Summer restaurants

Wayne and I decided we'd travel locally a bit this summer, since I wasn't committed to working the pool bar at the Claremont Club & Spa every weekend. By "locally" we meant northern California, possibly requiring one overnight but no further away than that. We made some wonderful road trips! Of course anyone who knows me knows I love food, and much of the wonderfulness of these trips for me revolved around discovering amazing restaurants. Here are a few we enjoyed, just in case you might be in one of their neighborhoods.

Santa Cruz, July 31: The Ideal Bar & Grill

Of course Santa Cruz has a number of good and great restaurants. But if you're going to the Boardwalk, and if you have in tow your teenage grandson who likes to eat certain things and definitely won't touch others, you have more limited choices. I have to say the restaurants in and around the SC Boardwalk are generally touristy and not very interesting, with one exception. We have always had good food at the Ideal Bar & Grill, right on Santa Cruz's Main Beach.
This time we ordered burgers and fries (Jack's choice, meat and bun only, no sauce, no condiments for him). In the end, he gave the final verdict. "Good food." That's high praise from Jack. And it was good - very fresh, flavorful, and fast friendly service.

Jenner, August 29: River's End Restaurant

Jenner is off the beaten path, to put it mildly. We got here on our way to Mendocino on the north California coast. It's where the Russian River meets Highway 1 and the Pacific Ocean, hence River's End. You either have to know about this restaurant or get lucky, like we did, on your way to somewhere else. This is a big fishing area, and oysters and salmon were fresh out of the water when we arrived. We both had salmon chowder, and big lunch salads. Mine had duck and it was just out of this world.  Wonderful food, elegant service. We'll find an excuse to drive out here again!

Mendocino, August 30: Trillium

I've been to Mendocino lots of times, but Wayne hasn't so it was fun to show it to him. It's quite a long drive, especially if you take Highway 1, which we did. Beautiful though, along the Pacific most of the way.

I'd even eaten at Trillium before, years ago, but then it was called Chocolate Moose (loved that name). I had a soup there, a fish chowder, that I copied and still make at home. It's one of my favorite soups.

The weather was gorgeous in August, although not hot. Mendocino is far enough north and right on the ocean so it gets a fair amount of chill and wind most of the year. This day was lovely enough that we had lunch on the patio overlooking the kitchen garden and looking out to Big River Bay between the sweet old buildings of Main Street. We both remarked on the air. It was so clean, so clear, that we felt like we could breathe better than we had in a long time...an unfortunate legacy of our normal lives in a big city and in a part of the country prone to wildfires, which even if they're far off fill the air with smoke.

Trillium's kitchen garden was of great interest. We sat on benches there waiting for the restaurant to open for lunch. There were a multitude of vegetables and herbs growing, with insects and birds buzzing around, and wonderful herby smells. Quite entrancing, not to mention whetting your appetite.

I had a curried vegetable pot pie, which was fresh and lovely. Wayne had a salad with fish. Both were delicious, fresh and simple. The atmosphere was magical, and when we were finished with lunch we got in the car for our return to reality.

Sonoma, September 18: La Salette

Needless to say, every other restaurant in Sonoma is famous and fabulous. We were here for some pre-birthday celebrating, however, and wanted to eat something different, something not 'California wine country cuisine'. Wayne saw this Portuguese/Brazilian spot online and we decided to go for it! We were so glad we did - what a discovery!

It had been a hot day in Sonoma, so we sat outside on the patio for dinner. The evening coolness felt great. The first exciting event was a little shot glass of tomato water, compliments of the chef. I wish I knew how to make it. It was the most intensely tomato-flavored water I could imagine - delicious and so refreshing. Then we both decided to order steak and fries, which we never do. We actually don't eat beef, unless someone serves it to us in their home. So this night was a special occasion.

The steaks arrived on a bed of fries with a fried egg on top. Wow, hadn't seen that before. The fries were swimming in au jus from the steak, so no real need for any other condiment. Yum! Tender, juicy, delicious, meaty, eggy, we ate every drop. We'll be back here again too!
An added bonus was a little nightclub next door and down a few steps, where a band was finishing their last set and we danced to a couple of tunes before heading back to the hotel.

Sonoma, September 19: El Molino Central

This unassuming little place is one of our favorites, and we try to eat there as many times as possible whenever we're in Sonoma. Best. Mexican. Food. Ever. And it's not your usual Mexican either. Wayne's tostadas this time came covered in fresh crab and avocado. My enchiladas were stuffed with red chard. It's a seasonal menu, and just the best. So humble that you have to walk through the kitchen to get to a table, which is a picnic table. Love, love, love this place! Highly recommended.

Looks like we ate our way around northern California, doesn't it? Couldn't have been more fun or more yummy.