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 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,

Bonnie Carroll 

Bonnie Carroll
Publisher/Editor 
Please enjoy a wonderful summer recipe from my dear Aunt Dolores Stein, which was published in the Beverly Hills Farmer's Market Cook Book, and is a favorite of our family.

Mrs. Stein's Potato Salad

WHO WE ARE . . . 

LBN Staff

Bonnie Carroll, Publisher/Editor

writebc@aol.com  

Rosalie Frances, Contributor, tolifebites.com

Mary Hilton, Content Contributor/Marketing Director

Maryehilton2000@aol.com

Cody Chandler, Teen Times Columnist

tolifebites@aol.com

Mike O’Connell, Photo/Video Director/Contributor

tolifebites@aol.com

Isabella D'Angelo, Rome Correspondent

tolifebites@aol.com

Natasha Melikoff, Montreal Correspondent

Delia Csipkay, Contributor, tolifebites@aol.com 

 Additional contributing writers are included on an individual issue basis. Please contact the editor with questions regarding journalist assignments. Email: writebc@aol.com

LBN Offices

2115 De La Vina Street, Ste 31

Santa Barbara, CA 93105

805-845-9976

Email  contact preferred please

LBN Best of 2013
Best New Rest Opening US
Nobu, Ceasars Palace LV
Best International Chef
Daniel Boulud, DBGB LV
Best Int'l Airport Cuisine
Frenchy's Bistro, De Gaulle Paris 
Best US Day Spa
Burke Williams, California
Best Resort Hotel Spa
OHTLI Spa, Casamagna Puerto Vallarta
Best Desserts
BLVD, Beverly Wilshire Hotel, BH
Best Winter Resort
Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite California
Best Cocktail
Cranberry Cozmo, L'Ermitage Hotel BH
Best Restaurant Design
Rare, Victor Drai, Hollywood
Best New Int'l Hotel
Four Seasons, St. Petersburg Russia
Best Int'l Spa
Aurum Spa, Villa Sassa Switzerland
Best Art Museum
Blumenshein Museum, Taos NM
Best Int'l Beach Hotel
Grand Rimini & Excelsior, Rimini Italy
Best Celeb Event Menu
2013 Emmy's by Joachim Splichal Patina
Best Iconic Lounge
Zoe's Chateau Laurier, Ottawa CAN
Best Italian Restauant 
Celestino's Pasadena California
Best Int’l Business Hotels
Four Seasons & Trump Hotels
Best Seafood plate
Oysters Rockefeller, The Boathouse, SB
Best New Mexico Cuisine
Taos Inn, Doc Holidays, Chef Zippy
Best New Restaurant
Wolfgang Puck, Bel Air Hotel
Best Salad
Beet Salad, Polo Loung, BH Hotel
Best Tours
Rideau Canal & City Tour, Ottawa, Can
Best Private Train Travel US
Calzephyr Private Rail Cars, California
Best Int'l & US Flights
Air Berlin, Virgin, JetBlue, Southwest, AA
Best Weekend Escape
Blue & Green Iguana Inn's, Ojai Calif
Best Burger LA
25 Degrees, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
Best Epicurean Event
Bracebridge Dinner, Yosemite Calif
Best Auto
Audi A8 L TDI
Best Wine List
Guy Savoy, LV & French Laundry, CA
Best Family Hotels
Marriott & Hilton Worldwide 
Best Travel Adventure
Air Balooning, Albuquerque NM
Best Historic Beach Hotel
Del Coronado, San Diego
Best Films
Phoebie, The Book Thief
Best Cook Book
Daniel, Daniel Boulud
Congratulations - You're the Best!


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© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved