State Street’s bustling restaurant scene is a natural pairing for fans of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, whether that means grabbing a quick bite in between Metro 4 movies or going big on a quality date-night dinner before a tribute at the Arlington. For the sixth year in a row, Visit Santa Barbara is enhancing that connection by curating special deals at restaurants, wine tasting rooms, and hotels all around town, where cinematically inspired menu pairings are offered at attractive prices. Nearly 20 establishments are taking part in 2016, so what follows are just a handful of these Film Feast deals.
The Lark’s “Movie, Popcorn, and The Vesper”: The Funk Zone hotspot is swapping out its popular popcorn for movie popcorn and serving it up with a Vesper, better known as James Bond’s dirty martini. $14.
Rodney’s Grill App Pairing Specials: Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort’s restaurant is pairing its Lord of the Rings flash-fried calamari in arrabbiata sauce and/or its “Rebel Without a Claws” snow crabs in horseradish chili sauce with a Some Like It Hot jalapeño margarita and/or “Flight Club” red and white wine flights. Price varies.
Les Marchands “Royale w/ Cheese”: Chef Weston Richards takes Pulp Fiction inspiration to slap together two quarter-pound beef patties, caramelized onions, and molten taleggio cheese and serve with garlic-herb pommes frites. $15, or $22 with the Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier.
Grassini Family Vineyards’ “Corks ’n’ Kernels”: The El Paseo tasting room will pair Santa Barbara Popcorn Co.’s unique gourmet flavors with flights of cabernet sauvignon and other Bordeaux wines from Grassini’s Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara estate. $15.
Red Carpet Red @ C’est Cheese and Opal: While supplies last of the Visit S.B.–commissioned, Ampelos-made pinot noir bottling known as Red Carpet Red ($8 glass/$28 bottle), C’est Cheese is pairing three cheeses and Italian cold cuts with the wine, as well as Red Velvet Cupcakes, and Opal is serving it alongside a $40 prix fixe menu.
For the full list of Film Feast offerings, see sbfilmfeast.com.