Avila Charmer: Woodstone Marketplace

Woodstone Marketplace fills a familiar niche for visitors to and residents of the secluded village

By Sarah Linn

Local star sightings don’t get better than spotting a TV personality in mid-munch.

That’s why I felt a jolt when I peered past a rack of flavored oils at Avila Beach’s newest eatery to see — eeek!—KSBY anchor Wendy Thies noshing a sandwich with a lanky blonde gal pal.

Thies, with her sensible suit and single strand of pearls, may be more business than bling. That’s the way the owners of Woodstone Marketplace like it.

“We’re trying to make the residents happy,” said owner Cheryl Peterman, who also owns Pierside Seafood, five Pismo Beach gift shops and an Arroyo Grande boutique with her husband, Ray.

Half cafe and takeout deli, half market, Woodstone Marketplace seeks to cater to locals from Avila Beach business owners to the joggers and cyclists who use the scenic Bob Jones City to the Sea Bike Trail.

The marketplace, on Bay Laurel Place at the entrance to the Avila Village neighborhood complex, opened in March.

The Petermans modeled their business after Avila Village Market and Deli, which occupied the same spot just a year ago. Two of the creators —Joann Greene and Susanna Bono— work as consultants for Woodstone.

“We’ve had such a wonderful, positive response,” said Peterman. “(People) are so happy that it’s back, so happy it’s open.”

Looking good

As I discovered recently, there’s more to Woodstone Marketplace’s folksy farmhouse

front that meets the eye.

Inside, the eatery evokes the clean, strong Craftsman style of the nearby Avila Village Inn with a fireplace, gray stone floors, gleaming tables of reddish wood and honey-colored, polished plank ceilings.

A wooden canoe and paddle with geometric inlays offer a ceiling focal point for the main dining area. Still, it’s hard to steal attention from the sunny outdoor patio overlooking the bike trail.

On the market side, Woodstone offers everything from cold drinks, crackers and fresh produce to gourmet cheeses and frozen prawns. Bottles of wine, most of them local vintages, stand chilled in a side cooler or stacked in wooden racks, baskets, barrels and boxes.

Woodstone’s cafe, however, targets customers willing to spend a little time in the Avila sunshine.

For breakfast, dished out until 11:30 a.m., there’s baked goods, oatmeal and a hearty wrap packed with scrambled eggs, black beans, cheese and the meat of your choosing.

Although Woodstone offers dinner specials after 4 p.m. — $12 prime rib and potatoes, $8 shrimp scampi over rice — most of the menu’s focus is on more standard deli fare such as sandwiches, salads, pizza and quiche.

On one visit, I tried a Mediterranean veggie burger ($6.75), a vegetarian patty with lettuce, tomato and delicate rings of red onion on a crusty ciabatta roll. I found the sandwich suitably light but dry despite the thin layer of hummus spread on the bread. Next time I might go for the turkey burger.

A wonderful contrast in moisture and flavor is the chipotle chicken sandwich ($8), served hot on tomatostudded focaccia bread, topped with melted pepper jack cheese and slathered with sweet, spicy chipotle sauce.

Looking for something more filling? Check out the “Village Italiano” sandwich ($8) with big bites of prosciutto, pepperoni, salami and provolone. Add onions, roasted red peppers, vinaigrette-style dressing and sharp little pepperocini, and you’ve got yourself a meal.

All sandwiches come with a dill pickle spear and a small scoop of the deli salad of the day: creamy potato salad with new red potatoes, or bowtie pasta laced with feta, diced red pepper and onion.

There’s more

In addition to the interesting offerings in the deli case —cold edamame beans with cranberries, anyone? — there are daily specials such as the seared ahi tuna salad ($8).

The fish is served chilled and pepper-crusted with black and white sesame seeds on a bed of mixed greens and diced tomato.

This moist dish features three sauces: the vinaigrette drizzled over the greens, a light lemony wasabi dipping sauce and a tangy, mildly spicy aioli. Plenty of rosy-pink meat makes the salad a satisfying option for lunch.

I only had one big beef with Woodstone’s menu: With so many potential flavor combinations, the deli’s chefs seem a little timid about using their spice rack. These dishes deserve more punch.

The future is bright

With locals and tourists stopping by from Avila Beach’s sandy shores, orchards, golf courses and trails, Woodstone Marketplace might be on track to become a regular fixture at the Avila Market.

To endure as a local favorite, however, the Petermans are going to need more confidence in and out of the kitchen. I’d say they’re on their way.

WOODSTONE MARKETPLACE

6675 Bay Laurel Place, Avila Beach, 595-1018

Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday

The scene: Equal parts sit-down deli and graband- go market

The cuisine: Gourmet sandwiches, salads, pizza, pastries and more

Expect to spend: $3 to $18 for breakfast, lunch and dinner