Homeless outreach team to serve s anta Barbara City wants law enforcement to be a top priority

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

For the first time ever, the city of Santa Barbara will have the presence of a homeless outreach team during the evening and weekend hours in the downtown corridor and along the waterfront.

The city will also be continuing its commitment to provide homeless outreach, case management and housing navigation services throughout the entire city during weekday hours.

On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara City Council approved

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Santa Barbara will soon have a lot more on its plate.

Nine new restaurants are coming to the area.

Among them is Azul Cocina and Cantina, a Mexican restaurant at 7 E. Anapamu St. It is set to open this month, according to its Instagram account.

The restaurant is co-owned by Executive Chef Manuel Diaz — well known in Southern California as Chef Manny — and Edgar Estrada.

According to Azul’s website: “Executive Chef Manuel ‘Manny’ Diaz is an industry-recognized culinary innovator. With more than 40 years of experience and mastery, Diaz has worked in some of the most acclaimed kitchens in L.A. including DTLA’s Pacific Grille, Nicola, Nucleus Nuance, Rudolpho’s and the San Antonio Winery.”

The chef’s accolades include the Hero Award from the California State Assembly for inspiring people through his pursuit of the American Dream, according to the website. Chef Diaz, who’s from Durango, Mexico, was 16 when he emigrated to the U.S., where he started out as a dishwasher and rose through the ranks.

“Azul Cocina is my baby,” said Chef Manny in an instagram video posted to the restaurant’s account. “Being executive chef, it’s a lot of pressure, but I love what I do. With this amazing team we put together, we created this concept. It’s beautiful. It’s something unique here. I can’t wait for you guys to come and try.”

The menu includes a “Chef Manny Recommends” which is currently Duck con Mole: pan roasted duck breast, sweet potato, corn, organic quinoa, hazelnut mole for $28.

On its website, the restaurant promises “Mexican cuisine and mixology with the finest locally sourced ingredients from Santa Barbara County. Our mission is to deliver an exceptional authentic

Mexican cuisine with a modern contemporary twist on flavors and traditions, led by Executive Chef Manny Diaz.” dAVE’s dR iP HOU sE

Hours of operation are slated to be Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. To view the menu or make a reservation, go to azulcocinasb. com.

Other restaurants opening soon in the Santa Barbara area include the following.

Dave’s Drip House, an ice cream and cereal bar, at 199 S.Turnpike Road, Suite 104, Goleta, is set to have its grand opening on Feb. 16.

“We will have 16 base flavors that will rotate, based on the season. But better yet, you will be able to customize your ice cream