epicureasia.com 23» EAT
Start off your day with breakfast
at Moonstone Beach Bar and
Grill. This quaint little restaurant
is about 20 minutes north of Atascadero
and sits right on the ocean. The drive is
spellbinding, with rolling green hills and
epic views of the Pacific Ocean. We always
get the Hangtown Omelette (fried oysters
and eggs) paired with, I reckon, the best
bloody Mary in the central coast. http://www.
moonstonebeach.com
Not to be missed is the highly addictive
Brown Butter Cookies. The headquarters
are located about 20 minutes south of
Atascadero in the sleepy little surfer town
of Cayucos. These cookies are so simple
and incredible. At any given time, a buzz
of people comes in to get freshly baked
batches of cookies, fresh milk from a local
dairy and coffee. It doesn’t sound like much
but these cookies will change your life.
I love grabbing a bag of six cookies, cup
of coffee and walking down to the beach,
which is about a five-minute walk from the
shop. brownbuttercookies.com
» DRINK
Daou Vineyard is nothing short
of breathtaking. Positioned at
the crest of a rolling hill, themulti-million-dollar winery boasts some
of the most extraordinary wines in
California. Many of the local wines rival
the best of Napa and Daou is a prime
example. Daou leaves no stone unturned
and no detail is too small. The tasting
room and staff are nothing short of
spectacular. daouvineyards.com
» STAY
Built in 1958 by Alex Madonna
and his wife Phyllis, Madonna
Inn is a stunning landmark
with over 100 themed rooms and an
eccentric dining area. The rooms range
in eccentricity from pattern on pattern
to the cave man room with a full scale
waterfall. madonnainn.com
» DO
At Margarita Adventures, you
can zip line through acres and
acres of rolling oaks flying
high above the grape vineyards. We love
doing this- it’s insane fun and allows you
to experience the beauty of the central
coast in its full glory. Once you have
ziplined through the vineyards, you can
walk across the street to the tasting
room and try some of the fantastic
local wines and scrumptious pairings.
margarita-adventures.comDouglas Little, founder of
Heretic Parfum
24 HOURS IN
ATASCADERO,
CALIFORNIA
With a striking dining room accented by
glinting jade features, Moon Lok Chinese
Restaurant takes a leaf from culinary archives
to shine a spotlight on traditional Chinese
cuisine. Operated by the same group that
manages Pak Lok Chiu Chow Restaurant,
Moon Lok incorporates various regional
influences into its diverse menu. Executive
chef Hui Mei Tak whips up Deep-fried
Bombay Duck Fish with Spiced Salt (from
HK$78), Steamed Whole Crab with Pork Patty
(HK$498), and a signature Peking duck.
There are also Sichuan dishes that will
please those who like a hint of heat. Think
Stir-fried Spicy Beef with Dried Orange Peel
(from HK$108), an American tenderloin beef
stir-fried with Sichuan peppercorns and
10-year-old dried orange peel. Jade-coloured
walls and floral artworks evoke the feel of a
tranquil Chinese garden as guests unwind
over a delectable meal. 2-4, 1/F, Xiqu Centre,
88 Austin Road West, West Kowloon, Hong
Kong, Tel: +852 3622 1449Everything Chinese