Paso Robles

Full of Life Flatbread, Um, PIZZA: Worth The Drive

With plenty of serviceable options for wood-fired pizza right here in the city, why would anyone hop into their car for an hours-long ride just to try a pie? And a FLATBREAD pizza at that?! Well, because Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos, CA, is fantastic. Sure, it's tucked away at the end of a o ... More >>

Firestone Walker's Jeffers Richardson at Chloe in Golden Road Tonight

There are two compelling reasons why you should head to Atwater Village tonight, Thurs. at 7:00 p.m. To have unlimited access to Jeffers Richardson, Firestone Walker's "Barrelmeister" on one of the most exciting new barrel programs in craft beer. And to do your brainpicking at Golden Road's exclusiv ... More >>

5 California Spring Beers to Drink Now

Stylistically, spring can be an awkward time for beer. In a different era of beer-loving -- like Lower Saxony in the 16th century -- we'd be readying ourselves for Lent by testing Bock beers that had been lagering through the winter. As weather and religion scarcely dictate what we drink now, our mo ... More >>

What's In Season at the Farmers Market: Heirloom Helios Radishes from Windrose Farm

Radishes metamorphose from seed to plant in a handful of days and, with some varieties, are ready to harvest in a few weeks. This swift seed-to-salad trait is what makes them so ideal for short attention span gardeners -- great for kids and kids-at-heart -- and market farmers. Limited land equals ... More >>

What's In Season at the Farmers Market: Cardoons from Flora Bella Farm SMFM Farmer Comes to Hollywood

It's probably telling that when asked how he likes to cook cardoons, Flora Bella Farm's James Birch immediately says, "By finding someone else to do it." Birch says he does like the flavor -- it's nearly identical to its thistle cousin, artichoke -- it just takes a bit of work and time to get it th ... More >>

Budweiser Allegedly Watered Down Beer 5 California Craft Alternatives

Anheuser-Busch InBev is being sued by consumers in Pennsylvania, California and New Jersey with companion suits coming from Ohio and Colorado, Bloomberg reports. The complaint filed in Philadelphia alleges that the alcohol content in a variety of Anheuser-Busch products is overstated, which would vi ... More >>

Q & A With Cheesemaker Christine Maguire: A Farm Stay At Rinconada Dairy Cheese, Jam, Bacon!

Fantastic handmade cheese, bacon from backyard pigs, and homemade jam made from farm fruit aren't exactly the typical Jane and Michael Stern road trip finds. If you've tried any of the cheeses crafted by Christine Maguire of Rinconada Dairy, a visit to the 92-acre ranch that she and her husband, Jim ... More >>

5 California Barley Wines to Drink Now

A blustery February day in Los Angeles requires a beverage of equal intensity and rareness. Barley wine, a beer of wine-strength marrying sweet caramel and bitter hoppy flavors, is the perfect accompaniment to brisk or stormy day. The oldest American craft barley wines, and many of the highest-rate ... More >>

Tickets On Sale: Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

The 2nd Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival will take place Sat., June 1, 2013 in Paso Robles, rain or shine (expect shine) for adults over 21. Tickets go on sale for $75 Feb. 1 at 12:01 a.m. (that's tonight for those who begrudge the 12-hour clock.) Anticipated as one of the best craft be ... More >>

Q & A with Jeffers Richardson of Firestone Walker's Barrelworks: Live Ales, Oak Wine Barrels California's Newest Beer Destination

Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a bit of a bipolar operation. On one side, the award-winning 16 year-old central California brewery has been rapidly expanding its Paso Robles facility to accommodate increased volume and consumption of its tried-and-true flagship pale ales, IPAs and stouts. An ... More >>

For Professional Cowboys Like Dugan Kelly, It All Comes Down to 10 Days in Las Vegas

A black Stetson pulled down low over his forehead, Dugan Kelly walks with a cowboy swagger as he leads his horses to their trailer. As the animals rest under the bright lights of Las Vegas, nothing about Kelly's demeanor suggests that tonight's competition — the first night of the National Fin ... More >>

What's in Season at the Farmers Market: Windrose Farm's Crabapples Finally, Reason to Buy a Taxidermy Machine

If you haven't yet seen the gorgeous bowls of crabapples at Windrose Farm's market stall, you might want to take note now. And maybe get a few pounds of the diminutive apples, for use in holiday dishes or even just to look at -- a bowl of them makes a pretty stunning centerpiece. The crabapples are ... More >>

Top 5 Beers of San Diego Beer Week: Barrel-Aged Brews, Political Beers Pasadena Sours

A wise San Diego brewer once said, "Every week in San Diego is beer week," an undeniable truth for a county with more than 60 breweries and two decades of beer culture to its fame. And still, the ten-day festival officially known as San Diego Beer Week continues to amaze palettes, concluding its 4 ... More >>

San Antonio Winery: L.A.'s Oldest Producing Winery Celebrates Its 95th Anniversary

There wasn't a drop of wine in that giant bottle of Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon at San Antonio Winery's 95th anniversary party. It was a cake -- Black Forest, with cherries inside instead of grapes. Beside it were two other mammoth cakes created for the celebration, one of them frosted with histo ... More >>

Celebrate International Grenache Day: Party in Paso #GrenacheDay!

You'll miss no work, and the kids will still head off to school. There'll be no moment of silence, nor office parties, nor gifts exchanged. Nonetheless today, Sept. 21, is a holiday. It's Grenache Day, fool -- that one day of the year on which highly privileged people all over the world who happe ... More >>

5 End of Summer California Beer Releases To Buy Now

Beer is an unorthodox object to fetishize. When you see a half-dozen men dressed from business to bro, outpacing each other in a parking lot on their lunch break for a few remaining limited-release beers, how else can this phenomenon be described? Our no. 1 beer to buy is eliciting this response all ... More >>

Top 4 Weekend Events: Fried Chicken Fest, Pop-Up Picnic Dinner, L.A. Epicurean Fest Susan Feniger Street Food Book Signing

L.A. Fried Chicken Fest A slate of eight local chefs -- including Josef Centeno (Baco Mercat), David LeFevre (Manhattan Beach Post), and Bryant Ng (the Spice Table) -- will serve their own twists on some crispy fried chicken, as well as bottomless Knob Creek whiskey and El Tesoro tequila cocktail pu ... More >>

The Bruery's New Tasting Room: True Brew

Something wonderful is hiding in Placentia's Dunn Way Industrial park, nestled next to car dealerships and motels in the well-deodorized armpit of the 57 and 91 freeways. Continue past ATOMIC Ballroom, home of the world famous Strutters Ball. As much as we love an Advanced 8 Count Lindy Hop class ... More >>

Best Beer in America Results: Hoppy Beers Continue to Reign California Brewers Clean Up

The results are in for the tenth annual "Best Beers in America" poll from Zymurgy Magazine, craftbeer.com reports. A Colorado-based publication of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA), Zymurgy has long-asked its readers to vote for their favorite commercially available beers. This year's polli ... More >>

Summer Reading List: New Food Beverage Books For The Family

The upside of June gloom: It's the perfect excuse to check a few titles off the kids' summer reading list and to get started on your own. After all, the sunburns and 100 degree days will be waiting in July and August. Here are some of our favorite recently released food and drink book recommendati ... More >>

Rhone Rangers Wine Tasting at Vibiana This Sunday

Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are the beloved trinity of most wine drinkers. There are many more varietals out there and this Sunday's (June 3) fifth annual Rhone Rangers Tasting at Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles showcases wines grown from 22 American Rhone grape varietals. Chief a ... More >>

10 California Summer Wine Events

Summer is a wine-drinking marathon in California, and up and down the coast, each weekend brings pleasant opportunities to imbibe outside. The diversity of events reflects the state's varied wine-growing regions. Those on hotel grounds come with a room night package -- a smart way to go. Because i ... More >>

Thanks for Drinking: Craft Beer Sales Rise Despite Sluggish Overall Market

The Brewers Association has just released this year's numbers on U.S. beer sales. If you prefer Manifesto Eagle Rock Wit to Blue Moon (which is owned by MillerCoors) the news is good. Beer sales slowed overall, slipping 1.3% by volume. Within the craft beer industry numbers continued to rise with a ... More >>

Trees Of Antiquity: Where To Buy Your Heirloom Apple, Apricot, Peach Sure, "Flavor Grenade" Seedlings

flickr user thomitheosAn Apple-Filled Backyard​Most farmers market discoveries tend to involve a new way cook those black trumpet mushrooms or choose a Crenshaw melon. But some days, you just get lucky. Or perhaps it was our discussion with a few farmers about spaders (a device that tills the ... More >>

Drink This Now and Later: Firestone Walker XV Anniversary Ale

B. MesirowFirestone Walker XV from box to glass​The enlightened readers of this blog should be well aware by now that great beer is just as complex as wine. However, in the off chance that you have yet to ascend to the craft beer plane of being, we've found you a shortcut to Nirvana: Fireston ... More >>

Windrose Farm's New Smoked Chipotles: Warning, Your Pantry Will Never Be The Same Bill Spencer's Smoking Secrets

jgarbeeBill Spencer Checking On His Tomatoes and Jalapeños​We could simply say that Bill Spencer is not the type to take the air-drying easy route to preserving the organic tomatoes and jalapeños that he and his wife, Barbara, grow on their Paso Robles farm all summer. And that they're fanta ... More >>

Le Comptoir: 99 Essential Restaurants 2011

Capybara, World's Largest Rodent, Spotted in Paso Robles: Is It Wrong to Lust for a Carcass?

AnimalPhotos.infoHydrochaeris hydrochaeris, aka the capybara​The Los Angeles County Natural History Museum has plenty of bizarre beasties in stock, many of them from creatures not found within a thousand miles of L.A. -- or within a thousand years of 2011. Which is why the museum is captivated ... More >>

Hearst Ranch Winery: What Wines to Pair with A Castle Visit Free-range Zebras and Grass-fed Beef Burgers

Jeff KirshbaumBranding takes on its original meaning at the Hearst Ranch Winery ​ Free-range zebras, undeveloped California coastline as far as the eye can see and an epic house museum: Welcome to the Hearst Ranch Winery's neighborhood. Few California wineries can compete with the tasting room ... More >>

Good Food Jobs A Few Local Opportunities

abrowncoat/flickrOjai Olive Oil: Your food job?​ Thanks to Michael Pollan, the mainstreaming of farm-to-table activism, and co-ops, many college students graduate with the hope of working with food -- in the ever-expanding field if not a field itself. While ten years ago, they'd have been a ... More >>

Live Review: Basement Babies at The cAbin, By George!

Sam BlochBasement Babies​Review by Sam Bloch. WHO: Truman Peyote, Matthewdavid, Sun Araw, Basement Babies WHERE: The cAbin, By George! WHEN: 7/5/11 In September 1995, an MTV reporter caught Bjork backstage at England's massive Reading festival. A few months earlier, she'd released her seco ... More >>

Weiland Brewery: The Most Ridiculous Happy Hour in L.A.

Jake OgleWeiland interior ​ Los Angeles is 500 square miles and a thousand bars. So you have a pretty good selection of "happy hours" to get your drink on. That said, the two Weiland Brewery locations in downtown LA offer incredibly reasonable happy hour prices Monday-Friday from 3-7 p.m. an ... More >>

Osteria La Buca Gets New Chef, New Menu

​In addition to a streamlined new look, Melrose-and-Western neighborhood favorite Osteria La Buca is getting a streamlined menu courtesy of new executive chef Jason Neroni, an Orange County native known for his cooking at Brooklyn's Porchetta and Manhattan's 10 Downing Food & Wine. (He's also ... More >>

Zin City: This Weekend in Paso Robles

artandscience/Flickr​ There's no sin in Zin--particularly the cozy, relatively smooth sort frequently produced in Paso Robles. This coming weekend, March 18-20, the region will celebrate vines both old and new at the Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival where more than 50 wineries will play host to ... More >>

The Thursday Edition: A Roundup of Newspaper Food Stories

Flickr/dubh​ What's the country reading today food-wise? Here's a roundup of some of the food-related stories from other newspapers, many of which print their food sections mid-week. And remember, even if you don't actually buy papers these days (or not; this paper is free), it's where most of ... More >>

2010 Grape Harvest: California Winemakers On Why Tricky Doesn't Always Mean Tragic

J. GarbeeThe Last Drops Of Harvest​To those of us who live in L.A. sans air conditioning, the mild California summer of 2010 was an unseasonably pleasant, food-truck friendly three months notably devoid of sweat-free nights other than the brief late-breaking heat wave. To the California wineri ... More >>

Taste at the Wine House

Ben CalderwoodWine in a box​ It can be a strange, solitary exercise, consuming wine dispensed by a computer. Purchase your access card from the order desk at the rear of the shop, steal a glance at the Wine House's Old & Rare cellars where magnum prices climb into the five figures, and make y ... More >>

Cellar At Your Own Risk: Wine Is NOT Earthquake Proof Our 5.0 Weeknight Value Picks

Flickr User scottottoOf Course The $4 Rosé Didn't Break​ As soon as we realized that no, we were not on a cruise ship sans Dramamine, Squid Ink did what we suspect most folks do during an earthquake: we lunged for the few prized bottles of Russian River Pinot still remaining from a particular ... More >>

Top 10 Wine Splits: The Thank You Gift That Keeps on Sipping

wine.comGift Baskets Are So Last Year​Ladies and gentlemen, a polite reminder. The quintessential dinner party dilemma is not whether to risk veering from Mapquest directions, but what to take as a host/hostess gift. If you regularly arrive at the door without a small token of thanks, such as ... More >>

Beer, Coffee, Cupcakes and Greyhounds: Firestone Walker's "13" Anniversary Ale Release Party

Firestone WalkerBrewmaster Matt Brynildson ​Tomorrow will be the third, and final, Friday the 13th in 2009 (the next triple play won't occur until 2015). On Saturday, we suggest you celebrate surviving yet another night of horror flick marathons by driving to Paso Robles for Firestone Walker's ... More >>

Light up the Night at Diwali, India's Festival of Lights

Oil lamps are traditional for Diwali​Dress up in your brightest and best to celebrate Diwali, India's Festival of Lights. The official day is October 17, but you can beat that by going to the L.A. Mumbai Sister City Affiliation's Diwali party the weekend before. On October 11, the group will g ... More >>

Roxo Port Cellars: Don't Pass Paso without Pausing for Port

What started as a tipsy 4th of July fireside chat four years ago between nextdoor neighbors Aaron and Erin Culp, both 1999 Cal Poly wine program graduates, and Jeffrey and Kimberly Steele, more seasoned business types, turned into one more fortified American business. As the Atascadero couples nib ... More >>

Don't Cry Into Your Wineglass: California Wine Wins Malbec Competition

Barbara HansenA glass of Malbec​Don't cry, Argentina, but you've lost a bit of your glory. The top Malbec in the 2009 San Francisco International Wine Competition didn't come from Argentina, where Malbec is so common that wine judges there get tired of tasting it. Voted overall best was a Cali ... More >>

Midlife Crisis Winery in Paso Robles: The End of One Crisis, The Beginning of Another

Jill Mittan looks tired. But despite the looming death of the five year-old winery dream she shared with her husband Kevin, she's still pouring tastes and telling visitors about the local wine scene at Midlife Crisis Winery. On Sunday, July 27th that will end too.

Wine Guy Explains Wine Things: Good Cab, Bad Cab

Wine Guy Lou Amdur of "Lou: A Wine Bar" returns this week with some thoughts about West Coast Cabernet Sauvignons, several tips on What Not To Buy and the answer to the question "Why do I always feel so gross after dr ... More >>

Days of Wine and Antelope

The coming week ushers in a whole new slate of wine drinking opportunities around town. On Monday Lou is serving up ... antelope. Antelope? Really? As in the cute slinky bovid, or that ex-urban, quasi-rural valley located off of Highway 14? Yeah, but this meat from Broken Arrow Ranch also apparent ... More >>

Thousands of Drunks Beat the California DMV

Drinking boaters lost their driver's licenses. But it was the DMV that broke the law.

The Other Coast

West meets East in “The Modern West”

Let’s Go for a Ride!

Car culture on Pacific rims

Pilgrims’ Progress

Blue and clerical collars team up