SANTA BARBARA CULINARY ARTS Cookbook Supports Future Chefs

Santa Barbara Culinary ArtsSANTA BARBARA CULINARY ARTS A Taste of Santa Barbara’s Culinary Bounty, a brand new cookbook featuring 62 recipes from Santa Barbara County chefs, caterers and food purveyors, will debut on May 3 with a launch party from 1-3 p.m. at the Gourmet Dining Room at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC), 721 Cliff Dr.

The cookbook is a special project of the nonprofit Santa Barbara Culinary Arts, which endows the Santa Barbara Culinary Arts Scholarship in Honor of Julia Child for students at the School of Culinary Arts at SBCC.

600_348110802The organization enjoys great support from local chefs like Greg Murphy of bouchon, who says,“bouchon restaurant enjoys supporting the scholarship program at the School of Culinary Arts at SBCC, but the benefits derive to just a couple of students each year.  By participating in the Santa Barbara Culinary Arts cookbook I felt I could contribute in a more ‘across-the-board’ way.  I also felt a collaborative effort that involved chefs from all over Santa Barbara would be a fun way to bookmark this point in time, almost like a yearbook, and I look forward to holding on to my copy for many years to come.”

Add executive pastry chef Julia San Bartolome of Sweet Arleen’s,”Sweet Arleen’s is dedicated to creating consistently happy experiences, being able to do that through participation in a book benefiting my first culinary school, well that was just icing on the cupcake!”

600_348111032The first edition of the cookbook will be on sale at the event for $25 and many of the chefs featured in the book will be on hand to sign them, including Michael Blackwell (Montecito Country Club), James Sly (Sly’s), Greg Murphy (Bouchon), Alessandro Cartumini (Bella Vista at the Biltmore), Randy Bublitz (head of the School of Culinary Arts) and many more.

In addition to the chance to mingle with local chefs, guests will also taste local wines from Westerly Winery and  Refugio Ranch, as well as delicious appetizers prepared by the esteemed faculty and students of the School of Culinary Arts, plus selected chefs featured in the cookbook. Dishes include Lobster Terrine, Salmon en Croute, Pan-Seared Duck Breast, Praline Bread Pudding and many others.

Tama Takahashi edited and designed the cookbooks, with gorgeous photography  by Linda Blue . It will be available at the event for purchase and ll proceeds go towards our scholarship endowment for culinary students at SBCC.The event ticket price of $25 provides you with food and wine tasting and access to chefs for questions and cookbook signing.

To reserve your spot click here.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on April 15, 2014.