Crazy for Funk Zone's new Spanish Restaurant Loquita
LOQUITA – AN
EXCITING SPANISH RESTAURANT OPENED IN THE FUNK ZONE ON SEPTEMBER 28
Acme Hospitality Celebrates the Spanish
History of Santa Barbara with Their New Offering
OCTOBER 28, 2016
SANTA BARBARA, California; September 28 ,
2016 – Acme Hospitality, owners and
operators of an innovative collection of boutique food and beverage concepts in
Santa Barbara, announce the opening their highly anticipated Spanish
restaurant, Loquita on September
28, 2016. The restaurant is located in the downtown Waterfront District at 202 State Street on the corner of Yanonali, the gateway to the Funk
Zone.
Loquita, an
endearing Spanish colloquial term for a wild, fun loving young girl, is a playful
love letter to the history of Santa Barbara. “Our city’s rich colonial history
has defined us in ways that span architecture, food, wine, and even informs our
community celebrations,” comments Sherry Villanueva, Managing Partner for Acme
Hospitality. “It’s the right time to dedicate our next restaurant to the
incredible culture and food that Spain is known for, but interpreted by a
contemporary California sensibility that is our company’s signature.”
Leading the
culinary team is Executive Chef Peter Lee, with an impressive resume that
includes most recently the award-winning Jöel Robuchon in Las Vegas and earlier stints at
Gusto and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles. Skyler Gamble, recruited from
The Lark where he has worked since its opening in 2013, oversees front of house
operations as Loquita’s General Manager.
SPAIN VIA S.B.: Loquita's executive chef Peter Lee (left) and GM Skylar Gamble bring tapas, pintxos, and paella to lower State Street. Image: Paul Wellman
Chef Lee’s menu is boldly shaped with Mediterranean flavors – olives, lemons, tomatoes,
peppers, vinegars, jamon and Sherries – simply executed and beautifully plated.
Small and medium platters are patterned for sharing, either as an intimate meal
or feasting with a larger group. Dishes include over a half dozen flavorful
spins of classic Pintxos – Gildas, White Anchovy, Spicy Piparra Pepper and
Manzanilla Olive; Calabaza, Ellwood Canyon Farms
Delicata Squash, Jamon Serrano and PX
Vinegar; Datil, Valdeon, Cantimpalo Chorizo and Honey
Date; and Manchego,
3 Month Aged Manchego, Membrillo and Pistachio. Bocadillos feature Aceitunas, Marinated
Olives, Citrus and Rosemary; Gazpacho de Pepino with Cucumber, Bell Pepper, Green Grape and Golden Raisins; and Pimientos, Ellwood Canyon Farms Shishito Peppers and Apple Turnip
Dressing. There are 32 seasonally changing Tapas – Wagyu Carpaccio with Manzanilla; Croquetas de Pollo;
Ahi Tuna Tartare with Piquillo; and Tortilla Española; Gambas al Ajillo with Garlic. Wood-fired tapas of perfectly
charred fish and seafood, richly marbled meats and succulent pork and chicken
are already Loquita favorites and specialties – Shrimp with Tomato, Brandy,
Garlic & Bocadillo; Spanish
Octopus with Black Garlic Aioli; Mediterranean
Sea Bream with Gigante Beans and Grilled Lemon; Diver Scallops with Green Lentils, Chorizo, Piquillo Vinaigrette; Pork Belly with Apple Chutney; Prime
Hanger Steak with Chermoula & Aioli; and Rocky’s Free Range Chicken with Citrus
Marinade, Fresno & Potato.
Imported Charcuterie and cheeses feature Jamon Serrano, acorn-fed Jamon
Iberico De Bellota and a Manchego cheese Flight with
accompaniments of membrillo and mixed Spanish nuts.
The star dish at Loquita is
paella, prepared to order in traditional paella pans and offered three ways – Verduras with Saffron, Cauliflower, Romano, Mushroom & Cipollini; Pollo & Setas with Fried Chicken, Maitake, Royal King Trumpet & Beech Mushrooms; and Mariscos with Bay
Scallops, Shrimp, Calamari & Venus Clams.
Seafood Paella | Image - Santa Barbara Magazine
The wine list is
comprised almost entirely of Spanish wines as well as exceptional local wines that
pair well with the cuisine. Loquita’s cocktail list features a selection of Spanish vermouths, farmers’ market Sangria,
hand-crafted cocktails and the de rigueur offerings of gin-and-tonics, the king
of the cocktail in Spain. The
Mediterranean climate and terroir of Santa Barbara County mirror that of Spain,
making the translation of locally sourced produce, meats and seafood an ideal
match
Complementing the food and beverage is the
alluring Loquita environment. One enters Loquita from State Street under hand-forged iron
awnings crafted from vintage tree-surrounds to discover a kaleidoscope of imagery and detail
that is both evocative of Old Spanish Santa Barbara and the contemporary city
of today. Influenced by history but inspired by modern Spain, Designer Doug
Washington (The Lark, Lucky Penny, Les Marchands, Santa Barbara Wine Collective
and Helena Avenue Bakery) with contribution from Santa Barbara local Stephanie
Greene Fuller, has orchestrated another masterful setting with his imaginative
touch. The restaurant’s interior space consists of multiple dining areas – the
bar, the sixty seat interior dining room, Poquita Pintxos Bar, a 60 seat
outdoor patio and private dining room for up to 34 guests.
The expansive walnut bar separates the dining
area with a matching stand-up counter anchored by solid columns, creating a
naturally defined space for imbibing and socializing. Antique mirrors handmade
by local artisan Phil Brainard are set in massive hand-carved wooden and gold
gilded Baroque-style frames made exclusively for Loquita by the Ramos family in
San Antonio, Texas in the traditional designs of old Europe. The framed mirrors
give a nod to the Spain of earlier days while adding warmth to the back of the
bar. Solid walnut posts and brass hardware secure the twelve leather tufted
barstools to the floor, fashioned by Santa Barbara artisans Peter and Andrew
Hernandez of Brothers of Industry. The kitchen is framed by a walnut-wrapped picture
window showcasing state of the art equipment and wood-burning grill and
includes a six-seat Chef’s Counter, allowing guests to dine in the front row,
observing the chefs at work close-hand.
Loquita’s interior palette includes earth tones of browns, beige and greens, handsomely trimmed in clean white washed brick walls. The main room is braced by banquettes and accented by vintage brass light fixtures warmed with white globe glass shades. Brass trims, including the side station brass counter handmade by Phil Brainard, are utilized throughout the dining room. Richly colored Nicaraguan cement tiles cover the floors; interior doors are salvaged from a 150-year old monastery in Germany. Brothers of Industry built the indoor tables in solid walnut which pair with mid-century modern wooden chairs.
Down the hallway is Poquita, a separate pintxos
bar (to be opened at a later date), with displays of Spanish Jamon Serrano,
Manchego cheese, Manzanita olives, tapas and pintxos. The small bites are
offered at the standing-room-only bar or the outside café tables on Yanonali
Street.
Several works of original art have been installed
at Loquita, again representing both traditional and modern Spain. An original 19th century oil
painting of St. Barbara adorns a wall in the dining room, salvaged from an old
church in Argentina. A continuously running slideshow of black and white art
photography from Spain is shown on an original brick wall in the main dining
room. A series of seven 150-year old
solid copper-brass paella pans are mounted on a wall across from the kitchen.
Upon entering Poquita Pintxos Bar, one is overtaken by a beautiful large-scale
mural by Indian-born Kaveri Singh of Calabasas. Kaveri’s graceful hand is
expressed throughout the flowering work.
A steel chandelier, fabricated by local artist Robby Van Aacken, is
patterned after candle-filled altars in Spanish cathedrals. The fixture circles
the Pintxos Bar, creating a magical, mystical space. An original
pressed-plywood carving of a bull that stands atop the outdoor banquette,
commissioned from local artist and Santa Barbara City College instructor Luis
Velazquez.
Outdoor Patio: Image | Loquita Website
A large vault door leads outdoors to the patio,
casually arranged with Brothers of Industry tables set with vintage wrought-iron chairs. The
patio is bathed
in crisp white stucco, illuminated by string lights recreating a summer fiesta.
Reminiscent of the small coastal fishing villages of the country, the area is
landscaped with Mediterranean plantings – jacaranda and cassia trees,
bougainvillea, succulents, palms and flowering vines. Warmth is provided by a
cozy fire pit and a large dual fireplace, both whimsically tiled in repurposed
sardine tins honoring the time-tested tradition of preserved foods from Spain.
Sharing the joint fireplace is an adjacent private outdoor dining room for
social or business gatherings.
Acme Hospitality has won numerous awards and
accolades for its many concepts. Recognition includes “America’s Top 100 Wine
Restaurants” from Wine Enthusiast for
both The Lark and Les Marchands, 2013-2016; “Top 100 Hot Spot Restaurants in
America” for the The Lark by Open Table;
and “10 Hottest Restaurants in Santa Barbara” by Zagat for Lucky Penny. Loquita promises to deliver the outstanding
food, wine, cocktails, service and beautiful interiors for which the Acme Hospitality
family is known.
Looking for your Dream Home and Montecito lifestyle?
Click here to contact Susan Pate or visit MontecitoLifestyle.com
No comments:
Post a Comment