It is really warm out today (I am not complaining) so I wanted something light for lunch. I picked up the Chicken Salad Salad from Panino in Montecito. This was incredibly tasty and filling. If you ever go wine tasting up near Los Olivos, they have a location up there that is the perfect place to get salads to go and have a picnic on one of the winery properties! (And for your gluten-eating friends and family, they have great sandwiches to choose from too. Now if only we could get them to carry GF bread…)
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Renaud’s Patisserie and Bistro
24 Jan
This morning, we decided to try Renaud’s Patisserie and Bistro in the Arlington Plaza. I ordered the omelette with peppers, spinach and gruyere cheese and made with egg whites. For my side, I chose the potatoes. I really loved this meal. The omelette was the perfect size and had the perfect amount of fillings. The potatoes were incredibly good as well. The outdoor seating of this bistro is really appealing as it is in a quieter shopping center that has many cute stores. I definitely want to return to try some of their macarons!
Cadiz
22 Jan
Last night we decided to try Cadiz after hearing some good things about it. I started with the Diver Scallops due to our waitress’ recommendation. They were pretty good. I am not a scallop connoisseur but I thought they had a good taste. I then had the Roasted Chestnut Soup. I really enjoyed this soup. It was exactly the kind of soup one would want on a cold wintery day. For my main dish, I had the Grana Padano Risotto. This dish had lots of pomegranate seeds which were an unexpected surprise. The waitress that we had was wonderful in knowing exactly what I could and could not have. I think this is a great addition to State Street.
The Let’s Get The Toxins Out of Us Meal
20 Jan
After our highly caloric meal at In-N-Out, added to the fact that we have both been feeling run down, we decided to eat somewhere healthy for dinner. At Alchemy Cafe, they have “elementals, infusions, elixirs, extracts and potions” all with different purposes. I started with the Samurai Kombucha which tasted a bit funny to me, but I guess my body will thank me in the long run. We shared the Cabbage Wraps to start, which I had the last time I was here. I then ordered the Mung Bean Glass Noodles. I requested that they be extra spicy which was a good decision. This will be a great option for the next time I am looking for a healthier meal!
In-N-Out
20 Jan
Sometimes you just want to eat a burger and fries. When that craving hits (like it did today), we run to In-N-Out where I can get my burger protein style, and my husband can have the grilled cheese. The fact that they make their fries in a dedicated fryer just makes it that much better.
On another topic, a couple of nights ago we went to Pizza Guru. You may recall that last time we were there, the person that helped us told us that we could have the bread sticks made GF. Well, the people we spoke to this time around said that is not true. Has anyone ever been able to order the bread sticks there?
Also, I called C’est Cheese which is a wonderful local cheese shop in downtown Santa Barbara. They have some very appealing sounding sandwiches on their menu so I figured I would ask if they have GF bread. WELL… the lady I spoke with on the phone had just started to look into providing GF bread! It will be a while until they actually have it, but I just think that is so exciting!
Rose Cafe
19 Jan
I know it is odd to start a post with a picture of crushed ice, let alone my 100th post, but this is no ordinary ice. When we were meeting with potential wedding photographers, we bonded with one of them over our shared love of Rose Cafe’s crushed ice. The ice isn’t the only thing that is magical about this particular restaurant. You know that one place that is the place… the one that tastes like home to you? That is Rose Cafe on the Mesa to us. When we moved to Baltimore, we would have their salsa shipped to us every so often just to get that taste of home. Now that we are back, I am able to get my salsa and nachos whenever I darn please.
Arigato’s Edamame
14 Jan
If you have to eat gluten-free like myself, you have to avoid ordering anything at a sushi restaurant that has the word soy in it… right? Wrong. Go to Arigato and order the wokked edamame with garlic soy flavor and request it to be prepared with the GF soy sauce that they have. The result is a tasty appetizer that has a good heat to it and has that soy sauce flavor that we so often have to avoid.
Arch Rock Fish
14 Jan
We worked up quite an appetite looking at overpriced real estate in Santa Barbara. It was time for a break so we went to Arch Rock Fish for a late lunch. I started with the grilled artichoke which was very good. The other people at the table had ordered guacamole and chips as a starter but I didn’t share since the chips were fried in contaminated oil. I then had the grilled fish tacos (I know my orders are starting to get a bit predictable).
These were served with corn tortillas and a nice side of pico. The guacamole and cilantro on top made me very happy. I really liked the feel of the restaurant. The only thing I might change is the napkins. After our meal, we all had tons of lint leftover on our pants.
Crushcakes Cafe
14 Jan
We had a big day of looking at houses today so it was imperative that I have a hearty breakfast to start the day off right. We decided to try Crushcakes Cafe. I had the scramble with salsa, cheddar, jack and sliced avocado. Since I couldn’t have the bread that it is usually served with, they gave me corn tortillas. These were perfect to make mini breakfast tacos with.
Lunch in Ojai
13 Jan
I had a whole day with nothing planned which felt phenomenal. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to do some exploring in Ojai. I took the CA-150 Route since I previously had only gone via CA-33. It was to my surprise and delight that I found views like the picture above. The road takes you right along Lake Casitas which is just beautiful with the mountains set around it. Once it Ojai, my mom and I did some exploring. There are a bunch of shops which were fun to look in. When it was time to eat, we ended up going to a natural food store that had a cafe called Rainbow Bridge. When I asked if they had gluten-free bread available for their sandwiches, the lady behind the counter told me that they had Udi’s! Woohoo!
I got a veggie sandwich that had avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrots and sprouts. It was the perfect veggie sandwich. I definitely want to return to Ojai to try some of the restaurants in the area that I have read about.
gluten-free in sb 