Cocktail Corner: Biltmore Summer Tasting Series

Photo courtesy Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara.

Photo courtesy Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara.

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by Leslie Dinaberg

It’s always a treat to visit Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, and this summer’s tasting series offers some particularly fun ways to celebrate the season. Next up, on July 13, is RED, WHITE & BREW, which features a Tequila Bar, as well as ice cold beer from some of Santa Barbara’s award-winning local microbreweries including Topa Topa, Telegraph Brewing, Brass Bear Brewing, Rincon Brewery, Island Brewing Company and Boochcraft.

In addition, guests can make a meal of it and pair their drinks with ceviche, barbecue suckling pig, Ensenada mussels and chorizo, lime coconut black beans and corn avocado salad from the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore’s creative culinary team. RED, WHITE & BREW takes place from 6-9 p.m. and is $55 per person.

Also on the Biltmore’s summer calendar is SUNSET SPRITZ, on August 24, featuring an Apertivo Bar offering Aperol Spritzes, Negroni’s and Italian red and white wines. The offerings also include housemade bites like fried cheese, olives, dalla forma pasta (prepared in Pecorino cheese wheel) and Cichetti Veneziani, aka traditional Venetian fare. SUNSET SPRITZ takes place from 6-9 p.m. and is $65 per person.

The Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore is located at 1260 Chanel Dr., Montecito. To purchase tickets for either event, please call 805/565-8232.

Cheers!  Click here for more Cocktail Corner columns.

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 believes variety is the spice of life. Send your suggestions to Leslie@sbseasons.com.

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on June 29, 2018.

Cocktail Corner: California Brew Festival

Courtesy California Brew Festival.

Courtesy California Brew Festival.

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic!  By Leslie Dinaberg

As a winemaker friend once told me, “It takes a lot of beer to make good wine.” So I guess that means that bringing the California Brew Festival here to wine country is long overdue. 

More than 40 breweries will come together to pour hundreds of craft brews from all over the world at the inaugural festival, which takes place on October 7 at Chase Palm Park.  Expect thousands of beer lovers to pour into Santa Barbara for a day of sun, sea, beer, food and music. Guests grab their 16 oz. glass and start sipping just a frisbee throw away from the sparkling Pacific, while One2Tree, a soulful reggae band, keeps the beat.

Courtesy California Brew Festival.

Courtesy California Brew Festival.

Featured breweries include: 10 Barrel Brewing Co.; Angel City Brewery; Avery Brewing Co.; Ballast Point Brewing Co.; Bell’s Inspired Brewing; Brass Bear Brewing and Bistro; The Brewhouse; Captain Fatty’s Craft Brewery; Coedo; Coronado Brewing Co.Draughtsmen Aleworks; Figueroa Mountain Brew Co.; Firestone Walker Brewing Company; Garage Project; Hollister Brewing Company; Knee Deep Brewing Co.; Lagunitas Brewing Company; M. Special Brewing Company; Pure Order Brewing Co.; Rincon Brewery; Rogue Ales & Spirits; Saint Archer Brewing Company; Santa Maria Brewing Co.; Stone Brewing Co.; Tap It Brewing Co.; The Dudes’ Brewing Company; Third Window Brewing Co.; Topa Topa; Unibroue and Ventura Coast Brew Co.

Courtesy California Brew Festival.

Courtesy California Brew Festival.

California Brew Festival benefits Surf Happens Foundation, whose mission it to enrich the lives of local youth through environmental education and the sport of surfing.

The event takes place on October 7, from 2-5 p.m., with V.I.P. entrance at 1 p.m.

Courtesy California Brew Festival.

Courtesy California Brew Festival.

General Admission Ticket ($75) includes:

    • All beer, cider and wines tastes
    • Souvenir pint glass
    • Food samples from local restaurants and food purveyors
    • Live music by Neighborhood Thieves and One2Tree

VIP Ticket ($100) includes all of the above plus:

  • VIP Pavilion catered by Patxi’s Pizza with pizza, salads and appetizers
  • Rare brews only offered in the VIP area
  • Wines by Buttonwood Farm Winery
  • Oceanside seating with an unobstructed view of the stage
  • VIP Restrooms
  • Complimentary pretzel necklace

Tickets can be purchased here. Cheers! Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

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.”

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on September 22, 2017.

Dream Foundation Summer Dream Fashion Show

Aqualillies entertain at Dream Foundation's Summer Dream Event, photo by Lorraine A. DarConte.

Aqualillies entertain at Dream Foundation’s Summer Dream Event, photo by Lorraine A. DarConte.

Dream Foundation—the Santa Barbara-based nonprofit is the only national dream-granting organization for terminally-ill adults—recently hosted its third annual Summer Dream fundraiser to benefit Dreamers ages 18 to 40. The stylish event included a fashion show, with designs from A Tropical Affair, Calypso St. Barth, K. Frank, Lolë, Miller’s Oath, UGG and local designers Catherine Gee and Danielle Rocha of Rocha Swim.

A model at Dream Foundation's Summer Dream Event, photo by Lorraine A. DarConte.

A model at Dream Foundation’s Summer Dream Event, photo by Lorraine A. DarConte.

“Summer Dream is the perfect opportunity to introduce and educate our local community about Dream Foundation’s mission, what the future holds, and about the diverse Dreamers and Dreams that the organization serves,” says Dream Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Kisa Heyer. “Many are surprised to learn how many Dreamers are under the age of 40 and how seemingly simple yet incredibly prolific their Dreams can be.”

A model at Dream Foundation's Summer Dream Event, photo by Lorraine A. DarConte.

A model at Dream Foundation’s Summer Dream Event, photo by Lorraine A. DarConte.

In addition to the fashion show, the fundraiser included performances by local singer/songwriter, Gabe Reali, DJ Qu1z0, and synchronized swimmers, Aqualillies.

Gabe Reali performs at Dream Foundation's Summer Dream Event, photo by Lorraine A. DarConte.

Gabe Reali performs at Dream Foundation’s Summer Dream Event, photo by Lorraine A. DarConte.

Also on the menu was decadent food and drink from Heat Culinary, Patròn Tequila, Sun Potion, Summerland Winery, Topa Topa, Rori’s Artisanal Creamery and Green Star Coffee.

Held at the home of Ursula & Pat Nesbitt, additional guests included Daryl & John Stegall, Eva Guerrand-Hermès, Mireille Noone, Jelinda DeVorzon, Michelle Ebbin, Belle & Daniel Cohen, Jim Nigro, Belle Cohen, Summer Dream emcee and KEYT Channel 3’s Meteorologist, Alan Rose, second and third annual Summer Dream Committee Chair Arlene Montesano, and Dream Foundation board members Justine Roddick, Luke Ebbin and Board Chair Kenny Slaught, among others.

Arlene Montesano (Summer Dream Event Chair), Tom Parker, Karla Blackwell and Soogie and Don Kang (Golden Sponsors) at Dream Foundation's Summer Dream Event, photo by Lorraine A. DarConte.

Arlene Montesano (Summer Dream Event Chair), Tom Parker, Karla Blackwell and Soogie and Don Kang (Golden Sponsors) at Dream Foundation’s Summer Dream Event, photo by Lorraine A. DarConte.

“Dream Foundation believes that everyone deserves to have their final days filled with inspiration, comfort and closure. Receiving no state or federal funding, the organization and its Dreamers rely solely on private donations. One hundred percent of the proceeds of Summer Dream will be allocated to fulfill the Dreams of terminally-ill young adults, 18-40 years old,” say the organizers.

Luke Ebbin (Dream Foundation Board Vice Chair), Michelle Ebbin, & Justine Roddick (Dream Foundation Board Member), photo by Kelly Sweda Photography.

Luke Ebbin (Dream Foundation Board Vice Chair), Michelle Ebbin, & Justine Roddick (Dream Foundation Board Member), photo by Kelly Sweda Photography.

Over the past two decades, Dream Foundation has served more than 25,000 Dreams to terminally-ill adults, and they have never turned down a qualified Dream applicant.For more information about Dream Foundation, visit DreamFoundation.org.

Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on June 26, 2107.