••• Tina’s Pizza, at Carpinteria’s new Linden Square complex, has introduced two scrumptious-looking sandwiches: a chicken parm hero and, pictured above, an Italian sub on sourdough focaccia, with mozzarella, Smoking Goose salami (that’s a brand; it’s pork), Tempesta mortadella, prosciutto di Parma and olive tapenade. “It almost has muffaletta vibes,” says co-founder Rachel Greenspan.
••• Elsewhere in Carp, but a world away in every other regard, IHOP will close on June 15 after thirty years on Casitas Pass Road. —Coastal View News
••• The Santa Barbara Public Market is getting a new tenant: Seoulmate Kitchen, from Juan Pedro Muñoz, former chef at The Cruisery. It’ll take over two spaces at the back of the food hall: the one formerly occupied by Big T’s Deli and the one currently occupied by Three Monkeys (open through June). Here’s what Muñoz says to expect:
Our cafe side of Seoulmate Kitchen offers an artisanal, small-batch approach to Korean-inspired café fare. Every drink and dish is crafted with intention and that goes from housemade syrups and infused milks to hand-whisked matcha. The cafe will serve specialty coffee and tea drinks with East Asian flavor influences, along with a two-item breakfast menu. On weekends, we’ll feature our signature babka French toast. You’ll also find house-baked goods like matcha blondies and our Milky Cloud Cake.
Our restaurant menu showcases incredible dishes heavily influenced by Korean flavors and traditional dishes. Lunch offerings will include bento boxes, and for dinner, the spotlight is on bibimbap: a sizzling stone bowl filled with rice, veggies, and your choice of protein. All dishes will be served with a variety of classic Korean side dishes. We’re keeping some local favorites too! The skewers and banh mi from Three Monkeys will remain on the menu.
For dessert, everything is made in-house, from our yuzu cheesecake to Korean-style bingsu (a light and fluffy shaved milky-ice dessert topped with condensed milk and seasonal toppings). We’ll also offer a separate menu of market munchies and bar bites for Cooney’s at the Market, and we’ll be providing catering and curated menus for private gatherings at 28 Vic, the event space next to the Public Market.
Seoulmate Kitchen is shooting for a July opening; follow on Instagram for more updates.
••• S.B.F. pointed out that Ospi has clarified the parking situation on its website—the relevant part being that you can self-park in the valet spots. Unsaid but pertinent: don’t park in front of 30 Los Patos Way.
••• Press release from the city: “Through the end of August, the city will match Dune’s existing 50-cent discount when customers use a reusable or ‘for here’ cup, offering a total discount of $1. Customers who bring their own reusable cup or choose to stay and sip from a café cup will receive the full discount. In addition to the discount, customers can upgrade to a reusable clay cup crafted by GaeaStar, offering both style and sustainability at no charge.” Coffee just tastes better a ceramic cup! Although cafés aren’t always on board. At Lighthouse Coffee on the Mesa, when my husband asked for his cappuccino in a ceramic cup, the barista sighed and said, “Really? We have to wash those.”
••• The Funk Zone location of Validation Ale has launched weekend brunch. Here’s the menu.
••• Pascucci Restaurant has opened in its new space at 1230-A State Street (Anapamu/Victoria): “We are still waiting on permits for our bar, and putting finishing touches on some decor, but everything is moving along and the new space is bright and pretty and we are so happy here.”
••• Buellton’s Drover’s Doughnuts has soft-opened its Solvang outpost (below), and Restaurant Guy says it’s also “coming to 5745 Calle Real in Goleta, the former home of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.”
••• Pinyon‘s Ventura restaurant has been hosting friends-and-family dinners, so it’s on the verge of opening (or already open).
••• A profile of Vices & Spices on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. —Independent
••• The cool kids are throwing another upper State block party on June 7, with food from Your Choice, Silvers Omakase, Bibi Ji, Creaminal, and Randy’s Spammys. The latter was news to me; its speciality is spam musubi.
················
Sign up for the Siteline email newsletter for the freshest food news in town.
To Randy, you are my dream food vendor for the Funk Zone, or anywhere along the Waterfront. Musubi is my all time favorite guilty pleasure food on-the-go. Please, set up shop, or card table with an umbrella and bring your gorgeous looking Musubi to my work/home area. Thanks & arigato.
Hi Erik. My husband high tailed it over to Tina’s when I sent him your post about the sandwiches. A man well versed in heros, subs and anything on Rye, he declared the Chicken Parm delicious with high praise for the bread. Thanks for this tip and the many other culinary spots you have brought to your readers’ attention.
Note about Tina’s sandwiches. Was there today (Sunday) and was told the chicken parm is only available certain times. The hero was available in the cold case ($20).