Hello!
It’s been awhile since I last blogged (2016… yikes!). I took my website down for awhile because let’s be honest, blogging can take up a lot of time.
So, while I wasn’t blogging, I was trying to grow my influence on Instagram! In between all of that, I teamed up with MARCO to bring you this article on some restaurants in Santa Barbara. Check it out below!
If you weren't at Eureka! Santa Barbara's Deschutes Beer Dinner a couple of weeks ago, then you missed out! But they plan on having more beer dinners, so it's okay! Just be at the next one! Your $60 will be well spent. So much food. So much beer. Really. So. Much. Beer.
If you don't know about Deschutes Brewery, look them up! Or go out and buy a six-pack of their Fresh Squeezed IPA or Mirror Pond Pale Ale--some of my favorites! They were born in Bend, OR and they are fantastic! They also have a pub house in Portland, OR, which I've had the pleasure of visiting and I immediately fell in love.
Lollipop Corn Dogs
Polish sausage dipped in sweet corn batter and served with a spicy porter mustard
paired with
Deschutes Cream Ale on Nitro
4.7% ABV
30 IBU
An Ale version of an American Lager, Deschutes' Cream Ale is light, with good hop balance and clean finish
Crispy Glazed Brussel Sprouts
Tossed in herb oil and topped with macadamia nuts
paired with
Deschutes Armory XPA
5.9% ABV
55 IBU
Experimental pale ale with floral and tropical notes, perfectly balanced
You'd enjoy this one if you like their Fresh Squeezed IPA.
Lobster Taco
Knuckle and claw lobster with cabbage, avocado, saffron crema, watermelon radish and Eureka's signature handcut fries
paired with
Deschutes Hop Slice Session IPA
4.5% ABV
45 IBU
Brewed with Meyer Lemon, Hop Slice balances floral hop notes with a subtle citrus kick
Fresno Fig Burger
Fig marmalade, melted goat cheese, bacon, tomato, red onion, arugula, and spicy porter mustard (medium rare)
paired with
Deschutes Jubel 2015 American Strong Ale
10.4% ABV
55 IBU
An imperial take on Deschutes' festive winter ale with notes of toasted caramel, raisins, dates and figs are complemented by spicy and herbal hop aromas
Chocolate Torte
Dark chocolate torte with vanilla ice cream and macadamia nuts
paired with
Deschutes The Abyss Imperial Stout
12.2% ABV
86 IBU
12 months barrel aged in Bourbon, Pinot Noir and New Oregon American Oak, this deep, dark Imperial Stout has almost immeasurable depth and complexity. Hints of molasses, licorice and other alluring flavors make it something not just to quaff, but contemplate
One of the beer reps from Deschutes came down to do the pairing with us and talk about each beer, and the pairings were made by Eureka's bar manager/AGM, Lindsey. Thoroughly enjoyed each beer and food pairing, and like I said... a lot of food and a lot of beer. I barely finished my food and well, five beers is a little too many for me, ha.
I'm a BIG fan of Eureka's Steal The Glass event on Wednesday nights, so I was excited when I heard that we also get to keep our Deschutes glass.
Anyhey, $60 might seem like a lot, but if you're able to go to one of these beer dinners, you'll see that it's worth it! It's also more fun when you do it with friends. :)
Follow Eureka! Santa Barbara on Instagram or like them on Facebook to stay updated on all their events!
Happy dining and happy drinking!
A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to try Patxi's Pizza new lunch menu, featuring their delicious piadine. A what? A piadine! It kind of looks like a taco, but tastes like a pizza?!
Originating in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, a Piadina is a thin Italian flatbread typically filled with a variety of cheeses, cold cuts and vegetables. A simply yet luxurious meal, Piadine flavors highlight Patxi's quality meats, fresh vegetables and cheeses. Their new lunch menu is available from 11 AM-4 PM with six different piadines, as well as a mini deep dish pizza, and a personal thin crust pizza.
If you've never been to Patxi's, then you're missing out! They specialize in deep dish and thin crust pizza, but all of their other menu items are pretty damn good, too. But we'll discuss that later. For now, piadine!
My friend joined me lunch and we both ordered our own piadine. I got the Whole Hog and she got the Gaucho:
Pepperoni, garlic-fennel sausage, prosciutto cotto, homemade tomato sauce, mozzarella, baby arugula, radicchio, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon
Spanish chorizo, Calabrian peppers, homemade tomato sauce, mozzarella, baby arugula, radicchio, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon
These things were delicious! A different take on traditional thin crust pizza, the best way to describe it is like a taco pizza. I love thin crust pizza, but my least favorite part about it is when some places make it so thin that it becomes soggy. If you've had that happen to you, then you probably know how unappealing that is... unless you like soggy pizza.. ? Anyway, in case you're wondering, the crust has a nice crunch to it and the soggy deal doesn't happen with these! Aside from the piadines, we also ordered a heavenly appetizer.
Oven-baked cheese, roasted red pepper, and fresh jalapeño with crostini
So. Good. Seriously some of the best artichoke dip I've had. Not too salty and the crostinis are delicious. Their focaccia goes well with it, too!
Since we're on the topic of appetizers, let me introduce you to some of their other ones!
Braised meatballs in tomato sauce, basil, and Parmesan with focaccia
Sauce might be a little spicy for some, but still good. Meatballs are tender and their bread is delicious.
PC: @eatingwithjo
Naturally cured meats, artisan cheeses, and accompaniments with crostini
Loved this plate. All the cold cuts were great and not too salty. The sauce it comes with is made with Sicilian peppers and tomatoes, giving it a sweet and spicy flavor. The picture is the small size, but I actually ordered the large size (for two) and ate it all.
Creamy burrata, basil-garlic-Parmesan pesto, garlic-roasted tomatoes, and arugula with focaccia
Ugh. Definitely one of my favorite appetizers. It's amazing. That's all I have to say.
Sooo, deep dish pizza?!
Favorite: pepperoni, fresh mushrooms and black olives
Alfredo: roasted chicken, bianco sauce, broccoli, roasted garlic, and mozzarella
Special: All-natural garlic-fennel sausage, fresh mushroom, green peppers, and onions
Greek: roasted chicken, bianco sauce, broccoli, roasted garlic, and mozzarella
Favorite: pepperoni, fresh mushrooms and black olives with added prosciutto
Spinach Pesto: fresh spinach, basil-garlic-Parmesan pesto, and homemade tomato sauce with added artichoke hearts
I'm not an expert of deep dish pizza, but I think these guys do pretty well with theirs. I've seen and read a lot of negative and positive reviews about Patxi's, and I've talked to a lot of people about it. General consensus? Most Californians don't realize what Chicago style pizza actually is/don't know what to expect with deep dish pizza. It's dense and it's more like a pie then it is a pizza. That also means you can't eat as many pieces like you would with a thin crust pizza, etc. I can usually only have about two slices, maybe three if I'm really hungry. But one piece of deep dish is probably equivalent to two or three pieces of normal pizza. So, if you're a little upset about the price (ranges from $20-$30), you actually are getting what you pay for. And as you can see from the pictures, the sauce comes on top. Best way to think of it is like the pizza is built backwards.
Their deep dish pizza can take anywhere from 30-45 mins and thin crust takes about 15-25 mins. If you're ordering for pick up, deep dish takes about 45 mins and thin crust takes about 25 mins. If you're ordering for delivery, deep dish takes anywhere from 60-80 mins and thin crush is about an hour. I've had both delivered before and I've only had positive experiences, and the wait time has always been a little shorter than what they said. Also, not sure if this is still a thing, but if your order is over $30, then it's free delivery!
While I love eating from the comfort of my own home, I enjoy the ambiance of Patxi's more! It's a nice open space with a nice bar area and great selection of beer on tap. The service has also always been great when I've gone! Soooo... if you've never had deep dish pizza before.. don't be afraid to try something new. ;)
Happy Dining!
Remember that Craft Beer Club I told you about a couple of weeks ago? Well, they also have a wine club and it's fantastic! They never feature bulk wines, private labels, or close outs. Each selection is a genuine, small-production wine crafted by a winery with their family's reputation on the line in each and every bottle. With six different series you can choose from, Gold Medal Wine Club offers a variety of wines to meet any lover's palette:
PC: www.goldmedalwineclub.com
Most Popular!
Superb, medal-winning wines from California's best boutique wineries
2+ bottles, ships monthly
PC: www.goldmedalwineclub.com
Highly Rated
90+ rated, ultra-premium, rare wines from California's top winemakers
2+ bottles, ships monthly
PC: www.goldmedalwineclub.com
Newest Club Offering!
Handcrafted, small-lot wines from independent artisan winemakers
2+ bottles, ships monthly
PC: www.goldmedalwineclub.com
Passion for Pinots!
Captivating, world-class wines for those with a passion for Pinots
2+ bottles, ships monthly
PC: www.goldmedalwineclub.com
Limited to 500 Recipients
93+ rated, luxury-premium, collectable wines for the ultimate tasting experience
2+ bottles, ships quarterly
PC: www.goldmedalwineclub.com
Recommended by Forbes
Outstanding, exclusive imports from great, small estates around the world
3 bottles, ships quarterly
Mother's Day is just around the corner and if you're unsure of what to get her, wine is always a great choice!.. And maybe some flowers, too. Right now, Gold Medal Wine Club is having a Mother's Day Special - bonus gift for Mom when you buy now at GoldMedalWineClub.com (<- click this link!) and use the code MDay2016!
Happy Drinking!
PC: Yelper
What looks like a cute white house is actually a restaurant!
La Playa Azul Cafe specializes in Mexican Seafood and traditional dishes inspired by chef Ignacio Elias. They're open Tuesday-Sunday from 11 AM-close. Lunch specials are served from 11 AM-4 PM and Happy Hour is from 3 PM-6 PM. There's plenty of indoor seating, but why sit inside when you can sit outside on their lovely patio?
PC: Yelper
PC: Yelper
I was really in the mood for a margarita and one of my coworkers recommended La Playa Azul and said they had great ones for a good price. They are great, indeed and strong! They also have a wide variety of them. I've been here once before, but it was a pretty long time ago.
*All hand shaken and served on the rocks
Top Left:
Cabo Wabo Margarita - $9 / $7.50 HH
Cabo Wabo Resposada Tequila, Gran Gala, lime juice, and a splash of Blue Curacao.
Middle (blue glassses):
Casa Margarita - $7 / $5 HH
Sauza Giro Tequila, Triple Sec, agave nectar, and lime juice.
Bottom Right:
Agave Nectar Margarita - $9 / $7.50 HH
Skinny Margarita. Partida Blanco Tequila, 100% organic agave nectar, and lime juice.
I hear their enchiladas and tacos are good (really interested to try their enchilada that comes with an egg on top?!), but the fajitas were calling my name!
Your choice of grilled chicken ($17), steak ($17.50), shrimp ($19), halibut ($18) or scallops ($19.75), sautéed with onions, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and garlic. Served with corn or flour tortillas.
Went with the shrimp and flour tortillas and it was delicious! Unfortunately, none of their tortillas are made in house. We also got the steak fajitas, which were just as good! The dish also came with beans and rice.
PC: @lindzlu3 via Snapchat
Shrimp sautéed in tequila, cilantro butter, garlic and fresh lime juice. Served with corn or flour tortillas.
This was the other dish I was debating on besides fajitas. Luckily, my friend Lindsey got it! Very buttery. Mmmm. Also came with rice and beans, as you can see. But you can choose between that, soup or salad.
PC: @jordanlee4
Shrimp sautéed with onions, tomatoes, garlic, wine, chile, and cilantro, covered with salsa ranchera or salsa verde, melted cheese, and sliced avocado. Served with beans and rice on the side.
If you couldn't tell, most of us were in the mood for shrimp/seafood. ;)
We also tried the Habanero Mango Margarita and the Hibiscus Flower Margarita!
PC: @lindzlu3
Habanero Mango Margarita - $8 / $6.75 HH
(Forgot to take a picture!)
Skinny Margarita. Sauza Hornitos Plata, mango puree, agave nectar, and lime juice. Hand shaken and served on the rocks.
Hibiscus Flower Margarita - $8.75 / $7.25 HH
Hibiscus Flower Tea, hibiscus-infused Centenario Reposado Tequila, agave nectar, Patron Citronge, and lime juice. Hand shaken and served straight up.
So, if you're looking for good Mexican/Seafood with great margaritas, this is the spot! I believe they're family owned and operated, so they're not as heavily staffed as other restaurants in Santa Barbara, but they're still super friendly, fast and efficient!
Happy Margarita Monday and happy dining!
This past week, I had the pleasure of getting a shipment of craft beer from The Original Craft Beer Club. Every month, they feature exceptional craft beers from the country's best, small and independent brewers. They take the guesswork out of buying craft beer and give you beers you normally wouldn't even have access to!
When you become a member, you get 12 beers per month (4 styles, 3 of each) for only $39 a month and shipping is always free (excludes HI & AK)! You can also receive bonus gifts like a bottle opener, tasting glasses and a years worth subscription to Beer Connoisseur.
This month's featured craft beers are Payette Brewing Co's India Pale Ale and American Pale Lager & Black Tooth Brewing Co's Amber Ale and English Brown Ale.
PC: @originalcraftbeerclub
This American Lager has a laid-back personality and pairs well with just about all your favorite foods. Hops bring a mix of woody, green, floral and fruit notes with subtle herb and spice character. The North Fork is a sessionable beer with lower alcohol content for a quick, smooth run. Enjoy it at home, or pack it with you for your next outdoor adventure.
Pours a clear gold color with a white foamy head. Smell is clean malt and some herbal hops. Taste is smooth and refreshing. Body is light and starts out dry and slightly tart. Extremely drinkable. This would be the perfect beer to have while you're laying out at the beach or going on a hike.
PC: @originalcraftbeerclub
Untamed, unpredicatable and full of unforgettable character - that's Outlaw in a nutshell. Payette's Outlaw IPA has a solid malt base that quietly saunters in with a slightly spicy aroma, hints of sweet pine, citrus, and apricot tones. American hops (Centennial, Chinook, and Columbus) lend a hoppy, mildly bitter finish. This flagship brew is a Payette favorite.
Pours a hazy burnt orange color with a tight, creamy off white head. Smell is slightly sweet malt and citrusy hops. Taste is sweet and fruity with a strong malt backbone. Body is medium with some hop bitterness at the end, but it's a little light for an IPA. Goes down super easy.
Bronze Medal - North American Beer Awards
Bronze Medal - U.S. Open Beer Championship
92 Points - Beer Connoisseur, Rick Franckhauser
PC: @originalcraftbeerclub
An English-style Brown Ale, Black Tooth's Saddle Bronc is dark in color yet surprisingly light in body making it a great session beer. Hints of caramel, roasted nuts, and cocoa complement the malty sweet flavors and clean finish. Try pairing the Saddle Bronc with smoked baby back ribs and BBQ sauce.
Pours a deep brown color with an off white head. Smell is sweet malt, caramel and cocoa. Taste is sweet malt; starts with caramel and ends with cocoa and slight hop. Body is medium, smooth and crisp. Definitely fits the style of an English Brown Ale.
Gold Medal - U.S. Open Beer Championship
PC: @originalcraftbeerclub
Named after the notorious Bomber Mountain (a ridge line within the Big Horn Mountains and the site of a military aviation accident), this Amber Ale from Black Tooth is well rounded and balanced with a dry, crisp character. The complex malt profile of biscuits, caramel and cotton candy provide a hearty backbone for this fan-favorite ale.
Pours a copper amber color with a white foam head. Smell is dark malt and earthy hops. Taste is a little grainy with some caramel. Body is light-medium and smooth with a dry finish. Didn't get the cotton candy, but it's easy to drink.
If you couldn't tell, the focus for this month's shipment is cans. Why cans? Well, why not? Cans are more portable, lightweight, better for the environment, stackable, chill faster, don't break, and perfect for any of your outdoor adventures.
I also did some googling and came across an article on The Business Insider called, "Why Canned Beer Is Better Than Bottled Beer". Here's an excerpt from it:
PC: http://3dbrewing.com/cans-vs-bottles
First, canned beer weighs less. Less packaging means you can move the same amount of product in fewer trips, reducing a firm's expenses and carbon footprint at the same time.
Whole Foods, which retails its share of craft beer, has seen a 30% increase in canned beer sales in the past year. MarketWatch describes the paradigm shift:
As of 2012, cans constituted 53.2% of the beer market while bottles had a 36.5% share — a fairly significant gap. By contrast, in 2006, the two packagings were much closer in popularity — cans accounted for 48.3% of the market and bottles 41.9%. (Draft beer largely accounts for the rest of brew sales.)
To everyone's delight, canning is also better for a beer's quality, according to Welz.
Cans don't let light in, plain and simple. "Light is destructive to the organic compound in beer that make the flavors everyone is so crazy about," he said.
Welz also suspects that cans, with a "double-crimped" seal, are better than bottles at preventing air from getting in — air being one of the main enemies of a delicious brew.
All that is true, but Ska Brewing thinks the mounting consumer preference for canned beer has less to do with quality and more to do with convenience.
Biking to the store? Grab cans over bottles. Tired of glass breaking in the cooler on your road trip? Cans are safer. Own a grocery store (or a refrigerator)? Cans are more stackable.
There are a few other theories to explain the trend here. Cans harken back to a simpler time. Thanks to a sense of hipster nostalgia, Pabst Blue Ribbon enjoys its current reign among penny-pinching Brooklynites.
Canned beer also chills better, and collective hysteria over BPA poisoning — a chemical in the lining of aluminum and plastic products — has gone out of vogue.
I know what you're thinking... "But you can't make cool things with cans like you can with bottles." Wrong. You CAN. ;)
PC: @payettebrewing
But if you prefer bottles over cans or vice versa, it's okay. We can all still be friends!
PC: Craft Beer Club
Happy Friday and happy drinking!
P.S. Not a big beer drinker? They have a wine club, too! Check it out!
I attended a fun birthday dinner at The Lark a couple of a weeks ago for a good friend of mine. You do need to make a reservation ahead of time and with a big group of people, they'll most likely ask you to choose what you'd like to order beforehand (it's family style). We had 12 people and if you ask them to, they'll print you out your own menu with a personalized message at the bottom for whatever occasion you're celebrating!
Medjool dates, garum, sesame, lime
These were fantastic! Definitely one of my favorites. It comes with a fish sauce that gives the dish a unique flavor. Fish sauce is actually a commonly used ingredient in most Cambodian dishes, so it was like a nice taste of home.
Ricotta salata, lemon-strawberry gastrique, spiced hazelnuts, red watercress, basil
This salad was light and refreshing with a hint of sweetness (from the strawberries), and a nice crunch from the hazelnuts. It was big hit at our table.
Charred broccoli, calabrian chile, crispy shallots, mint
This was delicious! Steak was tender and juicy, though I wish they gave a bigger portion of steak vs. the vegetables.
Spanish chorizo, navel orange, castelvetrano olives, lobster roe, cilantro
This dish will literally blow your mind. It's heaven on earth. It's a party in your mouth. It's basically everything you've ever dreamed of. This dish was rich, decadent and creamy, and definitely a favorite among everyone.
Medjool date caramel, salsa verde, crushed pistachio, fennel pollen
These were great! The meat fell off the bone and it had kind of a buttery taste and melted in your mouth. But since we only got a half rack, there were only four ribs aka not enough to go around. But we did order a whole chicken, which kind of made up for it.
Smoked andouille sausage, crispy dirty rice, poblano chile, grilled scallions, creole shellfish sauce
The fish was tasty and the sauce gave it a nice spice. The crispy dirty rice also complimented the dish well.
Black pepper grits, grilled sweet corn, jalapeno, ham hock, pickled okra, chives, chicken jus
The chicken was moist and flavorful and the grits were absolutely delicious. So glad we got a whole chicken instead of half!
Since it was my friend's birthday, I asked if we could bring our own cake. They said yes and even kept the cake in a fridge for us. There was, however, a $3 cutting fee per person. But they did take care of everything for us i.e. plates, silverware, etc. It was a delicious German Chocolate cake that one of our friend's made. So good. So full.
If we hadn't of brought our own cake, then we definitely would have gotten a couple of their desserts. I'm not sure what their dessert menu looks like now, but these are the two I had last time and they were delicious: mascarpone cheesecake profiteroles with blueberries (left) and a hazelnut praline ice cream sandwich with grilled peaches and tarragon (right).
With the check being spilt between all of us, it came out to be about $35 per person, and that included a coupe of bottles of wine that we brought on our own. You can bring two bottles of wine and their corkage fee is $25 per bottle. If you bring a large bottle of wine, it's considered a magnum and the corkage fee goes up to $50. If you don't bring your own bottle, I believe their cheapest bottle of wine is around $50. They, of course, have great craft cocktails as well. They also give you delicious popcorn as an appetizer. Seriously, it's so good.
The Lark is a great spot in The Funk Zone with fast and friendly service. I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time I was here. There's a decent amount of indoor seating, as well as a bar, and they also have patio seating. It's the perfect place to celebrate any special occasion or just to have a fancy night out!
If you're headed their way any time soon, be sure to tag @sbgoodeats and #sbgoodeats on Instagram. :)
Happy Dining!
Hey there!
So excited to have sbgoodeats.com finally launched! Doing some pretty cool things in the next couple of months that I can't wait to share with you.
Stay tuned for my first food post that'll feature the fun and delicious dinner I had last week at The Lark for a friend's birthday.
Happy dining!
