The Mill

At the corner of Haley and Laguna Streets, a few familiar faces recently settled into a new, urban chic setting designed by builders Darrell and Kirsten Becker. The couple has transformed the feed Mill, circa 1904 into a stunning new artisan marketplace for farm-to table experiences.

Potek Winery is winemaker David Potter’s foray (of the funky and cool Municipal Winemakers in the Funk Zone) into a high-end, second wine tasting room and wine making facility with a label named in homage to his grandfather/family name. Sip and swirl superb single vineyard varietals including Riesling, Pinot Noir and a fab Syrah, from beautiful reed-thin Reidel crystal glasses with tasting notes tucked inside hand-stamped leather binders. Tasty pours, $20 for walk-in or $35 for a seated, reservation tasting paired with small bites of food from Justin West’s Wildwood (see below) who has also set up shop in The Mill. Potek also hosts winemaker dinners: the first one kicked off by uber chef/ king of flavors Derek Simcik from the groovy Goodland Hotel in Goleta, this past summer.

Another creative SB uber chef, Justin West, of the highly regarded “farm to fork” restaurant Julienne, spreads his wings with Wildwood Kitchen. Known for making his own charcuterie and winner of the SB Indy “Livin’ la Vida Locavore” Foodie Award, West brings a menu created from locally sourced, seasonal products, In addition to lunch, dinner and catering, west prepares “Santa Barbara ranch, barbecue” vittles from Third Window Brewing, the craft beer brewery also in the complex championed by Kristopher Parker (of the Fess Parker family, grandson of Fess and Marcella_ partnering with friends and family who are “trying to make best beer in the world and the beer we want to drink!” [Greg Bartholomew and Liam Murphy represent the owners in leasing the Mill]