Archive for March, 2008
A stroll up and down California Street is a wonderful experience. It has a very relaxed feel about it and the number of opportunities to stop and take it all in are many, either on one of the benches or sitting outside one of the many cafes.
California Street is about two miles from the main shopping street in Palo Alto and the Stanford Shopping Center. It used to be a separate town altogether called Mayfield, which was here before Palo Alto even existed. The founder of Stanford University, Leland Stanford, wanted to build his university in Mayfield but it was on condition that alcohol be banned from the town. The residents were not happy with that condition as they had over a dozen saloons doing a roaring business. So Leland Stanford went two miles north to build his university. Palo Alto came into existence at the same time and eventually became larger than Mayfield. In 1925 Mayfield was annexed by Palo Alto and the town of Mayfield was no more.
There are lots of places to eat, ranging from the ubiquitous Starbucks and bagal shops to cafes like Cafe Brioche and Joanie’s to slightly pricier venues like Bistro Basia and Illusions (with belly dancer) right up to Spalti Restorante and Bistro Elan. But my favorite (apart from Joanie’s for breakfast) is Printers Cafe. Ideal for a quick snack and a drink, sitting outside and watching the world walk by. Also it has the Gallery House opening from the main room. This is owned and operated by a co-operative of artists and there are regular exhibitions there. It is open on Tuesday from 11-5 and from 11-9 on Wednesdays to Saturdays.
There are two natural food markets - Mollie Stone’s at the station end and Country Sun, which is nearer to El Camino. Other businesses include a cobblers, hair and nail saloons, a florist, several opticians, a yoga center, a massage therapy center, a second hand bookshop with a very original name - Know Knew Books, an art supplies shop, a stationers which sells a variety to goods and Keeble and Shuchat Photography has two shops almost opposite each other. Tom disappeared into one of them for about an hour which gave me the opportunity to really explore the neighborhood.
Watch out for the art as well. There is an interesting statue on the corner of Ash which is called ‘Go Mama’ by Marta Thomas. On the other side of the street is a sculpture entitled ‘Love Spoken Here’ by William Wareham which is four large chairs and a small table made of of metal. I wonder if it is OK to sit on them? Hmm, maybe I’d better not. In the median on either side of Birch there are two more sculptures, one of metal and one of wood. There are also quite a few wall murals. On a wall to the side of Starbucks are three and on the side of Country Sun there is a huge picture of a volcano with a field of California poppies in the foreground. On the corner of California and Ash there is the Hotel California with several murals, one of them very amusing.
All in all, a wonderful neighborhood. Check it out.
March 27 2008 | Neighborhoods | No Comments »
Today is going to be a beautiful sunny day. We are later than usual starting off because we are not going too far - Palo Alto to be exact.
Our mission today is to find an outfit for me to wear to my daughter’s wedding in five weeks time. For several weeks I have been searching for something suitable but without luck. Yesterday I spent several fruitless hours at the Gilroy Outlets but everything was far too young and strappy for me. I even stopped off at a bridal shop on the way home and checked out their outfits for the ‘Mother of the Bride’ but these were not only far too ornate but out of my price range.
So today It will be Stanford Shopping Center where I’ll check out Talbots, Bloomingdales and possibly Nordstrom. Let’s hope I will be successful.
Our first stop though is Stanford University. It’s a lovely campus with many grand Italian Spanish-colonial style buildings (thanks to Dave for pointing out my mistake) but they were not on our itinerary. There were two places we wanted to visit - the Stone River sculpture and the Cactus Garden.
We knew roughly where they were but were not a 100% certain. I knew the Stone River sculpture was near the Cantor Arts Center so when we stumbled on that building we knew we were close. But it is hard to find because a) there are no directions to be seen and b) it can’t be seen from the road as it is below ground level. If you have a desire to see it for yourself here are the directions. The Cantor Arts Center is on Lumita Drive. When you stand on the steps in front of the Cantor, you can see Museum Way in front of you. Walk across the road to Museum Way. There is a car park on your left. Behind the car park look out for two granite blocks and walk towards them. You will then see the Snake River to your left.
It was designed by the British sculpture Andy Goldsworthy. If you have never heard of him or seen any of his work, let me introduce you. He was born in the north of England and his sculpture is unique as he uses basic tools and his works consist of twigs, thorns, stones, ice, leaves, rocks, chalk and literally anything natural in the vicinitiy. Most of them are reclaimed by nature pretty quickly but he takes photographs as a record. For a fascinating documentary of his life and work see if you can lay your hands on the DVD entitled ‘Rivers and Tides’.
The Stone River is a dry stone wall which took eight men, working six days a week, 11 hours a
day, three and a half weeks to construct back in the summer of 2001. Another place to see a permanent piece of work by Andy Goldsworthy - ‘Faultline’ - is outside the entrance of the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park.
While Tom was taking photos, I walked over to the Cantor Arts Center. Off to the left of the building is the Roden Sculpture Garden where some of Auguste Roden’s sculptures are displayed in a pleasing setting. Roden is famous for his sculpture entitled ‘The Thinker’. Here though you will see his ‘Gates of Hell’, ‘Adam’, ‘Eve’, ‘The Martyr’, ‘The Three Shades’ plus fifteen more.
To the right of the Cantor is a completely different sculpture. This is large and red and built out of stainless steel girders and is called ‘The Sieve of Eratosthenes’ by Mark di Suvero.
In front of the Cantor are some bike racks and what really amused me is that some of the bikes, firmly secured to the racks, must have been there for some considerable time.
Now for the Cactus Garden. Once again it is hard to find as it is not marked in any way. We have been here before and we knew it was near the California Cafe. The exact location is on Quarry Road, just off the car park opposite the Wells Fargo bank. Look out for the wooden posts which mark the start of the a footpath.
The actual name of the garden is Arizona Garden. It was laid out in 1880s for Jane and Leland Stanford (Leland Stanford was the founder of Stanford University). They planned to build their home nearby but it was never constructed. Their son, Leland Stanford, Jr. died of typhoid just before his sixteenth birthday and they used the land to build the Stanford family mausoleum instead.
The time is 8.30 in the morning and it is very peaceful. I wandered around looking at the many different cacti and succulents and then found a bench in the sun to write my journal. It’s a perfect day with hardly a breeze to stir the leaves. Every so often I gaze at the garden, which is showing its age a bit. Up to the 1920’s it was well maintained but then left completely untended until it was restored in 1997. There are some original plants still in existence but not all of them are in good shape. It adds to the charm of the place though.
Time for breakfast and then we will hit the shops.
PS - I did find the perfect outfit at Stanford Shopping Center - mission accomplished.
March 25 2008 | Special Places | 1 Comment »
Before we headed to Palo Alto We checked where to have breakfast. We could not find anywhere on University Avenue, which is the main street of Palo Alto, but on California Avenue we found Joanie’s at 447 California Avenue. California Avenue is in a separate neighborhood and is about two miles from University and has a completely different feel about it. It used to be the main street in the town of Mayfield. Mayfield was incorporated into Palo Alto in 1925.
We have eaten here before in June of 2003 and were impressed. It is very small with just 5 tables for four and 9 for two with 3 places at the counter inside and a few tables outside. There are no booths. We arrived at 9.30, which is late for us, and the place was full so we had to wait for ten minutes. The first places to become available were at the counter so we took them. This is a first for me.
The service is quick and efficient and in no time at all we had our coffee and water and our order was taken. Tom ordered Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon ($9.50) and it was the usual oatmeal for me ($4.95). Back in 2003 the oatmeal was $4.00 so that is nearly a 25% increase in five years.
The only decoration in the place, apart from a large vase of fresh flowers on the counter, were a series of black and white photos around the walls. They were all done by the husband and wife team of Mark and Myshel Morgan and the photos were of London and San Tropez and Paris in France. Very impressive.
Our food was quick to arrive and it sure looked good. The Eggs Benedict looked really pretty and, for once, the hash browns did look extra crispy. It came with a small bowl of fruit containing sliced strawberries, cubes of melon and apple. My oatmeal came in a large, shallow bowl. On a separate plate were three toppings in stainless steel bowls - brown sugar, raisins and granola. I was asked whether I wanted full milk or reduced fat and chose the latter. It came hot and steamed in a white ceramic jug. The oatmeal looked very white so I’m guessing it was cooked in milk and not water.
A quick trip to the restroom but it wasn’t very noteworthy. It was very small with just one small picture on the wall entitled ‘Arles Flowerbox, France’.
We both loved the food and highly recommend it. It is a happy, bustling place with a very nice atmosphere and the service is great.
March 23 2008 | Breakfast Log | 1 Comment »
After eating all those calories in Bucks Cafe, it is time to walk them off.
We arrive at the Old Stage Picnic Area and Trail Head car park on Edgewood Road just after 9 and already it is full. We managed to grab one of the two remaining spaces. As soon as I open the door I hear a woodpecker tapping away but I cannot see it, no matter how hard I try.
Edgewood is managed by San Mateo Parks Department and is a jewel hidden away above Redwood City. It is only 467 acres with five trails, the longest of which is nearly 2 miles long, so it is not a huge park. On one side it is bordered by houses and on another by Highway 280. But it is a great place to for a hike, especially in the Spring when the wildflowers are blooming.
We head off clockwise on the Sylvan Trail, which is a 2.5 mile exercise loop and is only for walkers and joggers. Horses are allowed on some trails but no bikes or dogs are allowed in the park at all. The start of the Sylvan Trail goes alongside houses but they are well hidden by trees. You see the occasional roof, a corner of a deck or you hear the sound of childrens’ voices but they are the only indications that we are that close to them. The predominant sound here is birdsong. Those little critters are busy building nests and raising their young at this time of the year.
The Sylvan Loop is quite narrow and very popular with joggers but there is room for all. Most of this trail is well wooded, mostly oak, but occasionally in the lower part an open vista with await you around a corner. The higher you climb on the zig zag path the better the view becomes. As you approach the Serpentine Loop, the San Francisco Bay, Foster City and the San Mateo Bridge can be seen. Oakland can also be seen.
We start round Serpentine Loop Trail anticlockwise and then anticlockwise round the Ridgeview Loop before joining up with the Sylvan Loop Trail again. Today we see no wildlife but in the past we have been lucky to encounter deer. No two visits here are the same and the place never ceases to amaze me. On one hike several years ago we spotted an orange mushroom about 10 feet off the trail and we speculated what species it might be. I checked with my binoculars to see if I could see more detail and was embarrassed to discover it was a plastic marker of some sort!
There are very few places to sit and admire the view but the very best bench with a marvelous view is on the Sylvan Trail. It has a dedication on it which reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
GEORGE V. DILLENBURG
1903-1988
DONATED BY HIS DAUGHTER
I guess George loved coming to the park and this was his favorite spot. From here on a clear day, and today is remarkably clear, you can see the AT&T tower in Redwood City, the office building monstrosity in downtown Palo Alto, Moffet Field and San Jose’s skyline.
We did see a few wildflowers but I understand the full show will not be for another couple of weeks. If you plan to visit the end of the month and early April are the best times.
After our hike up the mountain in Pinnacles last week I suffered with aching muscles in my legs for most of the week. This has been a very easy hike so hopefully I will be lucky.
March 20 2008 | Special Places | No Comments »
This is the wildest, wackiest diner in Silicon Valley. For a start it is in Woodside. Now for
those of you not from the Bay Area, who do not know Woodside, I will try to describe it. The town itself is upmarket. Built to look like an old town, it is obviously new and high class. The main businesses are investment banks and realtors. There is a gourmet market and a picture framing shop. The residents must do most of their shopping in Palo Alto. The Post Office looks like a fort. Folks like Steve Jobs (Apple) and Larry Ellison (Oracle) call Woodside home.
There is a lot of history to Buck’s (by history I’m not talking centuries here but decades). People say many Silicon Vally deals and great ideas were drawn up on a Buck’s napkin. It is claimed to be the haunt of a lot of well known faces and/or names. For more information check out their website.
It opens at 8 on a Sunday and we were there when the doors opened. There were already a few people waiting when we turned up. Inside it is large. The seating is mostly booths but there are some tables and chairs and off to the side there are 5 stools at the counter. We were told we could sit anywhere we liked. Our first choice would have been a booth in the window but the sun was directly in my eyes and I couldn’t see any blinds. (I did notice later that there were blinds but well disguised.) We chose a booth further back.
Our server was very friendly and told us the special - a stack of 2 buttermilk pancakes layered with ricotta cheese, kiwi fruit, strawberries and bananas ($12), so Tom went for that. I ordered oatmeal with strawberries. Now here is an interesting point. I wrote a review of Buck’s five years ago almost to the day and the oatmeal then was exactly the same price as today ($4.50). Back then I also had banana and strawberries for an extra $1.50 so we will find out later how much they have gone up.
Now to the interior of Buck’s and this is its most outstanding feature. I can sum it up in one word - stuffed. I don’t know where to begin, so I’ll start with the first thing you see as you walk in the door - a six foot plus replica of the Statue of Liberty with a string of mardi gras beads and a stethoscope around her neck. That should give you an inkling of what to expect.
From there my eyes wandered to the ceiling. Suspended were 13 large objects and that’s just in the front part of the diner. There is a helicopter, a blimp, a flying horse, a monkey in a sled, an old bi-plane, a copper surfboard, three large fish, a strange looking gas powered wooden go-kart, an airplane, a yellow wooden car smashing through the wall and a log cabin. Phew!
Every wall is covered not only in pictures, some huge, but an amazing range of objects. So many in fact I will only name a few - a case of harmonicas, a size 23 shoe, about a dozen brightly colored ceramic cows, an old squash racket and hundreds of miniature tools and utensils. Believe me, you just have to come here and see for yourself.
We didn’t have to wait very long for our food to be served. Tom’s buttermilk pancakes looked pretty and good and came with a small jug of warm maple syrup. My oatmeal came on a large, round, decorated plate with the oatmeal in a large shallow bowl. Also on the plate were a small plastic bowl of compacted brown sugar, a small green bowl of golden raisins and a small ceramic jug of milk. The strawberries came sliced in a side bowl.
The food was good, no question about it and Tom said the coffee was very good which, coming from Tom, is high praise indeed.
Now the restrooms. For a start allow half an hour for the trip not because of long lines but because there is an wonderful array of things to look at. There were two restrooms, one for men and one for women. Each one was a large room. In the womens there was a table in the corner with a very old child’s three wheeler. On the walls were three interesting pictures and one on the door. The facilities themselves were very basic but adequate.
Our verdict - pretty darn good. In fact, one of the best. A visit here will have you leaving feeling good. OK, the buttermilk pancakes were a little on the expensive side, but hey, this is Woodside where some of the richest people in Silicon Valley reside. We certainly recommend it as a must go to place for breakfast. By the way, the strawberries were free or at least we were not charged for them.
March 16 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Last night the clocks ’sprang’ forward so we had an hour less in bed. We were up though soon after 5 and set off at 6. It was still dark and we were expecting less traffic on the road. After all it is Sunday and how many people are as daft as we are? Well, we were surprised at how many cars there were around. Maybe they put their clocks backward and not forward!
We took 101 south towards Gilroy, where we stopped for breakfast at the Black Bear Diner. No blog entry for it this time because we did one just six months ago. We were the only customers though.
It was getting light as we resumed our journey. Approaching Salinas we encountered fog. Now this was not expected. All the forecasts said it was going to be a nice sunny day but we have learnt that we should take nothing for granted and are always prepared for whatever weather is thrown at us.
South of Salinas there was no more fog. The sun was shining brightly on our left hand side as we drove through the fertile Salinas Valley. We passed neat rows of newly planted crops on both sides. Some plants were beginning to show above the soil and we had fun trying to work out what they were. Salinas Valley is called the Salad Bowl of California. They grow a lot of lettuce, celery, tomatoes, asparagus, etc., here. The valley is flat with the Sierra de Salinas range off to the right and the Gabilon Range to our left.
We are headed to the western sided of the Pinnacles National Monument. To get to the eastern side you have to drive through Hollister. No road connects the two sides though there are a couple of trails. Pinnacles is a very unusual place. It is the remains of a volcano. Well, it is only part of a volcano. The other part is 195 miles to the south due to the shifting of tectonic plates.
There are several interesting trails here. Today we will take take the Juniper Canyon trail from the Chaparral car park to where it joins the the High Peaks trail. There are 13 condors flying free over Pinnacles. They have been released here since 2003 and we hope to catch sight of them.
At Soledad we take Route 146 for 11 miles. We drive through the center of Soldad but there were very few people around. Ahead of us now are the mountains and the sun is just hight enough to make driving difficult. Salad crops have given way to grapes and we pass several wineries.
Well folks, it is a beautiful sunny day though the temperature outside is only 45 degrees. I just know it is going to get a whole lot warmer before long., after all it is only 8.30 in the morning.
The road narrows with many twists and turns for the next 9 miles. Route 146 ends and we cross a cattle grid and enter the park. Soon the distinctive, red jagged peaks of Pinnacles hove into view.
The Ranger Station was closed so we filled in the form, part our $5 in the envelope and posted it. There were only three other cars in the car park.
We set off on the Juniper Canyon trail and it was cold, there was frost on the fence posts. Tom did not have a sweat shirt but we will soon get warm when we start to climb. The trail rises gradually and we follow the course of a small stream, crossing and recrossing it several times. The higher we climb, the steeper the trail becomes and the views get better. At one point we look down onto the car park and it looks a long way away.
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March 11 2008 | Special Places | No Comments »
Hobees used to be our favorite place for breakfast when I first came here but it’s been a while since we have eaten here. We are on our way to Sunnyvale Farmers Market and decided to revisit an old haunt.
Nothing much seems to have changed. The greeter is the same one that has always been here and one of the servers I recognized as well.
At the weekends it opens at 8 and we arrived soon after so there were lots of empty tables. We were shown to a four seater booth in the window, which pleased us as Tom likes the bigger booths so he can read the newspaper comfortably. I noticed that the upholstery on the back of the booth had been ripped which didn’t look too great. Looking around, the place needs some work done as it is looking a bit run down.
The menu hasn’t changed either but they always have about five specials. Tom had coffee and I had their orange and cinnamon house tea. I do like it but it is a bit on the sweet side. Both coffee and tea is $1.90 with free refills. Tom ordered the weekend scramble for 9.95 with coffee cake (another of their specialalities). Me, well I always have oatmeal here because it is a bit different. It’s not steel cut unfortunately but there is an oatmeal bar where you help yourself to as much as you want for $4.75. What I particularly like are the choice of toppings - brown sugar, raisins, walnuts, sliced almonds, cranberries, shredded coconut, cinnamon and nutmeg. There are small pieces of coffee cake to sample as well. I did ask the server for some blueberries on the side for 50c. She told me they were frozen, so I asked if they were still frozen but I could tell my humor was lost on her when she asked if I wanted them warmed up.
I went straight up to the oatmeal bar - with luck I will be able to get a second helping in. The oatmeal was a bit runny but I’ve seen worse. The bowls are not very big but that’s OK as there is always seconds. I added cranberries, walnuts, coconut and cinnamon. The milk is in a bit jug on the side so of course I had some of that as well.
I had nearly finished my first bowl of oatmeal before Tom got his scramble but he was quite happy reading the paper. He informed me that there may not be a King salmon fishing season this year which is a terrible blow. One of our favorite meals is BBQed salmon and we look forward with anticipation to May each year when the King salmon season starts. The experts are forecasting that the numbers of salmon returning to the Sacramento River to spawn have dropped dramatically so to safeguard the numbers the fishing season is likely to be canceled.
I did my usual review of the surroundings. As I mentioned before, the place does need to be redecorated. There are quite a few artificial plants around and they all look rather sad. Each table though does have a small , real , plant in a Hobbees mug which is a nice touch. There are no pictures as such but there are a few old framed adverts for products like Waldorf apples, Aranci oranges and Morjon apples. There are also a couple of very small photos on the far wall but it was impossible to see what they were off. They do have a Kids Corner with a small table and two chairs and a box of toys. On the wall near the restrooms is a large noticeboard with a collection of photographs taken all over the world where customers are wearing Hobees T-shirts. I saw no adverts though for the T-shirts. Maybe you can buy them online.
I did go up for seconds of oatmeal though I didn’t have a full bowl the second time around.
And of course I did pay a trip to the restroom. Like the restaurant, they are in desperate need of refurbishment. They were clean and well equipped and the water was plenty hot enough but the partitions are battered and very rusty down the bottom. There was one picture in there but it wasn’t on the wall. Maybe it had been once upon a time, now it is just leaning against the wall. A nice vase of artificial flowers does brighten the place up a bit.
Our verdict on the food was mediocre. Tom said the scramble was OK, the coffee was weak and not very hot and the coffee cake was not up to their usual standard. As I mentioned before, the oatmeal was a little runny but the toppings were great. The blueberries were awful - soggy and tasteless. The tea was good though.
All in all, our visit was a little disappointing. But our trip to the Farmers Market was great. We bought some fresh sturgeon from the fish stall and some asparagus grown in the San Joaquin Delta. We also bought a bottle of Bistro Blend made by John Spenger - the very best balsamic vinegar we have ever found. Plus we spent 20 minutes sitting, watching the world go by and listening to the lady street musician who was wearing the most fantastic hat. It was a lovely sunny day which just made everything perfect.
March 10 2008 | Breakfast Log | 1 Comment »
We set out just before 6 while it was still dark. There is just something about being on the road while most people are still fast asleep. To watch the scenery unfold slowly as the sun rises is awesome. First you see the tops of the hills appear as the sky lightens. Then the trees stand out as silhouettes. Finally everything is visible and then the sun appears in all its majesty. It is going to be a beautiful day.
We are headed for a beautiful part of the California coast - Big Sur. When I knew I was coming to California for the first time just over ten years ago, the item on the top of my itinerary was to drive south on Highway 1 from Carmel to Los Angeles. Our first stop today is in Carmel for breakfast - see previous entry.
There is no denying that Carmel is a pretty town. Some of the buildings are unique. Take the Tuck Box on Dolores Street. It looks like something out of a fairy tale. Back in the 60’s, when Tom was stationed at nearby Fort Ord, he would come here for breakfast sometimes. It is still there and they serve not only breakfast but lunch and afternoon tea (very English). Next time we are in Carmel, we will come here for breakfast.
Driving through downtown Carmel at 8 a.m. in the morning is a real pleasure. Admittedly none of the shops are open but you do get to appreciate the layout of the place and how well maintained it is. Later on today it will be swarming with tourists and it will be difficult to find anywhere to park.
We decide to pay a visit to Carmel Beach. I have never been to this part before. Just head on down Ocean Street and there is a small car park at the end. It is a very nice beach, sandy and clean. There were a lot of dogs with their owners, joggers and couples walking hand in hand. This is a very romantic place to be.
Soon we are heading back to Highway 1 and on our journey to Big Sur. Now Big Sur is not one
single destination but a 50 mile stretch of the best views imaginable of the Californian Coast. There are several State Parks dotted along the coast - Point Lobos just south of Carmel, Garrapata a bit further along, then Andrew Molera, Pfeiffer Big Sur and finally Julia Pfeiffer Burns. There are a lot of places to park along the way but they are just dirt pull outs and a couple of vista points. These get really crowded later in the day. If you see cars parked at the side of the road then you can safely assume this is a good spot to pull over and maybe even find a trail down to the sea. For a guide to locations to stop at check out this website - ‘A Guide to California’s Big Sur‘.
The road is a two lane highway which hugs the curves and climbs and ascends like a ride in a theme park. Today the views are spectacular with no fog at all. Just south of Carmel there is a signpost which warns that there are hills and curves for the next 63 miles.
I kept my eyes peeled for whales, watching out for spouts of water far out to sea which look like puffs of smoke. At this time of the year the males are returning to Alaska after spending the winter in the Sea of Cortez down in Baja California. They are closer to shore than on the southerly migration. In a few weeks the females and their calves will be passing and they will be even closer to the shore.
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March 04 2008 | Special Places | 3 Comments »
We are on our way to the Big Sur coast. Yesterday I looked online to see what was available for breakfast in Carmel. This place had good reviews so that is why we are here. It is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. and we rolled up just as it opened.
From the outside it looks pretty and upscale, as do most places in Carmel. Overlooking the street is a deck with tables and chairs but today is too cold to contemplate that. Later in the day I’m sure that is the place to see and be seen.
So we opted for inside. The entrance is at the side which is a bit confusing. There was a guy sweeping up and Tom asked him if there was anywhere to buy a newspaper. He pointed out a newsstand a few feet away but it was hidden from sight. Also outside are benches, magazines, noticeboards and a huge coffee dispenser which I am sure will all be needed later on when it gets busy.
Inside it is not very big and the tables are small. It seats just 50 with 6 seats at the counter plus about 20 outside. There are no booths. There were only three other customers but our server appeared rushed and was not very friendly.
The menu is huge and the choice vast. I checked out the oatmeal straight away and, guess what, they serve steel cut oatmeal. My prayers have been answered. The prices are pretty steep but, hey, this is Carmel. The oatmal was $8.50 but if comes with toast. I also ordered a side of fruit which was a hefty $2.95. Tom ordered a Joe’s Special which was $12.95. He also had coffee which was $2.95. I stayed with the water, which was free.
The decor is very good and pleasing to the eye. Lots of nice pictures on the walls. Near where we sat were some old adverts for Sunkist lemons and various other food items. The windows have well tended window boxes on the outside.
We didn’t have long to wait for the food. Mine came on a huge oval plate with a large, shallow dish filled with oatmeal. Also crammed on the plate were two small plastic pots - one with sugar and one with butter, a good sized stainless jug of low fat milk (I was asked which milk I would like), 4 half slices of unbuttered wheat toast (my request) and a fair sized ceramic bowl holding the fruit. The oatmeal was good but less nutty than what I make at home. I’m not complaining though because at least it is steel cut. The fruit was great - blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and slices of strawberries. I asked Tom what he thought of his and he said ‘OK’. He was not impressed with the coffee though.
I was not disappointed with the restroom. There were two unisex restrooms but I only checked out one. It was the best I have used for some time. Clean, bright, big, well-equipped and sweet smelling. There was a lace curtain at the window and nice prints on the walls. The water was good and hot.
Our verdict - very expensive and not really worth the extra even taking into account Carmel prices but the place is nice and well appointed.
March 02 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
