SAVOR

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)