Frank Perez’s favorite memory from his first year studying winemaking was when he and his classmates bottled their 2025 vintage. The April day was a master class. It illustrated how big of a team it takes to make a bottle of wine. “It started the day before. We were sterilizing or filtering a lot of […]
Food & Drink
Posted inFood & Drink
A crowd favorite at the Route One Farmers Market offers cookies, cheesecakes, pies, and more
Tamara Warren has a selectively superb memory. When it comes to her passion for baking, she has muscle memory. Anything else, and it can get a little murky. The baker doesn’t keep an ingredient list or measure anything out. Recently she debuted a banana chocolate chip cookie, and somebody asked her what’s inside. “I was […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A Guadalupe butcher cuts up quality meats for barbecuers on the Central Coast
Ernesto Valle used to be known as the guy who cuts meat in the middle of nowhere. He opened Lobo Butcher Shop in Guadalupe four and a half years ago when the economy was still hurting from the pandemic. “For a couple months, I thought I was going to shut down in my first year,” […]
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Los Padres ForestWatch hosts a dinner that connects people with the land
Save a seatBuy tickets to The Wilderness Table by visiting forestwatch.org. The June 7 dinner runs from 4 to 8 p.m. at Larner Vineyard (955 Ballard Canyon Road in Solvang). For more on the food and beverage providers, visit larnerwine.com, rock12distillery.com, and highonthehogcatering.com. One summer evening, 50 strangers will have the luxury of breaking bread […]
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The duo on a mission to make the best bubbly on the Central Coast
Legend has it that when Elizabeth Stilson first interviewed with her now-business partner, she said, “If I never have to make another red wine again, I’ll be happy.” As soon as the statement came out of the winemaker’s mouth, PasoSecco founder Chris Kern knew she was the perfect candidate for his sparkling brand. “That sold […]
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A day in the life of Santa Maria’s tamale lady
Brrring: When the clock strikes 1 a.m., Beth Rangel’s alarm sounds. Soon after, she starts cooking meat and prepping ingredients to make the day’s batch of tamales. Call BethBeth’s Tamales and Tacos opens at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday, closing at 11 p.m. On Sundays it’s open from […]
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Try something new with the Central Coast Meatless Meetup crew
Thirteen years ago, Steve Key decided to stop eating animal products. Before he flipped the switch, he’d call himself a “wannabe vegetarian,” refraining from meat most of the time but not going against the grain while out to eat with his buddies. He found it difficult in the 1980s and 1990s to find meatless options […]
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From fine dining to delicatessen delights, Tony Minniti knows how to please a crowd
Before discovering Tony’s on Palisade, Craig Diamantopoulos was indifferent about driving with his wife to her doctor’s appointments. She commutes from their home in Lompoc to the Marian Regional Medical Center campus in Santa Maria. But for months now, Diamantopoulos has insisted on making the trek with his wife so he can grab a bite. […]
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Pick up your next sourdough loaf from a new Santa Maria farm stand
Ready to be slicedFind everything you need to know about Elizabeth Nunez’s business on Instagram @homemade_heritage_. Customers receive the farm stand address after placing an order online. Homemade Heritage will also be at the Old Town Orcutt summer farmers market starting May 20. Making sourdough is a little bit like teaching first grade. “It’s a […]
Posted inEats
Bring your family, friends, and pets to Roy’s Orcutt Yogurt Shop
After a hot day by the pool or a sandy afternoon on the beach, Old Orcutt residents have a new place to cool off before heading home. Roy’s Orcutt Yogurt Shop opened on March 14 after three years of planning and construction. It sells classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry along with rotating dairy-free […]
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Feed My Seoul is the only Korean food truck serving artisanal Asian barbecue in SLO and Santa Barbara counties
Bowl callFeed My Seoul can be found most Wednesdays starting at 5:30 p.m. at Machado Plaza in Santa Maria. Follow @feedmyseoul805 on Instagram to keep up with weekly locations. Place orders in advance until an hour before service by calling or texting co-owner Grace Kim at (805) 888-7226. Book Feed My Seoul as your next […]
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Find some extraordinary tomato plants at Tomatomania in Los Olivos
Mark Donofrio believes the best tasting tomato is homegrown, freshly picked, and still warm from the sun. “I think it’s the best fruit in the world,” he said. Gardening has been in his blood since he was 4 years old. Mother Nature always amazed him, and now he’s made a career as a farmer, operating […]
