In San Luis Obispo I was unexpectedly treated to a taste of the south of France. Just five blocks from downtown, the Petit Soleil Bed & Breakfast is a self-contained pocket of southern French hospitality from its Provencal bleu tablecloths to its vine-covered patio. Their 15 rooms vary wildly in size and décor though all have a southern French flavor. My room, Le Couchon, was small but comfortable with a shuttered window that looked out upon their patio. Whimsically decorated in a pig motif (hence “le couchon”), it rated just shy of too cute. To complete the ambiance, a radio-CD player was pre-loaded with Petit Soleil’s mix of French classics.

Soon after my arrival, the B&B began their evening wine tasting. They offered a local red, which I passed up because they were also serving one of my favorite appellations, a white Rhone, vintage 2002 Georges DeBoeuf. Home-cooked aperetifs were offered, including almonds toasted with a sweet-spicy mixture with chili peppers and fennel seeds that everyone was yumming up with unabashed gusto.

The next morning I roused myself from a divine rest in the plush bed for a nice cup of coffee only to be disappointed that it was much too weak. They made up for it, however, in the quality and quantity of food. I chose a baked omelet dish filled with a southwestern combination of salsa and cheese, and heard others praise the feta and spinach combination, but couldn’t make myself regret the choice. Neither could I fully appreciate offerings on a sideboard absolutely groaning under an abundance of homemade scones, cakes, and breads, plus the usual eggs, fresh fruits, cereals, and juices. Customers beg recipes and they gladly oblige. In fact, their cookbook will be available by the end of 2004. I’m likely to buy it. Click here for a sample recipe.

Petit Soleil Bed & Breakfast
1473 Monterey Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 549-0321
(800) 676-1588
petitsoleil@charter.net
www.petitsoleilslo.com