The Santa Barbara Culinary Experience 2025

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If you’re a food and wine lover like me who appreciates the culinary scene of Santa Barbara, then mark your calendar! The Santa Barbara Culinary Experience (SBCE) is back, and will run from May 10 to May 18, 2025, with an exciting lineup of over 70 events designed to delight your senses and deepen your appreciation for the region’s rich gastronomic heritage. From cooking classes and wine tastings to star-studded dinners and behind-the-scenes tours, this year’s SBCE promises to be the most ambitious and diverse celebration yet.

Julia Child in a bright red shirt, smiling broadly and cooking in the kitchen on her show. — Courtesy of SBCE

A Culinary Tribute to Julia Child

The Santa Barbara Culinary Experience, in partnership with Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, is a celebration of all things food & drink in Santa Barbara County. This annual event keeps Julia Child’s enduring influence alive in our coastal paradise, where she spent her later years advocating for fresh ingredients, culinary curiosity, and the joy of cooking. It’s only fitting that SBCE 2025 pays tribute to her legacy by uniting some of the brightest minds in the culinary world, creating a dynamic platform to share knowledge, passion, and—most importantly—delicious food and wine.

Explore. Learn. Savor.

Whether you're a seasoned foodie, an aspiring home chef, or simply someone who loves a great meal, SBCE 2025 offers something to satisfy every palate. Here’s a taste of what’s in store:

A hand holding a glass of wine with Santa Barbara Culinary Experience etched in the glass against a blue sky. — Courtesy of SBCE

1. Grand Wine Tasting at El Presidio State Historic Park

On Saturday, May 17, the Grand Wine Tasting returns to the iconic El Presidio State Historic Park, offering an unforgettable afternoon of fine wine and gourmet bites. This signature event showcases dozens of premier local wineries and acclaimed restaurants, giving attendees the chance to savor an exceptional variety of wine and food pairings. Set against the stunning backdrop of Santa Barbara’s rich history, guests can immerse themselves in the region’s finest flavors while enjoying the lively atmosphere and connecting with fellow food and wine enthusiasts.

Two smiling chefs in turquoise aprons doing a cooking demonstration. — Courtesy of SBCE

2. Star-Studded Dinners and Exclusive Tastings

The 2025 lineup promises an extraordinary culinary journey, featuring exclusive dinners crafted by some of the most celebrated names in the food world. Leading the charge is Alice Waters, the iconic chef, founder of Berkeley’s legendary Chez Panisse, and pioneer of the farm-to-table movement. Waters will be the guest of honor at an intimate private event at Bellosguardo, the renowned foundation dedicated to art, music, history, and culture along the California coast. On May 15th, she will also host a book signing and discussion with Richard Christiansen at Godmother's Book Shop, where guests can savor a thoughtfully curated wine and food pairing inspired by her renowned cookbooks.

Throughout the week, an impressive roster of esteemed chefs and beloved local restaurants will take center stage. Highlights include exceptional dining experiences at Bouchon, Black Sheep, Blackbird, La Paloma, and Moby Dick, as well as a wine and Indian-inspired dinner at Margerum Winery and an unforgettable evening at Mattei’s Tavern.

A woman seated on stage talking to an interviewer with a microphone in her hand. — Courtesy of SBCE

3. Hands-On Classes and Workshops

For those eager to roll up their sleeves and hone their culinary skills, SBCE 2025 offers a variety of hands-on classes and workshops. Attendees can explore diverse topics, including:

Butter-Making Classes: Learn the art of making rich, creamy butter from scratch.
Caviar Tastings and Pairings: Discover the nuances of different caviar varieties and how to pair them with wine and other delicacies.
Baking Workshops: Master the techniques of artisanal bread baking or perfect your pastry skills.
Single-Origin Coffee Exploration: Delve into the world of specialty coffee and explore the flavors and stories behind single-origin beans.

Why Santa Barbara is a Food Lover’s Paradise

Santa Barbara’s unique geography and climate create the perfect environment for cultivating an incredible variety of produce, from citrus fruits and avocados to organic vegetables and world-class wine grapes. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean provides a constant supply of fresh seafood, while the region’s fertile soil and Mediterranean-like climate nurture vineyards that produce award-winning wines.

As a result, Santa Barbara features a dynamic and diverse culinary scene where innovation thrives. Local chefs expertly blend traditional techniques with modern influences, crafting dishes that highlight the finest local ingredients. Whether you’re savoring farm-to-table fine dining or indulging in flavorful bites from a laid-back taco stand, Santa Barbara offers an unforgettable experience for every food lover.

About SBCE

The mission of SBCE is to celebrate and showcase Santa Barbara’s rich culinary, hospitality, tourism, artisan, and small business communities through engaging and educational events. These events provide opportunities for learning, discovery, and enjoyment while giving back to the community. In partnership with The Julia Child Foundation, a portion of the proceeds from SBCE events contributes to grants that support local nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening and enhancing Santa Barbara County’s vibrant food culture.

The organization also invites foodies to immerse themselves in Julia Child’s world by exploring an interactive map that provides a self-guided tour of her favorite places to eat, drink, stroll, and shop throughout Santa Barbara County. Stroll through the charming streets of Carpinteria, where she spent her summers as a young girl, and discover the renowned vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley. Along the way, savor Julia’s favorite treats—hot dogs, tacos, and martinis—plus a stop at her beloved candy shops. For even more culinary inspiration, watch for SBCE’s exciting food and drink pop-ups happening throughout the year.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have all these incredible wineries, top-tier restaurants, and artisanal food purveyors just minutes from your doorstep—or your perfect getaway retreat? If you’ve ever thought about buying or selling a home in this beautiful region, I’d love to help. Give me a call at (805) 886-9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. Cheers to Santa Barbara’s outstanding culinary scene and the unique flavors that make this area special!

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Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch