What diet? 

Instagram double tap of the week: Want to make your own batch of Chocolate Cherry Firestone Stout Cupcakes with cream cheese frosting? If you’re already following @firestonewalker then I know you do! Email [email protected] to get the recipe, which is, of course, worth a few extra jiggles around your middle ... Alle-Pia, purveyor of fine cured meats in Atascadero, has a brand new deli case stuffed with Italian cheeses and freshly made pork products ready to grab this spring! They’ve even got small, snackable salumi perfect for wine tasting excursions. Thanks to the re-sealable bag and fun-sized morsels, no knife, plates, or picnic planning is required! … There’s only a few tickets left for the FARMstead Ed Cheese and Dairy Farm Tour this May 15, so head over there to get a full day of dairy education including visits to Stepladder Creamery, Rinconada Dairy, and Central Coast Creamery (farmsteaded.com).

Smells so good

Coffee corner: Word on the street is Scout Coffee Co. is looking to open a new location off Foothill Boulevard this summer, so fans of this bright third wave coffee purveyor should be over the moon with anticipation … Socrates Coffee House in Atascadero is offering up some pretty sweet folk music shows alongside their loved lineup of espresso, bagels, and moist carrot cake! See who’s playing next—and what breakfast burrito specials are on the board—by following the hangout on Facebook … Blaze Pizza franchise recently opened its first Central Coast location on Foothill Boulevard earlier this week, unrolling a fast-casual menu that promises chef-driven pizzas at a super fast speed (Check ’em out for yourself at 892 Foothill Blvd.) … Central Coast Brewing Co. stirred up the crowd at a recent festival with their Coconut Black Lager (try it for yourself at the downtown SLO taproom).

Best Fests

Cork dorks: The 2016 Paso Robles Wine Fest is upon us, people! If you haven’t secured your tickets, go to pasowine.com and ensure that you, too, will be experiencing the best wine of the region this May 19 to 22 ... OINK! Bacon and Barrels, a celebration of barrel-aged drinks and pig products will be coming to SLO this July! Get your tickets at baconandbarrels.com ... At last month’s CABS of Distinction event, six skilled sommeliers blind tasted dozens of Paso Robles cabernet sauvignons against a lineup of Napa and Bordeaux, France, cabs, and guess what? Many of the trained wine experts couldn’t tell the difference! What does this mean for local producers? Well, it just secures what they’ve already known all along: Paso cabs will one day rule the world … The Mac and Cheese Fest is on this June 18 in Avila Beach, and you can bet you will need a massive nap after visiting more than 50 food, wine, and mac and cheese vendors (get tickets and information at themacandcheesefest.com). 

Hayley Thomas is always up for cheese, pork products, and barrel-aged anything! Send her your best nibbles at [email protected].