Exploring Farm to Table Destinations

Exploring Farm to Table Destinations?

California’s Central Coast ranks at the Top

Farm to Table destinations seem to be the trend, but believe it or not it’s always been a reason to visit California’s Central Coast.  The Central Coast offers everything a “foodie” could want in a spectacular environment.  So, what does this trend say about the destination?

• Great Weather with Lots of Sunshine
• Beautiful Landscapes and Picturesque Surf
• Friendly Passionate People
• Culture, there is a history about the flavors of the region

The Early Days

The culinary landscape of the Central Coast began when missionaries arrived and planted their huerta-oasis beginning the process of establishing Spanish agriculture.  These mini farms introduced many crops (oranges, olives, grapes, and much more) that form the basis for California’s agricultural success today. Plants grown within the walled huertas eventually spread to the surrounding regions. A great place to understand the roots of California Cuisine begins with a visit to the California missions.

Visit ~ Mission Santa Barbara, Mission La Purisima, Mission San Miguel with a beautiful new hall, Carmel Mission Basilica

California Wine

The first wine grapes came to California with the missionaries.  Following a wine renaissance in the 20^th Century California accounts for 90percent of American wine production.  The Central Coast is a diverse landscape that offers a distinct terrior with over six regions to explore. Today’s wineries offer great opportunities to enjoy local wines while exploring the regional food for a variety of budgets.

Visit ~ Carmel Valley, Monterey, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Rita Hills or Santa Barbara Urban Wineries

The Ranchers

The California Rancheros era sparked the tradition for California barbecue. The original barbecue was a thick cut of boneless top sirloin.  It was cooked in an earthen pit over red oak coals and served up to the hungry cowboys or vaqueros after each roundup.  These days, the cut of choice is the best-kept secret outside of California known as the tri tip.  This sirloin style of barbecue is served up on ranches and farms for celebrations through out California’s Central Coast.

Visit ~ The Hitching Post, Far Western Tavern, McClintock’s, Jocko’s, Harris Stage Lines, and many private ranches offering group barbecues

Farm Meet Restaurant

The Farm to Table movement has landed on the Central Coast in full force and it continues to evolve.  The pleasure of walking onto a farm and sitting down to break bread with your colleagues puts relationships in a different perspective.  Meeting the folks that have toiled over the food you are consuming creates a new respect for the nurtures and laborers of life.  The flavors are so distinct when you enjoy them in the place of their origin memories will be etched forever.

Visit ~ Earthbound Organics, Wind Rose Farms, Olivas de Oro Olive Company, Rancho Olivos

Making a Splash

Team Building and Recreation on California’s Central Coast

Team Building versus Team Recreation. The two are often intertwined but the over all objective is similar, to recognize and define your team! Team building provides a more specific outcome by enhancing and identifying skills that makes a team proficient. Team recreation can motivate, reward and bond participants. Identifying your objective is a key step in considering the ingredients you need for a successful team activity.

By embracing the beauty and diversity of California’s Central Coast teams explore new paths to success utilizing organized group activities. Engage your team in activities that benefit them individually and professionally with results in enhanced communication and productivity at your work place. When individuals walk away with a feeling of personal accomplishment it translates into the work place. Some reasons to bring your team together could include developing the following skills:
T ~ Trust with co-workers and clients
E ~ Effective working relationships
A ~ Attitude, listening and adapting skills
M ~ Motivation for the group to focus on goals

Budgets are another consideration when planning these activities and another reason to consider the Central Coast. Lodging is available for any budget with some sort of team building or recreational activity close by. And the bonus is you get out of the airport or suburban hotel and surround yourselves with nature and friendly people in a laid-back environment.

Following are suggestions for California Central Cost team building activities offering an even playing field for all participants.

Wine & Culinary
A Wine Activity at one of the local wineries provides an immediate icebreaker while developing leadership skills in a beautiful and relaxing environment. Prepare your group for a wine blending challenge, wine judging, Sangria competition or actual wine making activity providing personal growth as well as getting creative juices flowing.

Culinary Activities provide an unforgettable way to foster camaraderie while breaking bread at wineries, restaurants and kitchens in private estates. The Central Coast has unique venues and a vast array of culinary talent to share with you team. Olive oil tastings, Farm to Table menu development, or creating Happy Hour in Wine Country with delicious appetizers and matching wines are a few examples of the diverse offerings. On California’s Central Coast the Culinary team building experience will be delicious and unique.

Agricultural
A Field Glean will bond your team and supply food to many hungry residents and schools. After a harvest farmers often leave behind fruits and vegetables that are still edible, but not marketable. The opportunity to provide this food source to the local community or one with a need is available for your team. By harvesting the crops manually this surplus is collected and shipped to identified food banks and schools.

Community Outreach
Volunteer your team to work a special event on the Central Coast! There are many events all year that require hundreds of volunteer hours. What better activity than an event to ask your team to participate and work together utilizing new skills and techniques. Special events on the Central Coast are in beautiful and engaging venues and often include local wine.

Go to the Beach and clean it up! Your team can give back to a local beach by participating in a beach clean up day. Sponsor your own beach clean up and invite community members to participate with your team and receive recognition for your company’s contribution.

Habitat for Humanity provides company recognition while your team literally builds a home for another family.

Recreation
The opportunities are scenic and diverse. More popular activities include golf, kayaking, trail rides, hiking and cycling. For some more challenging sport consider hang gliding, racecar driving, or charter fishing. The uniqueness of each activity is defined by the stunning Central Coast landscapes and superb weather all year round.

Traditional Team Building Activities
If what you really want is a ropes course, competition or game that can be arranged on the Central Coast in amazing venues, with skilled instructors, or whacky event planners. Charming and historic downtown areas serve as great venues for pedestrian oriented activities such as scavenger hunts and dine arounds.

And if you just want to hold hands and sing Kumbaya, that also will be a unique and special experience for your team on the Central Coast of California.

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Reserve Events & Destinations is a Destination Management Company that specializes in unique group experiences on the Central Coast of California. Groups of all sizes enjoy local favorites, customized activities and connections to the region provided by their services. www.reserveevents.com

P.O. Box 2722 Paso Robles, CA 93447 805.237.0400

Satisfy Your Appetite on the Central Coast of California

Discover the explosion of culinary producers, growers and food artisan’s on the Central Coast!

Cuisine has always been part of the Central Coast culture. Early ranchers from the mid 1800’s hosted Spanish style feasts for ranch workers that featured oak grilled beef. This style of barbecue is now a major attraction for visitors. Enthusiasts are still faithful to regional barbecue institutions like Jackos, the Far Western Tavern and the Hitching Post.

While agriculture and great food have always been synonomous it is the recent explosion of the wine industry that has seduced artisan food producers, chefs and restauranters to the region. The advantage of fertile valleys, great climate and a thriving ocean also contributes to the diverse landscape of premium fresh food products.

What to look for now?
Artisan cheeses, organic and sustainably grown produce, heirloom vegetables, olive oil, lavender, honey, sustainably grown meat and poultry, locally caught fish, and world renowned wine!

Reserve Events & Destinations provides visitors a unique inside look at the farms, ranches and vineyards that shape the flavors of the region. By sharing stories and the history of days gone learn about families that have farmed for generations and producers that have come from abroad to experience the sense of place.

Imagine boarding a flat bottom boat to visit an oyster bed, or sipping different varieties of olive oil, or dining on farm tables under the warm sun shaded by oak trees. Wine has become a staple of the area so discover each regions unique flavors and varieties. Many wineries offer experiences that share regional products prepared by local artisans and chefs.

Satisfy your appetite on the Central Coast of California. Friendly and passionate farmers, regional food purveyors, chefs and winemakers will welcome you. Fresh air, blue skies, ocean breezes, the smell of spring blossoms… now is the time to discover why the Central Coast of California is becoming a favorite destination for foodies and wine lovers.

Reserve Events & Destinations is a Destination Management Company that specializes in wine and culinary experiences on the Central Coast of California. Groups of all sizes enjoy unique experiences, customized activities and connections to the region provided by their services.

The New Vibe of Paso Robles

Get Lost in California’s Secret Main Street Town on the Central Coast of California

There is a joie du vie about Paso Robles that offers a fusion of good old fashion Americana with a Mediterranean attitude. Fast forward from the days when travelers stopped in Paso Robles only to use the restroom or grab refreshment. Visitors today are delighted to discover the shopping and dining experiences of Paso Robles charming “Main Street Downtown” always wanting to come back for more!

Since the 6.5 earthquake that rocked this agricultural community the end of 2003 the town embraced it’s history and rebuilt honoring traditional American Main Street. Today the park in the center of town holds court to shoppers and visitors enjoying world class restaurants, boutiques and wine tasting rooms that evolved since the boom of the wine industry and post earthquake rebirth.

Dining experiences include wonderful bistros, tapas bars, steak houses, farm to table cuisine, cheese merchants and local artisans. Combine local wine, the ambiance of historic buildings, charming courtyards, friendly purveyors and there you are… in the vibe of Paso Robles today!

Although we lost some beloved favorites along the way, like the A & W Drive-in and Joshua’s Restaurant, the tradeoff has been gratifying. New and established purveyors have enhanced visitor’s experiences with their sense of style and taste. Art galleries add a cultural dimension including a progressive gallery of local artists at “Studios on the Park”. This former Hudson, Packard dealership turned open studios consortium of artists is located on the park providing a perfect way to kill time while waiting for a table. The Old Carnegie Library, beautifully restored to house the Paso Robles Historic Society, is the crown jewel of the city park. History buffs can learn about the days of Jesse James and Ignace Paderewski when Paso Robles was a thriving hot springs resort community.

Visitor accommodations have evolved too with a good mix of boutique hotels and deluxe standards offering something for everybody. Groups are welcome to enjoy amenities and group function space offered by new hotels with a great value for mid week business, Paso Robles is still a secret to event planners and meeting executives. During this evolution many delightful historic homes, most walk able to downtown, are now offered as vacation rentals. Retreats and board meetings can find a new sense of inspiration in some of these beautifully restored homes and farm houses in scenic settings.

Groups are welcome and will find a great value and some very unique venues to gather. Wineries, ranches and world-class restaurants embrace groups and offer a sincere welcome in a stunningly laid back environment. Discover the flavors, the attitude and the vibe Paso Robles has to offer corporate, incentive and social groups.

Where to Stay?
Hotel Cheval in downtown Paso Robles offers upscale European style elegance in walking distance to all downtown has to offer. The historic Paso Robles Inn across from the park is a boutique property with an amazingly restored ballroom perfect for all occasions. The Courtyard by Marriott provides guests traditional amenities in a modern space and the La Quinta Inn and Suites nestled in between vineyards, only a few miles from downtown Paso Robles, just finished an expansion to keep up with demand.

Where to Dine?
Bistro Laurent, French bistro offers outdoor patio dining at lunch that can be used for groups is a standard for regular visitors. Via Creek, once the neighborhood saloon has a vibrant bar, superb California Southwestern cuisine and a cozy patio. Farm to table dining is best experienced at Thomas Hill Organics with a brick pizza oven and patio plaza where you can dine with your pouch. Il Cortile offers fine Italian dining and Estrella a casual tapas bar has mezzanine-dining perfect for group gatherings. There are over thirty-five restaurants located in the downtown area satisfying all tastes and budgets.

Reserve Events & Destinations is a Destination Management Company that specializes in wine and culinary experiences on the Central Coast of California. Groups of all sizes enjoy unique experiences, customized activities and connections to the region provided by their services.