Eats

Just west of Santa Maria, between the  airport and golf course, a living tribute to one family’s history does a brisk trade in aromatic edibles. Aptly named and ideally located to serve both walk-ins and area office workers, Good Neighbor Bakery offers delectable dainties, as well as hearty fare for picnics and everyday lunches. Four […]

Ahhh, summer, a heady season on the wine trail, where warm weather and long days make exploring Santa Barbara County’s wine country simply 
irresistible. Along with lovely scenery and exceptional wines, local producers offer a lineup of tastings and special events guaranteed to put a little extra “joy” in “enjoy.” At ampelos cellars, the proprietors […]

Arriving on the cusp of the lazy days of summer, June reigns as the most popular month for weddings. Whether held in churches, on local beaches, or among the rows of leafy vineyards, these happy nuptials trigger a flurry of parties and showers, all requiring the careful preparation of an ample spread of delectable food. […]

Every year, when the first week of June rolls around, Santa Maria morphs from a quiet town famed for its strawberries, row crops, and fine wineries into a boot-stomping burg of bronco riders and barrel racers. Accomplished cowpokes and wannabe rancheros alike welcome the festivities of the famous Elks Rodeo, though many agree that the […]

Arriving a bit early this year, Memorial Day offers the perfect excuse for spending an afternoon in the sunshine with friends, relatives, and fellow foodies, as we honor our nation’s deceased soldiers. So pour a cold drink, light the grill, and get ready to kick off the summer, Central Coast style. At parks, beaches and […]

With Memorial Day festivities lurking just around the corner, party planners are busy supplementing their wine collections with a stash of summer sippers. Sure, the casserole Cabernets and pot roast reds still deserve a place in the rack, but oenophiles with an eye on the sultry days ahead had best make room for the fruit-driven […]

A land of lush vineyards and fertile fields, the Santa Maria Valley produces an enviable bounty of fresh edibles, from crisp broccoli to succulent strawberries. Though many area growers still farm conventionally using petro-chemicals and fertilizers, a full 1,000 acres of area cropland have been certified organic. “There’s actually more organic land here than most […]

For one night only, area Francophiles can indulge themselves in the literature and flavors of their favorite corner of Europe. Thanks to an innovative pairing of two local organizations, Old World culture meets New World wines in Santa Maria. On May 9, enjoy an evening of fine wine and live theater—with a scholarly twist—as Pacific […]

Once a sleepy crossroads, Old Orcutt now bustles with diners drawn to its ever-evolving mix of quick eats and fine cuisine. Among the newest culinary stars on the block, Trattoria Uliveto has been serving traditional Italian fare since August 2008, and continues to celebrate the enduring appeal of simple flavors gracefully rendered. Housed in the […]

Most imbibers have learned that wine can transform a meal into a delicious whole bursting with flavors beyond the sum of its ingredients. In a bid to showcase the fine dining scene on the Central Coast, as well as the merits of pairing wine with food, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and five […]

When considering edibles to pair with wine, treats like grilled beef, pungent cheese, and even dark chocolate come to mind. Each offers layers of flavors that mingle with those of a well-matched wine, proving that food and vino just naturally go together. Amid the verdant beauty of Lompoc’s River Park, organizers of the Vintners’ Festival, […]

Before the American West turned notoriously wild, Franciscan padres from Spain set up shop on some of the region’s finest real estate. In addition to building dams and irrigation ditches, they planted vast vegetable gardens, olive groves, and, of course, hundreds of acres of grapevines for making both sacramental and everyday wine. These so-called mission […]