••• Azul is finally open (daily, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.) at 7 E. Anapamu Street, and the courtyard is as pretty as ever. Here’s the menu.
••• And Café La Fonda, in the former Courthouse Tavern space, soft opens December 1, with a grand opening on December 15.
••• James Sparks’s Kings Carey has a new tasting room in Solvang, open by appointment. “Kings Carey entails boutique, small-production wines crafted by Sparks, who prefers to ‘keep it simple’ with single varietal and single vineyard bottlings and minimal manipulation. Varying from Liquid Farm, the label for which Sparks has been winemaker since 2013, the Kings Carey wines mantra of ‘single/single’ contrasts the Liquid Farm wine program, where many of the bottlings are blends of multiple vineyards. […] Reservations may be made by emailing [email protected]. Currently, the winery runs two different tastings comprising either four or six wines per tasting, the latter including Kings Carey’s sparkling wine(s).” Photo by Janelle S. Koch.
••• Profile of the new Santa Barbara Fish Market shop/restaurant in Goleta. —Noozhawk
••• A fun collab on December 12: Chef Saw Naing of Ojai’s Dutchess will be cooking at Na Na Thai in Buellton.
••• A recommendation for those who like to cook Mexican food (or even just eat cheese): the Cheese Shop now stocks Queso Oaxaca, which is kind of like a cross between mozzarella and string cheese, and it melts like a dream.
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Thanks so much for the write up on Dang Burger in Carpinteria! We went yesterday: the vegetarian burger was delicious and my husband had the double. I only wish they had a turkey burger alternative! A space was small, staff (gentleman at the register) was so polite and super clean and efficient. Any other Carp recs? Too many craft beer and pizza places: Zookers is our go to: food outstanding although physically not quaint (at all!)
Made it to Azul and I highly recommend. Great service and delicious, interesting food. We had the pork shank and short ribs, two standards with a Mexican flair. Go and enjoy. You are right, the courtyard/patio is as pretty as ever.