Coyote’s Market Has the Good Stuff

“We really care about food,” says Caroline Hernandez, who has just opened Coyote’s Market in Carpinteria with her husband, Peter. “Everything here has our stamp of approval.”

At the core is humanely and sustainably raised meat from local farmers, including the ranch that Peter’s family owns in Lompoc. The idea for a shop actually sprung from the ranch, when they couldn’t find retail outlets in the area to carry the beef. That changed when Motley Crew Marketplace opened in Buellton, but there was still nowhere near Carp, where Caroline and Peter live. So they started looking for a space, prioritizing a fully built-out kitchen and parking. The former Carp Kitchen, just off Linden Avenue with a public lot in back, was a perfect fit.

Coyote’s has both fresh and frozen meat, from Hernandez Family Ranch, Motley Crew Ranch, Kiani Preserve, and other local farms. There’s a tantalizing array of sausages, as well as marinated meat and chicken, Corb’s Orbs eggs, tallow, bone broth, and chicken stock. “It’s not about eating more meat,” says Caroline. “It’s about eating better meat. You can find it at restaurants, but not so much in retail.”

The seafood was still in flux when I visited a couple of days before the opening, due to rough weather in the Santa Barbara Channel. While the emphasis on whatever is local, you’ll also find sustainable salmon from Alaska.

Elsewhere in the refrigerated cases are pickles, sauces, dressings, and other accompaniments for meat and fish. Nearby are shelves of pantry staples with clean ingredients, all made locally or from companies headquartered around here.

The impressive millwork comes from Peter’s company, Brothers of Industry. Caroline’s background, meanwhile, includes event planning and catering, which informs the market’s prepared foods. Two or three sandwiches are available each day, along with more substantial dishes, such as lasagna and quiche. “We’re focused on using all the meat that comes in here,” says Caroline. (Keep an eye on Instagram to see what’s available.)

Last but not least, Coyote’s also carries stylish housewares from no farther away than L.A.

The Hernandezes are still awaiting their beer-and-wine license; all of the offerings will be from California and you can expect pairing suggestions. (In the meantime, there’s an N/A section.) And the seating on the back patio should be done in the next few weeks. After they get settled in, they look forward to hosting events such as pop-ups and visits from chefs.

Portrait by Margaret Austin.

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