With watercress, apple and bacon. $15
Oswald, Santa Cruz CA
Mmm! I don’t eat abalone very often, but I’m definitely a fan when it’s prepared correctly. It has a tendency to become very tough and chewy so a skilled hand is needed for this delicate protein. Oswald did a great job with this dish. The abalone was beautifully cooked and still tender and very flavorful. NOMS!
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum, Asteraceae), Pigeon Point, Pescadero.
With Bulleit bourbon. $9.50
Oswald, Santa Cruz CA
Wow, this cocktail had SO much bitters in it – definitely not very balanced. That was my single major complaint about this place. There wasn’t a lot of finesse in making these standard cocktails.
Yellow bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus, Fabaceae), Pigeon Point, Pescadero.
With mixed greens. $12
Oswald, Santa Cruz CA
This fried chicken was tender, juicy and had great flavor but the exterior was limp and soggy. You really can’t enjoy fried chicken fully when the skin and breading is sagging off. Hmm…
Red and pink Fuschia flowers (Onagraceae), The Mystery Spot.
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.
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.
With avocado, greens (mache), parmesan crisp, pineapple and balsamic reduction. $13
Oswald, Santa Cruz CA
Mmm, this was very tasty! My one complaint was that the whipped avocado and picked crab mixture both had smooth and silky textures. I wish the avocado had been a little more firm to stand up to the crab (and feel less like baby food).
Hotel Paradox entrance vegetation.
Gin, lime and cucumber. Served on the rocks. $9
Oswald, Santa Cruz CA
This cocktail was good, but it wasn’t as bright and refreshing as I thought it was going to be. Hmm…
San Lorenzo River and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.
Whiskey, apple, lemon and bitters. Served on the rocks. $9
Oswald, Santa Cruz CA
I liked this cocktail especially since it wasn’t too sweet. The apple flavor was a nice counterpoint to the whiskey.
Red fuschia flowers (Onagraceae), The Mystery Spot.
Vittle Monster 