Santa Barbara Getaway

For my birthday this year my wife and I decided that we would take a quick getaway to Santa Barbara.  Only about an hour from where we live, but a beautiful city, with nice beaches and great places to eat.  For the night we decided to stay at Fess Parker's Doubletree resort.  It is a nice hotel with comfortable, clean rooms, nice pool, bar with places to sit indoors and outdoors, and from what I hear a very good steak house ( we haven't eaten at their restaurant yet).  Also, you can't beat the location being right across the street from the beach, and only about a mile from State Street.  www.fessparkersantabarbarahotel.com

View of the pool from our room.

Nice patio to relax on.

View of the hotel from across the street at the beach.

For dinner we had plans to meet two very good friends of ours at Restaurant Julienne.  We have been trying to eat here for the past year but something has always come up and we have had to reschedule.  We were excited that we were finally going to eat there.  Restaurant Julienne met and exceeded all expecations.  Nice comfortable atmosphere, along with attentive, personal service and great food.  We had a great time and would definitely like to go back again.  All 4 of us did the 5 course tasting menu which was $65 per person, with an optional wine pairing for each course for an additional $30.  www.restaurantjulienne.com

Charcuterie plate: Pork Pate, Chicken Liver Toast, Soppressata, Saucison d' Alsace, pickled beans.

Foie Gras and Donuts, Market Berries, Toasted Mustard.

Local Black Seabass, Artichoke, Kalamata Olive, Orzo, Sun Dried Tomato Tapenade.

Duck Breast, Smoked Sausage, Broccoli, Red Lentils, Plum Sauce.

Beef Cheek Bourguignon, English Peas, Mushrooms, Country Mashed Potato.

Earl Grey Ice Cream.  Not part of the tasting menu.

After dinner we said goodbye to our friends and decided to go have a nightcap.  We went to Santa Barbara's Urban Wine Trail and stopped at Municipal Winemakers.  A cool place with friendly staff, a bar to sit at or plenty of room for sitting inside or outside.  Their focus is mainly on local Rhone varietal grapes.  My wife had a glass of their 2011 Bright White, which is a Dry Riesling.  I had a glass of their 2010 Bright Red, a Rhone blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Counoise.  www.municipalwinemakers.com

The next morning we had one more stop to make.  Chocolats du CaliBressan.  A chocolate shop right in the heart of State Street.  Neither of us had ever been there before, but I like chocolate, and my wife has an intense love for chocolate.  They have a wide selection of chocolates, truffles, and bonbons.  You can buy by the single piece, create a box to go, or purchase a sample of their chocolates already packaged.  www.chococalibressan.com