Food + Beverage

Best Ways to Use Marianello Lucca Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1. Finishing Oil (Drizzling)Salads – Use as a dressing base with vinegar or lemon juice.Grilled vegetables or meats – Adds richness and aroma.Soups and stews – A drizzle on top adds depth and a fresh finish.Pasta – Especially good on simple dishes like aglio e olio or with fresh herbs.2. DippingWith bread – Mix EVOO with balsamic vinegar, herbs, or a pinch of salt.With crudités – Use as a base for a Mediterranean-style dip or vinaigrette.3. Cooking (Low to Medium Heat)Sautéing vegetables or...

Life + Culture

Santa Barbara Unfiltered

Why Santa Barbara’s beauty runs deeper than the postcard Article and Photography by Ari Kirk Walking down Anapamu past the iconic Santa Barbara courthouse on a warm, breezy afternoon, traffic whizzes by, e-bikes buzz past, and the bells of the clock tower chime… except, wait. They aren't real bells at all! It's a high-quality recording of some from UCSB's Storke Tower. Why? Because the courthouse went way over-budget and was never really finished. Quirks like these add to a place's beauty in...

Professional Services

Pressure Tested

The hidden local history behind one of the world’s most important diving innovations Article by Matt DeMarcus | Photography by Provided Along the Central Coast, where rocket launches from Vandenberg regularly streak across the night sky, exploration often feels pointed upward. But some of the region’s most important breakthroughs happened in the cold, dark waters just offshore. Long before modern commercial diving became possible, the Santa Barbara Channel posed a nearly impossible challenge...

Life + Culture

One More Glass Before Dinner

Why the best afternoons usually begin with cancelled plans Article by Sara DeMarcus | Photography by Kathy DeNinno Photography Some of the best afternoons begin unexpectedly. A meeting moves. Plans fall through. The calendar opens in a way it normally doesn’t, and for a few rare hours, there’s nowhere specific to be. The instinct, especially here, is usually to fill the space immediately. Another errand. Another workout. Another carefully timed reservation squeezed between obligations. But...