Contributing Writer

Rick Ramirez and Daniele Serra, the owners of Trattoria Grappolo in Santa Ynez, have opened a new Italian restaurant in Solvang called Osteria Grappolo.

“We’ve been researching this building, formerly The Little Mermaid, for the past six years, staying in contact with the previous owners. When we heard about the building becoming available, I contacted the owners and by the second week of November 2018 we came to a verbal agreement. Discussions went back and forth until March 15, 2019, when agreements were solidified and we acquired the property,” Ramirez said.

“We opened Osteria Grappolo on May 6. The transition from old to new was easily accomplished, taking only seven weeks,” he added. “The reviews have been very positive and encouraging. Hours of operation may vary to accommodate our clientele.”

Ramirez and Serra have been friends for more than 17 years and have had other businesses together for the past eight years.

“We have been friends for 17 years and brothers-in-law for 15 years, so this new venture is a family affair,” said Ramirez. “It’s been our desire to open up a restaurant in Solvang, and I enjoy the operational aspect of a business as well.”

“Even though Osteria Grappolo in Solvang is under the umbrella of Trattoria Grappolo in Santa Ynez we are similar in our menu but yet different. As an example, Trattoria offers pizza and Osteria does not – we offer Paninis,” said Ramirez. “The dishes we offer on our menu are more oriented toward the Northern Italian style recipes, which is where Daniele was born and raised.”

Ramirez explained that, in Italy, the most expensive restaurants are referred to as Ristorante, then slightly below that are Trattoria and then Osteria, which is comparable to a bistro – delicious food, great atmosphere at reasonable prices.

“One of our goals is to have a blend of patrons who are local residents and tourists,” said Ramirez. “We want to serve the whole community.”

“We are fortunate to have many of the staff from the restaurant in Santa Ynez working in Osteria Grappolo,” said Ramirez. “I am enjoying getting to know them and grateful to have them working with us at this new restaurant in Solvang.”

“I am eternally grateful for Daniele’s experience and knowledge about the restaurant and wine industries and to be able to implement his expertise in the operation of Osteria Trattoria and be able to resource from his background and knowledge,” said Ramirez.

Originally from West Trenton, N.J., Ramirez moved to Brentwood in 1979 and lived in Morrow Bay for five years until he moved to Lompoc in 1993. Ramirez is married to Susie Sorensen Ramirez, who runs the Bit O’ Denmark Restaurant and The Vinhus in Solvang. The couple have been in the service industry as well as real estate agents in Solvang for many years. They have two grown children and reside in Lompoc.

Serra is married to Dianne Armstrong Serra. They have two daughters and reside in Buellton. Serra has been in the restaurant business since he arrived in the United States from Italy as a young man.

Osteria Grappolo, at 1546 Mission Drive in Solvang, is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

For more information, call 805-688-8281, visit www.osteriagrappolo.com or email info@osteriagrappolo.com.

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Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau

“Travels with Darley” on PBS, “My Classic Car with Dennis Gage” on Motor Trend TV, “Vanderpump Rules” on Bravo, and the Netflix movie “Paddleton” starring Ray Romano — these shows all debuted in the last two months, and they feature Solvang as their location. 

Filming movies, television shows, videos and commercials in Solvang is an important source of revenue for our economy in the short and long term, especially in the winter and mid-week. That’s why Solvang CVB staff members are working with location managers, producers, directors and media reps to share the benefits of filming in “California’s Denmark,” only two hours up the coast from Hollywood yet a world apart.

When a film, movie, TV or video cast and crew stay in a local hotel, dine in a restaurants and buy products and services, the “multiplier effect” of their purchases trickles down into all segments of our local economy in the form of tax revenues (hotel and sales) as well as helping pay for wages and salaries in local businesses.

The same “multiplier effect” occurs when the film, movie, TV show, video or commercial airs, generating a new interest or rekindling previous memories so that viewers want to visit Solvang to experience what the “stars” experienced. 

Both location filming and the resulting “products” create positive, measurable sources of revenue for the tourism industry and benefit the entire economy long-term. 

Here is a specific example: Solvang CVB staff worked with star Darley Newman, her cast and crew of the PBS-TV show “Travels with Darley” for several months last spring and they filmed here for two days in June 2018.

“Travels with Darley” reaches 44 million homes and has a social media following of more than 200,000. The show featuring Solvang first aired on KCET (PBS-TV in Los Angeles) on Jan. 31 and Feb. 4-6; and on our website, www.SolvangUSA.com.

Google Analytics showed an immediate spike of more than 1,000 users (compared to 2018) over those dates. The show continues to generate hundreds of email and social media posts and requests for information. 

The show will air on PBS stations around the country for years to come, as well as on Amazon Prime network and others. You can see a preview video here: https://vimeo.com/283226678/39322aee05

 You’ll recall the movie “Sideways,” which filmed here in 2003, premiered in September 2004 and won multiple awards, including an Oscar. Visitors from around the world want to experience what the stars did on that weeklong wine tasting adventure, and Solvang CVB still receives requests and provides specialty maps to do it. For more details, check out www.solvangusa.com/about-us/movies-filmed-in-solvang/

 Eyes that are focused on Solvang on movie, TV, video, computer or smartphone screens make positive economic sense. Stay tuned!

Tracy Farhad is the Executive Director of the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau, the non-profit agency promoting Solvang’s culture, cuisine, shopping, arts and attractions. For more information, visit www.SolvangUSA.com.

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SYV Star Staff Report

Crystal “Chef Pink” DeLongpre and Courtney Rae DeLongpre announced Aug. 11 that they were immediately closing their Bacon and Brine restaurant, without giving a reason for the closure.

“It is with the heaviest hearts and most disappointments that we are announcing the closure of Bacon & Brine. We can not express enough gratitude for those who’ve helped along the way and the support of this community that we’ve experienced,” they posted on the Facebook page.

Just a year ago the women were quickly outgrowing and moving their small kitchen space in Atterdag Square (where The Hummingbird Cafe is now) to the corner of Copenhagen and Second Street next to the blue windmill and Sevtap.

They raised nearly $25,000 in a kickstarter campaign to help with covering costs and their $175,000 debt, They said in a Facebook post that they weren’t able to obtain a traditional business loan. They offered their large fan base perks for pitching in.

The many reviews on their Facebook page are mostly five stars, with people saying they are return customers and posting pictures of their favorite food items.

When the SYV Star staff asked about a reason for the closure, the DeLongpres said they couldn’t comment at the moment and would send out a release when they were able.

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The Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) is a not-for-profit organization formed in 1986 to promote the City of Solvang, its Northern European culture, cuisine, shopping, arts and attractions of the village known as “California’s Little Denmark.” According to Executive Director Tracy Farhad, the SCVB is seeking two new members to serve a two-year term of office on the Board of Directors starting in January 2017. The applicants must be either an active business owner or executive level manager, or the property owner of a tourism-related business in the commercial area of the city of Solvang for a minimum of two years prior to December 31, 2016.

Members of the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors encourage the development of new promotional programs; oversee the strategic marketing plan and advancement of Solvang’s tourism industry. Applicants must be willing to commit to attending regular monthly SCVB board meetings, held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 8:30am at Solvang City Hall. (The meeting schedule is subject to change with prior notification and some special meetings are required throughout the year.)

Individuals interested in a Board of Directors position should send a one-page statement describing the applicant’s vision for Solvang tourism promotion, their unique contributions and a brief biography to Executive Director Tracy Farhad via email to tracy.farhad@SolvangUSA.com or via letter mailed to her at Post Office Box 70, Solvang, CA 93464; no later than close of business on December 8, 2016.

The current five SCVB board members were ratified and installed at the January 25, 2016, Solvang City Council Meeting as follows: President Jeff Paaske, Solvang Restaurant; Vice-President/Secretary Kim Jensen, Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolates; Treasurer/CFO Susan Williams, Wandering Dog Wine Bar; Directors David Rasmussen, Rasmussen’s; Angie Horn, Hamlet Inn & Atterdag Inn and Honorary Board Member Dr. Kenneth Harwood, Economist, Solvang Chamber of Commerce. Jeff Paaske and David Rasmussen terms are coming to a close in January 2017.

Please feel free to contact Tracy Farhad directly for any additional information or assistance by calling 805-688-6144 or by email at tracy.farhad@SolvangUSA.com

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