Whitefoot is probably the last remaining mom and pop butchery in Santa Barbara. So I am very conflicted to hear that a Fresh and Easy grocery store chain is moving into Whitefoot’s space, along with a row of other mom and pop businesses in that block.
Ironically, F&E is supposed to be a neighborhood market that supports community.
Whitefoot is still open for business at this time, but may close any day.
I went there yesterday on an errand to get a tri-tip, some tri-tip sandwiches for friends who couldn’t get there themselves and those sandwiches are their very very favorite, and to buy up a big bag of their smoked ham hocks.
The shopkeepers honestly did not know whether they had to close or stay open, but they are staying open as long as they can. They are also looking to relocate, should they have to vacate the property.
Either way, if you have butchery needs and want to show you appreciate a very local business, go there and show your support.
The tri-tip sandwich is indeed lovely, this photo is of just half the sandwich. In you’re eating in, get the salsa on it, if you’re taking it away, get the salsa on the side so the roll doesn’t get soggy. The salsa is critical to a good tri-tip sandwich. This big gut buster full size sandwich costs about $9 and can feed two.
The *best* ham hocks are available here. They are sold whole, and the butcher can cut them up into several chunks for you. Wonderful for bean soups and stews. Where else locally can you get this?
My tri-tip I bought plain, and they seasoned it for me. Chain store seasoned tri-tip I normally have to wash most of the sauce off before I’ll set it on the grill. Here it’s hand seasoned by people who know how to bring the best out of their cuts of meat.
Whitefoot
336 N Milpas St Ste E
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
I took the day off to celebrate my birthday without the hassles of work taking up my attention. For lunch we went to Metropulos to eat a gyro. Theirs are the best in town, made from scratch, and only served Fridays at lunchtime. Since I no longer work in this area, my only hope to get this sandwich is by taking the day off. Coincidentally, that has worked out several times.
 
We shared the gyro, and also tried the warm turkey and harissa sandwich. Gyro was fabulous, as always. The harissa, however, was too hot for me, even after scraping off as much of the sauce as I could. No more harissa sammies, just the Metro Firehouse going forward. But the harissa certainly was memorable.
We also did a little shopping, picking up some creamy blue cheese, some lovely olives, and no-nitrate salami, for snacks later on.
Photos by Ted Mills.
Past words.
Metro Fine Foods
216 East Yanonali Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
www.metrofinefoods.com
I have been wanting to find excuses to visit LA more often. The area has been too overwhelming for me to handle, especially dealing with traffic and parking.
Luckily, Ted’s had some experience with the area, and insisted that Langer’s was the place to go for the best pastrami sandwich. Yes, better than New York! This, I had to see and taste for myself and we made a culinary weekend of it.
 
We start with the happy chap himself, sitting at the table waiting for the #19 pastrami sandwich to come out. We were also sitting near the official chair for Al Langer to use when he dined here. Up at the counter, with his name embroidered on the seat.
 
The sandwiches were indeed divine. The ever popular #19, with slices of pastrami, creamy coleslaw and cheese seemed to melt in our mouths. The bread, a rye that’s brought in par-baked and finished on site, was warm yet finely crisp on the crust. Delightful to bite into.
We also ordered the #88, corned beef with sauerkraut and swiss, served hot. Everything was nice and melty. The sauerkraut added more zing to the sandwich, compared to #19. Both were good, but #19 may have been better, with the sweeter coleslaw that didn’t taste as heavy as the sauerkraut.
The waitress also noted our cameras and asked if we were writers. I mentioned my piddly little food blog, but it was enough for her to offer for us to meet the manager, Norman Langer. He was extremely nice, and talked of some of Langer’s history in Los Angeles, how it indeed was considered better than the New York delis (and I have had the pastrami at Katz’s. I think it’s close, but perhaps Langer’s is better!), and then imparted some of the details on their fabulous sandwich preparation, which is how we learned about the par-baked rye bread.
Finally we asked the question I’m sure he heard all the time, “what’s the difference between corned beef and pastrami?” He first pointed to the answer written in the menu. Then he told us.
And if you’re curious: their corned beef/brisket comes from two layers of meat around the breast plate of the cow. Their pastrami comes from the steer, from a different cut of meat, closer to the belly. And it uses different spices.
Other places might use the brisket of beef interchangeably, but Langer’s is different. fyi.
I was feeling plenty vindicated on my complaint that LA’s driving and parking sucks, due to the asstrocious driving and parking we experienced getting there, but there WAS free parking to be had, just for Langer’s customers. For lo, there is a paid lot half a block away that waives the first hour’s fee with validation from Langer’s. Bless them.
And it is very possible to be in and out in under an hour. The staff makes very quick work of getting you seated, getting food to your table, and settling the bill - with a friendly reminder to get your parking stub validated.
Langer’s (Westlake area)
704 S Alvarado St
Los Angeles, CA 90057
www.langersdeli.com
For what appears to be such a tiny place, IV Deli Mart really packs it in.
Market stuff is in the front of the shop, and the deli portion is in the back, complete with those tantilizing rotating spits of kebab meat.
Purchases made:
Boysenberry shishah - good selection of shishah and prices were reasonable. The man behind the counter was excellent that giving advice and talking about the shishah.
 Lamb gyro (in picture) - same man behind the counter recommended I try the lamb gyro over the falafel. I did want both, but my stomach real estate won’t allow. The lamb gyro was substantial and tasty, lots of meat and a good amount of crunchy vegetables. The pita bread is good, but it does start falling apart quickly. Keep that paper and foil wrapper handy for holding everything in place.
Meatball sub - acceptable, but slightly underwhelming. In retrospect, McMarko and I should have skipped the meatball sub and gotten the falafel I was eyeing up earlier.
Red vines - they’re red vines.
There is no sit-down option at this deli-market, which helps justify the lower prices, and it’s easy enough to walk over to the park and sit on the benches.
There aren’t many places around that serve shawerma and related sandwiches, so this is a gem. And it’s great food for being on the go.
I.V. Deli Mart
6549 Pardall Rd #C
Goleta, CA 93117
 
BUZZ! Yer food is ready.
Today was lunch with Liz in IV.
Silvergreen’s is probably one of the more healthy options for Isla Vista, and usually house-made fresh breads mean recognizable ingredients used to baked them, which is also good. Too bad they didn’t really taste that good.
The half and half option is what I got. The chicken ranch sandwich and a garden salad. And a cookie with about 6 chocolate chips in it. It cost about $8.50 after tax. I also got my sandwich on the baguette and I will never do that again. Perhaps the honey wheat bread next time. The baguette was huge, and hard. Ultimately I deconstructed my sandwich and ate it open-faced as that was the only way I could wedge it in my mouth. And even then I kept getting the chicken salad on my nose, like a naughty puppy. Glad to have provided the amusement to people watching through the window. Liz got a half and half chicken, mozzarella and basil sandwich, on a more chewable bread. Lucky.
 
I can’t give much loyalty to a place that looks and acts like a chain restaurant, and uses vibrating buzzers to announce that your food is ready. The place operates like a well-oiled machine, and I felt like I was in a cafeteria.
But when they cater lunches for bigger events, I think they are quite decent. Big salad bowls and small sandwiches that you can eat just one of for a sensible lunch, or grab a few more if you’re still hungry.
  
Silvergreen’s
900 Embarcadero Del Mar #1
Isla Vista, CA 93117
www.silvergreens.com
Last February, Jon gave me the heads up that D’vine Deli had the best burgers in town. I had my doubts, but I was not able to sample the goods myself until just recently. Yes, nearly 6 months later. I did alert another friend in the meantime, and he went, and reported them to be somewhere along the lines of kick-ass.
Still, with a weekday holiday thanks to Independence Day, I made the trek over with Jon. He gave the disclaimer that new burgers options in town just might have usurped the title of best burger, but that they were still good.
We hit up the deli just before the lunch crowd hit, and our orders for cheeseburgers received knowing nods of approval from the staff. We sat down, smug.
 
And here are the results, profile view and front view.
The hamburger is served on a roll, rather than a bun. The roll is firm, but not so much - there’s no gnashing of teeth. The ground beef is simple, honest, and juicy. It is indeed a good burger. I’d recommend it. And note: no fries. You can have chips and there are a lot of good brands to choose from.
BUT…it’s still not my favorite burger in town. ;)
Do check out the communal wall of conversation fridge magnets out in the dining area. Fun times!
D’vine Deli/Cafe
205 W Canon Perdido St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
www.dvinecafe.com
 I’ve been coming to CrushCafe enough times that a friend walked over there to say hi, knowing I’d be there. Sounds like “CrushCafe Regular” to me. Woot!
The free wi-fi, while slow at times, is a great perk. And for being in a cute old building, there are a good number of electrical sockets along the walls to plug into.
Lately the clientele has included more men. Looks like they’ve accepted their metro side, and accept that the food is decent and that the world is a better place when their women have cupcakes.
And I don’t mean to get ahead of myself, but I was at a party recently and a couple said they first dined at CrushCafe because I kept talking it up and now they love it. Something about it being “so cute” and it wasn’t the woman who said that. I’m pleased as punch.
But yeah! Food, what’s new?
How about the Rachel sandwich with half a cup of creamy avocado soup? That’s actually my friend’s dish, I got a whole bowl of nummy avocado soup to myself. Oh dear, so good.
The Rachel appears to be a sliced turkey version of the Reuben, fyi.
A couple weeks later, I got the Can’t Commit lunch option - half sandwich and small bowl of soup. This, after walking into the shop and seeing two lady friends getting orgasmic over their bowls of roasted tomato soup. “I’ll have what she’s having.” haw haw haw. Know what I mean. And look! Heart!
But the big announcement is that CrushCafe now has order number cards to hold at the table while your meal is being prepared and the cards are lolcats! Muffin Cat is indeed the king of muffins.
Past words on this issue:
19 November 2008
9 November 2008
CrushCafe
1315 Anacapa St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
www.crushcakes.com/CrushCafes/
I was disappointed that Savoy Truffles had closed, but enthused when I heard Cantwell’s - a well-established deli further up State Street - would take over that space.
They reopened a couple weeks ago and I had lunch here just this past weekend.
Fans of Savoy can enjoy Cantwell’s Deli because very little appears to have changed beyond the name on the door. There is still that wonderful fresh salad bar, at $9.99 a pound, and the hot and cold deli case.
 
 
Top: grilled cheese, on right. Mixed salad from bar, on left.
Bottom: vegetarian torta from deli case, on left. Tasting spoons in vintage cup, on right.
My friend and I took advantage of the short orders to get a grilled cheese sandwich, choice of bread and cheese. We got sourdough and cheddar. We also shared an ample salad of fresh greens, beets, boiled egg, chickpeas, broccoli and peppery radish sprouts.
The original Cantwell’s has generous breakfast burritos, and there were several sitting in the hot food case, priced at $5.75 but half price after 2 pm. It was 2:15, so…of course I got one.
Cost was about $12.75, fed two people and a 10 month old, and we only ate half the burrito.
The guys behind the deli counter were super nice and patient.
The interior, again, is just like Savoy Truffles, beautiful wood tables, good light, very clean.
Thanks, Cantwell’s, for bringing back this space.
Cantwell’s
24 W Figueroa St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
cantwellsmarket.com
I TOLD you, this place is a chick magnet. Even mid-afternoon.
I am in the cafe, *right now* and I kid you not, there are only women here. Two chicks behind the counter and three chick customers tapping away on laptops.
Two of the customers are cute blondes.
And then there’s me.
But two out of three ain’t bad! And I am having a good hair day.
ps. Mmm, turkey sandwich and salad
CrushCafe
1315 Anacapa St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
www.crushcakes.com/CrushCafes/
peace.love.food.
I write this as a separate business to Crushcakes Cupcakery, even though the rooms are joined and are under the same ownership.
The hours of CrushCafe are different to the cupcakery next door, and you do business with the two places separately. Hence, a new business entry.
 
CrushCafe is uber cute. The space is not that big, but bigger than it appears on the outside. There is an adorable wood burning stove in one of the seating areas that I’m very curious to know if it’s a proper working one. Bring on the winter! The menu offers organic and healthy items, and the coffee is Intelligentsia, which I LOVE after spending a little time in Chicago.
Free wi-fi, great for you telecommuters and facebook update fiends.
I had their quiche, which came with a side salad. Also ordered a lemon poppyseed muffin and a refillable coffee. It came to about $12. Some might find that pricey, but that’s what you pay for quality organic products, and I’m happy to pay it.
The menu item names are a little cheesy and granola, like “chickened out” and “tree hugger”, but whatever, it tastes good.
My quiche was rich and custardy. And I rarely order the quiche from menus because most places overbake theirs, leaving them hard and watery. Bleh. This one was lovely. And the side salad was a lot more ample than I was expecting.
And although ordering and paying is done at the counter, the food is brought out to the table and we got checked up on by the staff several times, and they cleared away dirty dishes while we had a little dishing session of our own.
I see this as being a total chick hangout. So guys, check it out.
CrushCafe
1315 Anacapa St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
www.crushcakes.com/CrushCafes/
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