Bibi Ji’s Tasting Menu: A Seasonal Experience with South Asian Flavor
Now that Bibi Ji has settled into its State Street location in the theater district of Santa Barbara, it has rolled out a tasting menu owner Alejandro Medina has long wanted to offer: a curated selection of exquisite bites highlighting the seasonal bounty of our local farms and fisherfolk, expressed through Indian recipes.
The tasting menu, offered exclusively at the chef’s table, is inspired by family recipes and Alejandro’s extensive travels throughout India, sourced with local seasonal gems. It is priced at $125 per person for 10 courses. The wine pairing is $75 and a thoughtful nonalcoholic beverage pairing is $35, put together by bar manager Daniel Bennett.
The autumn–winter menu starts with a bread, a house-made paneer-onion-chili kulcha similar to stuffed naan but based on Punjabi cuisine in Calcutta. The bonda, a potato-pea fritter originating in Mysore, is served with a seasonal okra raita. A deceptively simple-looking roasted squash, an heirloom variety from Cosecha Farming, is served with a charred, edible skin and delicate caramelization from the tandoor. The flavor pops with a sprinkle of toasted cumin.
Gulabi Dream ice cream. Photo: R. Brown 
Seasonal beverage pairings. Photo: R. Brown
Fresh fenugreek, used in numerous dishes, is sourced from Earthtrine Farms, while the seasonal blackberry shrub in the nonalcoholic pairings comes from Milliken Family Farms. Dessert is a collaboration with Creaminal of gulabi-hued ice cream, made with rose water, green cardamom and pandan.
Bibi Ji’s State Street location allows Alejandro the ritual of shopping the farmers markets on both Tuesdays and Saturdays. The tasting menu offers more variety of very local and fleetingly seasonal dishes you won’t find on the regular menu, such as the spiny lobster with parsnips in a coconut moilee sauce inspired by curry from the southern state of Kerala.
The ambiance of the restaurant reflects Alejandro’s tastes and experiences. The color tone is soft pinks and pastels; it’s joyful and lively while being minimalist by design. The dishes are creative and experimental. The wines are low-intervention. The music is bumping. The tasting menu is a deeper exploration of Bibi Ji through vibrant, local ingredients and an approachable price. After dinner, when it’s time for a show, the Granada is just across the street.
RESOURCES:
Bibi Ji
1213 State St., Santa Barbara
805 560-6845
Dinner 5–10pm; closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
www.BibiJiSB.com
Reservations required for the tasting menu.
