Chef's Harvest and Wine Dinner

Celebrate the bounties of the Central Coast's fall season with an alfresco Secret Garden Dinner featuring a custom 4-Course Chef's Prix Fixe menu with wine pairings from Claiborne & Churchill Winery.

Begin with a wine reception, fresh appetizer, and tour through our 2-acre garden brimming with produce ready for your plate!

Then sit down to 3 plated courses crafted by Chef Josh paired with wines from Claiborne & Churchill Winery and Winemaker Zack Geers.

We’re decking out the Secret Garden and bringing in a few surprises just for you. Don't miss experiencing the beauty and bounty of Avila at this unique event.

Part I: Out in the Fields

Experience the Central Coast’s peak harvest season with an exclusive garden tour! Our vines, trellises, and rows are full to the brim with produce. Chef Josh will share his secrets to maintaining a 2-acre garden and dozens of edible plant varieties. Each guest will also take home a basket of fresh produce!

Part II: Garden Party

Begin the evening with a glass of bubbly and a special appetizer showcasing ingredients fresh from the garden.

Meet our Executive Chef Joshua Jones to learn about the journey of the ingredients from our garden to your plate. 

Winemaker Zack Geers will introduce the special wines being poured throughout the evening and give us insight to Claiborne & Churchill Winery in San Luis Obispo.

Part III: Harvest's Bounty

Sit down to a truly memorable alfresco Secret Garden Dinner featuring 3 courses crafted by Chef Josh with wine pairing by Claiborne & Churchill Winery. We’re decking out the Secret Garden and bringing in a few surprises just for this event! 

About Chef Josh Jones

Chef Joshua Jones started his culinary career flipping burgers at Hearst Castle when he was 16 years old. From there his passion grew for food and the fast paced kitchen life pushing him to pursue breakfast and lunch skills up the coast at the Ragged Point Resort. Having the desire to learn all aspects of the kitchen, Josh joined the team at the Cambria Pines Lodge to shape his banquet and dinner skills. For the last 5 years, he found himself leading culinary teams in the Paso Robles winery region. 

Chef Josh is a true local of SLO county. He is deeply connected with our coastal cuisine and makes it his mission to provide fresh dishes that highlight the Central Coast’s amazing fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood.

If Chef Josh is not in the kitchen, you’ll find him on a golf course or on the nearest flat smooth surface roller skating with his wife and friends!

About Our Chef's Garden

Our Chef’s Secret Garden is a 2-acre farm nestled in the Avila Valley surrounded by the scenic hillside with beautiful views. This is a working farm that cultivates heirloom produce from beets to zucchinis and everything in between. Our Chef works directly with our Sycamore Farmer to make sure we have the best seasonal produce possible. We utilize sustainable practices to maintain our beautiful garden. Our Executive Chef and culinary team takes pride in using our homegrown vegetables to create culinary delights for our guests in our Gardens of Avila Restaurant and Secret Garden. 

We are proud to be a legitimate plant to plate restaurant! Many of the ingredients of your dishes travel just over our iconic green bridge to make it to your plate. 

 
About Claiborne & Churchill Winery 

Claiborne & Churchill is a small, family owned and operated winery, founded in 1983 and located in the heart of the Edna Valley, just outside San Luis Obispo, California. Inspired by the wines of Alsace, they specialize in premium dry wines made from Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris grapes, as well as handcrafted Pinot Noirs and Syrahs from several vineyards here in the Edna Valley. Learn more about Claiborne & Churchill Winery here.

As of 2019, Zack Geers has been Claiborne & Churchill's Head Winemaker. Learn more about his story here.

We’re thrilled to invite you for this unique Chef’s Harvest Dinner to celebrate the joy of the bounties of fall season during this exclusive alfresco experience.