Cherish Whyte

Fall is crush time for California’s wine industry. The Santa Barbara County Vintners Festival was Oct. 8 in Solvang. In San Luis Obispo County, the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance celebrates Harvest Wine Month throughout October, while its rising-star sister, the San Luis Obispo Coast Wine Collective, rolls out Harvest on the Coast in November. […]

Melding the bold flavors of his childhood with locally sourced ingredients, Pequín Coastal Cocina Executive Chef Frank Barajas, of Santa Maria, hopes his new restaurant will fill a void in the area for elevated, Mexican-inspired cuisine. Launched on June 28 and replacing Somerset Grill at Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach, Pequín is named for one […]

Paso Robles-based event producer Morgen Hoffman is gearing up for her second season of “one-of-a-kind dining experiences” that spotlight local chefs and vintners, as well as venues “that are unique, off the beaten path, and represent the Central Coast as a destination,” she said. “I look for locations that aren’t normally accessible to the public […]

Mike Sinor of Arroyo Grande prefers to fly under the Central Coast wine-industry radar, according to friends and colleagues. However, his long list of accolades and endeavors continues to keep him in the spotlight. Among his achievements during his 30-year career are producing a Wine Spectator 96-point pinot noir, helping launch the nonprofit organization World […]

The co-owners behind Dunites Wine Company, Rachel Goffinet Eck and Tyler Eck, are straddling two Central Coast counties, bringing their best to both worlds. The couple lives in Pismo Beach, and both Rachel and Tyler have worked for Santa Barbara County wineries over the years. Currently, Tyler is associate winemaker for Fess Parker Winery in […]

Proof and Gather breads and pastries are hot commodities in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. From farmers’ markets and weddings, to direct-to-consumer channels and wholesale accounts, business is bustling for proprietor Kaitlin Munoz, and she couldn’t be happier. Born and raised in Lompoc, Munoz began her baking career as a child, whipping up […]

Popular San Luis Obispo vegan takeout joint Ziggy’s doesn’t just have the support of SLO County residents. “People ask us all the time, ‘When are you going to open in Santa Maria or Lompoc?’” said Alex Gonzalez, manager of the vegan eatery. “We even have people drive from Bakersfield and Fresno just to have lunch. […]

Just a little ways north, downtown San Luis Obispo has hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, historic buildings, and parks. It also has loads of tourists, which dwarf the city’s 47,000 population. Until recently it lacked one vital ingredient: a tasting room. With hundreds of wineries fanning out across the county—and annual visitors estimated at 7 million, […]