I know there's a mac 'n cheese "cook-off" at the house Friday nite. How long will people be hanging out Fri nite? Are most people waiting until Sat to socialize at the house? I ask because I won't be getting into Paso until around 8 p.m.
beth
Posts: 914 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 17 July 2006
Dinner at the house starts at 6 pm on Friday; I seriously doubt it will be anywhere near over by 8 pm. Depending on the oven, it could take that long just to heat up those mac 'n cheese casseroles. I don't remember when you got there last year, but I know people were drinking and schmoozing well past ten. If I am wrong, someone please correct me.
Hey, is there a good grocery store in Paso? I want to buy my deli meats there rather than drive them up from LA. Anyone know of a good one?
I'll be up there around 3.00 tomorrow afternoon and checking into my room at the Melody Ranch. What time are we meeting at the house tomorrow night again? I'm so out of the loop...
Never mind, just saw Marcia's post above. I'll see ya'll people around 6.00!
Welcome home! I did a quick Google search for you here for grocery stores in PR - looks like there is an Italian deli in town, besides Albertson's and Von's.
Kathy, let me know if you're stopping in Santa Barbara for a break and I'll meet you for lunch, coffee, etc. And is anyone else driving through Santa Barbara tomorrow?
Paso Robles is north of Santa Barbara, so no, you will not pass through there on your way. If you get to Santa Barbara, turn around and drive back, oh about two hours, depending on how you drive .
We have arrived in Paso! Headed out to Artisan for dinner for Greg's birthday. Kathy, according to the owner of the house we rented...Scolari's market is a great grocery store. It s at 2121 Sspring Street. i will be headed there in the am to get ingredients.
Also Kathy..you can see the Trader Joes off the 101...so very convient to stop before you get to PR.
I also drove by the Capitol house. It looks like parking could be a problem....so those of you at Melody Ranch might want to car pool
Scolari's is a great local market. I don't know about the meat, but the produce is great. And Jerry is right, Trader Joes is in Templeton, exit off the 101 at Vineyard Dr. If you are coming from southern CA, you would turn left after you exit and drive over the freeway and it's right there on the left. For those of you in northern CA, you would drive through Paso and exit the 101 at Vineyard...TJs would practically be right in front of you. There is also a Trader Joes two blocks from where I work, so if anyone needs some last minute shopping done, let me know by 3pm Friday and I can swing by on my way out of SLO.
FYI the house is not far at all from the Melody Ranch, so you can also walk (unless it is at night). It takes maybe 15-20 minutes to walk there. I plan to walk over in the morning for breakfast and catch the trolley at the house.
beth
Posts: 914 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 17 July 2006
Greetings from Paso Robles! We have been having such a fabulous time. Everything has gone beautifully - Shannon has once again done a superb job. Right now I'm at Starbucks, we needed some coffee this morning and drove all over town looking for a place. We finally found a Starbucks and walked in only to see Palma and Brad! I guess I should have known who would know where to find coffee... Well, we're off to Artisan in little bit to meet a group for brunch. I'm sure there will be photos soon.
We are home, have just downloaded hundreds x several times of pictures and will be rotating them and getting some of them up this afternoon, hopefully.
The weekend was fabulous. Friday nights mac and cheese cook-off went well, my favorite was the deep fried mac and cheese created by Dave and Sue. Marcia's was just a bit spicy and very good, Palma's M&C with penne pasta was perfect - the cheese was perfectly crusty - at least that was the part I went for. There was a fourth M&C, but I don't know who created it.
There was a lot of wine Fri. night and Deborah brought her home made "Hootch". Many different flavors - a dozen in all - from Rose, to Basil, Ginger, Orange with something else, and on and on. I tried many of them, maybe that is why I can't remember all the flavours. I really liked them and want to thank you Deborah for bringing them, all the way from St. Louis.
It was really nice to see so many at this years event. Friday night there must have been 25 and Saturday night 50 STers. I am sure someone will know the numbers. The house was wonderfully full last night. Everyone relaxed, yacked and had a good time.
Both nights there was a bit of Black Jack played into the wee hours and I was the dealer. That was fun!
Okay, I know others will be posting, so I am going to go straighten the pictures and try to post some. I'll come back and give a link. Marta said she would create an album for them once she got home.
We both really enjoyed ourselves. This weekend was a real upper! Meeting the people we hadn't met in person prior and revisiting with so many that we have.
Marian, Rob did mention, on the drive home, that he missed having some long conversations with you. Hopefully next time.
Okay, off I go
Posts: 2898 | Location: Monterey Peninsula, California, USA | Registered: 07 September 2003
Yes, truly spectacular weekend, which is not yet over for many of the group. As usual it was well organized, not just well attended and the trolley was a nice extra touch. I especially enjoyed the addition of the olive oil tour this year.
Of course, my favorite part is connecting with the wonderful people that show up at our ST gatherings. I was fortunate to have some quality time/conversations with quite of few of my traveling friends and for me that's the best part of Slowbowl.......OK, the wine and food ain't bad either!!!!
The pictures will tell the whole story, so I'll stop now. Thank you all for participating full on....Kudos to the chefs, the gift bringers, the librarian, the dealers, the designated drivers and of course, Ms. Shannon for getting the ball rolling. love ya, Cheryl
Another Slow Bowler checking in to say it was a great weekend with wonderful people, great food, WAAY too much wine, amazing hootch, and more.
Shannon is an amazing facilitator/tour leader/guide - got us all where we had to be when we were expected, and had arranged wonderful tastings for us, with lots of special extras. Colleen, Kim, Marta, Marian were great hostesses, and seemed to survive the ST invasion of their weekend home not once, but twice, with great equanimity. And there were chefs too numerous to mention who kept us all well fed!
I was too busy partying to take too many pictures, but will try to get the ones I have posted in the next day or so.
Oh yeah -- and to top it all off, on the ride back to Berkeley from Paso, we were treated to not one, not two, but FOUR gorgeous rainbows - and some magnificent skies - dark grey lowering rainclouds, white puffy clouds against a bright blue sky, and - late in the day - bright pink, mauve and purple clouds against the brown and green hills as the sun set and the weekend ended.
Judy
Posts: 1625 | Location: Berkeley, CA | Registered: 22 March 2005
And, some folks are still at the cottage--partying, partying, partying!
Thanks to everyone who contributed to such an enjoyable time together. The chefs were too numerous to mention, but I know some people (like Marci & Pete with their mushroom ravioli, for instance) who spent much preparation and cooking time to please our palates.
Thank you to all, and especially to the incredible Shannon !
Charity
Posts: 1462 | Location: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: 11 May 2003
What a weekend, filled with great food, wonderful wine, and the most fantastic people! Gracie (my daughter) was impressed I have such "nice internet friends".
Slow Travel Talk 
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