I will always recommend this restaurant. Make sure you are not in a hurry though. Everything is made fresh so things take a bit, especially when they are busy. In my opinion, it's worth the wait...have another cocktail in the meantime!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Purrrfect
I have dined at Hungry Cat (in Santa Barbara...there is one in LA) more times than I can remember. Each time I eat a creative combination of ingredients and leave feeling completely content. This time was no different. The copper counters and dark wood furniture create a bistro-like feel reminiscent of Paris eateries. Usually I would have ordered a cocktail right away, but we jumped right into the wine. They make the most amazing, fresh cocktails using fresh squeezed/cut/pressed/sliced everything. The Greyhound is amazing, especially during grapefruit's high season and the Luke's Lemonade cocktail with vodka, mint, and lemon is addictive. But this time, wine. We ordered a lovely Italian Soave which hit the spot. Their wine list changes all the time and always has a nice selection of local wines as well as Greek, Italian, or French and more. I enjoyed the salad special as my starter - fresh crab mixed with frisee, endive, cashews, grapefruit, and a light vinaigrette. The combination of crab and cashews was surprising and delicious. Who would have thought?
Delicious crab salad polished off, enter speck wrapped rainbow trout served with spatzle, sauteed apples, mustard greens, and a mustard creme fraiche sauce. Wow.
I have to admit that presentation-wise, the wrapped trout looked kind of silly, but flavor-wise it was quite delectable. I am constantly amazed by their pairings.
I will always recommend this restaurant. Make sure you are not in a hurry though. Everything is made fresh so things take a bit, especially when they are busy. In my opinion, it's worth the wait...have another cocktail in the meantime!
I will always recommend this restaurant. Make sure you are not in a hurry though. Everything is made fresh so things take a bit, especially when they are busy. In my opinion, it's worth the wait...have another cocktail in the meantime!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Holiday madness and good times
It always seems like the holidays arrive too fast and disappear just as fast as they came. One gets whirled up into the madness of it all.
Since my last photo post I have eaten many delightful things and traveled to Tahoe to get in some quality snow time. Jeff and I snowshoed our way around the forest behind the condo we were staying at with his family. I had never snowshoed before and it turns out to be quite a workout, especially in so much freshly fallen snow!
In Tahoe, near Truckee actually, we ate at a great Japanese restaurant called The Drunken Monkey (how's that for a fun name?). The food was delightful. Very fresh fish and soul-warming udon and soba soups. As well as an extensive Sake list.
Since my last photo post I have eaten many delightful things and traveled to Tahoe to get in some quality snow time. Jeff and I snowshoed our way around the forest behind the condo we were staying at with his family. I had never snowshoed before and it turns out to be quite a workout, especially in so much freshly fallen snow!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Fall Produce in Abundance
I love the farmer's market in the fall with the cool, crisp air and the new produce that hits the stands. Parsnips. Cabbage. Persimmons. There's also the oyster guy who sells a dozen for $13! They are delicious and what a deal when you think about how much you pay in a restaurant.
My patio is slowing filling with red-brown leaves, aided by the winds we have been having the last few days. Fall has been a time for change in my life for many years now. Once again, things are changing and I don't know where it will all lead me. In the meantime, I'll make soup.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Costa Rica - A Glimpse
It would be impossible for me to write everything that my friend Caroline and I did while in Costa Rica, so here is one journal entry from Nosara, to give you an idea of the adventures and sights we experienced:
August 5, 2010 THe Harmony Hotel, Nosara, Costa Rica
The Harmony Hotel is a beautiful place. The calm atmosphere, warm people, organic food, and natural ambiance creates a mini oasis. Steps from Playa Guiones one is in the water within 5 minutes and a guard watched your things so you can swim carefree. After a most delicious breakfast of fresh fruit and homemade croissant, we headed to said beach. Along the crashing waves we walked to the left till the water was coming up to high for us to cross. Waves crashed and rolled in a white froth to the dark brown and black sand all along the coast. We played in these waves for a bit and moved on to "our beach" (Playa Pelada) where waves are smaller. It was awesome. We played int eh waves there for quite a while. The water was so clear yet a deep azure at the same time. Unable to resist, we sat on the sand where the waves washed up on us and we covered ourselves in sand. The coast in this area has rocks jutting out, dark masses on the blue backdrop.
Back by the pool I enjoyed a Mahi Pita full of fresh veggies. There's a surprising little amount of people here making this place so peaceful. Rainy season rocks!
In the village we explored the Tica Massage place (which I do not recommend as it hasn't a good vibe) and enjoyed cups of coffee at Robin's alongside a blue bird with a funny feather on its head.
I attempted to do some watercolor painting in the afternoon while Caroline wrote in her journal. Caroline thinks it turned out pretty good. At 5pm our transport picked us up and took us to Playa Garza. Carlos, who drove, was born there and also owned the general store and a 26' boat for fishing. Lovely guy.
Pacifico Azul was out destination - a fresh, local seafood joint recommended to us by our friends back at the hotel. THe place was wide open with chairs and tables placed at random out on the sand. The water was just right there framed by palm trees. Greeted by a couple dogs we purchased dos Imperials and asked if they minded us to walk on the beach with them and the host man smiled in the Costa Rican casual way and encouraged us to go on with out flow and that he trusted us, as we had not paid yet. We saw 2 horses walking on the beach alone and could not resist going up to them. Our plan was spoiled when our "posse" (as they were later named) barked their way over to the horses and chased them away. Once again, it is just us on the beach with our posse of all female dogs. Totally insane! We sat at our table by the sea for a few hours drinking Imperial (better than Pilsen we decided) and easting delicious ceviche and watching the sunset, toes int he sand the posse around us. Note: wear bug spray - fleas and mosquitoes abound. Pacifico Azul is amazing and on Playa Garza which qualifies as one of the most beautiful beaches I have been too, and it was even an overcast evening!
Earlier in the day we had encountered the woman at the health center and mentioned that we missed doing yoga that morning, but she told us that it had been cancelled because of no teacher around. She said that we must be "in the flow" meaning that by doing as we feel in the moment, we are doing what is working and most efficient and fulfilling.
This is what everyday has felt like so far - in the flow, in the moment. We do lots in the mornings, have calm lunches, and leisurely afternoons as it usually rains then. It rains the most in the middle of the night, clinking on our bungalow's tin roof.
We created a drink of cacique and their passion fruit min juice drink which we enjoyed with the flour-less chocolate cake. We attempted to play ping pong but could not see the ball all that well in the dark so opted to take a dip in the pool. So peaceful in the dark of the night.
I keep saying ridiculous because everything is so ridiculously wonderful. We are appreciating every moment and that Time moves extra slow around here...
Pura Vida!
August 5, 2010 THe Harmony Hotel, Nosara, Costa Rica
The Harmony Hotel is a beautiful place. The calm atmosphere, warm people, organic food, and natural ambiance creates a mini oasis. Steps from Playa Guiones one is in the water within 5 minutes and a guard watched your things so you can swim carefree. After a most delicious breakfast of fresh fruit and homemade croissant, we headed to said beach. Along the crashing waves we walked to the left till the water was coming up to high for us to cross. Waves crashed and rolled in a white froth to the dark brown and black sand all along the coast. We played in these waves for a bit and moved on to "our beach" (Playa Pelada) where waves are smaller. It was awesome. We played int eh waves there for quite a while. The water was so clear yet a deep azure at the same time. Unable to resist, we sat on the sand where the waves washed up on us and we covered ourselves in sand. The coast in this area has rocks jutting out, dark masses on the blue backdrop.
Back by the pool I enjoyed a Mahi Pita full of fresh veggies. There's a surprising little amount of people here making this place so peaceful. Rainy season rocks!
In the village we explored the Tica Massage place (which I do not recommend as it hasn't a good vibe) and enjoyed cups of coffee at Robin's alongside a blue bird with a funny feather on its head.
I attempted to do some watercolor painting in the afternoon while Caroline wrote in her journal. Caroline thinks it turned out pretty good. At 5pm our transport picked us up and took us to Playa Garza. Carlos, who drove, was born there and also owned the general store and a 26' boat for fishing. Lovely guy.
Pacifico Azul was out destination - a fresh, local seafood joint recommended to us by our friends back at the hotel. THe place was wide open with chairs and tables placed at random out on the sand. The water was just right there framed by palm trees. Greeted by a couple dogs we purchased dos Imperials and asked if they minded us to walk on the beach with them and the host man smiled in the Costa Rican casual way and encouraged us to go on with out flow and that he trusted us, as we had not paid yet. We saw 2 horses walking on the beach alone and could not resist going up to them. Our plan was spoiled when our "posse" (as they were later named) barked their way over to the horses and chased them away. Once again, it is just us on the beach with our posse of all female dogs. Totally insane! We sat at our table by the sea for a few hours drinking Imperial (better than Pilsen we decided) and easting delicious ceviche and watching the sunset, toes int he sand the posse around us. Note: wear bug spray - fleas and mosquitoes abound. Pacifico Azul is amazing and on Playa Garza which qualifies as one of the most beautiful beaches I have been too, and it was even an overcast evening!
Earlier in the day we had encountered the woman at the health center and mentioned that we missed doing yoga that morning, but she told us that it had been cancelled because of no teacher around. She said that we must be "in the flow" meaning that by doing as we feel in the moment, we are doing what is working and most efficient and fulfilling.
This is what everyday has felt like so far - in the flow, in the moment. We do lots in the mornings, have calm lunches, and leisurely afternoons as it usually rains then. It rains the most in the middle of the night, clinking on our bungalow's tin roof.
We created a drink of cacique and their passion fruit min juice drink which we enjoyed with the flour-less chocolate cake. We attempted to play ping pong but could not see the ball all that well in the dark so opted to take a dip in the pool. So peaceful in the dark of the night.
I keep saying ridiculous because everything is so ridiculously wonderful. We are appreciating every moment and that Time moves extra slow around here...
Pura Vida!
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