Anna Aguilar crafts cakes so tall that she doesn’t trust they’ll survive the car rides to their final destinations. Instead, she delivers her wedding and quinceañera cakes in pieces and builds them at the venues. “They’re always challenging, and I’m learning new things on those because with one little mistake, your cake can tilt,” Aguilar […]
Food & Drink
Posted inFood & Drink
A popular social media account reviews Central Coast bites and sips
Nearly 15,000 people on Instagram follow one of the most popular food reviewers on the Central Coast. He’s often seen in a bright orange hat and a crisp white T-shirt with the acronym “lotsj” identifying his brand. He’s Jeff San Juan, the content creator behind Life of the San Juans on social media. What had […]
Posted inEats
Big Mamas bakes cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, and cheesecakes to perfection in Guadalupe and beyond
Playing in the kitchen always kept young Alicia Rubio happy. An only child for 15 years, some of her early memories are of bonding with her grandmother while baking. “I don’t know Spanish, but my grandma’s more of a Spanish speaker, so we had to figure out a way to understand each other more. Baking […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Groundstar Vineyard is the first in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA to achieve regenerative organic certification
Great wines are made in the vineyard. But what exactly happens in the vineyard? What turmoil does the soil experience? How many chemicals are sprayed on the grapes? Are farmworkers treated well? “I think consumers really aren’t given the full story,” Chiara Shannon told the Sun. Over the two decades she’s spent in the wine […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Visit Grover Beach’s only tasting room as the owners take to the skies for a new chapter
Millions of orange and black butterflies have taken flight from the designated grove of eucalyptus trees off Highway 1 in Pismo Beach. A hair south of the sanctuary, one Shell Beach couple realized it was time for a new adventure of their own. Partners Julie Garcia and Ercilia Martins bought Grover Beach’s Monarch Grove Winery […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Analogue Room in Solvang spins records, pizza dough, and corks
A slight scratch from the turntable. Quiet chatter from guests. Sound waves vibrating from a record player. The aural experience is at the heart of John Wright’s latest ambition, a vinyl lounge in Solvang called Analogue Room. He likes the idea of considering the space a listening room, not a bar. “It just seemed like […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A hidden gem in Los Olivos serves pies, pastries, and wholesome vibes
When Tracy Fleming started her first catering business, there was no social media. “It was word of mouth and a little bit of advertising and treat your clients really well because you need to keep them,” Fleming remembered. So, she “cracks up” at the fact that because of social media, two women appeared at her […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Omar’s Healthy Foods helps people reach their goals with fresh meal prep options
Omar Jimenez begins most days the same. “First thing I do? I pray. Thank God for another day,” Jimenez said. “Then I go to the gym for an hour, two hours. Get my little workout done. Unless I have orders. Business comes first.” He works part time at the Santa Maria Country Club, but when […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Pismo Beach’s newest sandwich shop is for the locals
When Geneva Franciskovich finally struck a deal to purchase an old boba spot on Pomeroy Avenue, she thought, “Holy shit. This is crazy.” That night she was out to dinner with her family, reveling in the feat. She’d just pushed six years’ worth of savings into buying space on one of the most competitive streets […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Two bars turn up the tiki-themed heat this summer in the Santa Ynez Valley
Take a tiki breakHigh Roller Tiki Lounge (433 Alisal Road in Solvang) is open Sundays from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday to Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m., and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. Reserve a table at highrollertiki.com.Pony Cocktails + Kitchen is open daily. Breakfast and lunch hours are from 8 […]
Posted inFood & Drink
White Buffalo Land Trust’s food products win a nationwide Good Food Award
Biting into a piece of Figure Ate’s biltong for the first time was unlike any other kind of meat stick Kyle Sullivan had ever tasted. “The tenderness of the beef really blew me away,” Sullivan told the Sun. “It just has almost like a melt-in-your-mouth texture to it, which is really awesome.” To infinityFigure Ate […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Tribe Coffeehouse in Arroyo Grande serves seasonal lattes, floral drinks, and a creative coffee menu
Espresso, strawberry rose, coconut, mint and guava with steamed milk, topped with strawberry dust—sounds like a potion brewing in a witch’s kitchen. But in reality, it’s a cup of coffee in Arroyo Grande. At Tribe Coffeehouse, magic is on the menu. Here, espresso mingles with rose petals and lavender. Matcha arrives infused with seasonal fruits […]
