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CULINARY COUP   .   .   .-

THOMAS KELLER OF FRENCH LAUNDRY FAME AT SANTA BARBARA CORAL CASINO

By Bonnie Carroll

Coral Casino on Butterfly Beach in Montecito California

Ty Warner has a new partnership with seven-Michelin-star chef and restauranteur Thomas Keller. Keller will oversee all food and beverage operations at the Coral Casino in Montecito. Renowned in the foodie world as owner of French Laundry in Yountville, er Se in New York and The Surf Club in Surfside, Florida Keller says he is excited to create a new chapter in the history of historic Coral Casino.

“It’s exciting to be part of the Coral Casino story,” says Keller. “it’s an honor to be invited to join this legendary California Destination with its rich history. We look forward to introducing our cuisine to the community and make great memories for them.”

The Coral Casino has been a private club in Montecito, but when the Four Seasons Hotel was taken over by Ty Warner the food and beverage service was included, and hotel guests were also offered the opportunity to dine and pool during their stay. It has been a private beach and cabana club since July 24, 1937. Robert Stewart Odell commissioned architect Gardner A. Dailey to design a club where prominent families of the area, and Hollywood’s elite, could gather.  Since it’s opening it has hosted major dignitaries, movie stars and filmmakers, musicians and noted philanthropists. In 2005, Ty Warner closed the club for a $65 million revitalization and New York based architect Peter Marino lead the project. In 2008, 71 years after the original opening, it reopened welcoming back members and guests of Four Seasons The Biltmore.

The beautifully designed glistening white building on the sea became the posh place for private fundraisers, and the ‘ladies who lunch’ hot spot. It was an original venue for Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Kirk Douglas Award dinner and red carpet, where media could get up close and personal with people like the Kirk and Michael Douglas family all in the MGM style ocean setting of the gorgeous club patio.


MICHELIN Chef/Restaurantuer Thomas Keller

The big news is that Tydes restaurant will open to the public enabling all to enjoy Keller’s Continental Cuisine menu. He is the first and only American-born chef to hold multiple three-star ratings for the French Laundry and per Se from the Michelin guide. Along with the additional star for the Surf Club he became Michelin’s most honored American chef to date. He is also the first American chef to be designated a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor.

In 2017, he led a team from the U.S. to win its first gold medal in Bocuse d’Or, biannual competition likened to the Olympics of the international culinary world.

I interviewed Keller years ago, shortly before the opening of the French Laundry, and enjoyed an amazing dinner prepared by him that still lingers joyfully in my memory. It was clear he was an outstanding chef, but along with many I was a bit surprised when he opened the French Laundry, and it immediately became a dining destination of world renown. Locals in Santa Barbara, including moi, are thrilled to have him here and happier to have dining resume once again at the beautiful Coral Casino.

Bon Appetit!

 ♦  ♦  ♦

___________________________________________________

Bluewater Grill Santa Barbara

Announces its Second Tuesday Tastings

and Holiday Specials for July-December 2025

 

Seafood lovers have 14 ways to celebrate in Q3-4 2025

 Bluewater Grill has released details of its popular Second Tuesday Tastings and holiday food and drink promotions in the second half of 2025 designed to introduce first-time and veteran customers to the latest global seafood tastes and traditions.

            A Bluewater staple for almost 25 years, Second Tuesday Tastings are chef-prepared two-course meals featuring a starter and seafood main course paired with two hand-selected local or international wines. Seafood selections typically follow Bluewater’s seasonal menu specials designed to offer customers a continuing cycle of new seafood and shellfish culinary experiences.

The cost for both courses with wine pairings is $55, $65 or $85 per person, as noted.  Due to the events’ popularity, advance reservations are required and can be made here. Walk-up reservations will be limited. 

           

In addition to the monthly seafood and wine celebrations, Bluewater restaurants offer special deals on food and drink holidays throughout the year. Reservations are not required for holiday promotions.

           

Seafood lovers can take advantage of the six Second Tuesday Tastings and seven holiday promotions July-December 2025 at Bluewater Grill restaurants in Newport Beach, Redondo Beach, Temecula, Phoenix, Santa Barbara and Carlsbad Village; and at  Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill in Coronado. Bluewater Avalon on Catalina Island will host the holiday promotions only.

 

  • National Martini Day on Thursday, June 19, 2025:  Enjoy our House Gin or Vodka Martinis for just $10 on this day only.

 

  • Bluewater Second Tuesday Tasting on July 8, 2025:  “Miso Black Cod Night.”  Bluewater honors the height of black cod season with this Japanese-inspired culinary adventure. Start your night off with our Arugula & Avocado Salad made with locally sourced produce and paired with a Marques de Riscal Verdejo from Spain. Then, indulge in our Misoyaki Cod, served with green beans, white rice and eel sauce with green onion, cilantro and daikon sprouts, and accompanied by a Zotovich Viogner from California’s Santa Rita Hills. The cost is $65 per person.

 

  • National Tequila Day on Thursday, July 24, 2025:  Enjoy our Pilikia or Serrano Margaritas for just $10, a savings of $5.

 

  • International Beer Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025:  All beer on draught is just $6. Beer lovers can choose between High Spot 289 Blonde and 182 IPA, Pacifico, 805 Blonde Ale, Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale, Cali Squeeze Blood Orange Hefeweizen, Fig Mountain Lizard’s Mouth IPA and others, however, please note that tap selections vary at each restaurant.

 

  • National Oyster Day on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025:  Our half-dozen Oysters on the Half Shell are just $15. You save $7 on this day only.

 

  • Bluewater Second Tuesday Tasting on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025:  “Chipotle Swordfish Sampler.” Enjoy our Arugula & Edamame Salad with a glass of Veuve de Vernay Champagne. After that, Bluewater’s signature Chipotle-blackened Swordfish topped with charred pineapple salsa and tomato oil becomes the star of the show when paired with a Lingua Franca AVNI Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley in Oregon. The cost is $65 per person.

 

  • National Mai Tai Day on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025:  Our Captain’s Mai Tai, a blend of aged dark and light rum, lime juice, orgeat, simple syrup, triple sec and Goslings Black Seal Rum floater, is just $10, a savings of $5.50.

 

  • Bluewater Second Tuesday Tasting on Sept. 9, 2025:  “A Taste of Spain.” This quintessential Spanish feast includes our own Patates Brava, fried white potatoes topped with a spicy “brava” sauce, and Bluewater’s Paella made with seafood, rice, saffron and fresh vegetables. Wine pairings include a Marques de Riscal Verdejo from Spain and Don Miguel Malbec from Argentina. The cost is $55 per person.

 

  • National Cheeseburger Day on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025:  Save $5 on our Angus Cheeseburger with all the traditional fixings, choice of cheese and French fries.

 

  • National Lobster Day on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025:  Indulge in our succulent Lobster Tail from the Bluewater Grill menu at a $10 discount on this day only.

 

  • Bluewater Second Tuesday Tasting on Oct. 14, 2025:  “Pacific Swordfish Spectacular.” First course is our Tomato & Artichoke Salad paired with a popular Sangria. We follow that up with Pacific Swordfish humanely taken by Bluewater Grill’s own Pilikia fishing boat and accompanied with an Abadia de Campio from Spain’s Albarino white wine region. The cost is $55 per person.

 

  • National Dessert Day on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025:  All Bluewater desserts are half price on this day only. That’s a savings of up to $6.50.

 

  • Bluewater Second Tuesday Tasting on Nov. 11, 2025:  “Lobster Pot Pie Holiday.” Join us for this spirited holiday indulgence that starts with choice of Salad or Housemade Chowder paired with an Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. We then follow it up with our own decadent Lobster Pot Pie and glass of Jospeh Drouhin Chardonnay from France’s Macon Villages. The cost is $55 per person.

 

  • Bluewater Second Tuesday Tasting on Dec. 9, 2025:  “California Lobster Encore.” Splurge with this yuletide feast that starts with choice of Salad or Housemade Chowder and ends with a California Spiny Lobster harvested locally. Wine pairings include a Maso Canali Pinot Grigio and Querceto Chianti Classico, both from Italy. The cost is $85 per person.

 

About the Bluewater Family of Seafood Restaurants

Bluewater Grill serves the freshest sustainably caught or farm-harvested seafood, innovatively prepared, in an atmosphere of casual style and at a surprisingly affordable price. 

 

In addition to the original, recently renovated location in Newport's Cannery Village, there are Bluewater Grills at King Harbor in Redondo Beach, in central Phoenix, in the heart of Carlsbad Village and in Temecula Wine Country in Southern California’s Inland Empire. As part of the company’s commitment to one-of-a-kind settings, Bluewater Avalon, Bluewater Grill Santa Barbara and Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill serve locally caught seafood from three of Southern California’s most picturesque locations: over the water on Avalon Bay on Catalina Island; on the Santa Barbara beachfront; and in the former Hotel del Coronado boathouse on Coronado Island in San Diego, respectively.

 

For details, go to www.bluewatergrill.com or on Instagram. Each Bluewater restaurant also has its own Facebook page for restaurant-specific menu offers, recipes, events and local happenings.

♦  ♦  ♦


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© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved