United States, California, San Luis Obispo area

Coastal Living At Its Best
More than just a pretty face, California is a hub of enriching activities.

SLO Cal is the perfect moniker for San Luis Obispo County, where easy, relaxed and stress free is the name of the game. I now understand that this is the part of the Golden State where all the typical, modern day California depictions come from: laid back surfers, giant redwoods, long walks on the beach, wine tasting, fresh seafood, smiling people, etc. For my first, but not last, visit to this scenic area, I opted to take the tourist route and do a few things that would be on the fun list of anyone, coming from anywhere.

Hearst Castle, http://hearstcastle.org/ located in San Simeon, boasts 68,500 square feet and 38 bedrooms. Designed by architect Julia Morgan and paid for by media mogul William Randolph Hearst, this is a spectacle to behold. During the early 1900’s, in his heyday, Mr. Hearst was worth $30 billion, an amount in today’s dollars that would make even the richest person cry with envy. My weekday visit was a pleasant one, which avoided the large tour groups of weekends and made for a relaxed guided tour, followed by a serene, unguided meander of the grounds afterwards.

The Grand Rooms Tour is recommended for first-time visitors and was the one I attended. For $25 and about an hour, I felt immersed in the era and opulence of the time and the space and very much enjoyed learning the history of the life of Mr. Hearst and his family. I will more than likely return to enjoy the other tour options in the future.

The view from the castle grounds.

One of the “small” cottages on the property.

After a fun, interesting and educational experience at Hearst Castle, I had to commit my new knowledge to memory by having a drink. After all, one cannot visit wine (and beer and spirits) country without having a few libations this area is known for. Krobar Craft Distillery http://www.krobardistillery.com/ is about a 40-minute drive from Hearst Castle and proudly offers various gins, whiskeys, rums, vermouths, and bitters. As a lover of gin and whiskey, I tried them all, with some help, of course. One of my takeaways was the rye whiskey. It had strong notes of port, spice and a sweet finish. It was surprisingly smooth, even at cask strength, which was very impressive. The knowledgeable staff were also incredibly friendly, easy going and didn’t mind if one lingered on the grounds on their outdoor patio.

Krobar’s patio outside the tasting room.

Once a nice tipple went down, my stomach started making its presence known. One may not think about barbeque in wine country, but barbeque was the thought that came to mind. I was happily satisfied to find a fantastic place in downtown Paso Robles. I followed the smell of smoke to Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ https://jeffryswinecountrybbq.com/ down an alleyway, which seemed very appropriate. This outside space between two buildings was set up to give just the right kind of atmosphere to enjoy wine or beer, along with some fine smoked meats and sides. The scratch-made sauces and pickles also added to the experience of good eatin’ and the meal ended with a smile on my face. The sleep that followed was a deep slumber in my hotel by the beach and the next morning I was lulled awake by sunshine and the soothing sound of crashing  waves.

Tri-tip sandwich and sesame coleslaw.

Since this was a short weekend trip, I had to be choosy about where to have breakfast, as there would not be time for more than one. I opted for a waffle place that operated out of a cute shack next to a public park in Cambria called, The Hidden Kitchen https://hiddenkitchencalifornia.com/. Their newer, larger location in Cayucos will open in March of this year, but the experience at the Cambria location should not be missed while the opportunity still exists. The menu was simple, with one delicious gluten-free blue corn waffle as the forefront of each dish, topped with a variety of organic options. Each of their smoothies can match whatever mood you may be in, and the coffee was hot. Casual outdoor seating was made a bit more comfortable with multi-colored fabric overhangs, potted succulents and ivy that crawled up the walls around the open space. The soft background music and ambiance reminded me of a meditation retreat, and I immediately felt welcomed and relaxed.

The entrance to the Hidden Kitchen in Cambria.

For an area that is almost in between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this would be a great weekend getaway for city slickers who need some not-so-crowded ocean therapy. To help plan your trip, feel free to visit: https://www.slocal.com/ for ideas and information. As I write this, I’m internally wagging my finger at myself for not visiting this area sooner. As a California local, I think I will be making a better effort to explore more of my own home state. 

United States, Nevada, Reno area

Reno, Nevada: A Foodie Destination?

The Biggest Little City Has Surprisingly Fantastic Foodie Options

There is no chance of competing with fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada for entertainment, shopping, dining, leisure and gaming, but standing on her own two legs and attracting a different type of tourist is Reno, Nevada. Slowly but slowly, Reno is becoming a more popular destination city and part of the appeal, is the growing number of high-quality, interesting and varied gastronomic experiences.

It doesn’t hurt that Reno is right next door to Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada’s winter sports-lover’s paradise and summer-time beach retreat. If given a chance, however, you might be surprised and pleased at what Reno has to offer.

As a San Francisco Bay Area native who traverses narrow lanes and constant congestion, the wide roads, laughable traffic and ample parking make Reno an easy city to navigate. This also becomes important when you’re hungry for a hearty breakfast first thing in the morning. Don’t be fooled by the unlit neon sign that says “Landrum Café,” Carlillos Cocina, in nearby Sparks, is the spot for healthy portions of colorful and delicious Mexican breakfast and lunch plates. The only seating is 25 stools surrounding an open kitchen and the organized chaos of three people making everything to order, including constant to-go meals, is the entertainment in this diner-type restaurant.

Breakfast Burrito with chorizo, scrambled eggs, cheese, onions, tomatoes, grilled potatoes, avocado and a pickled jalapeno.

After a long nap from a filling and fulfilling breakfast, the idea of lunch may be on the horizon. A quick stop at the Great Basin Community Food Co-op, https://www.greatbasinfood.coop/ for artisan Celtic salt, grab-and-go pastries for the work week, and lingering aromas of soup from the café upstairs might whet the appetite.

This might inspire ideas of ramen from Haru. Located in a strip mall with ample parking, this authentic Japanese ramen restaurant has been garnering positive reviews, from critics and locals alike, since opening in 2018. The traditional long-simmered broths and chewy noodles with savory meats and fresh vegetables may just hit the spot, even in 95 degree Reno weather.

Kuro Ramen with pork stock, pork belly, soft-boiled egg, beansprouts, woodear mushrooms, fishcake, green onion, seaweed and black garlic oil.

If in the mood for a drive to help digest your savory noodle soup, a good stiff drink might be a nice pre-dinner leisurely activity. Downtown Reno has numerous bars of all types for adult libations, but if you’re the curious type to learn how your libation was created, about 45 miles South of Reno is the little town of Minden, where a very extravagantly remodeled distillery is located.

Bently Heritage https://bentlyheritage.com/ took apart, revamped the insides and then painstakingly put back together six historic buildings located on their property. A current purveyor of high-quality unaged vodka, gin and aged vodka (with whiskey in the works), this distillery takes their blast to the past, with key modern touches, very seriously. Your visit can include a guided tour of the facility, escorted by a bow-tied expert, new found knowledge of each step of the booze-making process, samples and, of course, access to both lounge areas for a well-crafted cocktail or two. You can also feel good about the farm-to-bar philosophy they embody by growing their own grains for all their spirits.

The entrance to the main lobby and lounge rooms of Bently Heritage Estates. 

To keep the joy going, Overland Restaurant & Pub https://overlandrestaurant.com/ is just a hop, skip and jump away. Their rotating menu includes cocktails made with their neighbor’s spirits (Bently Heritage) and mouth-watering options for dinner, which may include meatballs, bacon-stuffed burgers and house-made pasta dishes. The dark wood interior creates a romantic atmosphere but the games on TVs in the bar section make it casual enough for a guys’ or gals’ night out.

Meatballs with marinara at Overland Restaurant & Pub.

After a very healthy night out at the smoke-free slots of Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, https://www.grandsierraresort.com/ a carb-loaded breakfast may sound like a good idea before heading home. Some hot biscuit sandwiches or shrimp and grits from Pine State Biscuits https://www.pinestatebiscuits.com/ might just fit the bill. Their flagship brick and mortar opened in 2008 in Portland, Oregon, and the Reno location is the first, from the three North Carolina natives, outside of Oregon. The lines can encompass the length of the sidewalk on weekends, so get there early or be left waiting while salivating. If you do get caught in the line, never fear, as the shop is run like a well-oiled machine with fast counter service, quick turnaround for seating and self-serve coffee, soda and water.

BBQ Biscuit from Pine State Biscuits with pulled pork, Carolina-style bbq sauce, and coleslaw.

A long weekend may not be enough time to really explore all the joys of eating in Reno, but rest assured, she will always be there for future visits.