Sooooo much going on right now, and I only manage to hear half of it. Villa Creek in Paso Robles is becoming ON BAR. Next Door Bistro in Paso have completed their expansion and remodel and the tiny place next to the cheese shop is gone and the NEW place is around the corner on Riverside by Cool Hand Luke’s. Cafe Fiero in SLO closed. Thomas Hill Organics in SLO closed. The Paso Robles location is still going strong. Sky View Hotel in Los Alamos is rumored to be VERY close to operational. NITECAP–Granada Hotel’s new bar opposite their recently opened NOURISH health food resty–is also rumored to be in the finishing stages. Central Coast Meat Market is fully open in Pismo Beach. Moose Deli in Pismo closed. A new deli is opening at the end of the building Sans Liege tasting room is right there on the main drag in Pismo directly across from Giuseppe’s.

Speaking of which, February is almost here and the pillar of Pismo which is GIUSEPPE’S is really REALLY CLOSE to opening. Puffer’s of Pismo continues to rock & roll with his new double-expansion and the wine/tapas place in the old Coldwell Banker building across the street shows a few signs of construction. Up the road, finishing touches are going into WILLOW NIPOMO’s new Pismo Beach location in the old Marie Callender spot. Been sitting on a couple items in the bad news department for a few weeks, but now enough people know them to avoid a muckraking charge… Chef Dahan has stepped back into a ‘consulting chef’ position at BLUE MOON OVER AVILA in Avila Beach and is not longer manning the pass. Changes in food quality and atmosphere have been noticed. COMFORT MARKET in the village of Arroyo Grande is engaging in a daring and desperate fund-raising attempt to stay afloat. Settle back and get some popcorn, folks.