••• I’ve been to Alma Fonda Fina a couple of times for dinner, and the outdoor space works better than I feared. It doesn’t feel like you’re in the parking lot, although people do occasionally pass through the tables en route to Rori’s or Bettina. (For the second dinner, I actually booked inside, but 15 minutes before our reservation, the restaurant called to ask if I’d mind moving outside—not that there appeared to be a choice.) As for the food, I found it refreshing to dine on Mexican flavors without the usual heaviness you find around here. Standouts were the guacamole, the endive salad and the avocado stuffed with shrimp salad (both pictured below), and the grilled branzino. We didn’t love the ceviche, which other people have raved about, because it was drowning in coconut milk, and the arroz con leche—which is just that, an island of cold basmati rice in milk—made us wish we were eating rice pudding (or at Rori’s). P.S. There’s now a dedicated lunch menu (below).
••• The White Caps Beach Club location in Summerland has temporarily closed. “The county asked me to stop serving while we go through the new permitting process while also installing an ADA-compliant bathroom,” says founder Michael Faber. “We hope to be up and running in the spring.” Yesterday, the truck was in the Bottle Shop parking lot on Coast Village Road (below).
••• Oakberry Acaí has joined the other White Caps food truck at 120 E. Yanonali in the Funk Zone. UPDATE 9/23: The menu is a smaller version of the one at Paseo Nuevo.
••• A profile of Presqu’ile winery chef Julie Simon. —Independent
••• Validation Ale‘s second location, around the corner from Grocery Outlet on De La Vina, is shooting to open October 5. “The 5th is also our Oktoberfest celebration with a bunch of specialty beer and steins (at both locations) and fun games at HQ in the Funk Zone,” says cofounder Brian Deignan.
••• The Yona Redz menu will be available at Santa Playa Mariscos (1230 State) while the space next door gets built out. Below: the famous quesabirria tacos.
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Since White Caps Beachclub won’t be back to Summerland until next spring – and they seem to be mobile – i hope they come visit Carpinteria one of these days!
It is so confusing that non licenced late night roadside, (no refridgeration, no handwashing, no sink to dump liquid refuse, no fly screens or hairnets, no liability insurance) pop-ups are continuing throught SYV without any way to stop them- apparently- and while I agree with 95% of the rules and regulations for foodservice- this person has gone thru every step of the process ($$$$$) and has to close and provide a restroom?
Christine!
Who said the night time food stands are non licensed? Or any of the other things listed? The issue is the current restroom is not ADA compliant.
You cannot operate a food truck, food cart, or any other kind of mobile food business without a mobile food facility permit. As for the sink and restroom: California Retail Food Code Section 114315 states a food stand to operate within 200 feet of an available sink/restroom.
There are different permit and licenses for a restaurant. Buildings/restaurants with on-site food consumption (tables and chairs) must have a restroom. Restrooms must be ADA compliant if built after 2004.
The person that started White Caps is new to the restaurant biz. Living and learning.
I am speaking about the 2 in the SYV that are not permitted. I am going off the recent Third District Sup report- I have witnessed them setting up, dumping liquids at both the christian school location and the 154/Edison 4 way stop- sometimes they set up by Mattei’s Tavern. No license, no permits, not local. Not paying into same system that Taco Roco, California Tacos, Burrito Loco, Rudy’s, Eddie’s, Hitching Post, Industrial Eat’s and many others in SYV do- and that is wrong
“Food safety isn’t the only concern. The pop-ups frequently use open flames and propane along the roadside, next to dry brush, without regard for fire safety.
Constituents have sent images of hot grease and food waste dumped on the ground.
I am particularly worried about the traffic hazards posed by roadside vending. The pop-ups often set up in high-traffic areas, including busy intersections where foot and vehicle traffic converge, or along roadside shoulders that should be providing space for drivers to take evasive action but are now occupied by the equipment, tables and cars of customers.
Cars double-park in traffic lanes and pedestrians dash across busy highways to get to the pop-ups. They are an attractive nuisance that sooner or later will lead to a tragic accident.”
Noozhawk article
Back to the issue….the current restroom is not ADA compliant for a restaurant at White Caps.
Hoping that this gives ‘White Caps Beach Club’ enough time to defrost their lobster. There is nothing more disgusting and weird-tasting than a lobster roll with half-frozen chunks of lobster.
I don’t think they can survive in Summerland or the Funk Zone. I used to be afraid to go to the Mexican food trucks I would see around town. Now I love them and I’m sure I won’t get Montezuma’s revenge. . . unlike some brick established places. Like Rudy’s on Montecito street, the closest place to sit down to my apartment. It’s like a pre-colonoscapy eating there. Sorry.
I went to Alma’s soft opening and then again last night . ( The food was better during the soft opening when Chef Ramon Velazquez was there ). I was thrilled to have Alma open in my neighborhood. I love both Corazon restaurants and was hoping some of their menu items would be available at Alma…. mainly the fabulous ceviche which I have delivered to my home at least twice a month ! So I was disappointed, realizing that Ramon wanted to have a different ” concept ” at each of his locations. And the only real complaint I have is … what are those tasteless cardboard things they call chips ?? Served with the great guacamole and almost every other dish that requires chips. So while I support all things Corazon , I think I will still be ordering out from the Public Market location. And hoping that those brilliant ceviches will find their way over to Montecito …. and that the chips contain at least some masa ! I know Alma is just finding its feet …. things will improve and most of the items on the menu are delicious. I’m still excited about Alma being close by and wish them great success .
loved alma fonda fina, especially their ceviche! the fresh fish perfectly marinating in the delicious pool of coconut passion fruit infusion transported us on a mini sensory vacation to a tropical island and the chips they serve with the ceviche is da bomb! the tuna tostada, omg,..
we love this latest culinary project by chef ramone & chef alan & as with all of his other restaurants, this one is distinctly delightfully different! friendly service & staff (we love brandon) this was a wonderful treat! gracias!