Eat local, shop local: Member-owned SLO Natural Foods, which offers up local produce grown by Central Coast farmers, has unveiled new programs that will pass on some awesome benefits to shoppers. In the coming weeks, shoppers will see extensive and permanent reductions in many grocery and household products as well as more sale items. Look for these Co+op Basics and Co+op Deals throughout the store (2494 Victoria Ave.; slonaturalfoods.coop) … Edible SLO has hired charming and talented local food writer Jamie Lewis as its new managing editor. Yay! The magazine has been showcasing delicious seasonal stories, events, and recipes for the past five years now! Well done, y’all (Want to contribute or learn more? Email jamieclewvis@gmail.com or go to edibleslo.com).
On the beer front
Life and Libertine: Yeah, buddy! Libertine Brewing Company isn’t just for beer lovers anymore. The Libertine Coffee Bar in San Luis Obispo offers up a variety of local pastries, house-made cold brew coffee, and barrel aged kombucha! Also, don’t forget to catch the brewery’s epic March bottle release party, hosted at their new taproom this March 4. From noon to 5 p.m. try six radical new beers (Sandal Tan, Swizzle Stick, and No Birthday Party, among them), listen to live jams by the Turkey Buzzards, and nosh at the new restaurant (1234 Broad St.; Follow on Facebook for updates or go to libertinebrewing.com) … After celebrating its 20th anniversary last year, Firestone Walker Brewing Company is set to chart fresh ground with the launch of Leo v. Ursus, a new chronology of beers that begins with Fortem, available now at Firestone Walker’s Central Coast locations. Fortem (Latin for “the strong”) draws upon a range of influences, all while exhibiting DNA from Firestone Walker’s own forays into the IPA style—including Double Jack and Luponic Distortion. Get it before it’s gone! Fortem will only be available for a short period before yielding to the next quarterly release in the Leo. v. Ursus lineup (firestonebeer.com)!
Gulp it down!
Dig in, folks: Craving some hot miso ramen with options like chicken, spam, and kimchi? Better check out Kuma in Los Osos, which also specializes in sushi rolls and sashimi, too! (2011 10th St., Los Osos; go to kumabowls.com for hours and info) … Congrats to Gino’s Pizza and Novo in SLO for recent awards of recognition by Visit California’s Dream Eater, Chase Ramsey (from San Francisco to San Diego, he knows good food!) … Il Cortile is working with local wineries to continue its reverse wine dinners, which reverse-engineer delicious feasts from vine to plate (go to ilcortileristorante.com to learn more about this Paso Robles hot spot) … Tin City Cider in Paso Robles is carrying four kinds of amazing Stepladder Creamery cheese, produced by happy goats in Cambria (grab a cold cider and a hunk of dairy delight at tincitycider.com).
Hayley Thomas Cain is all about the cheese. She can be reached at hthomas@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Mar 2-9, 2017.