Alessia Patisserie & Cafe

Alessia Patisserie & Cafe in Santa Barbara offers European-inspired pastries and dining, along with a variety of coffees and teas

There is something special about discovering a new to me spot in Santa Barbara. Considering I had the wild fever dream that I was going to move there and start a new life a few decades ago, I’m happy that the result of that desperate cry for change resulted in me staying in Los Angeles and driving the short distance to Santa Barbara to occasionally visit Derrick for lunch.

This time, I picked Alessia Patisserie & Cafe from the selection of two options he sent me. Something about the dessert selection just struck me as outstandingly gorgeous and something I truly needed to be in presence of.. to devour for myself.

Arriving a bit early for our monthly lunch ritual, I happily ordered at the register.

At once I was taken with the particular beauty of the space. It was exactly what I desired in a vibrant, beautiful sprinkle of the extraordinary.

When my BUTTERFLY PEA LEMONADE arrived, I was struck by how beautiful it was.

Derrick arrived soon after I’d ordered. After exchanging pleasantries, I was once again forced to get used to the process of him moving his family to New Zealand.

Gone was the absolute shock and emotional pain I felt when he told me they were officially moving over Korean BBQ the previous December. Now, I celebrated his status of selecting and packing the shipping container and him showing me that it was on it’s way to Oakland to be shipped to it’s final destination in his new home.

The countdown had officially begun. It would now only be two more times that I would have the pleasure of talking to Derrick in Santa Barbara. as I’d known him since we’d each graduated our respective universities.

Now, as a father of two, he and his incredible wife were living their outstandingly best life and doing what was best for them. And I loved seeing it, regardless of my temporary sadness.

I ate my TURKEY & BRIE (Cranberry-fig compote, triple cream brie, baby arugula, garlic aioli, ciabatta) sandwich as we talked about politics of the day. As I laminated my current amusing life discoveries through improv classes and interacting with other humans, we laughed and enjoyed each other’s effortless friendship.

When I ordered the LEMON RASPBERRY TART (lemon curd, meringue topped with micro mint, raspberry filling) to share with my friends Kat and Matt later in the afternoon, I also delighted in the DRIP COFFEE, brewed from Verve Coffee Roasters.

Later, I found a video about how the Lemon Raspberry Tart is made – and it made me love it even more.

There’s something special about friendships cultivated through middle school, high school and then adulthood. I could literally talk to Derrick for days. I’ve celebrated success with him, remember when he first told me that he’d fallen in love with his wife, and felt ecstatically happy when he told me about his children.

And now, we were planning our last times together, while looking out the window at the Santa Barbara mission.

We talked about how he’d honeymooned at the Corn Islands, off the coast of Nicaragua. As a traveler to Costa Rica – one of my favorite places on earth – I found this fascinating. The way he described the water, the open emptiness of just relaxing and being – I absolutely loved it.

As I tried not to tear up, yet again.

Some people are truly in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. For Derrick and I, I’m so blessed that it feels like a lifetime relationship. I truly look forward to continuing to treasuring his presence in my life.

And about the lime and raspberry tart?

Well, Kat, Matt and I had a VERY delicious “Tart Time”, complete with savoring the last sips of my coffee later. And I was extremely happy to introduce them to a new favorite spot in Santa Barbara.

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