After a long day of wine tasting, nothing beats a casual, tasty meal with a cold drink. So, after the recent Santa Barbara Vintners Festival in Solvang, CA, we were looking for that spot and found Dos Carlitos Restaurant & Tequila Bar in the quiet little town of Santa Ynez.
A family-owned business with two long standing restaurants in Santa Barbara - Carlitos Café y Cantina (Est. 1979) and Cava Restaurant & Bar (Est. 1997) - Dos Carlitos is a casual, relaxed restaurant with an outdoor patio and features fresh homemade tortillas and an open fire grill (La Parilla).
Looking for a day trip from Los Angeles? Heading up to Santa Barbara wine country is always a great option! It will be a full day but there is alot you can do.
Start the morning off with a drive up the coast. Take the 101 freeway to CA-246 exit toward Lompoc/Solvang which is approximately 130 miles north of LA. After the drive, you may be ready for a hearty breakfast and there is one joint that is sure to please your appetite.
Ellen’s Danish Pancake House
272 Avenue of the Flags, Buellton, CA 93427
Located around the corner in Buellton, CA, Ellen’s Danish Pancake House is a family owned restaurant that is sure to curb your hunger. This full service American and Danish restaurant has a wide array of menu choices from their famous Danish pancakes, to savory steaks and seafood. Ellen’s is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. They also serve homemade jams, salad dressings, and offer daily specials.
After breakfast, head 15 minutes to Santa Ynez and start wine tasting.
GARAGISTES -(gar-uh-zhē-stuh) n, Fr. – A term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their garage, who refused to follow the “rules.” Today it is a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world. Syn: Rule-breakers, pioneers, renegades, mavericks, driven by passion.
These are small production commercial winemakers who are making under 1200 cases per year. Most of them don't have tasting rooms, nor do they have big marketing budgets to promote their wines. The Garagiste Festival was created to celebrate the artisan winemakers.