Local Raising Cane’s fans can rejoice: The official grand opening of the Goleta location is planned for next week.
The Goleta Raising Cane’s chicken restaurant plans to host an 8 a.m. grand opening celebration on Monday at 7000 Hollister Ave.
The grand opening promises big prizes to some lucky attendees, including a year of free Cane’s for 20 raffle winners.
The first customer in line will also receive a gift basket.
Additionally, the first 100 dine-in customers to purchase any combo meal will receive a free hat and box combo card to use at their next visit.
The Hollister Village site was previously home to Kyle’s Kitchen, which moved to a nearby shopping center at 6831 Hollister Ave., Unit D, near Target.
Local Mexican Restaurant Chef Wins Best Guacamole
Local chef Ramon Velazquez won best guacamole at the California Avocado Festival last weekend in Carpinteria.
Velazquez is the chef and founder of Corazón Cocina, which has locations in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria and Ventura.
This year was his second attempt to take home the best guacamole award.
However, Velazquez’s award-winning guacamole almost didn’t make it before the judges, he told Noozhawk. He was running late collecting all of the ingredients.
He wanted his recipe to highlight local produce.
“Using local ingredients is huge for me, and I think it also tells a story about (how) we have the greatest avocados in the world,” he said.
On competition day, he was racing against the clock, buying his ingredients from a local farmers market less than an hour before he had to present it to the judges.
“I didn’t think I was going to win,” Velazquez said. “Mine was the most simplest looking one.”
The minute one of the judges tasted his guacamole, however, Velazquez’s mind changed.
He recalled seeing the first judge’s eyes go wide and telling another judge, “You have got to try this one.”
Velazquez told Noozhawk he hopes to bring this recipe to his restaurants soon and is dependent on ingredient availability.
Corazón Cocina’s guacamole recipe is different than the entry Velazquez submitted for the contest. The restaurant uses pepitas, roasted pumpkin seeds, and not pistachios.
Here is how to re-create the prize-winning guacamole recipe at home:
Guacamole
10 to 12 Hass avocados
2 teaspoons of sea salt (always adjust more at the end to your liking)
2 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice (also adjustable to your liking)
5 oz of guacamole paste (recipe below)
Mix all ingredients with a large spoon.
Guacamole Paste
Blend 1 bunch of cilantro, half of an onion and 3 or 4 serrano peppers. Tip: Blend slowly, adding little bunches at a time to get a paste texture.
Guacamole Topping
Mix 3 oz of steamed sugar snap peas, a handful of pistachios and 3 oz of avocado oil. Add the purslane as a garnish.
Goleta Vietnamese Restaurant Wins City Recognition
The Goleta City Council recently recognized Saigon Noodle House for its more than 20-year run at 6831 Hollister Ave., Suite L, and for being a “minority- and woman-owned business.”
“On behalf of the mayor and the entire City Council and our staff in the city, I just want to congratulate you on having such incredible tenure and continuing to be a wonderful, diverse and rich addition to the Goleta Valley,” Councilman James Kyriaco said.
Owner Nancy Phan spoke on behalf of the restaurant staff and acknowledged her father for his leadership.
“The strength of Saigon was built by my father himself,” she said.
Eddie’s Grill Soft Opens in Goleta
Eddie’s Grill in Goleta is hosting a soft opening of its lunch and dinner services through Oct. 20.
The family-owned and -operated diner chain is open at 5725 Hollister Ave., the former Goodland BBQ location.
The owners said the Old Town Goleta site will offer a sit-down experience, a difference from their other locations along the Central Coast.
Santa Barbara Named ‘Best Small City’ to Visit
The Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Reader’s Choice Awards has named Santa Barbara as the fifth “best small city” to visit in the country.
The travel publication fawned over Santa Barbara’s climate, hotels and architecture, calling it the perfect “break” from Los Angeles’ “hustle and bustle.”
Downtown Santa Barbara Clothing Store Relocates
Viva Santa Barbara, a clothing store in downtown Santa Barbara, has moved to a new spot in Paseo Nuevo.
The store is now at 707 Paseo Nuevo after moving a short walk from its former spot at 505 Paseo Nuevo, store staff announced online.
Community Bancorp of Santa Maria Reports Increased Net Income
Community Bancorp of Santa Maria reported higher third-quarter net income compared with the same period last year.
As of Sept. 30, the year-to-date unaudited net income was 14.2% higher than the same period last year, according to a report.
Net loans and total deposits also increased by 7.2% and 2.3%, respectively.
“We’re very pleased with the strong performance, which reflects the continued trust of our customers and community,” said Janet Silveria, president and CEO of Community Bancorp of Santa Maria.
