Opening Dates and Menus for Wexler’s Deli and Lilac Montecito

••• After doing friends-and-family service this week, Lilac Montecito will open to the public for dinner service on Friday, with limited seating through Sunday, and reservations are available. The restaurant will open fully on Monday (still just for dinner, for now). Here’s a first look at the menu—remember, it’s all gluten-free. UPDATE 1/26: Wexler’s says it might be delayed a bit (as these things often are).

••• The Wexler’s Deli outpost at the Santa Barbara Public Market opens February 2. The menu has two locally specific items—I bet you can guess—and those of us desperate for quality bagels will want to take note of the bagels-by-the-dozen option.

••• Speaking of bagels…. Isla Vista’s Dank Bowl Kitchen has spawned a pop-up, Yetz’s Bagels. “The inspiration for Yetz’s Bagels struck last fall after [founder Daniel] Dunietz took a trip to the East Coast. ‘Anytime I visit family in New York, I purchase a dozen bagels from a local shop and pack them into my luggage to feed my bagel cravings for a week. I have always longed for a bagel shop in Santa Barbara that could simply come close to the chewy, crunchy heaven that is a perfectly baked New York bagel [….] I had the epiphany that if anybody was going to create the perfect bagel it would have to be me.'” —Daily Nexus (via Edible Santa Barbara)

••• Mark your calendars: the Women Winemakers & Culinarians Celebration in the Santa Ynez Valley is March 7-10, with the grand tasting event set for March 9. Tickets are available now.

••• And the Home Crush shop in Summerland is launching a monthly Taste Makers Market on February 10: “We work with over 40 artisan vendors who bring a variety of baked goods, produce, mixology, and confections [….] Our vendors are all local farmers and artisans and mixologists who share our commitment to sustainable agriculture and food.” The Instagram account is announcing the vendors, including Lindsay’s Little Bakery, Riviera Bread, Tilden, Petal & Rind, Sweet Raw Life, and Jessica Foster Confections.

••• A profile of Dave’s Drip House. —Independent

••• And the Independent also profiled Azul, which reminds me to share some first impressions. One concern I’ve always had about the space is that the courtyard is so delightful that inside can feel like Siberia. And, indeed, we reserved outside. But the interior section looked more welcoming, even if I’m not sure a lot has changed, and I would no longer rule it out. The service was generally attentive. One nice example: our server overheard me worrying that our table would be too chilly and brought over a heater. As for the food, we enjoyed the guacamole with homemade tostaditas, and our friends quite liked the chicken enchiladas in mole and the salmon, while my husband and I tried the duck breast with mole and the pork shank, and while they were fine, we’ll probably go for something else next time.

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