The dazzling deep-blue ocean scenes and buff-colored rolling hills are purpose sufficient to go to California’s spectacular Central Coast. Add within the superb flavors that emerge from the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the fertile hills that rise alongside the coast, and you’ve got an impossible-to-resist vacation spot.

Culinary delights vary from briny oysters paired with plummy wines to candy/tart olallieberries served in succulent pies and on hearty pancakes. It’s all set off by beautiful settings at oceanside tasting rooms, quaint cliffside cities, and hilly wineries.

I’ve road-tripped by the California Central Coast quite a few occasions through the years, and I’ve at all times marveled on the magnificent terrain. I particularly love small cities like Pismo Seashore, Cambria, and San Simeon, the place the distinctive sights and flavors are accented by salty air and crashing waves.

On my latest early-autumn highway journey, I made a decision to give attention to the distinctive flavors of the Central Coast. What I discovered have been exceptional culinary treasures, some that originated on this a part of California, and others which are classics with a coastal California twist. 

Positioned about midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco alongside California Freeway 1, the Central Coast makes for a handy 3- to 4-hour drive from both main metropolis.

Listed here are 9 scrumptious meals and drinks to strive alongside the California Central Coast.

Freeway 1 Highway Journey hosted me on parts of the journey, however all views are my very own.

1. Olallieberry Turnover

Avila Valley Barn, San Luis Obispo

For those who love the juiciness of a blackberry and the tangy taste of a raspberry, then the olallieberry is certain to meet your whole berry desires. The olallieberry was developed by the U.S. Division of Agriculture within the Thirties by crossing a wide range of blackberry, loganberry, youngberry, and raspberry strains. The “olallie” a part of the identify originates from the native Chinook individuals’s phrase for “berry.”

The olallieberry thrives within the coastal area, and it has turn out to be a staple of cafés and retailers alongside the Central Coast. One in all my favourite olallieberry tastes was in a turnover pie on the Avila Valley Barn. The bustling, multi-faceted farm stand in rural San Luis Obispo affords all types of olallieberry merchandise, together with full pies, jams, and syrups. For me, the turnover’s flaky crust and flavorful berry filling made for the right chunk.

Professional Tip: Avila Valley Barn can also be identified for its apples, cider, and pumpkins, and it’s a standard spot within the fall for individuals searching for a enjoyable and festive Halloween or Thanksgiving outing.

2. Coastal Terroir Wine-And-Oyster Pairing

Sinor-LaVallee Tasting Room, Avila Seashore

Specializing in wines grown 1.2 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Sinor-LaVallee’s creations are an ideal match for fresh-from-the-sea oysters sourced from close by Morro Bay. The Sinor-LaVallee Tasting Room, positioned simply steps from the seashore within the small coastal city of Avila Seashore, affords a wine-tasting-and-oyster-shucking expertise. It completely showcases the wines from the corporate’s Bassi Winery, identified for his or her pronounced coastal terroir (which means “sense of place or setting”).

Together with the wine-and-oyster pairing, remember to strive Sinor-LaVallee’s wonderful menu of accompanying dishes, similar to caviar service and the charcuterie board stuffed with local-favorite cheeses, breads, nuts, and butters. The indoor tasting room is gorgeous, however on a heat California day, it’s exhausting to beat Sinor-LaVallee’s shady patio.

3. Shrimp And Crab Ceviche

PequÍn Coastal Cocina, Pismo Seashore

Seafood ceviche, with its citrusy/spicy taste, is one in every of my favourite seashore meals. I used to be delighted to discover a “ceviche flight” on the menu on the cool PequÍn Coastal Cocina on the Vespera Resort in Pismo Seashore.

Served alongside tortilla chips in a row of three fairly tulip glasses, the flight included a crab and shrimp ceviche with an avocado and cucumber sauce; a coctel rojo ceviche with shrimp, clam, crab, and octopus served with chilled tomato clam broth and topped with salted peanuts; and a dragon fruit ceviche that includes the distinctively colourful fruit together with cucumber, chili, mango, purple onion, and avocado. They have been all scrumptious, however for me, the coctel rojo stood out for the stunning burst of taste from the combo of marinated seafood and peanuts.

4. Edna Valley Zinfandel

Saucelito Canyon Vineyard, San Luis Obispo

Whereas the hilly Edna Valley wine area exterior of San Luis Obispo is understood largely for its pinot noirs, I used to be fascinated to listen to that the area has a number of microclimates, which produce a wide range of grapes in a comparatively small space.

On the scenic Saucelito Canyon Vineyard, for example, a hotter local weather on the historic property winery within the Arroyo Grande Valley makes for the vineyard’s signature Zinfandel, identified for its high-toned, brambly fruit character. I liked sitting on the outside tasting patio, looking onto the vine-covered hills, sipping the scrumptious purple wine.

Professional Tip: A fantastically enjoyable approach to tour the Edna Valley wine area is from a tandem sidecar of a motorbike operated by a educated tour information. I had a terrific tour of a number of space wineries with Sidecar Excursions, an organization that gives excursions in 9 places all through California.

5. Grilled Peach Salad

Gardens Of Avila, Avila Seashore

The Gardens of Avila on the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort is called one of the vital romantic eating spots within the area, and it’s straightforward to see why. Positioned amidst a stupendous backyard setting in Avila Valley, the restaurant exudes heat and intimacy. Once I visited on a cool September night, a hearth was glowing at one finish of the eating room, and enormous home windows supplied views of the tree-lined patio.

I attempted a number of wonderful dishes, together with the braised quick rib served over cream risotto and the smoked hen pasta with house-made fettuccine, cherry tomatoes, and purple onion in a roasted garlic cream sauce. The entrées have been scrumptious, however my favourite taste was the peach salad served with grilled peaches, shrimp, arugula, sliced almonds, and burrata cheese, all dressed with a honey champagne French dressing.

An on-site backyard produces greens and fruits for the Gardens of Avila, offering a real farm-to-table expertise.

Professional Tip: The Gardens of Avila is part of the historic Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, an enthralling resort that options hillside sizzling mineral spring tubs and spans greater than 100 acres of forest, hills, and meadows.

6. Pismo Clam Chowder

Splash Café, Pismo Seashore

As soon as often called the Clam Capital of the World, Pismo Seashore takes its identify from the Pismo clam, and quite a few spots alongside the city’s boardwalk supply dishes that characteristic clams and different native seafood.

Maybe essentially the most well-known of the clam-focused choices is the chowder on the surfer-themed Splash Café. The strains of consumers that always stretch out the door and down the road attest to the group’s fondness for Splash. And the meals lives as much as the hype. I ordered a cup of the chowder loaded with toppings similar to seafood, cheese, and inexperienced onions. Served alongside a facet of grilled sourdough bread, the creamy chowder made the right beachside lunch. Splash can also be identified for its bread bowls, fish and chips, burgers, and onion rings.

7. Olallieberry Pancakes

Linn’s Restaurant, Cambria

One other Central Coast basic is in retailer at Linn’s Restaurant, a thriving spot within the historic East Village of downtown Cambria. Linn’s acquired its begin within the Nineteen Seventies when Central Coast transplants John and Renee Linn started farming and promoting produce at their bustling stand. Amongst their specialties have been Renee’s olallieberry pies.

In the present day, the restaurant, which remains to be run by the Linn household, serves up a wide range of olallieberry dishes, similar to a stack of entire wheat and honey pancakes with flavorful olallieberry topping, and the stuffed French toast served with mascarpone and olallieberry preserves.

Though most individuals know Linn’s for its olallieberries, the restaurant additionally affords a variety of Central Coast dishes such because the Moonstone Seashore omelet with shrimp, crab, tomato, mushrooms, and hollandaise sauce for breakfast; and clam chowder, burgers, and quiches for lunch and dinner. An adjoining store carries much more Linn’s specialties, together with jams, candies, and baked items like fruit-filled scones, bear claws, and pies.

8. Honest Well-known Cinnamon Rolls

Outdated West Cinnamon Rolls, Pismo Seashore

A decades-old breakfast custom awaits at Outdated West Cinnamon Rolls, a mainstay in downtown Pismo Seashore. The cinnamon rolls acquired their begin greater than 40 years in the past when founder Betty Clemens created her signature bread recipe on the household dwelling in Shell Seashore. Quickly, she started taking her dinner rolls to state gala’s, and he or she in the end created the candy cinnamon rolls at a good, incomes the nickname “Honest Well-known cinnamon rolls.”

In the present day, locals and guests looking for a fresh-baked roll and a cup of espresso flock to Outdated West Cinnamon Rolls, the place they will select from a number of varieties, together with rolls with raisins, walnuts, or pecans.

9. Seaside Wine Tasting

Hearst Ranch Vineyard, San Simeon

A heady mixture of native wines and a seaside setting is in retailer on the Hearst Ranch Vineyard, the place the tasting room is positioned proper on the coast of beautiful San Simeon. Inside is a big tasting room and reward and wine store, and out of doors is a patio space that gives close-up views of the water and pier.

In truth, the vineyard affords the very best of each of the Central Coast’s iconic tableaus, with the wines being created just a few miles inland on the coronary heart of gorgeous Paso Robles wine nation, and the San Simeon tasting room taking part in up the beautiful shoreline.

Professional Tip: This San Simeon vineyard is positioned a few mile and a half away from the attractive Coronary heart Fort. The vineyard’s tasting room makes a terrific cease after taking a tour of the hilltop citadel.

Discover extra of California’s Central Coast: