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.
Served with freshly baked bread. $8.75
Duarte’s Tavern, Pescadero CA
This place is FAMOUS for their cream of artichoke soup! They’ve received many awards and national recognition including a James Beard Foundation Award. When I found out that we were going to be traveling nearby, I had to include a stop-over to try their food.
There have been mixed reviews online regarding the artichoke soup, so I’m gonna throw my hat into the ring and say that I really liked the soup! It had a great texture and a nice natural artichoke flavor. They use sour cream and corn starch to thicken the soup instead of cream. They use bread from Half Moon Bay Bakery and it was delicious. The bread was reheated before serving so it was nice and warm and fluffy. NOMS!
Duarte’s Tavern storefront.
Parking lot signage.
Appleton’s gold rum, DeKuyper orange curacao, pineapple and lime juice, orgeat, Goslings Black Seal rum. $7
Hula’s Island Grill, Santa Cruz CA
There was something off with this cocktail. Perhaps the pineapple juice was old, but something just didn’t taste right. This was unfortunate because I do love my mai tai’s.
The Mystery Spot sign.
Salsa, tortillas, Rio Zape beans, queso fresco and fried Glaum eggs. $12
Solaire Restaurant + Bar, Santa Cruz CA
This dish was lame. The sauce covering the tortilla chips was cold and the tortillas were way too soggy. The Rio Zape beans were bland and boring, and the eggs were overcooked and dry.
Freshly brewed coffee. $3
Mixed redwood forest at The Mystery Spot.
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.
Cucumber, seven types of Japanese spice, umami tobiko, spicy crab and shiso. $13.50
Sushi Ran, Sausalito CA
I thought this sushi roll was really fun and delicious! I’d never had crawfish sushi before. The crawfish was cute and crunchy and I loved the umami tobiko and shiso. This roll had so many great flavors, noms!
I’m so glad that they don’t use cheap wouldn’t chopsticks. 🙂
With lime-ginger sauce and soy glaze, rice and mango salsa. $5
Hula’s Island Grill, Santa Cruz CA
This tasted ok, but the squid steak had a super squishy texture which I didn’t like. I liked the sauces they used and the addition of rice and mango salsa though. It was also nicely fried so it wasn’t greasy.
Orange-yellow hibiscus flower (Malvaceae), The Mystery Spot.
Fresh berries and maple syrup. $10
Solaire Restaurant + Bar, Santa Cruz CA
These were just your standard French toast. They tasted fine but they weren’t anything special.
Chicken sausage. $4
These sausages were pretty sad especially when they cost four bucks!
Ketchup, maple syrup and butter.
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.
Potato-garlic puree, spring pea relish, ginger. $11
Sushi Ran, Sausalito CA
OMG, I’m in love with this dish! The short rib was SO flavorful and it just melted in your mouth. The potatoes were also delicious as was the pea relish. More please!
Fruit and granola cups, Marin Farmers Market.
Homemade bbq sauce, bacon, jack cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, pickles. $8.25
Sparky’s, San Francisco CA
Omg, I’m such a pig! But hey, we all crave burgers every once in a while, right? (Especially on the way home from the bars, hehe.)
Cute big band performance, Jane Warner Plaza.
Santa Cruz 75: bubbles, elderflower and lemon. $8
Bubbly Berry: bubbles, berry, lemon, pomegranate and hibiscus. $8
Solaire Restaurant + Bar, Santa Cruz CA
I don’t know why I think that soju cocktails are ever going to please my palate. I always have a false sense of hope that I’ll finally like how they taste. Well, I was wrong yet again! Solaire doesn’t have a proper liquor license so they’re stuck with serving hard liquor replacement cocktails. Both of these were especially sweet and nauseating.
Solaire menu.
Hotel Paradox pool area.
Vittle Monster 