Caffeine Fix – Page 8

Roadtrip (During Covid-19) – Revisits to Les Petites Canailles, the Alchemist Garden, and Spearhead Coffee (Paso Robles)

February 19, 2022 mmm-yoso Caffeine Fix, Cocktails, French Restaurants, Paso Robles/Cambria/San Luis Obispo County, Road Trip, Travel

At the beginning of last October, the Missus and I decided to do yet another roadtrip……this time to Yosemite. We decided to make stops in Paso Robles at both ends of the trip. We were excited to revisit a couple of our favorites, Les Petites Canailles and the Alchemist Garden. I'll keep verbiage to a minimum since I've posted on these places several times already.

We started the evening at Les Petites Canailles and this time were seated indoors. Things were spaced out quite nicely and we felt comfortable with the set-up.

Sadly, the Rabbit Terrine we had enjoyed so much on our previous visit was no longer on the menu.

And overall, this meal did not quite hit all of the "high notes" as the last time we had visited.

Still, LPC makes one of my favorite versions of Beef Tartare, served at the perfect temperature, great balance in flavors and textures.

Still a winnah!

The Spanish Octopus was not quite as good this time around as it was on the the tough side.

I was interested in the pasta dish since the conchiglie, basically shell pasta was made locally by Etto. The texture of the pasta was perfect and it was dressed well. Sadly, the pistachio pesto was way too mild and there just wasn't enough acidity brought on by the sun dried tomato.

We would however, drop by Etto's shop in Tin City on our way back and bought some of their pasta.

The Mushrooms en Persillade with confit egg yolk was fairly good….though it needed a bit more salt and seasoning in our mind.

The Leeks a la Plancha was quite good, as the leeks were nicely charred, bringing out the herbaceous sweetness, the Espelette Pepper added a nice smokiness and just the lightest touch of heat; we actually wished there was more. Loved the mild sweetness, nutty – butteriness, and distinct flavor the pine nuts brought to this dish…..which it surely would have added to the pasta dish.

Overall, I enjoyed this meal more than the Missus (I could have that beef tartare weekly)…….I'm not sure we'll be returning here for a while.

Les Petites Canailles
1215 Spring St.
Paso Robles, CA 93446

Of course our next stop was the Alchemist Garden….it was our third visit and it did not disappoint.

While the Missus got one of the cocktails off the menu……I wanted something custom made….so, I asked for an Old Fashioned, mentioning I like smoky tones….and the Mixologist was off to the races.

He torched some sage and then covered it to get a more smoky flavor and made me an amazing Old Fashioned.

I guess the Missus really wasn't too satisfied with our meal LPC….She ordered some fries; which were pretty good.

Which meant that I could have another cocktail. This time the gentleman had something else up his sleeve. He asked me if I'd ever had a "Clear Old Fashioned"….I told him that I'd heard of it; but had never had one…….so….we were then off to the races!

He explained making the cocktail to me while putting it together. He took his time trying to finds the perfect ice cube; saying that "it had to be clear enough that after stirring a bit, it would be transparent when the cocktail was served"!

He told me that in his opinion Rosemary was the perfect match for this cocktail and set off to smoke some for the drink.

And yes, it's difficult to make out the ice cube when the drink was served.

Man, these folks are artists……….

The Alchemists' Garden
1144 Pine St.
Paso Robles, CA 93446

The next morning; while I went to refuel the car, the Missus went across the street to get us some coffee at Spearhead Coffee.

The Missus got Her pour over and I a cold brew and were we ready to hit the road.

Spearhead Coffee
619 12th St.
Paso Robles, CA 93446

There's something we really enjoy about Paso Robles…the vibe, the people….the sense of humor and artsiness…..

Thanks for stopping by!

Blossom de Cafe (Poway)

January 31, 2022 Cathy Breakfast/Brunch, Caffeine Fix, Desserts, Sandwiches, What Cathy Eats!

Blossom de Cafe has closed. It will be missed.

mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog, is being written by Cathy today. Kirk is busy.

The Mister and I were driving on Poway Road, looking for a breakfast spot. Across the street from the North Park Produce location, we saw this signage and stopped. Formerly a Bank, the large interior with what looks like former offices with doors and windows removed has open rooms and areas which could be set up for a small, private party as well as a playroom for children. The interior space is efficiently used and (since the building had been a bank) there is a drive through window.

After we were home, I did some research. Blossom de Cafe is locally owned, family run and opened in February 2020. This is another survivor of Covid.

There are menus outside, inside and behind the counter. We were here at breakfast time. The mention of "Croffle" had us curious. We ordered two.
An almond croffle ($5.80) A croissant toasted in a waffle maker topped with sliced almonds! Why hadn't I thought of this?!! Simple, delightful and a refreshing change. The maple croffle ($4.80). Simply toasted with maple syrup. A great breakfast idea.
We also ordered a bacon omelet sandwich (8.99). A better quality, thick white bread filled with a cheesy omelet/scramble and plenty of bacon made this an easily shareable sandwich.
There are coffees, teas, boba drinks, lattes, a great selection of beverages along with (Bingsu) desserts. Bowls and other lunch choices are also available-we will be trying out more of the menu. Soon.

Blossom de Cafe 12305 Poway Road Poway, CA 92064 (858) 842-2211 Open M,W,Th 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri and Sat 7-7 Tuesday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Website

Mexico City (Before Covid) – The Two Day Taco Crawl and Other “Stuffs”

December 11, 2021 mmm-yoso Caffeine Fix, Mexican Restaurants, Mexico, Mexico City, Taco Shops, Travel

**** Just summing up our last trip before the pandemic to CDMX.

It was quite apparent that during our visits to CDMX we hadn't addressed one important "food group"…..tacos! And so, before our trip I set about trying to create a nice "taco crawl" of sorts…which ended up stretching into two days. So here's a brief summary.

We started off at the farthest stretches from where we were staying….to an interesting (at that time) concept called El Auténtico Pato Manila.

The place was quite busy….though we were both amused and confused by the name and what was on the menu.

On one hand you had the name…"Manila"…on the other hand; you had a statue of Chairman Mao…..

And the place was known for their "pato" – duck tacos served in a flour tortilla, in place of the usual pancake….

With hoisin sauce to say the least……not quite sure…..but this really didn't hit the spot. The proteins were dry….not sure what I expected; but it wasn't this.

El Auténtico Pato Manila
Culiacan 91
06100 Ciudad de México

Next we moved up a couple of blocks and got an outside table at Taquería El Califa.

Which seemed quite popular.

This would end up being our favorite for the evening…great service and heck, they don't mess around when you order a side of avocado.

The Al Pastor was crisp and flavorful and I ordered the bistek "campechano" which came topped with chicharrons……

Our favorite place by far.

Taquería El Califa
Altata 22
06170 Ciudad de México

The next stop I picked because of it supposed "historical" significance….you see; El Tizoncito claims to have invented Tacos Al Pastor….it sure is quite busy to say the least.

We sat next to an amazing young man (like 6 years old) and his dad…..the kid was game for anything and I admired him….for he was from the Midwest US but was just willing to try it all!

The Al Pastor was disappointing though; tough and lacking in caramelization and quite bland overall.

El Tizoncito
Tamaulipas 122
06140 Ciudad de México

Our last stop was one that I'd read much about, Taqueria el Greco…..which served what they call "Arab-style" tacos. It's quite popular as you can see in the photos, though we did fins a table inside the small restaurant.

The Missus went with a typical taco of grilled steak…i.e. carne asada; while I went with a "Doneraky" (spit roasted) style taco in Arabian Bread (sort of like a pita).

The Missus's taco fared better than mine; which I thought was quite bland, overshadowed by the cheese and avocado.

Taqueria El Greco
Michoacán 54
06100 Ciudad de México

From here we headed back to our hotel and called it a night.

The next morning we headed out to stretch our legs…coming across a "bike day" on Avenida Mazatlan.

After taking care of a couple of things; we headed off to a taco shop a couple of blocks from where we were staying……Tacos Don Juan

We had passed this place during one of our walks in the area and I wanted to check them out.

Both the Arrachera-Tocino and the Chuleta Ahumada were quite good. Very solid, delicious tacos.

A solid no frills neighborhood spot – we'll be back.

Tacos Don Juan
Calle Juan Escutia 35
06140 Ciudad de México

From here we walked on over to Parque Mexico….it's always a fun walk and on this day they had a dog adoption program going on.

After which we stopped at Volador Café for a caffeine fix.

They sure love their pooches in CDMX.

Volador Café
Amsterdam 135
06100 Ciudad de México

As I often have said; there's something about his area in CDMX that reminds me of Europe.

When dinner time arrived; I had yet another taco shop in mind….but first we returned to a place close by; Temporal, for a Suerte de Dragon (Lucky Dragon) and some Gulf Crab Sopes…..just so we'd have enough energy to make it to dinner…right?

Restaurante Temporal
Saltillo 1
06140 Ciudad de México

It was a bit of a walk to to El Farolito, which I had seen the night before.

The place seemed quite popular with the locals…..

Maybe because the Al Pastor is roasting right in the dining area?

We sat at the counter and had some cerveza and al pastor and buche tacos……which were quite good.,

El Farolito
Altata 19
06100 Ciudad de México

Funny thing is…..El Califa is right across the street….hmmm….maybe next time….

And then we had a nice stroll back to our room….we had an early flight the next day. We thought we'd be back to CDMX in no time at all and then the pandemic hit…..so, until we're back again!

Thanks for hanging in there for this rather onerous post!

Mexico City (Before Covid) – La Casa de Toño, Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela, Mercado de San Juan, Museo del Calzado, Pastelería Ideal, and Cafe Jekemir

December 10, 2021 mmm-yoso Bakery, Caffeine Fix, Markets & Grocers, Mexican Restaurants, Mexico, Mexico City, Travel

Here's another (hopefully) quick post (abbreviated) on our last trip before Covid struck from back in February, 2020.

The Missus decided that She wanted to do some "exploring" the day after visiting visiting Teotihuacan, so of course I had to plan something out. Of course I wanted to start out with something to eat, so we headed to La Casa de Toño…..because the Missus wanted some Pozole at the Zona Rosa location.

So, basically, I'll equate this to something like a Denny's….a chain that's very popular. The Missus wasn't enamored with the pozole….there are several choices in terms of meat available….She stayed safe with Maciza….while I went full "cabeza de cerdo" (pig's head) which turned out to be the better choice.

This was pretty mild in terms of porkiness…at least it made the Missus appreciate the pozole I make.

La Casa de Toño (Many locations in CDMX)
Londres 144
06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

From here we headed to our next stop…..

The Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela.

Which…my goodness, had a huge selection of items you never knew you needed….

Man, there sprawling alleyways and shops……I ended up needing a break after a while.

Luckily we found a cafe….and a cafe de olla came to the rescue.

Lest you think this marketplace is for tourists, I've been told that many local come here to shop for various items though I never did ask what those items specifically were.

We also took a walk thru Ciudadela Park across the street.

And saw this group practicing ballroom style dancing.

It was so sweet and charming. Notice the fellow dancing by himself? I'm wondering what the story might be behind that?

We enjoyed the green spaces in the city.

The next stop was purely for me….the Mercado de San Juan.

I always enjoy visiting these markets when I travel. There's always something interesting.

The "Chinatown" street, Dolores (which I've posted on before) is just a about a block away, so we headed up the street.

From here, I had an interesting place I wanted the Missus to see….the Museo del Calzado….yep, the footwear museum.

Up a discreet stairway is an interesting collection of footwear…from the historic…to, well, the famous.

It's a fun stop whether you have a "foot/shoe" fetish or not.

Museo del Calzado"The Borcegui"
Calle de Bolívar 27
Mexico City, 06000 Mexico

Right down the block was another interesting sight….an Ottoman Clock – the Reloj Otomano.

You can read more about it at Atlas Obscura.

CDMX is indeed an international city!

And full of surprises.

The next stop was a recommendation of an acquaintance who said it was his favorite "bakery in the world".

Pastelería Ideal is located a few blocks away and is easy to identify…..just look for the towering cakes in the window.

You can't miss it! And the throngs of folks shopping for their favorite pastry. Everyone is in sugar heaven!

I was instructed to head to the second floor…..

Where there was a "showroom" of sorts for cakes. I cracked up as each cake was labeled with how much it weighed? Just in case you wanted that 10 kilogram panda cake!

Pastelería Ideal
República de Uruguay 74
06000 Ciudad de México

Boy, after inhaling all that sugar. I needed something to wake me up! Luckily, I had a cafe on my "list" that was just a few blocks away named Cafe Jekemir.

Which proved to be just what we needed.

Cafe Jekemir
Calle Regina 7
Mexico City 06000 Mexico

In spite of the caffeine I was bushed….so we called an Uber and headed back to Condesa for a short nap….which would come in handy since we'd end up walking quite a bit for the dinner I had planned.

Thanks for stopping by!

Paris (Before Covid) – Revisits to Jefrey’s and Boulangerie Régis Colin and Lunch at Artisan de la Truffe BHV

November 12, 2021 mmm-yoso Bakery, Caffeine Fix, Cocktails, Croissants, France, French Restaurants, Paris, France, Travel

**** I know that "FOY" Kerri has been kind of looking forward to these posts; so here goes

Man, November of 2019 seems so long ago….. I've kind of held back on these posts; but thought I'd just better get them done. I'm going to do rather condensed posts. This was a trip the Missus was really looking forward to; Her favorite city; Paris, travel to Israel, Jordan, and Provence. And though it didn't end up quite the way we planned (more on that later) it was still quite memorable.

We arrived in Paris at around 730pm, which, since we'd been to Paris a couple of times already wasn't a big deal. We caught the RER from CDG and got off at Les Halles. We were staying at the same apartment that we'd booked for our last stay in Paris, so we knew the drill. How to pick up the keys; where the apartment was located, etc……

We'd eaten on our flight to Paris; but really wanted a nightcap; so we headed off to a cocktail bar we enjoyed on previous visits; Jefrey's.

**** Jefrey's has closed

They were having some special cocktails during this week; so we tried a few…..

And of course I enjoy Monkey Shoulder; so we enjoyed ourselves. Folks here are very welcoming and since it was a Thursday night the place wasn't overly busy.

Jefrey's
14 Rue Saint Sauveur
75002 Paris France

We enjoy Paris at the end of November……

As the Christmas season swings into gear.

The next morning I was up early as usual. The Missus wanted a croissant from a place we had enjoyed during our last trip; Boulangerie Régis Colin, so I headed on out.

**** Boulangerie Régis Colin has closed

Sadly, the croissant was disappointing this time around. Unevenly baked, lacking in butter, and too doughy…..

Boulangerie Régis Colin
53 Rue Montmartre
75002 Paris, France

After having our light "breakfast" the Missus needed Her caffiene (and people watching fix), so we headed on down the street to Café Montorgueil for our Café Allonge.

And to check out folks heading out for the day and doing their "morning stuffs"…….this pooch was focused on something in the gutter…must have smelled good.

Café Montorgueil
55 Rue Montorgueil
75002 Paris, France

And then we headed out….with no plan, we just wanted to wander around and take in Paris. You know, the Flâneur/Flâneuse thing. We headed up Rue Saint-Denis to start things out. I'm sure you've heard of the Arc de Triomphe, but did you know there's one located on Boulevard St Denis. The Porte Saint-Denis was originally the site of a gate of the city walls of the city. The arch was built in 1672 by François Blondel to honor and celebrate the King Louis XIV's victories in the Rhine and in Franche-Comté.

From here we wandered over to the 4th and then the 3rd Arrondissements…….

Until we were getting a bit hungry. Since we had enjoyed eating at Maison de la Truffe during an earlier visit, I thought we'd hit up Artisan de la Truffe located in the BHV Department Store.

We got the Foie Gras with Truffle along with the Charcuterie with Truffle "Planche". For several reasons, we didn't enjoy this as much. The temperature of the foie gras, cheese, and charcurterie were too cold, the bread seemed to be getting a bit "old"….it just didn't do it for us. But hey, we did get enough calories to keep us going for the rest of the day, right?

Artisan de la Truffe (in the BHV Department Store – 3rd Floor)
52 rue de Rivoli
75004 Paris, France

From here we headed off and just enjoyed the city…..

And of course we had to see what was going on at Notre Dame……there didn't seem to be much happening on this day.

We eventually headed back up to the area where we were staying. While walking thru Passage du Grand Cerf…..

I had an idea for another stop…….

Stay Tuned!

Roadtrip (During Covid-19) – The Collection Farmers’ Market, Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters (Oxnard) and Mama Lu’s Dumpling House (City of Industry)

October 2, 2021 mmm-yoso Caffeine Fix, Chinese Restaurants, Farmer's Markets/Night Market, Los Angeles County, Road Trip, Travel, Ventura County

We slept rather well after our excursion to Anacapa Island then dinner at Moqueca. We woke rather early and I took a short walk. We needed to refuel both on gasoline and caffeine for the drive to Monterey Park where we'd be spending the evening.

I decided to make a stop at the shopping complex called the Collection Riverpark which was right next to the 101 freeway. We had stopped here before to grab some snacks at Whole Foods, but on this morning, being a Saturday, there was a Farmer's Market. Which was pretty mellow, I guess not too many folks want to head on over to the mall at 8am on a Saturday?

Still, we enjoyed the stroll and the Missus figured out how much She enjoyed Gooseberries.

The Collection Farmers Market
2710-2780 Park View Ct.
Oxnard, CA 93036
Saturdays 8am – 2pm

The Missus had been wanting some coffee, so we headed over to the Food Hall in the complex called "The Annex" and Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters.

The Missus really enjoyed Her Pour Over and their Cold Brew was quite good as well.

I think this will be a nice stop for us on future road trips.

Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters
550 Collection Blvd. (In the Annex Food Hall)
Oxnard, CA 93036
Hours:
Mon – Thurs 8am – 6pm
Fri – Sun 8am – 8pm

The drive to the SGV was a breeze and we headed off to our old neighborhood to do some snack shopping at Hong Kong Market, before trying to decide on what to get for a light lunch. We drove down Colima Road and noticed that a location of Mama Lu's had opened up. Some Jiaozi and Niu Rou Chuan (beef roll).

This was back in July when things were looking good, before the Delta surge hit. Still, seats were spaced out nicely. We were seated and then something interesting happened.

We heard strains of Beethoven's Ode to Joy and soon a "robot" made its way past us holding takeout containers!

It followed the set "path" and took the takeout to the front, then promptly returned to the kitchen….rinse….repeat! It was quite entertaining.

First to arrive was the Niu Rou Chuan; which was quite hefty.

The bread was nicely browned and crisp and not overly greasy. The beef was a bit on the tough side and the bean sauce much too sweet for our taste. The slices of cucumber too thick and cumbersome. Not even close to our favorite version from 101 Noodle Express….though we haven't been there in ages…perhaps we'll revisit again one of these days.

And of course we got some Jiaozi….the Shrimp and Pork version.

Well, at least Mama Lu's is pretty consistent. Like my visits to other locations, the wrapper of the jiaozi was on the hard and brittle side. As my MIL taught me, it seems the dough has been over-mixed. The filling was fine, if on the salty side.

Not bad, but not great…..man this had us missing QingDao Bread!

Still, it had been a while since we'd been back and things are always changing.

Mama Lu Dumpling House
17515 Colima Rd.
City of Industry, CA 91748

By now it was time to see if we could get an early check-in at where we were staying in Monterey Park and perhaps grab a nap before dinner.

Thanks for stopping by!

Frazier Farms (La Mesa) (Grab and Go)

June 23, 2021 Cathy Caffeine Fix, Desserts, Markets & Grocers, Pizza, Sandwiches

mmm-yoso!!! is the name of this food blog. Kirk is very busy with work and Cathy is writing today.

Family owned Frazier Farms Market opened in 1971 in Escondido. It expanded and contracted over the years and now has three San Diego County locations. In September 2020 the La Mesa location on Fletcher Parkway at Jackson (in the former Circuit City building) made its debut. The grocery aisles have a variety of natural and organic products as well as standard selections with very good prices. However, it's the 'edge' of the store where we stop for a snack before shopping. (There are a good number of picnic tables at the shaded front of the building). Yes, there is pizza by the slice. Two for $6 (only on Tuesdays the slices are two for $5).
The white slice is always good. The red sauce is not spicy; a good tomato sauce. The sausage is remarkably good. Vegetables are fresh and really kind of perfect. The crust is not thick and is good meld of crispiness with chewiness.
There is a sandwich area. You can pick one of the standard choices (filling out a paper listing items you might not want). The Frazier Cubano is made with smoked pulled pork, ham, Swiss, pickles and mustard and butter as well as strawberry preserves and, of course, panini style.
The sweet saltiness as well as crisped bread and plenty of meat filling makes this sandwich enough to share. The same with the Ranch Chicken sandwich, made with warm chicken breast, bacon, Meunster, tomato, onion, dill, lettuce and Ranch dressing served on white (ask for the bread to be toasted).
Those above sandwiches are $7.99 each, you can order a half sandwich for $3.99 and you can also 'Create Your Own" for $5.99 (adding cheese is another 50¢) and my only advice would be to ask for the bread to be toasted. The rye here is a very good quality (flavor) and I really like the pickles.
There is an area with sushi rolls and bowls being freshly made. During the pandemic, a variety of sides could be found, pre-packed. There are also a good variety of salads in the deli counter. There is only one potato salad made here(there seem to be way too many varieties of potato salad in other deli counters) and it is really good; eggs as well as potatoes with just enough mayonnaise based sauce.

As of last week, a by-the-pound salad bar has opened. (You wear disposable gloves to handle the utensils). There's a juice and coffee bar, offering organic coffees and smoothies and açaí bowls. It is located near the entrance next to the bakery area and also the refrigerated bakery area.
The Ricotta filled cannoli ($2.50) is a perfect snack to go with a cup of coffee.
The carrot cake ($3.99/slice) is kind of perfect. Again, enough to share.
There is also a gelato bar area. The flavors are a good variety and a small is, again enough to share.
Not photogenic, but a good combination was the banana gelato along with butter pecan; a sort of fancy banana split in each bite.

Family owned, quality products. A great store.

Frazier Farms. 8401 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa, CA 91942 (619) 309-4024 Open Daily 8 am-9 pm Website

Roadtrip (During Covid-19) – The Alchemist Garden Revisited (Paso Robles) and Montana de Oro State Park

June 12, 2021 mmm-yoso Caffeine Fix, Cocktails, Paso Robles/Cambria/San Luis Obispo County, Road Trip, Travel

*** Not much food in this one.

After our wonderful dinner at Les Petites Canailles we walked over for our "liquid dessert" at a place we loved on our last visit here, the Alchemist Garden. We'd enjoyed our selves so much the last time that we requested sitting at the bar again.

The Missus ordered the Alchemist Gold – basically a smoked Old Fashioned.

Which included quite a show. She loved Her cocktail.

As for me; like the last time, I left it to the Mixologist to create something for me based on my tastes on this evening. And boy did he deliver. This was amazing!

Smokey notes, a slight "bite", herbal notes, light bitterness….amazing……

Unlike the last time, we didn't need to order any food.

I asked about the cocktail and was told it used Laphroig 10 and he proceeded to get out several small shot glasses and gave the Missus and I small tastes of the Laphroig and how it compared to the Macallan, the Nikka, and a Rye Whiskey. The Missus is sold on peaty Scotch's it seems.

Places like this and Les Petites Canailles will keep us coming back to Paso Robles!

The Alchemists' Garden
1144 Pine St.
Paso Robles, CA 93446

The next morning; just as had done on our previous road trip to Paso Robles, we made a stop at Spearhead Coffee…..an Americano for me, the pour over for the Missus.

Spearhead Coffee
619 12th St.
Paso Robles, CA 93446

After which, we headed on out. On our last road trip, we had really enjoyed Fiscalini Ranch, so I did a bit of research trying to find a nice scenic trail for walking/hiking. Since we were headed back to Cambria, I came up with Montana de Oro State Park, south of Los Osos and Morro Bay.

We would end up loving our time here……hiking the easy Bluff Trail.

From the rugged shoreline to the beautiful blue sky…….I just loved the ocean views. While the Missus was absolutely taken by the patches of poppies along the way.

Much like Fiscalini Ranch much of the state park was once owned as dairy and produce ranches. The state of California purchased the property and it became a state park in 1965.

The Bluff Trail displays wonderful vistas, rugged coastline, tidepools, and amazing views.

Can you see the Morro Rock in the background of this photo?

At Corallina Cove, you can actually take the stairs down to the beach and explore the tidepools and the wonderful rock formations.

There's a ravine where wildflowers were blooming……

And of course our little friends all over the place.

Past Corallina Cove is Quarry Cove, with its own set of amazing geology.

And the very photogenic Grotto Rock.

This was a fun way to spend the morning; rugged shorelines with patches of color sprinkled about.

We really enjoyed the Bluff Trail at Montana de Oro State Park.

Montaña de Oro State Park
3550 Pecho Valley Rd.
Los Osos, CA 93402

It's well worth the time spent…..

And of course, we loved Paso Robles.

Thanks for stopping by!

Clairemont Coffee – Soon to be under new ownership

June 8, 2021 mmm-yoso Caffeine Fix

Funny that I've never posted on Clairemont Coffee before, much like TK Donuts next door, they fill a niche for the neighborhood. Yes, there are other coffee places nearby that I go to; Bird Rock on Morena is a favorite of the Missus….it's for the really good stuff and I will often drop a pour over off for the Missus when She works weekends. Bay Park Coffee is for breakfasts and because they don't open until 730 or 8, it's for those days when I'm working from home and need my break. Clairemont Coffee though, is the place I drop by more often, especially when I go to the office as they open at 6am. Plus, the owner Bee-Oh-Bee Bob is quite a character. I've been going there on my way to work on a regular basis (except during the real crazy early days of Covid when I was going to work before five AM) since they first opened in 2013. I used to know all the folks that worked there and really liked everyone; especially Hannah who is from the Big Island. Of course time passes and Hannah eventually left when she had her child and went back to school.

The interior is fairly….well, eclectic? Artsy? Funky? Clairemonty????

The coffees are organic; very straight forward, and just like the folks who work here, unfussy. It's also cheaper and better than Starbucks a block away. There are only two things I get……during the colder months it's an Americano….when things warm up; it's a Cold Brew. Right now we're in that transition period….. It's always great talking to Bob……there's always some interesting topic or fun banter. And for the past couple months Hannah is back! Though she only works one day a week it's nice to see a familiar face and smile.

A few months back, when my schedule stabilized a bit, I managed to drop by and Bob told me that he and his wife were retiring. To the Big Island! I was quite happy for him, though a bit sad at the same time. After all, much the like the neighborhood donut shop, the coffee shop is another thread in the fabric of a neighborhood to me. You need the sandwich shop, the bakery/donut shop, and a place to get your caffeine fix. It doesn't need to be fancy; just dependable and the people nice.

I dropped by on my way to work this morning and Bob had just opened up the shop….I'm usually the first customer in the morning. We had some time to chat and I asked him who he was selling the shop to. And was overjoyed to learn it was Hannah and I believe her sister-in-law! I believe they'll be taking over sometime in July.

So, I guess I'll still be getting my morning cup o' Joe from Clairemont Coffee during the week for the foreseeable future.

Oh these threads that make up the fabric of a neighborhood!

Clairemont Coffee
3095 Clairemont Dr.
San Diego, CA 92117
Hours:
Mon – Fri 6am – 8pm
Sat – Sun 7am – 8pm

Roadtrip (During Covid-19) – Pavel’s Backerei, The Bookworks, and a Walk to Monterey on Ocean View Boulevard

May 8, 2021 mmm-yoso Bakery, Caffeine Fix, Monterey/Carmel/Santa Cruz - Monterey Bay/Peninsula, Road Trip, Travel

**** Just a quick post without much food for today!

I woke fairly early on our first morning in Pacific Grove, did some email checks, then while the Missus was waking up, I decided to head out to get something for us to munch on later and headed right up the street to Pavel's Backerei which was a block away right across the street from the Grove Market. Of course I went to check out the "Art Store Cats" along the way. Looks like they were just getting up as well.

There was already a line outside of the Bakery ay 715 in the morning when I arrived.

The line moved very quickly and soon enough I was in the bakery….man, these pastries were huge……

I got a cinnamon roll for the Missus and the Farmer's Breakfast Brochen for me.

This would end up being way more than enough to hold us until dinner.

Pavel's Backerei
219 Forest Ave.
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

By the time I got back to our room; the Missus was ready to go. So, we headed out. My plan was to take a walk along Ocean View Boulevard, starting from the Kissing Rock and then walk on over to Cannery Row in Monterey. It would be a nice walk. As we were passing thru Jewell Park…..

The Missus decided that She needed to get Her caffeine fix for the day, so we headed back to Lighthouse Avenue. Passing more wonderful looking houses along the way.

So we back tracked a bit and headed to the Bookworks.

And both had Americanos before our walk.

For some reason, I love this photo with the reflection of the street sign in it.

The Bookworks
667 Lighthouse Ave.
Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Bolstered by our coffee, we headed back out and walked on down the 17 Mile Drive. then down Esplanade Street to Ocean View Boulevard, where we found the Kissing Rock.

The Kissing Rock is a spot where two granite rocks meet to create an arch……..and the stones "kiss". It was a fun place to start our walk down Ocean Boulevard toward Monterey.

The walk down Ocean View Boulevard is well worth the time.

From the sea breeze, to the homes, the the view…..

And all of the Memorial Benches along the way.

It was at one of these benches where the Missus and I sat, with the stunning view of the Pacific, where we hoped the souls whose names and quotes were inscribed, would be ok with us having a beautiful view, appreciating Pacific Grove.

Finishing thing up; we were soon at Lovers Point Park……it was starting to get a bit more crowded…….and where we saw this sculpture.

And a poem by Lorrane M. Duncan was inscribed below it:

"Innocent once you and I
Scaled huge sea rocks climbing high
To point and dream starry eyed
As sailboats skimmed by

Then our sea turned dark with war
and touched each one with sorrow
Child-like faith beamed out fresh hope
For a safe tomorrow

Stand with me, look out to sea
memories, yesterdays scenes,
Come alive, we'll dare new dreams
Look with a childs eye."

Soon enough we were in Monterey; Cannery Row…..in the time of Covid it was quite eery….

With nary a soul to be found; in this, the land of Steinbeck, one wonders what he would have made of the "Cannery Row" on this day.

There were very few people to be found…the occasional person walking down the street, the Meter Maid still hard at work.

An almost apocalyptic scene being played out in front of us.

In a place where the Monterey Aquarium draw thousands……

The price of the pandemic truly struck at my soul on this day…..

And yet I was glad that people were not gathering in hordes, spreading Covid-19. And had hope that we would manage to get beyond this…..

We headed up Prescott and made our way back to Pacific Grove…….it was a nice walk.

And of course, we checked out what was going on with the "Art Store Cats" on the way back.

It looked like they'd had a tough day…..it was time for a nap……..

Thanks for stopping by!