CA Coast: Orange County & Los Angeles

CA Coast: Orange County & Los Angeles

All good things must come to an end. We had a wonderful trip traveling the California Coast, and ended our time in the Orange County and Los Angeles areas.

Driving from Santa Barbara, we stopped at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market, Venice Beach, and then down to Huntington Beach.

We stopped at Duke's for a late lunch.

DUKE'S HUNTINGTON BEACH

317 Pacific Coast Highway

Huntington Beach, CA

website

ph - 714.374.6446

Because the main dining room was closed for lunch and not yet open for dinner, we grabbed a seat in the Barefoot Bar, and both started out with a caesar salad.

For lunch, the Mr. ordered the Baja Fish Tacos:

And I got the Poke Rolls, raw ahi, sweet onions, sauteed in rice paper.

Yum, yum, yum! We both really enjoyed Duke's. The atmosphere was fun -- a little touristy, but lively -- and the food was fantastic. I would be more than happy ordering exactly as I did this time if I ever return.

On our second day in the Newport Beach area, we visited the Beachcomber Cafe, a quaint little restaurant right on the beach.

BEACHCOMBER CAFE

No. 15 Crystal Cove

Newport Beach, CA

website

ph - 949.376.6900

Here's what it looks like when you're walking in:

A big back deck right on the ocean!

The Mr.'s lunch: A tuna melt!

And The Little Lady's lunch: A flatbread pizza with figs, roasted red peppers, and bacon.

Again, we were dealing with cool, cloudy weather, so the vibe at the Beachcomber was definitely different than had it been hot and sunny. I would've loved to have spent the whole afternoon there -- laying out on the beach and sipping island cocktails. But, alas, I suppose we'll have to return another, warmer day.

Our last full day was spent in the city of L.A. We did some sight-seeing and ate lunch in Hollywood, at the Pig & Whistle.

PIG & WHISTLE

6714 Hollywood Blve.

Hollywood, CA

website

ph - 323.463.0000

The Pig & Whistle opened in the 1920s and was popular with stars with Shirley Temple. How fun!

I must have been starved this day, because I ordered this burger and cleaned my plate. Not a french fry, burger bite, or crumb remained! It was delicious!

And The Mr. had the Philly cheesesteak. I had a bite and thought it was average, but maybe I was just overly-consumed with my burger. :)

So that was our trip to California! I hope you enjoyed salivating over what we thought was great food in great places on a great trip.

CA Coast: Santa Barbara

CA Coast: Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara was probably one of my favorite stops during our trip. It's young and vibrant, with UC Santa Barbara nearby, and there is so much going on. There's shopping, surfing, eating, drinking, recreational sports games, and, of course, the beach!

Although it was cool and windy when we were there, I got the feeling that Santa Barbara is the place to be on a warm, sunny day.

To start our evening, we headed to Longboard's Grill for happy hour drinks on the wharf.

LONGBOARD'S GRILL

210 Stearns Wharf

Santa Barbara, CA

website

ph - 805.963.3311

We weren't lucky enough to score any happy hour specials, but it was happy hour time and we were on vacation! I tried out the Longboard's Blonde and The Mr. went with a standard Bud Light.

And to tide our tummies over until dinner, some delicious chips and dip. The guacamole was to die for and the fresh salsa was great too.

For dinner, we took a recommendation from TripAdvisor:

THE PALACE GRILL

8 East Cota Street

Santa Barbara, CA

website

ph - 805.963.5000

From the outside, The Palace Grill didn't look like anything too impressive, but based on the wait time for two people, it apparently was! While we waiting for our table, we browsed the shops nearby.

And then we were seated! For drinks, we split a bottle of Cakebread, from our time in Napa (I believe the corkage fee was $10):

Instead of bread, each table is served a variety of mini muffins:

Here's what we ordered!

The Palace Sampler Platter (with a few of our own substitutions): Chicken Tchoupitoulas, Cajun Crawfish Popcorn, Blackened Catfish, Blackened New York Steak with Cajun Hollandaise.

And for dessert...

Louisiana Bread Pudding Souffle, unique blend of souffle and bread pudding laced with Grand Marnier and raisins, served piping hot with a delectable whiskey cream sauce.

Can you say FULL? Yipes, we were stuffed! But very happy stuffed. :)

CA Coast: Monterey, Carmel, & Big Sur

CA Coast: Santa Cruz, Carmel, & Big Sur

And then it was on to Santa Cruz! We were sad to leave Napa Valley, but excited to start traveling the coast.

We stopped in Santa Cruz around lunch time. To get the full tourist experience, we picked a place out at the end of Municipal Wharf, Stagnaro Bros., a restaurant that also has a larger location back on the mainland.

STAGNARO BROS.

Municipal Wharf

Santa Cruz, CA

website

Ph - 831.423.2180

The Mr. ordered the fish and chips, and I got the chowder. Both great and especially tasty since we were sitting on the pier while eating!

After checking out the amusement park on the Santa Cruz boardwalk, we jumped back in the car and headed toward Carmel.

Carmel is a darling little town on the coast, and although we didn't spend much time there, I would've loved to have had the time to try out a restaurant and do some shopping. For the ladies, stop in Carmel if you have the chance!

For the dog-lovers, I'm pretty sure Carmel is a very dog-friendly town, and many places allow you to bring your furry friends with you.

Our accommodations in Big Sur demand your attention. I know I'm supposed to stick to food and drink, but how can I not cover this???

Where we stayed in the northern Big Sur area: The Rainbow House at Don Loui's via VRBO.

Check out Don Loui's website for more pictures. It was absolutely amazing -- like nothing we had ever seen before!

Before we knew it, our one night in Big Sur was over, so we packed up our hiking shoes and started driving again. Since we wanted to fuel up for our longest drive of the week, we stopped at Big Sur Bakery & Restaurant.

BIG SUR BAKERY & RESTAURANT

Highway 1

Big Sur, CA

website

ph - 831.667.0524

How cute is this little picnic area?

Mmmm... pastries...

We are halfway through our trip! Tomorrow we will visit Santa Barbara!

CA Coast: Napa Valley

CA Coast: Napa Valley

After our quick stay in San Francisco, we were off to Napa Valley, an amazing place.  I already want to go back!  Here's where we dined...

ZUZU

829 Main Street (between 2nd and 3rd Streets)

Napa, CA

website

ph - 707.224.8555

info@zuzunapa.com

We loved being able to walk to dinner from our B&B in the town of Napa.  There were so many options, and since Napa is known for its fantastic restaurants, we knew it'd be hard to make a wrong decision.  So, our first night there, we opted to visit Zuzu, a tapas restaurant with comfortable ambiance and great reviews.

Here it is from the street:

When you're in wine country, you find that you eat all. day. long.  Most hotels and B&Bs serve up wonderful breakfasts, you find a charming place for lunch amidst the wineries, and you eat in between to combat against the effects of wine.  :)  And when you get back "home," you'll often find wine tastings and appetizers on the house.

So, by the time dinner rolls around, you're definitely hungry, but you're not starved.  At least that was the case for The Mr. and me.  While the restaurant suggested 4-5 tapas for a party of two, we figured three would be enough.  And it was perfect for our appetites.

Here's what we started with: Bacalao Frito, Crispy salt cod fritters with lemon-truffle aioli

Mmm.  Yum.

And then this!  It just kept getting better!  Is this not the largest couscous you've ever seen??  I questioned whether it was even couscous.  It tasted more like a round orzo.

Toasted Sardinian Couscous, with spring peas, favas, preserved lemon, and goat gouda

And finally, Niman Ranch Grass-Fed Flat-Iron Steak with roasted jalapeno chimichurri

The Final Verdict: Zuzu is a place I would return to again and again.  The food is great, the environment is enjoyable, and there are dozens of menu items that looked delicious.  Now I just have the reason to return!

UVA TRATTORIA ITALIANA

1040 Clinton Street (at Brown)

Napa, CA

website

ph - 707.255.6646

email - info@uvatrattoria.com

Uva is in "downtown" Napa and proudly offers five nights of live jazz each week.  The loud music makes it a little tough to converse with tablemates, so either go with a lively crowd who will enjoy the party, or if you're one-on-one with a spouse or date, you'll be able to hear each other across the table.

One nice option that Uva offers is that many of their menu items can either be ordered in a small or large size.  So both ordered small sizes and tacked on an appetizer that caught our attention almost immediately: Arancini, pesto risotto balls filled with Teleme cheese, breaded and fried, and served with a spicy marinara sauce.  Decadent goodness.

Okay now, before you go judging based on looks alone, let me tell you that this meal was probably my favorite of our entire vacation down the coast.  It was rich, yes, but I had ordered the small size, so it wasn't too much.  And it hit the spot.  I loved it!

Gnocchi al Gorgonzola, Handmade gnocchi with a gorgonzola reduction

And The Mr.'s choice wasn't at all surprising to me.  He loves the traditional pastas.  And he was more than happy with Rigatoni alla Bolognese, Pasta with traditional Italian meat sauce.

The Final Verdict: Whenever we told people we were going (or had gone to) Uva, they had heard about it (or been to it) and confirmed that we were making (had made) the right decision.  I think it's just one of those places that you're guaranteed a good meal.  Just know going into it that you won't be dining in a quiet, romantic venue.  If the live jazz is playing, the place is everything but quiet.  But it has a fun vibe.  And people must like it, because it was packed.

V. SATTUI WINERY

1111 White Lane

St. Helena, CA  94574

website

ph - 707.963.7774

This was the perfect place for a picnic.  And had we had more time, it would've probably been the perfect place to share a bottle of wine.  V.Sattui was pretty crowded, but because they have acres of picnic grounds, it's easy to find a place to call your own.

Here's the picnic area we choose.  A nice, quiet bench in the shade.

The deli!  Look at all those cheeses!  (And, yes, that's The Mr. in the stripes).

My sandwich: Tri-Tip Beef with cheddar

And The Mr.'s: Prosciutto and mozzarella!

The Final Verdict: If you're in Napa, V. Sattui should be a stop on your list.  If you have the time (and can handle the wine!), pick up a bottle of wine to enjoy with your lunch.  But don't forget, only food and drink purchased at V. Sattui can be consumed in their picnic area.

OAKVILLE GROCERY 

7856 St. Helena Highway

Oakville, CA  94562

website

ph - 707.944.8802

This market has been around since 1881 -- it has to be good!  Not only does it serve up picnic supplies for tasters traveling up and down the Napa Valley, but it also offers an adorable selection of gourmet gifts, wine country souvenirs, and a few shelf items.

I had been looking forward to visiting Oakville Grocery since I started planning this trip.  I love exploring local markets, and when they have meats, cheeses, wines, AND a selection of baked goods, I am one happy camper.

The Mr. instantly eyed the sandwich menu immediately, and ended up choosing the Mediterranean Grilled Chicken with red pepper mayo, smoked mozzarella, arugula, and tomato.

I was craving something lighter.  I take that back.  I was craving something sweet.  But I felt like I should add something healthy to that mix, so edamame salad and peanut butter & chocolate chip cookie it was!  Yum.

The Final Verdict: Go to Oakville Grocery!  I just think it's such a cute little place.  And there's so much to choose from.  Although the space inside is cramped, the outside patio gives plenty of space to eat your lunch there.  If you are choosing between V. Sattui and Oakville Grocery as a lunch spot and can only hit ONE, I think I'd recommend V. Sattui -- the food was a little better and the atmosphere was much better too.  But try to stop by both!

CA Coast: San Francisco

CA Coast: San Francisco

Get excited loyal readers!  We are hoping to be back to the a-new-post-five-days-a-week style... starting today!  Hopefully you liked my first set of travel posts on Grand Cayman, (didya??) because this week, you'll be traveling the culinary attractions of the California Coast.

BARNEY'S GOURMET HAMBURGERS

3344 Steiner Street

Marina District

San Francisco, CA

website

ph - 415.563.0307

After a morning on the plane and a three hour time change, we were very hungry for lunch when we made it to San Francisco.  A close friend (and bridesmaid!) of mine suggested we start in the Marina District, a darling area that is less traveled by tourists.  We welcomed the tip and headed there first after driving through Chinatown.  We stumbled upon Barney's and thought it looked good, so we headed in.  There was a small patio out front and we requested outdoor seating, so we were a little confused when they led us through the restaurant toward the back.  But surprise, surprise, there was a beautiful patio in the back!  We were thrilled.  The tables were a little close (and secured to the ground), so we were cozy with our neighbor, but luckily our late lunch kept things from being overly cramped.

We started with some fries, that actually came ahead of time, like an appetizer.  If you would prefer them served with your meal, request it!

Spicy Curly Fries, served with home-style Ranch dressing

I went into the place figuring I would order a burger.  I mean, Barney's Burgers... what else would you get?  But we were both blown away by the amount of alternative burgers -- turkey burgers, chicken breast burgers, and multiple veggie burgers too.  I guess I was feeling like Plain Jane, though, because the standard veggie burger was calling my name.  And it was great! 

Barney's Veggie Burger, Served with fresh red onion, tomato, lettuce, and pickle.

And here's what The Mr. ordered... also worthy of a "Yum."  I mean, it makes my water just looking at the picture!

California Burger, Jack Cheese topped with roasted Ortega chili, crisp bacon, and sour cream

The Final Verdict:  Pretty day outside?  Need a place to eat a satisfying lunch?  Want to do some shopping before or after?  Go to Barney's in the Marina District!

THE SLANTED DOOR

1 Ferry Building #3

The Embarcadero

San Francisco, CA  94111

website

ph - 415.861.8032

Located in the restored Ferry Building across from The Embarcadero, The Slanted Door has a beautiful view in a busy setting on San Francisco Bay.  We were eating out with friends, and I usually like to put away the camera when taking pictures of the food makes me feel awkward.  :)  But before I did, I snapped a picture of our drinks...

The Slanted Door has a wide variety of cocktails, wines, and beers to choose from.  If you are looking for one, I think you'll find something you like.

As for food, it was great!  I'm not sure if this is how all guests traditionally order, but we ordered a sampling of appetizers and entrees and shared them amongst ourselves.

Here was our order:

*Vegetarian Spring Rolls with tofu, shiitakes, cabbage, mint and peanut sauce

*Steamed Dumpling wrapped in banana leaf with shiitake mushrooms, dried shrimp and pork

*Grass-Fed Estancia Shaken Beef, cubed filet mignon, sausalito springs' watercress, red onions and lime sauce

*Braised Halibut with lime, cilantro, lemongrass and kaffir lime 

*Massa Organics' Brown Rice

I don't think anyone in our group of four disappointed with any of our choices.  My personal favorites were probably the Vegetarian Spring Rolls and Braised Halibut, but all of them were delicious.  Don't expect a cheap bill at the end of a meal like this, but do expect to enjoy every bite.

The Final Verdict: This a great restaurant in a beautiful spot.  It feels like "the place to be" when you're dining, and the food and drinks don't disappoint either.  You'll find that you can quickly create an expensive bill, but at least you'll be pleased with what it bought.

Grand Cayman: Part 3

Grand Cayman: Part 3

And for the final installation of my Grand Cayman recap, here are my picks for Overall Experience.

#1. DECKERS

website

ph - 345.945.6600

email - deckers@candw.ky

Decker's was kind of a last minute decision. We were mainly picking places on the water, and Decker's is not only opposite the beach, but it looks like a restaurant you could find anywhere. But then, when you walk in, you realize there is a lot more to it than originally meets the eye. A double-decker bus (hence the name) makes up the bar, and the largest fan in Grand Cayman (and probably one of the largest in the world!) keeps patrons cool and comfortable.

Here's the double-decker bar:

The Mr. got the mixed grill - a daily special - that consisted of grilled steak, fish, and chicken. And you know what he raved about most? The vegetables and accompanying sauce!

I got the lobster ravioli, which was equally fantastic. A flavorful, rich sauce, and a whole lobster tail too!

Final Verdict: Don't let the exterior of Decker's fool you. It's quite the place to eat. The food is amazing, the live music is perfect background music, and I can almost guarantee that you'll be pleased.

#2. COCONUT JOES

website

ph - 345.943.5637

Coconut Joes is basically just a bar and grill. And I wasn't expecting it to be much more than that. We ate here our very first night in Grand Cayman. We had traveled all day and were excited to check out our first restaurant while honeymooning, but we didn't feel like getting too dressed up and diving into anything too fancy. So we picked Coconut Joes. And I'm so glad we did!

The Mr. ordered grouper, and look how beautiful it is:

And to think we got this at bar and grill! Wow! And it tasted as good as it looks!

I got the "BIG" Salad. Crunchy, crisp lettuce in a tortilla bowl, topped with cajun grouper and plenty of toppings. One of the best salads I ever had. Maybe I was just excited to be on vacation. But I will tell you, it was so good!

Oh, and those Sols are $3 Mexican Night specials...

Final Verdict: Everyone needs an inexpensive, casual option once in a while. Most of the time, I like to mix it up between fancy places and comfortable, laid-back places. Make this one of your laid-back choices. You'll love it!

#3. AL FRESCO

website

ph - 345.947.2525

Seven Mile Beach

We had Al Fresco delivered to our condo through a local delivery service. Once we realized that some of the best "tables" were right outside our condo on the beach, we figured we'd dine there and have the food brought to us! What a smart choice. We were content as can be eating on the beach. And Al Fresco didn't disappoint either.

Here's what I ordered: The Seafood Pizza.

And The Mr. got the Cajun Red Snapper with rice, veggies, plantains, and even a slice of banana bread!

Final Verdict: I can't review the actual restaurant of Al Fresco, but I've heard good things about it. The food was great and if anything, do what we did -- order out!

#4. YOSHI SUSHI

website

ph - 945.943.YOSH

Seven Mile Beach

Another beach picnic! Mango Roll, California Roll, and egg rolls made up our dinner tonight. We loved the whole meal!

Final Verdict: Again, I can't attest to the restaurant, but we loved the food!

#5. EATS CAFE

website

ph - 945.943.EATS

Falls Shopping Center

Seven Mile Beach

EATS has been around for a long time. It's changed its look recently (and my personal opinion is that it's a little too modern now), but it still serves great diner food. I didn't get any pictures of the food this time around, but I had an excellent Ole Guacamole Bacon Burger and The Mr. had the Crispy Buffalo Ranch Grill - a chicken sandwich. We both left full... and happy.

Final Verdict: EATS is a great place for lunch (or dinner), but I hear their biggest draw is their breakfast. Plus, it's a Grand Cayman must-do. Go for breakfast, or if you're like The Mr. and I and aren't huge breakfast-eater-outers, go for lunch. I'd recommend it as a dinner spot last, unless you really just need to grab something fast.