Painting Toward the Essential (A Profile of Nicole Strasburg)

I had the privilege to spend some time interviewing Nicole Strasburg for Montecito Magazine. You can read the full profile by going to the Montecito Magazine website, clicking on the current issue (which is fall 2017/winter 2018), and following the left navigation link to "Nicole Strasburg: Cover Artist" (that's pages 66-69 in the magazine and its online viewer).

Sip This: 2013 William Fèvre Chablis Premier Cru

If you want to know what separates French chardonnay from American, and you’ve got a spare $50, here’s your bottle. Since 1959, William Fèvre has been making great Chablis, and now it’s one of the area’s biggest landowners. Montée de Tonnerre is one of the domaine’s eight 1 er crus, and it’s a balanced, knife-edge of excitement. Unfortunately, hail storms mean that there is very little of it from this otherwise fine vintage.

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

Sip This: Bettie Page Rum

Michael Cobb, the man behind the High Roller Tiki Lounge in Solvang, where the tiki drinks are made with wine and not spirits to honor wine country (and to comply with his liquor license), is far from spirits adverse. For now, he’s developed this kicky spiced rum at the request of CMG, the company that holds the Bettie Page trademark and hired Cobb due to his love of all things kitschy and ’50s.

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

Canary Hotel Hosts Community Cocktail for a Cause

Since the holidays were mostly impossible in these parts, the Canary Hotel and Finch & Fork restaurant are stepping in to raise our spirits. On January 20, on their closer-to-the-stars rooftop, they’ll be throwing a party called Community Cocktail for a Cause.

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

The Best Bubbles to Buy for New Year’s Eve

It’s that time of year to splurge on the bubbles, and the Champagne Taittinger Brut Millésimé 2012 is a fine way to do so ($97), from one of France’s most revered Champagne houses, where consistency and deliciousness are guaranteed. The Brut Millésimé is made only in vintages worthy of it, and this 50 percent chardonnay/50 percent pinot noir stunner is just that, a lively, lovely blast of citrus floated upon the finest of bubbles (it’s aged in bottle five years on its lees, growing in character and finesse). See taittinger.com.

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

The Brasserie at Third Window Opens

There’s nothing like throwing a six-course meal for about 50 people less than two weeks after opening, but that’s what chef Mandy Barrett did last week at The Brasserie at Third Window Brewing Co. She had to, as Third Window has this thing about St. Barbara — the East Haley Street brewery in The Mill complex is even named after the setting of her legend — and they like to throw her a party on December 4, her feast day.

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

Blue Owl Breakfast for Thomas Fire Evacuees

When word of the Thomas Fire made its way to Hawaii, where Cindy Black was on vacation, she knew that The Blue Owl, her beloved, Foodie Award–winning eatery on West Canon Perdido Street, had to do something. “I have employees who live in Santa Paula and Carpinteria,” she said. “Everybody’s really sad right now, so I wanted to give people a place to have some breakfast, drink some coffee, and watch some sketch comedies, like Mr. Show and Upright Citizens Brigade.”

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