Two Gentlemen of Verona

Mixologist Alberto Battaglini hadn’t seen Chef Luca Crestanelli in nearly a decade, since back when they attended the same culinary school in Verona, Italy, where they both are from. “It was my second night in Los Angeles, and I walked in to a new job at Bar Toscana, and there was Luca,” Battaglini recalls. “We were like, ‘Whoa!’ Somehow we both ended up there at the same time.”

How they got to Santa Ynez is much clearer – restaurateurs Kathie and Mike Gordon, two-decade owners of Toscana and Bar Toscana in Brentwood, wanted to open a place in Santa Barbara County, where they had long lived. Hence the new S.Y. Kitchen – a shot of cool city elegance in the country – born this April. Not surprisingly, they talked Crestanelli and Battaglini into coming along, and now the duo are teaming up to make direct and delightful food paired with adventurous, pleasing cocktails.

“We balance each other well,” Crestanelli claims. “My food, it is very understandable; it’s not black magic. Cooking is not difficult – you just have to understand what’s in front of you. What Alberto does is slightly more complicated. His drinks have a twist, and I like that.” Crestanelli’s being a bit too modest about his own talents – while he prizes what’s “fresh and clean,” he takes those ingredients and makes the most of them. For instance, there’s a globe artichoke appetizer the size of a softball, supposedly baked, but it certainly has some great grilled flavor, especially crusted with fresh thyme and serious parmigiano. You get to dip that in a super thick Mediterranean-style mayo, a very garlicky delight (which means share it with others).