Jodi Jackson’s Hollywood

Dinner at Lago Di Como- April 8, 2015

When you walk in, its kind of diner interior is a little off putting. There are no real authentic Italian design elements, except for the stone tiles and green walls…but don’t let that fool you. What Lago Di Como lacks in its design choices, it makes up for with its outstanding food.

Lago Di Como took over the previous restaurant, Nuevo Southwestern. It is just like you’re in Italy, with its namesake, otherwise known as George Clooney land. So instead of going to Italy, stay in Santa Cruz and spend a delicious evening at Lago Di Como.

Here’s what I tried:

Starters:

Carpaccio di Manzo – with thinly sliced raw beef sirloin, lightly drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and served with fresh arugula topped with our lemon dressing. The meat is cut very thin and the delicate dressing is just fantastic.

Polenta Uncia – a traditional northern Italian dish featuring soft polenta tossed with mancego cheese, butter, garlic and sage. So very simple but the combination of these fresh ingredients makes for a nice appetizer.

Salads:

Insalata Cesare – crisp romaine lettuce salad with croutons, shaved Parmesan cheese, & homemade Caesar dressing. I try Caesar salads pretty much at every tasting, and this salad was up there with a lot of them. I really enjoyed this one.

First Course:

Mezze Lune ai Carciofi e Fontina – half moon ravioli stuffed with artichoke & fontina cheese tossed in a butter, garlic, & sage sauce. Nice little ravioli’s stuffed with tasty fixings.

Linguine al’ Nero di Seppie – fresh homemade squid ink linguini sautéed with mussels, clams, olive oil, garlic, white wine, & chili flakes. What makes this dish so great is the texture of the ink linguini, and of course the shellfish.

Penne alla Mamma Gianna – imported penne paste sautéed with Italian ham, green peas, and a touch of cream. Topped with Parmesan cheese & baked in the oven. This pasta is creamy and rich, and the touch of peas and ham make for a real treat.

Second Course:

Scaloppine di Vitello al Limone with Fungi Porcini – Veal scaloppini with a choice of a lemon sauce or porcini mushroom glaze. Served with a side of roasted potatoes & vegetable of the day. The veal is cooked tender and the mushrooms add a well-rounded smoky flavor that is just scrumptious.

Costata di Manzo Grigliata – 14oz. Rib eye steak lightly marinated and grilled. Served with a side of the Chef’s choice. They gave the perfect cut of meat with lots of fat, but cooked close to raw; it was just heavenly.

Gamba d’Agnello dei Pulenton- slow braised lamb shank with router of vegetable in a white wine and tomato sauce. Served over soft polenta with a side of vegetables of the day. Another stellar dish, fall off the bone goodness.

Pizza:

Pizza al Lago di Como – Pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, bresaola, truffle oil, and kalamata olives. Anything with truffle oil makes me crazy, good crazy. This pizza was amazing.

Wine:

Chardonnay, 37th Parellel Winery, 2012, Calaveras County – This is a fruit forward Chardonnay and would be great with any of the creamy pastas.

Chardonnay, San Francisco Wine Press, 2012, Mendocino – I would pair this wine with the Squid Ink pasta; it also works great with the Clams and Muscles.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, “Pan,” Bosco Nestore, 2009, Abruzzo – You can’t beat an Italian wine from this region, and it will make your steak all the more delicious.

Petite Syrah, 37th Parallel Winery, 2012, Santa Cruz Mountains – This wine I would pair with the Veal; it perfectly complimented the mushrooms in this dish.

Zinfandel, Old Vine, Villa Toscano, 2011, Shenandoah Valley – I would do this one with the Lamb Shank; it is just the best pairing.

Lago Di Como opened in 2012 by Giovanni Spanu and wife Mary Ellen Salciccia-Spanu at the helm. Since opening, the most ordered dishes are their Penne Bolognese, as well as the Veal, Calamari, and Burrata. The majority of their customers are local people and regulars. They play crooner music; Frank Sinatra was highlighted during my dinner.

The night I was there, it was packed. Lucky for me, I could see The Dodgers opening game from my seat, which was playing on a flat screen at the bar. It is just amazing Italian food with the perfect ingredients.

Lago Di Como Ristorante Pizzeria
21490 East Cliff Dr.
Santa Cruz, CA. 95062
www.lagodicomoristorante.com
(831) 454-8257
For Dinner: Monday– Thursday 5pm – 9:30pm
Friday – Saturday 5pm – 10pm, and Sunday 5pm – 9:30pm
Lunch on Friday 11:30am – 2pm

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Before I start, I gave the hotel owner the option of coming back and doing a review when they have ironed out some of their kinks. I hope to go back and stay there again, so I am going to make this very short, but not so sweet.

When I saw Rio Vista Suites on the Internet, I was very excited for my stay. It is an old Victorian that has been renovated into a nice hotel. It is by far the best hotel in the neighborhood. This is where the Santa Cruz Boardwalk is, so some of this area can be a little seedy.

The hotel is beautiful on the inside and out; they did a nice job of transitioning the property from being a Historical Victorian to a modern hotel. They spent a lot of time and money trying to get it right. But lets face it, sometimes when there are so many complex details, the practicality of the hotel gets lost in translation.

My room was at the very top, with lots of eaves, and a weirdly constructed interior. If you’re tall like me, then this is not the room for you. You will hit your head getting out of the bed and on your way to the bathroom. They do have a construction sign on the wall telling you to watch your head, but to me, that was really tacky. Then, the 4-poster bed also could make you hit your head on the slanted eave wall. Plus the four-poster bed is in the way of seeing the flat screen TV while you’re in bed. The rooms are very noisy; you can hear the front door opening and any of the activity in the common areas, including the lobby. You also have to climb 3 flights of stairs to get up to this room. There are 2 things about this room that I liked: the shower head and the view out of one of the very small windows. I never got to see any of the other rooms to compare, but my room was very awkward. If all of this was not enough to say take a pass, at 2:00 am the very loud fire alarm came on and scared the crap out of me. When I asked the owner about that, he said: “Yes we have a problem with the alarm and we have to fix it.” My stay was very stressful and not relaxing.

They have a continental breakfast in the morning. There is also lemoned water and tea in the lobby all of the time with a cappuccino/espresso and juice center.

Don’t get me wrong, the Rio Vista Suite has lots of potential; they just really need to tweak some of the problems and they will be well on their way. From what I can see on the Internet, some of the rooms do look very well put together and not weird like mine was. I really want to come back for another stay when they are better equipped for me.

Rio Vista Luxury Suites
611 Third Street
Santa Cruz, California, 95060.
Phone: (831) 621-2929
http://www.riovistasuites.com/

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There is something about Phil’s Fish Market that just makes you want to come back for more. If I lived close by, I would make Phil’s a staple in my weekly food routine. Phil’s Fish Market is an institution.

When you first walk in, there is a line that goes out the door. After ordering your food at the counter and finding your table, you will be amazed with what happens next. The fish is so fresh; it is as if it comes straight from the ocean and right onto your plate. Every dish that I tried was astounding, I just can’t say enough about Phil’s Fish Market. This tasting is by far my favorite that I have had in a while. And by the way, the line was out the door for the whole 2 hours that I dined.

Here’s what I tried:

Appetizers:

Steamed Clams & Garlic Bread- Steamed with Tomatoes, Green Onions, Garlic, Thyme, White Wine, and Butter. These clams are not small, and the broth alone is worth ordering these delicious gems.

Miyagi-oysters raw- these oysters are so big, but packed with freshness; I loved these oysters.

Sautéed Champagne Oysters- 4 Pacific Oysters sautéed in Butter & Champagne with Shallots. I prefer raw over these cooked ones.

Artichoke- Grilled with aioli sauce. This is a very simple preparation, but really delicious.

Clam Chowder- New England White and Manhattan Red. The New England white was my favorite: a nice buttery and creamy soup with lots of clams.

House Specials:

Blackened Sea Scallops- With Lemon Butter, topped with Capers. The scallops are small but they serve a lot in one bowl. The blackened part of this dish is very yummy.

Cioppino- Served in a bowl with Green Salad and Garlic Bread. This is what they are famous for. I loved the crab in the cioppino; you can taste how fresh it is.

Halibut- Breaded and grilled served with green salad, garlic bread, and your choice of fries or rice. The fresh halibut is the perfect fish, and the accompaniments are also terrific.

Hot Sandwiches:

Lobster Roll- Lobster meat sautéed in Garlic Butter, served on a New England Hot Dog Bun with Fries & Coleslaw. They put so much lobster in this sandwich. I saved this sandwich and ate it at the airport the next day; I felt so privileged to be eating a lobster sandwich at the San Jose airport.

Wine:

Hahn Chardonnay – Nicky Hahn – Monterey Chardonnay 2013. Everything went great with this wine; it is simple and easy to drink.

They also sent me home with some nice smoked salmon, which I took home on the plane with me and enjoyed it for days to come.

The staff was very eager to tend to my every need, and there were plenty of them. I would venture to say that the turn over is minimal, because all of the servers and counter workers have smiles on their faces. They are just so busy that I can’t imagine these workers not earning a nice living at Phil’s Fish House.

Part of your trip to Moss Landing has to include a stop to Phil’s Fish Market. If it’s not part of your itinerary, you’re missing out.

Phil’s Fish Market & Eatery
7600 Sandholdt Rd.
Moss Landing, CA 95039
(831) 633-2152
www.philsfishmarket.com

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Out of my many experiences, The Captain’s Inn is one of the most charming Bed and Breakfasts I have ever stayed in. There is a theme running through the Inn, it is all Maritime with a bit of whimsy and fun.

Most of the rooms have waterfront views with lots of wildlife watching including birds, seals and glorious sunsets.  Each unique bed is crafted from a boat with a theme. My room was the Pelican Beach, and my bed was a catamaran. They have fireplaces, nautical décor, antiques, plush beds, robes, feather pillows, chandeliers, soaking tubs, and private bathrooms. Their special home cooked breakfast served every morning is to die for.

The Captain’s Inn is within walking distance to many attractions here in Moss Landing. It sits right on Elkhorn Slough and there are beaches close by as well as dining, and the harbor. There are 10 guestrooms with private baths and individual décor.  The Captain’s Inn is located in a quaint, historic fishing village in Central Monterey Bay just off scenic Coast Highway One.

History of the Building:

The Pacific Coast Steamship Company building was built in 1906 following the San Francisco earthquake. This property has many well-known names associated with it. The Castro family received the property in a land grant. Later in 1868, the property was owned by Charles Moss, the town’s namesake, and Donald Beadle (both in shipping). The Pacific Coast Steamship Company purchased the property in 1881 and the PCSC owned the property when the current two-story building was built. The Pacific Coast Steamship Company was sold in 1917 to the Pacific Steamship Company run by John Scudder. The Capurro Family owned the property in the mid 1900s and used it as a family residence. The York family established the Moss Landing Harbor Chapel here and regularly held church services in the building. In more recent years, the building has been home to countless Moss Landing Marine Laboratories students.

This building was originally built as an office building with 6 individual offices and a parlor. In later years one office became a kitchen, a dining/laundry nook was added, and a narrow bathroom fit in. The simple colonial revival style is in vernacular pyramid cottage form used just after the turn of the century mostly in “company towns”. The porch front is simple Tuscan order. The two downstairs front windows are Queen Anne cottage style. The simple fireplaces include bricks salvaged from damaged buildings in the 1906 earthquake made by the Sante Fe masonry.

This building has been fully renovated and recently opened as a bed and breakfast in by Captain Yohn and Melanie Gideon. The effort to save this building has been awarded a historic preservation award from the Moss Landing Chamber of Commerce.

In the back, a boathouse with guestrooms has been added. This building takes advantage of views of wildlife and the marshlands.

There are lots of Boats in the Shipyard; The White Little Dipper, a section located in the back shipyard, was a fishing troller.  The upright wood boat against the Boat House was a fishing Dory, once used by whaling harpooners. The white bow of the boat in the backyard belongs to a fishing skiff. The grey blue boat located against the fence in the backyard is a liberty skiff.  The white and red Sailing Dory, located in the driveway against the house, was used as a leisure boat.  The blue Thistle class sailing boat from 1945, located in the driveway by the fence, is a very sea worthy sailboat. Last but not least, the yellow and red boat that is part of the deck is a purseiner skiff.

I really loved my stay here; everything here is so creative, down to the last detail. It is whimsical and restful at the same time. Looking out of the windows from my room amazed at how close the wildlife is, I can’t help but feel as though I am almost out there camping with the animals. I would definitely make a special visit to come back for an extended stay. Overall, I really enjoyed everything about this experience.

Captain’s Inn at Moss Landing

A California Bed & Breakfast

8122 Moss Landing Rd.

Moss Landing, CA. 95039

(831) 633-5550

captainsinn.com

* some content was taken from the Inn’s brochure.

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Pacific Grove is one of the most charming cities in California, and Favaloro’s Big Night Bistro, has just as much charm as the whole city. In fact, it is the only Mom and Pop restaurant in Pacific Grove. It is also a family affair, all being Italian. This is the only restaurant in this area that Italians come to eat, old school style of course. Owners Marie and Nino (he is from Sicily Palermo) like to keep things very authentic. Stepson, John who handles all the day-to-day business including being a server, loves his job. He can tell you about all of the history of the restaurant as well as the Italian immigrants here in Pacific Grove. Nino was a fisherman for 30 years in Monterey County, which is still rich with lots of seafood. Marie stays in the kitchen and cooks all of the wonderful food.

The interior is cozy and warm, with Italian Rock music playing in the background. Adorned with a faux fireplace, long hanging Tiffany style lamps, and fresh olive green faux walls.

Here’s what I tried:

This tasting, the majority of the specials were not on the menu.

Starters:

Calamari Fritti- Monterey Bay calamari lightly breaded and deep-fried, served with a lemon basil tartar sauce. The batter is heavy, but the calamari is tender and good.

Specials:

Special Salad with beets, avocado, prosciutto, and feta cheese served with mango balsamic vinaigrette. I am not the biggest fan of beets but I am learning to like them. This salad was super healthy and the crispy prosciutto was an added bonus.

Gnocchi with tomato cream sauce, and cremini mushrooms.
Nino makes these by hand, and the sauce is just fantastic.

Velasco Salmon- cooked in Salmon parchment paper, with bread crumbs, baby boc choy, steamed vegetables, and
Couscous/rice. This is by far the best salmon on the planet.

Wine:

Chardonnay, Edna Valley, Paragon Vineyard- I would pair this one with the Calamari. It is a fruity, no nonsense chardonnay that lends itself to the buttery goodness of the calamari.

Chardonnay, MacMurray, Russian River. The mango balsamic vinaigrette mimics the same acidity in this wine and works great.

Pinot Noir, Underwood, Oregon. What a great wine, with its light subtle textures. It managed to go perfect with the Gnocchi, tomato cream sauce, and cremini mushrooms. Just the little hint of tomatoes in the sauce matched the rich flavors.

Zinfandel, Maggio, CA. A nice jammy Zinfandel goes with any meat dish, but for me, I love this wine with the Salmon.

Dessert:

Mini Chocolate Pistachio Cannoli- little rolls with pistachio cream in the middle, very light and fluffy.

Mascarpone Custard with fresh berries and light as a feather-angel pudding.

They use all organic product, and sustainable seafood. John says his staff has to eat the food as well, “We are not going to feed the public something that we would not eat.”

The table that I sat at is reserved for only friends and family, so right away I felt so much at home! Sometimes their customers get to go to Papa Nino’s house for dinner, if they are lucky. Hopefully I will be invited next time I come to this marvelous town and restaurant, but for now I am happy with just eating the spectacular food at Favaloros Big Night Bistro.

Favaloros Big Night Bistro
545 Lighthouse Ave,
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
(831) 373-8523
favalorosbignightbistro.com

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This is what I call a family affair. Both owners Bill and Sue Karaki have their own love story, and you can feel it in every bite. They both came from Beirut, Lebanon and are now raising their 4 kids here in Pacific Grove.

The majority of Taste Café’s customers are regulars who either have Pebble Beach summer homes or are locals from Monterey, Carmel and Pebble Beach. Some of their other regulars visit from Texas 3 to 4 times a year. But everyone says the same thing, great local neighborhood food! They have won numerous awards which you can see in the hallway, and all very well deserved.

Here’s what I tried:

Artichoke soup Puree, completely vegan and very tasty.

Caesar Salad with Grilled Salmon. This is all about the dressing, and when I asked about the recipe they said it’s a family recipe that they don’t share.

Chicken Apple Sausages with grilled, braised red cabbage, au gratin potatoes and red onion marmalade. This dish is something you would find in Vienna or Hungary. It is very Eastern European, and the fact that you can get this here in Pacific Grove is very remarkable. The potato is enough on its own, but then you get these sausages, oh my.

Grilled Eggplant Napoleon grilled eggplant topped with roasted red pepper & fresh mozzarella cheese on a large brioche crouton, caramelized red onion, pesto, and balsamic vinaigrette. This is a nice hearty salad that you could order as your lunch entree. It has amazing Italian flavors and is excellent.

Mediterranean Crab Cake with roasted red pepper aioli, frisee and caramelized onions. The big lump crab is delicious. This is what I am talking about!

Mushroom Bourguignonne baked in garlic herb butter and pine nuts. Think escargot without the snails, instead lovely flavorful mushroom and garlic. All of this is served in a baked escargot dish.

Dessert:

Butterscotch pudding with cream, the best pudding ever, so rich and smooth and the flavor will make you very happy.

Wines:

Chardonnay – Raywood, CA. Drink this wine with the Caesar and salmon salad. It paired great with the robust dressing and the elegant salmon seasonings.

Chardonnay – Silvestri – Carmel Valley. Nice local wine with a very buttery taste. I would do this with the crab cakes.

Cabernet Sauvignon – Raywood, CA. I would drink this wine with the Mushroom Bourguignonne, it just works well with the mushroom flavors.

Malbec Santa Julia – Mendoza. Rich in its berry color, a little dryer then most, but worked great with the sausages.

Interior has a very bistro feel, with paver tiles and faux painted walls. There are cloths hanging over the light fixtures to give it a café feel. The green banquets with the baskets on top of the windows make for a casual design element. The lion fountain gives you a peaceful sound with the water cascading in its small container.

All food is 100 percent sustainable and produce is all-organic from their local farmers market. You can taste their commitment to freshness in every bite.

Sue cooks at home and spends time with their kids when they’re off on Sundays and Mondays. Bill says: “I promoted Sue to be 100 percent boss and that took care of everything.” The family takes a vacation once a year, and closes shop in June to go back to their homeland. This is really the only vacation they have all year since they man this ship all by themselves. Taste Café has been in business for 18 years, and it was just a small cafe small, then they expanded in 1998.

Great food at a great price in a local neighborhood, this is the kind of spot I could get very used to.

Taste Café & Bistro
1199 Forest Ave.
Pacific Grove, CA. 93950
(831) 655-0324
www.tastecafebistro.com
Open: Tuesday-Saturday
Lunch 11:30-2:30
Dinner 5:00-close

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The downtown area of Pacific Grove is so quaint and sweet. If you didn’t know it was there, you would miss it. It is very worth the trip regardless. Passion Fish is located at the end of the Light House downtown area. It is by far the best seafood you will ever eat. It is very specific, no frills, just plain, great inventive fish. All sustainable with the best organic ingredients you can find.

Starters:

Striped Bass Crudo, Pomegranate-ginger granite and seaweed ponzu. The Striped Bass has many delicate, fantastic, and fresh flavors. The pomegranate – ginger granite is the best thing on the plate; it adds so much flavor.

Fried oysters with kimchee salad, ham, and mint. Very different and you got to love kimchee if you going to try this dish.

Ricotta-bee pollen gnocchi, tomato brown butter. Kind of interesting, but to me it tasted too much like bee pollen.

Asparagus Fries with Caesar dipping sauce. This is something that is healthy and a great alternative to French fries.

Salads:

Baked Gorgonzola with curried greens, golden chutney and spiced pecans. If you like Indian food and curry, you will go crazy for this salad.

Dungeness crab salad with avocado and spicy ginger vinaigrette. The crab is right out of the ocean, and the avocado is the perfect accompaniment. Just the kind of salad I would crave and have to order every time.

Entrees:

Sea Scallops with tomato-truffle butter and savory rice pudding. I always order the scallops when I get the chance. These bad boys were huge and the best thing was the savory rice pudding in the middle.

Sturgeon with warm preserved lemon-white bean salad, and spicy herb relish. This is a very thick and oily fish. I loved the treatment and would recommend this one for fish lovers.

Wine:

Unti Vermentino, Dry Creek Valley ’13. This wine is a must with the crab salad, very floral and effervescent.

Tyler Chardonnay, Santa Barbara ’12. Each sip changed when I paired it with the amazing sea scallops.

Passion Fish philosophy on wine:

Their close-to-retail prices are comparable to your best neighborhood wine shop. While the general restaurant practice is to mark up wine by 200-300%, they choose to keep theirs at a 50-80% markup. They are crazy about wine, and great food deserves great wine at a reasonable price. They hope this will excite their customers to try something new, unique and off the beaten path. Their wines don’t have a lot of chemicals; they have a Great wine list.

Jannae Lizzan is the wine director and she prides herself on using wineries that are doing their part to practice any form of sustainable wine production. She believes in recognizing these wineries because farming sustainably on land directly affects the sustainability of our oceans.

There’s not a lot more I can say, it’s just that good, come and try it.

Passion Fish
831.655.3311
701 Lighthouse Ave
Pacific Grove, CA. 93950
Dinner nightly from 5pm
www.passionfish.net.

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Oh the joy of seeing wildlife right in front of your eyes. If it’s a mammal, a reptile, a sea otter, a shark, an octopus, it is all a magnificent wonder! I go into a different place and my dreams are forever enhanced. What I am trying to say, is when in Rome, do as Romans. and when you’re staying a few blocks away from the Aquarium, run there, don’t walk.

I am so sure that everyone’s favorites are the sea otters; they are just little darlings. These creatures ooze charisma, and they make everyone laugh. Feeding time is the best time for view them; the aquarium spends a lot of money on their diet. They get feed, fresh clams, shrimp and calamari. They take the food and plant it on their tummies and swim on their back, and nibble on their wonderful treats while they swim around their aquarium, it is so endearing.

My cousin Jackie worked at Long Beach aquarium, and I used to visit her often. She, being an employee would take me behind the scenes so I could see the labs and see the animals in their behind the scenes habitat. I became very spoiled, so I asked them at Monterey Bay Aquarium if there was anyway to do this, and luckily they said yes. My private tour, by the ever knowing Rachel, called a sneep, I was taken in the Jelly Fish back area, and given a tour of some of the new ones and listened to their amazing history. Believe it is just worth it to come to the aquarium just to see these prehistoric mystery creatures. They are able to clone themselves!! A group of Jelly’s is called a Smack, Swarm, and bloom.

It is right down the street from the Martine inn, literally walking distance, so it really is a must when you’re staying there! The colors, the smells, the joy of seeing these amazing wonders are all part of this area. If I lived near by I would visit once a month, it is so worth the money.

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/

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Their slogan is “Elegance in Accommodations”, and they have that and more at The Martine Inn.

Don Martine purchased the Inn in 1972; it was his family’s home from 1972-1984. He says it was a horrible money pit and was scheduled for demolition when he bought it. He stripped everything and restored it back to its period. In the 80’s it was his biggest investment. So, instead of turning it into apartments, he decided to turn it into a Bed and Breakfast, which was the right decision. His mission is to make his guests feel as though they are staying in a wealthy family’s home in the 1920’s. It is a 2-story house that used to have a 3rd story, which is now used for storage. Don leaves most of the clean rooms open if they are not occupied; this is so people can see all of the other rooms they have to offer. Don Martine lives on premise so he has areal hands on approach.

There is always gourmet coffee and tea, as well as fresh baked cookies in the entry. The library has a computer, 1000 books, games and a grand piano to enjoy. The game room contains an 1890’s pool table, a Ping-Pong table, trophies, posters and toy cars on display. The sitting room or parlor is on the 2nd floor where you can watch the waves crash against the rocky coastline. There is fresh fruit available 24/7 in the main hallway. Pretty much all the bases are covered and you are in the lap of luxury during your stay at The Martine Inn.

The wild life is the real star of this show. There are 6 otters that live in the waters directly below and there is whale watching all year around. I had the opportunity to see the cute seal pups with their mothers, which happens once a year in April and May.

Don Martine’s real passion is racing and collecting antique MG’s. He has a mini museum of them in the back of the Inn. If you talk to him about this, his eyes light up and you can feel the excitement in his voice. His dad got him started when he bought a 1949 MG that Don drove in high school. The car later went on to win the biggest Pebble Beach race. Some of the MG’s are famous because of their history and the races they have won. He also loves the restoration process of each car. When you visit, you must go see the cars and talk to Don about his love of cars and racing; it’s really part of the whole experience when you stay at The Martine Inn.

Don says the thing that he is most proud of is his staff and how long each of them has been with him. The longest being Ismael Viscaya, who has been with him for 30 years. He says that his staff really likes to make the hotel guests feel at home and have a great experience in this spectacular area.

The breakfast in the dining room is lovely with great smooth jazz playing in the background. Gorgeous scenic views, as the sea otters wave to say hello. They also provide binoculars at your table. Breakfast is full service at your table in the parlor between 8am-10am. Wine and hors d ‘oeuvres are in the dining room 5:30pm-7pm, which is equally delicious. No other Bed and Breakfast has such an incredible view from the parlor.

The Silver set in the dining room has its own story, as well as all of the antiques throughout the Inn. Don likes the fact that all of the antiques were made really well with care. Don goes to dealers, and has been collecting for a very long time. Lovely Victorian light fixtures, and floral fabric are all over the Inn as well. And then there’s The Lancaster Rose flatware made in 1895, with its 40 pieces place setting, also very elegant. The crackling wood in the real fireplace in the dining room is so homey, as well the one that was in my guest room.

Come for the comfort, but just remember there is lots of life in the waters below. It is so worth your time to take long walks while you’re enjoying your stay. My experience was very memorable and one that I long to go back for as much as possible.

The Martine Inn
Bed & Breakfast
255 Ocean View Boulevard
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
(408) 373-3388
http://www.martineinn.com

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I remember coming to Santa Cruz back in the 80’s, before Silicon Valley became the land of the young and rich. Back then there was this element of hippie types mixed in with yuppies. The innocence was still apparent and the food was marginal at best. Now Santa Cruz has become a culinary delight and Café Mare is right up there with the best of them.

I would describe the interior as simple elegance. Café Mare’s sensational food paired with a relaxed atmosphere, all contribute to the experience. Its large dining room, built for good conversation is perfect for any occasion.

Here is what I tried:

Cocktails:

Berry Lemon Drop Absolut Citron vodka, fresh lemon juice, orange curacao, Chambord. This cocktail is a great take on a lemon drop, but with a handcrafted combination of higher quality ingredients.

Mellow Melon Imperia Vodka, fresh lemon juice, fresh orange juice, Midori Liquor, served with a layer of fresh watermelon juice. It is amazingly refreshing, served in a martini glass.

Juliette Fresh muddled raspberries, Ketel One vodka, orange bitters, house made grenadine, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice & fresh grapefruit juice. Nicely done and served up with white chocolate and cocoa rim.

Starters:

Formaggi Stagionati Assorted aged Italian cheeses and olives. They presented me with some rare and unusual cheese; the truffle cheese-smelled like the forest and the drunken cheese from Tuscany was terrific. I hardly ever try a cheese plate, but next time I would skip this appetizer.

Cozze e Vongole Fresh mussels and clams sautéed with garlic, extra virgin olive oil, fresh tomato basil and white wine. The broth alone will make you drop to your knees, couple that with the fresh shellfish and your in heaven.

Salmone Affumicato Marinated wild smoked salmon with fresh mascarpone cheese, baby dill & capers. The salmon’s smooth and luscious texture paired wonderfully with the creaminess of the mascarpone cheese.

Salad:

Insalate Cesare Organic romaine hearts tossed with our homemade Caesar dressing, topped with hand shaved Parmigiano and Sicilian anchovies. Caesar salads are a favorite of mine, and each one is a little bit different. I loved this one.

Pasta:

Ravioli della Nonna Walnut filled ravioli served in a Gorgonzola cheese cream sauce. Café Mare seems to have a handle on all of their ravioli’s…they were all very delicious!

Crespolini di Zucca House made crepe filled with roasted butternut squash, walnuts & Parmigiano in a brulee butter & sage sauce. This is not what I am used to as far as butternut squash pasta goes, but expand your mind and you will indulge in a very exciting experience. This dish will make your taste buds dance.

Ravioli Mare Seafood filled ravioli served in a prosecco cream sauce with prawns. Mouth-watering ravioli topped with a rich cream sauce, my kind of pasta!

Spaghetti Mistomare Spaghetti sautéed with fresh clams, mussels, prawns & calamari in a tomato sauce. This is a lovely pasta dish with very fresh seafood.

Penne alla Bolognese Penne pasta served in a slow cooked ground beef tomato sauce. The Bolognese sauce is meaty goodness with a little kick.

Pizza:

Di Parma Tomato mozzarella & prosciutto di Parma. This has a nice crispy crust with flavorsome ingredients, which makes for a tasty pie.

Wines:

Poppy-Chardonnay: This wines buttery texture paired great with the seafood pasta.

Premitivo – Oldouines Plaio: This wine is considered to be the Italian Zinfandel, and it did not disappoint. With it’s rich cherry flavors, it lends itself to the
Pizza Di Parma.

Christi-Poggio Capponi Chianti: This wine pairs wonderfully with tomato-based sauces, so it went great with the Penne alla Bolognese.

Owners Jean Pierre Iuliano from Calabria, and Andrea Mura from the island of Sardinia, both want to give their customers a very authentic Italian experience. They use organic, fresh ingredients combined with recipes straight from their homeland to create their deliciously, traditional menu.

Café Mare has been open for 13 years. They have lots of regulars and most people that come are in search of authentic Italian cuisine, in all its glory.

I really enjoyed my experience here at Café Mare; the food and the libation all hit the spot. When I schedule these tastings I try to give the owners all of my information so they know what to expect on my visit. Owner Andrea did not do his research, he asked me a few times about whom I wrote for and where it would be going. All I can say is check me out online and you can see that I have been doing this for over 4 years, and am way past 250 restaurants, and hotel reviews.

Open Daily
Happy Hour: Sunday-Thursday, 5PM-7PM
Full Bar, Lunch & Dinner
Café Mare
Cucina Italiana Restaurant & Bar
740 Front Street, Suite 100
Santa Cruz, CA.
www.cafemare.com
(831) 458-1212

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