Celebrating the Grape, San Luis Obispo, Central Coast
Like a blue ribbon recipe, San Luis Obispo County has all the necessary ingredients for a delicious culinary escape. Conveniently located midway (190 miles/306 kilometers) between Los Angeles and San Francisco along California’s Central Coast, the area provides a taste of the “SLO” life. The destination is known for its dramatic ocean views and 80 miles of sandy beaches, mild climate, scenic Highway 1, wine country, outdoor recreation, golf, spas, Carrizo Plain National Monument, two historic missions (Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and Mission San Miguel Arcangel), and, of course, the iconic Hearst Castle.
Additionally, area farms and orchards produce fresh, seasonal fruits, nuts and vegetables, while ranches raise natural beef, lamb, pork and chicken. And, the “catch of the day” from coastal Pacific waters offers even more choices for discerning tastes.
The dining scene has exploded with new restaurants showcasing innovative dishes prepared by chefs choosing local, organic and sustainable food available in San Luis Obispo County. Complementing the food are award-winning vintages produced by the many wineries dotting the Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo landscape.
Wine Country Cuisine
San Luis Obispo County offers a diverse mix of restaurants ranging from casual cuisine to the best in fine dining. Culinary delights served up by local restaurants, cafés and delis include oak pit barbecued ribs and steaks, clam chowder served in a sourdough bowl, fresh baked Olallieberry pie, the curried chicken sandwich that made Oprah Winfrey’s mouth water, and San Luis Obispo County’s very distinctive “wine country” cuisine.
Satisfy your hunger for a delicious meal at an appetizing price during Restaurant Month in January, created to showcase the many fine dining establishments throughout the county.. For 30 days, participating restaurants (more than 30) feature three-course prix fixe menus for only $30, plus tax, per person. Meals can be paired with award-winning wines from Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo wine country for an additional charge.
Heard it Through the Grapevine
San Luis Obispo County is the third-largest wine region in California and boasts two distinct wine grape growing regions – Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. With more than 200 wineries and over 100 tasting rooms, featuring award-winning vintages and innovative wine grape growing techniques, San Luis Obispo County is the ideal destination for wine lovers. Check out TASTE, a state-of-the-art wine bar and tasting room in downtown San Luis Obispo, or one of the area’s many gourmet food and wine tasting shops.
The cool climate and marine sediment of the San Luis Obispo/Edna Valley wine region combine to produce the most highly regarded, rich, buttery Chardonnay grapes in California wine country. The long, hot summers and chalk and limestone hillsides of Paso Robles wine country yield award-winning reds, especially superb Zinfandels and Rhone varietals.
Experience one of the many events celebrating the grape, including the 18th Annual Harvest Celebration (November 7-9, 2008), featuring auction and winery open houses in San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande; 17th Annual Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival (March 13-15, 2009); 17th Annual Hospice du Rhône (April 30 – May 3, 2009) in Paso Robles, the world’s largest celebration of Rhône variety wines; Roll Out the Barrels Weekend, San Luis Obispo (April 30 – May 3, 2009); and 27th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival (May 15-17, 2009), the largest outdoor wine tasting in California.
From Farmer to You
During the growing season, you can find a Farmer’s Market at locations throughout San Luis Obispo County every day of the week. The one that sets the standard for all other Farmer’s Markets in California is the Farmer’s Market in downtown San Luis Obispo on Thursday nights. From 6 to 9 p.m., for six blocks on Higuera Street, between Osos and Nipomo Streets, booths selling produce, fresh flowers, arts and crafts, barbecue ribs, chicken and sausages, sandwiches, and pizza line both sides of the street. Shops and restaurants along Higuera Street are open, too.
For foodies wanting to discover the source of the fresh ingredients that make up their San Luis Obispo County dining experience, an Ag Adventures tour will make the field-to-fork process fun. From chickens and eggs, fresh seasonally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs (pick your own in many cases), wine, olive oil and lavender (yes, lavender is edible), San Luis Obispo County farms, ranches, orchards, nurseries and wineries offer something for everyone.
From abalone to Zinfandel, San Luis Obispo County offers an alphabet soup of choices for culinary visitors. To help plan a culinary escape to San Luis Obispo County, call 1-800-634-1414 or visit www.SanLuisObispoCounty.com. Bon appetit!
The Inside Scoop on San Luis Obispo County:
What is an Olallieberry?
Resembling a blackberry, the Olallieberry is the primary fruit grown by the Linn’s. Olallieberry products are popular items at their Fruit Bin Restaurant and Original Farm Store in Cambria. The Olallieberry is about two-thirds blackberry and one-third European red raspberry. Olallieberry products available at Linn’s include pies, preserves, dessert wine, oat bar, curd and syrup.
Olive Oil
San Luis Obispo County is gaining a reputation for producing award-winning olive oil. Pasolivo (Willow Creek Olive Ranch) produces award-winning extra virgin olive oils in Paso Robles, and boasts the largest and newest olive press of its kind on the Central Coast, along with a tasting room. Located near San Luis Obispo, Tiber Canyon Ranch is known for its distinctive California-style Tuscan olive oil made from a blend of select Italian varietals.
Catch of the Day
Commercial fishing boats moored in San Luis Bay and Morro Bay provide local restaurants with fresh seasonal seafood, including halibut, sanddabs, sole, crabs and albacore. Located in Cayucos, The Abalone Farm is the largest and oldest producer of California Red Abalone in the U.S. The aquaculture facility offers a legal and sustainable source for this tasty seafood. The Abalone Farm’s Ocean Rose Abalone is freshly harvested, cleaned, tenderized and vacuum-packed for weekly shipments to customers. The Abalone Farm is a proud participant in the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.
Authentic Flavor of the American West
For natural beef with an extraordinary flavor, try Hearst Ranch Beef. Raised on the Hearst Ranch surrounding Hearst Castle and the Jack Ranch in Cholame, the cattle are grass-fed, grass-finished and humanely raised. The cattle are never given growth hormones or antibiotics. Hearst Ranch products include aged steaks, hamburgers and hot dogs and beef jerky, plus sauces and olive oils.
Feel Good Chocolate
Sweet Earth Chocolates, based in San Luis Obispo, is one of a handful of organic and fair trade chocolate makers in the United States. The company was founded by Tom Neuhaus, a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Food Sciences professor, trained French chef, chocolatier and humanitarian. Tom also teaches the only University-level class on chocolate in the United States. What makes Sweet Earth Chocolates different from other chocolate makers is its advocacy for fair trade and the West African cocoa farmer. Tom visits West Africa every year to help out the farmers who live in poverty despite supplying America with 75 percent of its cocoa. The benefits of fair trade and organic production are in the all=natural ingredients used to produce the chocolate – no slave labor, no chemicals and no pesticides.
Say Cheese
Visitors to Paso Robles can taste a unique selection of exceptional handcrafted cow, sheep and goat milk cheeses from around the world at the Vivant Fine Cheese tasting room. Nearly 200 kinds of cheese that can be paired with Central Coast wines and beers are offered. The building basement houses aging caves, the first of their kind on the West Coast.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Head to the Cal Poly Organic Farm on the campus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and learn about the community-supported agriculture program and various organic products (honey, chocolate bars) marketed under the Cal Poly brand. Members of the Cal Poly Organic Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) receive a weekly "harvest box" of fresh seasonal produce.
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