I love olive oil stores, especially the ones in California have wonderful products. Viva Oil on…read moreState Street in the heart of Santa Barbara didn't disappoint! The store has a nice decor, airy, it's welcoming, has a wide variety of olive oils and balsamic vinegars with nice flavors (some fruit based - fig anyone?), nice staff and reasonable prices. Great place to shop at, you can get a set for a nice gift or a couple of bottles for dipping and salads at home!

I live in Santa Barbara, planning an out-of-town trip, and was looking for gift for a host at…read morewhose home I would be spending a couple of nights. Viva Oliva was perfect. A small, local company, they offer a large variety of very reasonably priced gift choices. The sales associate was very friendly and helpful. (I chose a beautiful gift box of gourmet olive oil/vinegar pairings.)

Absolutely love this shop! It's a must every time we road trip to Santa Barbara. We sampled quite…read morea few cheeses and bought more than we needed but couldn't decide between them picked up some tasty cured meat with fennel, some snacks from the shevles, some marinated sheep and goat cheese... It was a successful trip, to say the least.

What a great cheese shop! We purchased a container of La Tur, from Italy. We asked for a sample…read morebefore buying because it was a bit pricey and we wanted to be sure. One taste and we knew it was going home with us. We also bought a bag of Jose Andrés potato chips from Spain, that happened to complement the creamy cheese very nicely. Fun stop in Santa Barbara with a good vibe. We'll be back!

I love this little wine bar! Barbieri and Kempe wines has such a relaxing and lowkey vibe that I…read morelove so much I came back twice during my trip in Santa Barbara. It was also friendly to families with their outside seating. Their cabernet sauvignon and malvasia bianca were my favorites. Easy to drink and delicious. Also Lulu is the best tasting manager :)

Barbieri & Kempe Wines - Founded in 2005,…read more Barbieri & Kempe Wines delivers high-quality reds and whites with a perfect balance of tradition and innovation. Their eco-friendly practices and commitment to terroir create wines full of character. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are particularly standout. With a welcoming tasting experience and a focus on sustainability, this winery is a must-try for any wine lover. They offer a curated selection of international cheeses to pair with their wines, elevating the tasting experience. They have two locations, one in Santa Barbara and the other in Los Olivos to enjoy beautiful wines, expert pairings.

We recently discovered Le Sorelle at the Santa Barbara Night market (a temporary holiday pop-up…read moreshop through December) as we were doing some light holiday gift shopping. Donatella invited us up to her shop to try some samples, and we were sold - literally. We ended up buying a couple of bottles for our family and a couple of bottles for ourselves, along with some incredible olive tapenade (she threw in an extra treat, which was very kind). Of the oils, the pure virgin olive oil was the cleanest and most applicable to diverse uses. The mandarino was incredible and so unique...we'll try it on some baked squash or beets or carrots. The limone was super interesting as well, and I think Donatella suggested trying it on salmon. So we'll take her word for it and try that! These are authentic olive oils with very unique flavor profiles. Worth your business this holiday season and beyond! Visit them online or at the Night Market.

Le Sorelle Luxury Imports from Puglia, Italy are absolutely divine! I have tried many gourmet olive…read moreoils and never tasted any with such rich and delicious flavor as Le Sorelle's. The Adamo Extra Virgin Olive Oil transforms a simple salad of mixed greens with a few fresh vegetables into a bold and spicy treat. I love using it has a finishing oil to enhance just about every fish, vegetable and pasta dish I create. "Le Sorelle" translates to "the sisters" and is aptly named as its founders, Anna and Donatella, are sisters whose family originates from Puglia. These two dynamic women are passionate about providing the highest quality products to consumers and they have completely hit the mark! I seriously hope more restaurants start using their products. They will compliment just about any dish and take your palate to new heights! Delicious!

This is a special chocolate shop. It's small but brings in the world of chocolate. There's all…read moretypes represented from all over. Dark, milk, truffles, ganache (my gosh good) etc. each piece I tried was full of flavor. They also have chocolate bars and sipping chocolate. And they even featured hand painted greeting cards by a local artist! Lovely. Whenever I was in SB I tried to swing by because Chocolate Maya is a neat place to pick up a chocolate treat!

Some of the most delicious chocolates I have ever tasted. This adorable shop has knowledgeable…read morestaff and makes quality and ethically sourced chocolates. Each one is unique and flavorful. Parking is available at paid lot across the street.

Stopped by The Public Market to pick up to go food and noticed a now open new wine tasting room…read moreacross from the Empty Bowl. So of course decided to check it out. We were welcomed with a great smile and greeting. Since we were on a tight schedule we decided to just have a glass of Sauvignon Blanc while waiting for food. We were invited to enjoy our food there at their tables while we enjoyed our wine; but we were heading to meet others so couldn't hang very long. Their grapes come from the Five ADA areas of Santa Barbara County and we will be back to try more. Great location, great ambiance, great wine with friendly service. What's not to love.

Well giving them the benefit of doubt. We made a reservation on opentable for wine tasting at 11am…read more and even got a text to confirm we will be there. Showed up with no one and a hand written note saying for the month of December they open from 5-9pm?!!! Called the number and the message says they open at noon Monday to Wednesday! It's not a good way to start the day as we exploring Santa Barbara as a business please make sure to get your information updated timely and accurately.

Discovered this wonderful Santa Barbara maker of gourmet truffles and other chocolates just in time…read morefor the holiday season--YUM! Oh.My.Word. The gingerbread and coconut-enrobed peppermint truffles were absolutely outstanding, and my cadre of foodie recipients were both delighted and impressed. Even more outstanding was the sample of the white chocolate-chai-turmeric truffles; they are to die for. Unusual and completely wonderful, creamy, with a subtle blend of ingredients I'd never think of (but which worked to perfection). Owner Michelle is herself delightful, boxing up a fairly large special order promptly and quite prettily. Not only is she eager to accommodate her customers, but she even offered to deliver when circumstances put us in a bit of a bind. Highly recommended--Five Stars!

Madison was a great help on the phone and the service is always greatread more

It was always a dream of mine to "be good at cooking fish", but what I didn't realize was that the…read more(obvious) secret to making great fish every time is starting with top quality seafood! Going to the fish market always felt overwhelming and a trip out of my way, so I didn't make it there very often. Now the seafood of the week is selected for me and packaged in the perfect portion size for my family. Every week we feel like we are eating a restaurant quality meal; its led me well outside my comfort zone in the kitchen, but every meal since we signed up for Get Hooked at the beginning of this year has been a home run. They also send an awesome newsletter with the info on the species of the week, fisherman who caught your fish and recipe links. Honestly planning for and enjoying our fish has become a highlight of our week, and it sure is nice to have something to look forward to these days!

Not enough people know about this pop up artisanal bakery! Sandra bakes every week for Friday…read morepickups in Santa Barbara, and the menu changes biweekly and features delicious seasonal ingredients. The menu is pretty small, but to me, that means each item is made thoughtfully and carefully (and you'll know that this is true as soon as you take your first bite). Her baked goods are the pricier side, but you get what you pay for: top quality. I ordered three items. The cardamom and cinnamon bun was warming with the spice and sweetness, and it wasn't overly sweet. The lemon elderflower drizzle cake looked simple and pretty with the frosting's piping and the sprinkle of real elderflowers. I do wish the cake itself was a bit more moist though. Lastly, my favorite of the three: the spring vegetable galette with creme fraiche, asparagus, fava beans, fennel, spring onions, leeks, snap peas, and zucchini-so fresh and fragrant! I was surprised that the flaky pastry could withstand that large assortment of vegetables. No soggy bottoms in sight! I'd love to try her summer items featuring tomatoes, peaches, and plums.

The pop-up culinary scene is filled with unbelievable talent and this here is one of them. I had…read morethe opportunity to pre-order a pie in which I choose a southern staple, sweet potato! I'm a Louisiana native and believe me, this is hard to come by in SoCal within a sea of pumpkin pies. So I jumped on it and so glad I did. This pie is a beauty to look at with its silky smooth filling, perfectly balanced sweetness with a subtle warm spice note and freshly made marshmallow fluff that happily clings to your fingers inviting a lick off session. The flavor of sweet potatoes is dominate as it should be. It's the star and it's well deserved. My sweet tooth was very content and satisfied. The bakery website provides info on future popups and orders. Keep this place marked! You'll be very glad you did.

Mattias was integral in making our evening exceptional. From initial email through payment,…read moreMattias was communicative and thoughtful. We had six people for a small birthday get together and everything from the food, decor, timing of courses,etc was spot on. He accommodated our requests including making special items for my youngest daughter. He brings everything - decor, place setting, glassware. We needed nothing as he covered it all. I couldn't recommend him more highly.

10/10, amazing, fantastic!…read more We had gotten an Airbnb at a secluded beach house and booked Mattias to cook our parent's 30th anniversary dinner. Communication went smoothly from start to finish. When he arrived, he took safety precautions and kept his distance and mask on (something that I really appreciated). He brought the dinnerware, table decor, and even printed out a nice menu at our request. Food was amazing and I loved that we were able to mix and match from his Farm Table menus. We had the butter lettuce salad (could eat this everyday!), the sweet corn soup (amazing flavors- sweetness of the corn was complemented with a kick of chili oil), the petit filet, and raspberry torte (with a sparkler to make it celebratory!). Every thing was amazing and perfectly portioned. At the end of dinner, he cleaned up which is such an added plus! Mattias is very personable and made the occasion so special. Will definitely look forward to working with him again :)