The Central Coast Food and Wine Event
1st time at Savor and had a Blast! Went Saturday, September 29, 2012 for the Main Event at the Historic Santa Margarita Ranch. Delicious Food, Wine, Brews – what more could you ask for! Caught a glimpse of Aarti Sequeira, host of Food Network’s Aarti Party.
Welcome! (Photo by RSheridan)
Make Experiences (Photo by RSheridan)
You almost do not know where to start because it seems a little overwhelming with all the choices available. As Mr. Craves stated this event is on STEROIDS! We just decided to pick an area and dive in. Hello! Vons Music and Tasting Garden.
Breweries
- Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles (love, love, love their brews – just saying!)
- SLO Brewing Company, San Luis Obispo (Reggae Red was really good)
- Tap It Brewing, San Luis Obispo (mobbed every time I wanted to try their brews)
Firestone’s 805 Local Brew (Photo by RSheridan)
(Photo by RSheridan)
Restaurants
- Apple Farm, San Luis Obispo (offered a great salad)
- Gardens of Avila, San Luis Obispo (great berry polenta cake)
- Marisol at The Cliffs, Pismo Beach (can you say dessert coma – see pic below)
- Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo (great punch and desserts)
- SeaVenture, Pismo Beach
- Vons (decorated the picnic tables – just GORGEOUS!)
Berry Polenta Cake (Photo by RSheridan)
I seriously could have oinked out on because it was THAT GOOD! (Photo by RSheridan)
Decorations by Vons – BEAUTIFUL! (Photos by RSheridan)
Getting Back to Your Roots
At the Farmers’ Market to Meal Area – tried a fresh pistachio while exploring.
Farmers
- Bautista Farms, Arroyo Grande
- Bell Farms, Huron
- California State Farm Bureau
- Jack Creek Farms, Templeton
- JR Johnson Farm, Morro Bay
- Peppercreek Family Farm, Arroyo Grande
- Rancho San Miguel Hills, San Miguel
- Rutiz Family Farms, Arroyo Grande
- San Luis Obispo Farm Bureau
- Skyline Flower Growers, Nipomo (BREATHTAKING Floral Arrangements!)
Clam Chowder (Photo by RSheridan)
(Photos by RSheridan)
Destination Dreaming
Where would you like to GO??? Head over to the Central Coast Pavilion and experience all 4 Central Coast counties, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and Ventura.
Let’s Dream Shall We . . . Great Eats, Wine & Brews & Beaches – Oh My!
- Arroyo Grande
- Atascadero
- Avila Beach
- Cambria
- Cayucos
- Grover Beach
- Morro Bay
- Paso Robles
- Pismo Beach
- San Luis Obispo
- San Simeon
Fish from Avila Beach (Photo by RSheridan)
Camping Anyone??? (Photo by RSheridan)
Where Will the Road Take You? (Photo by RSheridan)
Sunset’s International Wine Competition Medal Winners
Drumroll Please . . .
- HKG Estate Wines,Healdsburg
- Mantra, Healdsburg
- Robert Mondavi Winery, Oakville
- Tenuta Ca’Bolani, Italy
- Venteux Vineyards, Templeton
- Waterbrook, Walla Walla
This area to taste the wines from these wineries was mobbed! Finally snuck in and tried HKG’s Chardonnay and not one but two Pinot Noirs – the Pinot Noirs were delicious. Congrats!
Grape Goodness! (Photo by RSheridan)
Winemaker Central
Wine This Way! (Photo by RSheridan)
Eventually made it over to the Marketplace. Can I say Great Eats and Wine Overload – WOW!
1st Stop – SLO Donuts from San Luis Obispo – Nutella-filled donut.
2nd Stop – Tasted Some Wines
3rd Stop – Cracked Crab from Pismo Beach for the Crab Bisque – YUM!
4th Stop – Tasted Some More Wines
5th Stop – Harris Ranch from Coalinga – no one was talking just making eating noises of delight – just saying because I was one of them!
And On and On and On
Central Coast Wineries
Talk About Grand and Variety! Plus Palate Overload!
Areas Represented
- Arroyo Grande
- Atascadero
- Los Olivos
- Paso Robles
- Salinas
- San Luis Obispo
- San Miguel
- San Simeon
- Santa Maria
- Santa Margarita
- Santa Rosa
- Santa Ynez
- Soldedad
- Templeton
All Aboard
Took a ride on the train to get a better look at Santa Margarita Ranch.
Choo Choo (Photo by RSheridan)
All Aboard the Disneyland Train (Photo by RSheridan)
Pacific Coast – Yes Please! (Photo by RSheridan)
Ice Cold Treats
- Doc Burnstein’s (Sea Salt Caramel – melted in your mouth)
- Leo Leo Gelato, Paso Robles (tried the Firestone DBA Chocolate – YUM!)
- Negranti Dairy & Artisan Creamery, Paso Robles (Sheep’s Milk Ice Cream – Really GOOD!)
- Marich Confectionery Company, Hollister (Homemade Chocolate Delights)
- Von’s Coffee Lounge (grabbed an ice coffee taster)
Firestone DBA Chocolate Gelato (Photo by RSheridan)
Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab (Photo by RSheridan)
One of my favorites was at Savor that I enjoy every morning for breakfast in my smoothies, Mountain High Yoghurt. This station offered a pomegranate smoothie in the morning and then moved to a blueberry smoothie in the afternoon. Both options were delicious. I love the pureness, creaminess and freshness of their yoghurt products. Plus offers 10 to 11 grams of protein.
The heat became a little unbearable around 2 pm of the event when it hit 97 degrees. Thank goodness for the Mid-American Solar company that was providing ice cold, flavored water (pineapple and basil, cucumber and citrus)! At times I think the line was longer at the water station than the beer and wine stations.
Sunset Garden and Backyard Farm
I love checking out and exploring gardens! I enjoyed how the 2-acre garden space was utilized, especially with vertical gardening. There were these garden boxes with reclaimed windows that acted as a greenhouse for the garden box – pretty cool idea. The bees were in heaven too with all the plants to explore!
(Photos by RSheridan)
Recycling
Yes, those are Wine Corks! (Photos by RSheridan)
My 3-year wish has come TRUE – had a BLAST!!!
Have a Great Day Everyone! (Photo by RSheridan)
October 15th, 2012 at 8:07 AM
That looks like an amazing event to go to… I’m a little jealous!
October 15th, 2012 at 8:44 AM
Emily –
Yes it was and you almost need both Saturday and Sunday to attend!
Happy Monday:) – Renee
October 15th, 2012 at 8:21 AM
Looks awesome! We went to a similar event in Prince Edward County a couple of years ago…we stumbled upon it on a bike ride….brilliant as we could eat as much as we wanted! The Chardonnay educational testing made for an interesting ride home!
October 15th, 2012 at 8:45 AM
Anita –
Ha! – biking and Chardonnay – good combination or not!
Happy Monday:) – Renee
October 15th, 2012 at 9:02 AM
How utterly magical! That food looks absolutely delish. Thanks for sharing this adventure with us 🙂
October 15th, 2012 at 9:09 AM
R&RAN –
It was too great of event not to share with my readers! I am glad you enjoyed it:)
Happy Monday – Renee
October 15th, 2012 at 9:29 AM
You didn’t do this all in a single day, did you? Thanks for taking me someplace I will never be able to go. Looks like a lot of, a lot of, fun.
October 15th, 2012 at 9:40 AM
Audrey –
Yes one day and had a Blast! I am glad you enjoyed the tour:)
Happy Monday – Renee
October 15th, 2012 at 10:03 AM
Wow! Those cake pictures almost did me in…so did the clam chowder one. Yum! I want that for lunch (cake included). Those flower and butterfly pictures were incredible too! You are amazing.
October 15th, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Thanks Char – you are such a sweetie!
Should have cake everyday, right – ha!
Happy Monday:) – Renee
October 15th, 2012 at 12:29 PM
How fantastic! And the foods look so yummy! 🙂
October 15th, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Thanks Deb and it was a bit of food and drink overload at times!
Happy Monday:) – Renee
October 15th, 2012 at 3:32 PM
Such a treasure trove of a destination. Indeed how do you start?
October 15th, 2012 at 3:37 PM
Bella –
Thanks and you just go for it – ha!
Happy Monday:) – Renee
October 15th, 2012 at 6:56 PM
What an amazing event, I have to say that Nutella filled donut jumped right off the page at me…lol
October 16th, 2012 at 8:57 AM
MSC –
Thanks and I think at times just the word donut jumps at me – ha!
Happy Tuesday:) – Renee
October 15th, 2012 at 7:07 PM
This looks like my kind of event! I love your story and your pictures….I felt like I was there with you. Beautiful photographs.
Elisa
October 16th, 2012 at 8:57 AM
Elisa –
Thanks and glad you enjoyed the tour!
Happy Tuesday:) – Renee
October 15th, 2012 at 7:10 PM
Wow, I think that is a dream event! The craft beer, the wine, the flowers! Gorgeous pics.
October 16th, 2012 at 8:58 AM
Jorie –
Thanks and it was a great event, so worth checking out!
Happy Tuesday:) – Renee
October 15th, 2012 at 9:52 PM
Wow! It looks like you really did have a blast, Renee!! 🙂
October 16th, 2012 at 8:59 AM
Celia –
It was a BLAST indeed!!!
Happy Tuesday:) – Renee
October 16th, 2012 at 4:54 AM
Beautiful and photos of food makes me hungry 🙂
October 16th, 2012 at 9:00 AM
Sakthi –
Thanks and that is the hard part with food posts – makes you hungry:)
Happy Tuesday – Renee
October 16th, 2012 at 8:32 PM
Anyway it’s good to know about other countries food 🙂 If its more post on foods..it will make more of anger than hunger 🙂
October 17th, 2012 at 4:04 PM
Yes it is – love learning about the food and drink!
Take Care – Renee
October 17th, 2012 at 9:09 PM
Yup!!! Expecting more!!!
October 19th, 2012 at 9:24 AM
“Finally snuck in and tried HKG’s Chardonnay and not one but two Pinot Noirs – the Pinot Noirs were delicious. Congrats!”
Thanks for the shout out…it was wonderful to meet you! Would love to have you up at the winery in Healdsburg to try more of our award winning wines…reach out to me directly 🙂
Many thanks,
Melissa Sotak
Brand Manager at HKG Estate Wines
http://www.hkgwines.com/
October 22nd, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Melissa –
Thanks for stopping by and commenting – appreciate that! Yes have to make it to Healdsburg one of these days – would love that:)
Take Care – Renee
October 19th, 2012 at 9:31 AM
“Finally snuck in and tried HKG’s Chardonnay and not one but two Pinot Noirs – the Pinot Noirs were delicious. Congrats!”
Thanks for the shout out…it was wonderful to meet you! Would love to have you up at the winery in Healdsburg to try more of our award winning wines…reach out to me directly 🙂
Many thanks,
Melissa Sotak
Brand Manager of HKG Estate Wines
http://www.hkgwines.com/