The Restaurant Guy
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by JOHN DICKSON
The Lovin’ Spoonful
Fresh Seafood for Your Loved One!
Opens on the Mesa
MORE FOOD
SEE P. 51
WEEKLY SPECIALS COURTESY
E
ver since Fosters Freeze closed in March 2010, the Mesa has been without a dedicated dessert shop. That all changed this month when frozen-yogurt specialist The Lovin’ Spoonful opened on Cliff Drive, next to Super Cucas. Their mission statement reads: “Our mission is to provide the highest-quality frozen yogurt available, along with freshly baked mini-pies, cakes, cookies, brownies, and other items from local artisan bakers, in an atmosphere that is comfortable, inviting, and fun.” The Lovin’ Spoonful frozenyogurt offerings include certified-organic, gluten-free, nonfat, low-fat, premium, Greek, tart, A WHOLE LOTTA LOVIN’: Dessert destination The Lovin’ Spoonful has and no-sugar-added varieties. opened at 2028 Cliff Drive. Nondairy sorbets are all natural and include vegan and no-sugarChilies; Tasty Dishes with Trader Joe’s® Ingredients; added offerings. The freshly baked mini-pies, cakes, The Vegetarian Gourmet; and more. cookies, and brownies are made by artisan bakers and include organic and gluten-free offerings. IN SEARCH OF A FREE* LUNCH: I was at The Lovin’ Spoonful has an 18-foot-long video disCostco the other day strolling for some nonessential play panel where customers can watch extreme surfpurchases when I suddenly felt hungry. I realized that ing, skiing, and other sports and activities, or watch I had completely skipped lunch. As luck would have videos of underwater sea life swim by while they it, right next to me was a booth offering a free sample enjoy their frozen yogurt and other mini desserts. The store has a common table and sitting area with an eco- of sausage that I quickly devoured. A thought then occurred to me: Is it possible to have an entirely free friendly fireplace that burns only bioethanol fuel. lunch at Costco? Call 259-7009 or visit thelovinspoonfulfroyo.com. I noticed that some of the free samples didn’t SPEAKING OF THE MESA: Last year, I reported look very filling (like a sip of apple juice) but others that vegan restaurant Mesa Verde is coming to appeared quite substantial (grilled cheese sandwich Cliff Drive, the former home of Cliff ’s & Co. Sources bite). I decided to give my free lunch idea a try and tell me that the new eatery is connected with Greg paid a visit to every booth that offered something Arnold, who is involved with Sage Vegan Bistro in edible. To my disappointment, after visiting all 15 Culver City and Echo Park. Visit sageveganbistro.com. food sample booths, I still felt hungry, so I decided to visit them again. I made another pass to each and ALOHA: Sources tell me that the Kahuna Grill, every smiling food attendant and requested another which opened in Paseo Nuevo mall in 2008, is actively taste. Verdict: still hungry. I then made a third voyage looking for a tenant to replace them and, I am told, is through my mini “Taste of the Town,” and I finally felt in discussions with a good prospect. The burger place, full. So there you have it. If you are willing to endure whose lease ends this November, is open for business a 45-course meal, it is possible to have an entirely free as usual. lunch at Costco. So what did I actually have for lunch? () Seapoint COOKING CLASSES: The SBCC Center for Farms Dry Roasted Edamame, () Green Envy Daily Lifelong Learning (CLL) is offering 360 classes and Detox Liquid (veggie juice), () Mrs. May’s Variety workshops for every schedule and lifestyle. Winter Pack (peanuts), () Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan classes start and end throughout the term, between Sockeye Salmon, () Tasty Bit Basmati Rice, () PhilJanuary 13 and March 22. Cooking classes offered ippine Dried Mangos, () Kraft American Singles for winter 2014 include: Almost Meatless; Beautiful (grilled cheese sandwich sample), () Tree Top Apple Brunches at the Very Last Minute; Cake Decorating; Juice, () Pasta Prima Spinach & Mozzarella Ravioli, American Riviera Cuisine: California and the Classics; () CP Products Shrimp Wonton Soup, () Okami Cook Italian: the Four Seasons; Cooking Fresh from Asian Chicken Salad, () Rotisserie Chicken Greek the Farmers Market; Fish, the Whole Pasta Salad, () Pork Brisket Grillers, () Bilinski’s Fish and Nothing but the Fish; Sausage, and () Italian Round (bread). * Costco membership required! Salute to Sushi; Spice It Up with
With this coupon. Expires 2/19/14.
Petrale Sole Fillet — $9.95 lb Maine Lobster Tails 5-6oz. — $7.95 each Diver Scallops —$22.95 lb
10% OFF
excluding specials
117 Harbor Way, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 | ph. 805.965.9564 | www.sbfish.com
Strawberries
A Sweet Valentine Treat Home Grown, Local and Organic Produce
308 S. Walnut Lane
Hollister Ave. & Walnut Ln.
964-3773 LaneFarmsSB.com Open Daily 9am-6pm, Sundays 9am-5pm
20478
Kd’s
Gluten-Free Bakery don’t have to be Gluten-F you njoy Our Bread Loaves & Bundt Caree To E
SHOP ONLINE or LOCALLY
kes
Pacific Health Foods Plow to Porch The Worker Bee Café
John Dickson’s reporting can be found every day online at SantaBarbara.com. Send tips to info@SantaBarbara.com.
(805) 576-7776
kdsbakery.com february 13, 2014
THE INDEPENDENt
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