Fresh, Friendly, Local – that’s what their sign says. They have been on Coast Highway in Newport Beach since 1982. Today was my first time. That was my friend Sylvia’s choice, and that choice was a good one. This place is full of nostalgia with beach-type murals painted on all the walls – inside and out.
The menu is extensive with all of the favorites – homestyle cooking at its best. Food was so good I forgot to take photos until we were well into the eating process. So I will need to explain what you see. That’s a patty melt on the left with sweet potato fries for Slyia. Pastrami melt for me with cole slaw. In the words of Food Network hostess, Rachel Ray, everything was “yummo”!
I hadn’t seen Sylvia is almost two years so we had fun catching up on all the family news, etc. We’ll have another food adventure soon. Here we are in all or glory. I can’t figure out why I always close my eyes. Maybe I know what’s coming, and it’s never good (lol).
The Other Thing – Cappy’s philosophy – “Our vibe is your vibe. Laid-Back and chill, just like it was the day we opened in 1982.”
I always stop to see Mike at Sheldrake first. When we get together, its never for a quick hello. We always have lots to talk about. It was a lovely sunshiny day for a walk.
From Sheldrake’s to Roe Seafood at 22nd and Bayshore…
Then from the Belmont Fire Station to Super Mex…
The Other Thing – I moved away from Belmont Shore in 2000. I still miss it!
This lazy Monday morning was a perfect time to lounge at The Camp. I hadn’t been there in quite a while. Had my chai at Vitaly. The major change for me is that Old Vine, one of my favorite restaurants, was no longer there. I had heard friends speak of how good Folks Pizza is, but I didn’t realize that it was at The Camp in the space that used to be Old Vine. I didn’t take a photo of it because it doesn’t open until 4pm and look pretty nondescript when closed – even the windows are blacked out.
pretty cool stuff here, so I renewed my acquaintance with this little “mini mall”.
It’s a lovely day to eat outside, and Tantalum is the perfect place.
Located in the Marina Pacifica mall in Long Beach, Tantalum has a welcoming entry and a patio overlooking the marina.
Even a lifejacket-wearing dog gets to enjoy the water.
Julie introduced me to a (new to me) summer drink – a white wine spritzer with a splash of peach schnapps. It was very refreshing. We ordered nothing unusual but always favorites – mac and cheese and Kobe sliders. They were delicious.
The Other Thing – According to the dictionary, the word “tantalum” means “chemical element with the symbol Ta and atomic number 73 – named after a figure in Greek mythology”. Maybe that guy was a gastronome.
In order of appearance: Fish and Chips and generous mimosas at Wilma’s Patio on Balboa Island – Grilled shrimp appetizer at Evan’s Gourmet in Laguna Beach – birthday cheeseburger and dream sickle shake at Shake Shack in Crystal Cove – Scallops and birthday dessert at The Cannery in Newport Beach – charcuterie board at Lido Bottle Works in Lido Marina Village, Newport Beach.
The Other Thing – These are my favorites during the months of June and July. There is always more to come.
Debbie was in town on family business but had time to spend a day with her very dear friend – me. So I planned a full day of food and fun and lots of conversation. First stop would be Terrace By Mix Mix in South Coast Plaza where I was anxious to share my favorite dishes with her. Then it would be off to Rose’s Bakery Cafe in Corona del Mar for chai and pastries. This would be followed by a long leisurely drive down Pacific Coast Highway enjoying the sunshine and the ocean view. We would end in Del Mar to enjoy a delightful dinner at Jakes’s on the Beach, sitting at a table overlooking the ocean where the windows open up to the sand. We might be there in time to watch the sunset.
Here is what happened to my perfect plan. It started raining as soon as we got to South Coast Plaza. Terrace by Mix Mix had completely changed their menu. Gone were all my favorites. We settled for sharing Oven Steamed Mussels and small Albacore Tostadas.
It did stop raining by the time we got back to the car, but the day was cold and windy. On to Rose’s and the next roadblock to my perfect plan. It was closed for upgrade and only a small part of the patio was open. They did have chai for us, but the only pastry left was the very last donut – we split it.
OK, we were still together, and moved onward toward Del Mar. We followed PCH through San Clemente and then took the 5 South – much farther than we planned. We immediately encountered 3 lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic as far as the eyes could see. It was frustrating and infuriating because this was not part of the plan. We were stuck. We couldn’t get off – there was nowhere to go except forward, on and on for what seemed like hours. Finally, I suggested we pull off in Carlsbad, to do what, I wasn’t too sure. It took a while to find a place to park, and when we did, we had to pay the meter. Between us, we had one penny. Parking was free after 6pm so we waited in the car for 20 minutes or so to be on the safe side. Then we encountered another dilemma – It was Saturday, and apparently if you don’t have a dinner reservation in Carlsbad, you are simply out of luck. The first place we stopped in had a small (and I do mean small) table in the corner of the bar. It was so close to the people at the next table, we could have eaten off their plates. The menu had nothing on it for less than $20, so we quietly walked out. The hostess said, “Thank you, please come again”. We walked a couple more blocks looking for other possibilities. Then, a couple of blocks farther, look what we found…..
No reservations available at Hello Betty, but we spotted 2 empty barstools and quickly made them our own. They had 20 beers on tap, but cocktails were more our speed. My drink of choice right now is the Paloma (tequila, lime, agave, grapefruit, soda water). Debbie opted for the Seaside Sling (an interesting blend of gin, apricot brandy, benedictine, cherry, and spiced syrup). The fish and chips were surprisingly delicious. The tartar sauce thick and flavorful and the side of coleslaw had dressing with an Asian touch. All quite enjoyable. We could see the ocean but sunset wasn’t quite visible.
Debbie and I have made it a tradition to always have dessert – whether we need it or not. We shared the cinnamon ice cream brownie sundae that could probably have served four. A brief stop at the pier and back to the car.
It was dark on our way home. We didn’t make it anywhere near Del Mar, but we still enjoyed our day, even though it was not the “perfect”‘ plan.
The Other Thing – It is really not the doin’ that matters – it’s who you are doin’ it with!!
Located in DTLA on Olympic Boulevard in Koreatown, Guelaguetza is a restaurant, boutique market, and an advocate of Oaxacan culture in Los Angeles. Owner, chef and author Bricia Lopez spoke about her cookbook, “The Art of Mexican Style Grilling”, at our local Costa Mesa Library in late January. Two hundred people showed up. That kind of following caused my curiosity to go into overload. I had to see what all the fuss was about. I had dinner there with my son on a Saturday night in February. We had a reservation but still had to wait a bit and ended up in the covered patio. The menu is mole-based and a little overwhelming if you are not familiar with this type of cuisine. We were a little disappointed with the experience. I drank my first Paloma.
But not to be discouraged, I decided to give it another try – this time with my friend Sandy who is more familiar with mole. We went on a Tuesday for lunch and ate in the dining room.
First of all, there was no paper menu. We had to scan it to our phones. Not my idea of the best way to peruse my options, but I guess this is the future. The day called for Palomas (Don Julio Reposado Tequila, fresh lime juice and 1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice), served with complimentary chips covered with Mole Coloradito. Made with ancho chiles, New Mexican chiles and pressed on a hot dry skillet and flash roasted. They were sprinkled with queso fresco.
Sandy needed some coffee to prepare for what was to come next. Friends of my son told him that we must try the Chapulinis ala carte. This term is specific to Mexico and Central America and derives from the word meaning “crickets”. They were grilled with jalapenos and garlic. I managed to avoid the peppers, but still, they just weren’t good – not much flavor. The couple in the table behind us were gobbling them down like candy.
We were just not feeling it so far, but on to our entrees. This is where my photos fall short because all the dishes are covered with mole, and you can’t tell one dish from another. On the left is my shredded chicken with Mole Coloradito (I knew that mole was tasty). On the right was Sandy’s Carnitas Mole Negro (made with chilies, nuts, seeds and Oaxacan chocolate). Both dishes were served with rice.
They don’t look that appetizing, but I think we gringas are just not used to this type of Mexican food. All dining out, in my mind, must end with dessert. The flan were pretty good and so was my Oaxacan hot chocolate.
The Other Thing – We came a long way to be disappointed, but it was an adventure, and the service was friendly and helpful. When with my son and with Sandy, most of the diners there were Hispanic. That should be a good sign – just not for us.
My brother David and I have had this trip planned since January – happy to finally be there. First game was an Angel win over the Dodgers with a score of 4-0. Ohtani and Trout were both 0 for 3. Dodgers beat the White Sox 12-9 in the second game. Ohtani and Trout had hits – the Dodgers Yamamoto did not do well in his second start of spring training.
Kiss the Cook was a funky and fun place for a country breakfast. Great service and friendly servers. We had been eating snacks out of our cooler, so this was a welcome change. We’re not camping, although the Motel 6 was certainly close to it.
Cuff is a local hot spot for dinner in the Glendale area around Phoenix. The “French Cuff” cocktail had an unusual mixture of ingredients but was quite tasty. Burgers were the messy kind and pretty good. According to their website, they have been named the Best of the Valley.
PART TWO
On to my friend Karen’s house in Phoenix for a quick over-night stay. Food is always high on my agenda, so we took her to Pizzeria Bianco for lunch.
Pizzeria Bianco was featured on Chrissy and Dave Dine Out on Hulu. Their wood-fired pizzas have no traditional ingredients, and I was anxious to try one. The grilled skewers with fontina and prosciutto were delicious. The “Wiseguy” pizza contained no sauce – just smoked mozzarellla, onions and fennel sausage. I was not disappointed.
Our enjoyment of the Giants’ stadium was short lived. It was our first experience with lawn seating, but it rained on us. So after 2 scoreless innings, the game was called. Stopped at Subway on our way back to Karen’s. No need to show those food photos. The next morning was another story.
The Oink Cafe features 8 bacon flavors – Applewood, Jalapeno, Honey Cured, Sugar Cured, Apple Cider, Pepper, Hickory or Chef’s Choice. The 4 above that I chose were Apple Cider, Applewood, Chef’s Choice of Sugar Cured, and Honey Cured. It didn’t matter what breakfast we ordered, it was all about the BACON!
PART THREE
On our way home, we stopped to see my very bestest friend Betty and her husband Larry. Their home in La Quinta – How do I describe it? I am dubbing this place “The La Quinta Inn, Spa and Restaurant”!!
Lovely charcuterie and wine in the patio by the pool, Chef Extraordinare Larry grilled a magnificent tri-tip, and David and I figured we were certain we had found heaven on earth! Next…….
A lovely guided tour of Old Town, the local gathering spot. Notice the coffee place that, alas, was closed. They might have had a new chai concoction for me to try.
After 3 days of baseball, this was such a relaxing way to end our spring training adventure. The beds at this special “La Quinta Inn” were very comfortable and cozy, and we each had our own bathroom. Our every need was attended to – a lovely continental breakfast in the morning before we left for home. Betty and Larry are awesome friends. David even got a tour of the golf course (their backyard is about 100 yards to the first green).
The Other Thing – We have an open invitation to return. I guess maybe we had not outstayed our welcome.
This weekend I attended an exhibition of carnival rides that were introduced in 1987 and then lost until now. Read on.
Viennese artist Andre Heller became obsessed with the idea of a traveling art carnival, an extension of his interest in art forms like circus and vaudeville. Luna Luna opened to the public in summer of 1987 in Hamburg, Germany. It included carousels, wandering circus acts, a Ferris wheel, and funhouse pavilions. They were created by some of the famous artists of the era, including Salvador Dali, David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein and Jean-Michael Basquiat.
Andre Heller Jean-Michel Basquiat Salvadore Dali
Electrifying explosion of fun, humor and creativity experienced by nearly 300,000 people. Heller planned for the project to travel around the world but those plans were ultimately foiled by litigation, and the entire park was put in containers and stored away in Texas. It has now been brought back to life and will be taken care of for the future.
The other thing – Interesting experience. There was so much to see that it was hard to remember who created which piece. There was even a wedding chapel, in use as we walked by. The craftsmanship is incredible. Time has made them pretty delicate though, so no riding allowed!
This, That, and The Other Thing 