Style File: Chocolate & Roses

Karen Herzog Rose Cream

Karen Herzog Rose Cream

Chocolate and roses are two of my favorite things, and the Karin Herzog Swiss-made line of oxygen skincare products (reportedly favored by none-than supreme English rose herself, Duchess Kate Middleton) offers both—minus the thorns and the calories!

Karin Herzog’s Rose Cream smells ever so sweet and combines the detoxifying and hydrating properties of 1% oxygen with the soothing, toning and brightening effects of rose. It works to deep clean pores, calm and treat skin conditions such as rosacea, blemishes and hyper-pigmentation and has anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting pigmentation and balancing pH for a fresh, luminous face.

Karin Herzog’s Choco2 boosts moisture and evens skin tone, while pampering the senses with the luxurious scent of Swiss chocolate. The combined power of 2% active oxygen and Swiss chocolate provides vital energy to skin while flushing out debris and toxins.

As well, Karin Herzog’s Chocolate!  anti-oxident intensive moisturizer is formulated with premium Swiss chocolate, avocado and wheat germ, to create an intensive, vitamin-rich facial moisturizer. This nighttime nourishing treatment soothes skin and restores suppleness.  Additional ingredients such as vitamin A help revive and renew dull complexions, while vitamin E soothes irritation and the rich chocolate creates a truly comforting experience.

Karin Herzog 7 Creams of the Week

Karin Herzog 7 Creams of the Week

Still not sure which to try? Karin Herzog also has a fun 7 Creams of the Week sample set available, which includes a travel size collection of these best sellers:

  • Rose Calms and regenerates the skin for radiant complexion.
  • AHA Cream Gently exfoliates with mild fruit acids.
  • Vita-A-Kombi 1 Detoxes, deeply hydrates and fights first signs of aging.
  • Additional Sweet Comforts the skin, protects and locks in the powers of the oxygen.
  • Oxygen Face Treats blemishes and acne and normalizes the skin.
  • Essential Mask Instant Beauty Booster for the weekend.
  • Vitamin H Rich in valuable vitamins and skin nutrients to help the skin regenerate.

All are available at www.karinherzog.com.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on July 19, 2016.

Summer Editor’s Pick: Central Coast Wine Classic

Courtesy Central Coast Wine Classic.

Courtesy Central Coast Wine Classic.

The Central Coast Wine Classic (Aug. 10–14) celebrates 31 years of excellent wine tastings, tours, symposiums, rare wine dinners and more, including a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Symposium and another highlighting Champagne Louis Roederer and Black River Caviar (centralcoastwineclassic.org).

—Leslie Dinaberg

This story originally appeared in the Summer 2016 issue of Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine.

Cocktail Corner: Wine Meets Cocktails—and Mocktails—With Stolen Fruit

Stolen Fruit Mixers, courtesy photo.

Stolen Fruit Mixers, courtesy photo.

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic!  By Leslie Dinaberg

Winemakers have traditionally seduced delicious tastes from the vineyard and chefs blend verjus—the fresh pressed juice from green grapes, varietal grape juice, and grape skins—to bring flavor to the forefront of their creations. Now these same techniques have been used to craft a fun, new line of grape-based mixers: adding the nuance and complexity of wine grapes to a range of cocktails and mocktails.

Using the fresh pressed juice of grapes dropped during thinning and dried wine grape skins, Sonoma-based Stolen Fruit takes what is normally discarded from the winemaking process to create the base for each mixer. Then the concentrated natural juice of a specific grape varietal such as Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier or Grenache, is blended in along with complimentary fruit and botanicals to build a layered, balanced drink base.

The flavors include: Lemongrass Ginger Sauvignon Blanc, Jasmine Juniper Viognier, Hibiscus Grenache (my favorite), Blood Orange Muscat and Fig Grains of Paradise Zin.

We tried them out last weekend and they’re delicious, with or with the booze! Mix them with sparkling water or club soda or lemonade for a non-alcoholic drink that still feels fun and festive. Add in sparkling wine and/or your favorite spirit and you have a terrific cocktail. We tried Stolen Fruit with Pisco, Rye, Vodka and Prosecco. I liked them all, as well as in combination with Jardesca, a refreshing wine-based aperitif.

Created by Dry Creek Valley AVA grape growers Doug and Susan Provisor, owners of Provisor Vineyards, and Healdsburg-based Chef Peter Brown, these versatile mixers are a great addition to your home bar, as well as nice gift for your host.

Stolen Fruit Cocktail Mixers ($18) are initially available for purchase online at stolenfruit.com, which also has recipes for cocktails, mocktails and food pairings, as well as on Amazon.  Check them out and let me know what you think.

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 Magazine on July 15, 2016.

Meet El Lugar and Clairborne & Churchill Winemaker Coby Parker Garcia

Claiborne-Churchill winesInside Wine Santa Barbara—a fun and educational Meetup group which is open to the public—features winemaker Coby Parker Garcia at a special gathering on July 23, at 5:30 p.m., in the charming courtyard of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum, 2559 Puesta Del Sol.

Under the El Lugar label, Garcia creates small lot, vineyard designate Pinot Noir, defined by their place of origin. The site-specific Pinot is sourced from Hawk’s Roost Ranch in the Russian River Valley, Rincon Vineyard, which is part of the historic Talley Vineyards of San Luis Obispo County, Greengate Vineyard of Edna Valley and Santa Maria’s famed Bien Nacido Vineyards which has produced many award-winning and highly-rated wines. One such example is El Lugar’s  2013 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir which received 93 Points and “Editor’s Choice” from Wine Enthusiast with the praise: “Longtime Claiborne & Churchill winemaker Coby Parker-Garcia releases his own project with exemplary results.”

Garcia is also the head winemaker at Claiborne & Churchill, taking the helm after his long-time mentor Clay Thompson retired. 

Guests will have the opportunity to hear from Garcia on his winemaking techniques and taste two of his premium El Lugar Pinot Noirs and three of his elegant Claiborne & Churchill wines. Light appetizers will also be served.

The cost of the event is $24. To register: http://www.meetup.com/inside-Wine-Santa-Barbara/.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on July 14, 2016.

Style File: Mastey’s Environmentally Conscious Hair Products

Mastey's line of color protection hair products, courtesy Mastey.com.

Mastey’s line of color protection hair products, courtesy Mastey.com.

You’ve got to love a hair care product line that can do the job without harsh chemicals, and Mastey‘s line of environmentally conscious products fits the bill.

Designed especially for color-treated hair (mine isn’t colored, but I find that products for color-treated hair tend to be a bit gentler) to help you achieve longer lasting color while maintaining shine and healthy hair, the Mastey products are made of only the healthiest ingredients, like anti-oxidant rich grapeseed extract, certified argan oil and olive oil, vegan natural moisturizing factor, rice amino acids, lipids and vitamins.

The complete line of color protecting products includes Shampoo, Conditioner, Restorative Mask, Oil Treatment, Therapy Spray, Finishing Spray, Defining Cream, Beach Spray, Volumizing Foam, Styling Gel and Dry Wax. I’ve tried most of them and like them all. Especially Mastey’s Leave-In Therapy Spray, which is designed to:

Mastey's color protection therapy spray, courtesy Mastey.com.

Mastey’s color protection therapy spray, courtesy Mastey.com.

  • Repair dry and damaged hair with rice amino acids and vegetable based moisturizers
  • Smoothe hair and control fly aways and frizz
  • Seal in hair color and protect it from premature fading
  • Detangle
  • Provide thermal protection from hot tools
  • Create silkiness and add shine to dull and damaged hair
  • Enhance the natural body of your hair, and
  • Prevent hair breakage and split ends.

Plus, it’s 100% vegan with no animal testing—and that grapeseed extract makes it smell really, really good!

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on July 12, 2016.

CPK Celebrates 25 Years in SB

CPK's new Fire-Grilled Ribeye, photographed in the CPK Test Kitchen, Redondo Beach, courtesy CPK.

CPK’s new Fire-Grilled Ribeye, photographed in the CPK Test Kitchen, Redondo Beach, courtesy CPK.

It’s hard to believe, but CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Santa Barbara’s Paseo Nuevo this week (located at 652 Paseo Nuevo, http://paseonuevoshopping.com/directory/california-pizza-kitchen/, 805/962-4648). For those of us who remember Piccadilly Square being where the mall now is, it’s hard to believe that the family-friendly favorite restaurant is actually a quarter of a century old! 

CPK is celebrating with special prizes and deals this week, like in-restaurant restaurant raffles with prizes, including a CPKids party, office catering, and dinner for two; free dessert on Thursday and Friday (their amazingly yummy butter cake or red velvet cake for guests who dine in) and double rewards for Pizza Dough Rewards members, which is a nice deal for regular customers.

CPK's Butter Cake, courtesy photo.

CPK’s Butter Cake, courtesy photo.

We dined there this week and sampled the new menu items from CPK’s “Next Chapter initiative,” which includes additional entree style dishes and a whole bunch of hand-crafted cocktails. Don’t worry, your old favorites like The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza, Thai Crunch Salad and Spinach Artichoke Dip are still there, but there are also some tasty new main plates like a Fire-Grilled Ribeye, Hearth Roasted Haibut and Mahi Mahi Tacos, among others. We also loved the Bianco Flatbread with whipped truffle cream, gorgonzola, mozzarella and fresh sage.

Sangria Flight (L-R) Orchard, Red Berry, Harvest, courtesy CPK.

Sangria Flight (L-R) Orchard, Red Berry, Harvest, courtesy CPK.

Cocktail faves include the Moscow Mule, a Blueberry Ginger Smash (with Jack Daniels) and a seasonal selection of Sangrias—try the flight of three, smaller pours. My favorite Sangria was the seasonal harvest with rum, St. Germain, Chardonnay, mint and basil. This is definitely not your Abuelita’s Sangria, but it’s delicious, refreshing and perfect for summer!

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on July 12, 2016.

Summer Editor’s Pick: New Chefs in Town

Chef Peter McNee, courtesy photo.

Chef Peter McNee, courtesy photo.

I’m looking forward to tasting what two new executive chefs will bring to our region’s excellent foodie scene.

Chef Peter McNee comes to Convivo restaurant and bar at the newly renovated and reopened Santa Barbara Inn (1029 Orilla Del Mar). Describing his style of food “Nomad Italian,” which “draws from different styles and traditions along the way,” McNee comes from the well-regarded “Ill Fornaio” group of restaurants, so I can’t wait to taste what he brings to Santa Barbara (convivorestaurant.com).

Outpost Chef de Cuisine Nick Bajal, courtesy photo.

Outpost Chef de Cuisine Nick Bajal, courtesy photo.

I’m also eager to see what Outpost at the Goodland’s (5650 Calle Real, Goleta) new lead chef Nick Bajal brings to the table at the laid-back eatery, which is known for its fresh coastal dishes and inspired street food. Bajal steps up as chef de cuisine after working as Outpost’s executive sous chef since 2015 (outpostsb.com).

—Leslie Dinaberg

This story originally appeared in the Summer 2016 issue of Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine.

Cocktail Corner: Seek and Ye Shall Find

Seeker's wine & beer tour packages let you visit a variety of venues at a bargain price, photo courtesy Seeker.

Seeker’s wine & beer tour packages let you visit a variety of venues at a bargain price, photo courtesy Seeker.

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic!  By Leslie Dinaberg

In search of a fun way to navigate Santa Barbara’s burgeoning craft beer scene? Last weekend we checked out the newly dubbed “Lagoon District” Lagoon Loop Craft Beer Trail with a package from Seeker (http://seeker.co/), and it was a surprisingly great way to do some beer tasting.

Seeker, which launched this concept in January, is a local company offering all-inclusive, self-guided tour packages in various areas in Santa Barbara.  But unlike many of the tasting tours, this one works equally well for tourists or locals because once you purchase the tour, it lives on your phone and can be redeemed for up to a year. In other words, if you only want to taste one beer, or a couple of wines in a day, you can do that and return and still continue to use your package. This versatility also makes it a great gift for some of those hard-to-buy-for friends (or employees!). 

This is the map for Seeker's Lagoon Loop package, courtesy photo.

This is the map for Seeker’s Lagoon Loop package, courtesy photo.

Our package (retail price $34.99) included a stop at Pure Order Brewing Company (410 N. Quarantina St., 805/966-2881), where we received a pint of our choice, as well as a 64 oz. growler to take home filled with our choice of beer. As a bonus, Pure Order had a lively party with a band going on that day. I liked the extra pale SBA and the Santa Barbara Lager, while my husband preferred the darker Black Gull Porter.

A short walk away is the 2nd Stop, Telegraph Brewing Company  (418 N. Salsipuedes St., 805/963-5018), a roomy tasting room that appeals to many a beer aficionado. There we got a pint of our choice, as part of the Seeker package. Normally, I really like the White Ale, but I was trying to pace myself, so I skipped the beer (and snuck a few sips from Hubby) and now I have a free one waiting to use next time.

Our third stop was the new Third Window Brewing Company (406 E. Haley St. #3, 805/979-5090), which we’d been dying to try. It’s a beautiful space in the Mill, housed within a restored old barn/feed mill originally built in 1904. With the Seeker package we got a Tasting Flight with five beers of our choice, and honestly, there wasn’t a bad one in the bunch. Unusually, my husband and I had the same favorite this time, Walkabout, a chocolate orange stout that was absolutely yummy! I also especially favored the Batch 2, a Belgian lager with orange blossoms and loquats—but honestly, all ten of our tasters were good. At some point, Third Window will have its own kitchen, but right now you can order take-out at Wildwood Kitchen (410 E. Haley St., 805/845-3995) next door, (which we did, and it was delicious as always) and they’ll deliver to you at the brewery. A perfect, barbecued end to our adventure on the Lagoon Loop!

If beer’s not your thing, Seeker also offers two different wine tasting packages. Both the Anacapa Wine Walk package and the Funk Zone Uncorked package let you hop from winery to winery, receiving items at each stop (tastings, glasses, etc.).  Just like the beer package, you just show the web app on your phone to staff at each location to receive the included items.

And by the way, I’m always a little bit nervous when I have to show an app or a coupon to get something, but all of the breweries recognized our beer tasting package immediately, were very friendly and made the whole experience a breeze. 

I’d definitely recommend the Seeker packages as a fun way to taste wine or beer, and enjoy the day in Santa Barbara.

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 Magazine on July 8, 2016.

Style File: Give Your Lips a Drink

LipDrink SPF 15 Lip Balm, courtesy Jane Iredale.

LipDrink SPF 15 Lip Balm, courtesy Jane Iredale.

It’s important to stay hydrated during the warm summer months, and that mandate includes your lips.

So what do you use when lipstick is a bit too much and Eos lip balm (as much as I love it!) is not quite enough color?

I’ve been loving these Jane Iredale LipDrink Lip Balms with SPF 15. They’ve got just enough color to give you a little glow and are perfect to carry around in your beach bag, summer clutch, or even your pocket!

Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation as an effective broad spectrum sunscreen, LipDrink provides SPF 15 and powerful blend of antioxidants, green tea extracts and Vitamins C and E, to help protect against future damage. Plus, they smell just like lemons and are available right now in four fun shades: Buff, Crush, Sheer and Flirt!

Jane Iredale products are are available online, and (whoo hoo!) I recently learned they are also available locally at Aqua Skin and Nail Bar, 3455 State St., 805/687-8483.

—Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on July 5, 2016.

Cocktail Corner: Americana Fest at Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.

Figueroa Mountain Americana FestA spirited toast to all things alcoholic!  By Leslie Dinaberg

Get into the Independence Day spirit a little early this weekend, on Sunday, July 3, when Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company in Buellton presents Americana Fest, featuring live music, craft beer, barbecue and baked goods.

Sounds pretty all-American to me!

Four Americana bands will play throughout the day. The concert kick offs with the bluegrass string band, Grass Mountain at 1 p.m.; followed local folk songstress, Kathleen Sieck and the Paradise Road at 3 p.m.; Americana and self-proclaimed “cosmic country” singer Jaime Wyatt shows off her unique style at 5 p.m.; followed by folk-country singer Leslie Stevens at 7 p.m.

In addition to music, try your luck at winning the watermelon eating contest at 4:30 p.m. or come for the specialty cask releases at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m.

“We are thrilled to have such a talented line-up for this event,” says Retail Operations Director, Tony Grimes. “We are celebrating Independence Day weekend with top-notch local bands and then bringing in some terrific entertainment from Los Angeles.”

Courtesy Figueroa Mountain Brew Co.

Courtesy Figueroa Mountain Brew Co.

General Admission tickets are $25 in advance and include full access to the concerts, 1 beer ticket and a pint glass ($30 at the door). Special beer package tickets include one General Admission ticket plus four additional beer tickets for a total of 5 beers and a pint glass. This discount is only available in advance. Young adults and kids under 21 years old are free but still require tickets to enter. Visit www.FigMtnBrew.com for more information or purchase tickets directly at www.AmericanaFest.Nightout.com.

Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. flagship brewery and taproom is located at 45 Industrial Way in Buellton.

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.”

 P.S: Here’s a sneak peek at local band Kathleen Sieck and the Paradise Road, who will perform at 3 p.m. on Sunday!

 

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine on June 30, 2016.