What we’re trying to achieve
We’re just a chef and husband who really enjoy food. And wine. And spirits.
It turns out there are a lot of other people like us in Santa Barbara, so we decided to form a private club.
But not just any club. We combine New York refinement with California sensibility.
We’re shooting for sophisticated, interesting and approachable without being uptight, or hipster-ish. So leave the couture and the man-buns at home folks, we’re here to enjoy food, wine and other people!
If you like to cook, eat, or drink, we’d like to hang out with you!
Join us, won’t you?
“I enjoy cooking with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food”
–Julia Child
We put the ‘Epic’ back into Epicurean
The Team
Amy Robinson
Chef & Founder
A California native who lived in New York City for over a decade, Amy loves to entertain her guests with wonderful food experiences. Before becoming a chef, Amy worked as a film composer, lending her talents to major motion pictures such as Hugo, The Hobbit Trilogy, and The Lord of the Rings (Concert Works). After moving to Santa Barbara, CA, Amy founded Epicurean Santa Barbara, and soon realized that her passion for creating incredible food and sharing that joy with others was her ultimate calling in life. She loves the traditions of the the old world as well as contemporary flavors and techniques, and thrives on creating unique dishes that delight and enlighten her guests. Her training started in the New York City food scene, and continued at the Institute of Culinary Education in Pasadena, and prominent restaurants around Southern California and the Central Coast. Also working as a personal chef, Amy provides curated dining experiences to clients all along the Central Coast.
Keith Robinson
Co-Founder
Growing up in San Diego, Keith developed a deep love for flavorful food and artisanal beverages through the authentic Mexican American food scene and craft brew culture. Discovering his passion for customer experience at a young age while working for a catering company, his goal was simple, to foster fun and exciting experiences around food, drinks and entertainment. Taking with him the customer-centric viewpoint, coupled with an obsession for perfection, he has become a highly successful business owner in the music industry, servicing composers, producers and artists all over the globe. After a decade of living and eating his way through New York City, Keith’s passion is to bring his knowledge of customer service, food and beverages to our local community through enlightening experiences that promote creativity, passion and entertainment.
Advisers
Jeremy Allen
A citizen of 3 countries, Jeremy Allen has spent a great deal of his life traveling and working around the globe. He and his wife, Debby, moved to Santa Barbara in 2014. Jeremy is a former pharmaceutical executive that now spends his time pursuing his interests and passions. Since “retiring”, he’s set up an academic mentoring program for disadvantaged youth in Philadelphia, he’s established a top eco-resort in Costa Rica and he’s become a key advisor to some of the world’s greatest wineries. Jeremy splits his time between Santa Barbara, his resort in Costa Rica (Arenas Del Mar) and one of his favorite wine regions (Paso Robles) whenever possible.
“Every day is the best day to open a good bottle of wine.”
Paul Astbury
A native of Chester, England, Paul Astbury spent most of his life in the hospitality industry before recently retiring to Santa Barbara with his wife, Judy. During his career, Paul held senior leadership positions at The Watergate Hotel, Princess Cruises, L’ermitage Hotel Group, Four Seasons and other storied hospitality brands. His unwavering focus on service and making memories for guests are the hallmarks of his leadership. That commitment to service and guest experience led Paul to managing private clubs, first at the prestigious Jonathan Club in Los Angeles and at Ocean Reef in the Florida Keys. As President of Ocean Reef for more than 15 years, Paul oversaw a 2,500 acre private residential community of 2,000 members, one of the most esteemed private clubs in the U.S. Paul is still active in numerous professional organizations. He continues his role on the executive committee of the American and Hotel Lodging Association Resort Committee, the board of the Resort and Hotel Association, and the National Club Association Foundation. During Paul’s spare time, he enjoys extensive foreign travel, French wine, gardening, cigars and excellent meals prepared by his very talented wife Judy.
“Never accept satisfaction, always look for the next step to ensure that members are enjoying new and creative experiences”
Inga Winkler
As director of Brand Experience at Domain Chandon, Inga Winkler is responsible for overseeing all special events and catering initiatives including weddings, private events, incentives and executive retreats. With over 18 years of experience, Inga sets the stage as a premiere innovator and trendsetter in the industry. Prior to joining Domain Chandon, Inga has worked for a number of luxury hotels including the Hotel Californian, InterContinental London Park Lane, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on the Big Island, Hawai’i as well as Michael Mina’s first restaurant in Hawaii, Stripsteak Waikiki. Most recently at Michael Mina, Inga served asas a key member of the pre-opening team at Stripsteak Waikiki & The Street Honolulu. Prior to joining Mina, Inga served as Director of Conference Services at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on the Big Island, Hawai’i where she was responsible for creating high end Weddings as well as Corporate and Incentive Events. Inga’s dedication and vast knowledge of the industry serves as a valuable asset. She aims to deliver a high standard of excellence creating unique experiences in Napa Valley as the most sought-after destination for wine, weddings and events in Northern California.
Matt Kettmann
Matt Kettmann is the senior editor of The Santa Barbara Independent, where he’s worked since 1999, and a contributing editor for Wine Enthusiast magazine, where he reviews about 200 wines a month and covers the Central Coast and South Coast of California. He’s also written about wine and many other topics for the New York Times, TIME Magazine, Wine Spectator, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian, Sunset, and many other publications both regional and international in scope.
He’s traveled extensively in pursuit of a good story, writing about harrowing bike rides from the tip of the Bolivian Andes to the heart of the Amazon, presidential elections and refugee camps in wartorn Uganda, cutting edge Maya archaeology in Belize, vitamin delivery in the Mumbai slums and remote Sundarbans of India, artisanal winemaking in Burgundy, and post-conflict reconstruction in Nagorno-Karabakh, where a feature for Wine Spectator ignited his wine-writing career more than a dozen years ago.
A fifth generation Californian originally from San Jose, Matt has also made a small amount of wine each year since 2012, enjoys cooking in his limited spare time, and lives in the Santa Barbara suburbs with his Bordeaux-born wife Joanna and their two kids, Mason and Madeline.