard, which Gleason Family Vineyards acquired in December 2021, currently consists of a 42acre estate vineyard, on-site winery facility, tasting room and gardens, a two-acre orchard, small hop yard and 11 acres of rotated seasonal produce.

The property, founded in 1968 on a principle of sustainability, was first utilized as an equestrian operation, followed by the planting of organic fruits and vegetables, and in 1983, the initial planting of the vineyard.

Today, Buttonwood’s farming efforts are overseen by Clay Garland, Gleason Family Vineyards’ new director of farming and sustainability, who handles all farming and sustainability initiatives for the group’s entire portfolio of properties.

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “The Search for the Modern West,” an exhibit, continues through Feb. 20 at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, see sullivangoss.com or call the gallery at 805-730-1460. Noon to 5 p.m. “Clarence Mattei: Portrait of a Community” is on view now through May at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, which is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 E. De la Guerra St. Admission is free. Hours are currently from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, visit www. sbhistorical.org.

FEB. 14

6 to 7:30 p.m. Nicole Lvoff and Joe Woodard will perform on Valentine’s Day at the Crush Bar & Tap, 1129 A State St., Santa Barbara. Their music varies from Beatles songs to jazz standards. For more information, go to crushbarsb.com.

FEB. 15

7:30 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, The play is about an Afghan man hiding from the Taliban in his sister’s home in Kabul. Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

FEB. 16

7 p.m. “The River Bride,” the story of folklore, love, regret and two sisters who struggle to be true to each other and their hearts will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) from Feb. 16 through March 5 in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Curtain rises at 7 p.m. Feb. 16-18, 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and 22, 10 a.m. Feb. 23, 7 p.m. Feb. 24, 1:30 and 7 p.m. Feb. 25, and 1:30 p.m. Feb. 26. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa. org or call the box office at 805922-8313.

7:30 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.