Matt Cross Tap Takeover Episode
Ash Management owns and operates many, many restaurants and bars across the Central Coast, including the Frog & Peach Pub, Mother’s Tavern, Shell Beach Brewhouse, Rooster Creek Tavern, Mason Bar & Kitchen, Creaky Tiki, Milestone Tavern, and Bull’s Tavern. In fact, Bull’s Tavern is where it all began for Ash Management owner Billy Hale, who started as a janitor there while studying at Cal Poly University in the 80s. Billy leans on two critical people to keep the Ash Management properties on point: Jason Gable and Eric DeMatteo. These two are sort of the yin and yang of management, Jason focusing on the back of house and Eric focusing on the front of house. The two of them sat down with me and Matt to talk about their humble beginnings, how they’re raising a generation of employees, and how Californians are different from East Coasters.
*Note: Ash Management owns too many properties to list — besides, that list keeps changing! Here, I’ll list the main spots we chat about in the episode.
Shell Beach Brewhouse / @shellbeachbrewhouse
Rooster Creek Tavern / @roostercreektavern
Mason Bar + Kitchen / @masonbarandkitchen
Central Coast Meat Market & BBQ / @centralcoastmeatmarket
Nate’s on Marsh, Nathan Long, San Luis Obispo
Wine writer Natalie MacLean, Ottawa, Canada
Kitchen designer Ariana Lovato, Honeycomb Home Design, Arroyo Grande
Forager Nan Cole, Ventana Big Sur, Big Sur
Hidden Kitchen + 7th Generation Design, Amanecer Eizner + Wes Cooke, Cayucos + Cambria
Food illustrator Anna Takahashi, Japan, Sicily, and California ✈️
San Luis Oriental Market, Fani + Peter Gau, San Luis Obispo
Winemaker Matt Dees, Jonata, The Hilt, and The Paring, Santa Barbara County
Momotaro Ramen chefs Mateo Rogers + Brittney Yrecheta, Paso Robles
15 Degrees C Wine, sommelier + owner Ali Rush, Templeton
Bonus episode: Daniel Sinton, Avenales Ranch and Winery + Jensen Lorenzen, Larder Meat Co.
Winemakers Eric + Cait Johnson, Ann Albert Wines, San Luis Obispo
Registered dietician Sherry Elliston, MS, RD, CDE, San Luis Obispo
Central Coast Distillery, Eric Olson, chef + distiller, Atascadero
City of San Luis Obispo Tourism Manager Molly Cano
Bladesmith Cameron Alarcio, Alarcio Knives, Pismo Beach
Brewers Jacque + Ryan Fields, Wild Fields Brewhouse, Atascadero
Eleven-Twenty-Two Speakeasy owner Donovan Schmit, Paso Robles
Winemaker Janell Dusi, J. Dusi Wines + Paper Street, Paso Robles
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