In Case You Missed It: Bacara Resort's Second-Annual Santa Barbara Food & Wine Weekend

Bacara Resort, the 78-acre Mediterranean luxury beachside retreat, recently held their Second-Annual Santa Barbara Food & Wine weekend from April 16 to 19.

The event began with an opening and screening of a special video tribute to Julia Child followed by a discussion about the famous chef with baker with author Dorie Greenspan and Geoffrey Drummond, Julia Child's former television producer and director. After the screening and discussion, guests were led to the Bacara Terrace to enjoy more than 40 varieties of wines by Santa Barbara's top winemakers, as well as a buffet featuring short ribs, lamb chops, prawns, an extensive deli, and desserts.  Additionally, local candy maker Calabasas Candy provided wine-inspired chocolate truffles and sweets.

On Saturday, April 18, the resort hosted a variety of seminars including information about beekeeping and honey; champagne tasting, several talks about Julia Child; information about Santa Barbara's local food movement; and wine and food pairings, tastings, and cooking demonstrations.

Celebrity chefs and restaurateurs Suzanne Goin and David Lentz hosted the Celebrity Chef Lunch on the oceanfront lawn. The menu included grilled asparagus with burrata, roasted salmon with beets and green goddess dressing, bread from the Crazy Good Bread Company and wines from Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards. The lunch concluded with dessert by McConnell's Fine Ice Creams.

Saturday night's Grand Wine Dinner began with a VIP reception at Bacara's Ocean House Restaurant before guests headed to the Bacara Ballroom for a western style dinner hosted by actor and apprentice winemaker Kurt Russell. Russell discussed wines from his GoGi and Hudson Bellamy Wine labels that were served with a dinner comprising seared striped bass filet; espresso rubbed tenderloin of beef; and a cheese, chocolate, and strawberry dessert plate.

The event concluded Sunday afternoon with a food festival on the Bacara Courtyard with booths from over 30 local restaurants, live music performances, and a farmers market produce shopping area.

For information on the 2016 Santa Barbara Food & Wine Weekend, visit the resort's website.