Kelly Trom
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San Luis Obispo community members and Cal Poly students alike can get a taste of local cuisine at the sixth annual Flavor of SLO this Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at the historic Jack House and Gardens. It will feature more than 25 vendors including wineries, breweries, coffee shops and restaurants.
The tasting event benefits United Way, a nonprofit focused on helping to create change in the San Luis Obispo community through education, income and health. The event is planned by a team of seven Cal Poly students, with the help of staff members from the United Way team.
One of these students, communication studies junior and vendor coordinator Kendra Berner, is planning the event for her senior project. Cal Poly alumna Jessica Sisco started Flavor of SLO as her senior project in 2009 and since then, different Cal Poly students have have continued the event.
“We are seeing more vendors from Atascadero and Arroyo Grande,” Berner said. “This will give a lot of students who have only been in San Luis Obispo a change of pace; they can taste food from all of San Luis Obispo county.”
Berner has enjoyed meeting many of the local business owners, including some Cal Poly alumni.
“I grew up in San Diego and didn’t really get to experience that small-town feel of being able to know local business owners,” Berner said. “It’s been a really cool experience being able to work with businesses based here.”
Breweries featured at the event include Black Brewing and Firestone Walker Brewing Company. Wineries include Wood Winery, See Canyon Vineyards, Justin Vineyards and Winer, Broken Earth Winery, Pear Valley, Cass Vineyard and Winery and Cottonwood Canyon.
United Way Project Coordinator Rachel Cementina enjoys the variety of breweries and wineries present in the county.
“We have so many wineries and up-and-coming breweries, as well,” Cementina said. “There are so many options and it is great to have them all in one place. It is great to bring all parts of the county together in one location.”
Alternative drinks will also be available for tasting. Downtown Boba, Scout Coffee Co. and Swan Sisters Fine Chinese Teas will each have a booth at the event.
Cementina acknowledged the role of the Cal Poly student team in Flavor of SLO.
“We are really thankful that students keep choosing to support United Way and help us raise money each year,” Cementina said.
Berner chose Flavor of SLO as her senior project because she had previously enjoyed working with local companies.
“You are not going to see a lot of big corporations at this event because we want to feature local businesses because they are giving back to the same community that students here are growing up in for four years,” Berner said.
Not only has Berner helped with coordinating the vendors, but also with adding more interactive entertainment to the event, including a photo booth and two music acts — James Statton and The Rick Jarret Group.
Hayley Noriega, sociology junior and member of the planning committee, has enjoyed being part of the seven-student team, she said.
“Each year, the teams take different approaches to marketing, getting sponsorships,” Noriega said. “We brought our own perspective. It is really nice that we have been able to bring our own talents to the table.”
Noriega brought her own skills with marketing and public relations to the table through writing press releases, managing the Facebook event and reaching out to the local media.
She also reached out to the local community at a Chamber of Commerce meeting by giving an announcement about the event. At the same meeting, there was an announcement about a United Way project that was installing change collectors around the city to give community members the choice to donate money to addicted persons.
“It was kind of a full-circle moment,” she said. “Here we are promoting an event and then here is a program that would directly benefit from what we are doing.”
Noriega is also excited to see her team’s planning come full circle on Sunday.
“I am most excited about seeing who comes out to support and who comes out from the community,” she said. “I think it will be nice to see people enjoying themselves but doing so for a good cause.”
Pre-sale tickets can be purchased online at FlavorofSLO.com. Tickets are $30 for students and $40 for adults.