Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast Weekend Pass: Amazing May Ticket Special

Whether you’re just emerging into the world of wine and food, or well-traveled gastronomes, you’ll fall in love with Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast, happening September 27-30 at the renowned Santa Margarita Ranch - all for just $100 (50% off) if you buy your weekend passes this month.

No other wine and food event provides foodies with such a rich culinary immersion adventure as well as Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast. Home to our very own Paso Robles wine country and one of the most abundant agricultural counties in California, the event encompasses regional artisan food makers and nationally acclaimed wine producers – all coming together to create the West Coast’s most sought after wine and food event of the year. Aarti Sequeira, star of Food Network’s “Aarti Party” says “I was at this event five minutes and I had my mind blown.”
From the President of Sunset Publishing:  “From passionate foodies to people who just want to experience the best of the Central California Coast lifestyle, SAVOR offers four days of unforgettable culinary experiences in a setting where you can personally connect to the wine and food, whether it’s through cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs using fresh local ingredients or winemaking programs with regional winemakers,” says Barb Newton, president, Sunset Publishing. “You can also rub elbows with Sunset’s top editors and favorite experts, and be the first to taste the medal-winning wines of Sunset’s International Wine Competition while savoring spectacular places like Hearst Castle, unspoiled nature trails and even an evening reception lit only by the stars and glowing hot air balloons. Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast is one of the most exciting and accessible wine and food events around.”

Tickets for West Coast’s “Must Taste” Wine and Food Event of the Year Are on Sale with a Huge Savings in the Month of May: Get a Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast 2012 Weekend Pass for Just $100 (50% Off)

Some events do sell out, so get your tickets now and take advantage of this spectacular short-term deal!

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.savorcentralcoast.com or call the SLO County VCB at (805) 541-8000.

What is it about Paso Robles?

By Matt Browne

I’m sure everyone that loves Paso Robles would come up with a different set of answers to that question. I’m hoping some of you leave your answers in the comment section below…for now I will give you my answer.

I moved here in November of 2003, right before the big earthquake hit the Central Coast. I think that Paso Robles has truly come alive since then. The downtown is a vibrant center filled with wonderful food, wine, beer, art, and small boutique shops all surrounding the beautiful park that is home to Friday nights concerts (photo below) through the summer as well as many holiday-related events throughout the year.

This town has become known for its wine but one of the most impressive things about this place is all the OTHER stuff that there is to do. There has been an annual cigar event, a hot air balloon festival, home shows, ag and ranch events, an art festival, classic car events, food related events; we’ve had the Amgen Tour come through twice, we have upcoming beer events, well known entertainers at the Mid-State Fair, the Olive Festival, the Lavender Festival and several other things I know I must be forgetting; but I think you get my point. 

After living all over the state of California, Texas, and Kentucky…Paso Robles is the first place in my 35 years that I would call "home". The diversity in events and activities along with the warmth of the community really gives the individual an opportunity to connect. All this along with the rolling hills and vineyards allow you to hop in your vehicle (or on a bicycle) and head in any direction for an amazingly beautiful drive.

My advice to visitors and new transplants…get involved, go to the events, meet new people, be part of the community rather than a bystander, and do all the adventuring you can in this paradise called Paso Robles!

Now it’s your turn; what is it about Paso Robles?

Matt is a 10-year Paso Robles area resident. He and his wife Annie love exploring the Central Coast looking for food, drinks, and adventure.  You can follow their adventures on their blog at HootnAnnie. 

 

 

 

Introducing Paso Robles’ “Friday Giveaways”

by Shonna Howenstine

It was recently brought to our attention that everybody loves Fridays. And free stuff. And Paso Robles.

So, with us being the progressive tourism office that we are, we’ve decided to combine these three things and conquer the world. Well, maybe “conquer” is the wrong word. Perhaps “enliven” or “enhance” or “improve” would be better in this instance.  We have SUCH a cool program that we’re calling Friday Giveaways. And it’s legit - we officially launched it last week and gave away two tickets to the 20th Annual Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival!

Authentic Paso Robles Gifts- Gourmet Delights

by Tina Swithin, Travel Paso Robles Alliance

We've dedicated this blog series to some truly authentic Paso Robles gifts that will delight those on your Christmas list.  How authentic, you ask?  They are grown right here in Paso Robles!  

Paso Robles is quickly becoming known as a producer of fabulous olive oils.  Just when I think that I know everything about Paso, I discover something new.  For instance, Niner Wine Estates produces more than just great wines.  They also produce  olive oil!  The  Niner Wine Estates Olive Oil is estate grown from their eastside Bootjack Ranch Vineyard property, carefully made and bottled in limited quantities each year. This vintage is a blend of Arbequina, a Spanish variety and Frantoio, an Italian variety. The Arbequina brings a buttery mouthfeel and a peppery finish, while the Frantoio offers fruity aromas and a sweet sensation which makes them excellent blending partners. The 2010 Extra Virgin is medium-bodied, mildly pungent and tastes overall very clean. It finishes with a light spicy almond note.  This would make a splendid stocking stuffer for the gourmet goddess in your life.  

While olives and wine seem to take the spotlight in Paso Robles, there is an amazing little farm in Paso Robles which deserves a place on the stage.  Bring in the holidays with the joy of gourmet treats from  Limerock Orchards, Paso Robles' wine country walnut farm.  I had the pleasure of speaking to Olivia Wenger of Limerock Orchards who was happy to share her scrumptious Walnut Holiday Taster with Inside Paso Robles.  This delicious gift includes 4 lbs of organic, in-shell walnuts, 250ml roasted walnut oil and 8 ounces of creamy, raw walnut butter and a walnut oil recipe card. Yum!

Each product from Limerock Orchards is produced from their delicious, dryland farmed walnuts which are known for their sweet, buttery flavor. While you are doing your holiday shopping at Limerock Orchards, I highly recommend picking up some extra walnut butter for your own kitchen.  It's amazing on everything from crepes to hot cereal. 

Niner Wine Estates is located at 2400 Highway 46 West in Paso Robles                                 www.ninerwine.com or call 805-239-2233.

Limerock Orchards is located at 7210 Vineyard Drive in Paso Robles                          www.limerockorchards.com or call 805-238-6887

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.

 

 

 

Give the Gift of Paso Robles

By Shonna Howenstine, City of Paso Robles Tourism Coordinator

After hearing a visitor say last year that they planned to purchase items made in or near Paso Robles during the holiday season, we agreed that the idea was genius and set to work compiling THE LIST. That's right, we would put into one place every item we know of that is made or can only be found in Paso Robles. Our shopping adventure took us through websites that in turn inspired our imaginations AND made checking off our shopping lists remarkably easy and fun. 

Recipes from Paso: Pasolivo's Oven Roasted Cauliflower

by Tina Swithin, Travel Paso Robles Alliance

By now you know that I'm always on the hunt for recipes.  Luckily, I live in an area that keeps me incredibly inspired to cook and experiment with new dishes year-round.  Fresh, local produce through the North County Farmer's Markets are a cook's dream come true.  Our local businesses such as Jack Creek Farms, Pasolivo, Fat Cat Farm, We Olive and Limerock Orchards help to keep my gourmet interest alive, well and thriving.  

I was visiting my friend's at Pasolivo yesterday and walked away with a fabulous new recipe for cauliflower.  Cauliflower is one of those vegetables that I don't use nearly enough.  After finding this easy and de-li-cious dish, you can rest assured that it will be on my dinner table much more often!  Easy, healthy and scrumptious is my favorite combination.  

Oven-Roasted Cauliflower

• One head of cauliflower
• One head of garlic
• Pasolivo lemon olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Parmesan cheese

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees.  Cut cauliflower into bite-size pieces.  Peel and chop garlic.  Combine  cauliflower and garlic in a 9 x 13 pan.  Drizzle with lemon oil and season with salt and pepper.  Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring to caramelize.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. 

Enjoy! 

Tina Swithin is the 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.  

 

 

Pairings in Paso: We Olive Olio Nuovo Turkey and Windward Pinot

by Tina Swithin, Travel Paso Robles Alliance

Paso Robles comes to life in October during wine harvest and olive harvest follows closely behind in November.  This is truly a magical season to be in Paso Robles!  I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Frank Mercurio, founder of We Olive.  Frank filled me in on a time-honored tradition in the olive world which is known as Olio Nuovo—it goes back hundreds of years.  Olio Nuovo means “new oil” in Italian—it is fresh extra virgin olive oil made from the first press of the season.  This fresh oil is a delight for the senses and typically has a pungent and peppery flavor.  It’s truly delicious. 

 

It's Olive Harvest Time - How It's Done

by Ron Sanders, Alta Cresta Olive Orchard

As we all know, October is grape harvest time in Paso Robles. Now its harvest time in the olive world.  Since the 1990’s growing olives for oil has seen a resurgence in California, nowhere more so than here in the Paso Robles area. 

Paso is known for its Mediterranean type climate, similar to the region where olives originated.  While you won’t see vast olive orchards spreading out for miles, you will find smaller orchards that are family owned and operated.  The olive trees and olives are personally cared for and extra virgin olive oils of many different styles and characteristics are produced.