Coastal Cooking with Chef Michael Hutchings

Compliment to the Chef

We have participated many times over the years at the Wine and Food Festival held at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Over 1000 wine enthusiasts attend the event and sample wines from the best of the Central Coast wineries. This year I offered two dishes, Bay Scallops on a Corn Chowder Sauce and Bite-Sized Choux Puffs Filled with a Chicken Liver Pâté. I was surprised and pleased with the reception of the chicken liver dish as I had never offered that at a food event. Sometimes pushing the usual bounds has its benefits.

We received a wonderful thank you from Luke Swetland, the CEO of the Museum. Luke has also appeared on my cooking show, The Inn Crowd. I am delighted to be associated with the museum and natural history has always been a subject of my interest.

Back in my early teens, I use to visit my Great Uncle John Hutchings. My uncle John was a postman by day and an amateur natural historian in his time off. I use to hang around his farm and wonder at all the rocks, stuffed animals, nest and such. Some years later, he opened a museum to house his collection. His collection of the local bird species is so comprehensive that the Smithsonian Museum wanted to acquire it. He decided to keep it at his museum. Over the years, many people donated specimens from all over the world.

 

 

Old Spanish Days Episode - Chef Michael Hutchings

 

Viva la Fiesta 

Every year, Santa Barbara hosts an Old Spanish Days celebration. We are delighted to have filmed an episode of The Inn Crowd at the Covarrubias Adobe in Santa Barbara to showcase the event. La Presidenta Denise Sanford and director David Bolton are guests in this episode. I have recreated a luncheon based on the old Hacienda style of cooking prevalent in the early to mid-1800s. The food style is influenced by Spanish traditions blended with indigenous ingredients.

We filmed at the historical Covarrubias Adobe with guests in period costumes. The Covarrubias adobe, at 715 Santa Barbara Street, is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Unlike many of the historic adobes in Santa Barbara, the Covarrubias Adobe is not named after its original owner. Domingo Antonio Ignacio Carrillo had the home built in 1817 for his wife, Concepción Pico Carrillo. The adobe later became known as the Covarrubias adobe after José María Covarrubias, who married into the Carrillo family. Visit the website for more details about this historic adobe.

 

Chef Michael Hutchings

 

 

 

Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation dedicated to honoring and preserving Santa Barbara’s history, spirit, culture, heritage, and traditions. This 90-year-old organization produces an annual eight-day festival -- Fiesta -- that is widely regarded as Santa Barbara’s premier festival.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta is unique among festivals, both local and national, in that it is run primarily by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by only one year-round staff member. The 35 Directors and 25 Associate Directors represent a broad cross-section of the community. The Board of Directors annually selects a Presidente or Presidenta who not only presides over the Board but also serves as an ambassador of goodwill to residents and visitors alike. The President has the honor of choosing a theme for his/her year and the design of the annual poster and pin.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta is a beloved Santa Barbara tradition that has continued for nearly 90 years. It fosters a unique spirit among locals as an important coming together which encourages community cooperation, celebration, and growth. The festival has grown due to the overwhelming interest of many different organizations to develop and maintain it as an extension and expression of their place in the community. Visitors are also able to experience this historical spirit of Santa Barbara when they watch and join the city and its residents in Fiesta celebrations.

The annual event provides an education to residents and visitors about the history, customs, and traditions of the American Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and early American settlers that comprise the rich cultural heritage of Santa Barbara. Old Spanish Days Fiesta is not only a unique forum for the cultural expression of our spirit and diversity, but also provides a vehicle for the non-profit and community service groups to raise funds for local charities and social service organizations.

Old Spanish Days Fiesta has grown in stature and reputation to become one of the top regional festivals in the United States. The event annually draws thousands of visitors from around the world. Fiesta performers come from around the nation and Mexico to participate. Celebrities of international renown who have participated or performed in Fiesta include Leo Carrillo, Will Rogers, Shirley Temple, Charles Lindberg, William Randolph Hearst, Don Wilson, Paul Whitman, and Delores Del Rio.

La Presidenta Denise Sanford, Chef Michael Hutchings

 

David Bolton, Chef Michael Hutchings

 

 

 

Photo Michael Hutchings

Photo Courtesy of The Berry Man Produce

Guy Demangeon, Owner of The Berry Man Produce 

 

 A special thanks to The Berry Man Produce for providing the great fruits, vegetables, and dairy products for our show!

  All recipes copyright 2018 Michael Hutchings, All Rights Reserved

Photo Credits William Conlin YTS Video Productions unless otherwise noted.

Testimonial

July Fourth we prepared a BBQ dinner for a local client's gathering. They had prepared this event themselves the last 19 years and decided to relax and enjoy their own party. Look like we exceeded expectations! Here is their thank you note.

 

 

Dear Chef Michael,

You are a gem, so professional, fun to work with, and your food is just fantastic!  Proven by everyone’s enthusiastic response as well as our delight the entire week enjoying all the left-overs!  You are a consummate chef first and foremost and an artistic architect transforming our deck into a warm, hospitable, exceptionally well-run restaurant. Carlos is the perfect extension in fulfilling every guest needs so instinctively and with such charm.  

We had an exceptionally great time, had time to fully enjoy our guests, and experienced no stress at any time with you and Carlos at the helm.

Thank you so very much. 

Appreciatively,
Sheldon and Alice