Tag Archives: Santa Maria

Show 532, July 1, 2023: Dewlson Family Farm, Santa Maria with Judy Paulson Part One

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Judy Paulson of Dewlson Family Farm

Dewlson Family Farm in Santa Maria in the Santa Maria Valley is the “retirement project” of active husband and wife, (first generation farmers) Ron Dewey and Judy Paulson. Both are retired from long careers with the Navy. It’s a family-owned, working farm established in 2010 designed to be an “Oasis of Experience” where people come to explore, learn, and relax. On the Farm Ron & Judy grow Lisbon Lemons, five varieties of premium Arabica coffee beans sourced from The Big Island of Hawaii and three varieties of tea from renowned regions of China.

Currently visits are by appointment only for the safety and convenience of farm guests.

“Ron and Judy are proud of their safe, sustainable farm practices that protect the health and well-being of their family, farm associates and valued guests. This makes it possible for guests to walk their farm, eat farm-grown fruits, and enjoy coffee and tea with confidence in your safety.”

Private Farm Tours personally conducted by Judy and Ron (available by appointment on Friday, Saturday and Sunday) include Coffee Tour & Tasting, Tea Tour & Blend Creation and the Exotic Plant Tour.

Judy Paulson takes a break from the Farm Tour to join us.

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Show 532, July 1, 2023: Dewlson Family Farm, Santa Maria with Judy Paulson Part Two

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Judy Paulson of Dewlson Family Farm

Dewlson Family Farm in Santa Maria is the “retirement project” of active husband and wife, (first generation farmers) Ron Dewey and Judy Paulson. Both are retired from long careers with the Navy. It’s a family-owned, working farm established in 2010 designed to be an “Oasis of Experience” where people come to explore, learn, and relax. On the Farm Ron & Judy grow Lisbon Lemons, five varieties of premium Arabica coffee beans sourced from The Big Island of Hawaii and three varieties of tea from renowned regions of China.

Currently visits are by appointment only for the safety and convenience of farm guests.

“Ron and Judy are proud of their safe, sustainable farm practices that protect the health and well-being of their family, farm associates and valued guests. This makes it possible for guests to walk their farm, eat farm-grown fruits, and enjoy coffee and tea with confidence in your safety.”

They are active stewards of the land. For instance they collect all the rain water on the farm to satisfy their irrigation needs through systems designed and constructed by Ron.

Private Farm Tours personally conducted by Judy and Ron (available by advance appointment on Friday, Saturday and Sunday) include Coffee Tour & Tasting, Tea Tour & Blend Creation and the Exotic Plant Tour.

Judy Paulson takes a second break from minding the Lisbon Lemons to continue with us.

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Show 531, June 24, 2023: Executive Chef Alfonso Curti of Trattoria Uliveto, Orcutt, CA

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Alfonso Curti of Trattoria Uliveto

We apologize for being a little late in connecting with Chef Curti. He must have been on Italian time…

“Proprietor and Chef Alfonso Curti has assembled an outstanding menu of fine Italian dishes, an extensive wine list, specialty cocktails, and original desserts, which he is offering in the cozy elegance of the Trattoria Uliveto Italian Restaurant, located in the quaint town of Old Orcutt near Santa Maria, California. Join him in the celebration of authentic Italian cuisine paired with some of the finest wines available. Trattoria Uliveto also offers catering services for wedding receptions and banquets and daily Family Meals to go.” Trattoria Uliveto is open for lunch as well as dinner. Closed on Sunday and Monday.

“Business owner and restaurant afficionado Jim Spallino together with Alfonso Curti, former executive chef of “Grappolo” in Santa Ynez, have a winning combination for Orcutt’s next big thing: a local Italian trattoria. Both Spallino and Curti have dreamed of having a restaurant of their own and when the opportunity to take on the Wine Cottage Bistro presented itself….they jumped!”

“Curti, a native Calabrian, moved to California from Italy a little over ten years ago and made a name for himself working at his family’s restaurant in Santa Ynez during that time. His culinary career began as a young teenager where he worked in a family bakery and later he served in the Italian Army as a Chef for troops. Perhaps his greatest teachers were his Nonna and Mamma where he learned the heart of Italian cooking.”

Chef Alfonso Curti takes a break from his busy kitchen to join us.

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Show 219, April 15, 2017: Caleb Granski, Catering & Events Manager, Moxie Café, Santa Maria, CA

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Moxie Cafe“Eat well…be well” is the motto of the unusual, 3-meal-a-day Moxie Café located well off the beaten path is a light industrial area of Santa Maria. Creator Jay Hardy, the founder of Hardy Diagnostics, has realized his dream of having healthy food that was also delicious.

“Since you care about your health, at the Moxie Cafe you can depend on us to offer a selection of tasty, fresh, and healthy choices. We pledge to never tempt you with excessive fat or sugar laden meals. In fact, you will not find a fryer or a soda fountain at the Moxie! We believe that healthy food should taste good. Come in and let us prove it to you!”

“Our goal was to create a selection of fresh, wholesome foods you could eat day-after-day, feel satisfied afterward (not bloated and sluggish), and not gain weight. We wanted to source our food locally and go organic whenever possible. We wanted to completely ban trans-fats, fried foods, and MSG from the premises. We wanted to create a place where our guests would not be tempted to eat things that are not good for them and their children.” Jay Hardy, Founder, Moxie Cafe

There is even an unexpected artisan gelato bar. The gelato is supplied by Leo Leo Gelato (Master Gelatiers) in Paso Robles.

Moxie’s Catering & Events Manager, Caleb Granski, joins us to explain all.

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Show 219, April 15, 2017: Jon Karlo Macias, Café & Tasting Room Manager, Ca’ Del Grevino Estate, Santa Maria, CA

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Jon Karlo MaciasCa’ Del Grevino is located in the Santa Maria Valley appellation of Santa Barbara County. The vineyard is located just 10 miles from the Pacific Coast and benefits greatly from cool, maritime influences. The vineyard is planted methodically and meticulously, with special attention paid to varietals best suited to the estate’s terroir. Taking into account the soils, the meso- and micro-climates, the coastal influences and the orientation of the sun upon the hillsides, you can find here Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Grenache, Dolcetto, Riesling and Syrah.

“Our vineyard produces some of the finest wines in California. The region’s cool climate, geology and topography provide the opportunity to create uncompromised, premium wines. Ca’ Del Grevino, meaning “House of Grewal Family Wines”, produces fine wines steeped in Italian tradition with a distinctive California style.”

“Ca’ Del Grevino is the signature wine brand of our estate representing regality, tradition and opulence. Nestled in California’s prestigious Central Coast is the lovely Santa Maria Valley. The unique micro-climate of the valley produces cool mornings and long warm afternoons. Together with us the best quality fruit produced and attention to detail produces our award -winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, White Riesling and Syrah wines.”

Ca’ Del Grevino wines are available to their Wine Club members and at their distinctive area Tasting Rooms. Each Tasting Room has a bit of a different character. The Orcutt Tasting Room is also a Café. The Los Olivos Tasting Room skillfully pairs their wines with cheese, charcuterie or chocolate plates. The Tasting Room in Santa Barbara is in the vibrant “Funk Zone” at the Santa Barbara Wine Collective. An attraction there is Helena’s Bakery with a menu of custom-baked sweet and savory goods.

 

Jon Karlo Macias, Café & Tasting Room Manager, walks us through the lush vineyard estate.

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Show 182, July 30, 2016: Clarissa Nagy, Winemaker – Riverbench Vineyard & Winery, Santa Maria & Proprietress/Winemaker of c nagy

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Clarissa NagySince 2012 Clarissa Nagy has been the Winemaker at Santa Maria’s Riverbench Vineyard & Winery. Riverbench Vineyard was established in 1973 when its first Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes were planted on the property.

Clarissa also has her own label, c nagy, with a rustic tasting room in Orcutt. Her first release was in 2005. Clarissa uncorks it for us.

Situated on the southeastern edge of the Santa Maria Valley, the northernmost AVA in Santa Barbara County, the Riverbench vineyard currently consists of 107 acres of Pinot Noir and 77 acres of Chardonnay. In 2008, Riverbench committed themselves to a premium sparkling wine program.

Riverbench continues to work hard making wines that are inspired by Champagne in France. In 2015, they added the third great grape varietal famous in that area, Pinot Meunier, to the Riverbench vineyard. They anticipate incorporating these grapes into their sparkling wine blends beginning in 2017.

Clarissa fell in love with the aromas of Pinot Noir when she started working with wine in 1995. She received a Bachelor of Science in Food Science from California Polytechnic State University, and began her career as a Lab Technician at Edna Valley Vineyards. From there she moved through the roles of Research Assistant Winemaker at Byron Winery, Assistant Winemaker and Vineyard Supervisor at Longoria Winery, and winemaker for Bonaccorsi Wine Company since 2006.

Clarissa is known for her elegant and sophisticated winemaking style, and for her appreciation for fruit that comes from the Santa Maria Valley. She continues to refine Riverbench wines each vintage, and adds her own unique twists to their portfolio.

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