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Booming: Foothill Boulevard is getting its due! Not only is Scout Coffee planning to open a second locale in the Foothill Shopping Plaza, but there’s a ton of other eats popping up, including Blaze Pizza, which offers up lickity-split pies. Other Foothill offerings: Is that the sound of clinking glasses I hear? Milestone Tavern is open for business and they aren’t afraid to mess with the old standard bar food. Get your fill of shrimp lettuce cups, hand-tossed pizzas (the Texan’s got smoked brisket and barbecue sauce), and a really good-looking salmon salad peppered with candied pecans and blue cheese. Plus, they’ve got a whole lot of beer, wine, and craft cocktails behind the bar. (milestonetavern.com) … I finally went to the new Lassens Natural Foods & Vitamins on Foothill, too, and—after getting majorly lost in the massive supplements aisle—I found quite a few good things, including fresh local produce and an expansive shelf dedicated to world flavors (so many kinds of seaweed!). Check out their fresh juice bar and hot meals to go, too. Just be sure you don’t leave any unsightly marks on their shiny, new floor.
Going for the gold: Looking for a good, chilled local white this summer? Look no further! The results of the International Chardonnay Symposium hosted in Avila last month are in, and a few local stars of the white wine world are shining a bit brighter as a result. Congrats to Hearst Ranch Vineyard for their Central Coast 2014 Proprietor’s Reserve, which won a platinum award; Paso Robles-based Adelaida Winery, which took home a double gold for their 2014 Estate Chardonnay. We would be remiss to miss Windemere’s 2014 Central Coast MacGregor Vineyard Chardonnay, Arroyo Grande-based Talley Vineyards’ 2014 Estate Chardonnay, and Edna Valley’s True Myth 2014 Paragon Estate Chardonnay, too.
Spicy: LXV Winery, famously inspired by the sensual arts of Kama Sutra, has finally gone through the permitting process and is gearing up to create a second tasting room in Paso Robles. Their downtown tasting room isn’t going anywhere, but soon tasters can enjoy wine and spice pairings alongside a slew of Indian food offerings and cooking demos in a beautiful rural setting. Check LXV.com for more news on the construction, slated for completion next year … I don’t know about you, but I kind of miss the high school cafeteria, where Fridays always meant pizza and Wednesdays always brought a smattering of tater tots and fish sticks. At Aloha Café, they take this concept but actually make great-tasting food (no offense, fish sticks). Their calendar includes tacos on Tuesday, Philly cheesesteak on Wednesday, burgers on Thursday and tri-tip sandos on Friday! Check ’em out at 890 Via Esteban in SLO and get back the old-time feeling.
Hayley Thomas is looking for the best bites around. Help her out and send a tip to [email protected]. You can also follow her epicurean adventures on Instagram @flavorslo.