Thirteen years ago, Steve Key decided to stop eating animal products. Before he flipped the switch, heād call himself a āwannabe vegetarian,ā 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 […]
Food & Drink
From fine dining to delicatessen delights, Tony Minniti knows how to please a crowd
Before discovering Tonyās on Palisade, Craig Diamantopoulos was indifferent about driving with his wife to her doctorās 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. […]
Pick up your next sourdough loaf from a new Santa Maria farm stand
Ready to be slicedFind everything you need to know about Elizabeth Nunezās 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. āItās a […]
Bring your family, friends, and pets to Royās 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. Royās 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 […]
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 […]
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. āI think itās the best fruit in the world,ā he said. Gardening has been in his blood since he was 4 years old. Mother Nature always amazed him, and now heās made a career as a farmer, operating […]
In 30-plus years, Klondike Pizza has hardly changed a bit
Pizza pizzaTo see Klondikeās menu, order online, and make reservations, visit klondikepizza.com. Follow along on Instagram @klondikepizza. The Santa Maria shop is located at 2059 S. Broadway and open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call (805) 348-3667 with questions. After five years of living in Anchorage, Alaska, Pamela Dennis told her husband, Mike, […]
Central Coast bakers deliver homemade goods to underserved children
Lee Coogan feels blessed that her birthday was always celebrated when she was a kid. So was her sonās, and so are her grandkidsā. But some people arenāt as fortunate to get a slice of cake in honor of the year ahead. Starting 10 years ago, a national nonprofit, For Goodness Cakes, set out to […]
The Culture food trailer wants to give you the best smashburger youāve ever eaten
During the busiest shifts at his food trailer, Willie Galvan can crank out a smashburger in 10 or 11 minutes. When thereās no line, he can do it in five. āThe buns take longer to toast than the burgers,ā the Santa Maria native said. After an order comes in, he toasts the buns and heats […]
Fika Coffee Company brings Swedish heritage to Lompoc
Elizabeth Hudson quit her day job last year to follow a longtime dream of running a coffee business. Her husband was 100 percent in. āWe retired the 9-to-5 and started a 24/7 instead,ā Hudson said with a laugh. āItās been a blessing. Itās been my dream job.ā The Lompoc couple founded Fika Coffee Company, a […]
Orcutt Bakery calls dibs on the dessert table
For any occasionThe Gerbers deliver from San Luis Obispo to the Santa Ynez Valley. Place online orders for Orcutt Bakery goods by visiting orcuttbakery.com. Call (805) 938-9140 with questions, and see the treats for yourself at 4869 S. Bradley Road, suite 112, in Orcutt. After Danielle and Shawn Gerber spend hours baking and decorating a […]
Lompocās Sea-Stainable makes 100 percent natural pet snacks
Jesse Crouse-Tell doesnāt routinely eat the dog treats he makes, but the ingredients are 100 percent human grade. In the early days of his company, Sea-Stainable Pet Food, the business owner had to try his treats because he wanted to know how they tasted. āIāll take little nibbles of stuff here and there, just to […]

