We are pleased to announce that La Playa Azul Cafe has selected Transition House to benefit from their May promotion at CentralCoastDining.com.

Transition House is Santa Barbara’s only shelter for homeless families and children.  They have helped over 10,000 families and 70% of their clients return to permanent housing with the economic means to sustain it.  To donate directly to Transition House click here.

Available now, La Playa Azul Cafe brings you an authentic Mexican dinner for 2 with drinks for $39 (regularly $83).  Ten percent of the proceeds will benefit Transition House.  Click here to purchase this offer.

Here is some more information about their Three Stage Program:

Mission

Transition House is the only homelessness organization in Santa Barbara that serves families with children exclusively. Our mission is to create a realistic and lasting solution to the cycle of poverty-based family homelessness. Transition House accomplishes this goal by providing a holistic array of anti-poverty programs that empower families to take control of their lives, find work, save money, secure housing, and become economically self-sufficient. More than 70 percent of families who join our program succeed in transitioning into permanent housing.

 Three-Stage Program

Transition House’s three-stage program includes our 70-bed emergency shelter, a transitional housing facility with room for six families, and 34 affordable housing units owned by Transition House:

 Stage One: Emergency Shelter

Our program begins with a 90-day stay at our emergency shelter, during which time the family recovers from crisis, establishes realistic goals with the help of a case manager, works on employment issues, and starts to save money.

 Stage Two: Firehouse

The second stage offers six months of transitional housing while the family continues to work on education and employment issues and to participate in the mandatory savings program.

 Stage Three: HOMES Program

Families with long-range goals may then move to the third stage for up to a two-year stay in affordable apartment units with continued case management. Transition House owns and operates 34 units of low-income supportive housing.

 Family Support

Critical to our clients’ success in achieving permanent housing are Transition House’s family support services. Parents enroll in a variety of onsite classes including our career development “Job Club,” English as a Second Language, Computer Skills, and Parenting. Infants receive care at our licensed Infant Care Center, and school children participate in specialized evening arts enrichment, free homework help, and literacy/technology programs that aim to break the cycle of poverty for children who are at highest risk of becoming homeless as adults.

To learn more about Transition House click here.

Shellfish Company has selected Heal the Ocean to benefit from its April 2013 offer with CentralCoastDining.com.

Available now at CentralCoastDining.com, enjoy $60 to spend on a dining experience for two at Santa Barbara Shellfish Company for half price ($30)!  10% of the proceeds from this offer benefit Heal the Ocean.

Heal the Ocean (HTO) is Santa Barbara’s well-known citizens’s action group with the goal of finding the sources of ocean pollution, then devising the means (including financial) to fix those sources. The primary focus is on wastewater infrastructure – removing septic systems from improper areas (next to creeks or on beaches) and finding funds to help wastewater treatment plants upgrade. HTO also works on storm water runoff and other sources of pollution.

With HTO Executive Director  Hillary Hauser at the helm, HTO’s efforts to protect the ocean have resulted in many successes, including the upgrade of the Goleta Sanitary District wastewater treatment plant to full secondary. The biggest HTO victory is the South Coast Beach Communities Septic to Sewer project, that, when finished, will have removed septic systems from 7 miles of Santa Barbara’s coastline – including Rincon, a world-class surf resort. On a similarly grand scale, HTO has helped secure a grant funding spot of $3 million within Santa Barbara County’s Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) application to the State for the upgrade of the City of Santa Barbara’s recycled water treatment plant, specifically, to include microfiltration. Also under IRWMP, HTO has been actively engaged in the South Coast Recycled Water Study Workgroup, which in March 2013 produced a draft study to lay out all possible areas of recycled water production, with the goal of increasing water supplies for irrigation while conserving potable water…and keeping wastewater out of the ocean.

On a grassroots level, HTO recently released an educational guide for the public on the negative effects pharmaceuticals have on our ocean environment.  “Contaminates of Emerging Concern”  (including pharmaceuticals) are published in HTO’s  downloadable Pocket Guide to CECs, so that as consumers we can be aware of products we want to avoid, or prevent from going down the drain.

Heal the Ocean is responsible for many bold initiatives to keep our seawater clean, from repairing wastewater infrastructure to regulating ocean dumping practices. To learn more about the great work HTO continues to do and to learn about how you can get involved in keeping our local oceans clean, go to healtheocean.org/ for more information.

Click here to purchase this offer.

Giancarlo’s Ristorante Mediterraneo selects the Morro Bay United Methodist Children’s Center to benefit from their April offer with CentralCoastDining.com.

Available now at CentralCoastDining.com you can get dinner for 2 w/ drinks- $49 (regularly $109) or lunch for 2 with drinks $29 (regularly $64).  5% of the proceeds benefit the Morro Bay United Methodist Children’s Center.

We’ve invited Executive Director Christy Hilliard to tell us about what this great organization offers for the local community:

“The Morro Bay United Methodist Children’s Center was founded in 2003. We started the Children’s Center simply because there was a lack of child care facilities in Cayucos, Morro Bay and Los Osos.

We now have grown to offering quality programs to children ages 2yrs-11 yrs.  Providing quality child care with a variety of program options including; Toddlers, Preschoolers, Transitional Kindergarten and After School Care for Elementary children. Currently, we have 112 children attending the Preschool and After School Programs.

We have developed a reputation of excellence by providing a safe and nurturing environment with a staff of qualified teachers who are dedicated to the physical, social, and emotional development of young children.

Our mission is to serve children and their families regardless of their ability to pay tuition. As a tuition based private non-profit organization this can often be a challenge. It is our goal to ensure that the children and families of our community are all offered the same quality child care services. In order to support our scholarship program we rely solely on fundraisers and donations. These events cover only a small portion of subsidized funds.

Our center instills values of trust, guidance, acceptance, love and community outreach. We feel that our community will strengthen because of the care we have provided to children and families. We focus on each child’s unique needs and stage of development. We foster an abiding curiosity and eagerness to learn. We offer a loving and nurturing environment.

As Margaret Mead said “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”.”

To donate to the Morro Bay United Methodist Children’s Center click here.

To purchase this offer click here.

Just a few short steps off State Street lies a piece of Santa Barbara history.  For over 25 years The Palace Grill has given Santa Barbara an authentic New Orleans dining experience. The Palace specializes in Cajun and Creole cuisine, from Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffée, Gumbo, Catfish, Oysters and much more. Experience live jazz on the weekends or mardi gras beads on Tuesdays for everyone. The owners routinely fly their entire staff to New Orleans so they can experience the magic and maintain the authenticity of a restaurant in the French Quarter. The Palace Grill offers you a trip to the French Quarter District – minus the long flight.

In March, CentralCoastDining.com offers $25 for $50 to spend on dinner or lunch for 2.  Ten percent of the proceeds benefit the Santa Barbara Muscular Dystrophy Association. 

The Palace Grill became a part of Santa Barbara history when the White House Press Corps made it one of their favorite restaurants during the Reagan Era.  Catering the dedication ceremony for the Reagan Presidential Library cemented the Palace Grill’s place in Santa Barbara history.

Besides being world famous for their food, the Palace Grill also offers world class service.  Their “team” approach makes the entire staff available to you at all times.

Los Angeles Magazine rates the Palace Grill “best on the west coast for Cajun-Creole cooking.”  Gourmet Magazine describes it “as though suddenly the Bayou country had dropped into the Santa Barbara beach-front.”

We love the Palace Grill for their exceptional food and the extraordinary service, and most of all you can’t miss their famous Louisiana Bread Pudding Soufflé.

The Santa Barbara Muscular Dystrophy Association (SB MDA) is an organization that works hard to better the lives of many people on the Central Coast.

The Palace Grill, Santa Barbara, is proud to make SB MDA the beneficiary of their March promotion at CentralCoastDining.com.  This world famous Cajun restaurant offers $50 to spend on dinner or lunch for two for $25 and ten percent of the proceeds benefit the SB MDA.

We’ve invited Parvaneh Givi, a former member of SB MDA (now working up north for MDA), as a guest writer on our blog to tell us a bit about the great work this organization performs.

Here’s her description:

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research.  The Association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.

Locally, the Mid-State Chapter of MDA serves Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and a portion of Ventura County.  All funds raised by the Mid-State Chapter remain locally and help us serve over 225 client families on the Central Coast.  These funds pay for clinic visits, durable medical equipment repairs, flu shots, as well as a week-long summer camp for kids, ages 6-17.  MDA also funds ground-breaking research programs at over 300 facilities worldwide.

For more information, visit: www.mda.org

Santa Barbara’s favorite beach-side dining destination selects the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation to benefit from their February offer with CentralCoastDining.com.

Available now at CentralCoastDining.com you can enjoy $80 to spend on food and drinks at Boathouse for $40 and 10% of the proceeds benefit the Surfrider Foundation SB chapter.

The Surfrider Foundation’s mission is the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.

Surfrider Foundation was founded in 1984 and the Santa Barbara Chapter was founded in 1992 by Rob Puddicombe, Anna Bass and others.  Some of its major accomplishments over the years include:

- Successful opposition of the Isla Vista Seawall.

- Successful opposition of the development of a 269 foot long rock revetment at Campus point.

- Successful appeal of the Goleta Beach emergency rock revetment in 1999.  Since 2000, Surfrider has consistently opposed rock revetments in favor of a more natural management approach that will save both Goleta Beach Park and protect the beach.

- Successful opposition to the construction of a golf course at the former ARCO site on the Gaviota Coast.  Surfrider is currently negotiating to preserve this land in perpetuity.

- The SB Chapter has been a member of the Naples Coalition since 2002. Surfrider, the Naples Coalition and the Environmental Defense Center are working to block the massive development planned at Naples on the Gaviota Coast.

Click here to sign the petition to save the Gaviota Coast.

To get involved or donate to the SB Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation click here.

Please take a moment to read this message from the Surfrider Foundation SB Chapter’s Chair Sandy Lejuene regarding the importance of the great work they do and the preservation of the Gaviota Coast:

“The Santa Barbara Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has been focused on preserving the Gaviota Coast – southern California’s last remaining stretch of undeveloped, unprotected coastline  – for over twenty years.  The depth of our passion for saving the Gaviota Coast comes from, in some cases, a life-long love affair that we have with this place.  We hear about how the earth loves us, and the Gaviota Coast is one of the places where you can actually feel the earth’s love emanating from the ground.  By fighting for its preservation we are merely returning the love we have already been given, have already felt.  It’s why even after all this time, our spirits remain strong, our commitment remains steadfast; and our love for this sacred area grows deeper with every battle we fight for its preservation.

What has brought us together is love: love for our coast and love for the community in which we live, which is really a way that we love each other.  Surfrider is unique in joining people across the world in love for their coastlines and the places they live.  As the world’s populations increasingly move to the coasts, Surfrider and its work has never been more important.  Our love for our coasts and for our communities is the strongest part of who we are, and because of it, we cannot fail.  Standing together, we will save the Gaviota Coast – our love guarantees it.”

Arlington Tavern has chosen the Loma Linda University PossAbilities to benefit from January’s CentralCoastDining.com promotion. This organization means something special to Arlington Tavern’s owner/ manager Diego Barbieri. PossAbilities at Loma Linda University Medical Center (along with many local businesses and community members) played a key role in helping Diego’s brother, fellow Santa Barbara resident, Andre Barbieri, on his road to recovery following a debilitating snowboarding accident in March 2011. Some of you may be familiar with Andre’s struggle to overcome what many of us would have found unbearable, that is, the loss of his leg. Andre has not only begun to overcome his loss, but in many ways has grown stronger and more resilient to life’s challenges. PossAbilities goal is to offer disabled individuals who were born with or have suffered a permanent physical injury a sense of community and provide activities and practical help to give them the opportunity of becoming valuable members of society. With the help of PossAbilities Andre has gained access to prosthetic technology and racing equipment that has enabled him to become a shining example of courage and sheer athleticism.

It was with Andre’s own perseverance and the assistance of PossAbilities that he has been able to pursue new endeavors and maintain those he has always loved doing including, walking, cycling, surfing and swimming. Where healthcare and insurance fell short, it was PossAbilities who stepped in to provide Andre with direct access to funding for equipment such as a racing bike, a running prosthetic, a cycling prosthetic, wetsuit and resources for training and competition expenses.  Andre’s life long passion for surfing is alive and well as he still paddles out at Rincon to catch a few waves despite the challenge of balancing with one leg. Andre’s sessions are about to get a little boost with the help of PossAbilities and a Texas based company called Limbs International. Both organizations are working to provide Andre with his own surf prostheses. Stoked.

All this support and a lot of hard work from Andre have led to a pretty busy and successful athletic schedule. Andre is not only competing but he’s blowing people away with his athletic ability.  In August of 2012 Andre was swimming in SBs Reef and Run competition at East Beach, in which he placed 2nd in the 1K swim. Recently, Andre pulled all three talents together to compete in October’s San Diego Triathlon Challenge. Andre was the fifth person in his category out of the water! Andre’s currently training for The Tour of Palm Springs on Feb 9 and a half marathon on Catalina Island in March.

Andre’s renewed energy for life and an appreciation for his body have led him to realize his goal of competing in the 2016 Paralympics in Brazil. For the first time in history Triathlon is going to be an event in the Paralympics and Andre can think of nothing more rewarding than competing on his home soil in Rio de Janeiro while representing Brazil for a medal.  PossAbilities is going to support athletes like Andre in their effort to train and compete for a place on the National and 2016 U.S. Paralympic Teams.

The people at Arlington Tavern appreciate what this organization has done for a member of their own family and hope to raise awareness and support for PossAbilites and it’s goal to recognize the inherent greatness in all people with physical challenges and support their educational and athletic endeavors by providing unparalleled sports and educational opportunities that lead to success in life. This January CentralCoastDining.com is offering $80 to spend on dinner for two at Arlington Tavern for $40 and 10% of the proceeds to benefit Team PossAbilities and the athletic aspirations of Andre Barbieri.

Click here to purchase this offer.

Click here to make a donation to Team PossAbilities.

To learn more about Andre’s story check out www.andrebarbieri.com and if you wish to support his goal of reaching the 2016 Olympics in Brazil (his home country!) please visit PossAbilities Road to Rio.

Here’s a video showing Andre Barbieri’s amazing athletic ability:

Milk & Honey Tapas selects The Arts Fund Santa Barbara to benefit from their January offer at CentralCoastDining.com.  Since 1983, The Arts Fund has been an independent 501(c)3 charitable non-profit organization committed to supporting artists and arts programming in Santa Barbara County.

The formal mission of The Arts Fund is to create, fund, and administer programs and projects that foster the arts for the people of Santa Barbara County; to act as a catalyst which maximizes the effectiveness of arts resources; and to nurture collaborative relationships with other arts organizations. Through the years, the Fund has worked on projects in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, CAMA, The Contemporary Arts Forum, the Santa Barbara City Schools, and Santa Barbara Visual Arts.

The most notable of The Arts Fund’s programs is the annual Individual Artist Awards (IAA), a juried competition open to Santa Barbara County artists, and the Teen Arts Mentorship Program that matches promising high school students with professional master artists and writers in a workshop setting. During the Summer of 2012 the first three-week intensive Mentorship Program was conducted during which students were introduced to classes in printmaking, drawing and painting. Students participating in the Mentorship Program gain valuable practical experience and develop a portfolio of professional work that will help them in their pursuit of a college education or other career opportunities linked to the arts.

In 2001 The Arts Fund opened its own gallery where they hold approximately ten shows annually featuring the works of local artists including the participants in The Fund’s Mentor Program and recipients of Individual Artist Awards. The gallery is a platform for local artists to showcase new work and gain the support of the local community. A community gallery enables residents to come together and learn more about their local artists and become educated in the artistic processes involved.

Support your local artists and visit the Art Fund gallery, located at 205C Santa Barbara Street
 (at Yanonali Street)
 Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

To donate to The Arts Fund Santa Barbara click here.

In January, Milk & Honey Tapas offers a dinner for 2 w/ drinks for $43 (regularly $86) available only at CentralCoastDining.com.  Tickets are redeemable through April.  Enjoy a variety of excellent tapas from this downtown SB hotspot with dinner for two that includes a choice of one shared “Veggie Bite” such as the Corazon Verde or Brussels Sprouts, one shared “Tapas Del Mar” such as Paellita or Gambas Chipotle, two “From the Farm” Tapas such as Filet con Crema, and two of their unique and delicious cocktails.

Only 150 tickets will be sold.

10% of the proceeds benefit the Arts Fund Santa Barbara.

Click here to purchase this offer.

Take a moment to view this video about the great work of The Arts Fund Santa Barbara:

Our team wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all our customers and supporters for a great 2012. We really enjoyed sharing some of our favorite local restaurants and with your help we’ve raised thousands for local non-profits. Our team hopes you’ve enjoyed the dining experiences we featured and are looking forward to an exceptional 2013.

Below you will find a list of our featured restaurants for 2012 and the non-profit organizations that benefited from their promotion with CentralCoastDining.com. By clicking on the restaurant name you can see why we selected these fine establishments to feature.

We also invite you to click on the non-profits that each restaurant selected to learn more about some of the organizations that are making a difference in our local community.

Featured Restaurants for 2012:

The Palace Grill, Santa Barbara- benefiting the Santa Barbara Muscular Dystrophy Association

Miró at Bacara Resort and Spa, Goleta- benefiting the Culinary Arts Training Program

Vieni Vai Trattoria, San Luis Obispo- benefiting Rita’s Rainbows

Blue Agave, Santa Barbara- benefiting Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara

Giancarlo’s Ristorante Italiano Mediterraneo, Morro Bay- benefiting the Los Osos Middle School PTA

La Playa Azul Café, Santa Barbara- benefiting Transition House

Casa Blanca, Santa Barbara- benefiting the PARC Foundation

Root 246, Solvang- benefiting the Buellton Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels Program

Louie’s California Bistro, Santa Barbara- benefiting DAWG

The Willows, Santa Ynez- benefiting the Buellton Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels Program

FisHouse, Santa Barbara- benefiting the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County

Alcazar Tapas Bar, Santa Barbara- benefiting the Arts Fund Santa Barbara

Avant Tapas and Wine, Buellton- benefiting NatureTrack

Ca’ Dario, Santa Barbara- benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association Central Coast Chapter

Thank you for choosing CentralCoastDining.com.

Looking for somewhere to dine on New Year’s Eve?  You can enjoy the freshest tapas and creative cocktails at Alcazar Tapas Bar.  Alcazar is offering a 4-Course pre-fixe menu for $49.95 per person that includes champagne at midnight.  Take a look at the delicious menu below.  If you’re interested you can email Launa at Launagilbert@gmail.com to make a reservation.