The Lark Celebrates 10 Years in Santa Barbara
Chef Jason Paluska Reflects on a Decade of Running the Influential Funk Zone Restaurant
Chefs don’t tend to stick around long in the modern American restaurant scene, where ladder-climbing looks more rewarding than loyalty. But the longevity of Chef Jason Paluska is why The Lark remains a darling of the Santa Barbara culinary scene, a full decade after he was part of the team that opened this Funk Zone hotspot and fueled the seaside neighborhood’s ongoing maturation.
“One thing that stands out about The Lark is the big heart the team brings to it every day,” said Sherry Villanueva, who left her corporate marketing career to open the restaurant in 2013, then went on to open multiple eateries and hotels under the Acme Hospitality brand. “There is no better example of that than Jason. He and Skyler Gamble were both part of our opening team, and we would not be where we are without them.”
Raised in Houston, Paluska was lured to Santa Barbara (a city he didn’t know) after years of sharpening his skills in San Francisco (a city he loved). He’s since become ingrained in the community, raising twin 8-year-old daughters together with his wife in Carpinteria.
