Page 32 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2021 REDISCOVERING CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST

Pandemic Dining Alfresco that suggested a Costco produce room. When suc-

Open air dining is our favorite, whether at home cessful, dramatic lighting, splendid views and
or in restaurants. At the time of our road trip, cheerful staff kept the atmosphere festive, while
state authorities had mandated closure of indoor outdoor heaters struggled to ward off the chill. We
heard propane fired towers had become as hard to
dining in the ongoing battle to halt coronavirus
spread. We knew most of our dining would be out- find as toilet paper early in the pandemic. When
doors and initially were unconcerned. But as we picking a table, we asked to sit next to a heater,
even though it inevitably meant we baked on one
moved north and temperatures dropped, dining
outside became more challenging than enjoyable. side and froze on the other.
Most of our accommodations did their best with It didn’t take long to learn to dress for the occa-
sion. We added a layer every 200 miles and ended
new settings never intended for dining. Only a
couple failed miserably, like the plastic-shrouded up wearing our heaviest winter coats when we
dining room with bare tables and plastic chairs reached our northernmost stop. Staff too dressed

32 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2021