Better than sliced bread 

Follow that sandwich! The Grilled Cheese Incident is offering up a delightfully caloric treat from a neon orange food truck that simply screams, “You only live once, so screw it!” I recently devoured the Los Osos-based truck‘s “Quintessential California,” stacked high with gooey havarti and jack cheeses, tomato, smoked applewood bacon, and creamy avocado on Brian’s cracked wheat sourdough. Thanks to this $8 mega-lunch, I gleefully skipped supper altogether (call 602-1380 for catering services and information; check their Facebook page for their next stop). … Speaking of carbo-loading, Kona’s Deli in SLO is offering new afternoon deals daily that include any 6-inch classic sub for $4.50 and any 6-inch specialty for $5.50 (there are also discounts on the foot-longs, so head in for your thrifty sub sando fix). … Shine Café of Morro Bay’s famous Tempeh Tacos are more like tacos with a humungous, locally sourced salad on top, but still worth eating with your hands! Grab a dozen napkins and dig into this healthy Central Coast treat if you haven’t already (sunshinehealthfoods-shinecafe.com).

Gulp

Big beer news on the horizon: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company has announced new partnership and expansion with Pacific Beverage Company. What does this mean for loyal local fans? Well, for one: Three new taprooms are set to open this year, including one set to open in Santa Maria this month and another in Arroyo Grande (with in-house brewery) slated for mid-January 2015. The taprooms will feature gastropub grub, a mug club, live music, and special events. I’ll drink to that! ... The Workshop Urban Wine Collective is throwing a harvest party and open house on Nov. 16 from 4 to 8 p.m., so swing by the SLO wine hangout for cellar tours, winemaker meet-and-greets, free tastings, new wine releases, and munchies courtesy of The Pairing Knife (poke around the workshop online at theworkshopslo.com or call 784-0472 to speak to a live person).

Pop the cork

Two wine events not to be missed: First, the Garagiste Festival, featuring new, local, and out-of-town wine producers crafting no more than 1,500 cases per year heats up in Paso Robles Nov. 6 to 9 (Grand Tasting kicks off at Paso Event Center on Nov. 8; see all the details at californiagaragistes.com). … And it’s finally time for SLO Wine Country’s Harvest on the Coast Celebration, Nov. 7 to 9, featuring wine tasting, artisan foods, live music by Cuesta Ridge, and more. On Nov. 7, A Crafted on the Coast winemaker dinner will unfold at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort in Avila Beach, featuring a rainbow of local wines and a surprise menu by Chef Gregg Wangard. The grand tasting is slated for Nov. 8, with complimentary open houses across SLO Wine Country. The best part? Everything is free with a Grand Tasting ticket! No nickel and diming happening here, folks (slowine.com/events/harvest-celebration). … Claiborne & Churchill Winemaker Copy Parker-Garcia will pair his wines with a fab dinner by Thomas Hill Organics Chef Christopher Manning this Nov. 6. As usual, the spread will feature a vivid array of local bounty (dinner kicks off at the Paso Robles eatery; for tickets, call 226-5888).

Let’s grab a bite! Send your news nibbles to [email protected].