Renew Your Vows at the Wedding and Special Events Expo in Paso Robles

by Erica Renkert

Planning a wedding or special event? Know somebody who is considering it? Then you should come and experience all the fun and excitement of the 12th Annual Wedding & Special Events Expo in Paso Robles.

The Paso Robles Main Street Association will be holding their 12th Annual Wedding & Special Events Expo, on March 4th at 11:00 am at the Paso Robles Inn Ballroom, and it is free to attend. There will be over thirty vendors featured, all there to help you bring your dreams to life and ensure every detail is not forgotten on your big day. You will be able to browse through vendor booths, speak one-on-one with consultants, hear potential bands and even sample food and wine.

Looking to share something special with your loved one?  Complementary vow renewals by Ceremonies Your Way, will be taking place in the colorful gardens at the Paso Robles Inn.  Photo Booths, DJ's, Formal Wear, Venues, Decor, Lighting Experts, Photographers, Flowers, Hair, even Insurance consultants will be on hand to answer all your questions and give you a multitude of ideas for any event you're planning.

Each of our vendors has generously donated a raffle item; every 15 minutes we will have a winner. That's over 30 prizes to be won just for coming to the 12th Annual Wedding & Special Events Expo. Every person who attends and registers will be given a raffle ticket along with their own bag filled with information and coupons from the vendors.   

The Paso Robles Main Street Association would like to thank the following business for helping to make the 12th Annual Wedding & Special Events Expo possible. Paso Robles Inn, N2 Events, Paso Robles Press, Flowers by Kim, Howard Signery, Central Coast Bride, KPRL 1230AM and Jerry Craig DJ/Karaoke & Décor Lighting.

I hope to see many of you there on March 4th at 11:00 am; remember it's free to the public so bring yourself and all your friends!

Come, enjoy and remember - you can schedule appointments and even book your dream day or event with one of our expert vendors that day!

 

(Photo at left is the Paso Robles Inn ballroom)

 

Erica Renkert is the chairperson of the 2012 Wedding and Special Event Expo and the General Manager of the Paso Robles Inn.

California Restaurant Month in Paso Robles: Thomas Hill Organics

by Tina Swithin 

At the Paso Robles Insider, we are excited to be spotlighting the fabulous Paso Robles' restaurants which are participating in Restaurant Month. 

In a recent article by Paul Hodgins of the OC Register titled, "Central Coast Wine Industry Spurs Gourmet Food Movement", Thomas Hill Organics was featured for their efforts and reputation in supporting this movement.  As journalist Paul Hodgins eloquently stated, "wherever wine flourishes, great cuisine follows".  I must agree.  Paso Robles is the place to be for great wine and food.    

Restaurant Month provides locals and visitors the opportunity to try new restaurants and experiment with new dishes.  You are provided a special menu and you receive will receive three courses for only $30.   What a deal that is! 

I spoke to Debbie Thomas, owner of Thomas Hill Organics who summed it up, "Restaurant month gives our customers a chance to enjoy a very affordable but enjoyable evening out.  We have chosen to showcase our Beef Shortrib Daube.  Daube is a dish made with beef, red wine and vegetables all slowly braised for several hours in our wood burning oven.  Very tender, very flavorful and it has been quite a hit this past week!"

Head down to Thomas Hill Organics Market Bistro & Wine Bar tonight and enjoy one of Paso Robles finest restaurants. 

Thomas Hill Organics Market Bistro & Wine Bar
1305 Park Street, Paso Robles
805-226-5888

Additional Items to Note:

• $30 per person (tax, gratuity and beverages additional).
• No substitutions.
• $15 corkage fee.
• 18% gratuity added to parties of 6 or more.
• Menu changes mid-month- please click here for new menu.

Tina Swithin is the PR Coordinator and Blog Manager for TravelPaso.com where she writes Pairings in Paso and other blog-a-licious Paso Robles articles.  Follow the Paso Robles Insider to get the inside scoop on all the haps in Paso Robles Wine Country.

Wine and Art: A Natural Pairing

By Teresa Burke, Ortman Family Wines

Wine and art are a natural pairing. Both elevate the senses, and both reflect the guiding hand of an artist, be it a painter or a winemaker. Works of art are commonly seen at wineries across the world, and many wine labels are works of art unto themselves.

So it’s no surprise that the growth of the Paso Robles wine industry has been matched by a corresponding emergence of local art galleries—and that wineries and artists are joining together to offer collaborative experiences.

One such experience is “First Saturdays: Wine & The Arts” on the first Saturday of every month in downtown Paso Robles. On these evenings, numerous downtown wine tasting rooms open their doors from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to share their wines, showcase individual artists and offer other special treats, such as live music or appetizers.

The origins of “First Saturdays: Wine & The Arts” date back to August of 2008, when the Paso Robles Main Street Association staged a Saturday series of “Art, Wine & Song” open houses across downtown. Ortman Family Wines and our peers in the Paso Robles Downtown Wineries organization enjoyed it so much that we decided to launch our own ongoing monthly series.

The atmosphere of these evenings is casual and festive. There is no formal route or itinerary. You can simply start at the City Park and go where your feet and your taste buds take you!

At Ortman Family Wines, we open up our back patio, which we call the “O”asis. We typically feature live music, and we offer our wines by the glass, as well as in the regular tasting format. We also unveil a month-long showcase for a local artist in our tasting room. Recent featured artists have included Lynn Duron, who paints on silk canvasses, and Etty Klinger, who specializes in watercolors. We feature numerous works for viewing and purchase, and the artists join us to discuss their craft.

Of course, you don’t have to visit on the first Saturday of the month to enjoy wine and art in downtown Paso Robles. More than a dozen tasting rooms are located within a few blocks of the park, as are several galleries, including the popular Studios on the Park featuring nine studios and 40 working artists.

I hope that you will join us in downtown Paso Robles soon to partake in this classic pairing!

Best Wishes,

Teresa Burke of Ortman Family Wines
We are located at 1317 Park Street in Downtown Paso Robles
(805) 237-9009
Website: www.ortmanwines.com

Harvest - By Any Means Necessary!

Paso Robles Harvest Wine Weekend - October 21-23, 2011

Paso Wine Man is BACK!

The release of our latest digital short, Harvest - By Any Means Necessary, comes at the perfect time! Our first launch, Zinfandel - Paso's Wine, was announced as the 2011 Wine Spectator Video Contest Winner on September 20 leaving "spectators" wanting more...

We extend a warm thank you to all those who voted and for your continued support of Paso. So your wish for MORE is our COMMAND.  

Insider Tips: Sunset's Savor the Central Coast

Sunset Savor the Central Coast 
Oct. 1-2, 2011

There are still people out there who are intrigued by Sunset Savor the Central Coast however, they still aren't sure what to expect at the event.  We (Inside Paso Robles, of course!) jumped at the chance to obtain the inside scoop directly from the SLO Visitor's & Conference Bureau. 

The Details: Sunset Savor the Central Coast’s Main Event brings together the best of wine, food and travel opportunities on California’s beautiful Central Coast.

Need a Taste of Downtown Paso Robles?

 by Tina Swithin

As we all know, Paso Robles has landed on the map for a variety of things.  Wine, olives, festivals and even a capybara (yes, you read that right, a capybara!)  Paso Robles is also becoming world renowned for its fine dining.  You could stay for a week and still not be able to experience all that Paso has to offer your palate.  If you aren’t fortunate enough to stay for a week then you are really missing out --- unless of course you are fortunate enough to be here for Taste of Downtown Paso Robles! 

 

Paso Robles New Fine Art Galleries!

by Guest Blogger Sasha Irving, Studios on the Park

Paso Robles’ blossoming art scene, anchored by Studios on the Park, the Central Coast Shakespeare Festival, the Paderewski Festival, and Festival of the Arts, now includes three new art galleries.

The addition of the Dale Evers Design Studio as well as Vale Fine Art and Pierce Modern galleries offers locals and visitors to Paso Robles an enhanced cultural experience. 

Explore Hearst Castle® on a New Tour

by Guest Blogger, Jim Allen, Director of Marketing, Hearst Castle, California State Parks

There is excitement in the air as Hearst Castle announces new summer tours!  Have you ever wanted to explore the castle grounds on your own at the end of your guided tour?  Now you are able to do just that.  Starting today, June 27th, there are three new tours available to quell your curiosity and satisfy that independent streak that lives in all of us.

A Restaurant Without Walls: Outstanding In The Field returns to the central coast for an unforgettable dining experience with local chef Chris Kobayashi at Rinconada Dairy Farm Sunday, June 5

By Guest Blogger, Stacy Foster

Outstanding In The Field is the coolest, most unique dining experience you will ever have.  This outdoor dining event is not your average picnic in the park.  This milieu combines casual fine dining with a warm summer breeze where you are being served local, sustainable ingredients complemented with a glass of delicious wine, all being served up on one long table with newly acquainted fellow omnivores… this is Outstanding In The Field.  

Chefs, Farmers, Winemakers and Sommeliers at Mid-State Fair’s Mission Square!

By Nancy Hoover

Paso Robles is making an incredible name for itself as a food and wine destination, and is earning high acclaim with recent features in luxury publications such as W Magazine and Wine Spectator.  Those of us lucky enough to live here know that we are fortunate to live in a bountiful area with fertile soil to nourish the many specialty farms and wineries located here.  We are so immersed in the Paso Robles food and wine culture; we can’t help but learn somewhat by osmosis about cooking, farming, winemaking and, of course, wine itself.

It’s only natural, then, that Paso Robles’ rich agricultural history, and progressive food and wine movements are showcased, for 12 days straight, at the California Mid-State Fair’s Mission Square.  This year, the Mission Square features an incredible line-up of local artisan chefs, winemakers and specialty farmers scheduled to demonstrate their vast proficiencies in food and wine production.  Fair-goers can sample single varietal wine flights, purchase wine by the glass and learn the fundamentals of how to purchase, prepare and eat locally grown products from our local specialty farms and chefs. 

Pictured above: Fair-goers mingle at the California's Mid-State Fair Mission Square; courtesy of the California Mid-State Fair. 

The Mission Square was built in 2009 and is the newest addition to the Paso Robles Events Center,  home of the California Mid-State Fair.  The Mission Square resembles the beautiful Spanish architecture of our three nearby historic missions: Mission San Antonio de Padua, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and Mission San Miguel Arcangel, all of which still stand today and are located within 30 minutes of downtown Paso Robles.  In fact, Paso Robles was settled in the late 1700’s by the early California Missionaries because of its ability to sustain a large congregation using its plentiful food sources. Pictured above: Mission San Miguel Arcangel.

New this year, the Mission Square features Farm of the Day, a program designed to recognize and showcase local organic farms and ranches.  Each day a specialty farmer or rancher will display produce and food products next to the Idler’s Demonstration Kitchen. The purpose of The Farm of the Day is to educate fair-goers on how farmers and ranchers grow their crops and raise their animals, how they do business and why it is important in today’s economy and eco environment to eat locally grown products. 

At Idler’s Demonstration Kitchen, watch as local chefs like Andre Averseng of Dining with Andre, and Evan Treadwell of Lido at Dolphin Bay Resort demonstrate their Executive Chef skills every evening at 6 pm.  Fifteen Degrees C Wine Shop owner and certified sommelier, Ali Rush Carscaden, will conduct a wine education seminar for fair-goers at 5:30 pm the first 4 days of the fair.  The seminars will focus on the history, tasting method and regional diversity of different types of wines each night– so be sure to stop in for a visit if you wish to hone in on your wine knowledge!   Pictured right: Fair-goers eagerly watch a Chef demonstration at Idler's Demonstration Kitchen, courtesy of California Mid-State Fair.

On the Mission Square Stage, fair-goers will enhance their home-gardening skills through educational seminars held daily at 5:30 pm. In addition, musical talents of select jazz artists including Code Blues and Piano Madness will entertain fair-goers nightly on the Mission Square Stage.

So, if food and wine is your thing, make sure to visit the California Mid-State Fair’s Mission Square, order a glass of wine and let the osmosis begin!!