Santa Maria-Style Barbecue Where there’s smoke, there’s barbecue. But if that smoke is from red oak, more precisely California coast live oak, it just might be the famous Santa Maria-style…
Pasta with Chickpeas and Artichokes
Despite the bounty of the farmers markets, farm stands and gourmet grocery stores, there are times when you look in the refrigerator and think to yourself that there is nothing…
Santa Barbara Ranch Dressing
The origin of Ranch Dressing can be directly traced to the dressing that Steve and Gayle Henson served to customers at their dude ranch, Hidden Valley Ranch on San Marcos…
Strawberries in Pinot Noir
Early strawberries are improved by this method and in-season dead-ripe strawberries become ambrosial. You also get your dessert and after-dinner wine in one dish. Local Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir…
Wine Cake
For years I was in search of a recipe for a loaf-style cake made with olive oil and sweetened with dessert wine. I wanted something moist enough that it would…
Gazpacho Verde
This is one of those chilled soups that really is a salad in a soup bowl. It’s chilled, it’s loaded with lettuce and herbs, it’s the perfect green gazpacho. It’s…