On the Menu

November 9, 2026

A perfect meal

By Sahasra Hanumiahgari

Overall, the Friday of my Halloweekend was quite perfect, even if I didn’t end the night drunk and in costume. After a day of shopping and eating my favorite food with my friend, both my heart and stomach were thorough...

November 9, 2026

Cloudy with a chance of coffee

By Alice Baraona

In spite of what is to be believed, the consumption of cold beverages does not greatly affect one’s body temperature. Unless consumed in great quantities in a relatively short time span, ( known as a brain freeze), you...

October 29, 2026

5 reasons you need to host a potluck

By Sahasra Hanumiahgari

What’s better than good food? Good food with good company. However, eating out is expensive, I can no longer justify spending $20 on a meal, and don’t even think about ordering a drink with my food because that’s e...

October 29, 2026

A glutton for gluten

By Francesca Gasparini

The other weekend, I had the opportunity to cross not one but two places I’ve been meaning to try off my list. What’s more is that both places were bagel shops I’ve been dying to go to for ages: our local legend, M...

October 22, 2026

The world’s most expensive spice

By Sahasra Hanumiahgari

If I were the gambling type, I would bet money you have heard of saffron: the spice more expensive than gold. While this isn’t true, saffron is in fact the most expensive spice in the world and has been nicknamed “re...

October 8, 2026

An homage to my mother’s kitchen

By Sahasra Hanumiahgari

Biryani is a labor of love. It’s an extensive process that is incredibly worth it, resulting in a warm, decadent meal often served at special occasions.

October 1, 2026

Creaminal ice cream: Thai-inspired ice cream inside Your Choice Restaurant

By Francesca Gasparini

What otherwise looks to be a quaint, old-school Thai spot is contrasted by the vibrant, hipster signage and merchandise of Creaminal Ice Cream, a separate ice cream concept operating within the family-owned restaurant.

Every time I look in our fridge, it’s like an insight into the individual lives of the housemates.

October 1, 2026

The art of a shared fridge

By Sahasra Hanumiahgari

September is ending, and it’s become that time of year — the start of the new school year and Isla Vista is returning to its usual liveliness. As everyone is moving into their apartments, we remember just how centr...

August 27, 2026

Coming Soon: Makenna Koffee

By Sahasra Hanumiahgari

I can’t wait to finally walk in and experience the hype I’m sure that Santolamazza and his team will create — I’m confident that Makenna Koffee Company is going to be a coffee shop like no other in I.V.

August 2, 2026

Back to the Bay: Sweet Maple

By Sahasra Hanumiahgari

While it was maybe a little bit on the pricier side per item, you really can really tell these chefs know how to cook. Yeah, French toast priced at $18 does kind of blow my mind, but just try that bruleed top and trust m...

July 17, 2026

The only chai recipe you’ll need

By Sahasra Hanumiahgari

At every coffee shop you go to, you will find “chai tea” (BTW, if you’re still calling it “chai tea,” you’re really just saying “tea tea.” Just chai!) on the menu and you can customize it in all kinds of ...

July 16, 2026

Back to the Bay: Dish N Dash

By Sahasra Hanumiahgari

Dish N Dash has everything I miss about Bay Area food while I'm away at school and honestly, it might be reason enough to make the drive up next time I'm craving something more than what I can find around campus. If you'...

May 7, 2026

A Solvang morning

By Pihu Jain

Of all the places to set up a small Danish town, our coastal locale of Santa Barbara might seem to be an odd choice. Why not on the East coast, where most European settlers made their mark? For Benedict Nordentoft, Jens ...

May 7, 2026

Crispy Rice Salad

By Piper Cheney

The best kinds of nights are the ones composed of something delicious set in the center of the table ready to be shared. This crispy rice salad is exactly that kind of dish. It can be a casual weeknight dinner or served ...

April 16, 2026

American fast food and chains through the eyes of a Brit

By Polly Symes

We are back with our second iteration of this series! Last time, I looked at American supermarkets through a British lens and this time, we’re delving into American fast food. Though the United States is a fascinating ...

February 14, 2026

My first valentine

By Pihu Jain

For as long as I can remember, my dad has given me and my sister each a rose (and my mother a bouquet, of course) every Valentine’s Day. The roses given each year are his way of trying to show us love in a way we grew ...