Less than two hours north of Malibu in the heart of Santa Barbara’s famous wine country, the Santa Ynez Valley rolls out a dining odyssey during its annual Restaurant Week, Jan. 22-28, 2012. Make plans now to open up dining doors from Ballard and Buellton to Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang. Kady Fleckenstein, who, as Executive Director of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley, coordinates Restaurant Week in these six friendly communities, advises visitors to reserve dining and overnight stays in advance because the special three-course tasting menus offered by more than a dozen restaurants for only $20.12 are irresistible. And while Orbitz Worldwide Travel deemed Solvang “one of the top 5 domestic destinations with international flair,” it’s not all Danish cuisine in this hamlet known as “Little Denmark.” Be sure to experience the award-winning, farm-to-table artistry of Chef Bradley Ogden at Root 246, or the delightful fare at Succulent Cafe or Fresco Valley Cafe. Nearby, the AAA 4-diamond rated Ballard Inn Restaurant serves Chef/Owner Budi Kazali’s luscious Asian-Cal fusion cuisine. In Los Olivos, don’t miss the Cal-Med stylings at the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe or the Hellenic touches at Petros. The Bell Street Farm Eatery in Los Alamos is a brand-new wine country delight. For complete details on all the restaurants, as well as lodging choices (since you definitely need to stay at least one or two nights), log on to www.VisitTheSantaYnezValley.com or call 1-800-742-2843 for a brand new, hot-off-the-press 2012 Solvang & The Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Guide.
For luxurious accommodations with Victorian flair and 21st century amenities, consider the Santa Ynez Inn, rated 4-diamond by AAA with 20 spacious guestrooms overlooking lush gardens. Rates include wine tasting, dessert hour and a lavish full breakfast served with scrumptious choices for main courses, such as Eggs Florentine and wheat-germ pancakes accentuated with locally sourced fruits. Our room had a handsome fireplace, a spacious marble bathroom and decor that could rival any Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton hotel. The ambiance is quiet and charming-retail boutiques and restaurants (try Dos Carlitos for Latin fare and The Vineyard House for classics) line both sides of the street. Be sure to ask about the inn’s new Relax & Rejuvenate package at the nearby Nirvana spa. Info: www.santaynezinn.com
It’s hard to check out and drive away from a country inn as refined as the Santa Ynez Inn; but easing the departure would be a stop at Global Gardens, founded in 1998 and owned by olive rancher, connoisseur and author Theo Stephan. Her first book, “Olive Oil and Vinegar for Life,” shares her expertise on the popular topic of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic fruit vinegars. The good news is these varietals can easily be sampled at her country store every day in Los Olivos. The bad news is there is only one Global Gardens, so you just can’t pop in for home-cured kalamata olives unless you are passing through this lovely village filled with wine tasting rooms and art galleries. Theo’s first-person story debuts the “Caliterranean” lifestyle-the wise marriage of California and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and attitudes. Photographs are lavish and the recipes are luscious. This is a journey for what could be a new cult of olive and vinegar lovers-her boutique and book reveal the benefits of both. Discover more at www.globalgardensonline.com