Solvang, Santa Barbara County, California, USA—For the first time, a Solvang dining establishment has been recommended by the prestigious Michelin Guide. On June 3, the 2019 Michelin Guide California debuted, awarding First & Oak at the Mirabelle Inn at 409 First Street in downtown Solvang with the “Michelin Plate” which recognizes “Fresh ingredients, carefully prepared: a good meal.” Only 13 restaurants in the entire county of Santa Barbara received this recognition. Other Michelin Guide ratings include “Bib Gourmand” and “Stars.”
First & Oak’s Michelin review
states “In a small, romantic boutique hotel, this is a deliciously old-school restaurant that is coming into its own with ambitious contemporary cuisine. This should be no surprise, as the chef boasts a background in some esteemed and globally acclaimed kitchens. Guests are invited to create their own prix-fixe menu by selecting four to five dishes from a variety of categories, such as garden, ocean or farm. This might yield a meal that begins with a refreshing gazpacho made from delicately spiced melon with basil blossom and a bit of smoky fried shrimp. Masterful desserts have included a brown-butter sponge cake with dense clotted cream and marinated strawberries. Be sure to sample the owner’s own wine label, Coqueliquot, available in a range of styles.”
First & Oak opened in 2016, after the Rosenson family bought the Mirabelle Inn which houses the restaurant. Steven Snook, First & Oak’s opening chef, came to Solvang with a Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay résumé. The restaurant’s current chef JJ Guerrero, a protégé of Chef Snook, continues to serve a popular, locally-sourced tasting menu format accompanied by a wine list created by Sommelier and General Manager Jonathan Rosenson. First & Oak serves dinner seven nights a week from 5:30-8:45 p.m. with reservations recommended by calling 805-688-1703.
Tracy Farhad, Executive Director of the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau enthused, “We are so thrilled to celebrate First & Oak being recommended by the prestigious Michelin Guide! Bravo to Jonathan Rosenson and his team at First & Oak for bringing your extraordinary international cuisine to California’s Denmark.”
The Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) is a not-for-profit organization formed in 1986 to promote the City of Solvang, featuring its Danish-American heritage, Northern European culture, cuisine, arts and attractions. The SCVB operates the Solvang Visitors Center at 1630 Copenhagen Drive; open daily from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; offering free maps, guides, savings options and plenty of information on the destination named by USA Today as one of the 10 best historic small towns in America.
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Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau, Box 70, Solvang, CA 93464
Visitor Center: 1639 Copenhagen Drive ● Administrative Office: 436-G Alisal Road
TEL: 805-688-6144 FAX: 805-688-8620 TOLL-FREE: 1-800-468-6765 www.SolvangUSA.com
