Skyy vodka, X-Rated blood orange passion liqueur. $7.50
Hula’s Island Grill, Santa Cruz CA
Hmm, I don’t remember too much about this drink so I’m guessing that it was just OK at best. I do like the color of it though. 🙂
Our Mystery Spot tour guide up at the cabin.
This is a delicious way to get your weekly allowance of sugar! Be careful if you have any loose crowns or fillings because all the sticky, gooey caramelized sugar may just pop one out, hehe. $2.95
Duboce Park Cafe, San Francisco CA
Kayaker near the Bay Bridge.
Glaum Ranch poached eggs, dungeness crab and hollandaise with breakfast potatoes. $16
Solaire Restaurant + Bar, Santa Cruz CA
This dish was ok. The crab cakes had such a strong Old Bay flavor that they didn’t quite work in a benedict. It ultimately tasted like a crab cake on top of an English muffin with an egg and hollandaise sauce thrown in – not very harmonious.
Coffee. $3
Mystery Spot holding area.
With Bulleit bourbon. $9.50
Oswald, Santa Cruz CA
Ugh, our bartender was heavy handed with the bitters on all the whiskey drinks we ordered! This pretty much ruined any of our enjoyment for these cocktails. And this was a first – CRUSHED ice in my old fashioned, what?! I hope I never see that again. 😦
Train tracks toward the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.
Medium $3
Gorilla Barbeque, Pacifica CA
I wish this mac ‘n cheese was more gooey and cheesy, but it still had a lot of flavor. I liked that they used larger, ribbed pasta.
Cornbread. $1.50
Yellow banana slug, Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.
3 rums infused with pineapple and vanilla topped with tropical juices and Foslings Black Seal rum. $8
Hula’s Island Grill, Santa Cruz CA
I love the beautiful colors in this cocktail. They make you think of vacations and beaches. I’ve had plenty of frou frou cocktails in my life (hehe), and some of them miss the mark. This hurricane did not disappoint – it was delicious!
Red and green Fuschia flowers (Onagraceae), The Mystery Spot.
Flaky rock fish dipped in delicate tempura batter and fried in rice oil, served with fries and tartar sauce. $12.50
Barbara’s Fishtrap, Half Moon Bay CA
The fish had great flavor but they were a little soggy. The fries, on the other hand, were perfectly fried and served piping hot!
Andrews clintonia (Clintonia andrewsiana, Liliaceae), Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.
Flash fried, lemon chips and basil. $13
Solaire Restaurant + Bar, Santa Cruz CA
These were SO disgusting and I’m annoyed that a restaurant kitchen would actually send these out. The calamari was way overcooked to the point of being hard and super dry. They tasted like they were freezer burned before being fried; they definitely didn’t taste like they were made from fresh squid. This dish was overpriced for such poor quality. LAME!
Car covered in Mystery Spot bumper stickers.
With blue cheese, apples and walnuts, balsamic. $11
Oswald, Santa Cruz CA
This salad was very tasty. I loved that they used two different colors of endive as it created visual interest. The toppings were in great proportions and everything tasted delicious together.
Bread and butter. Complimentary
Sunset on the San Lorenzo River.
A la mode with vanilla ice cream. $8
Duarte’s Tavern, Pescadero CA
OMG, this was frickin’ delicious! We had to wait a few extra minutes but it was worth it to get this straight out of the oven. The pie was not too sweet and it had a wonderful berry flavor. I later found out that olallieberries are a cross between the loganberry and youngberry. Scientists in Oregon had developed multiple cane berry hybrids as part of a former USDA program. I’m glad they did because olallieberries are yummy!
Coffee. $2.75
Pigeon Point Lighthouse.
Don Q Cristal rum, passion fruit, pineapple juice, lime juice, Goslings Black Seal rum and Bacardi 151 rum. $8
Hula’s Island Grill, Santa Cruz CA
I had to order something served in a tiki glass during our visit to Hula’s. Enter the zombie cocktail, lol! This drink was delicious and deceptively easy to drink. I definitely felt a buzz after finishing off this fruity concoction.
Red and purple Fuschia flowers (Onagraceae), The Mystery Spot.
Award winning chowder, fresh made using Barbara’s own secret recipe. Loaded with clams with no MSG or milk products. Bowl $7.95
Barbara’s Fishtrap, Half Moon Bay CA
This clam chowder was AMAZING! Honestly, it tasted like Thanksgiving. It was thick and flavorful and was packed with clams. (I’m sure it was also very healthy, hehe.)
California wildrose flower (Rosa californica, Rosaceae), Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.
Vittle Monster 