Sitting at a table by the window inside Grover Beach Sourdough, Jacob and Brooke Town can still see the site of their former restaurant across the street. In an unexpected, bittersweet turn of events, the owners had to close The Spoon Trade one year ago and pivot. A developer bought the building that housed The […]
coffee
Posted inFood & Drink
Canela Café serves sweet bread and espresso for Santa Maria and beyond
TikTok led Marisa Gomez to discover a Mexican coffee shop located roughly an hour from where she lives. She, along with many others, travels great distances to the rinconcito for colorful sweet breads, elaborate latte flavors, and the café’s signature aesthetic cups. It’s all very Instagrammable, but for Gomez, the lure runs deeper than that. […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A hidden gem in Los Olivos serves pies, pastries, and wholesome vibes
When Tracy Fleming started her first catering business, there was no social media. “It was word of mouth and a little bit of advertising and treat your clients really well because you need to keep them,” Fleming remembered. So, she “cracks up” at the fact that because of social media, two women appeared at her […]
Posted inFood & Drink
From fine dining to delicatessen delights, Tony Minniti knows how to please a crowd
Before discovering Tony’s on Palisade, Craig Diamantopoulos was indifferent about driving with his wife to her doctor’s 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. […]
Posted inFood & Drink
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. “We retired the 9-to-5 and started a 24/7 instead,” Hudson said with a laugh. “It’s been a blessing. It’s been my dream job.” The Lompoc couple founded Fika Coffee Company, a […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A Santa Ynez café moves to an Airstream in Los Olivos
A retrofitted 1959 Airstream camper remains parked on Nojoqui Avenue in Los Olivos, right next to a historic Victorian home. The vehicle, dubbed The Caravan, is a fully fledged coffee shop, appointed with a classic espresso machine, a gigantic ice maker, and cooking appliances. “It’s like the cutest thing ever,” co-owner Alyce Barrick said. CaravaningQueen […]
Posted inFood & Drink
British-inspired afternoon tea sits at the top of a Lompoc café’s long list of offerings
Customers drive to Lompoc from as far as Los Osos for tea parties at One Room Escapes and Coffee. It’s one of the only places on the Central Coast for a proper, yet affordable, afternoon tea with tiny sandwiches and sweets served on dainty china. Clusters of sofas and lounge chairs create smaller sitting rooms […]
