CAFE DEL SOL SAN YSIDRO AT EAST VALLEY RD. IN BEAUTIFUL MONTECITO, CA 969-0448 MONTECITO AND SANTA BARBARA SHARE HISPANIC PAST. By Walker A. Tompkins Beautiful Montecito§ beginnings are rooted in the fact that two centuries ago, a Spanish king became alarmed over Russian and English interest in California. Carlos III ordered four presidios to be built along the coast. The last military outpost ever established in the New World by Spain was at Santa Barbara. The site chosen was midway between Points Concepcion and Mugu, on the only eastwest stretch of Pacific coast in the Western Hemisphere. It had first been seen by white men in 1542, when Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed by on his voy age of discovery. Another Spanish mariner, Sebastion Vizcaino, named the area for Saint Barbara in 1602. Not until 1769 did white men actually set foot on the soil of Montecito Looking west in 1895 from the present site of Cafe del Sol toward the old Montecito Presbyterian Church, with Buell's general mercantile store at left. - Tompkins collection. and Santa Barbara - El Capitan Gaspar de Portola's overland expedition, which camped overnight near today's celebrated Moreton Bay Fig Tree. To garrison Presidio Real de Santa Barbara, soldiers and their families were brought in from Sinaloa and Sonora provinces. Their first comandante was Lt. Jose Francisco de Ortega. Montecito Mission? Padre Junipero Serra, el presidente of the California mission chain, died before Ortega could get a church built in Santa Barbara. This honor went to Serra's successor, Fr. Fermin de Lasuen, who arrived in 1786 with direct orders from Governor Pedro Fages to build the new mission at a site he had selected in Montecito. Then as now, Montecito possessed the three requisites demanded of any mission site: ample field stones for building purposes; a year-round supply of pure mountain water; and proximity to fertile farming and woodland areas where the Indian neophytes could be taught agriculture and sheep raising. But Fages' idyllic garden of Eden, Padre Lasuen soon discovered, had one serious flaw. Unfortunately, the tangled bosques of wooded Montecito swarmed with huge California grizzly bears - a species now extinct -and were also rumored to be a hideout for bad men. Deeming Montecito as too far from the protection of the presidio, Fr. Lasuen built Santa Barbara mission at the mouth of Pedregoso (Mission) Canyon instead. Military duty in Santa Barbara turned out to be a boring peacetime activity. Soldiers' payrolls, uncertain at best during Spanish days which ended in 1822, practically disappeared during the Mexican regime, which the invading Americanos ended in 1846. Montecito Hot Springs Hotel in horse and buggy days, circa 1890. Only foundations and stone walls exist today, due to forest fires. -Tompkins collection. Land for Veterans But military veterans had to receive some compensation after they retired from active duty, so, land being the cheapest commodity around, the government awarded soldiers with either town lots near the presidio walls, where Santa Barbara's first "housing tract" sprang up, or small ranchitos in what was known as the East Valley or El Montecito, variously translated as "little mountain" or "little woodland," The ranchitos were known as "suertes," Spanish for "chances," since they were drawn in a lottery. Thus was born Montecito's "Old Spanish Town," on either side of an ox-cart track and foot path (since named East Valley Road) between Sycamore Creek on the west and a small adobe church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, on the east. Here settled such Hispanic pioneer families as the Ortegas, Juarezes, Romeros, Robles, Dominguezes, Lopezes, Olivos', Covarrubias', and other "first families" of El Montecito. The most famous historical landmark of Old Spanish Town in Montecito was La Parra Grande or the Big Grapevine. It had been planted from a slip in 1796 by Dona Marcelina Feliz de Dominguez. Elmes Travel Sears Realty Pierre LaFond & Company Cafe del Sol Plaza del Sol Hrs: 12 noon - 3 p.m. Luncheon Menu Sandwiches Served with green salad and choice of bread MATADOR 4.25 Choice hamburger with cheese 4.50 PATTY MELT 4.25 Grilled cheese with meat patty POLLO DEL MAR 3.95 Tuna & Swiss cheese COMBINATION 4.50 Ham; ham & cheese; ham & turkey; turkey; or turkey & cheese DIETA LAREDO 4.50 Meat pattie, cottage cheese & fresh fruit TOCINO 3.95 Bacon, lettuce & tomato EL TORO 4.95 Thinly sliced, lean roast beef BECERRO 4.50 Lean corned beef and Swiss cheese MONTECITO 5.25 Roast beef and avocado JAOQUINS 4.95 Crisp bacon and avocado RUEBEN 4.95 Grilled corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut EL DIABLO 5.95 Pork chili verde, beans, avocado, onion roll CLUBHOUSE 5.95 Bacon, tomato, turkey, cheese SAN FRANCISCO STEAK SANDWICH 7.95 Choice rib eye on sour dough bread Omelets JUDY'S FAVORITE 5.25 Green chllis, Jack cheese and a touch of love SPANISH OMELET 4.95 Our own delicious Spanish salsa. BACON & CHEESE 5.25 Crisp bacon, tangy cheddar cheese OMELET FLORENTINE 4.95 Spinach, sour cream & nutmeg CHEESE OMELET 4.50 Jack cheese & cheddar cheese MUSHROOM OMELET 4.50 Fresh mushrooms sauteed with scallions OMELETTE ESPECIAL 5.95 Vegetables, salsa, mushrooms and cheeses Salads CAFE DEL SOL 4.95 Our Chefs sided with ham, turkey, cheese CAESAR 5.25 from the original recipe CANLIS 4.85 A lot like a Cesar with bacon instead SEAFOOD LOUIE 6.95 Shrimp, crab meat, Louie dressing A Touch of Old Mexico NACHOS 3.50 GUACAMOLE 3.95 ENCHILADAS-served with beans and fresh fruit 1. Cheese enchilada 3.95 2. Chicken enchilada 4.95 3. Beef enchilada 5.25 TOSTADAS-served with fresh fruit 1. Bean and guacamole tostada 3.95 2. Chicken tostada 5.25 3. Beef tostada 5.50 STUFFED CHILIS-served with beans & fresh fruit 3.95 COMBINATION-stuffed chili and enchilada 1. with cheese enchilada 4.95 2. with chicken enchilada 5.95 3. with beef enchilada 6.25 VICTORS LUNCHEONS-cheese enchilada, refried beans and meat entree 1. with chicken, ala mexicana 5.95 2. with bed, chili Colorado-a favorite 6.50 3. with pork, a chili verdo-tasty & peppy 6.25 4. with carne asada, broiled ribeye & guacamole 7.25 Desserts FLAN 1.50 Caramel custard CHEESECAKE 1.95 We make our own ICE CREAM OR SHERBET 1.25 Etc. SOUP OF THE DAY cup 1.25 bowl 1.50 SMALL GREEN SALAD 2.95 FRESH FRUIT BOWL cup 1.50 bowl 2.50 SLICED HALF AVOCADO 1.50 Beverages COFFEE, TEA, MILK .50 SOFT DRINKS 1.00 FRUIT JUICE 1.25 BEER-Domestic 1.50 Imported 2.00 WINE Burgundy, Chablis, Vin Rose glass 1.25 1/2 Carafe 3.50 Carafe 5.75 PREMIUM BEER 2.00 Dos Equis XX, Carta Blanca, Bohemia, Heiniken MARGARITAS, SANGRIA, ETC. FROM LA CANTINA Applicable sales tax will be added to all food and beverages served. Hrs: 6 p.m.- 10 p.m. Dinner Menu Appetizers ESCARGOT DE VALENTINO 4.95 GUACAMOLE & TORTILLA CHIPS 3.95 NACHOS 3.50 Dinners Served with soup or salad and a selection of vegetables undercooked to perfection, your choice of: cheese enchilada, rice pilaf or baked potato. CHICKEN - boned breast of chicken CORDON BLEU - ham & cheese 8.25 BROILED, basted with lemon butter 6.95 TERIYAKI 7.25 MARSALLA - wine, mushrooms 7.95 PICATTA - lemon butter, capers 7.95 STEAKS - choice cuts, charbroiled FILET MIGNON 11.95 PETITE FILET 9.95 TOURNEDOS, bearnaise 12.95 NEW YORK 11.50 "MONTECITO" PEPPER STEAK 11.95 JOAQUINS SPECIAL, ribeye steak on sourdough 8.95 SEAFOOD SCALLOPS, sauteed with a touch of garlic 10.95 SAUTEED SHRIMP, provencale 11.95 ABALONE, large white steaks, expensive and 14.95 delicate LOBSTER TAIL, Australian rock lobster 14.95 RED SNAPPER, broiled 7.95 FILLET OF SOLE, amandine or meunier 8.50 SELECTED FRESH FISH as available, please ask your waiter FAVORITE COMBINATIONS CONTINENTAL PLATE, petite filet, stuffed 13.95 shrimp, tomato parmesan MESTIZO, fllet mignon and Australian lobster tall 15.95 A Touch of Old Mexico ETC. VEGETABLE PLATE, a selection of fresh vegetables, 5.95 poached egg and tomato parmesan SEAFOOD LOUIE snow crab meat and bay shrimp 7.95 on a bed of salad greens Our Daily Chef's Specials Muy Sabrosa! Omelets JUDY'S FAVORITE 6.25 Green chilis, Jack cheese and a touch of love SPANISH OMELET 5.95 Our own delicious Spanish salsa BACON & CHEESE 6.25 Crisp bacon, tangy cheddar cheese OMELET FLORENTINE 5.95 Spinach, sour cream & nutmeg CHEESE OMELET 5.50 Jack cheese & cheddar cheese MUSHROOM OMELET 5.50 Fresh mushrooms sauteed with scallions OMELETTE ESPECIAL 6.95 Vegetables, salsa, mushrooms and cheeses A Touch of Old Mexico NACHOS 3.50 GUACAMOLE 3.95 ENCHILADAS-served with green salad, beans and rice 1.Chese arehttada 4.95 2. Chicken enchilada 5.95 3. Beef enchilada 6.25 TOSTADAS-served with and fresh fruit 1. Bean & gaucamole tostada 4.95 2. Chicken tostada 6.25 3. Beef tostada 6.50 STUFFED CHILIS-served with green salade, beans & rice 4.95 COMBINATION-stuffed chili and enchilada 1. with cheese enchilada 5.95 2. with chicken enchilada 6.75 3. with beef enchilada 6.95 MEXICAN DINNERS-served with green salad, cheese enchilada, stuffed chili, refried beans and meat entree 1. with chicken, ala mexicana 6.95 2. with bed, chili Colorado a favorite 7.50 3. with pork, a chili verde-tasty & peppy 7.25 4. with carne asada, broiled ribeye & guacamole 8.25 Desserts FLAN 1.50 Caramel custard CHEESECAKE 1.95 We make our own ICE CREAM OR SHERBET 1.25 Beverages COFFEE, TEA, MILK .50 SOFT DRINKS 1.00 FRUIT JUICE 1.25 BEER-Domestic 1.50 Imported 2.00 PREMIUM BEER 2.00 Dos Equis XX, Carta Blanca, Bohemia, Heineken MARGARITAS, SANGRIA, ETC. FROM LA CANTINA Applicable sales tax will be added to all food and beverages served. Sunday Brunch at The Cafe Start with a Ramos Fizz or a Bloody Mary. Almost everyone does. Fresh fruit compote and our own muffins, coffee, tea. HUEVOS RANCHEROS 4.95 eggs, Mexican style HUEVOS RANCHEROS/CARNE ASADA (steak) 7.95 EGGS BENEDICT 5.95 HAM OR BACON & EGGS 5.50 Children under 12 2.50 SEAFOOD LOUIE 7.50 shrimp, crab meat, Louie dressing SAN FRANCISCO STEAK SANDWICH 8.25 Omelets JUDY'S FAVORITE 5.75 Green chills, Jack cheese and a touch of love SPANISH OMELET 5.50 Our own delicious Spanish salsa BACON & CHEESE 5.75 Crisp bacon, tangy cheddar cheese OMELET FLORENTINE 5.50 Spinach, sour cream & nutmeg CHEESE OMELET 5.25 Jack cheese & cheddar cheese MUSHROOM OMELET 5.25 Fresh mushrooms sauteed with scallions OMELETTE ESPECIAL 6.50 Vegetables, salsa, mushrooms and cheeses A Touch of Old Mexico VICTORS LUNCHEON 6.95 enchilada, meat entree, beans TOSTADAS 1. Bean & Guacamole 4.50 2. Chicken Tostada 5.95 3. Beef Tostada 6.25 ENCHILADA 4.25 our famous Cafe recipe STUFFED CHILI 4.50 cheese stuffed green chili COMBINATION 5.95 enchilada, stuffed chili and beans Hrs: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. CAFE DEL SOL 516 San Ysidro Road, Montecito/969-0448