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June 29, 2023
Community, Events and Partnerships

Immigrant Dinner Series Returns to San Luis Obispo County Kitchens

An opportunity to connect and learn about different cultures through a shared meal is the inspiration behind Edible San Luis Obispo’s Immigrant Dinner Series. For the second year...

June 27, 2023
Community, Drink, Featured

Local Brews Shine at the 2023 Firestone Walker Invitational

The 2023 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival (FWIBF) unfolded in fine fashion, with a stellar schedule, sold-out crowds, and perfect Paso Robles spring weather.

June 9, 2023
Community

Paso Robles Winery Celebrates Big Win at International Wine Competition

Brecon Estate's Albariño received “Best of Show” at the 2023 Sunset International Wine Competition.

Edible SLO The Real Food Collaborative
June 1, 2023
Community, Food, Summer 2023 - Issue 40

A Collective Effort

What started in 2016 as a group of passionate and dedicated friends at Cal Poly with a small but mighty mission to advance sustainable farming practices has been carried on over th...

June 1, 2023
Community, Drink, Featured, Food, Summer 2023 - Issue 40

Regenerative Agriculture: Big Words, Simple Concepts

Mention of the term “regenerative agriculture” is often met with a blank stare. But the idea behind these unwieldy buzz words is very straightforward: it’s a method of farmin...

June 1, 2023
Community, Featured, Food, Summer 2023 - Issue 40

Full Circle: The Power of SLO Co. Food Co-Ops

How the SLO and Paso Food Co-ops close the loop between producer and consumer.

June 1, 2023
Community, Featured, Summer 2023 - Issue 40

It Takes Two to Tango: Dinner & Dance

Dance company partners with SLO Public Market businesses to present unforgettable date nights.

May 2, 2023
Community, Featured

Singaporean, Argentine And Ethiopian Dinners Featured ‘Use My Kitchen, Tell Your Story’ 2023 Dinner Series

Edible Magazine San Luis Obispo announced the headliners for the 2023 ‘Use My Kitchen, Tell Your Story’ dinner series, in partnership with Travel Paso. In this series of meals,...

Alisal Ranch Grilling Up
April 20, 2023
Community, Eat, Featured

BBQ Bootcamp at Alisal Ranch

Using Dungeness crab caught in Morro Bay and shrimp from Santa Monica Seafood, a southern California chef who had worked under the famed Wolgang Puck some years ago demonstrated fo...

April 4, 2023
Community, Eat, Events and Partnerships

Single Ingredient Dinner Series – Carrots

Creative San Luis Obispo County chefs develop stunning menu around one highlighted ingredient.

California Artisan Cheese Festival
March 13, 2023
Community, Eat, Featured

Say Cheese: California Artisan Cheese Festival Returns

Cheese lovers rejoice! The annual California Artisan Cheese Festival returns to the Santa Rosa area later this month. Tickets are still available for the 17th year of the event, wh...

Kristy & Evan Bishop
March 1, 2023
Community, Spring 2023 – Issue 39

Perspective: Sheep Dreams on the Farm

In this Perspective piece, Evan Bishop of Rêves de Moutons shares how he and his wife decided not to wait for retirement to change the course of their lives and start their own fa...

Alisal Ranch BBQ
March 1, 2023
Community, Featured

Alisal Ranch hosts BBQ retreat with wine pairing at Santa Ynez vineyard

A 3-day retreat at Alisal Ranch in Santa Ynez helps get both first timers and seasoned pitmasters ready for a summer behind the grill.

Valentine's Day SLO County 2023
January 20, 2023
Community

Make Plans with SLO County Hotels & Wineries for Valentine’s Day

Consider this your gentle reminder to get planning for this Valentine’s Day. There are a number of opportunities awaiting across San Luis Obispo County.

Wine Grapes Adobe Stock
December 13, 2022
Community, Drink

Vineyard management focus of SLO County wine podcast

Interviews with leading industry professionals give listeners knowledge and insights into the latest science and research in the field of sustainable winegrowing.

December 1, 2022
Community, Winter 2022 - Issue 38

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Cookbooks for all types of home chefs.

Pierre Rademaker
December 1, 2022
Community, Winter 2022 - Issue 38

A “Maker” of Designs With Impact

Local food businesses and beyond understand the need for great marketing and branding. So they call Pierre Rademaker Design.

Brent Burchett
December 1, 2022
Community, Winter 2022 - Issue 38

Perspective: Agricultural Heirlooms

The influence of farms on San Luis Obispo County’s past, present and future.

Arty McGoo Adams
November 30, 2022
Community, Eat, Winter 2022 - Issue 38

Magical Morsels: The Art of Cookie Design

From her Paso Robles studio, Arty McGoo inspires and instructs on the art of creating exceptional cookies.

Cépage at Paris Valley Road
November 16, 2022
Community, Featured

Celebrate the Season at the Paris Valley Road Holiday Winemaker Dinner

Celebrate the holiday season with an exquisite wine-paired dinner with Winemaker Doug Hidinger. Indulge in seven decedent courses, each perfectly paired with Paris Valley Road wine...

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    Recent Posts
    Teatime: A Modern Take on Tradition: Photo by Hugo Martinez
    March 23, 2026

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    🇵🇹 Portugal style wines are on the menu at Monarch 🇵🇹 Portugal style wines are on the menu at Monarch Grove Winery (@monarchgrovewinery) in Grover Beach (@visitgroverbeach where the owners recently opened a new tasting room. 🦋🍷

- - -

“On the Move” is featured in the 2026 Summer Issue of 
@edibleslo

Story By Emily Basanese
Photography by Sarah Kathleen

Monarch Grove Winery’s tasting room has been a fixture of the Grover Beach Amtrak station, greeting riders as they disembarked from the train. Like the butterfly, the tasting room recently migrated away, just around the corner to a larger space. Owners Ercilia Martins and Julie Garcia are excited for this new stage of their business.

After that initial trip, Julie was hooked. She began taking winemaking classes and scouting locations for the right space to open a tasting room at home in Grover Beach. They wanted to apply that same Old World approach characteristic of Portuguese winemaking to their wine. That’s when they landed on Monarch Grove Winery.

Ercilia and Julie purchased Monarch Grove Winery on the first day of 2024, but their passion for wine started long before their acquisition. Ercilia is originally from Portugal and grew up in the countryside, where her family made their own table wine. She brought Julie home for visits in 2019 and 2022. That’s when Julie first began learning about winemaking from Ercilia’s father, Joe Martins. 

“I fell in love with the culture and wine, and how food went with wine,” Julie says. “It’s an art.”

Transformation has been a running theme in both Julie and Ercilia’s lives, so a winery branded with the Monarch butterfly, a creature that undergoes dramatic physical change itself, was a serendipitous fit. 

“The Monarch is a symbol of transformation and this whole experience has been a big transformation in our lives,” says Julie.

Grover Beach was also spot-on. When Ercilia first visited the small beach town, she instantly felt at home; it reminded her so much of Portugal. Grover Beach may not have the renown of San Luis Obispo or Pismo Beach, but that was part of the appeal. 

“There definitely has always been a pull to this community,” says Ercilia. In 2018, the two purchased their first home in Grover Beach and
    Some frames from Edible SLO Summer 2026 release pa Some frames from Edible SLO Summer 2026 release party. Thank you again to everyone at @theandersonpaso for your hospitality!

🎥: @stephenheraldo
    We laughed, we toasted, we celebrated - and we’re We laughed, we toasted, we celebrated - and we’re still smiling about it! 
 
What a beautiful evening of merrymaking to celebrate the release of our Summer issue. We’re grateful to all who helped bring the magazine to fruition: our editors, writers, photographers, illustrators, designers, story subjects, advertisers, partners, EVERYONE who graciously shared their resources, talent and stories with us. The only thing that could top that was enjoying a pretty rad party together.  
 
Huge thanks to @theandersonpaso for hosting the party in such a beautiful space, and for the delicious food, drinks and hospitality that made it so memorable. Now let’s show up for them - their restaurant is OPEN! ✨👏
 
Thank you, Edible community, for making these events some of the highlights of our lives. We’re grateful to celebrate alongside you. Consider our cups (and hearts) full ❤️
 
📸: by @simpledaysocial
    “Have It Your Way” introduces you to @chinagourmet “Have It Your Way” introduces you to @chinagourmetpr  owned by Jack Ming Chen. At China Gourmet, the menu is just a suggestion. 

Words by @ajabgoare 
Photography by @fusillofoto 

“I don’t see my favorite on the menu but I want it.” @chinagourmetpr owner Jack Ming Chen is happy to oblige. 

Team members at China Gourmet as well as on photographs of some of their popular dishes. 

Team members at China Gourmet as well as on photographs of some of their popular dishes. 

At China Gourmet, it’s all about having the dining experience that’s all about what you want.

🤤

This article was featured in our Summer 2026 issue. 

Subscribe to Edible SLO and receive your quarterly printed magazine delivered to your door.
    🤔 “Perspective: Executive Taste” - In this Perspec 🤔 “Perspective: Executive Taste” - In this Perspective piece, Loretta McFarland shares how learning to cook in her home kitchen as a child led to a career with unexpected opportunities to serve some iconic people, including a music legend and an American president. 

Words by Loretta McFarland
Illustration by Jenna Hartzell

➡️ This piece is featured in the Summer 2026 issue of Edible San Luis Obispo.
    “I’ve always been an activist at heart. I wanted t “I’ve always been an activist at heart. I wanted to change the world, and I thought that I could do that for law enforcement through helping kids. Now I’m learning how to be an activist.”

Before opening a pizza restaurant, the owner of (@bennyspizzaslo) in San Luis Obispo was focused on other aspirations. But as writer Christian Camacho explains, Ben Arona is making a difference with each slice.

Read full article on edibleslo.com

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