So I am slowly recovering from the Epic pig battle known as Cochon 555 a roving pig cooking competition.  It pits 5 chefs in each city cooking 5 Heritage pigs tail to snout.  There are wineries pouring much wine, beers and this year, whiskey.  An overall big day in food and drink.  Come hungry and leave satiated.  I was so full I couldn’t even get down the ice cream Scoops was dishing out.

This year the 5 chefs were Chad Colby of Mozza, Ben Ford of Ford’s Filling Station, Neal Fraser of The Strand House, Jason Neroni of Superba Snack Bar, and Micah Wexler of Mezze.  Last year Chad Colby of Mozza was the winner, and this year Ben Ford took home the honor.  He gets to go  to the Grand Cochon at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen.

I am still trying to take it all in right now. It was a lot to take in, and I’m still trying to process it, and the pictures I took.  Here is a link to a pig shot I took and entered in the Cochon Hipstamatic contest.

http://community.hipstamatic.com/submissions/222523

I will have more later.  Stay tuned……

Well here I will explore some of the spots to go in the Santa Ynez Valley for tasting wines and eating, and tasting more wines.  Being it is so close to LA, most people don’t give this area very much thought for having great wines.  Well, I am here to correct that fallacy, because there are some superb wines available right up the road.  And going in person you can cut out a lot overhead costs of wine shops, AND sometimes catch a special.  I’ve already walked away with cases of wine for pennies on the dollar.  I mean you COULD go to Trader Joe’s or Vons or Ralph’s for their “wine specials”;  or you could head up and pick up a couple cases of wines you’ve actually tasted and liked!

So there are a few main areas of the Valley.  If you turn off the 101 onto the 1, that takes you into Lompoc.  Stay on the 101 and you end up at the 246 where going West takes you to Buellton, and East takes you into Solvang.  If you went up over the mountain on the 254, you can stop at either the town of Santa Ynez or head right into Los Olivos.  Each has their own food, lodging and wine options.  Most places up there have the official map of wine country, where you can plan your attack and see all the routes available.  There is some terrific scenery depending on your time of year.

Now as far as lodging is concerned, I have seen in person and stayed at a few different options.  There are many options available as far as amenities.  Nearly all have pools, for lounging, as it gets quite warm in the summer months.  Here are the options I’ve experienced first hand.

Lompoc:  I’ve only staying in town here twice, and the options from what I’ve seen are a bit more on the chain hotel scale.  You are a little more off the beaten track of wineries, and in more of a town.  From my experiences, it’s a so-so place to stay.  If you don’t care about your setting, you can get some good, cheap rooms here.

Buellton:  Right off the 101, are really only two places, and you are a bit in the middle of the valley.  Nothing fancy, just convenient.  There is a Marriott, that is, well a Marriott.  Very big, and usually full, with lots of families.  The other main lodging is at Pea Soup Andersen’s Inn.  If you’ve never been up the 101, the pea soup at Andersen’s is legendary.  At least to tourists.  I’ve never been, as mass produced pea soup isn’t always on the top of my list of items to seek out to eat.  But hey, don’t let that stop you.

Solvang:  Just a short jaunt East on the 246 is the Danish town of Solvang.  It’s like a little Copenhagen in Central CA.  Most hotel options are very, very, very, kitschy.  All with themes, none of which I am really into.  I have never been to Denmark, but I doubt it looks like this.  So on either end of town are the two best housing options, which I’ve both stayed at.  On the more Western end of town is the Hadsten House. http://www.hadstenhouse.com/   It’s a nice clean updated hotel with great amenities.  And it’s on the outskirts of town, so on crazy days in Solvang, when traffic is at a stop heading East, you can head West, and around the congestion.  This is usually only during holiday weekends.  It’s just a nice option.  It is still close enough to walk into town for food and supplies.  They also have many coupons for tastings, if you need some direction, and want a few free tastings.  And yes, since Sideways came out, most wineries charge for tastings.  But avoid this by either buying a bottle or two, most places will give you tastings if you are buying.  Or actually show some interest, ask questions, and generally don’t be a lush.   Now for another option in town is the newly remodeled Hotel Corque.  http://www.hotelcorque.com/   A very new, clean, hip option.  You aren’t going to see any socks and sandals here.  It’s for the more refined wine aficionado who wants something a little less kitschy.  There is also a very, very nice restaurant attached, where I’ve had a few meals, and give two thumbs up too.  Root 246   http://www.root-246.com/  A very classy change reminiscent of the big wine regions a little North of here.  As a bonus there is a great cocktail list as well if you are done with the wine.

From here a short jaunt East on the 246 takes you past the Chumash Casino and into the small rustic town of Santa Ynez.  Things are a little more quiet and a little more rustic around here.  Also a little more off the wine country track.  Perfect if you want to get out and walk, and not run into any Ya-Hoos.  Well at least probably not many.  There is one very elegant, old fashioned hotel option in town here.  The Santa Ynez Inn http://www.santaynezinn.com/ is definitely not a hip, uber-cool establishment.  Not that it doesn’t have it’s charms, but it’s a little old-school, like Victorian old-school.   But I reckon for a very quiet romantic get away it’s perfect!

Finally, just a little North from here in the town of Los Olivos is the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn and Spa  http://www.fessparkerinn.com/main/home.html  And before you ask, yes THAT Fess Parker, of Davy Crockett Television fame.  The namesake has since passed away,  but you can still walk the same halls he built way before the Valley was a destination.  And it isn’t too shabby.  It’s very modern, yet still maintains some of the rustic-ness of the area and it’s builder.  There is a full spa, winery, and a terrific little Greek restaurant, Petros, which is a nice change for the area.

Well there is the second installment of my Santa Barbara County Wine Country journal.  Stay tuned for Parts III and IV to know where to eat and more importantly drink some terrific wines!!

Cheers

I usually don’t lose my head over a dinner, especially here in LA, where I tend to have many favorites, but Hirozen is phenomenal.  So please only go if you are a true blue lover of real, authentic, fish.  Go to some simple chain if you want a big picture menu of cut rolls.  Don’t bring that weak-ass attitude here.  To a small tiny place in a non-descript strip mall along a non-sushi stretch of Beverly Boulevard.

I thought after one trip with a friend who is a regular that maybe we got lucky and because the chef knew her that we got the tip top cuts.  But alas, he only serves the best of the best cuts of fish.  And what cuts they are, as he goes every morning to the fish market early to pick his fish.  And anytime regular yellowtail and salmon AREN’T even considered in Omakase first few rounds!

Like I said, it’s a simple place.  Small sushi bar, and about a dozen tables.  Beer and wine only, but a nice selection of sake.  Which is nice.  AND you get to pick your own sake glass.  They bring by a tray with many glasses of which you can pick one.  And the cold sake comes over ice, so as to stay cold.  Nothing worse than your sake getting warm.  Gosh!

I didn’t write down all the fish we had with Omakase, but there were a few offered from Japan.  And many that I’ve never even had before.  Yes, I was actually served some sushi I have never even had before.  If you know me, or have seen my Yelp page, you know I’m born and raised with Sicilian blood, but with a true blue love of Sushi.

Some of the offerings:

Medium Toro

Tasmanian Sea Trout – Oh My God.  This was so good.  So SO good.  Not as delicate as say halibut or yellowtail, but amazing, hearty  flavor and with a slightly torched top.  Pure Excellence.

Shad – A herring relative, and fantastic as well.  A more delicate yet fantastic fish.  Not on many menus either.

Japanese Barracuda – This might be the winner of the night.  As good, if not better than nearly all the pricey Toro I’ve had elsewhere.

Giant Clam – Whereas a lot if not most sushi spots serve a very tough and hard to chew version of Giant Clam, this piece was tender and packed with flavor.

A yellowtail cousin –  I can’t remember the real name, as the Chef explained it to us under it’s Japanese name.  Always a good sign on my account.

And many more that I cannot recall.  Truly a memorable dining experience.  A bit pricey, but worth every penny.  So if you go, don’t skimp, go with whatever the chef says is the freshest and best.  He asked where else we go in LA, and one of our old favorites was Sushi Nozawa, and now Sugarfish.  Well of course the chef worked and studied under Chef Nozowa many, many years ago.  Still seems him at the fish market early most days.  Although he said Chef Nozawa is usually one of the, if not the first person there every single day.  But Hirozen is not run by slackers.  The fish like I said is unlike most I’ve seen, and super fresh and original.

Now go, but remember, don’t tell anyone who does not appreciate the best of the best, or paying a premium.  In the words of Chef Nozawa “Trust Me”

http://www.hirozen.com/index.html

One of my favorite get aways from the City of Angels is the Wine Country of Santa Barbara County, aka Santa Ynez Valley.  It is nearly the perfect little day or weekend trip.  I’ve done both, the day trip and multiple days.  There is as much or as little as you want to do.  But primarily there is a lot of food and wine, and more wine, with some smattering of beer,  if that’s your bag.  From LA, it’s a little over two hours depending on route and traffic.  Some sections of the 101 gets a bit backed up depending on your hour.  I love this stretch of highway, because after the city of  Ventura, the 101 Ventura Freeway and Highway 1, PCH combine to run you up the coast past Santa Barbara, where they split again.  If you have never taken this trip, it is one of those drives along the Pacific Ocean that people have talked and written about for decades.  Steep cliffs on one side, beach and ocean along the other.  Some breathtaking views that never get old.  Then you have the choice to enter the Santa Ynez Valley via the ocean or mountain route.  One can stay on the 101 till after the 1 turns off to follow the coast.  The 101 at this point takes a bit more of an inland route North.  PCH at this point heads towards Lompoc and more amazing vistas along the Pacific.  Either way takes you into the Valley of the Grapes.  Lompoc is basically the most Westerly edge and Los Olivos, Santa Ynez the Eastern edge.  The mountain route, CA 154 the Chumash Highway exits the 101 just past downtown Santa Barbara and treks up over the San Marcus Pass following an old stagecoach route.   A totally different, yet equally lovely to enter wine country.

Now before you get there, again, depending on your time of day, you might to want to fuel up your body before indulging in multiple wine tastings.  There are a few different options to explore on each route.  I will explore these more here in Part One before getting into the heart of Wine Country.

Food via 101 route:

Well first and foremost any trip up toward, through, or into Santa Barbara would not be complete without a stop at La Super Rica Taqueria on Milpas Street.  Just down the street from one of the best concert venues I’ve ever been to, The Santa Barbara Bowl.  But I digress, La Super Rica.  No web site, no big sign, but a line.  You can exit the 101 at Milpas St exit and just travel north into town.  Once you get close, there will most inevitably be a line out on the sidewalk.  And for good reason, this is some of the most authentic and tasty Mexican food you can find in Southern California.  I mean it was Julia Child’s favorite taqueria.  The tortilla’s are pressed and cooked right in front of you fresh for each order.  It is a small family run establishment that makes you feel at home, and doesn’t care if you don’t know what you are ordering, they’ll explain each and every dish if you want.  Wash it down with an ice cold Bohemia or Dos Equis and you are ready to hit the road again.

Then it’s which way? 101N to the 1N into Lompoc?  101N to the 246 into Buellton or Solvang?  Or the 101N to the 154W into the 246 or into Los Olivos?  Options Options Options.  Again I always  opt to choose based on food options.  There is different food options each direction you go.  Also depends on your time.  The 101N to the 246 is by far the quickest, as the 101 lets you maintain a faster speed.  But I digress, Food, namely what food adventures lay ahead on each route.

101N-PCH 1N:

This route takes you a little more out of the way to get some grub, but it is no less fun or scenic.  As I mentioned before, the 101 travels on the same path as PCH along the coast past Santa Barbara.  The road takes a turn inland at Gaviota State Park and head northward over and through the mountains.  After only a few miles the turnoff for PCH which at this point  is also called Cabrillo Highway since you aren’t along the ocean.  But it is still Highway 1, and  you have only one option, West.  Take this for another few miles, till you see a turn for Jalama Beach via Jalama Road.  It is not a large turnoff or intersection, so keep your GPS going and your eyes peeled.  At this point you will have a long, windy 14 mile drive to the beach.  Again, the scenery is lovely and unless you are starving it goes by quickly.  Upon arriving at the beach, there is a Park Ranger Station where you can get a day pass to hang all day, or a “burger pass” to go to the Jalama Beach Store and Grill and get a Jalama Burger.  http://www.jalamabeach.com/restaurant.html.  For a burger at a remote beach outpost it is very very tasty.  They offer other options, but this is why people travel off the beaten track.  To have a tasty, messy burger, a tall boy of beer right on the Pacific.  There are camping options if you are so inclined, but then you’ll miss all the wine tastings.   It’s a great big 1/3 pound beef burger on a toasted bun with special sauce, shredded lettuce, red onions, slice tomato, and cheese if you so choose.  Get some fries, and the aforementioned tall boy of beer, and wonder out to one of the many picnic tables, or relax out of the wind inside behind the glass and watch the waves.  The burger speaks for itself, and I’ve never met anyone who has said it wasn’t one of their favorites.  After this you’ll be all ready for Wine Country.

101N-246

This is the same way you’d head for a Jalama Burger, but pass the Highway 1 turnoff and continue into the Santa Ynez Valley.  This is a nice way to go and experience the California lifestyle.  If you decide to go this route I’d stop in Santa Barbara and pick up a nice picnic at one of the many stores and stop at one of the beaches along the route before getting to the 246.  There are three nice state beaches to stop at for a picnic, and depending on the time of year, you may or may not have to pay a fee to use the park.  But it goes to a good cause, keeping the parks up and running.  So the first you will come to is El Capitan State Beach, followed by Refugio Beach State Park.  All have parking and some sort of bathroom facilities.  Check them out to see which looks nicest to you, and stop.  Or hit all three if the swell is up and watch the surfers.  There are also a few smaller spots you’ll see cars parked and walking to the beach.  But some of these are a bit sketchy and dangerous. One of my favorite grocery stores that you can pick up supplies at is Cantwell’s Market and Deli.  Good stuff, perfect for a little beach retreat.

101N-154W

This is a fun little route as I mentioned up and over the mountain pass via the old Stagecoach route.  Now there are two options.  One is a bit more historical and rustic, where as one is more relaxed outdoor venue.  First up is the Cold Spring Tavern, an actual part of history as this was a stop along the old Wells Fargo Stagecoach line and most of the buildings are from this time.  Even an old jail in the back where law breakers were locked up.  http://coldspringtavern.com/  There is Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.  Breakfast is only Saturday and Sunday, so plan accordingly.  There is lunch everyday, but the weekends are when you can get their out of this world and famous Tri-Tip Sandwiches.  These are the real deal, Santa Maria style BBQ.  Spiced and cooked to perfection, with a cold beverage you will be more than satisfied.  Eating in a rustic setting under the trees by a babbling brook.  And yes, the spring is still active, so bring some empty water bottles to fill, you’ll need some good hydration after consuming much wine.  The dinner service starts every day at 5, and is very heavy on traditional old fashioned meat and potatoes.  But done in a very tasty and modern way.  There is usually some different fresh local game if that is up your alley.  All in all, a great place to dine.  And did I mention the bread?  They bake their own breads here that are outstanding, and if you are lucky you can order some to go, my favorite is the honey wheat.

That leads us to our second option along the 154, being Paradise Store overlooking Lake Cachuma. http://paradisestoresb.com/.   This is very minimal, but again with famous Tri-Tip.  I’ll let you decide which one you like better, but you can get food there daily from 9am till dark.  The view is fantastic and you can sit on the deck, sit under the trees, shoot pool or watch the music.  There is a live band usually always playing on the weekends.  And an outside pooltable.  It’s no frills, but quite tasty, and with an expansive bottled beer collection.  You can’t go wrong here at all.

So that is my routes and dining choices going into the Santa Ynez Valley of Wine!

Hopefully this will help with a trip up there.  I’m working on Part II with notes about the actual Wine Country.

Cheers!