Owner and Bird

Shown here is Doralee, the owner of Jack's Bistro and Bagels, at the Carpinteria location's patio with a guest and his pet Macaw.  Macaws are the biggest of the pet birds and are very intelligent, able to to talk and learn tricks very easily.

Cafe Restaurant Carpinteria

What Your Bagel Says About You [Infographic]

What Your Bagel Says About You [Infographic]

Take the Bagel Personality Test

Here at Jack's Bistro and Famous Bagels, we often get asked, "What is the best bagel?"  Our though is that everybody is unique and has their own preferences and tastes when it comes to the type of bagel they crave when waking in the morning.  So we put together a list of personality types that match up to some of our most popular bagels.  Take a look to see what your bagel says about you.

Pizza Bagel

Pizza Bagel

(cheese, veggie, pepperoni or pepperoni-jalapeño)
You most likely have Dominos listed on your emergency contacts and you would never consider becoming friends with someone who used a fork and knife to eat a slice of that glorious pie. You have dated more pizza delivery employees than the average person. (What? You can’t help but be attracted to someone who always brings you joy.)


Tomatoes and Cream Bagel

Tomatoes and Cream

(sun-dried tomato with regular cream cheese bagel)
You love the taste of a good, fresh tomato from your all-organic garden and enjoy chatting about composting in small spaces with your garden club. You wouldn’t describe yourself as a health nut, but you do enjoy pressuring your friends to hike and do two-hour hot yoga sessions with you on the weekends.


Veggie B-Eggl Bagel

Veggie B-Eggl

(two scrambled eggs, onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, tomato and fresh spinach)
You wouldn’t call yourself an animal hoarder, but let’s just say your landlord doesn’t know exactly how many dogs you’re fostering in your house right now. Your bank account regularly reflects the following purchases: donations to the ASPCA, PetSmart, and that gluten-free dog bakery in your neighborhood.


Protien Bagel

Protein B-Eggl

(two scrambled eggs, cheddar and cream cheese with your choice of ham, sausage, chicken breast, corned beef or turkey breast)
You are what some people may call a gym rat (more like gym beast, am I right?). Though bagels may not get you the gains that protein powder can, sometimes it’s nice to have something to sink your teeth into.


The Brooklyn Bagel

The Brooklyn

(bagel with cream cheese)
You like what you like and you won’t apologize for it. You have your city’s public transportation schedule memorized and you always know the best routes when the main thoroughfare is clogged. Precision is in your blood and while you don’t mind being adventurous with food every once in awhile, you often go for the same things—because who has the time for bad food?


The Montecito Bagel

The Montecito

(bagel with cream cheese, tomato, red onion, cambridge lox and a pickle or capers)
You may not be a professional chef, but your friends certainly hang around your house like you are. A true foodie, you always pride yourself on ordering the very best that a restaurant has to offer and then obsess over how to recreate the dish at home. You may or may not have a framed and autographed photograph of Anthony Bourdain hanging up in your kitchen.


The Jelly Bowl

The Jelly Bowl

(bagel with peanut butter and jam)
Your friends make fun of you for having a limited palette, but you can’t help it. You like what you like. To you there’s not much better than a pb&j. But hey—you tell them—at least you’re being adventurous and exploring new bread options.


Cinna Nut

The Cinna Nut

(cinnamon bagel with cinnamon-walnut-raisin cream cheese)
You wouldn’t say you’re obsessed with dessert, but you do have a bunch of Cake Boss episodes stored on your DVR for a rainy day. To you, life isn’t complete without something to savor at the end of the meal. You’re often the first one in line for office birthday cake. 

Guide to Sustainable Catering [Infographic]

Guide to Sustainable Catering [Infographic]

Whether you’re planning a large family reunion or you need breakfast for the entire department, we know that it’s important to you to find sustainable catering. However, there’s more to being a green caterer than just saying you’re committed to eco-friendly initiatives. Here are 15 things that your catering company can do to stay green (and 15 sustainable things you can do when planning your next dinner party).

Pet Friendly Restaurants: Bone Appétit

Pet Friendly Restaurants: Bone Appétit

They’re always accommodating for him, and we come here because they have great food,” his owner, Katherine Less, told the News-Press on a recent morning.  She and her husband, Jason Less, were about to have one of their favorite breakfasts- the Blackstone Benedict.  It’s a poached off on a bagel with avocado, tomato and, instead of ham, bacon.  “They have a nice Hollandaise sauce here,”  Mr. Lesh, who operates a nearby organic produce stand with his wife, said just before the food arrived.

7 Recipes for Every Type of Holiday Gathering this Season

7 Recipes for Every Type of Holiday Gathering this Season

The holidays are always a busy, bustling time of the year filled with family, friends, and most of all—food. During this holiday season, you’ll undoubtedly be spending a lot of time in the kitchen figuring out what dish to bring to all of your events. To make it easier on you, we’ve made a list of seven of our favorite (and easy) recipes to bring to every type of event that you’ll be joining in on this season.

Thanksgiving Dinner in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria

Thanksgiving Dinner in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria

Order your Thanksgiving lunch or dinner this year from Jack's Bistro and Bagels.  Pre-order and pick up the entire meal on Thanksgiving Day.

Our restaurant is serving individual or family style, full plated meals for pickup on Thanksgiving Day.

7 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

7 Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes

The holiday season is filled with office parties, family gatherings, school celebrations, and social events that are stocked with appetizers, turkeys, chips and dips, desserts—you name it. Through the hustle and bustle it’s hard to take a minute to think about a healthy diet, but believe it or not there are ways to coincide a busy holiday schedule and recipes that are actually—dare we say—healthy. Here are some of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes to help you get in the spirit of the holidays without having to get into another pant size.

An Outdoor Activity Guide to Carpinteria

An Outdoor Activity Guide to Carpinteria

Just a short drive down from Santa Barbara, Carpinteria is a central coast gem, with striking mountain views, beautiful beaches and wonderful small-town charm. Though it may be small (with a population of just over 13,000), the town has a lot to offer for visitors who enjoy spending time outdoors—from hiking, biking, surfing and just being an observer of nature. Carpinteria is the perfect place to spend time for a few hours or a few days and can be enjoyed with great temperatures and conditions almost year-round. 

A Travel Guide to Carpinteria: What to Do

A Travel Guide to Carpinteria: What to Do

Guidebooks won’t tell you this, but many Carpinteria beaches are considered by locals to be even nicer than their more famous Santa Barbara counterparts. The sand is usually wider, the crowd more relaxed and the surf... well the surf is legendary, especially at Rincon beach. Other beaches include Carpinteria State Beach, Carpinteria City Beach and Padaro Beach. Carpinteria State Beach offers a great campsite and picnic area. Padaro Beach is favored by natives and conveniently bordered by local businesses, including Padaro Beach Grill and A-Frame Surf Shop.

Things for Kids To Do in the Santa Barbara Area

Things for Kids To Do in the Santa Barbara Area

Whether you refer to your little humans as kiddos, kidlets, chillins, little monsters or angels, these suggestions are sure to help you and your munchkins enjoy Santa Barbara.  These are kid-friendly and budget-conscious suggestions for your family! 

Sometimes Ya Gotta Get Outta Dodge

Sometimes Ya Gotta Get Outta Dodge

The informal way implies, in this case, a more “chill” version while at the same time intensifying the meaning. In case you’re wondering, the Etymology (back story) of this phrase comes from a reference to Dodge City, Kansas, a busy cattle town in the late 19th century. Possibly inspired by the radio and television series Gunsmoke (1952-1975). I was raised on a cattle ranch in Colorado and so I love the saying and where it comes from (my dad loved Gunsmoke); I encourage others to adopt this verbiage in their everyday language.