The Overlook Food & Dining
All of our menus feature local, seasonal produce and meat raised on the ranch, inspired by a variety of cuisines.
When you dine at Paicines Ranch, you give us the opportunity to share our passions, principles, and intentions around food and farming in ways that are delicious, fun, and a little adventurous. Every ingredient is sourced carefully and thoughtfully reflecting seasonality, local agriculture, and a commitment to eating the landscape that we want to see.
Our culinary team, led by Executive Chef Maggie Fernandez, creates menus incorporating these ingredients inspired by a wide variety of cuisines. We have a full liquor license, and the beverage selection features diverse and rare wine varietals, many made from grapes grown in the Paicines Ranch Vineyard.
Meals are served at The Overlook with its beautiful indoor and outdoor dining spaces and spectacular views of the ranch, the Gabilan mountains, and the sunset. The LEED-certified facility includes a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, along with a wood-fired pizza oven, BBQ, and smoker. We would love to host you for a meal or work with you to create an amazing and unique dining experience for your event.
Contact us for more information or to arrange a site visit.
Locally Sourced Food
Everything that is served at the ranch is sourced with great care, usually from farmers, ranchers, and food producers with whom we are in direct relationship. We have often been on their land and are informed about their production and sourcing practices. They are proud of their food, and we are proud to be able to serve it.
Meat - Almost all of the meat served on the ranch is produced on the ranch, where we raise beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and turkey using the principles of Holistic Management. Our sheep and cattle are 100% grass fed while our poultry and pork are pastured and supplemented with organic feed. Read more on how we raise our animals. On occasion, we purchase meat produced by colleagues in the regenerative ranching world whose work and practices are known to us. We can always let you know exactly where the meat being served is from and how it is raised. We accommodate special requests for seafood, using local, sustainable suppliers in Monterey County.
Produce - Most of our produce comes from farmers in San Benito County who are our friends and neighbors. All of our produce is organic and seasonal and comes from California.
Portfolio Companies - Paicines Ranch is part of the NoRegrets Initiative, which works to regenerate the agricultural soils of North America and the communities who steward them. As part of that work, we invest in food companies who share that ethos and are intentional about their sourcing, and when appropriate we serve their products in our offerings. Some examples are Straus Family Creamery, Lotus Foods, and Firebrand Artisan Breads.
Wine - Much of the wine that we offer is made from grapes grown in the Paicines Ranch Vineyard. We sell our grapes to a number of winemakers, all of whom take different approaches to their craft but share our values of regenerating ecosystem health and biodiversity. We produce many grape varietals that are relatively rare in California, so there is often an opportunity to try something new. Many of the other wines that we offer in our program are from California, produced from organically or biodynamically grown grapes, and made by winemakers we know personally.
Beer & Cider - We offer a selection of beers, including Brewery 25, which is a local, artisanal brewery. We offer ciders as well, including Eden Ciders, which is in the NoRegrets Initiative portfolio and is committed to supporting small-scale family orchards in New England.
Spirits - We offer a complete selection of spirits and cocktails. We sometimes feature craft distilleries, like Freeland Spirits, which we have made investments in because of the way they source their raw ingredients.
Meet Our Farmers & Producers
The Overlook
Welcome to The Overlook at Paicines Ranch, where culinary excellence meets breathtaking landscapes. Our newly built kitchen, led by Executive Chef Margarita Fernandez, is the heart of our dining experience. Chef Maggie, in collaboration with her talented team, prepares savory and delicious meals using our pasture-raised meats and locally-sourced, organic ingredients. From intimate dining events to weddings, workshops, and ranch gatherings, The Overlook offers both indoor and outdoor seating options with stunning views of our picturesque surroundings. Indulge in high-quality, locally-sourced cuisine while immersing yourself in the natural beauty of Paicines Ranch.
What People are Saying
“My husband surprised me by taking me to the Mother’s Day Brunch at Paicines Ranch! Not only was the view spectacular, but the food was downright amazing! We couldn’t get enough of the grass fed meat! It was worth every penny and made me feel so special as a mom. Can’t wait to go again!”
-Sarah Gureck
“To say we had the perfect weekend at Paicines Ranch would be an understatement. The property provides a sense of calm and connection that can’t be found elsewhere. The food and beverage experience is five-star, with meals quickly becoming a highlight of our attendees’ experience. The owners and staff are welcoming, friendly, and thorough - they pay attention to the details, and it shows. We cannot wait to return to the land, and the people of Paicines!”
-Emily Vitas
Lab to Land Institute
“I just want to say thank you for your amazing support, kindness, absolutely delicious food in the spectacular Overlook, a beautiful house to stay in and the most magnificent piece of land one could ever imagine! This is an amazing journey that all started at Paicines Ranch. I am forever grateful for your beautiful support.”
"There was something so calming and reassuring about the energy as soon as I pulled into Paicines Ranch. The accommodations were simplistic, clean and well maintained and withhold a welcoming feel from all of the former guests. The food prepared for us was top tier, five stars -- and even though I am a vegan, they found ways to keep me full and satisfied. I learned so much about the biodiversity of the hills of Northern California and was so inspired by the history of the land and the intentions of the No Regrets Initiative to restore the natural ecosystem to a disrupted land."