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Grape Leaf Deli & Market has been plating up classic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food in Morro Bay since 2017. At the hands of Abe, the Chef and Owner, each dish is prepared with farm-raised ingredients and served with a warm smile. From the traditional cuisine of his native Palestine to the Italian cooking that transformed him into a food fanatic, Abe delights in bringing traditional fare to Central Coast diners who crave something fresh.
In celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, SLO CAL is proud to share three essential businesses to support any time of the year. Follow us from San Luis Obispo's Historic Chinatown to the bustling farmer's markets throughout SLO CAL. Each location is an important part of the culture and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in SLO CAL, which traces back to the 1800s.
SLO CAL is known as one of the happiest places in America, and it’s no wonder! Everyone is welcome here. But it takes great people to make a great community. Lucky for locals, many who arrive with hopes of making this haven their home come with diverse culture, history, and talent in tow. Here’s a look at three exceptional black-owned businesses bringing international cuisine, award-winning wine, and world-class baked goods to the Central Coast.
When it comes to large group celebrations, the wonders of the Central Coast abound in SLO CAL. From the dunes of Oceano to the vineyards of Paso Robles, groups of any size can find a variety of unique adventures to satisfy any craving. So enjoy a few ways to make your occasion extra special and make memories that last a lifetime in SLO CAL.
From two local farms comes an exceptional extract. Vamp it up with vanilla.
Everybody loves a s’more, and several restaurants on the California Central Coast are refining the beloved, ooey, gooey campfire treat. Read along for some tasty takes on a summertime camping classic.
The margarita is a classic refreshment with sweet and sour roots stretching as far back as the late 1930s — at least according to some. Vague history or not, three Central Coast restaurants are doing the margarita right!
Founded by brothers William and Pino in 1947, Cattaneo Bros. is a legendary San Luis Obispo-based jerky brand known up and down the West Coast for its small-batch goodness. This is the story of how CEO Katelyn Kaney has navigated Cattaneo Bros. through storms.
In this article written for Volume I of The Wedding Standard Magazine, Rabbi Janice Mehring and officiant Tom Allen offer their best advice on planning your perfect wedding ceremony.
Moorea Seal is an author, designer, entrepreneur, and the face of her namesake online retail shop. She offers curated fashion, jewelry, books, and home goods. Here’s what you should know about Moorea Seal.
Chelsea Ward is an artist in multiple mediums, an author and a teacher, an entrepreneur, and even a retreat host and tour guide. She chalks, draws, paints, writes, teaches, hosts, swears, and sells for a living. Plus, she’s got a heart of gold. Read on to find out more about this sketchy lady.
Chef Tracy Labastida, founder and owner of San Luis Obispo wedding caterers Field to Table Catering and Events, believes your wedding reception dinner is about more than food. Get his take on this most important meal in a story for Volume II of The Wedding Standard Magazine.
With Santa Barbara Picnic Co., Nicole Leza offers private parties of 2 to 35 guests an experience beyond anything they ever thought a picnic could be. Birthdays, anniversaries, and engagement parties alike, Nicole has totally reimagined your standard field day.
The landmark Santa Maria Inn stretches an entire city block in all its architectural splendor. Constructed in 1916, this historic hotel has become an attraction for everyone from average Joes to worldwide celebrities.
Steven D. Soria is a third-generation leather smith and creator of Make Smith Leather Co. A native of Santa Barbara, California, he's been working leather side by side with his family since he was just a kid. Today he's on his own producing high-quality handcrafted goods and accessories.
Kimberly Walker is the creative force behind Granada Hotel and Bistro. Read the story of how she went from student and writer to inventor and designer of amazing spaces across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
Alexis Negranti grew up showing pigs and market lambs on the Central Coast of California, and graduated from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo with a degree in Agricultural Communications in 2009. By 2010, she’d taken her knowledge and experience and created a sweet treat to die for with Negranti Creamery Sheep’s Milk Ice Cream.
Interview with Jared Peter Kirby, founder of Salvage Audio.
An introspective conversation with musician Chris Lambert as we discuss his process in creating his 2016 album The Blue Hour.
Dominique Gonzales and Robin Kirk-Wolf are two female creative entrepreneurs mixing things up on the California Central Coast. Dominique is the genius behind an all-natural carbonated mixer, and Robin refreshes our drinks with her handmade small-batch bitters.
Chef Ricky Odbert and I explore Six Test Kitchen, his Arroyo Grande, California six-seater restaurant. We discuss his start in the restaurant biz and how he does what he does in his world-class, home-based dining establishment.
Erica Hamilton is Creative Director at Blackwater boutique in downtown San Luis Obispo, California. An artist at heart, she seeks to create a shopping experience that's truly magical.
Get to know the wonderfully warm Stephanie Hendry, owner of Ruby Rose Vintage in downtown San Luis Obispo, California. We talk about taking risks, making your passion your business, and the magic of vintage.
Developer TAIT & Associates will break ground on a brand new 233 unit senior living facility in Old Town Orcutt before August 2022, with phase one of the project scheduled to be completed sometime between June 2023 and April 2024.
Ask Jill Tweedie why she started Breakaway Tours and Event Planning, and she jokingly replies, “I needed to support my habit.” But it’s her entrepreneurial spirit and deep love of wine, food, and hospitality that have made her a leader in the wine tourism industry of the Central Coast. For nearly twenty-five years, the company has offered unforgettable tours to locals and visitors alike.
Interviews
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Food & Wine
Alan Hayashi, son of Haruo Hayashi, and his son at Downtown SLO Farmers' Market
Alan Hayashi: Farmer
Y. Hayashi & Sons
In San Luis Obispo, there’s a local family whose Japanese roots have been firmly planted on the California Central Coast for more than 100 years. Once you get to know this SLO CAL family, we’re sure you’ll want to shop Y. Hayashi & Sons at their Oceano fruit stand and farmers’ markets throughout SLO CAL all year long.
Interview for Visit SLO CAL.
Photo credit: Fiona Carlsen
Helen Abraha & Martha Taezaz: Owners/Chefs
Ebony Restaurant
In San Luis Obispo, Ebony isn’t just a color or a type of hardwood. It’s a fresh flavor from a world away. Chefs Helen Abraha & Martha Taezaz, along with their two silent partners, are the culinary masterminds bringing traditional comfort cuisine from the Horn of Africa all the way to SLO CAL.
Interview for Visit SLO CAL.
Donnie Monroe, Hush Harbor Artisan Bakery & Cafe
Donnie Monroe: Owner/Baker
Hush Harbor artisan Bakery & Cafe
Owners Donnie and Penny Monroe run Hush Harbor Bakery and Cafe in Atascadero with their children and have been making freshly baked rolls, loaves, and more on the Central Coast for more than two decades. “It’s been 22 years,” says Donnie. But his passion for pastry was ignited long before. For the Monroes, bread is life. And it’s a family affair.
Interview for Visit SLO CAL.
Raymond Smith, Indigene Cellars
Raymond Smith: Owner/Winemaker
Indigene Cellars
Raymond Smith knows wine. A transplant from Oakland, he graduated from college in 1989 with a degree in mass communications and followed friends to the California Central Coast in pursuit of a job. But a quick detour into an entry-level position at a winery changed the course of his life forever.
Interview for Visit SLO CAL.
David Parrish, Parrish Family Vineyard
David Parrish: Owner/Winemaker
PARRISH FAMILY VINEYARD
David Parrish is the owner and winemaker at Parrish Family Vineyard in Paso Robles. He's been growing grapes since 1995 and making his own wine since 2004; he truly knows all the ins and outs of the winemaking process, from planting and harvesting to blending and pairing.
In his Deep Thoughts interview with Breakaway Tours & Event Planning, he shares what's new for Parrish Family Vineyard in the year to come.
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Dieter Cronje, Presqui’le Winery
Dieter Cronje: Winemaker
Presqu’ile winery
Dieter Cronje is the founding winemaker at Presqu’ile Winery, a family-owned 73-acre estate vineyard & winery located in the Santa Maria Valley. Get the scoop on how a journey that began in Cape Town, South Africa, led him to become a rising star in the world of Central Coast winemaking in this interview for the Breakaway Tours & Event Planning Deep Thoughts blog.
Nicole Bertotti Pope, Stolo Family Vineyards
Nicole Bertotti-Pope: Winemaker
Stolo Family Vineyards
Stolo Family Vineyards is the only estate winery and vineyard in Cambria and the surrounding area. Located just 3 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, Stolo uses the ideal cool-climate growing conditions to produce award-winning wines. Nicole has been winemaking for 12 years and is now leading the charge.
Written for Breakaway Tours & Event Planning
Stephen Ross Dooley, Stephen Ross Wine Cellars
STEPHEN ROSS DOOLEY: owner/winemaker
STEPHEN ROSS WINE CELLARS
Stephen Ross Dooley is the owner and winemaker at Stephen Ross Wine Cellars. Based in San Luis Obispo, California, since 1994, Stephen Ross serves their small production, limited release Pinot Noirs and other wines in his urban tasting room located steps away from the cellar where he creates them.
(Written for Breakaway Tours & Event Planning)
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Monochrome California White Wine
Dave McGee: Owner/Winemaker
Monochrome Wines
There are hundreds of great California wineries known for their red wines, but Monochrome Wines is one of the few to devote all of their attention, effort, and passion exclusively to whites. Dave McGee shares a bit about why he loves white wine and what it takes to stand out in Paso Robles wine country in this Deep Thoughts exclusive for Breakaway Tours & Event Planning.
Creatives
Photo credit: Grace Kathryn Photograhpy
Alexandra Wallace: photographer, Magazine editor
Alexandra Wallace is a freelance editorial photographer known for her work in fashion and bridal photography. She is also the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Coyote + Oak magazine and editor at The Wedding Standard magazine.
Tusli Bagnoli
tulsi bagnoli: Spiritual teacher & Astrologer
Tulsi Bagnoli is a writer, astrologer, and teacher of Transcendental Meditation. We get to know her as she embarks on a brand new chapter of her life as a spiritual practitioner and businesswoman.