Experience Nuance, an urban bistro that brings the best in local, seasonal craft food to Santa Barbara's eclectic Funk Zone Art District. At the helm is Santa Barbara Chef Courtney Ladin, who combines her globally inspired cuisine with the best in locally sourced Farmers Market ingredients. Her playful, approachable preparations showcase the flavors and quality of each element on the plate. Guests can dine and sip cocktails on the outdoor patio, while soaking in the ocean breeze from the Pacific, just two blocks away. Chef Ladin's menu changes seasonally, and takes advantage of Santa Barbara's Farmer's Markets, her relationships with local purveyors and winemakers, with the distinctive feature of a wood-burning oven in the kitchen.

Favorites include Crispy Tea Smoked Duck with pineapple sambal and braised leeks; XO Short Ribs with kimchi apples and bok choy; Seared Red Snapper with meyer lemon puree and baby artichokes; and Sweet Corn Ravioli with Veal jus and corn-nut crumble. Nuance's robust Bar Program is led locally by local George Piperis, with consulting Beverage Directors Julian Cox and Nick Meyer, the brilliant bartending team behind some of Los Angeles' best bars. Nuance's Bar features handcrafted cocktails that strike a balance between inventive libations and classic favorites.

Set in a boutique hotel in the Funk Zone, Nuance plays on its unique surroundings, thanks in large part to artistic partner, local Santa Barbara artist Sean Anderson. Anderson has collaborated with Ladin to infuse an original artistic design element to the restaurant to visually inspire guests during their visit, together with Chef Ladin's food, creating a totally unique culinary experience. Anderson's work includes a series of large polished cast bronze works, drawings made with turmeric spice, and a larger-than- life portrait on linen of famed Hollywood silent film star Paula Negri, who was known to frequent Santa Barbara with then lover Charlie Chaplin in the 1920's. Along with his series of commissioned artwork, Anderson has also designed the interior space including a custom painted faux wall and a number of what he calls 'discoverable moments' throughout the restaurant. The name Nuance derives from the restaurant's integration of cuisine, art, music and community culture. These are all subtle nuances that lend to the overall experience. Nuance is the collaboration between Chef Courtney Ladin and Managing Partner, Bill Chait of Sprout LA the restaurateur behind some of Southern California's most award winning chefs and restaurants.