TJ Culp and Esther Noh, the restaurateurs behind Restaurant Progress, Sottise and The Montecito Bottle Shop, have recently made a few changes to their successful lineup. Restaurant Progress has been rebranded as “Progress,” and the restaurant will be connected to The Montecito Bottle Shop, providing diners with a more seamless experience. Culp is also dropping the tasting menu in favor of more informal fare that includes small plates and a handful of entrees. To administer...
Photo by Nikki Buchanan Eggplant with Calabrian Chile Marmalade and Burrata at Restaurant Progress Chef-owner TJ Culp recently put a new fall menu in place, and it’s the most playful one I’ve seen from him yet. Imagine raw oysters topped with caviar and steak tartare (what??) or French onion soup dumplings, fashioned like gyoza and served with beefy jus. One of my favorites of the evening was two big slabs of eggplant, breaded and...
Here’s a small snapshot of the takeout scene in the Valley this summer.
