Verjus for you?To learn more about verjus and how to purchase a bottle made by Glasrose, visit glasrose.com. Follow along on Instagram @glasrosefarm for content about the founders’ sober lifestyle on the vineyard estate. Sara Hershkowitz and Max Hoetzel went on precisely one date before COVID-19 shut the world down. She was living in Germany, […]
Eats
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Central Coast wine pioneer John Alban is the San Francisco Wine Auction’s 2026 Winemaker of the Year
Taste it yourselfTo connect with Alban Vineyards or learn more about its educational tastings and seminars, visit albanvineyards.com or rakedranch.com. The only way to taste is to attend one of the winery’s Private Tasting Series dates, which are scheduled for April 10 and 17 and May 1, 2027. Check the website for updates. Visit Alban […]
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Canela Café serves sweet bread and espresso for Santa Maria and beyond
TikTok led Marisa Gomez to discover a Mexican coffee shop located roughly an hour from where she lives. She, along with many others, travels great distances to the rinconcito for colorful sweet breads, elaborate latte flavors, and the café’s signature aesthetic cups. It’s all very Instagrammable, but for Gomez, the lure runs deeper than that. […]
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Meraz Catering serves comfort food with a family-first mindset
Planning and adapting are two of the most important skills in Amy Meraz’s industry. “You have to be good at pivoting and knowing that if something falls off the wagon, if something changes, there’s nothing you can do other than keep going with the changes,” she told the Sun. Call for cateringFor more information about […]
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Chikis Cupcakes creates custom cakes that’ll wow the whole party
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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
