Untitled Document Home
Chef & Hotel Profile
Publisher's Page
Gift Guide
Travel Adventures
Epicurean Events
Health Minded
Spa Baby Secrets
Sips
Book Bites
Culinary Coup
Sense of Style
Kids Kaleidoscope
Tinsletown Tidbits
Wheels
Radio Show & Links
Contact Us


CHEF/HOTEL PROFILE  .  .  .

BACK TO THE PAST AT KIMPTON GOODLAND HOTEL

by Bonnie Carroll

The Kimpton Goodland Hotel, located at 5640 Calle Real in Goleta, is just seconds from Goleta beach, and is a hotel anyone over fifty seems to find enchanting. The 50s through 90s décor, including a Woody at the entrance and a VYNL record shop in the lobby, where visitors can listen to and buy oldies but goodies offers guests a flash back to the past that is a fun surprise. Artistic surfboards are hung from the ceiling, and tunes like Olivia Newton John's Let's Get Physical can be heard playing by the pool. What really caught my eye was the 70s ocean inspired artwork and seashell string window coverings in the restaurant and bar.

The Outpost at the Goodland, an indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar where casual is key and pets are allowed is a foodies heaven. The flowing area from lobby to restaurant to pool offer an open and relaxed environment to fully enjoy all areas of this classic property. The indoor restaurant is cozy, with a burning fireplace, and colorful artistic touches. The outdoor area is California chilling, where people meet at the bar or enjoy dinner with friends.

The menu, created by chef Nick Bajal, changes seasonally, and during my visit featured lamb with braised red cabbage, nor butter peas, crispy white sweet potato, and the duck confit with coriander vinaigrette, greens, roasted apples, and parsnip, which I enjoyed with a glass of Halter Ranch Cabernet. These dishes were reminiscent of the original Wolfgang Puck and Joachim Splichal early menu years in Los Angeles; perfectly cooked and falling off the bone preparations. Simply outstanding!

  

Appetizers prepared by Executive Chef Bajal and sous chef Damien Giliberti included West coast oysters, with pear, long pepper mignonette, an amazing beef bone marrow (specialty that night), a Little Gem salad of cucumber, smoked trout, with black sesame seed mustard was delicious with a Margerum white wine. The Pork Ribs with chipotle-pomegranate glaze, popcorn polenta, pickled red onion, chive is one of their very popular items, and the combo of Pork Street Taco Pork shoulder, grilled pineapple, pickled onion, Chicken Street Taco Pickled jalapeno, queso fresco, white sesame, dark mole, Fish Street Taco Battered cod, sriracha tartar, smoked cabbage, sesame combo is a fabulous entree trio or individual separate nibbles.

Dessert offerings included Mexican Spiced Chocolate Pudding, with salted carmel whipped cream and a crispy sugar cookie. Also ice cream, the Chef’s seasonal selection of Sorbet. I almost did not live through the deep fried carrot cake with burnt orange sauce, white chocolate creamed cheese, and McConnell’s vanilla ice cream. What an amazing and creative sweet ending. For coffee lovers, the Outpost proudly serves organic and fair trade coffee and tea.

Brunch in this fun location is an ideal way to start your morning on the patio and offers an imaginative collection of tasty favorites like salmon tartine with caper salsa aioli, tomato and chili threads or Chef Bajal's unique twist on French toast, but my personal favorite was the Avocado Toast made with fried eggs on sourdough, pickle, onion, cilantro, avocado and served with home fries to enjoy with a great cup of coffee while sitting by the pool. Also not to miss is the 'toasted bun' burgers that will take you happily back to your Beach Blanket Bingo days.

There is a genuine nostalgia about the Kimpton Goodland that is so appealing, and I look forward to going back soon. The hotel Kimpton Goodland has an abundance of self parking for visitors, and is minutes from the Santa Barbara Airport by taxi or rental car. www.thegoodland.com.Visit: http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com.

Kimpton Goodland

5650 Calle Real, Goleta, CA 93117

Reservations: (877) 480-1465

Hotel: (805) 964-6241

Fax: (805) 964-8467


2008
March 08 | April 08 | May 08 | June 08 | July 08 | August 08 | September 08 | October 08 | November 08 | December 08 | January 09 | February 09 | March 09 | April 09 | May 09 | June 09 | July 09 | August 09 | September 09 | October 09 | November 09 | December 09 | January 10 | February 10 | March 10 | March | April 10 | May 10 | June 10 | July 10 | August 10 | September 10 | October 10 | November 10 | December 10 | January 11 | February 11 | March 11 | April 11 | May 11 | June 11 | July 11 | August 11 | September 11 | September | October 11 | November 11 | December 11 | January 12 | February 12 | March 12 | April 12 | May 12 | June 12 | July 12 | August 12 | September 12 | October 12 | November 12 | December 12 | January 13 | March 13 | February 13 | April 13 | May 13 | June 13 | July 13 | August 13 | September 13 | October 13 | November 13 | December 13 | January 14 | February 14 | March 14 | April 14 | May 14 | June 14 | July 14 | August 14 | September 14 | October 14 | November 14 | December 14 | January 15 | February 15 | March 15 | April 15 | May 15 | June 15 | July 15 | August 15 | September 15 | October 15 | November 15 | December 15 | January 16 | February 16 | March 16 | April 16 | May 16 | June 16 | July 16 | August 16 | September 16 | October 16 | November 16 | February 17 | December 16 | March 17 | January 17 | April 17 | May 17 | July 17 | August 17 | June 17 | September 17 | November 17 | October 17 | December 17 | January 18 | February 18 | March 18 | April 18 | May 18 | June 18 | July 18 | August 18 | August | September 18 | October 18 | November 18 | December 18 | January 19 | February 19 | March 19 | April 19 | May 19 | June 19 | July 19 | August 19 | September 19 | October 19 | November 19 | December 19 | January 20 | February 20 | March 20 | April 20 | May 20 | June 20 | July 20 | August 20 | September 20 | October 20 | November 20 | December 20 | January 21 | February 21 | March 21 | April 21 | May 21 | June 21 | July 21 | August 21 | September 21 | October 21 | December 20 | November 21 | December 21 | January 22 | February 22 | April 22 | May 22 | March 22 | June 22 | July 22 | August 22 | September 22 | October 22 | November 22 | December 22 | January 23 | February 23 | March 23 | April 23 | May 23 | June 23 | July 23 | August 23 | September 23 | October 23 | November 23 | December 23 | January 24 | February 24 | February 08 | January 08

2007
December 07
| November 07 | October 07 | September 07 | August 07 | July 07 | June 07 | May 07
April 07
| March 07 | February 07 | January 07

2006
Dember 06
| November 06 | October 06 | September 06 | August 06 | July 06 | June 06 | May 06
April 06 | March 06 | February 06 | January 06

2005
December 05
| November 05 | October 05 | September 05 | August 05 | July 05 | June 05 | May 05
April 05 | March 05 | February 05 | January 05

© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved