Tony Tan Brings His Award-Winning Asian Cuisine to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara’s upscale dining scene is about to experience a rare culinary event that combines elite international flavor with coastal California elegance.
For two nights only, award-winning chef and author Tony Tan will bring his celebrated fusion of Asian cuisine to Santa Barbara, offering an exclusive pop-up dinner at Loquita on August 11, followed by a hands-on dumpling cooking demonstration and wine-paired feast at Santa Barbara Wine Collective on August 12.
These highly anticipated evenings mark a highlight in Santa Barbara’s summer calendar and are part of Tan’s promotional tour for his latest book, Tony Tan’s Asian Cooking Class. With roots in Malaysia, training in France and London, and culinary acclaim across Australia, Tony Tan’s pop-up dinner in Santa Barbara promises to seduce food lovers from Los Angeles to Manhattan—and beyond.
A Global Culinary Icon Touches Down in Santa Barbara
Tony Tan is not just a chef—he’s a globe-trotting food scholar. Known for his encyclopedic knowledge of regional Asian cuisines, Tan has taught chefs across continents, authored award-winning cookbooks, and redefined modern Asian fine dining.
“Tony Tan brings not just technique, but heart and history to his food,” says the Acme Hospitality team. His 2024 cookbook, Tony Tan’s Asian Cooking Class, is already being hailed as a new essential for serious home cooks and pros alike.
His August visit to Santa Barbara is a rare opportunity to experience that culinary mastery firsthand.
August 11: Loquita Hosts Tony Tan’s Asian-Spanish Fusion Popup
Loquita, known for its stylish Spanish cuisine and Old World-meets-West Coast energy, becomes a stage for Chef Tan’s creations for one night only. From 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., diners can explore a curated menu of Asian delicacies that pay homage to Tan’s Southeast Asian roots—with a Loquita twist.
Featured Menu Highlights:
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Squid Ink Potstickers: Dumplings packed with prawns, wrapped in dramatic black squid ink wrappers.
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Oysters with My Dressing: Topped with salmon roe, finger lime & lemongrass—Tan’s signature take on luxury.
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Lemongrass Tofu Pintxo: A vegetarian knockout, fusing Asian aromatics with tapas presentation.
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Pandan Chiffon Cake: A delicate dessert with pandan leaf essence, coconut, and sweet cream.
Reservations are required via RESY, and seats are expected to fill quickly with locals and traveling gourmands eager for this limited engagement.
August 12: Wine, Dumplings, and Dinner at Santa Barbara Wine Collective
The second evening elevates things even further with an immersive dumpling-making demo led by Tan himself, followed by a refined, multi-course dinner served family-style and paired with wines from Storm and Almanti. Each guest will leave with a signed copy of Tony Tan’s Asian Cooking Class—a collector’s piece as much as a culinary manual.
The Menu:
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Passed Canapés: Rajasthani Watermelon Curry and the famous Oysters with My Dressing.
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Appetizers: Mushroom Dumplings, Thai Duck Curry Dumplings.
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Entrees: My Mother’s Roast Chicken, Spring Onion Pancakes, Soba Noodles, and Sichuan Dry Fried Green Beans.
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Dessert: Makrut Lime Leaf Crème Brulée.
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Take-Home: Homemade Walnut Biscuits + signed cookbook.
Tickets are $155 per guest (plus tax and gratuity), available through Ticketsauce. This is not just a meal—it’s a cultural immersion wrapped in an evening of flavor, wine, and storytelling.
Where Culinary Pedigree Meets Wine Country Charm
Why does this matter to the luxury food community in Los Angeles, Manhattan, Las Vegas, Aspen, Berlin, and Hong Kong? Because this event captures a rare convergence of authenticity and exclusivity. Chef Tan’s work is rarely available in the United States, and these two Santa Barbara events mark the only chance in 2025 for American audiences to engage with his cuisine live.
The setting only adds to the allure: Loquita’s vibrant Spanish energy and Santa Barbara Wine Collective’s curated portfolio of boutique wineries create the perfect backdrop for an international food experience that speaks to the refined palate.
Whether you’re a cookbook collector, a sommelier, or simply a lover of elevated cuisine, the Tony Tan pop-up dinner Santa Barbara offers something unmatched in flavor and intimacy.
Secure Your Seat at the Table
Seats for both events are limited, and early reservations are strongly advised. For tickets to the Santa Barbara Wine Collective dinner, visit Ticketsauce.
For Loquita’s pop-up on August 11, reserve directly via RESY.
This is more than a meal. It’s a masterclass, a memory, and a moment in culinary history you won’t want to miss.
