Eats

“It just kind of became mine,” Kathy McPike said, recalling how she came to own the Berry Stop back in 2013. The site was originally home to a Darensberries stand, which McPike worked at for about seven years before its vacancy allowed her to open a stand of her own.  “I was the manager/a little […]

If you like “Meadacoladas” (and gettin’ caught in the rain), put those personal ads to rest; High Seas Mead is the escape you’ve been looking for. The Meadacolada (pineapple and coconut mead) is just one of the brand’s four core flavors, alongside the Cosmic Bandito (blackberry and pineapple), Cheap Thrills (raspberry and coconut), and Mystic […]

The age-old adage “less is more” rings true for local winemaker Jessica Gasca, at least in terms of her modestly described “tiny operation,” Story of Soil in Los Olivos. “Larger wineries always seemed to lack that soul,” Gasca said on why she prefers to own and operate a relatively small-scale winery that promotes gentle processing […]

Don’t let the release date fool you; April 1 marked the for-real debut of Naughty Oak Brewing Company’s newly designed line of to-go cans. It was fabulous news for fans of the popular Orcutt brewery, but imagine if said occasion was an elaborate April Fools’ Day prank in disguise? Patrons would have come home with […]

Like nearly every small business last year, Guadalupe Cafe faced its share of challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Only six months after its grand opening (in September 2019), the cafe closed its doors in response to the crisis and didn’t reopen for to-go orders and outdoor dining until May 2020. “After the state order […]

Specializing in small-batch, handcrafted varietals, winemaker Gretchen Voelcker believes the best way to produce wine is with minimal human interference. This Central Coast local plans to discuss her winemaking style and other topics during an upcoming virtual panel. As part of Buttonwood Farm Winery and Vineyard’s Women in Wine series, the event will be hosted […]

Riddle me this: What’s black and white and bread all over?  Answer: the newspaper-themed wrappers at Enjoy Bagels + Sweets of course.  There’s an intentionally urban feel to this hidden gem in Buellton, tucked away behind the corner of an O’Reilly Auto Parts on Highway 246.  “It’s absolutely perfect for a New York-style bagel shop,” […]

From Vancouver, Washington, to Portland, Oregon, chef Erik Dandee has made a name for himself in more than a few cities along the West Coast during his career of nearly two decades. He and his wife were living in Palm Springs when a rare (the pun will make sense in a bit) opportunity attracted them […]

Antonio Ramos III was helping to build a shed in his brother’s backyard during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he had a vision. “This could be my pasta room, my little pasta laboratorio,” Ramos said. “So we built it out. … And by August, I was like, ‘Let’s just start doing dinners.’”  So […]

“I’m going to be honest with you, even when they let us back inside, we might just stay outside,” said Alfonso Curti, chef and co-owner of Trattoria Uliveto, which recently unveiled its new patio space for outdoor dining. Following a steady lunch rush, and a successful dinner service the night prior, Curti sounded enthusiastic during […]

I’ve seen every episode at least 10 times,” said Lompoc baker and entrepreneur Jayde Stamm, professing his fandom for the subject of one of his themed cookie sets, based on Avatar: The Last Airbender. Many of Stamm’s desserts tackle pop culture, from film, television, and literature—Jaws, The Office, Friends, Harry Potter—to music—Beyonce, Drake, and other […]

Husband and wife Charles and Jody Williams, co-founders of Broken Clock Vinegar Works, were out enjoying drinks one night at The Landsby Hotel in Solvang when they got bit by the “shrub bug,” Jody Williams recalled, after trying a shrub cocktail for the first time. “It featured a peach shrub, and we were both hooked […]