Friday, February 23, 2018

Santa Barbara Restaurant Week February 23 through March 4th


The Lark Pre-Fix Dinner Sample Plate  
By Bonnie Carroll
 
The 1st Restaurant Week is coming to Santa Barbara! This two-week long event is being organized by Santa Barbara Uncorked and sponsored by Jordano’s and the Pacific Beverage. Santa Barbara Restaurant Week will take place February 23rd through March 4th, 2018 and will include $25, $35 and $45 prix fixe menus at featured restaurants. 
 
 
Peter Jordano, CEO Jordano's Food Service and Pacific Beverages are Grand Cru sponsors for SB Restaurant Week, and during a kick-off luncheon at El Encanto Hotel Jordano and Shaun O'Bryan El Encanto Resort Manager shared their enthusiasm for this long overdue opportunity to shine a light on local food and wine business owners and they congratulated the team of local residents and restaurateurs participating in the upcoming event.
 
This premier event was the idea of a group of locals who have worked in the restaurant industry, and wine world of Santa Barbara and it is supported by major food and beverage people, as well as media professionals who felt this Restaurant Week in their hometown was long overdue. Over 28 local restaurants are participating, including El Encanto Hotel, The Lark, Los Arroyos and others who can be found on the event website. It was announced a portion of the proceeds from the SB Restaurant Week will be donated to help restaurant owners who were seriously affected by the recent Thomas Fire and Floods.
 
How does it work? Guests are invited to make a reservation at participating restaurants during Restaurant Week, and in turn, will pay a discounted rate for a 3-course menu. All participating restaurants together with their menus are featured on www.sbrestaurantweeks.com. With an abundant amount of restaurants to choose from in Santa Barbara, the possibilities are endless for exceptional dining experiences from prime steak to fresh local seafood or classic American fare to international favorites. 
 
In addition to restaurants featuring their signature dishes and local chef talent, wineries will provide special pricing and a unique food pairing experience. Hotels are also offering special values for accommodations during the week. Santa Barbara Restaurant Week menus exclude tax, tip, or beverages, reservations are highly recommended. For up to date information on Santa Barbara Restaurant Week, including a complete list of menus and hours of operation visit SBrestaurantweeks.com or them on Facebook and Instagram @sbrestaurantweek. Cheers to the first Santa Barbara Restaurant Week!

ABOUT BONNIE CARROLL

Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since 1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll’s Life Bites News, and does travel and food reporting on local radio/TV, she also contributes to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle publications, and is a member of IFWTWA and NATJA. Contact her at writebc@aol.com.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Pool Safety Tips

10 Steps to Pool Safety


Summer will be here soon.  
Here are some great Pool Safety Tips:
Swimming is the number one summer activity, but safety needs to be your first priority. Sadly, drowning is the #1 cause of unintentional fatalities for children ages 1-4, with an average of 390 deaths per year according to the CDC. Protect your little ones this summer with this handy checklist.

Pool Safety Checklist


  1. Teach children how to swim as soon as they are old enough. When your baby is 6 months old, you can join a parent-child swimming class to familiarize them with water and can enroll in actual swimming lessons around age 3 or 4.
  2. Stay within arms reach at all times around children who are not pool safe.
  3. Designate someone to actively watch when children are in the pool. Limit things that may distract you when you’re on “duty”, such as your cell phone, socializing, and drinking.
  4. Ensure you have proper fencing around your pool. Use at least 4 foot tall fencing with self-closing gates.
  5. Place a safety cover on your pool or hot tub when not in use and remove any ladders or steps used for access.
  6. Use the buddy system. No one should swim alone.
  7. Establish and enforce rules and safe behaviors around the pool, such as “no diving” and “walk, don’t run”.
  8. Make sure everyone wears swim-level appropriate safety items, such as a life jacket or floaties.
  9. Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapment.
  10. Take a CPR class to be prepared in case of emergency.

(information from the First American Home Warranty Newsletter)