Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco along the Central Coast of California, San Luis Obispo (pronounced san lewis obispo, or “SLO” for short), is the geographic and figurative heart of California. Recently named the “Happiest Place in the USA” by National Geographic author Dan Buettner, San Luis Obispo’s warm community and small-town charm also offers the world famous Thursday Evening Farmers Market.
Food is a cause for a weekly celebration in San Luis Obispo, when downtown main strip of Higuera Street is taken over by a community foodie festival and farmers with weekly seasonal harvests.
Interestingly in our vacation of driving through the California coast we stopped on a Thursday in San Luis Obispo. We were highly recommended by the locals to not miss the farmers market in the evening, so we stayed on and enjoyed the entertainment and music, corn on the cobs, ethnic boutiques, crafts, quaint coffee shop book stores, interesting food stands and of course the barbeque. It was a great evening spent with our large happy family in this happy town.
The market starts at 6.00, and even before set up people started forming a line near Rib Line Barbeque. Curiosity led us to this line and the food appealed to us immediately. While my family stood in this long line, I talked with Brian Appiano, the owner and chef who talked about the ribs, their sauce, the tri tip beef, their dry rub, and about being featured in Travel Channels program Man VS Food! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCXSs2apVlQ)
While in the line we talked to the locals who were regulars to Rib Line Barbeque and talked about the popularity of this farmers market and the things to check out. One was Rib Line Barbeque and other was the corn on the cob which was sweet and fresh, sprinkled with spice. It was most delicious cob of corn.
Finally when our turn came in the line, we wanted to order a variety of meat to taste this popular barbeque- The half chickens, the Beef Ribs and the Tri-Tip Sando. The street has tables and chairs set up where one can seat oneself and enjoy the street food stands. We picked up the barbeque and seated with our other members of our family who were already seated trying out different options. The barbeque meats -the beef ribs and the chickens were succulent and delicious; while the tri tip sando had good meat too. We enjoyed this amazing street food for dinner and loved this concept of celebration of food in the farmer’s market downtown every Thursday.
No wonder San Luis Obispo is called Happiest Place in USA. 😉
Cuisine: Barbeque
Rating: ***.5(3.5)
Website: http://www.ribline.com/
Dishes Reviewed
• Beef Ribs
• Half Chicken
• Tri –tip Sando
