These are the words my host in Santa Barbara says to me as he leans in inches from my face. I actually couldn't understand what he was saying partly because he has a slurred annunciation of some words but also because he invited himself right in to my private space and never closed his lips while he was telling this to me - this was a distraction. He kept raving about the restaurant but the more he talked the less I heard as I tried to get comfortable with the vicinity of his face to mine all the while wondering how to kindly back away without being rude. I'm at least a foot and half taller than him so not only is he close but he's forcing his mug up to mine. Finally I say to him I'm running late for a yoga class I had planned on taking and then instantly there was release and relief from his magnetic face and I'm no longer breathing his breath. He then tells me he's never been there before but I should try it....WHAT! All that and he's never even been there himself. This guy cracks me up with every encounter (our first was him giving me the tour of my place and then he immediately and seamlessly went on to tell me how great the nude beaches were here 20 years ago).
Well, off I went downtown not thinking much about the restaurant but how interesting our exchange was. I thought to myself I'll try to find the place before I leave but I'm in no rush to eat out as I am preparing all my my meals here in the kitchen (via Trader Joes frozen department and the Farmers Market).
As it turns out my host must have some special diva gnome powers because I took a different route home from the studio and walked right to the SpiritLand Cafe. I wasn't really that hungry but figured I should just go with this serendipitous situation. And I'm glad I did.
The place was cozy and the service was extremely polite and friendly. The focus of this restaurant is not only organic but the healthy properties of the food/dishes. There are meat, vegetarian, vegan and raw selections. I was there during lunch so I grabbed a lunch box to go and took it to eat in the secret garden that is my yard. I chose the Curry Delight box and was not disappointed: roasted yam, tempeh, seasonal vegetables and Thai curry sauce. A+
If you're ever in Santa Barbara I highly recommend this place...and I have been there!
http://www.spiritlandbistro.com/
that looks like some awesome food.
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