This year brought many exciting new places to enjoy wine, beer, and food here on the Central Coast; for example, a Hollywood star opened a wine tasting room, a Master Somm came to town, a health-minded corporation started a restaurant, and a high-end bakery set up shop.
For the last week of 2014, the Sun brings you the Eats Year in Review.
THE WINE SALOON
Film star and winemaker Kurt Russell has produced ultra premium pinot noir and chardonnay in Lompoc for seven years under his label GoGi Wines. In February, Russell and Ampelos Cellars opened a wine tasting room, The Wine Saloon, in the historic 1880 Union Hotel in Los Alamos. Russell’s sister, Jami Way, manages the tasting room. “My weekend gig at The Wine Saloon is a blast! I get to stay at this beautiful and historic hotel, meet people from all over, and serve them fantastic local boutique wines from the Sta. Rita Hills,” Way said. “I love this charming little town!” Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Visit unionhotelvictmansion.com.
BARBIERI WINE COMPANY
This fall, Master Sommelier Paolo Barbieri left his career as a Master Sommelier at the finest casino resorts in Las Vegas, opening a wine tasting room in downtown Los Olivos to sell his Barbieri Wines. The native of Rome, Italy, handcrafts his wines in Santa Barbara County, specializing in syrah and red blends. “My love is Rhone wines. I love the flavor of the wine; it’s different from other wines,” Barbieri said. “Now I drink wine for pleasure, I passed my test.” Open Thursday through Monday at noon. Click on barbieriwines.com.
BOB’S WELL BREAD
Focaccia, baguettes, and pies, oh my! Bob’s Well Bread opened its doors in August in Los Alamos after beautifully refurbishing an old filling station/café at 550 Bell St. Owner Bob Oswaks has expanded the artisan bakery’s menu to include soups, sandwiches, and other specialties such as French toast and breakfast sandwiches made with housemade English muffins. “Whether you visit Bob’s Well Bread for a quick morning coffee and croissant, stop by for our breakfast and lunch specials, or have allowed us to become your neighborhood bread stop, you’ve all played a part in our early success, and for that we say thank you, from the bottom of our hearts,” Oswaks said. “We’ll have new treats in store for 2015, so stay hungry!” Open Thursday through Monday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check out bobswellbread.com.
MOXIE CAFE
In April, Hardy Diagnostics in Santa Maria opened a casual employee-owned restaurant for its 275 employees and the public, located at 1317 W. McCoy Lane. Salads are made with local organic spring mix or romaine, the tri-tip is all-natural certified Angus, the chemical-free chicken is free-range, the salmon is wild-caught, and the house-made salad dressing is made with 100 percent olive oil. And there’s something new coming in 2015: “We applied for a beer and wine license and should have it ready around the first of the year. Our deck is a great place to unwind, and it seemed like a natural fit,” shared general manager Ron Lovell. Moxie is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Go to themoxiecafe.com.
COMFORT MARKET
In April, a great new eatery opened at 116 W. Branch St., bringing “a new form of yum” to the village of Arroyo Grande. Comfort Market serves up gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, homemade soups, and macaroni and cheese, and sells local wines, specialty foods, and gift baskets. “In 2015, we will be opening earlier, pouring great locally roasted coffees, amazing pastries and muffins, giving villagers a quick place to stop on their way to work,” suggested Kari Ziegler, chef/owner, who also teaches evening cooking classes. Open daily 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Click on comfortmarkets.com.
Sun Eats writer Wendy Thies Sell wishes her readers a wonderful holiday season full of LOCAL wine and food! Contact her at wthies@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 25, 2014 – Jan 1, 2015.