Bud Bottoms loves to tell stories.  When you’ve been around for 79 years, there’s a tale or two to share, especially leading a life like this one.  Living in Santa Barbara since attending UCSB in the late 40s, the sculptor has left a legacy in bronze.  Best known for the dolphin fountain at the entrance to the wharf, Bottoms has shared his gift across the four corners of the Earth.  A late bloomer to the sculpting world beginning in his early 50s, he has begun yet another chapter of his life as an author of children’s books.  What better place to talk about it then a cozy booth at Eladio’s with Bud’s dolphins smiling at us from across the street.

I met Bud at his beautiful home near the County Bowl.  He’s the kind of person you feel an instant connection with as he welcomes you with friendly blue eyes.   Followed close behind by his excitable longhaired Chihuahua, Tag, the guy looks ten years younger than his age.  Apparently Bud’s fountain of youth is his love for wife Carol Ann, constant creativity and commitment to a healthy Santa Barbara lifestyle.  He regularly swims from Butterfly to the Biltmore and back.  His favorite restaurant is The Sojourner.  He and Carol Ann like to slip out for a movie and late dinner to avoid some of the noisier performances at the Bowl. 

This lunch with Bud has been inspired by the release of his first published book, Kid Ethics.  I found out about it a few months ago interviewing Jolinda Pizzirani of Journey Publications.  She is an angel of sorts, helping authors who have been discouraged by the challenges of working with big publishers.  Bud has been writing environmentally-themed children’s books since the 60s but it took until now to take it a step further.  Deeply influenced by Native American wisdom (his grandmother was half Cherokee and the Chumash played a major role in the creation of the dolphin fountain), he decided, “I have an obligation as an elder to pass on my life experiences to youngsters.” 

Those who have seen Kid Ethics have been almost unanimous in their excitement about its potential as a learning tool.  Pairing each letter of the alphabet with an ethical lesson, Bottoms hits it home with a colorable illustration and summarizing poem.  The sweet stories are universal in their appeal teaching things like honesty, patience and respect.  Ever thorough in his preparation, the author distributed surveys to schools and retirement homes to gain alternate perspectives on the importance of certain values.  He laments, “This thing of morality and ethics isn’t something you’re taught formally in school.  We don’t learn a lot of stuff we’re going to need the rest of our lives.  Too often ethics are learned the hard way or not at all.”

Eladio’s is considered a tourist spot because of its location thus a lot of locals, myself included, have missed out all these years.  For an Oceanside town, we have far too few waterfront restaurants and Eladio’s has some primo real estate.  The lunch menu is not too big but there’s something for everyone.  Falling back on the old calamari standby, we were caught by surprise with the unique presentation.  Generously served in a parmesan crisp bowl, the small, lightly breaded squid suckers were perfect.  Complimented with a tangy, spicy red pepper aioli, we savored every bite.  Bud chimes in: “Tender.  You know where they get these little fellows don’t ya?  Right off Santa Rosa at night.  Squids come right to the surface when they see light.”

When asked about how the inspiration for this book, the conversation turns towards dreams.  Bud had an epiphany 27 years ago that directly led him down the path he has traveled.  Completely despondent in the aftermath of a divorce and lost job, one night he dreamt of a woman riding a dolphin.  Realizing it represented ‘reaching for his highest aspirations,’ he was influenced to express it in sculpture.  After a year teaching himself as he went along, he was finally done.  Driving home from Berkeley he stopped in San Luis Obispo on a desolate street.  A lone passerby walked past his VW Bug, spotted the sculpture and before he knew what had happened, Bud was holding a check for $3000.  He reflects, “I really felt convinced that your dreams give you the answers to things so when I dream I don’t take it for granted.”  Many of the concepts for Kid Ethics were culled from his subconscious, the result of focused intentions. 

The staff at Eladio’s is extremely gracious, especially our server Simon.  I resist his eagerness to refill my glass of the House Pinot Grigio.   Bud likes wine and beer occasionally but he’s not much of a connoisseur.  Carol Ann tends to call the shots when it comes to food and wine.  They cook at home most of the time with Carol Ann whipping up Italian creations from the Food Channel or down home comfort food from her North Carolina upbringing.  At Eladio’s it seems fitting to stick with seafood and we can tell when they arrive we’ve made the right decision. 

Even better than it looked, my sole picatta ($14.95) was the best I’ve ever had.  The freshness of the substantial piece of fish was expertly pronounced thanks to a harmonious marriage of white wine, lemon, olive oil, capers, peppers and basil.  The grilled asparagus, which was substituted for fettuccini alfredo, sealed the deal on a top notch dish.  Bud’s Lemon Capellini with Clams had him just as satisfied.  Served in a towering bowl with white wine, garlic, cherry tomatoes, and a dash of chili flakes, he exalted in the garlicky, buttery goodness. 

Our attention is inevitably drawn back to the dolphins as a steady stream of people walk by taking their pictures in front of the landmark.  Like so many others I ask him how he feels looking back on his best known work.  While he is proud of it he claims not to look back on it.  “It’s always the next one.”