Templeton Farmers Market
In the tasting room, people are always asking us where they can find lunch in west Paso Robles. Fine dining is limited to lunch at McPhee’s in Templeton to the south of us, and a few tables available for luncheon in Deborah’s Room at Justin Winery. But Cider Creek Apple Farm on Highway 46, just before the Vineyard Drive intersection, also prepares picnic trays with salami, olives, cheese, bread and pepperoncinis. If you arrive on a Friday, you can order lunch delivery from Out of the Box, to put in your hotel fridge for Saturday sustenance. But if you are planning to spend the day wine tasting on Saturday, there is simply no finer way to start the day than by strolling through the farmer’s market. 
I enjoy going to the Templeton Farmers Market every other Saturday morning. I fill my red canvas bag to overflowing with stuff I hadn’t planned to buy, while filling "orders" from my significanto, who invariably wants sweet onions, asparagus, and artichokes.
In today’s haul you will see a seed-strewn flatbread from a local bakery, sold with small, ready-to-serve tubs of orange hummus, and garnished with fresh herbs. In addition to the fresh produce shown here, there are wraps, sandwiches, small calzones, jerkies, burritos, and fresh squeezed juices.
Of course, since I am shopping for the kitchen, my selections today were bacon avocados, asparagus, red and yellow beets, basil, tomatoes, strawberries, sugar pod peas, and garlic.
Every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Templeton Community Park is the host for the Farmers Market. Come by and enjoy the selection of locally grown fruits, vegetables, organic produce, dried nuts and herbs, and homemade crafts and gifts. For more information call (805) 239-6535.
We had some nice food at Bistro Laurent in Paso...
Posted by: wineguy | May 17, 2006 at 04:46 PM
Yes, I love the food at Laurent's. The smoked salmon salad is great with whites and pinot, and is my favorite appetizer or lunch. Also, Matthew's at the Airport--I believe the BBC interviewed Matthew this week as part of an episode on California farm-raised caviar vs. wild caviar. And Berry Hill Bistro in downtown Paso. . . I think I feel another post on downtown establishments coming on, "Ladies who Lunch." ;)
Posted by: Mary Baker | May 19, 2006 at 11:19 AM
Thank you to everyone who contacted Out of the Box regarding their picnic lunches! They comp'd my tasting room assistant a box lunch and we are now great fans. My favorite is the 'Winemaker's Panini,' ham, Brie, pepperoncinis and horseradish mayo. Maybe not the best choice to go with wine, but it's a great mid-afternoon lunch with ice tea or a frosty beer.
Posted by: Mary Baker | June 11, 2006 at 10:41 AM
Hello, I am from Templeton MA and was recently in your area and am trying to get some dialog and commerce established between our communities. I find it interesting that rt 101 also goes thru Templeton MA. At any rate I am looking for distributers of Templeton wine so that our local store can carry and promote a selection of Templeton wines
Bob
Posted by: Bob Mitchell | February 06, 2007 at 11:05 AM