Letter from the Publisher

August 2014

Dear Life Bites Readers,

This month features information on Portola Hotel in Monterey Bay, and the Peter B's Brewhouse. Culinary coup offers a delicious look at The Lark restaurant in the Santa Barbara Funk Zone. Travel section offers a tasting at Finch & Fork in the Canary Hotel. Tinseltown Tidbits is full of great entertainment news, including ECO Emmy Awards event, and celebrity suite event news for upcoming award dinners. 

Our report on the Santa Barbara International Film Festival  "Annual Silver Screen Bash" will  include new information on the Jan/Feb 2015 SBIFF Festival. Culinary Coup has some wonderful chef news, including a story on The Lark chef in Santa Barbara. New restaurant openings and latest food trends for fall 2014 are planned. Meal planning for families on a budget - fast, healthy and affordable. Kombucha then and now, as well as new chef's BBQ solution from Jimmy's Famous American Tavern Group. Field Roast for vegetarians who are serious; sausages and lunch meats that are taste foolers. Kimpton Hotels now have two hotels in Santa Barbara area with creative chefs in their kitchens.

Wine events and food festivals are in full swing throughout California and the nation and we have some news for our grape lovers in Sips. See new updates from Cody Hilton in Teen Times.  Our Sense of Style features TasteTV Perfume Salon and Chocolate competition news. 

Due to the heat wave, the harbor's are brimming with beautiful yachts and the ocean is crawling with surfers waiting to catch a wave. If you live near the water take advantage of this time...go for a sail boat ride or just enjoy a dinner while watching the waves break. Water is healing and we all need to feel its peace. Try a whale watching cruise in Santa Barbara or go fishing from a pier.

The Fund for Santa Barbara is busy preparing for "Bread & Roses" dinner and auction in October 2014 at the QAD Headquarters in Summerland. For tickets and information visit www.fundforsantabarbara.org or call 962-9164.

Pray for peace in these times of violence and protests in our streets, and pray for those who are unwilling to accept the finality of US court decision and have taken the law into their own hands. I hope you all will join me in remembering our soldiers who are fighting in other countries, and pray for their safe return to their families. God bless them, and God bless America in these difficult times; may the spirit of our Nation reign now and forever, and may our citizens here at home find more prosperous times ahead for their families. 

"Breakfast with Nancy" show hosted by talented career radio host Nancy Stapp on KVOT 1340 Radio every Monday at 7:20. Go to www.kvot1340.com for a look at the great work she has done and to listen to show links, including Life Bites with Bonnie Carroll. I have been doing "Life Bites" travel/lifestyle reporting with Nancy so grab a coffee and join in for a great start to your work week! Also, See Culinary Coup for delicious summer recipes from star chefs.

Cordially,

Mrs. Stein's Potato Salad