  STORYTELLER COUTURE COUNTRY  The Storyteller Children’s Center annual Couture Country fundraiser at the Carriage and Western Art Museum was a gathering of the ultimate in Runway Rodeo and Cowboy Best attire, where attendees savored wines by Babcock, ‘fetchin’ cuisine by Tony Arroyos and the Los Arroyos staff, music by Lola and the Red Hots, a rousing live auction lead by Ann Gurley, countless beautiful silent auction items, and a drawing for cases of wonderful local wines. Lynda.com was the ‘big country’ sponsor for this year’s event.
  
  
Storyteller provides quality tuition free, early childhood education for homeless and at-risk children in Santa Barbara County, as well as comprehensive support services for their families.    For information visit: www.storytellercenter.org
MONACO NEWS - The Café de Paris is teaming up with two leading French establishments to celebrate the "Franco-Russian" culinary friendship from 24 to 27 November.
Delicious Gifts to Sweeten up the Holidays .jpg)
Debbie’s Rugelach is absolutely fantastic and has announced two of the most prestigous markets in the Bay Area are now offering our delicious Rugelach. You can now find these tasty treats at the following Palo Alto locations: Mollie Stones Market located at 164 S. California Dr in Palo Alto. Piazza’s Fine Foods located at 3922 Middlefield Rd in Palo Alto. Visit www.debbiesrugelach.com for additional information. 
Plush Puffs – Delightful gourmet marshmallow that are perfect for hot chocolate or by themselves. They come in a variety of flavors and are available at Whole Foods Market. Visit: www.plushpuffs.com for details.
    2nd Annual Santa Barbara Chowder Fest . . . Napa Grocery Walks with Local Trophy The 2nd Annual Santa Barbara Chowder Fest benefiting the Santa Barbara Legal Aid turned out to be a real surprise to all the local chef/owners in the seaside city who supported the event in 2010 and had returned to compete for the Santa Barbara title again in 2011.    A surprise grocery store entry from Napa Valley walked with the Best Chowder Award, and a late entry seafood company from Whidbey Island Washington also took a prize in what was considered by the local chefs/restaurants who had returned for a second year as a local's only Santa Barbara competition.   Judges: Michael Cervin (Santa Barbara News Press Radio Host), Chef William Bloxom-Carter (Executive Chef, Playboy Mansion West) and Edie Robertson, a private chef/caterer in Santa Barbara spent hours deliberating to select the 2011 winners. Sadly, many of the competitors were not happy that ‘outsiders’ had come into what had been billed as a local restaurant competition, and had walked with what was supposed to be a local trophy for display in a local winner's venue.    
I did notice that several of the restaurants from last year’s competition were not present. However, with twenty-six local entries it seems they did not need any late entries from outside Santa Barbara. We all support Legal Aid, who greatly help those in need of legal assistance, however, it seems what began as a wonderful collaboration of local restaurant owners and chefs should have remained just that. Under these circumstances I’m wondering if there will be the same support and enthusiasm for a 3rd Annual Santa Barbara Chowder Festival.    I love chefs and restaurant owners. I appreciate so much their devotion to preparing and presenting great food, and how hard it is to keep a successful restaurant in operation, especially in these very challenging financial times. I was very inspired by the community spirit that has driven this event since 2010.   Local restaurant participation included Arch Rock Fish (award winner), Boathouse  (award winner), Café del Sol, Chuck’s Waterfront Grill, Creekside Buffet, Delish & Nutrish Meal Delivery, Emilio’s Restaurant, Endless Summer Bar and Café, Enterprise Fish Company, UCSB Faculty Club Holdren’s Steak & Seafood, Lazy Acres (award winner), Mac’s Fish & Chips, Marmalade Café/Chef Romeo Garcia (2nd Place), Max’s Restaurant, Museum Café (3rd Place), Olio e Limone, Opal Restaurant and Bar, The Palace Grill, SBCC Culinary Department, Secret Ingredient Catering, Whole Foods market, Willows Restaurant at Chumash Casino.   I tasted all the chowder’s and as a food writer and restaurant critic for many years I  am giving you my take on how this competition should have gone: Gourmet Chowder Category - 1st place to Olio e Limone, 2nd Place to Opal Restaurant, 3rd Place to Palace Grill. Creamy Chowder – 1st Boathouse, 2nd Place Willows at Chumash Casino, 3rd Place to Chef Romeo Garcia-Marmalade Café. Most creative presentation 1st Olio e Limone, 2nd Museum Cafe, 3rd Willows Restaurant. Honorable mention Mac’s Fish & Chips, Endless Summer, Secret Ingredient and Emilio’s Restaurant. This is reflects my choices for the local Santa Barbara chef/restaurant owners who donated their time, talent and hard work to raise charity dollars.  Wine & breweries included Brander Vinyard, Buttonwood Wineries, Coquelicot Estate Winery, Geissinger Winery, Kalyra Wines, Lucas & Lewellen Vinyards, Oreana Winery, Silver Wines, Whitcraft Winery, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, The Brewhouse, Island Brewing Company, Telegraph Brewery.
Thanks to all the Santa Barbara restaurants, wineries and breweries who not only provided product but who donated items for the silent auction at this event. For information or donations to the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County visit: www.lafsbc.org. BC
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