Christmas Guide For Santa Barbara Vacation Shoppers

Visitors to the Santa Barbara area, and especially those enjoying the superb Santa Barbara hotels and Santa Barbara bed and breakfasts, will find a multitude of interesting and unique shopping venues this holiday season.  Several new and exciting options make Santa Barbara downtown hotels a fantastic choice for those seeking a truly authentic Santa Barbara experience!

Cheshire Cat Inn (www.cheshirecat.com) has identified three must visit, uniquely Santa Barbara businesses, each offering vacationers the chance to create some lasting holiday memories.  Each of these venues was selected, based on uniqueness, “can’t miss” appeal, and its connection to Santa Barbara culture.

THE PAINTED CABERNET (WWW.PAINTEDCABERNET.COM)

The Painted Cabernet, located within walking distance to all downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, “speaks to the artist in all of us.” The upscale urban studio, located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, at 1229 State Street, offers a friendly, hip, and creative environment.  Instructional artists walk visitors step-by-step through the painting experience giving one-on-one instruction while affording the freedom to create. Visitors select a painting they want to reproduce, with the studio offers many choices.  Patrons paint, drink wine, and socialize in a fun, vibrant, casual atmosphere.  A wide selection of Santa Barbara wines are available, from local favorites to some of Napa and Sonoma Valley’s best await the amateur Picasso or Renoir. Visitors to Santa Barbara this holiday season can easily walk to the Painted Cabernet from downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, or take a short drive from Santa Barbara garden hotels. Visit their website Visit their Facebook Page Follow on Twitter

HAMPSTEAD VILLAGE (WWW.HAMPSTEADVILLAGEUSA.COM)

Hampstead Village brings a truly authentic British experience to Santa Barbara, offering a huge selection including travel books, Irish recipes, English Lily of the Valley soaps, and a wide selection of distinctly British foods, such as old fashioned chocolate biscuits.  Perfumes from Penhaligon's of London are available, along with Taylor of Old Bond Street toiletries.  Visitors will feel a strong sense of nostalgia immediately upon entering Hampstead Village, taking them back to “the good old days” when quality was the standard. The Children’s Corner offers Peter Rabbit china, memorable books, and cuddly toys to keep the kids busy while adults shop at their leisure.  Hampstead Village is located at 1100 State Street on the corner of State and Figueroa, walking distance from several exceptional Santa Barbara hotels.  Visit their website Visit their Facebook page

CIELITO RESTAURANT (WWW.CIELITORESTAURANT.COM)

Restaurant offers Mexican cuisine with influences from African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean flavors, with recipes from Mexico City to Oaxaca and from Veracruz to Guadalajara. At Cielito, Chef Ramon Velazquez reveals the true flavors of traditional dishes prepared with simplicity and elegance. Each dish celebrates the essence of the ingredients and is presented to delight the eye and the palate.  Cielito Restaurant is located at 1114 State Street, within the historic La Arcada complex, and has been a longtime favorite gathering place for dining and relaxation around the famous turtle fountain.  This location is ideal for visitors lodging with downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, and is the heart of the downtown shopping and entertainment corridor.  La Arcada offers many shops, galleries, and restaurants to delight visitors, providing the authentic experience that is so uniquely Santa Barbara.

Cielito Restaurant offers both indoor and al fresco dining on their private outdoor patio. Private parties and events can be scheduled, including large functions and small, intimate gatherings on their mezzanine level. 

Cielito’s lunch menu includes Quesadillas, enchiladas, lots of taco options, salads, and even their “Heavenly Burger.”  Their vanilla bean flan has received some heavenly reviews as well!  Prices range from about $9 to $15.

The dinner menu is decidedly upscale, with antojitos (snacks), taqueria (street style cravings for sharing), soups, salads, and entrees.  Entrees include enchiladas, fish, a filet, and chicken, while desserts include Apple Empanadas, Tiramisu, Chocolate & Caramel Peanut Semi-freddo, and their signature vanilla bean flan.

Though Cielito has a decidedly Mexican flare, the menu is diverse enough to satisfy just about any palate.  Cielito also offers a full bar with many signature cocktails, wines, and craft beers.  For more information: visit their website visit their Facebook page

With so many wonderful options, visitors to Santa Barbara this holiday season are sure to find plenty to keep them busy.  The three options presented here should provide a good starting point for visitors staying in downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, or those visiting one of our extraordinary Santa Barbara bed and breakfasts.  The central location of each of these venues offers the pedestrian visitor exposure to many other exciting destinations along State Street and the many cross streets that offer additional shopping and entertainment options.  Visitors are invited to take their time, explore, shop, eat, drink, and be merry this holiday season.  Enjoy your visit and take home some uniquely Santa Barbara memories!

ABOUT CHESHIRE CAT INN

The Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. ThisSanta Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some having in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants, and theaters.  This downtown Santa Barbara hotel has an Alice in Wonderland theme and offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality and a touch of whimsy. Visit their website Visit their blog

Christmas Guide For Santa Barbara Vacation Shoppers

Visitors to the Santa Barbara area, and especially those enjoying the superb Santa Barbara hotels and Santa Barbara bed and breakfasts, will find a multitude of interesting and unique shopping venues this holiday season.

November 20, 2012, Santa Barbara, CA - Cheshire Cat Inn (www.cheshirecat.com) has identified three must visit, uniquely Santa Barbara businesses, each offering vacationers the chance to create some lasting holiday memories.  Each of these venues was selected, based on uniqueness, “can’t miss” appeal, and its connection to Santa Barbara culture. Visit the full review here.

The Painted Cabernet, located within walking distance to all downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, “speaks to the artist in all of us.” The upscale urban painting studio, located at 1229 State Street, offers a friendly, hip, and creative environment.  Instructional artists walk visitors step-by-step through the painting experience giving one-on-one instruction while affording the freedom to create. Visitors select a painting they want to reproduce, with the studio offers many choices.  Patrons paint, drink wine, and socialize in a fun, vibrant, casual atmosphere.  Visit their website Visit their Facebook Page Follow on Twitter

Hampstead Village brings a truly authentic British experience to Santa Barbara, offering a huge selection including travel books, Irish recipes, English Lily of the Valley soaps, and a wide selection of distinctly British foods, such as old fashioned chocolate biscuits.  Perfumes from Penhaligon's of London are available, along with Taylor of Old Bond Street toiletries.  The Children’s Corner offers Peter Rabbit china, memorable books, and cuddly toys to keep the kids busy while adults shop at their leisure.  Hampstead Village is located at 1100 State Street on the corner of State and Figueroa, walking distance from several exceptional Santa Barbara hotels.  Visit their website Visit their Facebook page

Cielito Restaurant offers Mexican cuisine with influences from African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean flavors, with recipes from Mexico City to Oaxaca and from Veracruz to Guadalajara. At Cielito, Chef Ramon Velazquez reveals the true flavors of traditional dishes prepared with simplicity and elegance. Each dish celebrates the essence of the ingredients and is presented to delight the eye and the palate.  Cielito Restaurant is located at 1114 State Street, within the historic La Arcada complex, a location that is ideal for visitors lodging with downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, and is the heart of the downtown shopping and entertainment corridor.

About Cheshire Cat Inn: The Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. This Santa Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some having in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs.  Visit their website Visit their blog

Santa Barbara Bed and Breakfast Offers Hotel Discounts For 2013 SBIF Attendees

The 28^th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, scheduled for January 24 through February 3, 2013, promises to be the most exciting film festival to-date. This year’s honorees include Amy Adams (Cinema Vanguard award), Ben Affleck (Modern Master Award), and Jennifer Lawrence (Outstanding Performer of the Year Award).  The Santa Barbara Film Festival schedule includes some of the most exciting films, images from last year’s events, tributes, sidebars, and other activities with broad appeal for all ages and interests.  Follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is dedicated to the art of filmmaking, which seeks out and consequently offers a broad array of international and independent films, with a commitment to diversity. This Festival, which attracts more than 70,000 visitors each year, offers eleven days of films, tributes and symposiums, raising consciousness of film as an art form. The SBIFF presents quality American and world independent films, Latin American and Asian sidebars as well as documentary cinema within the beautiful setting of downtown Santa Barbara. The SBIFF continues its commitment to education through its 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking and Screenwriting Competitions, Field Trip to the Movies and educational seminars.

Visitors to the Film Festival will find a wide array of Santa Barbara lodging options suitable for virtually any taste and pocketbook. Some of the most exciting are the many Santa Barbara bed and breakfasts that surround the downtown area.  Cheshire Cat Inn, (www.cheshirecat.com), one of the premier bed and breakfasts in Santa Barbara, signed on as a lodging sponsor for SBIF 2013.

Cheshire Cat Inn Offers Special Lodging Rates For 2013 SBIF Attendees!

Click here for the Santa Barbara Hotel Discount Page on SBIF

Cheshire Cat Inn is offering special lodging options for attendees of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The options include significant discounts to their normal room rates, including a Queen Room for $150 mid-week, $175 Friday and Saturday, a King Room for $175 mid-week and for $200 Friday and Saturday.

Cheshire Cat is an elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens located in downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants and theaters. Offering 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some with the most luxurious hot tubs in Santa Barbara, the Inn also has in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, and private decks.

If you're looking for the best jacuzzi Santa Barbara has to offer at a bed and breakfast hotel, Cheshire Cat Inn is known for their beautiful outdoor hot tub jacuzzi.  Breakfast is served daily, along with an afternoon wine hour.  

Although Santa Barbara Film Festival activities are available at many venues throughout the city, the majority are concentrated in the downtown area, making Cheshire Cat Inn an ideal choice for attendees.  For those visitors looking for a somewhat higher level of relaxation to go along with the excitement of the film Festival, The Cheshire Cat Spaoffers a wide array of specialized treatments available in room for total privacy. The spa offers Swedish massage, acupressure, prenatal therapy, deep tissue therapy, facials and more.

The Santa Barbara film Festival offers a variety of passes each providing a unique experience and perspective on the festival. While the private access pass gives the holder reserve priority seating, VIP backstage access, even a personal VIP liaison, other passes such as the State Street pass, allow the holder off-peak access to all screenings throughout the festival. For those attending samara film festival on a budget, and therefore prefer not to spend the money for a pass, there are many individual ticketoptions which are much more affordable and still offer an exciting and enjoyable experience at the festival.

By combining a local, Santa Barbara lodging experience, with one of the pass options for the Santa Barbara Film Festival, visitors can not only enjoy all the festival has to offer, but can also enjoy a unique Santa Barbara experience. Adding the comfortable casual unique experience of a true Santa Barbara bed n breakfast, like Cheshire Cat Inn, can enhance the experience even further. Within walking distance to downtown Santa Barbara, guest of this unique Santa Barbara Inn, will create lasting memories of the Santa Barbara film Festival, and will surely want to return each year.

There are many other interesting and exciting entertainment options to be found in Santa Barbara during the Santa Barbara Film Festival. The many restaurants, clubs, and bars that dot the downtown Santa Barbara area, offer fine dining, casual dining, music including life performance, dancing, top local wines, and social interaction, all within walking distance from the Cheshire Cat Inn. 

Each year, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival brings some of the top stars, producers, writers, and directors to Santa Barbara, making the atmosphere electric for those truly interested in the art of filmmaking. For these true enthusiasts, visiting Santa Barbara and remaining in the downtown area throughout the festival offers the best access to all that the Santa Barbara film Festival has to offer. The 28^th annual Santa Barbara international film Festival is certain to be the best yet!

ABOUT CHESHIRE CAT INN: Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. This Santa Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some with in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants, and theaters. This downtown Santa Barbara hotel has an Alice in Wonderland theme and offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality. Visit Cheshire Cat Inn at 36 W. Valerio St. Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, USA (805) 569-1610 by clicking on to their website, blog and facebook.

Santa Barbara Bed and Breakfast Offers Hotel Discounts For 2013 SBIF Attendees

December 12, 2012, Santa Barbara, CA - Cheshire Cat Inn (www.cheshirecat.com), Santa Barbara bed and breakfast hotel is an official sponsor of the 2013 Santa Barbara Film Festival.  Cheshire Cat Inn is offering attendees of SBIF a special Santa Barbara hotel package to help reduce their lodging costs. Visitors to the Film Festival will benefit from lodging discounts as a result of this partnership.  Visit this page for more details.

Santa Barbara lodging options for the film festival usually fill up months before the event.  Cheshire Cat Inn is now offering significant discounts to their normal room rates, including a Queen Room for $150 mid-week, $175 Friday and Saturday, a King Room for $175 mid-week and for $200 Friday and Saturday. Guests staying at Cheshire Cat Inn will be within walking distance from the festival, and enjoy an unforgettable holiday at one of the most unique Santa Barbara bed n breakfast hotels downtown.

The 28^th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, scheduled for January 24 through February 3, 2013, promises to be the most exciting film festival to-date. This year’s honorees include Amy Adams (Cinema Vanguard award), Ben Affleck (Modern Master Award), and Jennifer Lawrence (Outstanding Performer of the Year Award).  The Santa Barbara Film Festival schedule includes some of the most exciting films, images from last year’s events, tributes, sidebars, and other activities with broad appeal for all ages and interests.

ABOUT CHESHIRE CAT INN: Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. This Santa Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some with in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants, and theaters. This downtown Santa Barbara hotel has an Alice in Wonderland theme and offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality. Visit Cheshire Cat Inn at 36 W. Valerio St. Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, USA (805) 569-1610 by clicking on to their website, blog and facebook.

How To Plan The Perfect Santa Barbara Biking Weekend

Cheshire Cat welcomes cycling guests of all abilities to our Santa Barbara inn. Whether you’re a novice just learning the pedals, an experienced bicycling enthusiast, a family looking for a weekend of healthy fun, or a couple sharing your passion for this sport on a romantic weekend getaway, our Santa Barbara bed and breakfast is the perfect starting point for all of your adventures.

You’ll love bike riding in Santa Barbara. Our great year-round weather and beautiful California scenery lend themselves to some of the best biking in the U.S. In Santa Barbara bikes are almost as common as cars. Start your day on the flower-filled brick patio at our Santa Barbara bed & breakfast and enjoy samplings that might include fresh fruit, a traditional Continental breakfast, deep-dish French toast or an authentic Mexican frittata. Then head out to explore 78 miles of astonishing California coastline, mountains that rise up over 6800 feet, the Los Padres National Forest, or some of California’s finest wineries.

After an exhilarating day exploring the Santa Barbara bike paths together, come back to the best bed and breakfast in Santa Barbara for wine and hors d-oeuvres on our patio. Sample some of Santa Barbara’s best local wines and enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres that will hit the spot. Regenerate yourself in our Santa Barbara hot tub or Santa Barbara Jacuzzi, and then choose from any of Santa Barbara’s nightlife activities, all within easy access from our romantic Victorian Inn. Evening chocolate chip cookies and brownies baked fresh daily will be available for your nibbling pleasure before bed, or our 24 hour refreshment center in the Eberle House is always open for tea, coffee, hot chocolate and ice.

Do-It-Yourself Biking or Santa Barbara Bike Tours

Santa Barbara is a great biking town with well-established bike paths that you can explore on your own and tour operators who offer bike rides from Santa Barbara inns to help you get the most out of your visit. Some websites you might want to visit as part of your trip planning include:

Bike Santa Barbara County: This website has a great overview of everything that has to do with Santa Barbara bikes. It includes information on Santa Barbara bike tours, bike shops, great bike rides and information about Santa Barbara bike rentals. They even have a listing of biking events through the end of the year so you can see what is happening in town during your stay.

Santa Barbara Adventure Company: Santa Barbara’s premiere adventure tour guide offers bike trips that include a wine country tour, mountains to shore, a seaside bike tour, and an Ojai Trail ride. Their site includes the length of the ride, level of difficulty, cost and a description of what is included in the tour.  Visit them on Facebook.

I Bike Santa Barbara: Perfect for a romantic weekend together, these tours take you right through the heart of Santa Barbara wine country. Tours include transportation to the gorgeous Santa Ynez Valley, a helmet, a new-model hybrid cycle, and a souvenir water bottle. A friendly and knowledgeable guide will take you on a tour that includes stops at Santa Barbara’s best vineyards along with visits to a lavender farm, miniature donkey and horse form, and a local olive ranch. This tour also includes a stop where you’ll get to enjoy a rustic picnic lunch along with a wine tasting at one of the award-winning Santa Ynez Valley wineries.  Visit them on Facebook.

What better way is there to spend special time together than with the quiet thrill of bicycling during the day and one of the finest Santa Barbara b&bs at night? Get away from it all to Santa Barbara by designing the weekend of your dreams to include one of our in-room Jacuzzi tubs, outdoor hot tubs, fireplaces or private decks and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to remind yourselves of why you fell in love in the first place.

Make Cheshire Cat Inn your bed n breakfast of choice for all of your cycling weekends. Book a reservation online today, or contact us at (805) 569-1610 orcheshire@cheshirecat.com for further information.

ABOUT CHESHIRE CAT INN: Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. This Santa Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some with in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants, and theaters. This downtown Santa Barbara hotel has an Alice in Wonderland theme and offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality. Visit Cheshire Cat Inn at 36 W. Valerio St. Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, USA (805) 569-1610 by clicking on to their website, blog and facebook.

Santa Barbara B&B Highlights 3 Bike Rental Companies

February 2, 2013, Santa Barbara, CA - Cheshire Cat Inn (www.cheshirecat.com), a downtown bed and breakfast hotel highlighted three popular bike rental companies this month on their blog. Cheshire Cat Inn often receives requests from their guests asking for local bike tours in Santa Barbara. Travelers to the area will benefit from this informative review. Visit this page for more details.

Santa Barbara is a great biking town with well-established bike paths that you can explore on your own or with the help of an experienced bike tour operator. Cheshire Cat Inn recommends reviewing the following three websites which offer a wealth of information on the topic of Santa Barbara bicycling.

Bike Santa Barbara County: This website has a great overview of everything that has to do with Santa Barbara bikes. It includes information on Santa Barbara bike tours, bike shops, great bike rides and information about Santa Barbara bike rentals. They even have a listing of biking events through the end of the year so you can see what is happening in town during your stay.

Santa Barbara Adventure Company: Santa Barbara’s premiere adventure tour guide offers bike trips that include a wine country tour, mountains to shore, a seaside bike tour, and an Ojai Trail ride. Their site includes the length of the ride, level of difficulty, cost and a description of what is included in the tour.  Visit them on Facebook.

I Bike Santa Barbara: Perfect for a romantic weekend together, these tours take you right through the heart of Santa Barbara wine country. Tours include transportation to the gorgeous Santa Ynez Valley, a helmet, a new-model hybrid cycle, and a souvenir water bottle. A friendly and knowledgeable guide will take you on a tour that includes stops at Santa Barbara’s best vineyards along with visits to a lavender farm, miniature donkey and horse form, and a local olive ranch. This tour also includes a stop where you’ll get to enjoy a rustic picnic lunch along with a wine tasting at one of the award-winning Santa Ynez Valley wineries.  Visit them on Facebook.


ABOUT CHESHIRE CAT INN: Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. This Santa Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some with in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants, and theaters. This downtown Santa Barbara hotel has an Alice in Wonderland theme and offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality. Visit Cheshire Cat Inn at 36 W. Valerio St. Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, USA (805) 569-1610 by clicking on to their website, blog and facebook.

Santa Barbara Hotel Discount For Women's Festivals Attendees On Feb 8th 2013

People from throughout the world will be attending a Santa Barbara event this weekend that is designed to empower women. It’s the 6^th annual Women’s Festival and it returns this Friday, February 8^th from 9am until 8pm. This full day event will be held at the Bacara Santa Barbara hotel.

The Women’s Festival will include a professional women’s exposition, an awards program and educational and enlightening discussions lead by authors, speakers, and women in leadership roles. Videos from past Women’s Festivals can be viewed on the festival’s website.

The 2013 Festival’s theme is “Health, Wealth and Soul” and the event will highlight a variety of issues facing women today including:

• Improving future relationships
• Creating a better world with philanthropy
• Skills for success for building a better businesses
• Getting healthier
• Helping to make a better planet
• Working with younger women in building future leaders
• Lessons for the future by reviewing past role models

The Women’s Festival will also include entertainment in the expo area throughout the day. A full schedule of presentations and entertainment is available here.

The Women’s Festival works to benefit and encourage non-profit organizations that work towards women’s empowerment. These include; NAWBO-CA, Girls Inc., Future Women CEO’s, and the Women’s Foundation of California.  The Santa Barbara event provides for networking opportunities that can help in empowering women for years to come.

Tickets for the 6^th Annual Women’s Festivals are $25 per person. There are also VIP packages available that also include exclusive events scheduled for Saturday, February 9^th. Tickets are available online. With your ticket purchase this year, you will be helping to support the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women Santa Barbara” campaign.

The Santa Barbara Women’s Festivals is part of series of Women’s Festivals that take place each year. Other festivals are held in the Cayman Islands, Arizona and Ireland, with future events planned for the Sudan.

Attendees looking for accommodations may want to consider a bed and breakfast in Santa Barbara. The Cheshire Cat Inn, Santa Barbara B & B,  is offering a 20% discount for Women’s Festival participants and for those who are attending. Make sure you mention the Women's Festival when making reservations to receive your discount.

To learn more about this Santa Barbara event visit WomensFestivals.org.

ABOUT CHESHIRE CAT INN: Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. This Santa Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some with in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants, and theaters. This downtown Santa Barbara hotel has an Alice in Wonderland theme and offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality. Visit Cheshire Cat Inn at 36 W. Valerio St. Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, USA (805) 569-1610 by clicking on to their website, blog and facebook.

Santa Barbara California Bed & Breakfast Inn

Cheshire Cat Inn, Santa Barbara, California

A romantic elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some having in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. Breakfast and afternoon wine hour daily. Located downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants and theaters.

A Santa Barbara Bed and Breakfast Inn

The Cheshire Cat Inn, a California bed and breakfast with an Alice in Wonderland theme, offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality and a touch of whimsy. Our luxurious accommodations are conveniently located in downtown Santa Barbara just minutes from area attractions and activities.

Santa Barbara, CA. The American Riviera

Visit The Cheshire Cat Inn during your Santa Barbara vacation and experience the essence of the Californian lifestyle. Here, the southern and northern regions of the state come together to combine the art and culture of a big city with the beauty and hospitality of a small beach town.

There are plenty of activities and attractions in Santa Barbara, where some of the best shopping, beaches and restaurants, all within close proximity to the Cheshire Cat Inn.

Vanilla From Tahiti Reviews The Top 4 Chocolatiers

As purveyors of high quality Vanilla extract, Vanilla from Tahiti often receives inquiries from foodies asking for referrals to “chocolatiers”. 

The art of creating the best quality chocolates takes skill and passion, and the best chocolatiers devote years to perfecting their craft. For many of us, the amazing chocolates made by chocolatiers are a treat and can often make the perfect lavish gift for a special occasion. The finest chocolates are often made by small companies where the focus is on quality and presentation.

In this article, Vanilla From Tahiti reviews their four favorite chocolatiers making the best chocolate products money can buy.  Enjoy!

Dorado Chocolates


Dorado Chocolates make a selection of fine chocolate products with the accent being on artisan chocolates and tastes of Americana. The artisan chocolates combine the highest quality chocolate with a variety of exotic flavors such as Tahitian Caramel and Cabernet Fig & Honey centers while the classic American tastes of Vanilla Cream and Peanut Butter Meltaway are available in both milk and dark chocolate varieties. Dorado Chocolates use fair trade chocolate to produce their products which range from beautiful boxes of handmade chocolates to the best quality drinking chocolate and even caramelized almonds and classic almond toffee.  Fair trade chocolate bars are also available in three grades of 75%, 60% and 41% cocoa content to appeal to everyone’s taste in fine chocolate products. Purchases from Dorado Chocolates can be made online or from their retail outlet in Grass Valley, California which is open seven days a week.

Santa Barbara Chocolate Company

The Santa Barbara Chocolate Company supplies a variety of chocolates and chocolate products with the focus being on organic chocolate. With products ranging from raw cacao and cocoa powders, organic chocolate beans to gift boxes of fine chocolates, the Santa Barbara Chocolate Company uses only the finest ingredients to create their beautifully crafted products. The focus on quality organic products continues in their choice of locally grown Californian nuts and tree-ripened fruits used to compliment the highest grade of couverture chocolate that is available. The chocolate truffles made by the Santa Barbara Chocolate Company are flavored with a variety of garden fresh flavors that add a fanciful note to their range which also includes classical toffees, caramels and nougat centers. Suppliers of quality baking chocolate as well as the finest chocolate chips, the Santa Barbara Chocolate Company is also a wholesale supplier of quality chocolate and cacao for people interested in making their own chocolate. They stock a range of organic chocolate bars in 4.4 lb and 22 lb blocks for commercial users and the organic chocolate bars also come in packs of four smaller bars in milk chocolate, dark chocolate or milk chocolate mocha flavors. There is a choice of Rainforest Black and Rainforest Red pure cocoa powders, sourced from the Amazon, available in quantities ranging from 2.5 lb to 50 lb while the Santa Barbara Chocolate Company also sells a Rainforest Red blend of fine drinking chocolate. For anyone that is looking for the purest, organic chocolate products available, the Santa Barbara Chocolate Company has the best quality range available.

High Street Chocolate

Based in Comfort, Texas, High Street Chocolate is an artisan chocolatier that specializes in making 70% pure, handmade chocolate creations for genuine connoisseurs. As they choose only the finest ingredients, including Tahitian vanilla beans and organic sugar blends, High Street Chocolate focuses on creating the most delicious and healthy chocolates in their studio. Combining well established flavors like vanilla, mandarin, peppermint and mocha with their finest quality chocolate, these carefully crafted chocolates make the perfect gift for special occasions such as weddings and are an elegant corporate gift when you want to make the right impression. With retail outlets in Comfort, Boerne, San Antonio and Mason, High Street Chocolate is also available online and can supply wholesale customers as well as individual chocolate lovers.

Chocolats du CaliBressan

At Chocolats du CaliBressan, the creative talents of master chocolatier Jean-Michel Carre brings European chocolate making skills to the American Riviera in Santa Barbara, California. Jean-Michel’s skills as a chocolatier have brought him accolades from around the world and his handmade artisan chocolates combine classical chocolate making skills with California’s eclectic style to create the finest chocolates in the world. The range of truffles extends from the familiar coffee and chocolate flavors through to exotic combinations such as curry with coconut or Sichuan pepper with orange to create unique and memorable flavored chocolates. The range of bonbons available at Chocolats du CaliBressan consists of all of the classics that you would expect to find like mint and rum while there are also some more challenging varieties such as geranium or Earl Grey tea and, of course, Tahitian vanilla. The number of bonbon varieties available is truly impressive and there is sure to be something to suit everyone’s taste in handmade chocolates in one of Chocolats du CaliBressan’s tastefully packaged gift box selections. The inventiveness of Jean-Michel in the ingredients that he sources for his fine chocolates as well as his impressive presentation of his product, often shaped into fascinating sculptures like clogs or tiny Buddhas, adds greatly to their appeal. Chocolats du CaliBressan can also produce custom made chocolates for your business or special occasion that employ all of the flair and quality of Jean-Michel’s craft to make a truly fine chocolate that is more than a treat.

Chocolate is always a favorite indulgence and it is worth the effort that it takes to find a truly exceptional product. Each of these chocolate artisans has their own style and brings something unique to their work with chocolate that can be enjoyed by lovers of fine food and chocoholics alike. These chocolates do cost a little more than the more generic brands but for a special occasion or as a gift for someone that is important to you then fine, handmade artisan chocolates can hardly be equaled for the enjoyment that they can bring. 

After carefully and thoughtfully reviewing the top four rated chocolatiers in the industry, Vanilla From Tahiti understood just how valuable the selection of the finest, high-quality ingredients are in crafting the best tasting chocolate.  The fine detail that goes into preparing high quality chocolates is evident in each and every one of the chocolatiers Vanilla From Tahiti reviewed.

For more information about Vanilla From Tahiti's award winning vanilla bean extract, visit http://www.VanillaFromTahiti.com

Vanilla From Tahiti Reviews The Top 4 Gelato Makers

Vanilla From Tahiti selected four of the top ranking gelato makers to review their products based on using the finest natural ingredients and adhering to the true artisan style of preparing delicios gelato.

As the world's purveyor of the finest Tahitian Vanilla Beans, Vanilla From Tahiti caters to those who expect the very best in quality, aroma and taste. Since vanilla is the most expensive spice next to saffron, Vanilla From Tahiti understands the demand for their precious commodity and takes care to see that even the most discerning  clientele  receive the highest quality Tahitian Vanilla Beans and other vanilla bean products at fair market value.

One of the most delicious ways Vanilla From Tahiti believes people can enjoy the taste of Tahitian Vanilla Beans is by eating vanilla gelato. According to the International Ice Cream Association,  vanilla is the most popular flavor, totaling nearly thirty percent of the vote. With so many vanilla-lovers out there and an increasing popularity for gelato, Vanilla From Tahiti decided to research  the top four gelato makers based on their use of the finest all natural ingredients from around the world, true artisan craftsmanship in the gelato making process, and great gelato taste. Vanilla From Tahiti selected to review these fine companies: Villa Dolce Gelato, Figaro Gelato, Aromi d’Italia, and Nicks Gelato.

Villa Dolce Gelato


A highly valued client of Vanilla From Tahiti, Villa Dolce Gelato has a history steeped in
family tradition. According to their website, at an early age the three Marcaccini
brothers left their native California for Rome - a city famous for art, history
and fabulous cuisine! When the brothers returned to Los Angeles, missing their favorite
boyhood treat of authentic Italian gelato, they sought the tutelage of Italy's
highly renowned gelato artisan, Nino Ferrore who accepted their offer and came to LA.

At Villa Dolce Gelato, the Marcaccini brothers follow the time honored artisan-style traditions of gelato making and use only the finest natural ingredients of the highest quality, such as Tahitian Vanilla Beans from Vanilla From Tahiti. Villa Dolce Gelato has earned themselves a well-deserved reputation among top LA chefs, as well as A-list celebrities who not only appreciate the highest quality natural ingredients, but their own reputations are on the line - they demand it.

Villa Dolce proudly delivers not only to clients in LA, but nationwide and offers products to the wholesale and retail market so that everyone can enjoy the delightful gelato taste that inspired the Marcaccini brothers.




Figaro Gelato

In true artisan fashion, Figaro Gelato prides itself on infusing its sweet confections with an abundance of the finest natural ingredients available. This practice is part of a long-held Italian tradition in producing a quality product that brings out the best flavors that gelato lovers savor.
Among Figaro Gelato flavors include time tested vanilla. They have a variety of delicious flavors available year-round, including Vanilla Americana, Vanilla Bean, Vanilla Superior, and Vanilla Chocolate Chip.

Vanilla gelato made in the traditional Italian way calls for the best vanilla beans. There are several types of vanilla beans an artisan can choose, including Mexican, Madagascar, andTahitian Vanilla Beans. The type of bean affects the color and flavor intensity of the vanilla gelato. Very high quality vanilla beans, such as Tahitian Vanilla Beans, results in a brownish or golden yellow coloring. Figaro uses vanilla extract to achieve their delicious vanilla flavor.

Other Figaro Gelato flavors incorporate fresh fruits, such as black cherry, mango, raspberry, and red ripe strawberry.  For chocolate lovers, Figaro Gelato creates a range of flavors sure to please everyone, incorporating only the best tasting and most decadent chocolates.

One of the most impressive accomplishments for Figaro Gelato is that they have managed to offer - during these challenging economic times - as much as a twenty percent cost savings advantage over their competitor without sacrificing quality ingredients or taste. This is truly an admirable achievement.

Aromi d’Italia  

Boris and Carmen, proud owners of Aromi d'Italia are living the American dream. According to their website, they emigrated from Italy in 1987 and have grown Aromi d'Italia to be one of the biggest manufacturing and distributorship of top-rate gelato products in North America. Their commitment to success and customer service does not stop there.

Aromi d'Italia offers their clients a full-range of services to ensure their success. Whether their clients need help with interior store design, staff education and training, or customer support services from friendly and helpful staff, Aromi d'Italia is a full-service provider in addition to offering quality gelato flavorings and packaged ingredients.

As a distributor of high quality gelato flavorings and pre-packaged gelato products, Aromi d'Italia provides their clients with healthy profit margins and great-tasting, easy to make gelato products made from natural ingredients, such as pure vanilla extract and quality vanilla beans, as well as fresh fruits, nuts and chocolates. According to Aromi d'Italia , the biggest advantage to using their packaged gelato products is to keep from wasting expensive natural ingredients when a gelateria (gelato shop) makes its own gelato on a daily basis..

In order to prepare consistent gelato quality, taste, and aesthetic presentation, Aromi d'Italia highly emphasizes their training program. They offer a variety of gelato culinary classes at the certified gelato Aromi d'Italia Culinary Institute. These classes include Introduction to Gelato, Gelato and Food Preparation, Food Safety, Sanitation & Quality, and Store Operation. All of these training courses are developed and taught to ensure each client's success. Just as Boris and Carmen at Aromi d'Italia have realized their dream, it is evident that they want their clients to succeed as well.

Nick’s Gelato 

At Nick's Gelato, the experience is truly a family affair. Nick's Gelato is a wholesale gelato distributor with a personal touch and keen eye for business who discovered a superior gelato product produced and crafted by the chefs at Palazzolo's Artisan Gelato and Sorbetto. Following in a long standing Italian family tradition, owner Marie Palazzolo and her son Pete began making and serving artisan-style gelato in the restaurant where Marie’s father was a chef. Today, Nick's Gelato and Palazzolo's Artisan Gelato and Sorbetto have a symbiotic relationship that flourishes.

Fast becoming known as a healthier alternative to ice cream due to lower fat, fresh fruits, and all natural high-quality ingredients, such as Tahitian Vanilla Beans, Nick's Gelato has a business strategy to simplify the process for entrepreneurs to franchise their own gelateria and share the rich, creamy and tantalizing delights of gelato with the world without having to travel to Italy for authentic taste.

At Nick's Gelato, they provide franchise opportunities, assist independent businesses, sell gelato freezer cases and equipment, as well as distribute a superior gelato product in 600 flavors, including a variety of mouth-watering fruit flavors, exotic nuts and chocolates, and the world's most popular flavor - vanilla, whose exquisite taste comes from the finest vanilla beans and vanilla bean extracts.

After carefully and thoughtfully reviewing the top four rated gelato makers in the industry, Vanilla From Tahiti understood just how valuable the selection of the finest, high-quality ingredients are in crafting the best tasting gelato. The relationships the gelato makers have with their clients shows their dedication to their commitment to providing the best available products. The true artisan practices in mastering and preparing the delicious gelato is evident in each and every one of the gelato makers Vanilla From Tahiti reviewed.

For more information about Vanilla From Tahiti's award winning vanilla bean extract, visit http://www.VanillaFromTahiti.com