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After my pumpkin muffins (see this pumpkin muffin recipe) were a hit at my husband's work, I decided to try a bite-sized pumpkin pie recipe so that I can send another finger-food treat while they're hard at work. I felt that the pumpkin muffins were a hit, partly because it was easy to eat with your hands. So, I think these bite-sized pumpkin pies will be great for the workplace too.
(picture of my bite-sized pumpkin pies)

My kids got to be my first tasters and enjoyed these bite-sized "baby" pumpkin pies! Here are the recipes below.

I separated the recipes into two: a crust recipe and then the filling recipe.

Crust Recipe

If you plan on buying pre-made pie crust from the store, you can skip this part and scroll down to the Pumpkin Pie Filling Recipe.

I created my pumpkin pie crust from scratch using this recipe that I found online: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/all-butter-pie-crust-1229264 but in case that website is ever down, here is the recipe for the crust: 

• 1 1/4 cups of all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 10 tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 2 - 5 tablespoons of water (depending on how many it takes to form the right texture)

Steps:

1. Unlike the recipe link, I don't have a food processor so I just mixed the flour with the salt with a whisk in a bowl. 
2. Then, I cut the unsalted butter into half inch pieces and incorporated the butter into the flour mix with a fork. 
3. After the butter has been incorporated well, I added a few tablespoons of water until it was just moist enough to hold the dough together. When I did this, it took 4 tablespoons of water for me that day. You may need less than that. I divided the dough in half and formed discs for both halves. I put 1 in the fridge to save for later and only used the other half because that was all I needed to fill 24 muffin cups. I have two muffin pans that have 12 muffin cups in each pan.
   

Pumpkin Pie Filling Recipe

(forming the crust before the filling)

Before starting the filling, I had to do the most time-consuming part: shape each little pumpkin pie crusts for each muffin cup. I used a rolling pin to roll the dough out and used the top of a plastic kid's cup (about 2.5 inches in diameter) to cut out small circles. The dough was as thin as I could get it without breaking as I find that if it's too thick, the filling and crust ratio will be unbalanced for a nice pumpkin pie bite. After my crusts have been formed and are all inside of both of my muffin pans, I put them in the fridge to chill. Now, I can start putting the filling ingredients together.

See filling recipe list below:

• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1.5 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of pumpkin puree
• 3/4 cups of evaporated milk
• 1 egg

Yesterday, I baked pumpkin muffins using a pumpkin that I bought last month as a porch decoration for Halloween month. My pumpkin was a medium size and from experience, I knew that when I roasted it, it was going to yield several desserts for us as a family of four. [Skip this story and jump straight to the Pumpkin Muffin Ingredients and Recipe Steps.]

Cutting, Roasting, Dividing, and Freezing the Cooked Pumpkin

Immediately after I roasted (1 hour) and cooled this medium sized pumpkin, I removed the skin of the pumpkin and then broke the pumpkin flesh in many pieces. I only needed to puree about 2 cups of it at the time and froze the rest in freezer bags. I divided them into 4 different bags that had about 2 cups of pumpkin each so that I could easily just pull 1 out for a dessert recipe when I needed to make a pumpkin dessert.

Thus far, I've baked a pumpkin pie and about 14 pumpkin muffins from this roasted pumpkin and I still have over half of the pumpkin left frozen in the freezer! 

It did feel like a lot of work to remove the insides of the pumpkin, roast, peel the skin, break them into pieces and puree it when I can just go buy a can of pureed pumpkin from the grocery store for about $3 for a 15 oz can. However, it just feels so rewarding to bake Thanksgiving or fall desserts from scratch. It is an art that takes hours of love and care. Since it has been getting colder now, using the oven to make these desserts warms up the house with a comfort feeling that spreads the wonderful cinnamon smell throughout our home.

My desserts are not perfectly shaped like the ones at the stores but I feel like my non-cookie cutter desserts easily convey and show that they are original, and not store-bought.

My husband brought these to his work to share and they were gone within minutes.

Pumpkin Muffins Ingredients

The recipe that I used was from: https://joyfoodsunshine.com/pumpkin-muffins/ but in case that website is ever down, here are the ingredients that I used below. I want to note that instead of using sea salt, I just used regular salt.

• 2 cups of pumpkin puree (thawed mine from frozen roasted pumpkin pieces and then squeezed the excess liquid from them before I pureed it all in the blender)
• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter (melted)
• 3/4 cup of dark brown sugar
• 3/4 cup of granulated white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups of all purpose flour (I used unbleached)
• 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice
• 1.5. teaspoon of cinnamon powder
• 2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt

Pumpkin Muffin Recipe Steps

1. Preheat the oven to bake at 375 degrees F.
2. First, I mixed the first 2 ingredients (pumpkin puree and melted butter) in one bowl and then mixed the last 5 ingredients (all purpose flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon powder, baking power, and salt) in another bowl because you'll need to separate the wet and dry at the beginning. 
3. After the first 2 ingredients have been mixed with a whisk, I added the dark brown and white sugar to this "wet" bowl. I mixed until I was sure there were no more sugar lumps. Then, after that, I mixed the eggs and vanilla extract to this "wet" bowl. 
4. After I've mixed the ingredients in the "wet" bowl throughly, I poured the contents from the "dry" bowl into the "wet" bowl and whisked gently until it's all combined. 
5. By the time, I've finished mixing, my oven was at 375 degrees F. I took my muffin pans out and placed muffin paper cups into them. I used a small ladle to scoop my mix to each paper cup. I tried to level the tops and then placed the muffin baking pans in the middle rack of the oven and baked for 21 minutes. Make sure there is a space between the pans on the rack.
6. When the timer went off after 21 minutes, I took the pans out of the oven and let the muffins cool in the pan for about 6 minutes. Then, I gently removed each muffin from the pan and start eating one! Yum! I felt like I may over baked them by a hair in my oven so next time, I will decrease the time to just 19 minutes. That's just a personal preference as they were at hit for my husband's work!

While I was in college at San Diego State University (SDSU), I worked at a seafood buffet and worked on Thanksgiving Day. [You can skip my story and just scroll down or jump straight to the list of 23 restaurants in San Luis Obispo County that will be open on Thanksgiving Day and serving a turkey dinner.] It was by choice as I got better tips and only had to work for 5 hours and could still go home and spend time with my parents and brother. I'm a native San Diegan but live here in San Luis Obispo County now. I worked at that buffet named Todai San Diego (now closed) for 3 years and worked on many holidays. I think back at those years there fondly as this job had helped me pay my college tuition and food.

There was one particular guest who I still remember and think about as Thanksgiving Day gets nearer every year. She came in alone and was the only one who did on that Thanksgiving Day at our restaurant. She was all smiles when she stepped up to the podium to tell the hostess, who I stood nearby, the number of people in her party. The guest lifted one pointer finger and said, "Just one."

Though I may have felt a little sorry for her, I felt admiration more than anything for her courage and independence as she was not afraid to dine alone on a holiday that many expects one to be with others. She deserved a wonderful dinner and instead of ordering take out somewhere, she came in and enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast and seafood. She was kind and seemed really smart. Although I didn't pry, she looked like she was in town for business or was traveling for personal reasons.

So, I dedicate this post to this memory and to all of you who needs to have a warm Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day cooked by an establishment because life can get too busy to be able to cook at home for yourself and/or for others. Enjoy a feast without the mess and why not, the many wonderful restaurants around here are here to serve you.

List of Restaurants That Will Be Open on Thanksgiving Day (Thurs., Nov 24, 2022) Serving a Turkey Dinner that I Sorted by Alphabetical Order:

• 1865 Craft House will be serving a buffet with first seating 1PM and last seating at 7:30. Price: $49.95 adults/kids 24.95 and includes soft drinks. 1865 Craft House address: 1865 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Read my review about 1865 Craft House when I dined there at a past visit
• Apple Farm Restaurant & Inn will be serving a prix-fixed menu from 12PM - 4PM for $48 per person. Apple Farm Restaurant & Inn address: 2015 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Black Cat Bistro will be offering a Thanksgiving Menu in addition to their regular menu between 4PM - 9PM. The Thanksgiving Menu prices were not available when I visited their website. Address: 1602 Main St., Cambria, CA 93428
• Brasserie at Hotel Cerro will be serving a Thanksgiving dinner from 11:30AM - 6:15PM for $85 per person. Reservations are required. Brasserie address: 1119 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Cafe Roma will be serving a Thanksgiving menu from 1PM - 8PM with the Organic Roasted Turkey entree priced at $45.95 and the Little Pilgrims menu for 12 years old and under priced at $21.95. Cafe Roma address: 1020 Railroad Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Cambria Pines Lodge will be serving an all-you-can-eat buffet with Thanksgiving favorites from 12:30PM - 7:30PM for $65 for adults and $35 for Children who are 12 years old and under. Read about my buffet experience here on Mother's Day on the Cambria page. They also own a large gift shop and nursery. See my instagram video reel of my visit through Cambria Pines Lodge's beautiful gift shop. Cambria Pines Lodge address: 2905 Burton Dr., Cambria, CA 93428
• Cello Ristorante & Bar at Allegretto Vineyard Resort by Ayres will be serving a Thanksgiving menu for $92 per adult and $42 per child. They did not state on their website what time this menu will exactly start. Cello Ristorante & Bar address: 2700 Buena Vista Dr., Paso Robles, CA 93446 - I've only done a wine tasting here and haven't dined here yet but you can see my image posted on Pinterest from my visit at Allegretto Vineyard Resort by Ayres.
• The Gardens at Avila Restaurant at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa will be serving a Thanksgiving Course Menu from 4PM - 8:30PM for $75 per person; children 10 years old and under can eat half off. Gardens of Avila Restaurant address: 1215 Avila Beach Drive, California, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 - Read my review about The Gardens at Avila Restaurant when we dined there for Valentine's Day or you can view this instagram post that's a 1 minute video reel to see our mineral springs hot tub experience and the views of the sycamore trees at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa.
  
• Granada Hotel & Bistro will be serving a pre fixe dinner from 5PM - 9PM for $70 per person. Granada Hotel & Bistro address: 1130 Morro St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Lido Restaurant & Lounge at Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa will be serving a specially prepared 4-course Prix Fixe Menu from 11AM - 8PM for $90 per person. Lido Restaurant & Lounge at Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa Address: 2727 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
• Luna Red will be serving a prix fixed menu from 12PM - 9PM for $58 and a kid's turkey plate for ages 12 years old and under is $25. Luna Red address: 1023 Chorro Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Madonna Inn will be serving a Thanksgiving buffet from 12PM - 10PM for $44.95 per adult and $28.95 per child. Madonna Inn address: 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 - Read about my multiple visits at Madonna Inn
• Marisol at Cliffs Hotel and Spa will be serving a Thanksgiving 3 course menu from 12PM - 6PM for $62 per person. Marisol at Cliffs Hotels and Spa address: 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 - See my instagram picture post of the entree that I ordered at Marisol during Restaurant Month
• McPhee's Grill will be offering a Thanksgiving turkey menu option from 2PM - 8PM for $40 per entree and $15 for a kid's turkey entree. McPhee's Grill address: 416 S Main St., Templeton, CA 93465
• Mistura is offering a 3 course Thanksgiving menu from 11AM - 9PM for $75 per person and a kid's meal version for ages 10 years old and under for $25. Mistura address: 570 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - See a picture that I took of the paella that I ordered at Mistura on my Pinterest
• Ox & Anchor at Hotel San Luis Obispo will be serving an oven roasted turkey dinner with all the trimmings as part of their menu for $48 starting at 2PM. Piadina address: 877 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Piadina at Hotel San Luis Obispo will be serving an oven roasted turkey dinner with all the trimmings as part of their menu for $48 starting at 2PM. Piadina address: 877 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Robin's Restaurant will be offering a Thanksgiving turkey option from 1PM - 8PM for $34 for a turkey entree and $18 for a kid's turkey entree. Robin's Restaurant address: 4095 Burton Drive, Cambria, CA 93428 - Read a review about my visit at Robin's Restaurant during the pandemic
• SLO Provisions is offering a whole bird dinner package for $255 or half bird dinner package for $140 that you'll need to order at least 8 days ahead, before the actual Thanksgiving Day. You'll need to pick it up on Nov. 23, 2022 (the day before Thanksgiving) from 3:30PM - 5:30PM. You cannot dine here on Thanksgiving Day but a pre-order for the home is an option here. SLO Provisions address: 1255 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar is offering a fixed menu from 1:30PM - 6:30PM for $65 per guest. The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar address: 835 13th Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446
• The Sow's Ear will be offering a Thanksgiving turkey option from 5PM - 9PM. Their price is not listed on their menu on their website. The Sow's Ear address: 2248 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
• The Steakhouse at Paso Robles Inn will be serving a Sage Rubbed Turkey Breast entree on Thanksgiving between 12PM - 8PM for $32 a plate. Address: 1103 Spring St., Paso Robles, CA 93446
• Windows on the Water will be offering a prix fixe 3 course menu only from 2PM - 7PM for $75 per adult and $29 per child who are 12 years old and under. Reservations with credit card is required. Windows on the Water address: 699 Embarcadero, Ste. 7, Morro Bay, CA 93442

Public Thanksgiving Dinner

• 39th Annual Pismo Beach Police Officer's Association Thanksgiving Dinner from 1PM - 6PM at Veteran's Hall in Pismo Beach on the day before Thanksgiving Day (Wed., November 23, 2022). Please do not call the Police Department to place orders. For more information about the dinner or to make a donation call: Anita Channel or Rachel Carson at 805-773-2208. Address: 780 Bello St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449

Notes:
This is a growing list!

I highly encourage you to make a reservation as soon as you've decided on a particular restaurant as I've seen reservations get full a week in advance before the actual holiday!

If there is no kid's price listed above for a particular place, it is because the restaurant did not note a kid's price or version on their website when I was doing searches online for Thanksgiving dinner offerings at the time; and maybe charging one price for any guest, regardless of age.

As more restaurants announce that they'll be open on Thanksgiving Day and serving Thanksgiving meals, I'll add it to this list.

Gobble, gobble!

See a list of Thanksgiving Day Camps for kids in San Luis Obispo County while school is out.

See see my wine tasting room rank list for San Luis Obispo County with my favorites at the top of the list. 

Fall baking recipes:

View my gluten-free vegan pumpkin pie recipe. 

View my pumpkin muffin recipe (non-vegan).

View my non-vegan mini pumpkin pie recipe.

Thanksgiving Day Accessories:

Every year, the City of Pismo Beach plans an annual Pismo Beach Clam Festival in October by the Pismo Beach Pier.

It's a weekend celebration with a clam tasting competition, free kid's zone and activities for the kids (image of sea creatures present for the kids to touch is below), beer garden and a lot of delicious food for sale. To top it off, they have different bands playing throughout the festival for the weekend.

Thus far, there has never been an entry fee to enter the festival as the City of Pismo Beach takes pride in planning this for the city. It attracts a lot of locals around the San Luis Obispo County and visitors from beyond the county as well. It's located in the Pismo Beach Promenade by the famous Pismo Beach Pier and the parking lot right by the pier gets closed off to allow room for pedestrians to walk to the event freely and safely.

The kids really enjoyed the 7 different bounce houses that were there when we went today for the Pismo Beach Clam Festival.

I'm not sure if they always have this many bounce houses every year for this festival but I counted this time. My kids were so happy and tried to bounced in as many bounce houses as they could. There was one particular bounce house that always had a line so they only bounced in 6 of the 7 bounce houses there. This is free for the kids to enjoy during the Clam Festival. Parents just had to sign their kids up for it with a wristband at the table at the Pismo Beach Clam Festival.

The kids also got to touch several sea creatures at tables near the playground at the Pismo Beach Clam Festival. They were really curious about them and the personnel at the tables were very patient and kind with teaching my kids about every sea creature there.
  
From the Pismo Beach Clam Festival, you can easily walk to the Pismo Beach Pier to take in the beautiful panoramic view of the ocean. See this video reel of me walking on the Pismo Beach Pier on a beautiful clear day on Instagram.

Suggested Things To Do While In Pismo Beach

• Walk to Old West Cinnamon Rolls

  There is a cinnamon roll place in Pismo Beach named Old West Cinnamon Rolls where you can get their famously large and rectangular cinnamons rolls. It's only a block away from the Pismo Beach Clam Festival.
  
  I seriously think one cinnamon roll is enough for 2 people to share from here. I've gotten their standard cinnamon roll and one with candied pecans on the top. They have several options to pick from. Address of Old West Cinnamon Rolls: 861 Dolliver St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449

• Visit a High End Restaurant in Pismo Beach for a Romantic Night

  We have dined at a handful of restaurants in Pismo Beach that really impressed us. See our suggested restaurants to visit in Pismo Beach on this date night blog page.

Address to the Pismo Beach Promenade (where the Pismo Beach is usually held): 101 Stimson Ave, Pismo Beach, CA 93449

See a list of upcoming free things to do in Pismo Beach and throughout San Luis Obispo County.

Pismo Beach Souvenirs:


See over a dozen Pismo Beach t-shirts that you can buy online.

For this blog post, I'm dedicating this one as my rank page for wineries that I've visited in San Luis Obispo County (SLO) County as a Central Coast California local. I'm ranking my very top favorites to the top of the list and my least favorites towards the bottom. The order of this may change as I continue to explore more wineries. 

1. Tolosa Winery

   Tolosa Winery is the very first winery we visited in San Luis Obispo County because of the high reviews. We were wowed by it from the very beginning and we like to take our visitors here to wine taste as we know they'll be impressed from the drive through their gate, all the way through the wine tasting experience. We really enjoy the ambiance, excellent guest services and views of the vineyards here at Tolosa. They have an indoor tasting room and a nice large outdoor patio area. If you're a wine club member, you have the option to taste in their member-dedicated lounge that is open only on the weekends. Tolosa is open every day except for 2 main holidays. Read more details and see pictures about my multiple visits here at Tolosa Winery on this blog post. Tolosa Winery Address: 4910 Edna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

2. Vina Robles Vineyards & Winery

   Vina Robles Vineyards & Winery is one of the first tasting rooms that we visited in Paso Robles. The place feels so luxurious and spacious in the tasting room. There is also patio seating as well in their courtyard space. We've visited their bistro for lunch a few times and although the menu is small, the food was always amazing. Not all wineries offer lunch menu options so it was a very wonderful thing for us that they do as we do live 45 minutes away and more likely than not, be ready to eat after the wait time to order and for the food to arrive. It is highly recommended to make a reservation to enjoy lunch at the bistro. They also have a very nice attached amphitheater that many famous bands have performed! We were wine club members before the pandemic and had taken advantage of this and were able to to arrive an hour earlier than the other concert-goers as a perk for being a wine club member. This made it less stressful to get there and we were still able to enjoy their wines earlier on. Read more details and see more pictures about my visits at Vina Robles on this blog post. Vina Robles Vineyards & Winery Address: 3700 Mill Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446

3. Tooth & Nail Wine Company

   Tooth & Nail Wine Company in Paso Robles is a castle! The place is beautiful. It is the only winery in Paso Robles that is a castle. It also has a moat that you'll pass by as you head towards the entrance. If you have a wheelchair or stroller, you can enter on the left side of the building instead because the center entrance does not have a ramp. While we were there, only adults could sit in their pretty tasting area inside. Patrons with pets or children could only sit in the patio area in the front. They have a food menu that is available every day so you can enjoy a meal while having a tasting here. They host large special events throughout the year here, which makes them stand out from many wineries in the area. See all of the pictures that I took of Tooth & Nail Wine Company's castle winery. Tooth and Nail Winery Address: 3090 Anderson Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446

4. Sextant Winery in Edna Valley

   There are two Sextant Winery tasting rooms in San Luis Obispo County. The one that we've visited is the Sextant Winery in Edna Valley. The other one is in Paso Robles, which we have not visited yet. They also have a partner winery at the tasting room called Paris Valley Road Estate Winery that serves their wine, which you can read about on #6 below. We particularly like this Sextant Winery tasting room in Edna Valley because they also have gourmet deli that is open every day for lunch. There is no other winery that has a regular food menu like this in all of Edna Valley, at least not yet. They are the only one. Not only that, they have a rustic theme about their decor which represents Old Edna. It's a nice local spot and visitor's spot as well. We always enjoy having a tasting with a salad or sandwich there. There are only a couple of indoor seating tables but there are several options for outdoor seating. They sell seasonal goods and gifts inside that I find very tasteful! Sextant Winery Edna Valley Address: 1653 Maxwellton St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

5. Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards

   
   

   Located near Avila Beach, Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards is an isolated vineyard with peacocks! You can see many of these beautiful peacocks roaming around as you're just sitting around, wine tasting there. They make a unique crow that's quite loud and entertaining. Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards also grow apples so you can see all of the apple trees around there as well. All of the seating is outside with many patio seating and umbrellas to pick from. Therefore, watch for the weather before coming here so that you may enjoy the outdoor tasting experience here. In the past, we have brought a picnic with us while doing wine tastings there with friends and there was no minimum bottle purchase requirement. Just make sure to clean after yourselves when you're done. The peacocks really made wine tasting here extra special. Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards Address: 1947 See Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

6. Paris Valley Road Estate Winery

   Located in Paso Robles, Paris Valley Road Estate Winery is immaculate! Their tasting room inside has a spacious and a very new luxurious design. They have a paved parking lot and two large buildings that you can see right off the CA-46. There is a lot of indoor space and outdoor space. They partner up with Sextant and since we're Sextant wine club members, we were able to taste here at Paris Valley Road Estate Winery for free. It's a great perk as not very many wine clubs have multiple affiliations like this and we were happy to take advantage of it. All of their wines were really wonderful and if we weren't so stocked from our wine club commitments, we would have bought a bottle during our first tasting there. There is definitely a romantic vibe about this place. Paris Valley Road Estate Winery Address: 5625 East Highway 46, Paso Robles, CA 93446

7. Eberle Winery

   

   Eberle Winery definitely is unique from long list of wineries in Paso Robles because they have an underground cave and offers cave tours everyday to visitors! They are very pet-friendly and I've seen many pets accompany their owners here on the deck. There is a beautiful view on the deck with chairs that you can sit on while you enjoy your tasting. There is a lot of room to road around. On a very busy day, parking can get really difficult! Their cave tours are definitely worth coming for and they also offer veteran discounts year-round on bottle purchases! You can reserve a nice spot or area in the cave for a special occasion. Eberle Winery Address: 3810 CA-46, Paso Robles, CA 93446

8. Edna Valley Winery

   Edna Valley Winery located in Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo has one of the best views of the vineyards and valley! There's a nice green outdoor area for you to enjoy your wine tastings. However, if you want to sit and taste indoors in their tasting room, you'll have to be a wine club member. You're welcome to stand and wine taste inside or bring it outside and sit but in order to sit down in a chair inside of their beautiful tasting room, you have to be a member. We were thrown off by that because there is not a separate space from the main indoor area with all of the chairs. They're just scattered all around. While tasting here, standing up next to my spouse, I couldn't help but think that Tolosa (another winery that I ranked as #1 at the top) does this so much better. They had a standing tasting room for non-members but it had no chairs in sight and then a large outdoor patio space for members and non-members to sit at with attentive service. There was no perplexing confusion. Tolosa Winery got this right so much better and their wines tastes better in my opinion, according to my palate preference. However, Edna Valley Winery views are so incredible but I have to put it up among my top 10 in this ranking. On a nice day, when outdoor wine tasting makes sense, Edna Valley Winery is a great choice. Edna Valley Winery Address: 2585 Biddle Ranch Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

9. JUSTIN Downtown Tasting Room

   I really didn't want to include JUSTIN among my top 10 list here because of their sexual harassment allegations but a couple of their wines are famous and award-winning and I like their wines. This Downtown tasting room is also very posh and beautiful. It is definitely made for Hollywood and impressionable dates or parties. This tasting room is also centrally located in Downtown Paso Robles and walking distance to many wonderful restaurants. If it doesn't bother you that they've been reported of many management's sexual harassments towards their employees and you have always wanted to visit this award winning place, then be assured that their wines are as great as their wine-making reputation. JUSTIN Downtown Tasting Room Address: 811 12th St., Paso Robles, CA 93445

10. (Reviews for #10 - #35 are coming! Please bear with me as I slowly transition my thoughts from my heroku database and adding more insights to here. Thanks!)

Background on Our Wine Tasting Experiences

After moving to San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, my husband and I started learning more about wine tasting as our county has many wineries and tasting rooms throughout the Central Coast. As we were exploring (and still are) our area, wine tasting is usually one of the top suggested things to do in printed travel guides and websites about SLO for the 21 years old and older visitors.

At first, we tried the most popular one in Edna Valley named Tolosa Winery and then started going to a few tasting rooms in Paso Robles (northern part of SLO County) like Justin's Tasting Room. We've discovered that trying to catch the distinct tastes and notes of each different wine was really fun so we joined a couple of tasting rooms and continued to go adventuring and discovering tasting rooms at other wineries in our leisure time.

Even after living in SLO County for over 3 years, we've only been able to hit 30 different wineries/tasting rooms. You can find over 200 tasting rooms in just Paso Robles area and 2 dozen tasting rooms in the Edna Valley region (San Luis Obispo City proper). For us to even tackle a hundred will probably take us a decade as a local at our pace. 

However, I've been taking notes and pictures when we'd visit tasting rooms and wineries with a database that I created on heroku so that I can remember each one. However, my database is going to be too expensive for me to upkeep so I'm transitioning all of that content from there to here, slowly.

In the past, I've even written a few dedicated blog posts on certain wineries that I thought were stand-outs on this blog though. You can read them here under the Wineries category.