Colony Magazine #21 • March 2020

MARCH

Plus: • Wine Country Theatre Presents • Kula Vineyards & Tasting Room • All About Events Has You Covered

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1975-2020

Colony Magazine | March 2020

3/31/2020

FEATURES

c on ten ts MARCH 2020

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18

BORROWED & BLEU

TIPS FOR FINDING THE PERFECT CENTRAL COAST VENUE FOR YOUR WEDDING

19

ALL ABOUT EVENTS

LOCAL COMPANY HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR BIG DAY

1800 EL POMAR

THE PERFECT PLACE FOR A FAIRY TALE WEDDING

DEPARTMENTS

12

SOMETHING WORTH READING 06 Publisher’s Letter ROUND TOWN 10 Creston: Marching into Spring 11 Down on Entrada: Kula Winery Opens

With a Penchant for Gold 12 Santa Margarita: Kayaking

on Santa Margarita Lake COLONY PEOPLE Megan’s CBD Market Brings Customers

Relief from a Variety of Ailments 15 The Natural Alternative: Counting Sheep?

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BEST OF NORTH SLO COUNTY 20 Winners Announced in 2020 readers’ poll TENT CITY 38 What is the Budget Process?

By James J. Brescia, Ed.D. 40 Taste of Americana:

So You Think You’re Irish?

LAST WORD 42 Cracow Duo to Star

in Benefit Concert for Paderewski Festival

ON THE COVER Wedding Windmill Photo by Melissa Mattson

Colony Magazine | March 2020

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Something Worth Reading ATASCADERO • SANTA MARGARITA • CRESTON

MARCH 2020 • ISSUE NO. 21 PUBLISHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nicholas Mattson PUBLISHER, OPERATIONS Hayley Mattson

CONTACT US (805) 466-2585 colonymagazine.com publisher@colonymagazine.com MAIL: P.O. Box 6068 Atascadero, CA 93423

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OFFICE: 5860 El Camino Real, Ste. G Atascadero, CA 93422

AD DESIGN Jen Rodman SENIOR EDITOR Luke Phillips

Proud to be Local!

Colony Magazine ©2020 is a local publication founded and published by local people, Nicholas & Hayley Mattson

LAYOUT DESIGN Michael Michaud

*No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means without written consent from Colony Magazine.

CONTRIBUTORS Barbie Butz

Find and Share ‘The Story Of Us’ Online at colonymagazine.com

Camille Anderson Jennifer Best

Like and Follow us: Facebook: @thecolonymag Instagram: @colonymagazine Twitter: @thecolonymag

James J. Brescia, Ed.D. Melanie MacDowell Mira Honeycutt Patrick Pemberton Simone Smith AD CONSULTANTS Carmen Kessler carmen@colonymagazine.com Dana McGraw dana@colonymagazine.com

Jamie Self jamie@colonymagazine.com

Thank You for Being the Best of 2020

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W

e want to ded icate this publisher’s letter to the best of our community. This is a community that is filled with givers, and those in pursuit of perfection in their craft. In December, we opened up the polls for our 7th annual Best of North SLO County Reader’s Poll and more than 400 voters plugged in a total of more than 40,000 answers to questions of who and what is the best in 140 categories.

From best restaurants, retail, and contractors to best entertainment, parks, and nonprofits, the votes poured in and we counted them all. Some categories were runaway winners, and other categories were photo-finishes — a couple categories even tied squarely. Every single winner was handpicked by voters in our community and we are proud to bring them all to you in this issue of Paso Robles Magazine.

We truly share the best of California and the best of humanity in our community, and we were overwhelmed by the response for our local businesses.

Each month, we endeavor to bring you the best of our community in the pages of our magazine, and we truly believe we have the best advertisers, best people, and best businesses featured every month.

And since September, we also have the best of newspapers in the area and we could not be more grateful for the support we have received from the community. We have worked to turn around a failing newspaper and make it something the community can rally around and be proud of.

All together, it is an honor for our team to put our blood sweat and tears into what we do for the community. From the very start, it has been based on a very simple mission of writing something worth reading, and our community makes that easy by continuing to do things worth writing. Thank you for being the best of.

Please enjoy this issue of Colony Magazine.

Nicholas & Hayley Mattson 805-239-1533 nic@colonymagazine.com

Editorial Policy

Commentary reflects the views of the writers and does not necessarily reflect those of Colony Magazine. Colony Magazine is delivered free to 17,000 addresses in North San Luis Obispo County. Our costs are paid entirely by advertising revenue. Our Local Business section spotlights select advertisers. All other stories are determined solely by our editors.

For advertising inquiries and rates email publisher@colonymagazine.com, or contact one of our Advertising Representatives listed above.

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If thou wouldest win Immortality of Name, either do things worth the writing, or write things worth the reading.

— Thomas Fuller, 1727

Colony Magazine | March 2020

Sonja Martin wins $500 for Best of 2020 shopping spree

By Nicholas Mattson

In our 7th annual Best of North SLO County Reader’s Poll — Best of 2020 — we hung a big carrot out there for those who completed at least 90 percent of more than 140 questions. Well, 28 people came through with at least 126 answers and we chose a winner from those 28 by random to receive a shopping spree of $500 to spend at their favorite local buiness.

The winner of the random drawing was Sonja Martin, and her favorite business was The General Store Paso Robles — and it turns out it could not have been a better fit for everyone.

Martin graduated from Atascadero and now serves the local community as a registered nurse. She and husband Earnest both enjoy the outdoors, trips to the Mammoth Lakes area, hiking, and blues festivals. The eclectic, unique and handpicked items at General Store made it a good fit for Sonja’s hometown choice.

“We always go here,” Martin said. “We are local and I grew up here. They have a variety of so many things — it feels like home — so many Paso Robles items.”

Joeli Yaguda, one of three owners of General Store, detailed how they keep coming up with unique items that make The General Store a special place in the heart of

Nic Mattson, Joeli Yaguda, Sonja Martin, Earnest Martin, and Hayley Mattson. Photo by Dana McGraw

Paso Robles.

“We went to three different shows in January,” Yaguda said. “We met stationary artists from all over the world and went to two different makers markets, and met a lot of makers. A lot of the new stuff focuses on eco-friendliness and all-natural health and beauty. That is where our heart is.”

The General Store also carries a variety of Paso Robles branded goods, and a lot of the custom goods are designed in house.

“It’s a mix,” Yaguda said. “One of the great things about our partners is one of them, Jillian, is a graphic artist from Cal Poly. She is our secret weapon and does a lot of our design so we don’t have to rely on people out of the area.”

Another item The General Store carries is unique, handpicked books.

The winter stock is turning over and the spring items are hitting the shelves, so get in and shop before Sonja Martin comes back to get all the good stuff with her $500 shopping spree!

Congratulations again to Sonja and The General Store! Thank you all for participating in the Best of 2020 reader’s poll, and we already look forward to a bigger show next year.

Take a look at all the winners of our poll, beginning on page 30 of this issue of Paso Robles Magazine, or go online to pasoroblespress.com to f ind the list all year.

Reliable Power.

Performance you can trust!

Atascadero Chamber of Commerce 2018 Business of the Year

805-466-2218 • 5025 El Camino Real • www.glennsrepair.com March 2020 | Colony Magazine

colonymagazine.com | 7

| Creston

Marching into Spring in Creston

Jennifer Best

M

arch brings wonderful weather to the Central Coast and with it rejuvenated energy. For Creston folk, it’s that perfect season between winter cold nights and summer’s blistering heat. That makes March a great time for spring cleaning, getting out to hike, volunteering

in the community or re-balancing life’s priorities.

Many of us have plenty of open space to explore just outside our door, and plenty of chores to wear us out, but Grandma Ruth always said, “Work as hard as you play, play as hard as you work.” She was a smart lady.

Sure, Grandma was a country girl, a farm girl. She understood chores, but she’d also advise us to balance our energies. In addition to digging into that shed clean-out project, that garage reorganization, washing horse

blankets, patching the barn roof or any number of tasks on that never-ending project list, work in some recreation.

For hikers, mountain bikers, even equestrians looking for something close, Rocky Canyon Road is a lightly traveled, rugged, single-tr ac k tr ail connecting Atascadero with Creston.

Once a through road, the canyon section washed out long ago and was never restored. Today, the one-mile forest trail beyond the gravel pit provides a nearby setting for outback experience.

Red Hill Road off Highway 58 provides miles and miles of dirt road and trail access to the 19,882-acre Machesna Mountain Wilderness, Turkey Flats, Pozo and so much more.

For simpler relaxation in nature’s bounty, consider a picnic in Creston Community Garden next door to the Creston Community Center. Creston Garden Club has done a fabulous job establishing this retreat setting and always welcomes new members to help maintain the place. For details, crestongardenclubinfo@gmail.com.

o ing t Mov O BAY R 0!

MORing 202 r p S

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Colony Magazine | March 2020

Kula Winery Opened Last Summer with a Penchant for Gold

W

By Patrick Pemberton

hen Chris Williams traveled to Japan to visit a friend 17 years ago, he serendipitously met his future wife.

And now that wife is also a partner in Kula Vineyards & Winery tasting room, a small but welcoming establishment that opened at 5990 Entrada Avenue last summer.

“Entrada is a happening place,” said Ayako Williams. “All the neighboring businesses are like a family.”

Her own family is still in Japan, where Ayako grew up and made jewelry. When she first met Williams, he was a self-taught

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

Kula Winery owners Chris and Ayako Williams pose for a photo at their tasting room on Entrada Avenue in Atascadero. Photo by Patrick Pemberton

computer software developer with an MBA. Chris, who worked for Microsoft for six years, had taken Japanese while living in Seattle.

He went to Japan to see a friend from his class, who had relocated there to teach English.

After Chris returned to his home in Seattle, he and Ayako remained in touch then began a long-distance relationship.

During the 14 months they dated, Williams flew to Japan once a month.

“She said, ‘We have to get married because it’s too expensive for us to keep dating,’” Chris said.

They married in 2004. After

Microsoft, Chris started his own software company, and the couple eventually moved to Hawaii then Las Vegas, where Ayako created cosmetics for people with skin allergies.

But after a four years in Sin City, the couple sought a less flashy home.

“We wanted to live in a smaller town, and I wanted some land where I could be outside and active,” Chris said.

In 2014, they found an 18-acre property, with just over 10 acres of vineyards, in Templeton.

With help from neighbors, they eventually learned how to operate a vineyard, and they were soon producing syrah grapes for other wineries.

“The grapes produced really well and we got some great feedback from other wineries,” Chris said.

“We just decided. ‘Why don’t we make our own wine?’”

Kula, the name of their wine, means “gold” or golden” in Hawaii.

And, as anyone who visits will soon learn, the owners love golden retrievers.

Three of their past and present golden retrievers adorn their

labels. And two current ones — Ehime and Makana — can be seen at the winery daily.

In fact, often people drop by first to check in on the dogs.

“And occasionally they have a glass of wine or a bottle,” Ayako said, with a laugh.

Gold also fits the description of some of their wines – both their Grenache Blanc and their Picpoul Blanc have won gold medals in the Central Coast Wine Competition.

You can order those at the renovated building, which boasts an interior that is a mix of modern and farm house. In addition to offering tastings, the winery hosts special occasions, including Bow-Wow Thursday (wine and dogs), a candle making class and dessert weekends.

Generally speaking, the reds fare well in the winter, while whites are more popular in the summer, Chris said. His favorite wine, though, is the one that pairs with a memory.

“The happiest part about having a winery is when I hear from people that our wine is part of their celebration or family time.” colonymagazine.com | 11

| Santa Margarita

Exploring Santa Margarita Lake by Kayak

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Simone Smith

I

t was 4:30 p.m. on a chilly Sunday afternoon as we scootched our borrowed kayaks carefully into the slightly wind-chopped waters of the Santa Margarita Lake. It seemed that most of the day’s park visitors had already headed home and we had the lake to ourselves for the final hour before boats were required to be off the water at 5:30 p.m. Just enough time for a quick adventure.

There are several areas to put in your boats at Santa Margarita Lake but having our own, we choose to start out at the White Oak Flats launch ramp near the playground area. This was one of the quiet times, without the engine roar of fishing boats, the playful sounds of children, or happily chatting picnickers. As we headed east toward the narrows and the inlet of the Salinas River, we could hear the wind in the trees, the distinct grating “krrrik, krrrik” sounds of the Western Grebes and the occasional flap, paddling takeoff sounds of small waterbirds. A pair of American White Pelicans stood calmly on the far shore as we made our way, slowly paddling toward Vaca Flat.

Floating along in the middle of the lake with bass, catfish, crappie and other fish swimming below, it seems strange to think that this was not always how things were. According to the Santa Margarita Historical Society, the land surrounding and below much of the current water surface, was owned and lived on by the ranching families of the Blinn, Maggetti and Epperlys going about their daily business. The properties were seized by eminent domain by the War Department in 1941 who, through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, designed and constructed the 135-foot-tall Salinas Dam, creating the Salinas Reservoir with the intent of providing water to Camp San Luis Obispo during World War II. The Salinas Reservoir, now also known as Santa Margarita Lake, has since become the oldest municipal water reservoir in the county as it provides drinking water for the City of San Luis Obispo.

As a municipal water supply, swim-

ming and water contact are not allowed at Santa Margarita Lake, but boating, both motorized and non-motorized, are very popular recreational activities. With a maximum of 1,100 acres of water surface, the lake provides roughly 22 miles of shoreline with multiple bays and fingers to explore with a meandering length of up to seven miles. Along both sides of the lake are docks where boaters are welcome to come ashore to explore various hiking trails, lounge along the banks or under a shady tree, have a picnic at one of the many picnic tables or stop for a needed restroom visit.

Be sure to bring your own water though as you can get thirsty and there are no drinking fountains.

One thing to pay attention to in a human-powered watercraft, like a kayak, are the winds that can come up and shift during the day. Even with a slight breeze, it’s a good idea to take note of its direction and plan your journey accordingly, unless you are a strong paddler or up for more of a workout. Heading into the wind is much easier to do at the beginning of your adventure than on your return but sometimes winds can be fickle. We chose to head into the light breeze on the way out with happy thoughts of an easy paddle, being blown back on our return. Since time was short and the sun had begun it’s descent upon the horizon, we turned around in Salsipuedes Bay. Ha ha! As luck would have it, the winds did decide to shift and a Great Blue Heron watched us slowly making our return as a kettle of Turkey Vultures were returning to roost. Two fishing boats materialized and roared by, leaving us bobbing in their wake but it was a beautiful late afternoon as we returned to the boat ramp with the sunset painting the ripples of the water and we found we had perfect timing as the rangers were coming by for their closing park sweep.

You can have your own kayaking adventure at Santa Margarita Lake by either bringing your own or renting one from the Marina Point Store.

Santa Margarita Lake is a short, 15-minute drive southeast of the town of Santa Margarita, turning off Pozo Road and at the end of Santa Margarita Lake Road. For more information on fees or rentals, go to slocountyparks.com, call the Santa Margarita Lake Office at (805) 788-2397 or the Marina Point Store at (805) 438-1522.

Colony Magazine | March 2020

2020 - 2021 WEDDINGS & EVENTS

Historic Templeton

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

1800elpomar.com

colonymagazine.com | 13

Megan’s

CBD MARKET Local shop helps customers relieve chronic pain, anxiety and more

M

egan’s CBD Market is a modern day apothecary, selling a full spectrum of products that can be used to treat inflammation, anxiety and chronic pain among other ailments. Longtime locals and life partners Megan Souza and Eric Powers opened the shop in Atascadero in September of 2019 following the success of a similar shop they opened in Morro Bay the year prior.

The store shelves are lined with salves, tinctures, CBD isolates, beauty products and a handful of hemp products such as clothing and greeting cards. The majority of the products are made locally.

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By AnnMarie Cornejo

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a natural chemical compound found in hemp plants, that interacts with a person’s endocannabinoid system. Unlike THC found in cannabis plants, CBD does not have a psychoactive result.

“Generally there are three things that customers are seeking from CBD products: sleep, management of anxiety and pain relief,” Souza said. “It is a powerful anti-inflammatory, so people with joint pain or arthritis benefit greatly from incorporating it into their lives.”

Souza and Powers both come from a long line of entrepreneurs with family members who have

Megan Souza and Eric Powers

launched Art in the Park, vintage clothing stores and cafes. Powers, who has a passion for farming, began to grow cannabis in 2010 and in 2013 the couple launched a mobile medical marijuana and CBD delivery business. After a shift in laws led them to put that business on hold, they decided to open the CBD retail stores to continue to provide the CBD products they already had a strong customer demand for. Souza said the customer base of the delivery service was mostly seniors and women over the age of 50, which is still the case for our stores. She attributes the customer demographic to

the fact with older age comes more aches and pains, and that women tend to suffer from more chronic illnesses.

When Congress passed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, it removed hemp, of which CBD is derived, from the Controlled Substances Act — paving the way for CBD products to hit the shelves of stores everywhere. Souza said what distinguishes their products from those found elsewhere, is that there is an educated staff available to help customers determine which product would best fit their need and that all CBD used for the products that line their shelves has come from hemp plants that have been verified with lab results to be free of any potentially harmful compounds.

Terpene enhanced tinctures are the most popular products currently sold at both shops, followed closely by salves and lotions.

“There are increasingly more products out there now such as face lotions, deodorant and sunscreen,” said Souza. “I encourage anyone interested to stop by and talk with our staff.”

Colony Magazine | March 2020

THE NATURAL ALTERNATIVE NUTRITION CENTER

Counting Sheep?

R

esearch shows that sleep deprivation can lead to health problems such as weight gain, memory and concentration problems, irritability, depression, hypertension, and diabetes. Whether you have difficulty falling asleep, or you wake during the night and can’t fall back to sleep, you need to determine the underlying cause. Taking pharmaceutical sleep medications long term can lead to side effects such as memory loss, dizziness, and daytime drowsiness.

As stress, poor diet, and pain can leave you counting sheep at night, there are many safe and effective natural remedies that can help you get that much needed rest. Natural Vitality’s CALM is a powdered magnesium that has become a customer favorite. As magnesium helps you relax naturally, it can not only help with sleep, but also muscle tension.

If you find it difficult to fall asleep due to stress and “monkey brain,” we carry a formula called Sound Sleep which supports a deep, restful sleep leaving you feeling refreshed. Sound Sleep contains a calming blend of herbs such as kava, passionflower, skullcap and California Poppy designed to help you relax and fall asleep quickly! Sleep Thru is another great formula that contains herbs such as passionflower, ashwagandha, and jujube which also support the adrenal “stress glands” for those who seem to wake up often during the night. For those sensitive to melatonin, both formulas are melatonin-free.

If you find yourself “sleepless in Paso” (or anywhere for that matter), stop by The Natural Alternative and let my experienced team find the formula that may work best for you!

Paula is back!

1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DIAGNOSIS, PRESCRIPTION OR TREATMENT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL COUNSELING WITH A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

colonymagazine.com | 15

| Borrowed & Bleu

Finding the Perfect Central Coast

Wedding Venue S

Azurae Shults

pring is near and the beginning of another incredible wedding season is upon us. Each day as I work with my clients on the details of their weddings I am reminded how all things point back to one major decision… finding the perfect venue.

Venue shopping is usually one of the first things brides think about after she says “yes!” Sometimes they start so quickly they don’t even know what they are looking for. Yes, it’s important to be ahead of the curve and not risk missing out on the perfect venue and date but I find that it’s counter-intuitive to shop for a venue before mapping out a few important details that will help guide you.

Questions to ask yourself:

you sort out the options and make a list of venues you want to see in person. Finding the perfect venue can be a challenge and of course, working with a local coordinator to help you find the right fit is a great way to take some of the guesswork out of this critical decision.

I thought it would be helpful to list some of the venues in our area that are worth a mention for brides who are navigating this journey on their own. There are so many amazing options in this area now. This list will cover a few venues with built-in value, an amazing staff and of course picturesque backdrops!

• Halter Ranch Winery • Terra Mia • Rava Winery • Riata Ranch • Oyster Ridge • Higuera Ranch • Greengate Ranch Once you have narrowed down your list to a few promising options, reach out to the venue manager to schedule an on-site visit and tour.

These visits are a critical step to help you make the right choice.

• • • •

Does the venue offer a bridal cottage?

Can we do a rehearsal the day before?

Does the venue require shuttles?

Does the venue follow the 10pm curfew?

• Does the venue allow outside alcohol?

• What are the venue’s insurance requirements?

• Does the venue book more than one event in a weekend?

Make sure you go into this process with a date range in mind.

The more flexible, the better! Give the venue some dates to check when you inquire but don’t tour venues that can’t accommodate your date!

“Wedding Season” used to be f rom about May-September, but that certainly isn’t true anymore.

With the large influx of wedding demands in this area, venues are opening their calendars yearround. December through February is slower and sometimes you

can earn an off-season discount. If you’re aiming for a wedding between April-October I recommend planning at least 10-12 months in advance. The majority of brides are giving themselves a year or more to plan. If you wait too long a few of your first picks could be taken!

I hope that with the help of a local coordinator you will be able to sit down and find a venue that checks all of the boxes! If you’re planning a 2020 or 2021 wedding, now is the perfect time to secure a venue and a date!

Have a wedding question? Email me at hello@cielbleuevents.com Azurae Shults

Ciel Bleu Event Design

cielbleuevents.com

• How many guests will you invite?

• How much can you spend on a venue?

• Do you want an indoor or outdoor wedding?

• What time of year do you want to get married?

• Do you want to serve hard alcohol? • Do they require a coordinator?

• Do you need on-site accommoda- • When do we have access to the venue? tions?

When do we have to be out?

These are great questions to help • Does the venue provide rentals?

Good questions to ask when touring a venue are:

16 | colonymagazine.com

Colony Magazine | March 2020

An Assited Living Facility For The Elderly

805.769.2468  5935 S. El Pomar Road Paso Robles, CA 93446  threeoakslodge@gmail.com RCFE#405850046

Now Open

Our mission is to provide compassionate senior care and create a home where everyone is family. With owners on-site and an LVN with over 20 years of experience in geriatric care, we are committed to exceptional care 24 hours a day.

 Peaceful, country setting with beautiful views of surrounding vineyards & oak trees.  A welcoming, family atmosphere & compassionate caregivers.  24 hour care, accommodating dementia, hospice & bedridden residents. 25% OFF Book directly and  Assistance with all daily living activities, medication, meals & laundry. receive 25% off your  Private & semi-private room options. first months rent.

Some Exclusions  Planned daily activities including: games, puzzles, crafts & daily exercise.

Apply

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

colonymagazine.com | 17

© Amy Henrichs Photography

By Melanie MacDowell

L

ocated on a vineyard in the rolling hills of Templeton is a dreamy event venue, perfect for rustic weddings. 1800 El Pomar is a retired ranch with a redwood barn, a farmhouse and water tanks on 20 acres of land dotted with oak trees. Fully equipped with amenities and furnishings, this location is a hidden treasure for fairytale weddings along the Central Coast.

“The idea of 1800 El Pomar was born after we purchased the property in 2017,” said Shayna Lerno, Venue Manager. “The ranch is a diamond in the rough, calling to be an event venue. It’s perfectly placed oaks, barn, and abandoned fence corrals gave us so much vision. “The property has a really cool ranch vibe, while still keeping a nice touch of elegance.”

The main feature of the property is the iconic, aged red barn that serves as a picturesque background. Lerno mentions that the barn is under renova-

18 | colonymagazine.com

tion so it can serve as a fully-functioning event space by 2021.

The 1800 Pomar venue offers a vintage farmhouse that comfortably hosts the bridal party, family, and friends for two nights with four bedrooms, a den, and three large sitting rooms. The farmhouse is equipped with a large kitchen, barbecue, a big-screen television, a grand upright piano, and all the essentials, including wireless internet, air conditioning, and a washer-dryer set. The farmhouse is a welcoming space for pets and families to prepare for the wedding festivities.

With onsite parking, close proximity to town and loads of open space, the 1800 El Pomar property is a wedding venue for those seeking convenience, customization, and a breathtaking landscape, perfect for capturing snapshots of a classic California golden hour.

Wedding ceremonies take place in a space behind the barn, framed beneath large oak trees, with a natural backdrop and a gazebo ready for florals. Guests enjoy the ceremony, shaded by trees, with

an option to sit on haystacks or chairs.

The vineyard property is fully accessible, making it a photographers playground. The venue also offers a list of skilled photographers in the area, ready to capture every magical moment.

Wedding receptions and events take place on a large sod lawn next to the barn with a large built-in bar and concrete dance floor. The venue can accommodate 200 guests, complete with tables, chairs, and a walk-in refrigerator for florals, food, and cakes. The details are covered as well, providing guests with a long list of furnishings, such as string lights, umbrellas, a vintage wagon table, heaters, signage and mason jars.

In the case of rain, a rarity in the area, guests can prop tents.

“The typical wedding season starts in May and trickles through November,” Lerno said, adding that most weddings bypass any rainy weather and enjoy idyllic temperatures throughout the season.

For those seeking a customizable wedding venue, 1800 El Pomar gives

brides and grooms the option to choose any vendor they like while also providing access to a preferred vendors list. Lerno emphasizes that they are flexible and brides can bring in any vendors, caterers, or services they want to complete their dream wedding.

After the wedding, newlyweds often stay in suites or an AirBNB in downtown Templeton. They plan to convert an original water tank structure into a luxury bridal suite in the near future.

With more than 18 weddings booked for 2020 and a handful reserved for 2021, the 1800 El Pomar venue accommodates fairytale weddings of all kinds. Lerno said that they are excited about the property’s development for guests.

“We look forward to sharing this elegant ranch with others for years to come,” she said.

For more information on the venue and wedding packages, visit 1800elpomar.com/ Join 1800 El Pomar on Instagram for wedding-inspiration at instagram. com/1800elpomar/

Colony Magazine | March 2020

all about events

Has Got You Covered!

Tents, tables, and everything between

By Camille Anderson

G

et your champagne flutes and dancings shoes out because the wedding season is coming! Whether the idea of planning what is perhaps one of the happiest days of your life excites you or makes you want to hide, All About Events is here to help you out.

Think of All About Events as the headquarters for all your rental needs.

Need a tent big enough for a circus? They have it. They even have it with a clear top so you can still enjoy the view. Need flatware that aligns with the latest and classic trends? They have it. Does your venue not have a suite for the bride and groom to get ready in?

Don’t worry. They have that figured out too.

To begin making their Pinterest wedding dreams come true, clients can go online to allaboutevents. com and start building their quotes.

Jill Steinmann, who is getting married in Parkfield this April, said, “The quote was quick and they have lots of options for anything you need,” she is renting her table, table cloths, and heaters from the local company.

After completing an online quote, customers are welcome to make an appointment at the showroom to see their vision come to life before the big event. The helpful staff will help you mix and match flatware, china, tables, and

chairs to create a look you love.

Steven Herring, president of All About Events, started the company back in 2008 under the name Party Partners. Before joining the event business, Herring worked for Cal Fire on an oil field. He got the idea for a party rental business when he was helping his boss at the time set up for his 50th birthday party.

“I found a distributor down in Long Beach,” Herring said, “bought 200 plastic chairs, 20 round tables, and then did that for a couple of years.”

During the first few years of Party Planners, Herring continued working for Cal Fire in the oil fields. “ In 2011 it star ted taking off a little bit so I quit everything, bought a glassware company, merged the two companies and that’s when we created All About Events”.

Fast forward to 2020 and the company is celebrating nine years of being in business. About three years ago, they moved to two larger locations, a warehouse and a showroom off Ramada Drive in Paso Robles.

Coinciding with the wedding season, the company’s peak season runs from March through November. During its peak, the company has approximately 35 employees and runs 28 employees full-time.

“We’re super focused on quality, not just our inventory but the office staff and account managers that deal with the client relations —

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

they’re amazing,” Herring said. “All my guys and gals that help out on the operations side, they truly care about the company — they are really focused on quality when they go drop stuff off or go set up tents.”

Herring makes a note to stay up on the latest trends as well as timeless ones. He recently attended a convention in Orlando, Fla. A new inventory purchased from that convention is currently on its way to the showroom.

In addition to all the pieces All About Events has to offer, they share part of their showroom with SCOUT Rental Co., which offers rental of their many vintage items, updated furniture, props, rugs, and pillows.

SCOUT Rental Co. is owned and operated by Greer Woodruff. Greer turned her passion for collecting unique pieces into a rental service. Clients can find her pieces in the All About Events showroom. View a gallery of her inventory online at scoutrentalco.com.

And we can’t not talk about the portable Man Cave and Bridal Suite. If your venue does not offer suites to get ready in, these trailers are your solution.

Herring started with the Man Cave. He said, “A lot of these venues around here have a place for the bride and bridesmaids to get ready, but they don’t for the groom and groomsmen.”

The Man Cave trailer features a back deck area, perfect for hosting a game or two of cornhole, also

included! Bridal parties can enjoy the luxurious fireplace and plenty of room for even the fluffiest of ball gowns in their “She Shack.” Both mobile suites include flatscreen TVs, running water, solar power, generators, and many more luxuries.

A f t e r t h e p a r t y ’s over comes the dreaded cleanup. The crew at All About Events is here to make that easier for you too. They clean all their dishes in-house with their dish-washing facility. After being washed, all dishes, flatware, and glasses are wrapped and put into their appropriate color-coded and labeled bin. Everything in the warehouse is put into its neatly organized place so that there are never any mix-ups or confusion.

Even if you aren’t getting married this season, All About Events has everything you need for your corporate event, birthday party, or winemakers dinner. With all the options available, the possibilities are endless.

The crew at All About Events are here to help make your event dreams come true. Their upbeat energy will put you at ease during what can be the most exciting and stressful time of your life.

Let’s raise our glass of bubbly and give cheers to dancing to YMCA, tearful toasts, and catching that bouquet. Have fun this wedding season, and remember, All About Events will be there to clean up in the morning.

colonymagazine.com | 19

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2020 Reader’s Poll Winners

W

elcome to the Best of 2020 Winner’s List!

As chosen by local readers, the next 18 pages are dedicated to those winners and we will be celebrating all the winners of the 7th annual Best of North SLO County Reader’s Poll all year long.

It was a very exciting process in collecting and sorting more than 40,000 answers to our poll, and to see how the community responded was surprising in many ways. This was the first year we ran

20 | colonymagazine.com

the poll almost exclusively online, and we received great information about how to improve the poll for next year.

All the winners were so very appreciative of your votes and your consideration. Please take a look through the following pages to see if your favorite business was a winner or if you will find your next favorite business in one of the winners. Thank you for participating, and join us in celebrating our winners all year long wherever you

see their banners, stickers, trophies, in Atascadero, and others who or certificates in their business. earned a respectable tally were: At the end of the day, they are • Farron Elizabeth the Best of 2020 because you are • Farm Supply the best readers in the world.

• Fusion Health & FIIT Our most wide-open category • Jayde Boutique was the question of where do you • Guest House Grill want to spend $500? Sonja Martin • Tent City Beer Co. was the winner of the $500 shop• Kelly’s Casuals ping spree and her favorite busi• Colony Market ness was The General Store Paso Big winners included Guest Robles. Enjoy Sonja!

House Grill and Streetside Ale The overall top vote-getter for favorite business was anna & mom Continued on Page 23

Colony Magazine | March 2020

House, which picked up multiple awards each. Some winners tied in their category, and the overall top-vote getter in their respective category was Pier 46 Seafood Market, which earned 99 total votes for Best Seafood Restaurant.

Best Pizza Dining

• NARDONNES Best Burger Joint

• SYLVESTER’S BURGERS Best Steakhouse

• GUEST HOUSE GRILL

Here’s the rest of the list:

Best Sushi Restaurant

Best Coffeehouse

Best BBQ Spot

• MALIBU BREW Best Seafood Restaurant

• YANAGI

• JEFFRY’S WINE COUNTRY BBQ

• PIER 46 SEAFOOD MARKET Best Pasta Joint • BUONA TAVOLA Best Mexican Restaurant • LA PARRILLA

Best Asian Cuisine

• THAI ELEPHANT Best Pizza Delivery

• BRAVO PIZZA March 2020 | Colony Magazine

Best Breakfast Joint • JOE’S PLACE

Best Brunch Special

• HUNTER RANCH Best Lunch Spot

• COLONY DELI & MARKET

Best Dessert, Bake or Cake Shop

• JUST BAKED CAKE STUDIO & BAKERY Best Vegetarian or Vegan • THOMAS HILL Best Cheese Shop • VIVANT

Best Family Restaurant

• GUEST HOUSE GRILL Best Overall Restaurant

• GUEST HOUSE GRILL Best Health Food, Natural Food, or Grocery Store

• HARVEST NATURAL FOODS Best Farm-to-Table

• THOMAS HILL ORGANICS Best Mocktail

• STREET SIDE ALE HOUSE Continued on Page 26

colonymagazine.com | 23

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Continued from Page 20

Colony Magazine | March 2020

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Thank you

for putting us on top!

We’re honored to be the

B EST OF NORTH SLO COUNTY 2020

Whether you need to purchase a home, finance a car or grow your business, bring it home to the longest-established credit union on the Central Coast.

We provide outstanding financial services, free educational tools and give back to our community. Our members are local, so money stays local—right here at home.

PASO ROBLES

705 GOLDEN HILL RD

AT CRESTON ROAD & GOLDEN HILL ROAD

ATASCADERO

8380 EL CAMINO REAL

IN THE FOOD4LESS SHOPPING CENTER

805.543.1816 SESLOC.ORG Federally insured by NCUA, a U.S. government agency.

020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST OF 2020  BEST

Continued from Page 23

Best Taco

• LA PARILLA Best Appetizer

• STREET SIDE ALE HOUSE Best Salad

• GUEST HOUSE GRILL Best French Fries

• STREET SIDE ALE HOUSE Best Pastry

• CIDER CREEK Best French Toast

• JOE’S PLACE Best Cup of Coffee

• MALIBU BREW Best Tea

• MALIBU BREW 26 | colonymagazine.com

Best Kombucha

• BREN’S ORIGINAL BLENDS

Best Olive Oil

Best Local Beef, Poultry, Dairy, or Pork

Best Bread

Best Paving, Concrete, and Driveways

• WHALE BIRD • PASOLIVO • BRIAN’S BREAD Best Cake

• JUST BAKED Best Gelato, Ice Cream, Frozen Dessert • NEGRANTI CREAMERY Best Farm-Fresh Fruit

• J&R NATURAL MEATS

• VIBORG SAND & GRAVEL Best Flooring

• TEMPLETON FLOORS Best Plumbing

• BELL’S PLUMBING Best Roofing

• TEMPLETON FARMERS MARKET

• MID-STATE ROOFING

Best Farm-Fresh Nuts

• SOLARPONICS

• JARDINE RANCH Best Farm-Fresh Ingredients

• THOMAS HILL ORGANICS Best Local Seasonings

Best Solar

Best Electrical

• FRENCH ELECTRIC Best Rain Gutters

• 5 STAR RAIN GUTTERS Colony Magazine | March 2020

Best of North County

Gelato, Ice Cream, Frozen Dessert!

Best Landscaping, Lawn, and Garden

• NATIVE LANDSCAPE CREATIONS Best Propane

• DELTA LIQUID ENERGY Best Furniture

• AMERICAN OAK WHOLESALERS Best Pest and Rodent Control • STORY TERMITE

Best General Contractor • KEVIN JOURNEY Best Cleaning Service • ALICIA MAX

Best Moving Company

• MEAT HEAD MOVERS Best Storage Company

• EL CAMINO SELF STORAGE Continued on Page 28

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

colonymagazine.com | 27

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THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

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Continued from Page 27

Best Antiques, Thrift, and Consignment

• NORTH COUNTY CHRISTIAN THRIFT Best Repurposed, Renewed, and Resold • REMINISCE ANTIQUES ETC Best Flowers & Florist

• ARLYNE’S FLOWERS Best Books, Stationary, and Gifts • PERRY’S PARCEL & GIFT Best Women’s Clothing (Tied)

• FARRON ELIZABETH / KELLY’S CASUALS Best Children’s Clothing • ANNA & MOM Best Pet Store

• LEMOS FEED & SUPPLY Best Pet Grooming & Care (Tied) • GOLDEN PAW

• HAIR OF THE DOG 28 | colonymagazine.com

Continued on Page 30

Colony Magazine | March 2020

FOR VOTING US

Best Holistic Healthcare in the North County!  Functional Medicine

 IV Nutritional Therapy  PRP & Prolotherapy

 Environmental Medicine

 Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Injury  Anti-Aging Medicine

 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

805.226.5190 502 First Street, Suite A Paso Robles, CA 93446 FB @salusintegrativemedicine IG @salus_medicine

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

colonymagazine.com | 29

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THANK YOU

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Continued from Page 28

Best Veterinarian or Pet Hospital • ATASCADERO PET HOSPITAL

Best Podiatrist

• CENTRAL COAST FOOT AND ANKLE Best Chiropractor

Best Gym or Personal Trainer

• KENNEDY CLUB FITNESS Best Weight Loss or Nutrition

Best Feed Store

• DR. RYAN MCGAUGHEY

• FUSION HEALTH. & FIIT TRAINING CENTER

Best Holistic Healthcare

Best Dog Park

• SALUS INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

Best Bank or Credit Union

• ATASCADERO HAY & FEED • TEMPLETON DOG PARK Best Urgent Care or Clinic

Best Day Spa

• SESLOC

Best Real Estate Agent

• MALIK REAL ESTATE GROUP

• MED POST

• RIVER OAKS HOT SPRINGS

Best General Practitioneror Doctor

Best Nail Salon

Best Pediatrician

Best Hair Salon

• THE WEARHOUSE

• JOHN DONOVAN STATE FARM

Best Dentist or Orthodontist

Best Barber Shop

Best Financial Planning Agency

Best Tattoo Parlor

Best Attorney or Lawyer

• DR. LEBENS

• PATTERSON & TEDFORD • DR. STOUT & DR. PAMBRUN

Best Optometrist and Eye Care

• OPTOMETRIC CARE ASSOC.

30 | colonymagazine.com

• CALVIN’S

• NATE’S BARBERSHOP • CHERRY BLOSSOM

Best Mortgage Company

• ENVOY MORTGAGE Best Insurance

• EDWARD JONES

• MARTHA SPALDING Continued on Page 32

Colony Magazine | March 2020

#1 GIFT STORE IN NORTH COUNTY

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

colonymagazine.com | 31

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE!

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Continued from Page 30

Best Park

Best Auto Sales

Best American Auto Repair & Maintenance

Best RV Sales and Service

Best Tax Preparation

• ATASCADERO LAKE PARK

Best Bookkeeping Service

• FERRELL’S AUTO REPAIR

• WILLIAM GALLANT, H&R BLOCK • TIDWELL BOOKKEEPING Best Hotel

• THE CARLTON

Best German Auto Repair & Maintenance • GERMAN PERFORMANCE

• PASO ROBLES FORD • SKY RIVER RV

Best Gas and Diesel Station • KLEM’S

Best Window Repair or Tinting

Best Guy’s Night Out Spot

Best Japanese Auto Repair & Main- • A-1 AUTO GLASS & TINT tenance Best Auto Audio and Video • G&H AUTO REPAIR • ULTIMATE CAR AUDIO Best Lube and Oil Service Best Auto Parts • LUBE & GO • NAPA AUTO PARTS Best Car Wash and Auto Detail Best Downtown Tasting Room • EL CAMINO CAR WASH • JUSTIN DOWNTOWN TASTING Best Body Shop

Best Golf Course

Best Tire Sales and Service

Best Event or Wedding Venue • RAVA WINERY Best Art Gallery

• STUDIOS ON THE PARK Best Girl’s Night Out Spot • 1122

• TENT CITY BEER COMPANY • DAVIS AUTO BODY • HUNTER RANCH

Best Vineyard Tasting Room • TOBIN JAMES

• AMERICAS WEST TIRE & AUTO

Continued on Page 34

Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm | Sun: 10am-4pm

Like us on Facebook! @Reminisce Antiques 32 | colonymagazine.com

Colony Magazine | March 2020

TEMPLETON lic #8861275

CARPET VINYL HARDWOOD TILE

QUALITY SALES SERVICE INSTALLATION

805.434.2828

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

colonymagazine.com | 33

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BEST NORTH COUNTY FLOORING!

Continued from Page 32

Best Vineyard Experience • HALTER RANCH Best Red (Tied)

• OPOLO MOUNTAIN ZIN • AUSTIN HOPE CAB

• DAUO CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Best Local Spirit

• CENTRAL COAST DISTILLERY RUM Best Night Club

• PAPPY MCGREGORS Best Beer

• FIRESTONE 805 Best Cocktail

Best Event Supply Company • ALL ABOUT EVENTS Best Catering

• TRUMPET VINE CATERING Best Charity or Nonprofit

• ECHO HOMELESS SHELTER Best Charity Event

• 1122

• DANCING WITH OUR STARS

Best White

Best Family Outing

Best Youth Charity

Best Wine & Beer Tour

Best U12 Kids Entertainment

• CASTORO

• TABLES CREEK SAV BLANC • HOP ON TOURS

• THE RAVINE WATER PARK

PASO ROBLES YOUTH ART FOUNDATION

• HOP’S BOUNCE HOUSE

Best Bar, Tavern, Pub, or Tap House Best 12-17 Kids Entertainment (Tied) • GALAXY THEATERS • PAPPY MCGREGORS Best Amusement or Games • STREETSIDE ALE HOUE • THE SLICE Best Brewery Best Bounce House or Party Supply • BARREL HOUSE • HOP’S BOUNCE HOUSE 34 | colonymagazine.com

Colony Magazine | March 2020

Thank you to everyone who voted & congratulations to all the winners!

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

colonymagazine.com | 35

36 | colonymagazine.com

Colony Magazine | March 2020

Thank you for Voting us the

BEST VETERINARIAN in the North SLO County!

 Wellness  Intensive & Critical 24hr. Care  Digital X-Ray and Ultrasound  CT Scanning  Extensive Orthopedic & Soft Tissue Surgery  Internal Medicine  Dentistry  Ophthamology

“Serving the pets, people and veterinarians of the Central Coast”

Full Service Veterinary Hospital Open: 24/7 for Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care 9575 El Camino Real, Atascadero Visit us at: apetcenter.com

(805) 466-3880

What is the Jim Brescia

Budget Process?

“Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.”

Winston Churchill

I

am often asked about the state budget when I speak with Rotary groups, school boards, PTAs, and community organizations. The best explanation about the California budget I have heard is that a budget is a process rather than a product. One colleague describes the California budget as a combination of phases: the development of the Governor’s Budget, the Legislature’s enactment of a budget, and the executive branch’s administration of the budget. Each of these phases contains all the ramifications and influences of political interactions, relationships with federal and local governments, public input, natural events, legal issues, the economy, initiatives and legislation. In short, the state budget is a complex, multi-faceted, and ever-changing process.

Our California State Constitution requires that the Governor submit a balanced budget to the Legislature by January 10. One interesting requirement is that if the proposed expenditures for the budget year exceed estimated revenues, the Governor must recommend the sources for the additional funding. The Director of Finance, as the chief financial advisor to the Governor, directs the effort for preparation of the Governor’s Budget. Under the policy direction of the Governor, the Director of Finance issues instructions and guidelines for budget preparation to agencies and departments. This effort typically gets underway even before the Legislature has passed the budget for the current fiscal year.

Even though terms such as “Zero-Based Budgeting,” “Management by Objectives,” and “Total Quality Management” are used by the administration, the process is essentially incre-

mental budgeting with some lobbying added for good measure. The current departmental level of funding is considered a base amount to be adjusted up or down by change proposals. According to the Department of Finance, the general goal is to resolve budget issues at the lowest level possible. Departments should clear their proposals through agency-level hearings and the Department of Finance generally attends the hearings. For non-agency departments, proposals are presented directly to the Department of Finance. Issues which are not resolved between departments and Finance staff are discussed at hearings conducted by the Director of Finance, and the most sensitive issues are ultimately presented to the Governor for a decision.

Once the decisions are finalized, the Department of Finance coordinates the printing of the Governor’s Budget Summary, containing goals and objectives for the following year. Along with the summary is a detailed presentation of each department for the past, current, and future budget years. The State Constitution also requires that the Governor’s Budget is accompanied by a Budget Bill itemizing recommended expenditures that are introduced into each house of the Legislature, to be passed by June 15th.

NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

This year, education continues to be one of the largest California State Budget items. A modest Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.29 percent is budgeted; teacher recruitment and professional development are planned; additional funding for Special Education is proposed; and support for mental health, school nutrition, school facilities, and Early Childhood Education are all included in our state budget proposal.

There is additional language on fiscal accountability/transparency, grants for closing the achievement gap, vaping, and wildfire mitigation.

Of particular interest for our county are the proposals to expand the educator workforce pipeline. A goal of my administration has been to promote “Future Careers that are Locally Grown.” Several of the grants proposed by the Governor complement my research on Recruitment and Retention, validate our work on apprenticeships, and if awarded, will benefit our county for generations. For additional information, please contact the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education.

It is an honor to serve as your County Superintendent of Schools.

“Influence is like a savings account.

The less you use it, the more you’ve got.”

Andrew Young

Robert Fry, MD Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Joint Replacement, PRP Injections Sports Medicine, Fractures, Arthroscopy Joint Pain and General Orthopedics

Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon. Fellowship trained in Sports Medicine.

1111 Las Tablas Rd, Suite R Templeton, CA 93465

www.docfryorthopedics.com

38 | colonymagazine.com

805-434-4848

Colony Magazine | March 2020

The San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association Presents The 30th Annual

E85 Diesel

Propane ® Car Wash

Hwy 41 & 101 Exit 219

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

Atascadero, CA 93422

Indian Nation Valeriy Kagounkin Acrylic on Canvas 36 in x 50 in

APRIL 3-5, 2020 Paso Robles Event Center in Paso Robles, CA

Artist’s wine and hors d’oeuvre reception and preview sale 5 pm-9 pm. Tickets for the reception will be available at the door for $20. The show continues Saturday 10 am-5 pm and Sunday 10 am-3 pm, no admission charge, open to the public, and features a cattlemen’s BBQ lunch for $10, from 11:30am-1:30 pm.

ORIGINALS FOR SALE From nationally and locally known artists.

For more information visit: cattlemenswesternartshow.com or contact Dee Pellandini 805-423-1319

colonymagazine.com | 39

| Taste of Americana

So You Think You're Irish?

I

Barbie Butz

can’t seem to write my columns in March without focusing on the Irish and St. Patrick’s Day. I acquired a wonderful little book titled “So You Think You’re Irish?” compiled by Margaret Kelleher. The book tests your Celtic knowledge with questions on things “Irish,” from beliefs, legends, history, quotations, arts, entertainment, and food, among them.

I naturally zeroed-in on the food section. I thought it would be fun to share some of the questions and give you the answers with the simple recipes that are included in the answer.

So, here we go.

What is Colcannon?

Colcannon Peel and boil four pounds of potatoes. Drain, mash until smooth. Add six chopped scallions to 10 oz. Milk and bring to boil. Add to potatoes and beat well until fluffy. Beat in one lb. Cooked curly kale or savoy cabbage (finely chopped) and one oz. Butter. Reheat if necessary. Serve with butter.

This little ditty is included with the recipe: “Did you ever eat Colcannon When ‘twas made from thickened cream, And the kale and praties blended Like the picture in a dream?

Did you ever take a forkful And dip it in the lake

40 | colonymagazine.com

Of the clover-flavoured butter that your mother used to make?”

• 2 lbs. Small potatoes • 2 ½ cups water Salt and pepper • Fat for frying Fry chopped bacon, sausages and onions in the fat until onions are golden. Peel potatoes and add. Pour in water. Season, cover and simmer until potatoes are cooked.

According to the song, what famous Dublin food did Molly Malone sell as she wheeled her wheelbarrow through streets broad and narrow?

Of course, the answer is Cockles and mussels.

Cream of Mussel Soup • 2 cups mussels (washed thoroughly) •1 quart cold water •2 oz. Butter •1 oz. Flour • 1 cup cream • Salt and pepper Heat mussels in a dry frying pan until the shells open. Shell and beard mussels. In a saucepan melt butter, add flour and fry for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in water, plus any liquid from frying pan. Add salt and pepper, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for ten minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in mussels and cream. Serve immediately.

Cockles are shellfish.

What is a true Dubliner’s Saturday supper?

Coddle • ¼ lb. streaky bacon (chopped) • ¼ lb. Pork sausages (whole) • ¾ lb. Onions (coarsely chopped)

Boxty • ½ lb. raw potato • ½ lb. Mashed cooked potatoes • ½ lb. Plain flour • A little milk • 1 egg • Salt and pepper Grate raw potatoes and mix with mashed potato. Add salt, pepper and flour. Beat egg and add to mixture with enough milk to make a dropping batter. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a hot griddle or frying pan. Cook over a moderate heat for three to four minutes on each side.

What traditional Irish dish includes mutton, onions and potatoes? If you answered Irish Stew, you win!

Irish Stew • 2 lbs. lean mutton pieces • 1 lb. onions, sliced • 2 lbs. Potatoes, peeled and sliced • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped • Salt and pepper • Pinch of thyme • 2 ½ cups of stock Place mutton with thyme in a saucepan and add stock to cover. Bring slowly to the boil and simmer for one hour.

Add onions and potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped. Season.

Continue cooking until vegetables are tender.

What is Boxty? It’s a traditional Irish dish made with potatoes.

“Boxty on the griddle Boxty on the pan If you don’t eat boxty You’ll never get a man!”

What famous Irish food is served with the meal?

Brown Soda Bread • 8 oz. white flour • 8 oz. wholemeal flour • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 3 teaspoons baking powder • 2 teaspoons salt • 1 beaten egg • 2 ½ cups of sour milk • Beaten egg or milk (to glaze) Stir together the dry ingredients. Mix the milk and egg and stir in. Mix, then knead on a floured surface until smooth.

Shape into a round cake and place on a greased sheet, or into a greased loaf tin. Make a deep cross on the cake and bake in a hot oven at 375 degrees for thirty-five to forty minutes. Brush with glaze (optional).

I hope you will have a special St. Patrick’s Day on March 17.

Why not cook-up some of these Irish dishes to serve with your corned beef?

Enjoy!

Colony Magazine | March 2020

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

colonymagazine.com | 41

cracow duo to star in benefit concert for paderewski festival CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

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ASO ROBLES – The first event of the 2020 Paderewski Festival season is a benefit concert performed by the world famous Cracow Duo — cellist Jan Kalinowski and pianist Marek Szlezer —to be held on Saturday afternoon, March 21 at the stunning hilltop residence of Marilyn and Ken Riding.

Described by the Strad Magazine as having “an arresting quality to their playing that gives life to music,” the Cracow Duo has toured throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America, performing at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall in New York City, Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, Salle Cortot in Paris, St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

For their appearance in Paso Robles, the Cracow Duo has selected a program that includes Chopin’s youthful and vigorous Introduction and Polonaise brillante for cello and piano, as well as charming salon pieces by Ignacy Jan Paderewski and his friend, Zygmunt Stojowski, who visited Paderewski in Paso Robles during the 1920s and 1930s. The Cracow Duo fundraiser will also present works by Aleksander Tansman and Astor Piazzolla, bringing a mid-twentieth century Polish-French accent and a dash of Argentinian tango flair to their well-rounded selections.

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Wine and cheese reception and self-guided art tour begins at 2 p.m. and the concert is set to start at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 21. Admission is $60 per person and all proceeds, including those from the live auction, will benefit the 2020 Paderewski Festival, taking place in Paso Robles Nov. 5-8. Directions to the Riding residence will be provided once reservations are confirmed.

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For tickets and information about the nonprofit Padereweski Festival in Paso Robles, visit paderewskifest.com or call Marjorie Hamon at 805-441-5144. To learn more about the Cracow Duo, go to cracowduo.com.

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Colony Magazine | March 2020

March 2020 | Colony Magazine

colonymagazine.com | 43