Full Belly Files | First and Fave Tastes, from Goleta to the Funk Zone

This edition of Full Belly Files was originally emailed to subscribers on August 11, 2023. To receive Matt Kettmann’s food newsletter in your inbox each Friday, sign up at independent.com/newsletters.

If all is progressing as planned, I’m actually in Hawaii as you read this. We are finishing up a week on Kauai and flying to Maui this afternoon for a couple of days on the Hana coast and then two days up in Makawao to visit my cousin’s agave farm, like we did last year. (Check out my Instagram story for a sneak peek here, though next week’s Full Belly Files will most likely give a detailed rundown.)

But I didn’t want to leave you hanging, so thought I’d share some of my recent restaurant highlights from dining around town in between this summer’s numerous trips for work, weddings, and, finally this week, some actual responsibility-free relaxation.

Rare Society’s GM Alberto Castillo and the wedge salad (left) plus Rare Society’s charbroiled oysters | Credit: Matt Kettmann