Up + Adam with Adam Montiel

Up + Adam with Adam Montiel


January is SLO Restaurant Month! Novo & Luna Red are Up+Adam!

January 05, 2026

On today’s episode of Up+Adam, we sit down with Samantha Payette, the powerhouse Director of Operations for the Blue Mango Restaurant Group, the team behind SLO favorites like Novo, Luna Red, and Robin’s in Cambria. But Sam isn’t just keeping restaurants humming. She’s also helping lead the charge on civic culture and community engagement through her role on the City of San Luis Obispo’s Promotions Coordinating Committee, where she’s been instrumental in bringing SLO Restaurant Month to life.

Adam and Sam go deep on what really happens behind the scenes of a big restaurant initiative, what January means for the people working in hospitality, and what it takes to keep both diners and city leaders excited about local food. They also talk shop on leadership, local love, and why vibe is something you can’t train... but you can absolutely cultivate.

Support local. Eat well. Tip good.

• Check out SLO Restaurant Month (menus, deals, and full list of participating restaurants): https://www.visitslo.com/restaurantmonth

• Learn more about the Blue Mango Restaurant Group: https://www.bluemangorestaurants.com-=[

• Novo: https://www.novorestaurant.com

• Luna Red: https://www.lunaredslo.com

• Robin’s Restaurant (Cambria): https://www.robinsrestaurant.com

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Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

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