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Farm Market

May 28, 2015

Santa Barbara has some of the world's most diverse and abundant farm markets.  Considering there are 8 markets, 6 days a week — there is no excuse to miss out on the freshest produce available!

Saturday: 8:30am-1:00pm
Corner of Santa Barbara and Cota Streets

Sunday: 10am-2:00pm
In Goleta - corner of Storke and Hollister; 7004 Marketplace Dr., inside the Camino Real Shopping Center

Tuesday: 4:00pm-7:30pm *summer
3:00pm-6:30pm *winter
500 and 600 blocks of State Street

Wednesday: 2:30pm-6:30pm *summer
2:30pm-6:00pm *winter
In Solvang - Copenhagen Drive and First Street

Thursday: 3:00pm-6:30pm
In Goleta - corner of Storke and Hollister; 7004 Marketplace Dr., inside the Camino Real Shopping Center

Thursday: 3:00pm-6:30pm *summer
3:00pm-6:00pm *winter
In Carpinteria - 800 block of Linden Ave.

Friday: 8:00am-11:15am
In Montecito - 1100 & 1200 blocks of Coast Village Road

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In Travel, Local Tags farm, food, Santa Barbara
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Mesa Verde

May 28, 2015

Mesa Verde is the zenith of vegetarian dining.  Chef (and guitarist and painter) Greg Arnold culminates his skills to deliver a symphony of the most brilliant flavors.  We devoured multiple courses with Scott & Nitsa of Sun Potion.  Giggles were had, jaws were dropped, bellies were filled.

Keep up with Mesa Verde on Facebook, Instagram and their website

Tel: 805-899-8811

1919 Cliff Dr,
Santa Barbara, CA 93109

Keep up with Mesa Verde on their website!


In Travel Tags Santa Barbara, food, vegetarian, restaurant
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Alchemy Arts Center

May 27, 2015

Alchemy Spa is the premiere healing sanctuary.  From Ayurvedic cuisine to sensory attenuation tanks - there is a doorway to every desire inside Alchemy.

The owner, Emma, was lovely enough to sit down with us for breakfast.  Emma's life is dedicated to her mission of healing at Alchemy Arts Center.

Could you tell us about the history of the center?

Alchemy opened four years ago in March after being inspired by a two-week retreat I experienced in Thailand that changed my life. Everyday I did yoga, ate cleansing foods, and was supported through healing treatments like acupuncture. I felt incredible! My energy was boundless and I felt clear, strong and positive—something I hadn’t felt since I was a child. 

I found myself asking, “Why did I have to go all the way to Thailand to experience this?”  That was question was answered for me shortly after landing back in Santa Barbara where I intuitively decided, “It’s going to be here.” My intention was to create a sacred space for both guests and employees to thrive and heal.

Our priority at Alchemy is to provide people with support and inspiration to lead a more balanced life. Creating Alchemy Wellness Spa has been the most incredible experience, but it’s also been intense. There’ve been many challenges (especially in the beginning), but this is my passion—I had to push through! I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to have gone through this experience and been so closely involved throughout the journey of manifesting this idea.

Can you tell us about your offerings?

We are all dealing with a lot of stress in this modern, fast-paced world of ours. Whether that stress is from the environment, a divorce, the death of a loved one, an injury, the loss of a job, etc., it’s essential to allow the body to release that stress – along with any other negative emotions. It’s also important to have the consciousness to learn how to take care of one’s self. People need a place where they can go to learn how to do this, to reset themselves so to speak, so they can enjoy life to it’s fullest. Alchemy is that sacred space. 

All year-round we offer organic cold press juice cleanses and a cleansing food program. It’s really important to understand that our organs are our guidance system for this life of ours. Even if we have a super clean diet there are environmental pollutants that store in our bodies. 

Once a month we offer featured cleanses facilitated by our beloved Siddhi. 

Our last cleanse focused on the liver. The participants gathered in the morning and were guided through movements and breath work focusing on cleansing the liver which supports weight loss, healthy sleep, renewed energy, better digestion, relief from depression & balanced hormones. 

There are also food treatment packages designed for liver support; Alchemy’s amazing wraps with macerated herbs soaked in specific oils. 

We also have an incredible float tank full of Epsom salts with a special Memon ® transformer to remove any harmful energetics from the water; Much like a crystal, water stores energy. If we have “unhealthy or bad” information/radiation that enters our cells (us), the water in our cells, naturally transmits this to the cells next to it making reproduction of healthy cells more complicated. This is the natural process of our body’s intelligence. The usual  "purification" process used to treat water is great at removing potentially dangerous chemicals and ionic materials from water. Though these potential dangerous contaminants are removed, the water still remains, with electrical "imprints" of bad things that were in the water, attached to the water molecules before those chemicals were removed, or simply "imprinted" into the electrical characteristics of the water molecules from external sources. The tank is especially amazing after a massage. 

We have a wide array of services and have ways for people of all budgets to interact with us. For example we hold a group acupuncture class every week . They are an amazingly economical way to experience Alchemy at $15 . 

We also offer Aura-Soma, which is a non-intrusive, self-selective soul system. Combining the energies of colour, plants, and crystals, these vibrational tools can support all levels of our being, bringing harmony and balance within the subtle fields promoting wellbeing and a joy for life.

What treatment do you suggest for first timers?

I love the crystal healing facial. Using the healing vibration of crystals, this experience very calming. We use fresh Rose cells and Rose Damascena to rejuvenate and raise the vibrational energy of the skin. Deep lymphatic drainage and acupressure with hot poultices and Rose Quartz, restores a glowing radiance to the skin..Pure Bliss…

Then to complete the Alchemy experience I would recommend our Pearl and Jasmine body renewal with an amethyst wrap. This mineral-rich Himalayan salt crystal treatment, has the immediate effect of restoring energy, mental clarity, wellbeing and strength. This is followed by a gel body wrap to relax and restore the nervous system; stimulating the circulation, regeneration of skin cells and cell growth.

What are your favorite spots in SB?

Santa Barbara is a truly incredible place to live.  I’m a swimmer so I love the ocean. But really there’s so much to love here—the sunsets, sunrises, the trails, the trees, the restaurants, the people. The list goes on.

What is essential that you can’t live without?

My essentials are my family, my spiritual practice, friends, Ayurveda, and last but not least adventures.

I was just going to say that.  You seem like an adventurous person.

Humans can get stuck in repetition, so I like doing something that takes me out of that. Like getting up early in the morning and going for a swim in freezing cold water, Sleeping under the stars—something that gets me out of my usual comfort.  

It’s strange that as humans we are often afraid of change, yet we change all the time. At each breath our molecules are transforming. We often look for safety in not changing, even if it’s not supportive to our well-being. I like to ask, “Who would you be if you were really just present living your life right now in this moment?” This is all we have . This moment ! We have to show up the best that we are able to…To Forgive, To be grateful, To Laugh, To share, To Love.

We’re not necessarily taught how to do that.  When you give yourself to the moment, you start to live your life from a different perspective.

What does alchemy mean to you?

Transformation, transformation of one thing into something greater and more refined. Alchemy is a place to come together, share ideas, find connections, release old patterns that no longer serve us and transform ourselves into something better.

Why is self care so important?

I believe it’s vitally important to take care of yourself. In our culture we are taught that it’s selfish to put ourselves first. When in actuality, unless you know how to take care of yourself (love and fully accept yourself), you won’t be able to do that for another.

Tel: 805-899-8811

35 West Haley Street,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Keep up with Alchemy Arts Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and their website!


In Interview, People, Spirit Tags Santa Barbara, Alchemy, Natural Healing, wellness
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Kotuku Elixir Bar

May 27, 2015

We arrived at Kotuku early in the afternoon.  Olly, the owner, welcomed us with slices of raw wildflower honeycomb from the Santa Barbara mountains and the most decadent, cheesecake-like coconut yogurt.  

Olly opened Kotuku, the Santa Barbara based elixir bar, in 2013.  This is the go-to place for next level alchemy and elevating cuisine.  Whilst we chatted with Olly, he sampled us some private-reserve shilajit from Kashmir and then made us an herbal cappuccino with sprouted almond milk, gynostemma, mucuna, reishi, and molasses.  Needless to say, Olly is a sweetheart and a sage.

What inspired you to start this?

My parents had a co-op and organic farm in New Zealand, so I grew up around the health and wellness mindset.  As I got older, I got interested in Daoism, Tai Chi, meditation, Chinese mysticsm and stuff in my early twenties.  That whole ‘hermit, step out of society’ thing really appealed to me at an early age.

When I was studying Chinese medicine, I remember trying to find wolfeberries in New Zealand…and it was impossible.  No one knew what a wolfberry was.  Now, you can’t move without seeing goji berries (which are what wolfberries are).  The internet has completely changed the health food movement.  Our access to things is endless. 

When I came to California, the health food movement was so alive.  It rekindled my excitement for tonic herbs.  It all came to life for me here.

What is your favorite herb?

I love reishi.  We’re really stoked at the moment because we just started working with this really amazing reishi grower in China and are bringing over the spore powder.  It’s the highest grade, organic powder.  It’s super potent. 

If there is one herb you could recommend to people, what would it be?

We recommend Triphala to start with.  It’s one of the best digestive tonics.  It’s three sour, astringent berries that are regulating for the gall bladder and pancreas.  Our digestion is the foundation for health.  

Also, in tonic herbalism, schisandra is considered classic and standard to start with because it repairs and strengthens the entire body. 

Tel: 805-897-3382

25 East De La Guerra Street,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Keep up with Kotuku on Facebook, Instagram, and their website.


In People, Travel, elixirs and tonics Tags elixir, superfood, Santa Barbara
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Scarlett Begonia

May 25, 2015

Scarlet Begonia is farm-to-table breakfast, lunch and dinner at its best. Located in the Historic Victoria Building courtyard with hints of Spanish style architecture, Scarlet Begonia’s is everything you want to eat made with only the best ingredients. Every item is meticulously picked and gathered by Chef Avery who personally visits to the farmers market and chooses only the freshest seasonal produce he can find.

We sat down with Owner Crista Fooks and Chef Avery to find out more about this conscious nurturing restaurant.  Organic, local, sustainable - exactly why we had been making this our Santa Barbara staple.  Just know when you are eating here — all the food is made with love and intention.

CHEF AVERY:  I know a bunch of farmers.  I do really simple food.  It’s seasonal and thoughtful.  It’s somewhere in the middle of modern and rustic.  People ask us what kind of food we do, and I like to respond by saying “the food we have around us”.  I forage wild edibles, and we work with a local farm called “Sustained Harvest” that uses aquaponics to grow food.  Today, I’ll be at the farmers market at 3 and we will do an “on the fly” menu which is based off of what I find at the market. 

What inspires your dishes?

CHEF AVERY:  Seasons.  If it’s cold out - we lean towards rich fare.  As we move into spring - it gets really light, really sexy, and very green and colorful. 

What is your favorite meal to cook?

CHEF AVERY:  Breakfast.  Such a small percentage of people actually go out to eat.  They’re there for the food and they need sustenance but it also brings family’s together for birthdays, engagements, parties.  It’s a celebration.  It’s exciting to see all these different types of people wake up real early in the morning and come in to eat breakfast. 

What is an ingredient you can’t live without?

CHEF AVERY: Salt.  Salt is what makes everything better.  When you look back on history, salt is the reason time went on.  It preserved foods.  Without salt - we don’t go on. 

Being a native, what do you love about Santa Barbara?

CHEF AVERY: The seasons, they change so much we can grow things that other people can’t.  It takes 5 minutes to have your feet in the sand and 10 minutes to be in the mountains climbing rocks and picking wild fennel.

Why Santa Barbara?

CRISTA:  You’d think Santa Barbara would be a lot greener as far as the food is concerned, but there aren’t many restaurants like us in Santa Barbara.  I think ‘farm to table” has been bastardized in the industry.  A lot of restaurants may say they are farm to table, but we really embrace local innovative simple cuisine, and we feel a deep obligation to stay true to our word. 

My restaurant strives to offer a high end food experience- at the same time being a neighborhood joint that you can bring your kids and dogs for breakfast lunch and dinner.  Sustainable meat and seafood, gmo free, organic produce and dairy; we work hard to stay fresh…we don’t short cut our customers.

What makes Scarlett Begonia so special?

CRISTA:  We call our food “thoughtful”, because there is so much thought behind every single dish.  When I first made our Lemon Ricotta pancakes - I got a lot of grief …people said “no restaurant makes pancakes like this where you whip the egg whites and you make it light.  It’s never going to work.  You’ll never pull it off.”  Well, we pulled it off.  We’re practiced at it.  The guys in the back can make these pancakes in their sleep.  When I was a kid my mom never a pancake that didn’t have whipped egg whites.  When we first opened she was very firm that we continue doing that, and I’ve kept my promise!  Every dish has a story, every dish is given great care and thought, and every dish must be great, and that is what sets us apart.

It’s amazing that you had this vision and now we are sitting here - experiencing it!

CRISTA: My vision does drive me, and continues to.   People don’t necessarily know what it is, cause I’m a little weird about sharing and it constantly being tweaked and re-arranged in my head. My whole life I’ve always had a very determined mindset of how I want things to be, and I’ve found that if I shared it with people before it is complete— they would tell me it was too hard or try to kabosh it — and so I just keep it a secret and just plow forward. 

What’s your favorite thing on the menu?

CRISTA:  If I only could order one thing for the rest of my life it would be the soft scrambled eggs.  It’s such a good little mix.  We’ve perfected it over the past three years….and I rarely admit to perfecting anything! We roast fingerling potatoes and toss them in whole grain mustard, we softly scrambled eggs with fine herbs and place them on top of the potatoes, then fresh spinach is lightly sauteed and finished with fresh cream, topped with an aged gouda cheese (beemster)  I think it’s such a well balanced dish.

What made you decide to enter the culinary industry?

CRISTA:  I grew up in Valencia, which is a horrible place for food.  It’s all fast food or chain restaurants.  I was raised on fast food!  There was this little bistro that opened up in a strip mall called “The Crocodile Bistro”.  My dad wanted to go check it out — and this was in 1982 or ’83.  This is kind of when food started to happen — when people began to move away from the industrialization of convenience food.  So we went into “Crocodile Bistro” and he was making purees next to your steak, like sweet pea puree — which back then was like crazy, avant-garde.  We took a bite of it and we were like “OH MY GOD IT TASTES JUST LIKE PEAS.  OH MY GOD.”  I will never forget how fancy it felt in there.  My dad started talking to the owner and his name was Jean Pierre, and my dad called him JP.  They became friends and he would invite my dad to come and cook.  My dad could not cook, but he started with JP and practiced at home.  He got super into it and then I got super into it.  That’s when we both really found food.  For my birthday from then on, my grandmother would take me to any restaurant I wanted to go to.  I would spend all year trying to figure out which restaurant I would choose. 

Eventually, someone told me that I should go to culinary school.  I hadn’t considered it before that.  So I went!

Tel: (805) 770-2143

11 W Victoria St #10,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Keep up with Scarlett Begonia on Facebook and their website.


In Interview, People Tags food, farm, organic, Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara

May 23, 2015

Two hours northward on the magnificently scenic Pacific Coast Highway, a piece of paradise called Santa Barbara awaits.  

White crispy linens, local flavor, and indigenous wine create a quick getaway with a clean sustainable touch all its own.

This town is typically known for luxurious real estate, Oprah, stunning beaches, and a top-rated college in the nation — however, a whole other side of Santa Barbara has been in bloom over the past few years.  

High vibrational restaurants, healing centers, yoga studios, juice bars and other conscious businesses line the streets urging growth among all who visit.

The Central Californian agricultural dynasty known for the best farmers markets available every day (sans Mondays) has unveiled a new wave of locally sourced organic living, complete with newly awakened awareness.

In May, Travel Tags Alchemy, farm, elixir, Sun Potion, Santa Barbara
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Quarantine Journal : Kjord Davis, Transformation Coach, Kundalini Educator
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House of Citrine

A curated collection of goods to support your health and happiness with the alchemy of nature and conscious living.  In addition to our store, we personally create articles to inspire and share our insights with our audience. 

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