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.)

I absolutely adore this shop!! The vibe is very charming, intimate, and warm. I have never seen so…read moremany different infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars before. I really appreciate that you can taste the products. I found so many I loved and tasting the notes helped me better envision what I could use each one for and how it fit into my cooking style. I also like how they offer each product in two sizes. The people here are so warm, friendly, and knowledgeable as well. They were so ready to help and give information about their store and their products.

At the time of writing this review, I just finished my 7th session with Emily, Active Alchemy's…read moreowner. I originally found her through searching Massage Therapists who do deep tissue/rehabilitative massage. I had a repetitive stress injury in my right shoulder and was pretty desperate in getting some help. I also had started a new job and knew I could benefit from from more consistent massage therapy. Emily assessed my limited range of motion in the shoulder and addressed the muscles that needed the most work. I was quickly impressed with her knowledge and skill. I started seeing immediate results. Emily also had recommendations for stretching and strengthening certain muscle groups that needed it most. What I like about working with Emily is: she's extremely present in the work she does. For me, that means my recovery needs are being met. She's also professional, knowledgable, and caring. It's easy to tell that Emily is a person who values being of service. I now work with Emily every two weeks. I feel so fortunate and lucky to have the opportunity.

Thank you, Emily, for the very enjoyable and interesting "herb walk" yesterday. I learned so much…read moreand in the perfect setting. I hope to join your next one on July 1st at Stevens Park - you may end up with another apprentice

I am so blessed to be apart of this school learning about the medicinal uses of plants! The classes…read moreare engaging and doable. I am a mom of 4 with a hectic schedule, Artemisia Academy makes learning available no matter what. If I missed a class, I watch the class recording and send in notes about what I learned, Emily the founder of this beautiful program is such a wonderful, understanding and knowledgeable teacher, not to mention her wonderful team who makes it all possible! Join the herbal journey! You will be happy you did.

Emily was exhibiting at the 2019 Ojai Herbal Symposium's herbal marketplace last weekend. My…read moreprimary objective for attending was to find products made with calendula for bee stings and mosquito bites. Emily was extremely helpful and let me know that she was going to be giving a hands-on demonstration at the Herbal Marketplace of that very item! I thoroughly enjoyed her presentation and not only went home with the salve that I needed, but was able to help make it. Emily is a knowledgeable, kind and patient teacher. Her class was informative and fun, and I would highly recommend her services!

We attended Market Foray's cooking class in January, and it was one of the most enjoyable and…read moreeducational experiences I've had in the kitchen. We started with a trip to the farmer's market, where Laurence pointed out different items and talked through the differences in different types of food (green garlic was new to me!). We later met at her home, and the cooking began. She did a good job of rotating the tasks throughout the group, and explaining the techniques as she went. We got to taste as we went, and after all the chopping was done, wine was served. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the other participants were friendly and engaged, making it a fun, social experience as well. And, of course, the best part was sitting down at the end to enjoy the fruits of our labor. The dishes we prepared were full of flavor and creativity, and I walked away feeling incredibly satisfied and inspired to keep cooking. I highly recommend this class to anyone who loves food and wants to expand their culinary horizons. Whether you're looking to learn new techniques, discover fresh ingredients, or just have a fun day out, Market Forays is a fantastic choice.

Amazing experience! It was great shopping and cooking with Laurence. She opened the group up to a…read morewhole new world of ingredients from the local farmers market and fish market. We made a whole array of dishes and they all were so simple to make yet so delicious. I would highly recommend taking one of her classes and I would happily do it again

I hired Betti to bartend for a small (20 people) wedding reception and she was excellent! She was…read moreable to bring glassware and bar tools which was one less thing for me to worry about. She also provided free lemonade and ice tea which the young folks loved. She came early, set up on her own and stayed after the guests left to clean up. Her communication was great and the price was fair. Would absolutely hire her again.

Unfortunately, I did not have a great experience and would not recommend The Kitchen Door for a…read morelarge wedding or event. Betty has many positive reviews, which is one of the reasons I hired her, so my assumption is that smaller events may be a better fit for her business. However, based on my experience with a wedding of over 100 guests, I would not hire her again. The overall customer experience, communication, staffing, and execution did not meet expectations. Positives: * Betty was very helpful during the initial planning process. I originally reached out looking for bartending services, and she was able to provide catering, dinnerware, linens, and other items that reduced the amount of rentals I needed. * She created a beautiful custom menu and was accommodating when guest counts needed to be updated. * The appetizer presentation looked great and was well received by guests. * The enchilada soup was good. * She provided a cake knife for our cake cutting. * Food service itself was not excessively slow despite the size of the event. Negatives: * The staffing and service provided did not match what was outlined in our contract, and there was never any acknowledgment, explanation, or follow-up regarding those issues. * Our contract included two bartenders, but only one actually showed up. While the bartender who was present had a good attitude, I was told by guests that he arrived approximately an hour and a half late. I did not even realize until afterward that my friends were pouring me drinks, and guests were serving themselves drinks while waiting for bar service. * We ran out of food, despite six guests from my final headcount not attending, 14 of the guests being children, and three people that I know of not eating due to there being no food available. * There were no plates available when appetizers were first being served * We also did not have enough utensils for guests, and plastic utensils had to be used. I would have rented plates and utensils if that's what was needed. But I was told that she had them, which she did but not enough. * Communication became increasingly stressful after booking and I often felt uncomfortable asking questions or making updates. * I was contacted for final payment before the payment date outlined in our contract, which created unnecessary stress as I had intentionally planned my RSVP deadline around the contract timeline. * a little bit before the wedding, concerns regarding the venue change were raised (not kindly). I had previously asked what would be needed at the venue and was told that power was the primary requirement, so that was my understanding going into the event. There appeared to be a miscommunication regarding additional needs, including concerns about water access that had already been discussed prior to the wedding. While a solution was ultimately worked out and water was available on the wedding day, the way these concerns were communicated created unnecessary stress during an already busy and emotional time.

1. Healthy made with organic ingredients. Knowledge of healing foods and love…read more2. Flavorful yet not hot spice 3. Incredible value 4. A great offer to send to friends in need of a good healing meal. Try the basket to two or four 5. Wow wow wow. Love the raita. Dal. Veggie biryani. Beet salad. Her chutneys. Veggie curry 6. Miss her pop up. 7. We are soooooo lucky to have her in sba. A hidden gem!

I purchased a basket of food for two from Nimita's Cuisine, for my daughter-in-law's birthday,…read morewhich was delivered in person by Nimita herself. My daughter-in-law is vegetarian who enjoys the types of food that Nimita makes (curries and healthy vegetables).. She loved the delicious food that she said was "perfectly spiced. She thought the food basket gift was super thoughtful and she loved meeting and talking with Nimita , a very warm and kind person.

Chef Robért was absolutely amazing. What a great experience, our friends really enjoyed the meal…read more Chef was very professional from start to finish. The presentation was beautiful and the food was absolutely delicious with every course as amazing as the previous. We will definitely do it again. It felt good to be so pampered in our own home.

From the owner: Chef Robert offers personalized menus for small groups and events. We work with each client to…read moredesign a menu to your preferences, taste and dietary needs. We firmly believe in sustainability and organic products to ensure healthy, tasty, and beautiful meals. With years of experience in Michelin level restaurants and hotels, chef Robert will satisfy the most discerning palates.

We went to a school camp weekend at El Capitan earlier this month, and chef Justin West, the man…read morebehind Market Forager, came in to feed us dinner. I was not involved in the planning, and was excited to learn that the guy grilling our burgers was the chef behind Julienne and Wildwood Kitchen, two excellent bygone Santa Barbara restaurants. Market Forager emerged out of the pandemic, and is largely a curated delivery service for meat and seafood. You build your own combo box from a robust list of choice cuts you can't just buy at Pavilions, and everything comes portioned and vacuum sealed, ready to use or freeze. No subscription, just a small custom delivery operation. I'd be all over this if I lived in Santa Barbara. (You can read more about the birth of the business here: independent.com/2024/02/23/justin-wests-rise-from-celebrated-chef-to-meat-salesman.) Justin also works as a private chef/caterer under the Market Forager banner, and I was beyond impressed with the barbecue feast he provided. There were around fifty adults in our group, and almost as many children, and we all had an ample, delicious dinner for a little over $2,000. Justin earned that money, doing all the set-up, cooking, and clean-up himself. He was also really personable. My husband and I chatted him up, since we'd loved his restaurants, and busy as he was, he seemed happy to talk to us. The menu was simple and perfect for a family barbecue: wagyu cheeseburgers, hamburgers, and grilled cheese, hot off a giant griddle, with fresh toppings, potato salad, and a tomato mozzarella bean salad. Everything was superb. If burgers aren't your thing, they are far from the only option. Justin is a talented chef, and he'll work with you to create a menu, then show up to cook and serve it. He had in fact already done this for my

Routinely order chicken, steak, beef, and fish for our family's freezer. Justin replies quickly and…read morealways has excellent suggestions for the best use of meats and fresh seafood. Excellent service and the highest quality offerings.