We went up north today to a cute little village in between Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. We just wanted to get up in the canyon above for a little bit and then have lunch and go for a swim. The beach in Summerland is pretty and the canyon absolutely beautiful but way to hot for even the shortest hike today.

 We ended up at Cafe Luna for lunch – a casual and relaxing spot right there on the road (there is only one, sort of). They actually grow their greens in the tower garden right outside. What a great thing. You can grow so much this way.  Check out Montecito Urban Farms and put a farmers’s market on your back porch. 🙂

I think it’s a fantastic way to grow food vertical like this.

I had quinoa tabbouleh with mixed greens from the towers and homemade hummus. It was really tasty.

After spending a whole weekend at surfrider to watch the surf competition, it was so nice to head north for some sunset and din din. We ended up at Malibu Roadhouse which is a brand new restaurant created by the people from Malibu Cafe up in the canyon. This place is delicious and the ocean pretty much right ouside. The ocean breeze comes thru in every room and the courtyard is really cozy with blue doors and reclaimed wooden tables. We sat down by the indoor fireplace and saw the ocean thru it, neat!

Menu:  southern California beach cousin. Yes, there is a kale salad on there too 🙂  Go here, you wont be disappointed.

TheRanchAtSolsticeCanyon

Friday tradition with the delicious toasts at G.T.A. The avocado and the heirloom tomato.

And I got some good work done in a shady spot at Tom’s, drinking a cooling beverage with coconut water, watermelon and rosewater. Yum!

And soon… surf competition in Malibu. Let’s have a great weekend 🙂