Sunset Soiree: Savor the Central Coast

Adventure tours and special dinners festoon the foodie-famous to-do.

NO COAXING REQUIRED: If you're a scholar of just-from-the-garden ingredients, and your hobby is trying offbeat herbs, or you have an opinion on decanting times and methods for wine, or you've eaten short ribs in a sandwich, in a pie, atop pasta, and completely plain, then taking the opportunity to visit a food-nice part of the state requires zero coaxing. None. You'll go, just to go, to enjoy the gardens and wine bars and outdoor dining patios, hooray and yay to all that. But if a major cuisine event is happening, with a venerable host, and the setting is a food-nice part of the state? Hoo boy, it is on, with bells on. The "venerable host" probably tipped our hand here, because Sunset Magazine is known far and farther for setting up its annual autumn eat-and-cook-and-sip-and-tour to-do, Savor the Central Coast. The long weekend of pleasurable pursuits of the palate is again scheduled for the last part of September, meaning it'll be the ideal time of year to be out at...

SANTA MARGARITA RANCH: Make that historic Santa Margarita Ranch, which has to be one of the Top 10 California Buildings That Looks As Though It Should Be in a Watercolor Painting (not the snappiest of titles, but true). Chefs shall demo, meals shall be served, and tours shall be taken around the Paso Robles region. Some highlights? The Main Event at the ranch is "an epicurean and adventure playground" featuring chefly doings, beer mavens, fishermen, and makers of artisanal eats. Adventure tours shall highlight everything from abalone to Hearst Castle to balsamic vinegar. And the special dinners? They happen hither and hitherer, from the aforementioned castle to local vineyards.

TICKETS? They can fly away for some of the events, so best land on the lovely respite you've got your eye, and possible your wine glass, on. Dates are Sept. 25 through Sept. 28. And will you wish you lived inside Santa Margarita Ranch? The chances are very good. Just prepare. That's a longing you'll leave with.

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
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