Treat mom to the best Mother’s Day Brunch in town at Miró. Menu highlights include waffles, custom omelets and eggs Benedict, deviled eggs with smoked salmon and caviar, savory farmers market salads, an irresistible cheese and charcuterie station, fresh seafood, a carving station with pepper crusted prime rib and salmon en croute, and much more.

To make the day extra special, Bacara is setting up a “Kids Kitchen” station where they can prepare made-to-order pancakes for their moms and deliver with a personalized bouquet of flowers.

Mother’s Day Brunch will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $85 for adults and $42.50 for kids age 12 or younger.
Pampering mom continues at the Spa at Bacara.

Throughout the month, melt away mom’s stress and indulge (and join!) her in a variety of treatments guaranteed to do the trick. Our Healing Stone Therapy Massage, Beautiful Bacara Facial and Brown Sugar Body Polish make for perfect Mother’s Day gifts, and all Bacara spa treatments are available at the special rate of buy one, get one half off for Mother’s May (Monday through Thursday only).

Make it a full spa day! With purchase of a treatment, mom will enjoy full access to all the Spa has to offer, from eucalyptus steam room and sauna to the 3,500-square-foot fitness center.

Finally, Bacara is bringing Afternoon Tea back just in time for Mother’s May. “Sip” back and savor a sophisticated afternoon tea, beginning this Saturday, May 12. Relax in Bacara’s sweeping lobby and indulge in a Bacara-style tea tasting and live entertainment.

Afternoon Tea includes three flights of teas from all across the globe, expertly moderated by Bacara’s tea master. Each tea poured will be paired with a gourmet food-tasting course to complement the unique characteristics of each tea. Guests can enjoy decadent bites such as smoked salmon and caviar, citrus crab and tarragon salad tea sandwiches, fresh fruit tarts, mini velvet cupcakes and freshly baked scones with lemon curd, preserves and honey.

Bacara’s Afternoon Tea is $35 per person and will be served every Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m., beginning this Saturday through the end of May.

For more information about Mother’s May happenings at Bacara Resort & Spa and to make reservations, click here or call 805.968.0100.

Bacara Resort & Spa is a luxury retreat set on two miles of beach along the pristine California coastline just a five-minute drive from the Santa Barbara Airport. The resort features 305 lavish guestrooms and 49 specialty suites, each with either a private balcony or patio with ocean, garden or mountain views. A 42,000-square-foot, full-service spa and state-of-the-art fitness facility offers a variety of pampering treatments and services.

In addition, there are three zero-edge saline swimming pools, a kids club and a comprehensive selection of outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking and stargazing. The resort features an assortment of culinary options — from casual to healthy organic to fine dining at its three distinct dining venues. An expansive wine cellar housing more than 12,000 bottles showcases wines from around the world and the region.

Bacara Resort & Spa is located at 8301 Hollister Ave. in Goleta. Click here or call 805.968.0100.

Beginning on Sunday, April 15, 2012, and continuing every Sunday, local brunch lovers can indulge in Bacara’s “Santa Barbara Brunch” while taking in the stunning views and impeccable service at Miró.

With a focus on local, seasonal produce, Bacara’s “Santa Barbara Brunch” will showcase a culinary extravaganza of offerings, highlighting produce and finds fresh from local farms to your table.

The Santa Barbara Brunch will also feature different local wineries and breweries each week, truly showcasing all that is local. In addition to what’s in season, guests can expect to see savory favorites like made-to-order omelets and waffles, seafood displays of oysters, crab and shrimp, hearty meats from their carving station, artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, and an array of garden-fresh salads to name a few.

And who says you can’t have dessert first?! Guests won’t be able to resist once they catch a glimpse of the over-the-top exhibition of desserts… it’s a masterful presentation of irresistible sweet treats, so be sure to save room for dessert!

Brunch is $70 for adults, and $30 for children. For more information and to make reservations, please visit www.bacararesort.com or call 805-571-4204.

Come visit Bacara Resort & Spa!
8301 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117

Our spectacular Job Fair will be held
Thursday April 19th, 2012
from 10:00am to 6:00pm

We will be interviewing for regular and temporary positions, opportunities available in Guest Services, Restaurants, Culinary, Engineering, Retail, Spa, Administration and more.

In conjunction with Valentine’s Day, Bacara held the contest encouraging fans to express the best little thing they love about the Santa Barbara resort in 200 words or less.

After reviewing the 100 entries, Bacara elected Debbie as the winner, noting the great way her entry’s closing line resonated with the love theme.

Debbie wrote:

The Best “Little Thing I Love About Bacara” is the air.  Yes, the love is most definitely in the air there! As we make our arrival, the lovely Spanish architecture of the Bacara transports us to an exotic faraway land. My darling husband and I find sheer pleasure in reconnecting by starting our day with a blissful walk along the quiet beach enjoying the scent of the salty ocean air. The jagged cliffs beckon us on a brisk hike to the top to enjoy the serene views. We lazily stroll around the resort hand in hand while embracing its beauty while the perfume of wood burning fireplaces lingers in the air. The rest of our stay will find us donned in the luxe thristy white Bacara robes cozying up around the tranquil infinity pools and jacuzzi until the Santa Barbara sun sets. The Bacara engages all of our senses and awakens us to why we fell in love in the first place.  It simply sets the scene for another chapter in our very own romantic love story. How lucky are we? Ahhh, Bacara air…take us away!

Debbie will receive a complimentary two-night stay at the resort in a luxury guest room, dinner for two at Miró and “a little something special” amenity each day.

Savor mouthwatering brunch favorites like rosemary and garlic crusted leg of lamb, clove and orange glazed ham, eggs benedict, farmer’s market fresh salads, house-made pastas, a sushi station, cheese and charcuterie, an omelet station, and an impressive specialty dessert selection!

The restaurant will also host Easter egg hunts for children of all ages beginning at 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm and 2:30pm. Participants should be on the lookout for the one and only “Golden Egg” at each hunt — The lucky one to find this treasure will be go home with a basket of special sweet confections made by Bacara’s talented Pastry Chef, Daniel Sampson.

Adults are $85 while children are $42.50.

Easter Dinner will also be served at The Bistro from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, and will feature a selection of seasonal Spring indulgences.

And, starting April 15th and continuing every Sunday, this resort in Santa Barbara will host a Sunday brunch featuring all things local.

Each week, the brunch will focus on all that Santa Barbara has to offer, bringing items fresh from the farm, local vineyards and breweries straight to the tables with spectacular views of the Gaviota Coast.

The cost is $70 for adults and $30 for children. Reservations can be made online or by calling (805) 571-4204.

Ted Mills of News-Press recently wrote about Bacara as the “drink of the week:

The Bacara feels like a different world to us at Drink of the Week. There’s the long drive out, away from the usual signs of Santa Barbara civilization, the bluff-top parking, the views from the bar over the complex, and the ocean in the distance. In Los Angeles, this distance would be called “down the block” but here we’re surprised we’re not getting roaming charges. So though it attracts travelers the world over, consider this bar when you just need a mini-vacation.

Bartender Nick Faccuito used to work at the Wine Cask a few months back, but now he’s moved out to take charge at the Bacara Bar. He’s too new to the bar to have brought his own cocktails, but that’s on its way, we’re sure. In the meantime, Faccuito has been perfecting the favorite cocktails already on the menu. We made sure to sample them.

A lot of the drinks make perfect summer drinking by the pool, and with our recent weather, you won’t have long to wait. The Irish julep will sort you out in time for St. Patrick’s Day, mixing Jameson, mint, simple syrup, a dash of Evian and the herbal kick of Averna. The Jameson really doesn’t make itself known until the second or third sip, but the mint is delightful throughout, and the whole deal is refreshing.

The Bacara’s Moscow Mule continues the idea of revisiting old classics. No copper cup or ginger beer here. Instead Faccuito uses real ginger, muddling it with lime juice, and then adding Absolut, simple syrup, and a dash of bitters. One still gets the kick of the original Mule, but the ginger really puts the sodas to shame.

One of the most popular drinks at the Bacara is the Spatini, which overflows with cucumber aromas. The cocktail uses Belvedere vodka, lemon and lime juices, simple syrup, and plenty of cucumbers, either muddled within the drink or placed on the side. (Maybe save two for your eyes, spa treatment style?)

The other popular drink is the Anacapa Ginger, a tall drink that amazed us with its simple combo of Pineapple flavor, mint, and ginger. The pineapple comes from Van Gogh flavored vodka, and like he does for the Moscow Mule, Faccuito uses a large chunk of ginger. The flavor — tart yet sweet and tropical — zips around the mouth.

We ended with the Bacara Acai, which may or may not contain healthy anti-oxidants. but hey, you’ve made it this far, is the power of the berry really that important? Instead, we liked the blend of blueberries, Chambord, and Absolut Berry Acai.

Our Drink of the Week, however, has to be the Anacapa Ginger. Right after this luxurious massage, we’re going to have another. We’re on holiday, aren’t we?

ANACAPA GINGER
2 oz. Van Gogh Pineapple Vodka
Five sprigs of mint
Square inch of ginger (roughly)
Whole fresh lemon juice
Dash of soda
1 1/2 oz. simple syrup

Peel the skin from the chunk of ginger and muddle with mint, simple syrup, and juice of a whole medium size lemon. Add ice and vodka, shake, and strain over new ice in a tall, hurricane-style glass. Top with soda.

It Takes a Village
Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains, Bacara Resort & Spa sprawls over 78 breathtaking acres on the Santa Barbara coast. Separate Spanish-Colonial-style villas (one-, three- and four-stories), with clusters of guestrooms and suites in each one, are sprinkled throughout the well-kept property, creating an intimate Mediterranean village feel. Built in 2000 with laid-back luxury in mind, Bacara incorporates design elements such as creamy stucco arches and columns, colorful tile work, terracotta floors, clay roofs and intricate wrought iron.

Architectural Attention
Bacara project designer, internationally recognized architect Robert Glazier, AIA, (with Hill Glazier Architects when Bacara was built; now HKS Hill Glazier Studio) says, “The exterior is built in the Spanish Colonial style that’s seen throughout Santa Barbara. We paid great attention to selection of materials and the design of the exteriors, including unique architectural features such as windows in various sizes, arches in both half-round and elliptical shapes, and hand-troweled stucco walls, with a slight variation in color on each building, so that Bacara appears as if it had been built over time.”

Glazier adds that in order for the tile roofs to retain the look of other historic Spanish Colonial buildings in Santa Barbara, a clay roofing company was employed to produce special tiles that appear handmade. He also emphasizes that the site plan and footprint were created by another architect and refined and approved by the California Coastal Commission.

Serene Scene
All this attention to detail shows, but Bacara is not a showoff. The resort exudes a quiet elegance. Yes, Bacara may be a knockout, but it’s not just a pretty face. Scratch the beautiful surface, and you’ll find a warm and welcoming vibe and appreciation of place. The resort’s design takes advantage of the mild Mediterranean climate with view-filled outdoor hallways, and each guestroom and suite has a private balcony or patio, showcasing ocean, garden or mountain scenes.

Meander along the purposeful but picturesque pathways between buildings and discover a surprise around every corner – ah-inspiring views, gurgling fountains, crackling fireplaces, cozy seating areas and flickering candles – perfect places to relax and recharge. Rustic, natural materials and subtle earth tones add to the sense of calm.

It’s no wonder that in-the-know locals and guests from all over the planet seek out this serene retreat for its stunning setting and timeless beauty. Whether you’re standing on that sun-splashed bluff or kicking back on your own private patio, the natural and man-made beauty of Bacara come together to create a warm embrace of vacation paradise.

David Sigman moved to Santa Barbara five years ago to complete his Masters Degree in Organizational Management at Antioch University. During his time at Antioch, he worked as a Manager at Bouchon in downtown Santa Barbara.

Upon graduating, Sigman became manager of The Bistro at Bacara Resort & Spa. He later transitioned to the Meetings & Events department to expand his knowledge and experience in hospitality management. After two successful years at Bacara, Sigman joined the management team tasked with re-opening Wine Cask Restaurant & Intermezzo Bar Café as the General Manager. Sigman was paramount in re-establishing Wine Cask as one of the top restaurants between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Sigman has over 18 years of experience in the food and beverage and catering sales industry, and a true enthusiasm for hospitality and customer service. Bacara is very pleased to welcome him back to the resort.

Film Feast invites foodies and film lovers to savor the very best of Santa Barbara before or after catching the action on the big screen. A stellar cast of restaurants, bars and tasting rooms serves up three-course tasting menus, spotlighting local cuisine, inventive cocktails and Central Coast wines and beers.

Several Film Feast participants take the silver-screen drama tableside with movie-themed menus celebrating classic and contemporary films.

For behind-the-scenes updates, Downtown Santa Barbara will be posting about Film Feast on the official “Downtown Santa Barbara” Facebook page leading up to and all throughout the duration of the promotion. You can also join the conversation on Twitter by following @sbdowntown and the event hashtag, #FilmFeast.

For those visiting from out-of-town, download Santa Barbara‘s new smartphone mobile app – NEXT Santa Barbara – your go-to guide for Santa Barbara visitor information.

The halls are decked, the trees are lit, and the fireplaces are roaring at Bacara Resort & Spa! Gather your friends and family to celebrate the season and indulge in mouthwatering meals this Christmas and New Year’s at Bacara.

Dine in style this Christmas
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners in Miró and The Bistro will feature holiday favorites like Butternut Squash Soup with Apple “Parisienne”, Chanterelles and Maple Syrup Crème, Butter Poached Maine Lobster with Mascarpone Orzo and Creamy Lobster Broth, and a sinfully decadent “Bûche de Noël” with Candy Cane Ice Cream, Hazelnut Brittle and Eggnog Anglaise.

Four-course Christmas dinner in Miró is $95 per person, $35 for children 12 and under. Three-course Christmas dinner in the Bistro is $85 per person, $25 for children 12 and under.

Make your final meal of 2011 memorable and savor New Year’s Eve dinner at Miró or the Bistro. While you wait for midnight to strike, enjoy decadent dishes like Chilled Kumamoto Oysters with Blood Orange Mignonette and Farmed Osetra Caviar, plus Grilled Filet Mignon of Beef with Creamed Spinach and Smashed Fingerling Potatoes.

Those dining at Miró or the Bistro on New Year’s Eve will enjoy a complimentary glass of Champagne or sparkling cider to toast the magnificent year ahead!

Four-course dinner in Miró is $185 per person, $75 for children 12 & under and in the Bistro is $95 per person, $47 for children 12 and under.

New Year’s Eve Bacara Bash!
Bring on 2012 with the Bacara Bash on New Year’s Eve in the Rotunda on Saturday, December 31st from 8pm-1am. The NYE festivities include a DJ spinning on the dance floor, fascinating tricks and mind games by magician Rich Ferguson along with a Palm Reader to reveal what’s in store for you in 2012!

As the clock strikes midnight, watch the Balloon Drop from above, and enjoy a Champagne toast to a spectacular 2012!

Bacara’s New Year’s Eve bash is $25 per person, and includes a complimentary Champagne toast and party favors. Guests dining at either Miró or the Bistro that evening receive complimentary admission to Bacara’s Bash.

Bloody Mary Brunch & Football on New Year’s Day
Kick off New Year’s Day with a hearty Bacara Brunch featuring favorites like Eggs Benedict, and Made-to-Order Omelets, while you sip Bloody Marys and Mimosas! After brunch, take advantage of one-day only spa specials to begin the new-year relaxed and rejuvenated.

Get your New Year’s Day football fix at the Bacara Bar to where they’ll be playing all the big games and enjoy happy hour pricing on drinks and bar menu from 12-6pm on New Year’s Day!

There’s plenty to look forward to at Bacara this holiday season. For all reservations call 805-968-0100 or rsvp@bacararesort.com.