My Favorite Flavor; Affordable

Yes, that's how this weekend's Flavor of SLO event is being promoted. "A delicious event we can all afford."

And, I have to admit, it is one of the more innovative pricing schemes I've seen for a wine/food/live music/benefit event. The two bands that are booked for this extravaganza sound really interesting.

It all happens in Mitchell Park in San Luis Obispo on Sunday, May 31st, from 12 - 4 pm. Lots of great wines and restaurants and foods will be on hand, including some long time local faves that I've never seen at these events like Tio Alberto's, the Far Western Tavern and Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates.

It's a "I'm Full" Indigo Moon in Cambria, California

You can see it rising through the pines!

Actually Indigo Moon is a cozy restaurant that's been a fixture in Cambria for many moons.
I had one of their specials; pecan encrusted Halibut that was perfect. My dinning companions had crab cakes, nut dusted goat cheese salad, and an Angus burger with sweet potato fries .... and then desserts!

Turns out our friend Sara, who was part of our party, makes the desserts. The raspberry cheesecake was melting people upon the first tastes and the chocolate cake with house-made coffee ice cream (pictured) was just stunningly good.

Just writing about it has revived my craving!


The service was warm and friendly, atmosphere is cozy and comfy and the outdoor garden seating is perfect for a sunny, California coasting lunch.





And they have a wine/artisan cheese tasting bar area in the front!

Call 'em up: (805) 927-2911

Wine - Adult Education

Every so often, those of use who are up to our neck in vast vats of wine knowledge, trivia and gossip, need to take a step back and extend a helping hand to those who, by age or interest, are just beginning to explore Enotopia.

My thanks to new Wine Whisperer follower, Kevin Zraly of New York for three nicely done (and visual) primers on How to Read Wine Labels, The Red Wine Texture Scale, and All You Need to Know About California Wine. I don't know how that last one is possible... I can barely keep up with just the wines of California's Central Coast.

Kevin's website and book is found at: www.kevinzraly.com
Mr. Zraly, btw,is the winner of the '06 Wine Literary Award, European Wine Council's Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been featured in the NY Times, Newsweek and GQ.

Wine Whisperer on "Chardonnay-sayers"

At a recent tasting event, attended by yours truly (incognito), I chanced to overhear one of those ABC people .. Anything But Chardonnay.

I know that those of us who spend a large part of our waking hours thinking about, and sometimes even drinking, wine are often shocked to discover that some perceptions about certain wines that we thought had changed years ago still persist.

Like when rosé re-bloomed in California and was newly infused with elegant, delicate touches and we coaxed, teased and cajoled our non-eno friends into tasting something they swore would never pass their lips again; an oath usually taken during their college years.

I can't believe that old prejudices against this noble grape still walk among the tasting room rompers, just because, 15 years ago or so, Mrs. Butterworth's Chardonnay served in a freshly-hewn oak bowl, laid her heavy hand across the land.

Chardonnay, the Queen of the white wine grapes. The backbone of world's most cherished Champagnes and sparkling wines. Tasty companion to warm summer afternoons, East Indian food and shellfish.

Click here, if you dare, to hear me rant on about those who think they're being hip by being critical because they put fashion before palate!

Wine Centre Coming to Center of Paso Robles!

Soon, Paso Robles will have is very own Enomatic equiped tasting room in heart of historic downtown.
Paso Wine Centre (love the Euro-spelling, maybe SLO's new double decker bus will stop there, too) will feature Enomatic tasting technology and specialize in wines from the region.

Best of all, net proceeds will benefit charities that provide clean drinking water and sanitation projects around the world.

I've often commented on how it is possible to spend three days wine tasting just in the heart of downtown Paso ... now here goes a whole afternoon at one stop!

This welcome addition, a project of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, will afford visitors the opportunity to discover great Paso wines and then plan their Wine Country tours accordingly. And benefit a great cause in the process.

The Wine Whisperer calls that a , "Win Win!" Ahhhh, how I do love the double W's!

Tweet! Honk! Kogi-A -Go-Go.

Kogi, has taken a fixture of California cuisine culture, the taco truck, and added a Korean twist and a big dose of Twitter.

"Roach Coaches" as their popularly known, have seen a duo of Korean BBQ-inspired trucks added to their ranks in Los Angeles.

But it's not only the master chef created menu and great food that has brought Kogi it fanatical following and fame. They have "Tweeted" their way to international stardom and are showing restaurateurs how to find new customers during a recession.

It certainly worked. The only way you can find out where the Kogi trucks are going to be is through Twitter. But it's more than glorified tracking device, locals describe the phenomenon as more like a "roving party."

Or as brand director Mike Prasad says, " We wanted to create a single place where fans could gather. We had to create a home for them. Twitter was a natural fit." The plan worked. Since launching in November, Kogi has attracted more than 15,000 followers on Twitter (http://twitter.com/kogibbq).


So how did the romance that led to the marriage of tacos and Korean BBQ begin?
According to founder, thirty-year-old Mark Manguera, he was sitting with his 25-year-old sister-in-law, Alice Shin, one night after the restaurant was closed. They were sharing some Champagne and tacos when the taste of L.A.'s most ubiquitous street food caused him to have a drunken revelation. "I'm biting into my taco and it dawned on me, 'Alice, wouldn't it be great if someone put Korean barbecue on a taco?,' " recalls Manguera, who is Filipino but married into a Korean family.

All of us that travel in circles populated with chefs and winemakers have heard and/or come up thousands of "great new restaurant/food product ideas."
But Manguera followed through. He got a taco-truck and brought in former RockSugar chef Roy Choi as a partner, and he enlisted friends and family to begin blogging, branding and Twittering on his behalf.

The result: The Kogi Korean BBQ roving vehicle which has become a social-networking role model, drawing 300 to 800 people each time it parks and creating a Deadhead like group of cyber-followers affectionately known as "Kogi kulture."

And wine pairing ideas, gang? Tweet your twittering, whispering tip monger at
http://twitter.com/winewhisperer

Ladies and Gentlemen; Put on Your Logo Glasses

Every year, following on the heels of the Easter Bunny, is the launch of Wine Fest Season on California's Central Coast.

From Earthwise to Sideways, there's something for everybody. This weekend kicks off with the Ultimately Fine Blues and Wine Dinner at Costa d'Oro featuring wine maker, Gary Burk's blues band....right off U.S. 101 in Santa Maria. Besides being quite a gitar picker, Gary makes some great wine.

Saturday you have a tough choice between the Earth Day Food and Wine Festival which takes place in a spectacular locale; the historic Santa Margarita Ranch.

Head south, in the opposite direction, to Lompoc for the Santa Barbara County Vintners' Wine Festival.

At the end of April is the internationally acclaimed (and attended) Hospice du Rhone in Paso Robles. And this is just the beginning of the season!