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Food for Thought - Winter 2025 - Aja Goare
December 25, 2025
All Stories, Featured, Winter 2025 - Issue 50

Food for Thought: Celebrating Our Golden Jubilee

This issue is our 50th — which coincides with my fifth year as Managing Editor — and we have a lot to celebrate.

Clockwise from top left: Dungeness crab salad with mango, avocado and taro chips; celebrated Chef Charlie Palmer is preparing for his first Central Coast wine country outposts; grilled pork chop with rum-maple barbecue sauce (recipe on page 45); the dreamsicle dessert with flavors of orange, vanilla and cream; peaches, greens and goat cheese appetizer.
December 24, 2025
All Stories, Eat, Featured, Winter 2025 - Issue 50

Michelin-Starred Chef Charlie Palmer Brings 3 concepts to Paso Robles

As told in this story by Linda Reed, Chef Charlie Palmer is bringing his years of experience and more than 20 Michelin stars to three new dining concepts in Paso Robles.

If These Walls Could Talk - Owners of Pismo Fish & Chips
December 23, 2025
All Stories, Eat, Featured, Winter 2025 - Issue 50

Pismo Fish & Chips Serves Fresh Catch for 60 Years

A Pismo Beach staple, Pismo Fish & Chips was opened by a young Dutch couple in the 1950s. This article by Erica Thatcher details how the restaurant’s next owners maintained its p...

Tis the Season for Tradition
December 21, 2025
All Stories, Community, Featured, Winter 2025 - Issue 50

Perspective: Sharing Holiday Customs

The holidays are a time for gathering with loved ones around a fireplace, a table of food or even a simple warm drink. Here, our Edible San Luis Obispo contributors share their fav...

Fondue
December 21, 2025
All Stories, Eat, Featured, Winter 2025 - Issue 50

Tasting Spot: Don’t Mind if I Fondue

Is there anything more comforting than gathering around a pot of melted cheese? People have been asking themselves since long before the swanky cocktail parties of the Roaring ’2...

TWO SLO COUNTY VINEYARDS MARK MILESTONE MOMENTS.
December 18, 2025
All Stories, Drink, Featured, Winter 2025 - Issue 50

Two SLO County Vineyards Surpass 100-Year Milestone

San Luis Obispo County’s oldest vineyards are featured in the article by Katy Budge, who shares the past and future of J Dusi Wines and Saucelito Canyon Vineyard.

Holiday Gift Guide
December 10, 2025
All Stories, Featured, Winter 2025 - Issue 50

These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things: Holiday Gift Guide 2025

In need of a gift that supports local? Take a look at this list for family and friends on your nice list this year.

Food for Hanukkah
December 9, 2025
All Stories, Eat, Featured, Winter 2025 - Issue 50

A Hanukkah Feast in San Luis Obispo

Owner of Bramble Pie Co. and JonnyBoy’s Bagelry Emilie Goldstein shares her Hannukah memories along with traditional dishes that remind her of family and connect her with the San...

Goshi Sushi dishes
December 7, 2025
All Stories, Eat, Featured, Winter 2025 - Issue 50

A Living Legacy: Goshi is a San Luis Obispo Sushi Staple

The introduction of sushi to America made waves and as Jonathan LaFerrara explains in this article, that trend evolved into a culinary staple with Goshi in San Luis Obispo County.

Nathan Long
December 5, 2025
All Stories, Eat, Featured, Winter 2025 - Issue 50

Nate’s on Marsh is a Childhood Dream Realized in SLO

A small house-like restaurant on Marsh Street in San Luis Obispo was once the current owner’s childhood favorite. As Aja Goare explains, Nate Long’s restaurant continues to hel...

Last Bite: Leftover Turkey Sando
December 5, 2025
All Stories, Featured, Food, Recipes

Last Bite: Leftover Turkey Sando

This leftover turkey sando is the cure to the dull day after the holiday meal (and the next, and the next).

Edible SLO - Issue 50 Cover
December 2, 2025
All Stories, Featured, Winter 2025 - Issue 50

Celebrating 50: Edible San Luis Obispo Winter Edition Available Now

We gather to celebrate for the holiday season and what perfect timing as we hit issue 50 for Edible San Luis Obispo. The latest issue is out now, available for you to celebrate thi...

Pono Pacific Kitchen Craft Spirits
November 15, 2025
All Stories, Drink, Featured

A Grover Beach Favorite Steps Behind the Still: Pono Pacific Kitchen Debuts Craft Distillery & Full Bar Program

The beloved Pacific Rim-inspired restaurant has debuted an in-house craft distillery and a full bar program, stepping into the state’s long, sometimes rebellious, tradition of in...

Women dresses as witches on a paddleboat.
October 9, 2025
All Stories, Community, Fall 2025 - Issue 49, Featured

Annual Witches Paddle Out Brings Magic to Morro Bay

The annual witches paddle out in Morro Bay has evolved over the years to include thousands of dressed up participants and, as writer Aja Goare explains in this article, it’s boos...

Food for Thought - Aja Goare
October 8, 2025
All Stories, Fall 2025 - Issue 49, Featured

Food for Thought: Letter from the Editor – Fall 2025

Whether your fall routine involves dressing the kids (or yourself) in a daring Halloween costume, traversing a corn maze or simply using the oven more often for meals, this issue o...

Garden Cottage Bean Soup (1)
October 1, 2025
All Stories, Fall 2025 - Issue 49, Featured, Food, Recipes

Last Bite: Garden Cottage Bean Soup

Fall is here to stay and there is no better way to get into the swing of the season than with a deliciously hardy soup. Gather and let Chef Phillips guide you through for a satisfy...

Firestone Walker - Cal Poly Gold Limited Edition
September 29, 2025
All Stories, Drink, Featured

Firestone Walker and Cal Poly Deepen Their Gold Standard Collaboration

Firestone Walker Brewing Company and Cal Poly have announced they’re extending their collaboration around Cal Poly Gold, the crisp Helles lager style that has become the universi...

Two men foraging for seaweed in the ocean.
September 26, 2025
All Stories, Featured

Edible Flashback: Seaweed, the new Chanterelle?

As we countdown to our 50th issue, we take a look back Jensen Lorenzen's piece on the power of seaweed from Issue 26. Check out the dashi broth recipe too.

Winter Issue Release Party and 50th Issue Celebration
September 23, 2025
All Stories, Events and Partnerships, Featured

Join Us for the Edible San Luis Obispo Winter Issue 2025 Release Party

Join us as we celebrate turning 50! This winter, we'll release our 50th issue and we want to celebrate food, drink and community with you.

Sweet treats - Angela's Pastries
September 22, 2025
All Stories, Eat, Fall 2025 - Issue 49, Featured

Morning Rituals at Angela’s Pastries in Paso Robles

The childhood favorites of Angela Rivera and Antonio Perez are on display at Angela’s Pastries in Paso Robles. Writer Katie Herzog gives offers a taste of their Mexican-French of...

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    Recent Posts
    Monarh Grove Winery Rose
    June 19, 2026

    Monarch Grove Winery Opens New Grover Beach Tasting Room

    Illustration by Jenna Hartzell
    June 15, 2026

    Perspective: Executive Taste

    Ben Arrona’s Benny’s Pizza Palace and Social Club serves the only Detroit-style pizza in San Luis Obispo County.
    June 10, 2026

    Benny’s Pizza Palace Serves Authenticity in San Luis Obispo

    🇵🇹 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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