Tri-County Produce

We live in Montecito where, judging from the food selections at our Von's on Coast Village Road, it seems as though few who live here do their own cooking. However, judging from the extensive, large liquor department at that Von's, they do know how to open a liquor or wine bottle, especially one with a screw cap.

The truth is, I've never liked shopping at supermarkets or big bulk stores like Costco. They're organized to confuse you so you'll do a lot of impulse buying while you try to find what you really want, which might be something as simple as real maple syrup and you ask three staff members, none of whom know what "real" maple syrup is, and finally you stumble on it by mistake in the "ethnic" section, because, after all, it is from Vermont. A supermarket exception is Gelson's which I always find quite pleasant -- even if I have nearly been mowed down more than once in the parking lot by drivers who've had a little too much of Harry's famous pour.

But there are Santa Barbara food stores I do enjoy shopping at. Tri-County Produce Co. on Milpas Street near Cabrillo is one of them.

What makes Tri-County so pleasant? First, it's the openness. Then there's the sense of it genuinely being a community place. I often strike up a pleasant and informative conversation with an interesting local there. This week I had a nice chat with John Dixon, son of the late founder, James Dixon. By contrast, at Von's I was waiting in the checkout line and tried to pick up a copy of The National Enquirer, managed to send several other copies flying, and got sternly scolded by the skinny blonde in back of me in yoga pants holding her mat and a Kombucha. I wasn't sure if it was my spilling the magazines or that I was trying to read The Enquirer with its unflattering photo of Hillary on the cover. So much for that woman saying "namaste" in her yoga class.

Mostly what I love about Tri-County is it doesn't try to be everything, the way that supermarkets do. I genuinely like to explore the store without a fixed sense of what I want. There are always surprises, too. The other day I saw they carry the Japanese mayonnaise, Kewpie, a favorite condiment in an ultra-cute bottle. The Kewpie inspired me to get hot dogs from their meat section, a bag of greens and for a salad dressing, Mellow White Miso (Tri-County carries an excellent selection of organic miso) and make Japanese-style hot dogs. I spotted a perfectly ripe avocado and decided to make a Mexican hot dog as well.

Obsessive baker that I am, I'd also been wanting to try out a new pan I'd bought to make New England style hot dog buns, so I headed to their well-stocked baking section for King Arthur Flour. Tri-County also carries Bob's Red Mill and they're both terrific organic brands, but King Arthur has captured my heart with its free, friendly and knowledgeable Baker Hot Line that you can call with any cookie or breadmaking problem and they never, ever make you feel as though your lust for making the perfect crust is anything other than a deeply profound quest.

And here are my Tri-County dogs on my freshly baked New England Hot Dog Bun with Kewpie Mayo and a salad straight from the market's shelves. (King Arthur's recipe for the New England Hot Dog Buns here.) A bottle of sake, also bought at Tri-County completed the meal I made for Ray and me. (I believe sake goes with everything and have never understood why it isn't served at every restaurant and available at every liquor store in SB.)

In the end, I spend more time at Tri-County and do more impulse shopping. Pro tip: John Dixon told me the parking lot will be finished soon which will make it much easier to shop there!

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