Michelle Barrera of EnjoySLO is Celebrating the County

Community, Eat, Fall 2020 – Issue 29

Michelle Barrera of EnjoySLO is Celebrating the County

You’d need to have been in social media seclusion for the past few years to be unfamiliar with EnjoySLO, the influential online platform that recommends the best happenings around the county. EnjoySLO’s Instagram account alone has over 10,000 followers and is filled with quirky videos and emoji-laden comments, driving viewers, for example, to check out a new food pop-up or to celebrate National Donut Day. (Why, yes I should pick up a donut in every town throughout the county to celebrate, don’t mind if I do.) The approachable, accessible content is pretty darn addicting.

Behind it all is Michelle Barrera, the high energy, food-loving, business-championing maven who easily appeals to EnjoySLO’s heavy millennial audience, because she is one herself. And true to the generation, she produces content that is specific to her passions and interests, knowing that if she is enjoying what she puts out there, others will, too.

“EnjoySLO was an unexpected dream for me,” says Michelle.

Before moving to SLO County in the summer of 2017, Michelle and now-husband Ray Stone (also a business owner), lived in the Brewery Artist Lofts in downtown Los Angeles, the largest live-and-work artist colony in the world. She worked as a registered nurse but, having longed to be an artist all her life, continued to take on various creative projects including founding a pop-up retail shop importing handmade goods from fair trade communities abroad.

All the while the couple traveled every opportunity they got — India, Cuba and Spain are just a few favorites — making it a priority to live like the locals, no matter where they were. It’s in that spirit that they moved to SLO County, diving into the local culture by attending any events they heard about, and popping into meetup groups to make friends.

“The first event we attended was the Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival. In LA, we were into drinking spirits so wine was a new thing for us. We’d never been to an event with so many wineries in one location, and to see the winemakers pouring their own products in person was in itself impressive. In LA, a winemaker wouldn’t even say ‘hello,’ let alone have a full on conversation. I later found out that wasn’t an anomaly, it was part of the hospitality of the Central Coast, “ recalls Michelle. She continued to go to events and visit new businesses almost daily.

The idea of EnjoySLO was born out of the want to show others how strong the culture and the scene are in the area, through the eyes of Michelle, and, occasionally, Ray.

So Michelle buckled down, working nonstop for three months to build the website with Ray and to share adventures through her newly formed Instagram account to draw an audience.

The hard work paid off, as Michelle developed a robust resource for locals who want to stay up to date with experiences in the community, releasing a weekly list of things to do and highlighting small businesses, perhaps never more impactful than right at this moment in time, as they are still reeling from the lockdown and open to all the help they can get.

Because EnjoySLO has thousands of followers across its platforms, scoring a mention by it could make a business. Who wouldn’t want to take the advice doled out in a post that feels like a warm embrace?

As the woman behind the loving madness, Michelle is the embodiment of what she’s created through her platform, a friend who has all the ins to great things happening around town, and doles out the details as she sits drinking margaritas at Taco Tuesday with you.

A Few of Michelle’s Favorites:

Breakfast

Back Porch Bakery’s almond croissant. “Perfect in every way. Our friend lived in France for a time and he says [Back Porch’s] croissants are even better.”

6005 El Camino Real in Atascadero

Farmhouse Corner Market’s breakfast fried rice. “It’s magic in my mouth as I inhale this bowl jam-packed with sweet, spicy and savory flavors.”

1025 Farmhouse Lane in San Luis Obispo

Lunch

Ziggy’s entire menu. “Vegan takeout never tasted so good.”

594 California Boulevard in San Luis Obispo

Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ’s paella burrito. “Jeffry’s has been known for their awesome award-winning paella, and in burrito form it’s portable!”

819 12th Street in Paso Robles

Dinner

Mistura’s lomo saltado. “[This stir fry dish] is Peruvian food perfection. … In fact, I love their entire menu.”

570 Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo

Ember’s rib eye with avocado chimichurri. “We go here for any celebration meal.”