An “epicure” is defined as a person with sensitive and discriminating tastes, especially in food and wine. So, epicure, are you ready to eat and drink your way around Santa Barbara? Join epicure.sb in October for a month-long celebration of local flavors.

The 26th Annual California Avocado Festival is just one of the many fun events happening during epicure.sb in October. — Photo courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara

This year’s theme is “Local Ingredients,” and it highlights so much more than the amazing bounty of our farmers markets. The four keynotes of epicure.sb 2012 are Ocean, Earth, Celebration and Cultivation. Beyond indulging in Santa Barbara’s gustatory wonders, epicure.sb invites you to celebrate with fun live events all month long and cultivate your epicuriosity with gardening seminars and cooking classes.

Participating restaurants have created unique prix fixe menus for the month of October, giving you the opportunity to savor Santa Barbara’s specialties at a great price. For example, the Blue Agave is offering a four-course dinner and tequila pairing for only $50 per person. Or you can experience the five-course chef’s tasting menu at Olio e Limone, one of Santa Barbara’s finest Italian restaurants, for $65 per person. For an extra $20, dishes will be paired with local Santa Barbara County wines.

In addition to inspiring these mouthwatering tasting menus, epicure.sb will align itself with Santa Barbara’s First Thursdays for an evening art walk. Other epicure.sb events include rooftop wine tastings, mixology contests, al fresco movies and gourmet cooking workshops. The fun is happening all month long, so pack your taste buds and plan a trip to Santa Barbara this October.