Santa Barbara International Film Festival -
Sensational Sips & Samplings On The Menu

A tasty complement to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is the Film Feast that includes a bevy of restaurants and tasting rooms offering innovative menus from February 3 through February 13.

The "Screen Cuisine" film at SBIFF, in its fifth year, is a popular series celebrating culinary cinema. This year eight films with two World Premieres and three U.S. Premieres are spotlighted and include the story of an elderly Jewish woman who tries pork for the first time (Pork and God's Wrath). The documentary on the history of Hennessy and The Pickle Recipe, a tale of the perfect pickle recipe. Film Feast's prix fixe menu's, tasting flights and lodging packages are developed by www.SBFilmFeast.com. Below are some of these imaginative cocktails, wines and bites being served to honor SBIFF.

Four Seasons Biltmore Resort Film Cocktails

Beautiful and delicious movie inspired cocktails at The Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara created by their skilled mixologist in celebration of the 31st festival include The LOVE & MERCY martini (2 1/2 ounces of grey goose orange, 1 ounce St. Germain, 5 pieces muddled fresh ginger, grapefruit juice and a candied ginger garnish). The BLACK MASS blackberry delight (1 1/2 oz. Veev, 1 1/2 oz lilette blanc, Splash housemade sweet & sour, 2 blackberries, rosemary sprig, gingerale). The DEPP Americano (1 1/2 oz Campari, 1oz DOM Benedictine, 1 oz Carpano Autica sweet vermouth, 1 muddled orange slice; serve over rocks and finish with a splash of fever tree club soda). The LITTLE PRINCE, non-alcoholic refresher, combines (1/3 glass ginger ale, 1/3 glass orange san pellegrino, 1/2 glass ginger beer, finish with lavender simple syrup and garnish with a lavender sprig). Visit: www.fourseasonsbiltmoresb.com,
Olio e Limone Fine Italian Restaurant on 11 Victoria Street, only a few steps from the Arlington Theatre is offering a 2 course menu for quick pre/post film dining in honor of the 1988 Italian Film "Cinema Paradiso." Lunch Mon-Sat 11:30AM - 2PM, Dinner nightly from 5PM, daily. $35. Reservations recommended, not valid 2/13/2016. Feb 03 2016 - Friday, Feb 12 2016. www.olioelimone.com. Olio Crudo, next door is also serving signature SBIFF cocktails and small plates.

The Dining Room at Belmond El Encanto - Dinner and a Movie

El Encanto

Sips and Bites from 2-5pm in The Lounge. Bite sized delectables by Chef Johan Denizot perfectly paired with local libations. The Lounge at Belmond El Ecanto 800 Alvarado Place. Available 5-10pm daily. $55 per person excluding taxes, gratuity and alcohol. Reservations are recommended via Open Table or direct: 805.770.3530 Wednesday, Feb 03 2016 - Thursday, Feb 11 2016 Visit:www.elencanto.com.

The Lark Restaurant's Movie Popcorn is perfectly paired with the "Vesper" Cocktail. The Lark's For Film Feast they are marketing The Vesper as the "perfect pairing" with Movie Popcorn. Movie Popcorn will replace their regular popcorn for the duration of the Festival. The Vesper (1 1/2 oz gin, 3/4 oz Tito's Vodka and 1/2 oz Lillet Blanc) is priced at $14. 131 Anacapa St. Visit: www.larksb.com.

The Lark "Movie Popcorn & The Vesper"

Les Marchands (next door to the Lark) will be serving the "Royale Cheese" two beef patties with caramelized onions, taleggio cheese, and house made 1000 island dressing, served with a side of garlic herb pommes frites. $15 for the burger; $22 for pairing with Weihenstephaner Hefeweiss Bier.

Hennessy Cognac and Dom Perignon Champagne are sponsors for the 2016 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and will be flowing at all the private celebrity parties and in the 'green room' at the Arlington Theatre for award winning celebrities.

Red Carpet Red Wine by Ampelos Cellars

Visit Santa Barbara 2016 will offer Film Feast participants access to a limited-edition Red Carpet Red wine-a beautifully custom-blended Ampelos Cellars pinot noir. Only two barrels of this lively wine were produced for this special occasion. Each bottle dons a Santa Barbara-centric label specially created by artist Eric Junker. For a list of all SB Feast participants visit: www.SBFilmFeast.com.

BACK STORY
Santa Barbara's century-long career as a movie backdrop and getaway for top Hollywood talent started during the silent era - Santa Barbara was California's original filmmaking hub. Whether scouting sites dating back to Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1923), sipping pinot noir on the Sideways (2004) wine trail or watching cutting-edge cinema in historic theatres during the Film Festival, visitors can discover that Santa Barbara looks as good in real life as she does on the big screen. For SBIFF information visit: www.sbiff.org.

By Bonnie Carroll

About Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since 1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites News - www.lifebitesnews.com, does travel and food reporting on KZSB1290 radio, and contributes to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle publications. Her first children's book C.C. Charles was published in 2002 and she is currently working on a second book. Contact her at Contact her at writebc@aol.com.