A Little Bit of Italy Along California’s Pacific Coast Highway

Filtered sunlight bathed the room in a warm glow, highlighting the menu of the day, handwritten on a blackboard. Behind a wooden bar, a young guy took orders, while a much older man cooked on a tiny gas stove top. White espresso cups were lined up on a red shelf next to glass jars filled with spices, all neatly labeled. The elegant sounds of Duke Ellington’s era played on a 33-turn table, a stack of vintage vinyl beside it.

 

I read the offerings on the blackboard: Ravioli with butternut squash; mozzarella di Bufala with tomato, capers, and basil; grilled chicken on ciabatta with brie and pesto; and for dessert, tiramisu or fig, dark chocolate, vanilla, cherry, and espresso imported gelato.  My mouth watered as I recalled the last real Italian gelato I’d eaten in Rome.

The atmosphere, the menu–everything spoke of Italy. The service was informal, the food was fresh, and the clientele was 90% regular. Even the out-of-town visitors were repeat customers who had stumbled on this gem of a cafe the same way I had. But I wasn’t in Italy, I was in California.

The first thing I asked the young man behind the counter was, “Are you Italian?”
“No,“ he replied, “but he is,” pointing to the man doing all the cooking. I knew it. Dakota introduced me to Giovanni, the owner, who immigrated from Modena, Italy over thirty years ago.

I wracked my brain for every word of Italian I could remember, though he spoke fluent English. Italians seem to sincerely appreciate anyone who tries to speak their language so I like to practice when I can.

 

As I waited for my food, I took photographs of the cafe, Giovanni, and even some of the guests. I discovered that Giovanni and his home cooking are quite popular, and he has a regular following of not only locals but visitors from all over the United States who stop at the cafe to eat his authentic Italian food.

I don’t often eat pasta, but I knew that Giovanni’s pasta was going to be the real deal, so I ordered the ravioli stuffed with butternut squash and a glass of pinot grigio to wash it down. The first bite transported me to Italy.

 

I had some tentative plans to meet up with friends later that day but decided I was going to stay and have an Italian experience. That meant no mindless eating.  No rushing to be someplace else– instead just enjoying the meal, the ambiance, and the random conversations with other customers. I allowed myself to be in the moment. It was an ultimate travel experience–a new place, friendly conversation, great food, and no agenda. I could have stayed there all day.

 

For dessert, I was torn between ordering the gelato or the tiramisu. In the end, I decided on the tiramisu because Giovanni made it. Tiramisu, when made well, is light and creamy, despite being made with egg yolks, mascarpone cream, and ladyfingers,  with just enough cocoa and caffeine to give you a little lift. The name tiramisu means little lift or pick me up. Need I say more? If you like tiramisu, you will love Giovanni’s.

Welcome to the Harmony Cafe, now called Harmony Cafe at the Pewter Plough, and newly relocated to Cambria, California.

A meal at the Harmony Cafe is a must when traveling Pacific Coast Highwayin San Luis Obispo County. Chef Giovanni will woo you with his passion for preparing and serving only the freshest, most delicious meal. With seemingly no effort at all, Giovanni serves up all the nuances of a true Italian experience. Before you’ve even finished your tiramisu, you’ll be planning a return visit.

When you visit, please do say hello to Chef Giovanni for me.

 

Know Before You Go

The Harmony Cafe at the Pewter Plough is in Cambria, not Harmony, located inside the Pewter Plough Playhouse.

Address
824 Main St.
Cambria, Ca  93428
805-924-1219  Cafe
805-439-0634  Office