Excerpted from Bon Appétit, June 2002:

"Equally adept at fueling State Street-bound shoppers is Tupelo Junction Cafe...the restaurant is true to the funky, beachy side of the town's personality: Mimosas come in mason jars, the coffee mugs are country-style crockery, and the walls display fruit-crate labels as artwork.

The menu is packed with southern-influenced dishes like apple cinnamon beignets; a pulled-pork sloppy joe; or Amy's own favorite, a sprightly salad of lettuce, fried chicken, corn-bread croutons, and buttermilk dressing."

"Specialties of the House...leading restaurateurs talk up a dish on their menu - from lazy luncheons to midsummer nights' feasts...

Fried Chicken Salad
People say there's something in our Fried Chicken Salad that's addictive. Maybe it's the experience of eating fried chicken without feeling guilty. The salad reflects what we do, which is Southern-style home cooking made with a California fresh produce twist, so you don't feel heavy after eating it. Some of the ingredients, like the dried cranberries, toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh-baked cornbread, are more associated with fall, but they feel summery mixed with greens and topped with lemony herb-buttermilk dressing. You should come in around noon, grab one of our sidewalk tables, order the salad and a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade to go with it. You'll definitely know it's summer."
Amy Scott

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Excerpted from The New York Times, "JOURNEYS; 36 Hours | Santa Barbara, Calif.", August 2002:

"Saturday, 10:30 a.m

Beignets for Breakfast
The Tupelo Junction Cafe...which is run by the friendly Amy - was promoted by the June issue of Bon Appétit magazine as one of the restaurants not to be missed in Santa Barbara. For breakfast, the cafe serves old-fashioned buttermilk biscuits slathered in gravy...or fresh apple cinnamon beignets...alongside eggs scrambled with smoked bacon, spinach, caramelized onion, tomato and gouda cheese...Or try poached eggs on crispy crab cakes with avocado and tomatoes..."