Hot Spots opens Saturday(2)
SPEAKING OF PASEO NUEVO: Santa Barbara Roasting Co. inside Paseo Nuevo has closed their doors. The main SB RoCo location on Motor Way off of State Street is open for business as usual.
BLUSH: I recently reported that the restaurant formerly known as "Zelo" (630 State Street) was being renovated and will offer California cuisine. I am told that the name of the new restaurant/lounge will be "Blush" and it is expected to open in April.
THE CRYSTAL BALL: After intense concentration and a wave of my hand over the all-knowing Crystal Ball, my eatery oracle has revealed a list of locations appearing in the future: Hot Spots (downtown) March 14, Yogurtland (downtown) March, Three Pickles (Goleta) March, Yo Yum Yum (Goleta) May, Holdren’s (Goleta) July, Pastavino (Goleta) July, Burger Place (Montecito) 2009, Giovanni's Pizza (Mesa) 2009, Hummingbird Cafe (downtown) 2009, On The Side (Isla Vista) 2009, Red Mango (Upper State) 2009, Saigon In & Out (downtown) 2009, Whole Foods Market (Upper State) 2009
PAELLA POLL: Reader Gina was trying to find out which restaurants offer Paella on their menus so I conducted an online poll in my Restaurant Guy blog. Here are some of the responses:
Reader Lemonjelly: "I thought the paella at Patrick's Side Street Cafe in Los Olivos was good and fresh. Of course, it doesn't beat my homemade paella, but that's not available to the public."
Reader Danny: "At the Plow & Angel we serve Paella every Tuesday, as our 'Friends and Neighbors' special it comes with soup or salad and a dessert."
Reader Stephen: "Beachside Bar Cafe makes a good seafood paella."
Reader Anita: "I had a Paella at Emilio's a few years ago that was excellent!"
SHOPPING CARTS: I recently used the service of a company named “Shopping Cart Retrieval Corporation” that – you guessed it – picks up abandoned shopping carts and returns them to the store of origin. Over 2000 stores have signed up for their service in California and Nevada. If you notice a shopping cart loitering around your neighborhood, be sure to call 800-252-4613.
ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES: File this one away under B for "bizarre." I was told a story last weekend by my friend Katie. Katie was with a group of friends recently, standing outside of The Melting Pot restaurant after an enjoyable dinner. A guy walked up to their group and joined the conversation. Soon he told the group "I am The Restaurant Guy" and started talking about restaurants. Katie asked him what he meant by that. He replied to the group "I'm the The Restaurant Guy - the one from the newspaper." Katie told him "No you're not. John is a friend of mine. You're not the Restaurant Guy!" Apparently he sullenly looked down and then quickly walked away.
