As the owner of a luxury inn where we have discerning guests looking for a culinary treat, I cannot…read morebegin to express how excited my husband Tony and I are about having Chef Matthew Meyer, owner of Matteo's Gourmet as a new chef in the area. Hailing from great work in Las Vegas, I liken Matt's style and many beautifully designed courses to Jenson of Cass House ( who we miss very much out in Cayucos!) Matthew exudes passion in his presentation and creativity in what he delivers. We look forward to offering intimate dinners here at The Casitas Estate with Matt. We recently enjoyed a 10 course dinner paired with Chamisal Vineyards reserves and it was a culinary delight! Congratulations to all of us on Matt's move here to the central coast --we are excited to share his talents with our lodging and event driven guests!

Chef Matt is not to be missed! WRITE THAT DOWN, PICK UP YOUR PHONE AND BOOK HIM. Now…read more I am a professional wedding planner and have had the pleasure of tasting dishes from some of the best chefs/caterers/restaurants in SLO county. However, I actually started my career in restaurant and bar consultations in Los Angeles. Having originally come from a place where the restaurant industry is tough and teeming with amazing talent, at times it has been a little rough on my ever-hungry stomach to find overhyped food, that totally underwhelmed. I am so very glad to share that Chef Matt of Matteo's Gourmet Food Services is the answer to so many fantasies of amazing dining. Chef Matt's food speaks for itself, embodying his wonderful skills, passion and creativity. I enjoy his approach to dining, creating refined, well-balanced and well-executed menus, however successfully brushing away pretentiousness. I can compare his dishes in a way to French dining, in the layering of flavors, yet the beauty of his ingredients and allowing them to meld together, is so simple and true, that I automatically am taken back to honest flavors of Italy. It is such a nice blend of the refined without the bullsh*t. I can write a piece about the amazing 10-COURSE DINNER he created, but one simply must try his food to truly understand what an asset Chef Matt is to our lovely county. Without a doubt, his dinners would be perfect for intimate parties that would absolutely keep every guest praising for days. Chef Matt IS NOT TO BE MISSED.

We cannot say enough good things about Zest It Up. They did an incredible dinner (apps, plated…read moresalad, amazing buffet, dessert bar and late night pizza!) for our wedding. We still 2 months later hear people saying how incredible the food was. They were incredibly professional, reasonably price and just so wonderful to work with. We really cannot say enough good things about these lovely ladies and would happily recommend them to any couple contemplating them as a wedding caterer. Thanks again ladies. You helped make our wedding absolutely perfect and we hope to get to work with you again some day!!! :) - Hilary and Earl

A year ago we met the owners of Zest it Up to experience a tasting of their foods and discuss our…read moreplans for my daughters wedding in San Lois Obispo scheduled for September 2015. The tasting was so much more than we anticipated as they served us two complete meals and explained specific ingredients and foods that they use. The food was beyond our expectations. We decided on their chicken dish, tri tip, and lasagna. The side dishes we're green salad, green beans, and quinoa. The quality of service, food, and the recipes used were beyond any restaurant in the area. So many of our guests remarked on how much they enjoyed everything from the salad to the little cupcakes and everything in between. Their serving staff was very professional and catered to every guests special needs and requests. They made sure that all the appetizers were served well before the ceremony along with the bar being stocked and opened as guests arrived. My family and I would like to thank them for making Kelsey and Andy's wedding a very memorable experience and we would have NO hesitation to refer them to anyone for any size event or celebration. Your whole team was flawless and awesome.

Wow, Chef Kelly put…read moretogether a fantastic catering menu for our party of 13 at a home we rented in a vineyard in Paso Robles. Started out with a welcome spread for our arrival that was an assortment of sandwiches, dips and a charcuterie board that was fantastic. We had her pre-make our breakfasts so that we could heat them up at our leisure every morning. The dinners she prepared on site were outstanding and she even made special items for the five under age 8 kids with us as well as one lactose free menu. The meals were completely amazing on both evenings and her wizardry at having all the different items ready for us at the same time was nothing less than spectacular. First night was Mediterranean themed and included grilled flank steak with chimichurri, garlic and herb grilled chicken, rice pilaf, Parmesan roasted potatoes, grilled zucchini, fresh salad and delicious lemon bars with toasted marshmallows for desert. Night two was a farm to table themed event with braised beef, citrus herb halibut, corn and garlic butter rice, creamy mushroom risotto, green salad with lemon vinaigrette and creamy chocolate cake. One of the best dining experiences in a very long time and such a pleasure to be around the entire evening. She even made several guests cocktails while they waited for the rest of the party to arrive. Clean up was included and again, could not have been happier with the entire product. Can't wait to book her on our next trip up that way and look forward to another gourmet experience.

We had the absolute pleasure of having Chef Kelly prepare a birthday dinner for us in Paso, and she…read morewas fantastic! Kelly was warm, fun, and incredibly easy to work with from start to finish. She created a beautiful dinner--both the tri-tip and salmon were outstanding, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. She also prepared incredible lunch boxes for the next day, which were just as impressive and so appreciated. Kelly truly made our celebration special, and we can't recommend her highly enough. If you're looking for an in-house chef who brings great food, professionalism, and wonderful energy, she's the one!

Rich's Kitchen is a personal chef service specializing in fine Italian food. Rich comes to your…read morehome and prepares a meal customized to your preferences from appetizers to dessert. Four, five, six course meals, it's all up to you. As an added bonus, he has a classically trained singer who serenades you with Italian love songs as you dine. If you have ever wanted to treat yourself or someone else to an intimate and delicious dinner in the privacy of your own home, give Rich a call. You'll thank me. Check him out at: www.facebook.com/RichskitchenItalianDinners/

Having never experienced a personal chef before, Rich was awesome! We hosted a surprise 40th…read morebirthday dinner (for 7 adults, 2 kids) and wanted to have an intimate dinner without having to take everyone out to a restaurant. He was knowledgeable and flexible when it came to planning the menu and the evening. We were renting a beach house for the week and he brought an extra table and tablecloths to make the dinner a little extra special. The food was flavorful and fresh and just exactly what we were hoping for. I would highly recommend Rich as a personal chef. If we are in the area for another celebration of this type we will definitely call Rich!!

An Exceptional 5-Star Experience "Nonna approved!" ---…read moreGuests "Beyond our imagination." -- Mother of the Bride "Exceeded expectations." -- Bride "Flawless, even in the rain." -- Guests Working with Andrei was nothing short of extraordinary. From the very beginning, his presence brought a sense of ease, confidence, and quiet luxury to every moment. Fresh hand made ingredients created the most savored tastes. Better thab we imagined. Everyone loved the food. Andre seamlessly executed the rehearsal dinner, tended bar and hosted horsdeouvres, drinks and canolli for deserts at our Santa Barbara wedding--each delivered with remarkable precision, intention, and grace. His ability to read the room, adapt in real time, and execute flawlessly (even under unexpected conditions) speaks to a level of professionalism that is truly rare. The unexpectes rain during our wedding reception did not stop his flawless execution. We are grateful to Andrei and I LOVE TO CATER for bringing this Italian flare to our very special wedding day.

We hired Chef Andrei to make pizzas for our backyard party celebrating my father in law's 80th…read morebirthday. The food was amazing - the charcuterie board was delish and the pizzas were a big hit. He made cannolis on site as well. He was on time and communicated really well leading up to the party. Thank you for making our evening such an amazing experience for us and our guests.

I am not exaggerating when I give Michele 5 stars! She is an AMAZING chef, and I so appreciate her…read moreattention to using only the freshest, (mostly) local ingredients. She cooks from her heart, and prepares food that is good for our hearts! Her prices are totally affordable and attached to very high quality meals. She has always provided prompt, professional service. I have not only used her for personal chef/catering jobs, but also managed to talk her into giving a presentation on preparing healthy lunches for the workplace, particularly when you are strapped for time. (This was for the employees at Diablo Canyon Power Plant.) I now refer her to our vacationing guests who stay with us at Dancing Deer Farm in Templeton. Well, actually, I pass on her info to everyone I know who needs some help in the kitchen! Michele is truly marvelous! If you care about the ingredients that go into your food, and the intention behind the meal(s) being prepared, Michele is your go-to-girl. (Particularly good for vegetarian, vegan, and healing foods.)

Michele and I prepped for my company's staff retreat 4 months before the retreat took place…read more Michele is very creative and thoughtful. She arranged a menu that accommodated 8 different diets and revised it a number of times until I felt comfortable and confident about the meals being served at lunch and dinner. Our meals were prepared on time, even with my last minute requests, whether it was adding/removing certain ingredients for strict diets or changing lunch and dinner times when our agenda was adjusted. Michele and her team were also very professional, prompt, and flexible. On top of excellent service, the food was so delicious - everything was local, organic, and fresh, just as promised. I highly recommend hiring Michele for your next event. Ask her about her chocolate avocado mousse. :)

We used Mr. C's Catering for the Central Coast Annual Women's Symposium. They catered lunch and the…read morefood was delicious. The service was professional and Don Curl took care of every detail very well. We would use Mr. C's Catering again. Laura Grace

Beautiful Italian style villa with only 7 suites. All the rooms are so large, luxurious and well…read morebuilt. Some have Romeo and Juliet balconies the rest have sitting balconies all overlooking the vineyard. The property is located in the rolling hills not far from the main road but tucked away enough to feel away from it all. The price point for the rooms is below the value received. There is not a restaurant on site, but they do provide a daily delicious breakfast in an indoor lovely setting that was included. They offer an extensive Sunday brunch for $39.00. Parking is sufficient for the number of suites and an EV charger is located in 2 stalls. The staff is accommodating. Allegretto vineyard and winery is just down the way with a lovely upscale restaurant if you don't want to go downtown which is 11 minutes away with a plethora of choices for dining and shopping. Can't wait to return to this gem. I did have a problem with booking through a third party service, so I would suggest booking directly to ensure your room is available.

My boyfriend and I came to Calipaso Winery for what was supposed to be a relaxing weekend getaway,…read moreand it has honestly been such a disappointing experience. When we checked in and got to our room, the property felt completely empty. We were the only guests we could see, which made the whole place feel eerie and uncomfortable. We walked around the entire property and saw no one. There were only three cars in the parking lot, including ours and the front desk employee's car, yet we were told they were "fully booked" when we asked about moving to a larger room. The room itself was not great. The bed is extremely hard and squeaks with every movement. On top of that, the AC does not work. We told the front desk before leaving for dinner about the AC and were told someone would come fix it. When we returned, the room was even hotter than before & it felt like walking into a sauna. The windows don't open, so the only way to get air in is by opening the doors, which obviously lets bugs in. The "free wine tasting" was also frustrating. At check-in, we were told that we would get complimentary tastings at the tasting room. When we went to the tasting room, we were told they were "too busy" for tastings and that we would need to buy glasses of wine instead. We didn't want to make a scene, so we ended up purchasing a bottle and a glass, which came out to $85 & we never received the tastings we were told were included with our stay. Overall, this has been a terrible experience. Between the uncomfortable room, broken AC, lack of guests/staff on the property, and being denied the complimentary tasting we were promised, I would not recommend staying here. Do not let the 4.6 rating fool you.