As in, yoso-silly, yoso-hungry, yoso-full, or best of all; mmm-delici-yoso!!!!! A San Diego based food and travel blog. An Ex-Pat Kama'aina and Friends explore food, restaurants, and travel from San Diego and points beyond.
Our destination for dinner was basically a half block away at the place much like MacCallum House Inn where we were staying. Trillium Cafe & Inn did double duty as well; both accommodations and a restaurant.
Like MacCallum House, the menu featured local produce; but seemed a bit more “hipster” to us and we seemed to enjoy the more eclectic menu as well.
And it’s always nice to be able to start with a Kir Royale, right?
As is the “norm” for us; we ordered a couple of appetizers and shared a main.
Things started off with some perfectly seared scallops in the Sauteed Wild Scallops ($22). So very oceany-sweet and tender.
I thought the balsamic glaze might be overkill; but it actually paired well with the earthy-slightly smoky asparagus puree.
The one item we found quite interesting was the Vegetable Galette ($13).
Here’s a better view.
Loved the texture of the pastry, sturdy enough to hold the veggies, but crisp really crisp layers of puff pastry. Nice combo of vegetables. And that lemon pesto was rich, but had a nice crisp-acidity as well.
The Broccolini ($12) was straight-forward, sort of like how I make at home…..though we prefer it a bit more “charred”.
The Vegetable Gnocchi ($37), had a nice array of veggies, but overall was the weakest dish of the meal.
The potato gnocchi was a bit tougher than we prefer but not bad. The pepito pesto had a mild nuttiness, but this dish needed a bit more flavor overall….though perhaps the objective was to enjoy the veggies in their true state?
I had a nice Tawny Port as my digestif.
While the Missus had the “Dubai Bar” ($14) for dessert.
Which She really enjoyed.
Overall, a very nice dinner under a lovely tent. The place was quite busy; but the service was quite friendly and they treated JJ well. We’d gladly return!
Trillium Cafe & Inn 10390 Kasten St. Mendocino, CA 95460
After dinner we took a short walk to the bluffs and on the way back we saw this little one having a “bath”, just staring us down…..and an old phrase from “back home” came to mind as the raccoon seemed to be saying “wot, boddah you“?
We got back to our lovely accommodations and just hung out…..
The next morning we got up early…..
And took a walk up Lansing Street.
Past the very nice Harvest Market, then up the hill past the cemetery.
Past the lovely St Anthony’s Catholic Church.
That wooden sculpture above is of a woman and child looking toward the sea. It was created in the memory of two fishermen lost at sea.
We strolled on back to MacCallum House to have our breakfast, past some wonderful structures.
I usually try to plan at least one memorable meal when travelling internationally. This strategy has really opened our minds…exposure to different tastes, creativity, culture. From the first time back in Lima at Astrid & Gaston, to Tamarind in Luang Prabang, and Azurmendi, Osteria Francescana, and Maido. We may not have enjoyed every dish; but it sure does open your eyes and mind. Heck, I even forgot what is our favorite restaurant, Suzunari in Tokyo, which we’ve been to three times!
When it came to Quito, I actually picked Zazu, before booking our stay at the JW Marriott. It seemed to be in walking distance. I thought having a nice meal before we flew out the next morning would be fun. And it seemed like just a 15 minute walk from the hotel.
The doorman at the hotel looked quite worried as we started to exit. He asked us where we were going and I told him. He asked if we wanted a taxi and we said we’d be walking….he looked quite concerned. He asked us to wait and brought over this serious looking young lady; turns out she is the head of security here. It became clear that they were worried about our safety, which I really appreciated. She handed me a “safety card” and we promised that we’d be taking an Uber back. I had researched visitor safety in Quito, which was relatively safe in comparison to other areas. And it was still fairly light out.
We found the restaurant with no problem; the staff were quite friendly and we were guided to our table.
As we’d often do; we went with an appetizer focused menu; 1 ceviche, 3 apps, and 1 main.
I tried the Quito Mule, which is presented deconstructed and you can adjust it to your taste. It was very refreshing with a touch of smokiness.
First up was the Ceviche Mixto. The leche de tigre for this version was made with Aji Amarillo.
This also came with camote – sweet potato, starchy, sweet, and earthy. The shrimp was the best of the seafood, plump, sweet, and tender. The leche de tigre had some complexity, not only the sour-citrusy-fruity tones, but also some smokiness. We were told that the aji amarillo was roasted in the wood fired oven before adding it to the marinating liquid.
No, this is not bone marrow….it’s actually the Beef Tartare, which is served in a bone.
Wonderful presentation; but quite ok tartare, nothing special; the beef was more chewy than I prefer. The most interesting ingredient in this was the addition of pungent, almost horseradish like Mashua.
Of course we had to have Cuy, right? After all, I do love me some cuy. Of course, this was quite fancy…..
I swear, that cuy could have passed for mild roasted duck! Loved the crisp skin and the beer jus was lovely. The cuy had been confit; so it was so tender! The mini tostadas were also delicious. What threw me off were the little pastas, which were filled with peanut cream…which tasted like peanut butter!
Next up; the Suckling Pig Taquitos; these were so tasty and the texture was fabulous as well.
The “porky pig” had been confit as well, so wonderfully tender and swiney. That dollop of avocado cream, a hit of smokey spice from chipotle, and the pico de gallo balanced out the richness. The crisp and rather light wrappers were excellent as well.
For our main to share; we went with the Catch of the Day; which in this case was Seabass.
The fish was perfectly fried; the coating crisp, very moist and tender, though the flavor nothing to write home about. It was the aji manaba, very distinct, slightly spicy, mildly fruity, good acid that really made things interesting. That black garlic aioli was a bit too sweet and overkill.
It was a fine dish; though not as interesting and tasty as the apps….which is why we’ll often have an entire meal of starters!
Service was excellent, very professional and warm.
A good example of how wonderful the folks working were happened as we were heading out. We’d gone ahead and requested an Uber….which did a strange thing. The pick-up point they set was basically half way back to the hotel? What the heck? The host came over to check on us and told us to cancel the Uber; it would be better with a taxi….they then went and called us a cab. The host even waited with us for the taxi and spoke to the driver just to “check” and make sure he knew exactly where to take us! Outstanding service!
We got back to the hotel and one of the security persons came over to check on us! Such great folks here!
We went to our room and packed a bit. We had already arranged a driver to the airport for the next morning. Our flight to San Cristóbal Airport wasn’t until 11, so we would have breakfast in the lounge before heading to our next stop! Can you figure out our next stop?
Would you believe we just got back from our 11th road trip this year? Yikes! I guess not being able to take those international trips because of the squirt really got us going huh? And yes, I’m like 6 road trips behind!
Anyway, this last one for the year was a short one, we actually went back to a familiar locale…we were just there in March.
But we thought JJ might enjoy the holiday festivities and he did.
**** No food in this one; so if you’d like to return tomorrow…..
I had another private tour scheduled for our second full day in Quito. This time we’d be heading North to Otavalo. Like on our previous day, we had a light breakfast in the Executive Lounge of the JW Marriott.
We enjoyed the view from the lounge as it seemed that the clouds and weather was constantly changing in Quito.
Our guide arrived right on time and then we were off. We took a short coffee/bathroom break in the town of San Joaquín.
Which seemed to be at the crossroads of two highways.
And then we were off to Muelle Flotante de Cachiviro on the shores of picturesque Lago San Pablo, the largest natural lake in Ecuador. The lake is resides at the base of Imbabrua Volcano.
A lovely little town with a “muelle flotante” a floating pier.
There was a curious pooch who followed us around.
The view from the pier is stunning.
We were told that even though Imbabura Volcano has not erupted for over 7,500 years, it is not considered “extinct”!
In spite of residing in the shadows of a non-extinct volcano; things were so peaceful and calm here.
Though we were told that just up the road was an area very popular with ex-pats who have started moving here.
We were given some bizcochos and Queso Ecuatoriano, basically stringcheese to snack on.
The next stop was one we really enjoyed. We parked and walked thru a city gate.
This is the village of Peguche, which is famous for weaving and the music; though there were two other things the hamlet is known for.
The Quichua (Kichwa) are the largest indigenous group in Ecuador. Those people, like the Incas whose influence spread into the area in the 15th century celebrate Inti Raymi which celebrates the Sun God (Inti). And to be able to determine dates, there’s Inti Watana; the solar calendar.
It’s pretty amazing!
There’s also some neat acoustics going on as when I stood in the middle and whispered, you could hear me clearly anywhere in the structure!
From here, it was a nice walk to our next stop.
We were told that next to the market in Otavalo, Cascada de Peguche (Peguce Waterfall) is the second most popular stop.
This is where; during Inti Raymi, one would “cleanse your soul”. In fact, it is something that is still done today and access to the falls during Inti Raymi is limited to locals.
The falls are 60 feet high. Can you imagine “cleansing your soul” here?
We returned to the village where things were very quiet on this day.
And there was a reason for this. It was a Saturday. And though Otavalo’s Plaza de los Panchos is always busy; Saturday is market day , when all the indigenous craftsmen are present. It really didn’t seem overly busy.
And the Missus enjoyed shopping.
And even bought a couple of things…..
After which we headed on back to Quito. We had decided to get a light lunch in the lounge of the hotel.
Where we could take in that ever changing view of Quito.
We had dinner reservations at a highly regarded restaurant, so we thought we’d save our appetite for dinner.
We headed back down Church Street and headed off until the trail ended with a view of Big River Beach.
We then walked along the bluffs; where the scenery was quite beautiful.
We then took the trail into Headlands State Park.
Even more lovely views….the coastline here is beautiful.
And as I mentioned before, it’s hard to believe the town is but a few steps away.
JJ was enjoying the scenery as well.
As you head toward the rocky end of the bluffs, things get a bit more dramatic.
It’s an easy 5 mile walk.
Did you know that Miasa (Omachi) in Nagano is Mendocino’s Sister City?
After our morning walk, the Missus wanted to drive up to Fort Bragg, which we did. Though once we got there; the Missus didn’t feel like stopping anywhere, though I think the next time up there we’ll take JJ on the Skunk Train. Anyway, I turned and headed back to Mendocino.
Once back, the Missus wanted to do some shopping, so we headed on out. We came across this honor system farm stand.
Pretty cool, huh?
We zig zagged our way around, in and out of shops. This was the Missus’s favorite.
Where She actually did “Spend-o-cino” if you know what I mean.
Even though they must have to deal with many tourists; folks here were very laid back, relaxed, and friendly.
Circling around Ukiah Street we came across and honor system pottery shop.
The town was giving off major quaint small town vibes!
We decided to grab a sandwich from Mendocino Market, a small shop that sells sandwiches, deli items, snacks, and even wine.
It’s one of those places where you check off your order on one of the handy-dandy forms, pay, then pick up your order at the counter.
After our breakfast we just wanted something light; so I got the Hummus Avocado ($9) on Sourdough.
I’ve come to enjoy pesto on my avocado toast, but never thought of having hummus with it! The nutty-earthy – slightly tangy hummus actually went quite well with the creamy-rich avocado.
The lovely alfalfa sprouts and tomatoes made the sandwich complete. Not haute cuisine, but just a nice, light sandwich for lunch.
Mendocino Market 45051 Ukiah St. Mendocino, CA 95460
After which it was time for…..you know what, right?
After lunch we set about walking around Mendocino. From what I was told; the history of the area starts with the Pomo People, who lived here for over a millennium. The redwoods brought the lumber industry in the 1850’s and Mendocino Village was established in 1852. Many of the workers were from New England, which explains the Victorian stylings and Saltbox Cottages we saw. The town itself is quite charming, though folks I know warned me of how expensive they though things were…..they called the place “Spendocino”…..to us, it wasn’t as pricy as the Bay area.
Right off Main Street in Mendocino are two really easy trails. While waiting for our room, we strolled along the Mendocino Headlands Trail. The views were lovely.
Quite peaceful and relaxing, not another soul in sight.
Hard to believe that right across the road is Main Street!
We walked to the area overlooking Big River Beach.
And then up to Church Street where there’s well, a church of course.
And made our way back to our accommodations in a roundabout way. When visiting this charming village one quickly notices how many water towers there are.
In fact, our accommodations even had a Water Tower Suite….good ol’ number 13. According to this post, the water table is the area is close to the surface, thus the area was lacking with regards to in ground water storage. Most of the water towers were built at the end of the 19th century. That water tower above also has a history, which you can read about here.
Walking on Albion Street we noticed this Chinese Temple.
The Missus and I were immediately interested in how this got to be built in Mendocino. Apparently, the Chinese came to the area in the 1850’s to work in logging camps. It is said the the temple either dates back to1854 or 1867, depending on the source. Interesting, huh?
A block down Albion was our accommodation; the MacCallum House Inn which dates back to 1882.
This lovely inn features a variety of accommodations. We stayed in one of the suites in the “North Barn” building.
Which was lovely and had a private patio and even a hot tub, which was nice, even though we never used it.
The main building features a rather popular restaurant with patio seating, which was perfect for JJ. This was where we had breakfast, which was included with our stay. We decided to have an early dinner on this evening. The friendly Server told us that most of the ingredients were locally sourced.
Things started out with some really delicious bread.
The butter was decently whipped and light.
The Missus had Her sights on getting Her veggie fixes, so that was the focus of the meal; starting with the Field Lettuces.
Nice variety of greens, great crisp texture, loved the beets. The avocado was under ripe, hard, and lacking in flavor. The vinaigrette was quite simple, like something I’d make at home. That avocado and sourdough was a $7 upcharge.
The Grilled Asparagus and Proscuitto was fine; though the asparagus was overcooked and mushy, not quite how the Missus enjoys it.
The proscuitto was super fatty, almost like lardo. The egg was perfectly cooked and the cheese was nice and sharp in flavor.
The Olive Oil Roasted Cauliflower was simple, which was actually a good thing. Though the price for this dish was $32!
The Missus loves Her cauliflower and this was lightly sweet – earth – nutty, She loved it. The Kale might have been better served in smaller pieces. The quinoa was fine. That sauce had an interesting sweetness to it. I later found out it was pea “jus”.
I did see something on the “side dishes” menu that interested me. The Collard Greens, Ham Hocks, and Black Eyed Peas.
While the ham hocks were on the crisp side like lardons; we both loved the flavors – so savory and smoky, the beans were cooked perfectly, slightly firm and tender. This was very good.
Overall, a nice meal, the service was very friendly and we appreciated that most of the produce was sourced locally. Not a cheap meal coming in at over $120 not including tip….but heck, we were in “Spendo-cino” right?
MacCallum House 45020 Albion St. Mendocino, CA 95460
We took a nice stroll after dinner. There’s a Health Food Store; with the interesting name of Corners of the Mouth Health Food Store right next to the back entrance of MacCallum House. Looks like it could have possibly been a church in a previous life?
We got some snacks and I got a couple of beers for the next two nights.
Corners of the Mouth, Health Food Store 45015 Ukiah St. Mendocino, CA 95460
It was obvious that we wouldn’t be starving in Mendocino…….
Our next stop after Bodega Bay was the town of Mendocino. I’d heard some really nice things about the town and was excited to visit. The actual drive was set to be less than 3 hours, so I had some detours in mind.
Our first stop was right before the Russian River. I took a turn off Highway 1 onto Goat Rock Road making several stops at places like Blind Beach.
A then drove south finding some parking to the trail to the summit of Peaked Hill. Needless to say, the views were beautiful.
Loved the views of the shoreline.
I like to mix in interesting places when we travel and there happened to be a place I read about in Sea Ranch. Right off Highway 1 is a sign directing one to the Sea Ranch Chapel.
A non-denominational chapel dedicated to the memory of local artist Kirk Ditzler, it is designed to be a “serene refuge” for meditation and prayer. There were several people inside the building, so I didn’t want to bother them.
We made a short fuel stop in Gualala and then the Missus went to check out this lovely little book store.
Right at the Rollerville Junction, we once again did a detour off the Shoreline Highway. This time up Lighthouse Road. We took a quick look at the Point Arena Lighthouse.
We only went until we could view the shore and rocks before heading on our way.
JJ did have time to stop and smell the flowers though.
From there it was just an hour to the town of Mendocino. We were instantly charmed by the village.
The Victorian style houses instantly took us to the East Coast.
In need of lunch, we stopped by a little shop steps away from where we were staying. You know why we “had” to stop here, right?
Yep, that’s right, it’s Frankie’s! Frankie’s is mainly a pizza and ice cream shop; but they also have salads and falafel…and even piadina.
There’s some patio seating, which was great on a nice sunny day.
The Missus and I really weren’t feeling like pizza, so we got Frankie’s Falafel and the Mediterranean Piadina.
The portion size for the Falafel Salad was quite generous.
This dish is actually Vegan. The exterior of the falafel wasn’t crisp enough, nor was the interior nice and creamy. We did both love the Tahini Dressing though. Nice and earthy, with a good acidic kick. The hummus was passable.
Both the Missus and I enjoyed the Piadina, which, while not being close to what we’d had in Malta, was quite refreshing.
The pita was crisp; the Tahini, like the salad was very refreshing; the Parmesan Cheese adding that salty-milky component. Crisp spinach, with olives and sun dried tomatoes as “hidden” surprises.
We were having a fun morning exploring Quito and our next stop would be quite entertaining. Of course one keeps hearing about the “Center of the World” here. And after all, the name of the country is Ecuador, which in Spanish literally means “equator”. And this is where Charles Marie de La Condamine part of the French Geodesic Mission to the Equator from whom he split after disagreements and differing beliefs and methodologies, tested out the hypothesis of Isaac Newton and his work in Principia, that the Earth is not a perfect sphere. And that place where Charles Marie de La Condamine determined was the equator is where Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is located. Where the monument to the Equator is located.
Cool, right? But like a rather famous actor said “Hang on there, pilgrim”. His measurement was off. The “actual” location is about 250 yards away, which is where the Intiñan Equator Museum is located.
It’s a kind of kitschy , fun place….
The fella’s above’s name is…well Inti of course.
We did enjoy the exhibits of the Native Tribes and former residents of the area. One even had Cuy running around! Dinner bells must be ringing somewhere!
And yes, that’s a real shrunken head on the right in that glass case.
And there’s a pole to mark Latitude 0. Of course, I’ve read that this location is also a bit off; but not by that much.
Not that this sweet little one cares about it. He just wanted to be pet…..
There are some interesting activities as well. There’s a movable sink which shows how water drains from one side of the equator to the other.
And then there’s balancing an egg on top of a nail. It is said that it is easy at the equator which I’ve read is a myth. But of course, the Missus had to try, right?
Well, so much for that one…..
Regardless of if this is really the center of the world; we enjoyed this stop!
Intiñan Equator Museum Manuel Cordova Galarza Quito, Ecuador
We then headed back to the Old Town, stopping on top of a hill was this huge, imposing Gothic Cathedral. This is the Basílica del Voto Nacional.
You can actually pay to climb to the top of the towers for an extra fee.
And of course the Missus just had to do it. I think I’ve mentioned before….I’m not a fan of heights. Not that it really mattered to the Missus.
The views from the towers were wonderful.
I later mentioned that the Basilica reminded me of Notre Dame and was told it was modeled after it.
Of course, what goes up must come down….which was more scary for me…..
Yikes….
Look at the lovely stained glass window!
After our visit to the Basilica, we headed into the Old Town.
This lovely building was the home of our destination for lunch. We were told that it used to be the Archbishop’s Palace, but now houses shops and restaurants.
La Vid Restaurant is located on the second floor.
A lovely and classy dining room with a view of Plaza Grande.
The menu had a combination of various Ecuadorian dishes which I was really looking forward to, along with western dishes like Carpaccio, Beefs dishes, and pastas. Of course we stayed with the Ecuadorian dishes.
I’d been wanting to try Ceviche Ecuatoriano – Ecuadorian Ceviche ($11.95) – I think I’ve forgotten to mention; Ecuador uses the American Dollar for currency. We cracked up when the “side dishes” for the ceviche arrived……popcorn anyone?
We were told that Ceviche in Ecuador is commonly served with “Canguil”…..basically popcorn, unsalted to provide textural contrast.
We chose to go with ceviche pescado; in this case sea bass for our ceviche. This was almost like a soup. The fish very plump and instead of being “cooked” by citrus, it seemed to have been precooked? The liquid seemed to be big on “shrimpiness”, though lacking in acidity and spice.
We also got the Bandera Ecuatoriana ($8.95), a platter of two types of Ecuadorian Empanadas.
The Empanadas de Verde; green plantain empanadas were a surprise as it was not sweet as expected; but the cheese made it rich and savory….it also really stuck to the roof of your mouth! It was enjoyable. The Beef version made with white corn was crisp, with a wonderful texture if a bit on the salty side.
I was interested in trying the Seco de Chivo La Vid ($17.95); the Goat Stew.
Which came with plantains, super delicious avocado, tasteless steamed potatoes, and yellow rice. I liked the rice; but the Missus isn’t a fan of tumeric, which is one of the ingredients in the rice. Loved the gameyness of the goat, which a bit on the chewier side. Kind of strong in terms of clove tones; with a hint of cumin. Fairly rich and pretty good.
This was an interesting and enjoyable meal, which gave us a look at what Ecuadorian cuisine was like.
La Vid Restaurante Venezuela Oe4-56 Quito, Ecuador
Where our final destination of the day is located. As you know from previous posts; the Missus loves Her chocolate. And across the street from the Basilica resides Yumbos Chocolate.
Which is an artesenal chocolate maker. We were given a short tour, then directed to a table.
Where we were given a tasting. We were the only customers in the place, so it really felt like a private tasting.
Man, that 90% Cacao was potent, a bit too intense and bitter for my taste. The Missus preferred the 60% which had a nice balance of rich and sweet, with a hint of bitterness. I guess we’re kinda wussy when it comes to chocolate?
We did manage to get a few gifts even though we’d be lugging it around for the rest of the trip.
And we’d be having an even more interesting chocolate “meal” later on during our stay.
Yumbos Chocolate Sebastián de Benalcázar Quito, Ecuador
From here we headed back to our hotel. It had been quite a day! And since we weren’t very hungry and had access to the Club Lounge at the JW Marriott, we just had a light dinner there.
We had another private tour coming up the following day, plus reservations for a more “fancy” dinner. So, I thought we’d rest up.
Last year, before JJ came into our lives we took several trips. One of them was to a place we’d had on our “bucket list” for a while. The Galapagos. Being born and raised on an island, places like Easter Island have always fascinated me. So, of course we had to do the Galapagos. There were basically two ways to get there, it was either Guayaquil or Quito. After doing some research, I thought Quito would be a good starting point.
Well, getting there from San Diego was going to be interesting. We’d be flying Delta with Hartsfield as our transfer point. Man, Hartsfield….during the 90’s, I did consulting work in ATL, and Hartsfield was the airport….it’s always been crazy busy!
Well, at least we’d be flying domestic first, then international business, which means things were a bit elevated.
The actual lounge was a bit less crowded than I recalled.
With a decent selection of food.
So that made the three hour layover a bit easier to handle.
The flight from ATL to Quito was 5 1/2 hours and seemed to go by quickly.
I arranged for a private transfer from the airport to where we were staying the JW Marriott in Quito. I was using accumulated points for this and we had access to the Club Lounge which made things really easy.
It made arriving at 9pm at night and the check in a breeze.
Along with the lounge there was a rather popular restaurant in the hotel, though we never had to visit. The property was huge….like it’s own little city.
My guess is that it is set-up so folks wouldn’t have to leave the property.
The Executive Lounge was quite large and it was never full during our stay.
It had a nice view….
And made having a nice, light breakfast so convenient.
Since we had limited time in Quito; I arranged for a private tour….actually three private tours for our days in Ecuador. This would end up being such fun! I organized the tours based on what we’d be doing…in other words, first I’d want us to just get acquainted….then to expand our horizons so to say. On our first day, I booked us a Private City Tour of Quito, Teleferico, and the Middle of the World. We were asked about our interests and mentioned that we enjoy learning about food and cuisine. So, our first stop was the large Mercado Santa Clara.
Where we were able to taste some of the local products….
The most interesting was the Tamarillo aka “Tree Tomato”, a member of the nightshade family. It was quite puckery and acidic; the skin pretty thick.
Also quite interesting was what they called the “Taxo”, also know as the Banana Passion Fruit.
Slightly sweet, acidic, and mildly fruity.
This was a fun way to start our tour of Quito.
Mercado Santa Clara RG22+473 Antonio de Ulloa Quito, Ecuador
In any city, there are things that are every day occurrences and Quito is no different. While driving up one of the streets our guide pointed something out to us saying; “I don’t think you see this in San Diego, huh?”
Can you imagine someone walking goats here? Well, maybe in North Park??? jjk….
Next stop was on the western side of the city. Along the eastern side of Pichincha Volcano, would you believe that the western side…Wawa Pichincha is still active, is the TeleferiQo, a cable car.
Here the 20 minute or so ride brings you up to over 12,950 feet. Making it one of the highest in the world. Quito itself is at around 9,250 feet.
Needless to say, the views, even on a slightly cloudy day are outstanding.
And, it’s even dog friendly…..
There a famous six mile trail that goes to the top of Pichincha ending at 15,400 feet….I’m glad we didn’t have time to do this one! Whew…..
Once back at 9,000 feet elevation we headed off. We stopped near the north side of the city at this little shop; Panificadora Quito.
Where the Missus got a Helados break!
Panificadora Quito Av. Manuel Córdova Galarza Quito, Ecuador
After which it was time to head to…..”the Center of the World!”
After our caffeine fix at Roadhouse Coffee we headed off down Shoreline Highway a bit. The Missus wanted to do a bit of walking this morning, so I headed to Doran Regional Park. We got to the parking lot at the end of the road and had fun walking along the North Jetty and Doran Campground area.
We took the Doran Beach Trail, where JJ could find all sorts of “stuffs” to entertain himself.
After strolling along the beach area, we headed up the road a bit and found some parking on Doran Beach Road and did the Cheney Creek Trail and Bird Walk which was a lovely loop trail.
Walking the loop along the salt water marsh was beautiful and peaceful.
I’m sure my good friend “CC” would have really enjoyed the bird watching.
We actually did the loop counter clockwise from the south. Didn’t run into anyone until we got near to Highway 1.
Saw this interesting rock….but can’t really find anything about it online.
It was a nice way to start the day.
It was already getting pretty late for lunch so, we ended up stopping at Lucas Wharf at the Fishetarian Fish Market.
I wanted to give the Dungeness Crab Sandwich another try. Even though the Missus wasn’t really feeling it, She relented. The shop is a rather charming restaurant/fish market.
Where you order at the counter.
There’s ample outdoor seating….well, at least on this day there was. So, JJ could hang out while we ate.
To make the Missus happy, I got a side of Kale Slaw to go with the sandwich and sweet potato fries..
The sweet potato fries were tasty, but on the dry – soggy side. We enjoyed the crab filling more here, but it still had too much mayo for the Missus.
That ciabatta roll didn’t hold out for the entire meal.
At least you could make out the oceany-sweetness of the dungeness crab here. And it seemed like the amount of crab was generous. I requested the sandwich with no cheese which I believe helped things.
I did get a small side of the kale slaw which seemed to have an Asian touch as we tasted sesame oil?
All in all, a fine, somewhat touristy meal. But JJ enjoyed himself.
Fishetarian Fish Market 599 Highway 1 Bodega Bay, CA 94923
After this, we did a couple of stops along the way, and then headed back to our accommodations for some R&R. After our nap, since Bodega Bay really isn’t great for walking, we just decided to get take out again at Terrapin Creek Cafe. While the Missus hung out in the Bodega Bay Inn “wine shack” to finish the wine we’d bought there the night before; I walked over to get our takeout.
We got the Charred Octopus and Cauliflower Salad again which was better this time around.
You can’t really see it here; but much more octopus which was fairly tender.
The Roasted Asparagus and Maitake Salad didn’t have a whole lot of maitake….but a load of grated Manchego.
This was fine for a salad, the Missus enjoyed the chopped boiled eggs.
I also got the Pan Roasted Hokkaido Scallops….three scallops for $23.
Pan seared….not sure about “roasted”. Did not enjoy the overwhelming flavor of fennel, but the scallops were fine.
Overall, this was fine. I’m sure eating in the restaurant would have been better; though we enjoyed having the “wine shack” all to ourselves.
Terrapin Creek Cafe 1580 Eastshore Rd. Bodega Bay, CA 94923
We had enjoyed our visit to Bodega Bay; though I’m not sure we’d return as we prefer towns where we can walk and explore.
