“Go local and keep it simple” is the guiding principle behind Brass Bear Brewing Company, the new Funk Zone spot by the husband-and-wife team of Seth and Lindsay Anderson. Such terms get thrown around frequently, but that ethos is intricately woven into every aspect of the bustling bistro on Anacapa Street, which opened on February 24.
Take the combination skewer platter, for instance. Succulent Watkins Ranch chicken and beef from Ojai, slightly spicy pork sausage from San Luis Obispo’s Alle-Pia, and seasonal vegetables from Harvest Santa Barbara are draped across a rosemary-thyme potato pancake (a nod to a recipe Seth’s mom made in their Virginia home) and served with zippy tzatziki made in-house from cow and goat yogurt, dill, olive oil, mint, and red onion.
“We’ve been putting everything we have into this,” said Seth, whose breezy space features mountain views, handcrafted tables, art (including a painting by Lindsay’s mom), their iconic bear logo (designed by Lindsay), wood walls that they nailed in themselves, and bunting hanging from the ceiling made out of their wedding tablecloth. The couple met in New York City in 2009 and left their jobs in finance and marketing for greener pastures when, according to Seth, “A dog and a backyard became more important than a paycheck.” Lindsay’s hometown of Santa Barbara offered the space and nature they craved as well as an urban-epicurean spirit. Plus, as Lindsay realized, “The Funk Zone’s missing more beer, food, and champagne.”