Great Grills of Fire

(photo: Paul Wellman)

There’s something about the smell of oak smoke that draws us in, holds us to dreams of summers past and delicious repasts of the future. It’s intimate by nature, a good BBQ, since somebody spent the better part of his or her day making special somethings just for you.

So while our 6th Annual Sizzling Summer BBQ Contest, held at Oak Park on June 18, featured a shorter-than-usual list of competitors vying for the charcoal, beef-focused crown, it wasn’t any less wonderful or impassioned. And that’s what makes BBQ best.

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

Acing the All-Star Academy?

You may not like being described as “on the edge of brilliant and crazy” on national TV, but it turned out fine for Vanessa Craig. Those were the words of celebrity chef Michael Symon, who picked Craig for his team during episode one of Food Network’s new All-Star Academy. At the end of this competition’s eight-week run, one home cook will walk away with $50,000.

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

Going 'Cue Crazy

Just so you know we take the Sizzling Summer BBQ Contest seriously, we ended up with 14 judges for just 12 contestants this year. Of course, there was plenty of regular hedonistic fun to be had on June 26, when our now-usual, multiculti, multi-tasty food extravaganza party popped up at Oak Park. But the annual event, with 2014 being the fifth such incarnation, is really fueled by the passion and pride of our grillers.

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

Win This Restaurant: Pace Could Be Yours

The Snyder family of Pace food + drink is so good at the restaurant game, their eldest son, Ryan, was born on trade. Back when Jeff Snyder owned San Francisco’s RSVP Restaurant, people would exchange services for dinners — even ob-gyns. “Not in our day and age,” recalled his wife, Kim Snyder, “but 29 years ago, it was possible.”

The Snyders’ latest baby has been the 50-seat Pace itself, which they opened at 413 State Street in February 2012 to instant acclaim, including a Foodie Award from this newspaper. Prior to that, Jeff worked at L’Auberge del Mar in San Diego, but the family wanted a spot of their own. After some false starts, this property came on the market and was ideal. “An open kitchen, right on State Street, and who doesn’t want to live in Santa Barbara?” said Jeff. “We were doing it as a family and wanted to set the boys up.” Those boys, Ryan and Cole, “poured their hearts and souls into it for two years,” said Jeff, but it turns out restaurants are not what they want to do.

Instead of just selling the business, though, the Snyders are going to give it away. “We want to find someone passionate about this business and give them an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Jeff. That opportunity includes the restaurant and beer and wine license; the lease paid for a year; insurances paid for a year; $20,000 in working capital to help cover expenses; and mentoring from the Snyders. “After 35 years in this business, this is our opportunity to give back — it’s like Pay It Forward,” insisted Jeff. “If we can come downtown in a year or two and walk into the restaurant we used to own and it’s a success, then we did our job. I can’t even imagine how we’ll feel.”

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

Or enter the contest and learn more at Pace's site directly.

Masters of the Grilling Universe

More than 100 food-loving folks gathered around the picnic benches of Oak Park last month to witness The Santa Barbara Independent’s fourth annual Sizzling Summer BBQ Contest, which was easily our most exciting and cutthroat cooking competition yet. The June 13 event featured 13 chefs, both professional and amateur, eager to impress with a wide range of 15 delectable dishes in the three official categories: Professional BBQ Plate, Amateur BBQ Plate, and Pro-Am Vegetarian BBQ Plate.

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

Professor Plum in The Kitchen with KCET

As you know if you read the Indy at all, we're a contest-loving bunch (coming soon: a contest to come up with the next best contest!), so I'd be amiss if I didn't point out there's a cool contest KCET is throwing to our south, and we're all welcome to take part. (I'm pretty sure this isn't a sneaky way to annex Santa Barbara, promise.) The prize isn't just glory, but also a basket of farmers' market goodies.

KCET is celebrating summer stone fruit season by asking viewers like you to submit your favorite plum, pluot, or apricot recipe. You've got till Friday, so go to the contest site for details and make Santa Barbara proud.

And did you know that when Luther Burbank dreamed up the pluot, he called it a plumcot? Perhaps Burbank knew best--that just seems easier to say, doesn't it? And if you're going to end up a hybrid oddity, the last thing you need is a funky, fake French name. 

The Sips & Sears of Summer

The third annual serving of The Santa Barbara Independent’s Sizzling Summer BBQ Contest revealed that the more the venues and categories change, the more the winners stay the same, as two of this year’s four awarded chefs also prevailed in previous years. That said, the quality of both pro and amateur chefs steadily climbs each year, and this year’s competition proved tougher than ever before, with mere points separating the victors from the runners-up in each category.

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

Enter The Independent's Third Annual Grilling Showdown

Hey good lookin’ Santa Barbarans, what ya got cookin?

It’s that time of year again for The Santa Barbara Independent‘s third annual Sizzling Summer BBQ & Cocktail Contest, where the region’s best grillers and mixologists battle for fame and fun prizes. So we are seeking both professional and amateur chefs and bartenders to enter from today through the end of May.

We’ve streamlined the showdowns this year a bit. Since entrants kept sneaking more and more condiments, accoutrements, and sides onto their main plate, we’ve just cut to the chase and got more inclusive by calling for entire “plates” of barbecued food that can feature entrees as well as side dishes.

So this this year, we are seeking entries for:

- Professional BBQ Plate
- Amateur BBQ Plate (amateur means that you do not work in a commercial kitchen)
- Pro-Am Vegetarian BBQ Plate
- Pro-Am Cocktail Contest

To enter, we need to see a recipe or detailed description of your proposed dish/drink. We promise to keep it a secret, but without one, we can’t tell what you are going to make, which means that you will not be named a finalist. From there, our judges will winnow down the list to the most interesting proposed recipes, and then the finalists will be called to cook their food and make their drinks at two upcoming public events. There, they will be judged by experts, with the best chef/mixologist emerging as the supreme victor.

Submit recipes to food@independent.com by Tuesday, May 29, 5 p.m. And stay tuned to Independent.com for more updates in the weeks to come.

[Cross-posted with the Independent.]

Come Witness the S.B. Sandwich Showdown

On Friday, February 3 from 4-5 p.m. the public is invited to Whole Foods Market (3761 State St., 837-6959) to watch a bit of live Top Chef-ry right here in Santa Barbara at the SB Sandwich Showdown. Held in honor of Tom Colicchio, who happens to own a chain of ’wichcraft sandwich shops, and who will be at UCSB Campbell Hall on February 22, the Showdown will see who is the best thing since sliced bread with some sliced bread.

The contestants will be Clay Lovejoy, a co-owner of Three Pickles (126 E. Canon Perdido St., 965-1015, 420 S. Fairview Ave., 964-4585, threepickles.com), Paul Shields, owner of Savoy Cafe & Deli (24 West Figueroa St., 962-6611, the savoycafe.com), and brave amateur contestant LJ Washington, who already jumped one hurdle by being chosen as the amateur entrant over a slew of fine sandwich makers, based on some delish recipes. (LJ’s victorious semi-finalist entry was for a New Orleans Meatloaf Po Boy.) Emceeing the event will be yours truly, the Independent Food Editor, and one of the judges will be regular food writer Joanie Hudson.

The winner of the final contest — whether pro or amateur —will receive a Whole Foods Market shopping spree (value $250), a pair of tickets to see Colicchio at UCSB, the chance to meet him backstage after his talk, and a copy of ’wichcraft (Colicchio’s acclaimed book on the art of sandwich-making). Plus a lot of bragging rights.

Which ‘wich will reign supreme? Come and see it all happen - live!

Announcing the SB Sandwich Showdown

In anticipation of the February 22 Campbell Hall appearance of Top Chef head judge Tom Colicchio (who happens to own a chain of ’wichcraft sandwich shops), UCSB Arts & Lectures, Whole Foods Market, and The Santa Barbara Independent are throwing a showdown to see who serves up the best sandwich in Santa Barbara. Two contestants will be professional sandwich slingers, but the third will be an amateur/home cook. Do you think you have what it takes to be that person?

The amateur battle of the S.B. Sandwich Showdown will be held live at Whole Food Market on Friday, February 3, 4-5 p.m., so if you serve up the best thing since sliced bread on sliced bread, enter by sending the following to georgeeats@independent.com by Friday, January 20, 5 p.m.: (1) a recipe for your favorite sandwich; (2) a testimonial from one person (not yourself) as to the tastiness and inventiveness of your creation; and (3) a short bio (remember, you cannot be in the food industry and take part). A panel of judges will then choose one non-pro to take on the pros on February 3 in the live sandwich-off.

The winner of the final contest — whether pro or amateur —will receive a Whole Foods Market shopping spree (value $250), a pair of tickets to see Colicchio at UCSB, the chance to meet him backstage after his talk (please, no “pack your ____ and go” jokes), and a copy of ’wichcraft (Colicchio’s acclaimed book on the art of sandwich-making). Plus a lot of bragging rights.