Food & Drink

A vacationer’s dream and a resident’s paradise, the little town of Los Olivos offers art galleries, fine dining, and lots of winetasting, as well as quiet neighborhoods, a post office, and a well-stocked market. In the heart of downtown, within the embrace of Fess Parker’s renowned Wine Country Inn and Spa, the cozy Restaurant Marcella […]

Sliding down the slippery slope toward harvest, winemakers and growers on the Central Coast spend hours each day contemplating their ripening grapes. Despite a rough spring fraught with both high heat and a cold snap, the 2008 vintage promises a deliciously juicy—if somewhat diminished—yield. Among the locals patrolling their vineyards on a daily basis are […]

Most Central Coast residents appreciate the bounty of fresh fruit, veggies, and meat that grows in our proverbial backyard. For foodies who’d like to learn more about these wonderful edibles, as well as those who simply want to celebrate the sheer abundance of choice, a group of area chefs and farmers has launched an innovative […]

Just when it seems there’s nothing new to do in town, along comes Costa de Oro Winery to liven things up. In a bid to infuse Santa Maria’s social life with a dose of good fun, Gary Burk, the winery’s co-owner and winemaker, has launched a series of events designed to get locals off the […]

Like a thousand fiery suns setting in the haze of a summer sky, tomatoes tumble from market bins and vegetable patches, scarlet, ripe, and ready to eat. We’ve waited all winter for this prolonged moment of juicy heaven and now is the time to welcome it with open arms … er, mouths. Fast-maturing Early Girls […]

All year long, farm workers labor in Central Coast fields and vineyards, turning the soil, tending crops, and harvesting the produce that sustains us. They have helped create the bounty in which we all share, and to demonstrate our collective gratitude, a group of area wine producers has come together to say thank you. On […]

Walking across the planks of the pier-like entryway, diners heading into Santa Maria’s The Jetty Restaurant can imagine a restless ocean stirring just beneath their feet. Couple that sensation with an occasional sea breeze wafting in from Guadalupe, and the effect just about mirrors a ramble to a real jetty. Located on the corner of […]

Alfresco activities pair naturally with fine weather, and as we head into summer, Central Coasters find all kinds of reasons for heading outdoors to play. Come July 9, look for the crowds to be flocking straight to the Santa Maria Fairpark, where the 117th annual Santa Barbara County Fair unfolds in a blaze of music, […]

The food that swims, grows, and grazes within just a few miles of our dining room tables on the Central Coast, offers zesty flavors and farm-fresh nutrition. At Yanagi Sushi and Grill, these same comestibles shine as the stars of the show in a performance that turns ordinary cooking into lively entertainment. Located in a […]

While the summer sun shines and area grapes happily ripen on their vines, winemakers not patrolling vineyard rows often throw parties to pass the time. They celebrate their bottled gems by discussing their craft over glasses of red, white, and pink, and much to our good fortune, occasionally invite the rest of us to come […]