Forno Classico Opens Doors to Pizza Heaven

“I like food,” explains Giuseppe Crisa, founder and owner of the pizza oven company Forno Classico, “and that’s how everything happened.”

Twelve years ago, and still new to the United States, the Sicilian-born Crisa was living in Summerland and craving a better pizza. So, like his grandfather before him, he decided to build his own oven. “My English was badder than now,” he says, joking, “and nobody wanted to hire me, so I had some time on my hands.”

Want to read the rest then do so at the Independent's site.

Draughtsmen Aleworks Now On Tap

Despite it being 5:30 p.m. on a Wednesday, the bar is abuzz as if it were 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. “Deckers and Lockheed Martin both have happy hours going on now,” explains Scott Stefan, one of five partners behind Draughtsmen Aleworks in Goleta, which recently opened not just a microbrewery but an insta-community.

Want to read the rest then do so at the Independent's site.

Goodland Kitchen Comes to Those Who Wait

At long last (and no doubt co-owners Julia Crookston and Melissa Gomez think that more than anyone else) Goodland Kitchen and Market (231 S. Magnolia Street, Goleta) is soft opening today and hopes to be fully ramped up by Monday. You'll be hearing more about them in the pages of the Indy eventually, but I wanted to point out right away that they'll be providing affordable delicious locally-sourced breakfasts and lunches so you might want to head over. I had the good fortune to taste test some of their menu items in development, and you will be pleased, especially by what's sure to become a signature item, the Magnolia Avenue sandwich of housemade hummus, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, jack cheese and Goleta lemon aioli on multigrain bread. The hummus itself was wonderful and the aoili adds a  lemony quality that is assertive without being overly-dominant, a tough line to walk.

That they will also be renting out commercial kitchen space is another wonderful bonus, but we'll get to the full story, I promise.