May 31, 2017

Palo Alto: Coupa Cafe; restaurant review

101 South

Coupa Cafe  

538 Ramona St./University Ave., (650) 322-6872.  B-L-D daily; $. 

Located within a historical 1930s Spanish Colonial building with a tile floor, wood-beamed ceiling, and fireplace in a red-walled, skylighted back room, the casual Coupa Cafe is a branch of the original cafĂ© in Caracas, Venezuela.  Order at the counter, then select seating in the cozy interior or on the outside front patio.  When seating is tight, as it often is, sit anywhere and then move when a better spot opens up.

entrance to Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto, California
entrance to Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto, California


atmospheric back room at Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto, California
atmospheric back room at Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto, California


The kitchen serves up hot breakfasts, salads, soups, wraps, pastas, crepes, Caribbean-style empanadas (my favorite is the pabellon made with carne mechada shredded beef, black beans, sweet fried plantains, loleta cheese, and tasty Venezuelan sauces),

pabellon empanada at Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto, California
pabellon empanada at Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto, California


and arepas—traditional Venezuelan white-cornmeal griddle cakes with a variety of fillings (my favorite is the cami made with fresh white cheese, sweet fried plantains, and avocado).

cami arepa at Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto, California
cami arepa at Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto, California


Picture-perfect pastries and hand-made Venezuelan chocolate bonbons perch invitingly in glass cases,

chocolates display case at Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto, California
chocolates display case at Coupa Cafe in Palo Alto, California


and drinks include coffees made with patio-dried fair-trade Venezuelan beans and a velvety, spicy Maya hot chocolate--all available either hot or iced.  Branches are located all around the town.  




More things to do in Palo Alto.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 


images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

May 12, 2017

San Francisco: Perbacco; restaurant review

San Francisco

Perbacco  

230 California St./Battery St., Financial District, (415) 955-0663.  L M-F, D M-Sat; $$$. 

Located next door to Tadich Grill, this expansive restaurant is a less-touted surprise.  The action in the open-kitchen in back at Perbacco is worth checking out.  The Italian menu is loaded with good things, including fritto misto, mozzerella di bufala, a brown-buttered pork chop with charred cabbage and lingonberry juice, quail with black chanterelle and sunchoke ragout, seared sea scallops with brown-buttered cauliflower and black truffle salsa verde.  My choices were a salad of roasted pears, greens, and hazelnuts; a filet mignon with truffled potato puree; and the most scrumptious hazelnut-brown butter cookie/cake stuffed with fudge.  From the vast wine selection, I zeroed in on a delicious Amarone from the Veneto wine region of Italy, and if you like reds I suggest you do that, too.  

exterior of Perbacco in San Francisco, California
exterior of Perbacco in San Francisco, California


interior of Perbacco in San Francisco, California
interior of Perbacco in San Francisco, California


kitchen at Perbacco in San Francisco, California
kitchen at Perbacco in San Francisco, California


pear salad at Perbacco in San Francisco, California
pear salad at Perbacco in San Francisco, California


filet mignon at Perbacco in San Francisco, California
filet mignon at Perbacco in San Francisco, California


hazelnut-fudge cookie cake at Perbacco in San Francisco, California
hazelnut-fudge cookie cake at Perbacco in San Francisco, California



 
More things to do in San Francisco.

Way more things to do in San Francisco.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.   


images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers


May 9, 2017

Pacifica: Take a scenic hike at Mori Point; things to do

1 South

Take a scenic hike at Mori Point


Mori Point  

Free parking lot on the west side of Hwy. 1, across from Sun Valley Market; trailhead at Beach/Clarendon; part of Golden Gate National Park system.  
Map. 

Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California
Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California


The easy Mori Point hike leading to this exposed, and sometimes very windy, promontory features stunning ocean views.  Whale watching is good from mid-December through April, when you will see the California gray whale.  And in recent summers some humpback and blue whales have been spotted.

Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California
Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California


Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California
Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California


Mori Point on Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California
Mori Point on Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California


A cove off a short trail to the south from the point was the setting for the final scene of the 1970s cult film “Harold and Maude,” in which Harold drives his car over a cliff here.

trail to cove on Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California
trail to cove on Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California


On the way to the cove, you’ll see bunkers decorated with colorful murals, and in spring and summer wildflowers--including the Indian paintbrush--add color to the fields.

bunker on trail to cove on Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California
bunker on trail to cove on Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California


An effort is in progress to restore the area to its original landscape, as it was when the Mori dairy farm was here back in time.  (The dairy is credited with originating Monterey Jack cheese, which they referred to back then as a white Italian farm cheese.  The recipe for it was stolen from the farm by a relative named Jack, who went to . . . Monterey, and the rest is history.)  Endangered wildlife here includes the red-legged frog as well as the rare San Francisco garter snake (also dubbed the Grateful Dead snake because of its colorful skin).  The snakes like to eat the frogs and so sometimes violate the Endangered Species Act of 1973.  When returning from the Point, you can optionally take the Coastal Trail down to the pond and back to the parking lot or you can continue on into the Sharp Park area, where the town pier is.  

view of Sharp Park and pier from Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California
view of Sharp Park and pier from Mori Point trail in Pacifica, California


More things to do in Pacifica.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images c2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

May 4, 2017

San Francisco: The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar; restaurant review

San Francisco

The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar


In the Tiki-hut atmosphere of The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar,

bar at  The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar in San Francisco, California
bar at  The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar in San Francisco, California


a 3-minute simulated tropical rainstorm occurs every 30 minutes.




It is the place to hop off the cable car and stop in the evening for an exotic drink--the Mai Tai

mai tais in  The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar in San Francisco, California
mai tais in  The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar
in San Francisco, California


and Planter’s Punch are favorites, but don’t overlook the A Monk Walks Into A Luau (made for two to four people, and served with really long straws)--

multi-person drink A Monk Walks Into A Luau in  The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar in San Francisco, California
multi-person drink A Monk Walks Into A Luau
in  The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar in San Francisco, California


and is a bargain during the happy hour buffet served Wednesday through Friday.

indoor lagoon at The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar in San Francisco, California
indoor lagoon at The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar
in San Francisco, California


A live dance band floating aboard a boat in the room’s indoor lagoon--a converted swimming pool dating from 1929--entertains beginning at 8 p.m., when a cover is charged.  A dinner menu is served in the dining room surrounding the lagoon.  You can’t go wrong with the Royal Pu Pu Platter, a side of Sichuan Long Beans,

Royal Pu Pu Platter at The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar in San Francisco, California
Royal Pu Pu Platter at The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar
in San Francisco, California


and dessert--think Passion Fruit Mousse Bomb--

Passion Fruit Mousse Bomb at The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar in San Francisco, California
Passion Fruit Mousse Bomb at The Tonga Room Restaurant & Hurricane Bar
in San Francisco, California


but mains include Kalua Pork and Kung Pao Chicken.

The Tonga Room is located in the Fairmont San Francisco hotel atop Nob Hill.  Reservations are advised for dinner.

History of Tonga Room




More things to do in San Francisco.

Way more things to do in San Francisco.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 
 

images and video ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

May 1, 2017

Pacifica: Introduction to Rockaway Beach; hotel reviews + restaurant reviews + things to do

1 South

Introduction to Rockaway Beach


Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


This self-contained section of Pacifica provides a village-like, walkable getaway.  Visitors can check in to a lodging or park their cars, and then walk everywhere from their room or parking space--to browse unique shops, dine at an assortment of restaurants (think fresh Dungeness crab and other local seafood), ride a Segway, take a hike along the Coastal Trail, watch surfers, or just relax on the sand at the small, scenic beach featuring plenty of waves and surfers and sometimes even sharks and whales. 
 

     Where To Stay and Eat

Best Western Lighthouse Hotel  

105 Rockaway Beach Ave., (800) 832-4777, (650) 355-6300.  97 rooms; $$-$$$.  Heated pool (open year round); hot tub; sauna; fitness room.  Room service; restaurant. 

Eight rooms here at the Best Western Lighthouse Hotel have a full-on ocean view, while the rest have a range of partial views.  Beach-front junior suites have a sliding door that opens to the sight and sound of the roaring ocean—no wimpy waves here.  It’s a thrill watching surfers while relaxing to nature’s stereo performance.  Time a visit well and luck might permit viewing passing whales, or maybe dolphins riding the waves like surfers, or even the great white shark that passes through twice a year.  Several trails lead by the hotel:  The Coastal Trail goes a mile north into the foothills, and the Linda Mar State Beach trail leads south to a popular surfing spot.

exterior of Best Western Lighthouse Hotel at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
exterior of Best Western Lighthouse Hotel at Rockaway Beach
in Pacifica, California


        Moonraker

Operating on the second floor of the hotel, (650) 557-7025.  B-D daily, L Tu-Sat, SunBr.

The elegant and romantic Moonraker is back with a surf-and-turf menu.  Stressing fresh seafood, menu highlights include oysters, cracked Dungeness crab, and a delicate filet of Petrale sole, but you might also find a delicious butternut squash soup, roasted Brussels sprouts from Half Moon Bay, and steak-frites.  Most tables have impressive oceanfront views, and sometimes you can even hear the surf.  Many comfortable half-moon booths are available.

  

bar at Moonraker in Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
bar at Moonraker in Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


cracked Dungeness crab at Moonraker in Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
cracked Dungeness crab at Moonraker in Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


Petrale sole at Moonraker at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
Petrale sole at Moonraker at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


Brussels sprouts and butternut squash soup at Moonraker at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
Brussels sprouts and butternut squash soup at Moonraker at Rockaway Beach
in Pacifica, California


steak frites at Moonraker at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
steak frites at Moonraker at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


blood orange sorbet at Moonraker at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
blood orange sorbet at Moonraker at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


Holiday Inn  

519 Nick Gust Way, (650) 355-5000.  Buffet breakfast; afternoon cookies. 

Some rooms at the Holiday Inn have an ocean view, but others, like the one I stayed in, have a view of the busy highway or parking lot.  The best rooms here are ocean-views on an upper floor.  Guest rooms are comfortable, contemporary, and quiet.  Each has a Kuireg coffeemaker.  The complimentary buffet breakfast served in a room with an ocean view is expansive, with pancakes, muffins, eggs, toast, cereal, yogurt, and really good biscuits.  Hot drinks and juices are always available to guests.  A few big fish are kept in a small salt-water tank in the lobby. 

view from breakfast room at Holiday Inn Express at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
view from breakfast room at Holiday Inn Express at Rockaway Beach
in Pacifica, California


Seabreeze Motel  

100 Rockaway Beach Ave., (650) 359-3903.  20 rooms; $.  Continental breakfast; restaurant.  No pets. 

This is the place for a quick, inexpensive escape.  Rooms at the Seabreeze Motel are simple, but the beach and roaring sea are just a few steps away.

exterior of Seabreeze Motel at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
exterior of Seabreeze Motel at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


        Nicks Sea Shore Dining 

(650) 359-3900.  B-L-D daily; $$-$$$.  Reservations advised.

The Seabreeze Motel offers ’50s retro style with comfy booths and an ocean view in its Nicks Sea Shore Dining restaurant.  Under the same ownership as the motel, this merry steak and seafood house began as a burger stand selling bait to fishermen.  Don’t miss the garlic bread or crab cakes.  Additional popular items include Oysters Rockefeller, marinated cracked crab made from grandma’s recipe, and Nick’s Famous Crab Sandwich on grilled sourdough.  For dessert, the sorbet bomb is da bomb--a delicious ball of passion fruit, mango, and raspberry sorbets encased in white chocolate.  An adjacent bar with dance floor books live music on weekends and serves up tasty cocktails at its immense horseshoe bar.


dining room at Nicks Sea Shore Dining at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
dining room at Nicks Sea Shore Dining at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


Oysters Rockefeller at Nicks Sea Shore Dining at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
Oysters Rockefeller at Nicks Sea Shore Dining at Rockaway Beach
in Pacifica, California


cracked crab at Nicks Sea Shore Dining at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
cracked crab at Nicks Sea Shore Dining at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


sorbet bomb at Nicks Sea Shore Dining at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
sorbet bomb at Nicks Sea Shore Dining at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


A Grape in the Fog  

400 Old County Rd., (650) 735-5854.  Age 21+.  M-Thur 4-10, F 4-11, Sat 2-11. 

Located at the quiet end of an already quiet back road, this small wine bar offers an impressive selection plus some tasty small bites--cheeses and charcuterie, hummus, and stuffed empanadas.  Seating at A Grape in the Fog is at high tables and a bar, and live music is scheduled on a small stage on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 to 10 p.m.  My group tried four tasty vintages:  an oaky, buttery, approachable Corkscrew Chardonnay; a fruity, smoky Stubbs Vineyard Pinot Noir; another good Kastania Pinot Noir with a sweet owl on the label; and the bold Mr. Beast Zin from Barber Cellar.  Several featured wine flights remove the decision making and let you relax. 

  

exterior of A Grape in the Fog at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
exterior of A Grape in the Fog at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


bar at A Grape in the Fog at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
bar at A Grape in the Fog at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


small bites at A Grape in the Fog at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
small bites at A Grape in the Fog at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


Uoyakutei Japanese Restaurant  

4408 Coast Hwy., (650) 898-8183.  L-D daily.  

This road house is an easy pull-off on Highway 1.  Uoyakutei Japanese Restaurant has an extensive menu that includes crispy tempura, all types of sushi and sashimi, and more.  


sushi bar at Uoyakutei Japanese Restaurant at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
sushi bar at Uoyakutei Japanese Restaurant at Rockaway Beach
in Pacifica, California


tempura at Uoyakutei Japanese Restaurant at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
tempura at Uoyakutei Japanese Restaurant at Rockaway Beach
in Pacifica, California


    and

Resurrected Boutique  

450 Dondee Way #2, in Rockaway Beach Plaza, (650) 735-5503.  

This cozy little spot purveys the work of local artisans as well as repurposed antiques, collectibles, and vintage items.  

merchandise at Resurrected Boutique at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California
merchandise at Resurrected Boutique at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, California


More things to do in Pacifica.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images c2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

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