A few months back, James Sly and I donated a dinner for ten at a fundraiser for the new Carpenteria Arts Center.
We decided to do a prime rib dinner as the winning bidder is a card-carrying carnivore. I purchased a prime grade prime rib at about 16-18 pounds. It's a pricey roast (I needed a bank statement to order it) but well worth the expense. The guests were thrilled with the dinner of "tired old favorites" as my late friend James Sly would often pronounce.
George Fakinos of the Santa Barbara Winery was on hand to showcase the wines of Santa Barbara Winery. All the wins were graciously donated for the dinner. Winemaker Bruce McGuire suggested the pairings with our menu. Simple delicious!
In 1962, at the age of thirty-two, Pierre Lafond founded the first post-prohibition commercial winery in Santa Barbara County. Two years later, he located a winery facility on Anacapa Street, just two blocks from the Pacific Ocean.
Santa Barbara Winery has become an extremely visible and successful wine concern, winning many medals for an array of wines. Lafond is now in the midst of a significant expansion in order to meet the desires of the consuming public.
Lafond was originally a retailer, and his wine and cheese shop was a meeting place for many of Santa Barbara's wine aficionados. He decided to go into wine production for two reasons: he enjoyed fine wines, primarily French, and it would be a good business venture.
Tomato Soup-Pesto & Bay Shrimp Louis:
Santa Barbara Riesling, Lafond Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
(and/or) Lafond Pinot Noir Rose`, Sta. Rita Hills
Seared Duck:
Lafond Pinot Noir, Lafond Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Grilled Artichoke:
Santa Barbara Winery Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley
(and/or) Santa Barbara Winery Reserve Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills Roasted Prime Rib of Beef
Lafond Syrah/Grenache blend, Sta. Rita Hills
(and/or) Santa Barbara Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Happy Canyon
Fallen Chocolate Souffle:
Santa Barbara Winery Late Harvest Riesling, Lafond Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Tastefully,
Chef Michael Hutchings
Michael's Catering
Here is the Carpinteria Arts center's introduction on the web page:
THE LYNDA FAIRLY CARPINTERIA ARTS CENTER
The Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center is a nonprofit organization in the heart of downtown Carpinteria. We offer art and arts programming to benefit the whole community, from the mountains to the sea: young and old, locals and visitors alike.
OUR MISSION IS TO BE A PREMIER SMALL-TOWN COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER BY:
● FOSTERING DIVERSE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
● NURTURING THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND ITS APPRECIATION
● PROVIDING A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES
● SERVING AS THE VIBRANT HEARTBEAT OF THE CARPINTERIA COMMUNITY