On the Menu

Meet Sandra Adu Zelli, the British chef behind Gipsy Hill Bakery

February 15, 2023 by

The Santa Barbara-based chef has created pastry menus for local restaurants and collaborated with other restauranteurs before starting her own business.
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Chewy Molasses Cookies

February 12, 2023 by

Perfect for cozying up with a cup of tea, these chewy molasses cookies are warming, sweet, decadent and sure to help you get through the last throes of winter.
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Plan your week with easy sheet-pan combinations

February 12, 2023 by

Making a sheet-pan meal is like reading one of those choose-your-own-adventure books from the ’80s...
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Homemade heart-shaped pizza: a budget-friendly meal to make for your Valentine

February 9, 2023 by

Melt your Valentine's heart with a homecooked meal!
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Social media chefs are cooking up a storm

February 2, 2023 by

Whether or not viewers at home actually follow through with these chef's recipes, though, doesn’t matter — some are perfectly content with leaving it up to the experts. 
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Kuy Teav: A Cambodian noodle soup that will warm your heart

February 2, 2023 by

Cozy up with a bowl of kuy teav, a Khmer noodle soup resembling Vietnamese pho, but distinct enough to be its own separate dish.
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New restaurants, notable closures and food news in and around I.V.

January 26, 2023 by and

The Daily Nexus On the Menu Team wants to ring in the new year by highlighting some recent changes in Santa Barbara’s restaurant scene.
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(Olive Garden copycat) Chicken gnocchi soup: The ultimate rainy day recipe

January 26, 2023 by

Made in one pot in under an hour, this recipe takes less time than driving to the nearest Olive Garden in Oxnard!
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The best things I ate in 2022

January 19, 2023 by

Stephanie shares her favorite meals from Santa Barbara restaurants in 2022.
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Potato Kugel: Not your typical casserole

January 19, 2023 by

This potato kugel is practically a latke recipe but baked in a dish, creating a crisp exterior with a smooth and creamy interior texture.
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Christmas chai latte: recreating the classic Dutch Bros holiday drink

December 23, 2022 by

A recipe inspired by the "Christmas Morning" drink from Dutch Bros.
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Spread holiday cheer with this nonalcoholic cranberry pomegranate spritz

December 10, 2022 by

Destress during the holidays with this festive and flavorful mocktail!
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A Hainanese Chicken Friendsgiving

December 2, 2022 by

A somewhat nontraditional Friendsgiving, an introspective view on my journey making Hainanese Chicken, and how food brings people together.
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Salmon Wellington: A terrific turkey alternative

November 24, 2022 by

I sought to make a Thanksgiving main dish that incorporates complex flavors and is everything turkey is not: something with moistness and rich flavor that still feels ceremonious and special without n...
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Persimmon and plum crumble: a foolproof fall dessert

November 17, 2022 by

Stand out at the Thanksgiving dessert table with this melt-in-your-mouth fall treat!
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