Luna Red in San Luis Obispo, Calif.: The Happiest of Hours

As I’m sure you have realized by now, I have a love for fashion and great food. Nothing can really stop me from dragging along a friend to try a new restaurant in town or a happy hour I have yet to try.

The latter is what brought me to Luna Red in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Though I’ve been to this lovely restaurant a few times, I had never tried their happy hour or their sangria that everyone raves about. So, I decided to give it a shot and see what all the talk was about.

For those who don’t know, Luna Red is a restaurant and bar with a fantastic outdoor patio that you should choose to sit at if you get the chance. The restaurant serves tapas — or small plates — that are unique, fresh and absolutely mouth-watering.

I mean, where else can you find chorizo stuffed dates that are bacon wrapped, duck confit crepes or blue crab lasagna in San Luis Obispo? That’s what I thought.

Luna Red’s $5 happy hour is held Sunday through Wednesday from 3 pm – 6 pm and all day Thursday (seriously, all day). During happy hour, drink specials are $5 and select menu items are $5.

My friend and I ordered sangria, the smoked paprika hummus with flatbread, blue crab hushpuppies with an avocado remoulade and two arrachera skirt steak tacos. Though service was slightly slow, everything else was amazing. If I had to choose one dish that you must try during Luna Red’s happy hour, it would be the blue crab hushpuppies. You won’t be disappointed.

As for the sangria… it was the best. I completely understand why everyone raves about it. And for $5, how can you say no?

Luna Red, San Luis Obispo

For a delicious (and pretty happy) happy hour, visit Luna Red at 1023 Chorro Street.

2022-12-27T16:12:33-08:00October 11th, 2014|Categories: Food, Travel|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Santa Barbara Public Market – A Place Filled With Treasures

If you happen to find yourself on the Central Coast of California, be sure to stop by the Santa Barbara Public Market.

Santa Barbara Public Market

Walking into the Santa Barbara Public Market, you’re greeted with a bright and beautiful interior. The Market is bustling with people trying samples of Chocolate Orange Bread at Crazy Good Bread Co. and enjoying lunch at Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar. Organic produce and drinks line one wall while the rest of the Market is filled with individual businesses offering something unique.

As you take a lap around the Public Market, you will find everything from delicious cupcakes, an indoor wine and beer bar, and fresh seafood (the oysters caught my attention). And that’s not even half of it.

The LEED certified market opened on April 16 of this year in downtown Santa Barbara, just blocks away from great shopping. On their website, Santa Barbara Public Market states that “with an ardent focus on local farms and artisanal ingredients, the Public Market will present Santa Barbara residents and nomads alike with a very well-stocked pantry for their daily foraging.” And that they do.

In addition to organic produce (in a location that they wonderfully call “Foragers Pantry”), the Santa Barbara Public Market features a collection of unique “purveyors” who each bring something different to the Market. Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar features authentic noodle bowls inspired from Thai and Taiwanese cuisine. Pair cheese and salumi from The Culture Counter Co. with handcrafted loaves of bread at Crazy Good Bread Co., then take it to the Wine + Beer Bar. Sustainable and humanely-raised meats can be found at Belcampo Meat Co., freshly made pasta at The Pasta Shoppe and fresh seafood at Santa Monica Seafood. Try olive oils and vinegars from il Fustino.

For non-alcoholic drinks, Green Star Coffee offers coffee from 100% organic fair-trade coffee beans roasted locally. JuiceWell also offers fresh pressed vegetable and fruit juices.

For dessert, make sure to grab unique and delightful cupcakes from Enjoy Cupcakes and/or organic ice cream from Rori’s Artisanal Creamery.

Santa Barbara Public Market has something to offer everyone, whether you are just looking for organic and fresh produce or are looking for a bite to eat.

The Public Market is located at the corner of West Victoria and Chapala streets and opens at 7 a.m. daily, though hours may differ for each shop.

Enjoy Cupcakes, Cupcake Flight

The cupcake flight of the week from Enjoy Cupcakes. This week’s flight was (from left to right, back row first): Strawberry Orange Creamsicle, Chocolate Blackberry Syrah, Salted Caramel Bailey’s Cream, Maple Cookies and Cream, Ginger Peach Chardonnay, and S’mores.

I absolutely loved each and every one of these cupcakes. They were light, not too sweet, and tasted so great. It’s too difficult to pick just one favorite so my top three are Ginger Peach Chardonnay, S’mores and Chocolate Blackberry Syrah.

Enjoy Cupcakes also offers cakes, mousse cups and cake puddings. Yum!

Culture Counter Co.

 

Culture Counter Co. offers a curated selection of cheese and salumi from the U.S. and a mix of cheeses from around the world. What’s neat is that they offer “Culture Cones” which are cones of either meats or cheeses. Talk about a great snack to have as you wander through the Market!

2018-02-16T20:28:49-08:00May 19th, 2014|Categories: Travel|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

A Morning Spent in Cambria

Spring is a beautiful season. Especially when you’re on the central coast of California.

A few weekends ago I spent a beautiful Saturday in Cambria, a little seaside village located on the central coast.

Cambria, Calif.

If you’re looking for a lovely little breakfast or brunch spot in Cambria, Calif., stop by Redwood Cafe. It’s very home-y and delicious. Whatever you do, get their hash browns.

Redwood Cafe in Cambria, Calif.

By the way, ranunculus are in season! I picked up these beautiful pink flowers from Trader Joe’s.

Ranunculus

 

Happy spring! 

2021-12-23T14:13:42-08:00March 26th, 2014|Categories: Fashion, Travel|Tags: , , |2 Comments

Worth Visiting: Scout Coffee Co. in San Luis Obispo, CA

Hi everyone! I’m introducing something new on chicisms. As someone who loves fashion and is a self-proclaimed foodie, I couldn’t keep myself from not writing about food. That’s why I’ve decided to begin incorporating my food adventures into chicisms. I hope you enjoy!

If there was ever a coffee shop to fall in love with, it would be Scout Coffee Co. in San Luis Obispo, CA. The employees here are friendly and obviously love their coffee, the atmosphere is open and inviting, the coffee is delicious, and the branding as well as the interior design is beautiful.

Scout Coffee just opened in downtown SLO yesterday and it is, without a doubt, my new favorite coffee spot. Everything is absolutely lovely about this local coffee shop and their cappuccino brightened my morning.

The specialty coffee shop is owned and operated by husband and wife team Jon and Sara Peterson. In addition to the delicious Verve coffee Scout offers, you’ll find  teas, milkshakes, house made sodas, and homemade baked goods.

You can visit Scout at 1130 Garden St., San Luis Obispo, CA  93401.

Scout Coffee SLO

Scout Coffee SLO

Scout Coffee San Luis Obispo



If you’re looking for good coffee and a great atmosphere, I suggest Scout Coffee Co. Let me know what you think of it!

 

xx,

Leila

2022-12-27T16:13:06-08:00January 21st, 2014|Categories: Food, Travel|Tags: , , , , |1 Comment
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