Local Lowdown: Books of Local Interest

Tis the season … for reading! Here are a few books you’re sure to enjoy this summer!

Title

Moonlight Sonata at the Mayo Clinic

Author

Nora Gallagher

What

A lyrical and honest memoir of a woman who almost loses her vision and the surprising ways it changes her life.

Favorite Quote

“Vincent and I decided not to use certain metaphors. Blind drunk. Blind as a bat. We don’t see eye to eye. We used deaf as a bat, until I started to lose my hearing.”

Title

A Pig for Friendship

Author

Mukta Cholette, illustrated by Sommer Roman

What

A playfully illustrated children’s book about a young girl and her relationship with her family, the environment and her barn-loving animal friends.

Favorite Quote

“All the animals will be our friends! We will always treat them well and be grateful for their contribution to our farm.”

Title

The Beauty of Zentangle

Author

Suzanne McNeill and Cindy Shepard

What

A look at the Zentangle method of mindful pattern drawing, which is designed to calm the mind and spur creativity.

Favorite Quote

“Anything is possible, one stroke at a time.”

Title

Dark Venus

Author

Jinny Webber

What

Volume two of a trilogy of historical novels set in William Shakespeare’s England teams series protagonist Sander Cooke with Amelia Bassano Lanyer, the presumed dark lady of Shakespeare’s sonnets.

Favorite Quote

“Mischievous Will Shakespeare…He and she have a confederacy that has served them well, creating ever more varied women in his play scripts, ever more complicated roles for her to play.”

Title

Salade, Recipes From the Market Table

Author

Pascale Beale, photographs by Mike Verbois

What

A beautifully photographed cookbook made up of deliciously lovely studies on the salad in its countless forms.

Favorite Quote

“There are few foods I would happily eat every day of the year. Salad is one of them. I enjoy the ease with which they can be put together, the endless variations—from light mixed greens to more substantial salad-as-a-meal types, and the fact that I always feel so good when I eat them.”

Title

Broad Assumptions

Author

Starshine Roshell

What

Whether attempting naked yoga, exalting hot soccer dads or critiquing 50 Shades of Grey, this book of columns is insightful and audacious, playful and literate.

Favorite Quote

“I don’t love yoga. But I’m supposed to. Women my age, in my town (and let’s just say it, with my name) are supposed to swear by the practice’s tush-tightening, mind-loosening properties. …But yoga mostly makes me…uncomfortable.”

Title

Healing Afghanistan: Hope for the Children

Author

Judy Duchesne-Peckham

What

Local photographer and teacher Duchesne-Peckham shines a light and a lens on one of Afghanistan’s bright spots, a small Montessori-based orphanage school called The House of Flowers.

Favorite Quote

“(The House of Flowers) was beautiful and quiet and peaceful. I just fell in love with the kids. If they had let me take them home I probably would have been an instant mother of about seven children.”


Title

Say This Prayer Into the Past

Author

Paul J. Willis

What

A thoughtful book of poems from former Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Willis that reckons with cadavers in the family closet, a house lost to wildfire, the beauty of the Sierra Mountains and more.

Favorite Quote

“Since I saw your grandpa die/I like to watch you breathe. Mornings especially, /to see the air move easily/across your lip hung down in slumber, /poised to waken, ripen, bleed.”

Title

Trash Can Days

Author

Teddy Steinkellner

What

The middle school adventures of four very different kids.

Favorite Quote

“If you’re not checking Facebook every five seconds, you’re going to miss something huge. And if you’re the last person to hear the big news, you’re going to look like an idiot.”

Title

The Inner Traveler’s Guidebook to MOYO

Author

Linda Newlin

What

Moyo, the Swahili word for “heart,” is the focus of this workbook, which inspires people to discover their hearts’ desires and make their dreams a reality.

Favorite Quote

“Everywhere we go, there are people who are making rainbows as they shine their unique light that was woven into them.

Title

The Shadow Tracer

Author

Meg Gardiner

What

Gardiner’s mystery about a woman accused of murdering her sister is a page-turner of a plot-driven cat-and-mouse game.

Favorite Quote

“Sarah had found that, with effort, she could remain comparatively anonymous. Nobody got suspicious if she protected her privacy.”

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on August 2, 2014.

Cocktail Corner: Beer Pairing Dinner at Rodney’s Grill + Seven More Fun Events

Rodney's Grill pairs a four-course tasting menu with hand crafted beers from The Bruery. (courtesy photo)

Rodney’s Grill pairs a four-course tasting menu with hand crafted beers from The Bruery. (courtesy photo)

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

Santa Barbara Beer Week is winding down this weekend, but the suds continue to pour around town, including at Rodney’s Grill (at The Fess Parker – A Doubletree by Hilton Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd., 800/879-2929), where executive chef Kirk DeLong believes nothing tastes quite like an ice-cold hand crafted beer to quench summertime thirst.

With that in mind, DeLong promises to take beer to a whole new level with the resort’s  first ever Beer Pairing Dinner complementing a four-course tasting menu with hand crafted beers from Orange County’s The Bruery.  The festivities take place July 26 at 7 p.m.

The Bruery CEO Patrick Rue, who founded the company six years ago, will be on hand to give a brief overview about the signature beer pairings. The Bruery is a boutique craft brewery specializing in barrel-aged and experimental ales.  Founded as a small, friend and family run business in 2008, The Bruery takes its unique moniker from Rue’s family surname.

Rodney's Grill, courtesy Fess Parker a Doubletree by Hilton Resort

Rodney’s Grill, courtesy Fess Parker a Doubletree by Hilton Resort

Chef DeLong will share highlights from his inspired American dishes and the fresh regional produce and ingredients which complement the beers being poured.

The menu, which sounds amazing, includes:

Sea scallop, habanero-red pepper gazpacho, and kiwi-dragon fruit chutney paired with Trade Winds Tripel

Hoisin duck breast, pomegranate risotto, rainbow Swiss chard, and port jus paired with Saison Rue

Sea bass, heirloom tomato, tempura beech mushroom, and saffron-fennel broth paired with Mischief

Hawaiian sweet bread pudding, and Rori’s Artisanal Creamery vanilla bean ice cream, paired with Sucre

This dinner isn’t the first collaboration between the Parker and Bruery brands. “The Fess Parker family have a long time tradition in the wine and hospitality business in Santa Barbara County, and are delighted to be working collaboratively with the family-owned business The Bruery.  The two have worked collaboratively on the release of  ‘Confession,’ a sour- style beer fermented with Riesling grapes that tastes like wine, and is ranked high among beer critics,” says director of sales & business development Beth Olson of The Fess Parker – A Doubletree by Hilton Resort.

Advance reservations for the tasting event are required by calling the resort’s concierge at 805-884-8533 or via open table at Rodneyssteakhouse.com. The cost of the dinner is $79 per person (plus tax and gratuity) with discounts for The Fess Parker Winery’s Wine Club and The Bruery’s “Hoarders and Reserve Societies” members.

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Seeing the World Through Bacon-Flavored Glasses, photo by Tyler Moselle

Seeing the World Through Bacon-Flavored Glasses, photo by Tyler Moselle

Coming up this weekend is the always delicious Santa Barbara French Festival, where great food, wine, mimosas, crepes, delicious pastries,  music, dance (including the awesome Moulin Rouge dancers from the Solstice Parade!) —and, of course, the infamous Poodle Parade, all come to Oak Park July 12 and 13 to celebrate Bastille Day and all the things that make the French cultural history so rich.  11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Oak Park, 300 W. Alamar.  Admission is free and the Festival is a non-smoking event.  For more information, email frenchfestival@sbcoxmail.com or call 805/963-8198.

On Monday night (July 14), raise your glass to Babes, Books & Booze and join funny women/authors Jenna McCarthy, Karen Rizzo and Starshine Roshell as they talk about social media over sharing, ungraceful aging, maternal intensity and their new books in what’s sure to be a lively conversation at Municipal Winemakers (22 Anacapa St.) on Monday, July 14 at 7 p.m. The first glass is on the publishers, but be sure to RSVP to info@prospectparkbooks.com.

When you’re in wine country, you can’t pass up the opportunity to taste the best wines around. Luckily, that chance comes easily at the 11th annual California Wine Festival from Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 19. Celebrate with gourmet food and live music galore. Raise a glass of red, pink, or white (or all!) to a great weekend by the sea! This always fun festival has multiple events and venues. Call 866/273-4148, or visit californiawinefestival.com complete details.

What goes better than bacon and wine, bourbon and beer? Dare we say, nothing! After an incredibly successful inaugural event last year, Bacon and Barrels is back! From July 18-10, enjoy some of the most delectable bacon dishes from the Central Coast’s best, while mixologists, bacon food trucks, live music, local vendors and a piggy petting zoo make this a weekend you’ll never forget. Saarloos & Sons Field, 2971 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. 805/996-0652, baconandbarrels.com.

Fantastic fermented food will be showcased at Cultivate Events‘ 4th annual Santa Barbara Fermentation Festival on Saturday, July 19. Kimchi, kombucha, kefir, pickles, beer, sauerkraut, wine, cider, cultured vegetables, and sourdough bread galore will take over Fairview Gardens (598 N. Fairview Ave., Goleta), accompanied with talks with fermented foods experts, hands-on how-to demonstrations, artisan fermented foods samples, and the opportunity for all ages to learn about the importance of local, organic, and sustainable agriculture and the fermentation process. The festival runs from 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. For more information, call 805/722-5324,  or visit sbfermentationfestival.com, where Santa Barbara Seasons’ readers can get a discount to the festival by putting in the word “SEASONS” in the promo code box when purchasing tickets.

For its fourth year, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden‘s Wine and Cheese Botanic Lecture Series is bringing together the local scientific community for talks about Santa Barbara ecology. The July 19 edition of the Lecture Series features Santa Barbara Creeks‘ Supervisor George Johnson and his update on the Mission Creek Restoration Project from 4 to 6 p.m. Johnson will highlight the importance of Southern California steelhead trout in the state’s waterways, particularly Mission Creek. Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards is the sponsoring winery. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, is located at 1212 Mission Canyon Rd. For more information click here.

Who doesn’t love sangria? The Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation sure does. They are hosting the 3rd Annual Sangria Soiree in order to raise money to help families of children with cancer. It is at the Villa at Sunstone Winery at 125 Refugio Rd., Santa Ynez, CA on July 20 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. This event is quickly becoming a favorite of Santa Ynez locals, as guests enjoy sampling of paella from Viva Paella and tapas by Paloma Restaurant. Spanish style flatbreads prepared by The Chef’s Touch are served with cheese platters from Ono Catering.These foods appear alongside tequila and sangria made from wines by Sunstone WineryPalmina Wines and D’Alfonso-Curran Wines. Radio personality Tyler Story hosts this beautiful afternoon, and music by the acoustic flamenco guitar is also present. Not  to mention, several fantastic raffle tickets can be purchased, with prizes such as private cooking classes, a helicopter tour and a spa day. For more information call 805/ 962-7466. Or, buy tickets online here.

Whew!  That’s a lot going and I haven’t even gotten to Fiesta yet. Viva la July! Cheers!

Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 11, 2014.

Leslie Dinaberg

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”

Babes, Books & Booze

Not only will there be be babes, books and booze … I can guarantee lots of giggles and guffaws when you join funny women/authors Jenna McCarthy, Karen Rizzo and Starshine Roshell as they talk about social media over sharing, ungraceful aging, maternal intensity and their new books.

McCarthy’s latest book, I’ve Still Got It…I Just Can’t Remember Where I Put It: Awkwardly True Tales From the Far Side of Fortyhit the shelves this month to rave reviews like, “I am not exaggerating when I say that I was crying tears of laughter before I even made it to the first chapter. … Pack this one in your pool bag and be prepared to ignore the odd glances you get when you’re cracking up!” (Five Minutes for Books).

Rizzo’s debut novel, Famous Baby, a Los Angeles Times Summer Books Preview selection, has been described as, ” inventive, hysterical, and touching.  Rizzo wraps a timeless drama about the love between mothers and daughters in a fresh, snappy package for the social media age.”  (Christina Schwarz).

Roshell, a columnist for Santa Barbara Independent and the author of the column collection Broad Assumptionswill moderate what’s sure to be a lively conversation at Municipal Winemakers (22 Anacapa St.) on Monday, July 14 at 7 p.m. The first glass is on the publishers, but be sure to RSVP to info@prospectparkbooks.com.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on July 3, 2014.