A trip to Santa Barbara must include a visit to one of the funk zone wineries. These wineries are part of the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail. The Santa Barbara Funk Zone is located within a few blocks between State Street and Garden Street and Montecito Street to Cabrillo Boulevard. This industrial district was known … Read more
Just as the Central Coast beckons as one drives north along Highway 101 and the road turns inland from the ocean, ascending into Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara Wine Country, so does the Santa Ynez Bed and Breakfast, ForFriends Inn. The landscape changes to a pastoral setting filled with oak trees, letting us know … Read more
Art and wine connect me to the places I travel to; each establishes harmony and balance in its surroundings. Local art, especially murals, defines a city or town. Like art, local wine speaks of a place, especially in terms of terroir. Both inspire our senses and have a social impact whether we share with friends, … Read more
Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along Highway 101, lies the Central Coast town of San Luis Obispo. A city that is increasing in popularity partly due to its agricultural roots giving way to grape growing, expanding the city’s desirability for fine dining and wine tasting. There is more to San Louis Obispo than … Read more
Every city has an attraction that delineates them from other cities. In many cases, it is murals; in others, it can be a style of architecture. When visiting Concord, California, the defining feature is the Concord Taco Trail; for people like me who have dietary restrictions, it is the Naked Taco Trail. Several years ago, … Read more
Their passion is contagious, and the food at this family-style restaurant is delectably yummy. I felt invigorated and satiated after eating a hearty breakfast and meeting Debbie and Ben Shahvar, a mother and son team who are part of the ButtercuP Diner family. With five restaurants, it takes a family to run the business. That … Read more
The Village of Arroyo Grande is a quaint small town just south of San Luis Obispo off Highway 101. Arroyo Grande is one of the Five Cities, including Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, Grover Beach, and Oceano. The town’s agrarian roots echo with the ever-present roosters, the town mascots, who reside along the creek behind the … Read more
When talking about passion and the art of bread making, Amy Dixon has it all. Walking into The Baker’s Table, the artisan bakery and cafe in Santa Ynez, you are welcomed by the pleasant aromas of homemade bread drifting throughout the dining area. Those were my words for describing the café in 2013. Today you … Read more
Places I Love usually involve all my senses; taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing. Like wine and grape growing, it involves terroir and that sense of place. This connection is dear to me, especially visiting the destinations of San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande. My journey begins the minute I exit the tunnel on Highway … Read more
In wine speak, the cycle of life for the vine begins in the spring. The vineyard starts to come to life as bud break approaches after laying barren and dormant during the winter. It is a new beginning and a new vintage, and signals a time when I am ready to explore what the vineyards … Read more