A Sparkling Wine Event in Santa Barbara with the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance Every Spring, you can try almost a dozen Sparkling Wines made from grapes in the Sta. Rita Hills American Viticultural Area (AVA). This wine region is just outside of Lompoc on California’s Central Coast. This event was held at the Carousel in Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara on April 13, 2024. From the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance: “Saunter & Sip your way through the Carousel House, Santa Barbara’s stunning oceanfront venue. Our members will be pouring Rosés and delicious Sparkling Wines that will highlight t ..read more

A Spring Sparkling Wine Tasting on the Ocean in Pismo Beach The San Luis Obispo Coastal Wine region (SLO Coast Wine) is one of California’s coolest wine growing regions. The 30+ wineries in this area are an average of only 5 miles from the ocean! Coastal fog, wind, soil, and sun create wines refined by the Pacific’s influence. This makes for energetically acidic and complex wines, with a large number of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers, cool-climate Syrah, plus the Spanish white grape Albariño. This area is also perfect growing conditions for the classic Champagne grapes! There are over 20 ..read more

Laetitia’s tasting room in Arroyo Grande is temporarily closed, as of 1/25/2024. You can buy wine online only. Laetitia Vineyards & Winery in Arroyo Grande has a sparkling wine heritage going back to the early 80s, when it was produced at the same location by Maison Deutz, a Champagne maker in France. Since taking it over in 1997, Laetitia has been the Grand Dame of sparkling wine on the central coast, with 7 different sparkling bottlings at various times of the year. Méthode Champenoise is how sparkling wine is made in the Champagne region of France, also called méthode tr ..read more

Bell’s has been awarded 1 Michelin Star from the Michelin Guide! Want Bell’s Moules Frites recipe? Get it here. A cozy spot that feels like home is exactly what Bell’s owners, Daisy and Greg Ryan, wanted in their first restaurant. And for Chef Daisy, who is from the Santa Ynez Valley, it was also about family, community, and coming home. It was great timing, as the building that used to house Bell Street Farm in Los Alamos was up for sale, with a kitchen, dining room and back patio that was perfect for a French bistro. See all Michelin ratings for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara co ..read more

Winter’s Don’t-Miss-Drink in Edible Santa Barbara At Test Pilot in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, citrus is key. So are tropical fruits, Guyanese rum and absinthe foam. Owner Brandon Ristaino, who also owns The Good Lion, is intent on supplying high-quality, delicious and interesting drinks to the neighborhood, complete with housemade ingredients and perfect garnishes. He’s also intent on buying local, and reusing as much produce as he can. “We buy all our citrus from Mud Creek Ranch for both locations, and we resuse every citrus twist.” All twists are saved, pressed and combined with juice ..read more

Last Bite — Winter’s Don’t-Miss Dish in Edible Santa Barbara Magazine Want the Wok-Fried Sweet Potato recipe? Get it here. We’ve all enjoyed the sweet-sour-spicy-salty treat that is Thai food. It’s the perfect comfort food, complete with these complex flavors and textures, and so popular that it easily serves as the perfect date night dinner, quick take-out everyone loves, or end-of-the-weekend leftovers from the fridge. But Na Na Thai in Buellton is cooking up Bangkok street food like you’ve never had, and will surprise even die-hard Thai food fans. Husband and wife team Nik and Ash ..read more

From Edna Valley to Paso Robles, wineries implement innovative farming practices in bid to protect Mother Earth. From Winter 2023 issue of Edible San Luis Obispo magazine In the Edna Valley, a first-winery-in-the-world mini forest is helping to heal the climate. Chamisal Vineyards’ Miyawaki mini forest is a sustainability effort that’s having a big impact on the environment. Chamisal Vineyards in Edna Valley photos by Heather Daenitz “We planted in spring of 2021, and it’s grown quite a bit,” says Winemaker Brianne Engles. “The manzanitas are already overhead. It’s exciting! This is our last y ..read more

From Paso Robles, heading along the Highway 46 West corridor, you’ll pass a bunch of great wineries. One of these is Four Lanterns, a friendly, family-owned winery with a beautiful lawn and charming old barn. Steve and Jackie Gleason have been farming grapes, making wine (and Bubbles) and welcoming wine lovers, children and dogs here since 2013. Note: This winery is part of the San Luis Obispo Wine Country Bubbles Trail. See more! There are over 80 sparkling wine producers in San Luis Obispo County. Named after their four beloved daughters (the lights of their lives), each wine also ..read more

Last Bite — Summer’s Don’t-Miss Dish in Edible Santa Barbara Magazine Want the Halibut Crudo with Leche de Tigre recipe? Get it here. Fresh, seasonal fish is abundant in our local Santa Barbara waters, which is something that gets Chef Jaime Riesco excited. He and his wife Tara Penke quietly opened Gala on Anacapa in January, and have been building its presence slowly and deliberately. Riesco likes to go out with local fisherman to really experience the seafood he sources for the restaurant, sometimes even catching two fish at a time, as one is eating the other. “It’s just amazing,” he s ..read more

The Last Bite — Seasonal Don’t-Miss Dish in Edible Santa Barbara Magazine Want the Carbonara (Breakfast Pizza) recipe? Get it here. Update: Chef Jeff Olsson passed away on Saturday, September 2, after a diagnosis of colon cancer. The late Jeff Olsson, original Owner/Chef of Industrial Eats, has cooked from locally sourced, organic ingredients long before “farm-to-table” was born. In the late 80s, deep in Amish farming country in Pennsylvania, Tuscarora Organic Growers co-operative took root, supplying restaurants in the Washington D.C. area with locally grown, organic produce. T ..read more