With over thirty years in the food business, Kathy Marcks Hardesty provides great information about our local Food & Wine businesses here on the Central Coast. She loves writing about great food and wine, entertaining your senses and placing you on the edge of your seat as you look forward to trying the next great new restaurant…
It’s been said that humans are creatures of habit and I am afraid this describes me rather well. I go to the same places for the same things and I tend not to expand my horizons as often as I should. When Harry and David first moved into the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets I thought…
My husband and I are no strangers to gym membership. We have belonged to many over our years — in our small town and in major metropolitan areas. That makes us a bit picky when it comes to shelling our our hard-earned dollars — especially because we want to avoid the classic scenario of paying…
How often is it that you can walk out of your office door in Pismo Beach and say “I feel like having the best burger on Maui” and not twenty minutes later be taking a huge yummy bite? Well it can be as often as every day if you are in San Luis Obispo and…
First you have to love the name … doesn’t it sound official?! Great for that lunchtime “business” meeting. You can just tell your boss you’ll be in “The Board Room.” Before he figures out that you don’t have one you’ll be gone! This great little brew pub and eatery is right in the heart of…
The best place to buy/order your new iPhone 5S/5C! My relationship with Phone &Wireless has been an evolution. When we returned to the Central Coast 12 years ago we had became At&t clients because our employers were, and so followed the herd without thinking of researching our options (not something we would recommend!) So while…
Those of us that have the awesome gift of living where most other people only get to visit on vacation know that we frequently take it for granted. Months can go by without a visit to the beach or stopping to really enjoy a sunset. But when we want to be a tourist in our…
I have come to the conclusion that the decisions you have made in your life up until you have a child were nothing compared to the decisions you make when it comes to the health and care of that new little human being that now is totally reliant on you. Let me tell you, deciding…
Annual 4th of July Fireworks Celebration in Pismo Beach was ruined by the weather: Low Coastal Fog obscured the entire 770 shell show. People come from all over the country to experience our nation’s independence day on the 1200′ Pismo Beach Pier. With nearly 100,000 people on the beach and in downtown Pismo, its a…
The 23rd Annual Roll Out The Barrels summer celebration has set the pace for good times, good vibes and good wines in San Luis Obispo County. The festivities began with a Thursday evening “Barrels in The Plaza” grand tasting adjacent to the historic Mission in downtown San Luis Obispo. Here, the wines of SLO Wine…
Downtown Pismo Beach played host to the 28th Annual Classic at Pismo Beach Car Show this Father’s Day weekend as it has for nearly thirty years. It is a Father’s Day tradition in our family to stroll through the cars and try to recognize the ones that my folks’ drove back in their hey days…
We arrived at the Pismo Beach Vet’s Hall to attend the Pismo Beach City Council meeting to witness the vote on Spanish Springs development and were greeted by hundreds of concerned citizens here to listen and make public comment on the project. We had to leave at 9:30pm, but as we arrived home we immediately…
There are a few icons that define the Central Coast of California and this past Friday all of them were on display at a great event I had the opportunity to attend for the first time. This past Friday evening was the Barrel to Barrel night during the annual four day Wine, Waves & Beyond…
My memory may be fading (I am turning 40 this year after all) but of the many Taste of Pismo events my hubby and I have attended I think this year was unequivocally the best. Maybe it was the great “Farm Fest” Farm to Fork event that ushered in the Taste the Friday night before.…
Be still my beating heart …. the Coach store finally arrived with great anticipation throughout my circle and has sprinkled handbags everywhere! This is truly the dawn of a new day on the Central Coast. Ok, ok, I grew up here so I have a little more history with the shopping void that existed just…
Being the Past President of the Rotary Club of Pismo Beach/Five Cities that has met for a decade in the beautiful banquet room downstairs at the now Ventana Grill, our little group of 60+ members had the unusual opportunity to watch the current management go through an extensive remodel of what had become a slightly…
Well I have never written a review of the Lido at Dolphin Bay because it had all of the makings of a fantastic restaurant … without the food, in my opinion. Partly because it was trying to be a little too “metropolitan” for the area, and partly because it ignored what is going on all…
Mo’s is one of those “hang-out” type places, decorated with old photos and rusting signs, and of course an amazing variety of pigs out of various materials, in various sizes. It is a no-nonsense rib joint, with a few other notable items on the menu. My husband loves the Philthy Phil’s Ribs and the Sampler…
I have to admit that I am a fan … just like the four stars says. Right on the beach, this is a fantastic little boutique hotel that we often use for “Staycations” to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Birthdays and Anniversaries. From the moment you pull into the covered parking, you feel appreciated and well taken…
Nestled in the heart of Shell Beach, right on Shell Beach Road, you might drive by any day of the week and see a line on the sidewalk for this popular cafe. Originally just open for breakfast and lunch, they now serve dinner … which is always a great place to find yourself on a…
As a busy family we frequently have to rely on take-out when the day becomes a little bit too hectic. Luckily, we have Yanagi just a few blocks from home and office. They are awesome when it comes to speedy and fresh take-out — everything from the true, quality Sashimi that my husband and son…
Growing up in a small town, it’s difficult to break the cycle of “going to the same vet your parents always did” etc., etc. However lately I was beginning to feel that no matter what was needed, a trip to my previous vet meant a $300 bill every time. It was beginning to be a…
Two words: Oriental Salad. It’s heavenly. But just in case you think I am giving five stars based on a salad, don’t worry! They have a special Prime Rib Sandwich that makes my husband’s mouth water just mentioning it! And let’s not forget their Salmon Salad. Or how about their extra fresh, extra yummy Salmon…
Rosa’s is one of our “go-to” restaurants. For date night, for business lunches, for their fun and fabulous annual (JUNE) fundraiser, the “Martini Shakedown” — we are at Rosa’s once a month on average. They have always had a fantastic menu, constantly updated by chef Doug MacMillan. My favorites are the Arugula Salad, Pasta California,…
This is one of our favorite go-to restaurants with friendly staff and casual dining atmosphere. We go when we are bored with cooking and share an entree with additional side salads — the meals are more than large enough for doing this. Our son loves the “Rope and Ride” atmosphere and my husband like to…
