Hisui Japanese Restaurant

I'll take seconds...of everything!

Hisui Japanese Restaurant
1350 E. Monte Vista Avenue
Vacaville, CA


Oh, Hisui.  The food!  The showmanship!  The onion volcanos!

I love watching people cook; and when that cooking involves a percussion section in the form of butcher knives and garlic salt dispensers, all the better.

My pal and I shared the big ol' Chef's Choice which included miso soup, salad, perfectly rare filet mignon, scallops, shrimp, calamari and lobster, along with vegetables and steamed rice.  For dessert, we were offered the choice of chocolate, strawberry or green tea ice cream.  The entire meal was devoured as we sat around a flat-top grill, witnessing the chef masterfully prepare dinner for the other half-dozen diners sitting across from us.

Gracious hostess, super-attentive server, and all the culinary entertainment you can handle.  A definite winner in Vacaville.

Crazy Sushi

The best excuse for post-meal ice cream.

Crazy Sushi
7419 Laguna Boulevard
Elk Grove, CA

Dude: I FORCE myself to eat the side salad with chopsticks...otherwise, the process would not be lady-like.  Trust me.  I don't know what they put in that salad dressing, but I want to bury my face in it.  Every time.

For twenty bucks, two people can gorge themselves.  The quality is great, the menu is expansive, the wait staff hustles, and the sushi chefs are extremely friendly and accommodating.

I order the Spicy Day every time.  Sure, I leave with my mouth on fire after a one-two punch from both jalapenos and Sriracha, but it's always worth the pain and suffering.

The sushi has been 50% off since their grand opening years ago.  Why go anywhere else?

Monsieur Marcel

Good luck topping this!

Monsieur Marcel
6333 W. 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA

A small part of me wishes I never found this place.  Why?  On one hand, they have THE BEST soup I've ever tasted.  On the other hand, it's 372 miles from my front door.  Cue the violins.

A myriad of dining options awaits you at the famous Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax.  In fact, I circled the market twice before choosing Monsieur Marcel.  Small plates of cheese and cured meats seemed a fitting snack since my evening plans involved copious amounts of Mexican seafood.  Of course, the intention to enjoy a light snack all went to hell when I saw French Onion Soup on the menu.

For me, this particular soup begs to be ordered and judged against every other version I've sampled.  Prior to this visit, my all-time favorite came from La Bonne Soup Cafe in Sacramento; however, when the first spoonful reached my lips, I wanted to weep a tear for La Bonne.  Theirs had been outdone.

A rich, complex broth chock full of sweet onion slices was concealed by a single floating crouton underneath a blanket of oozing cheese, the outside of which had bits charred ever so slightly to enhance its salty, nutty flavor.  Sheer heaven.  I chose not to taint my palate with any sort of flavored beverage or even the bread loaf I had been attacking prior to the arrival of this delicious crock of nirvana.

Hours later, I annihilated a grilled lobster and its accoutrements.  But, I will always remember the most perfect bowl of soup, and will rarely visit L.A. without a visit to Monsieur Marcel.  Believe it.

Hotlix

Insects never looked so appealing!

Hotlix
179 Pomeroy Street
Pismo Beach, CA

It's official: I'll try almost anything if it's covered in chocolate.

Hotlix is where laughter turns into curiosity and eventually a purchase of something you have never considered to be "food".  At ease, entomophobiacs, the creatures here can no longer squirm, leap, crawl or scare the bejesus out of you.  The lifeless corpses (yum!) are immortalized in lollipops, enrobed in chocolate, or dusted with herbs and spices.

The chocolate covered crickets were the easiest choice for me since they were a little less recognizable as former living creatures than the cheddar cheese-dusted "Larvets".  They tasted just like everyone said they would: like Kit-Kats.

Other treats include chocolate ant wafers and scorpion brittle.  Dinner, anyone?

Shaw's Steakhouse & Tavern

Three!  Three!  Three meals in one!

Shaw's Steakhouse & Tavern
714 S. Broadway
Santa Maria, CA

When in Santa Maria, eat Santa Maria BBQ.  Duh...

Shaw's was highly praised all over the web, so I gave it a try.

I dig dimly-lit steakhouses, so this certainly fit the bill.  As I followed the server to the table, I passed a large window allowing diners to watch the inner workings of the kitchen; more specifically, a gargantuan grill used to prepare their delectable BBQ meats.

After a nearly six-hour road trip, I was dying for a bite.  With a weekend of food ahead of me, I wanted something simple - maybe a small salad with some BBQ and healthy veggies on the side.

Fail.  Epic fail.

My server asked if I preferred salad or Beer Bacon Cheese Soup.  Um, were there really two answers to that question?  That was followed up with a listing of the daily specials, from which I chose the Tri-Tip & Linguica Combo.  My salivary glands started working overtime.

A cup of cheesy, porky goodness arrived, topped with more grated cheddar.  Freshly ground pepper added a kick to the rich, earthy broth, and after the bowl was licked clean I had no idea how I'd have room for my entree.

And what an entree it was!

A platter large enough to feed 2-3 people was placed in front of a blushing me.  It looked like a freaking masterpiece - and tasted like it, too.  The spicy linguica and tender tri-tip were grilled to perfection and accompanied by a dipping sauce that baffles me to this day.  It was rich, sweet...and those are the only adjectives I can use because I've no clue what other ingredients were involved.  All of this was served with a fully-loaded baked potato as well as garlic bread.

I barely made a dent in the platter, and thanked my lucky stars my hotel room had a kitchenette.  I ate the leftovers for two days straight.  Three fantastic meals for twenty bucks?  Steal.

Vista Grille at the La Contenta Golf Club

Each meal here is a hole in one!

Vista Grille at the La Contenta Golf Club
1653 Highway 26
Valley Springs, CA

What's better than a near-perfect BLT, chock full of thick-cut bacon and the right amount of mayo nestled between layers of juicy tomato and crisp lettuce?

The view from a window seat at the Vista Grille.

Precisely manicured greens, a lovely outdoor balcony, and tiny birds fluttering around the hanging moss-filled baskets of perennials created a breathtaking backdrop.  I typically prefer at least a little soft background music when I dine, but the silence of the room allowed me to appreciate the surrounding beauty and calm.

Now, if I could only figure out how those golfers managed to avoid work for a day...

Richmaid Restaurant

Be the first to order Liver & Onions
 a la Mode!  I dare you.

Richmaid Restaurant
100 S. Cherokee Lane
Lodi, CA

Richmaid is a long-standing fixture in Lodi.  Though the building's exterior may shows signs of wear, the food being served inside is the reason this place is still around.

I came here for a second (!) breakfast on a Sunday morning to "kill time" before a poker tournament at the card room down the street.  Church-goers made up most of the crowd, peppered with families with small kids and, of course, a couple degenerate gamblers at the counter (of which I was one).

I needed something quick and delicious, and Biscuits and Gravy sounded like a nice little snack.  In the meantime, I watched as order after order was cranked out of the kitchen, bells being rung for pickup by the servers.  Omelets, wet burritos and chicken salads seemed to be all the rage this particular morning.

Moments later, my plate arrived with steam rising from the rich and buttery gravy atop two very large, fluffy biscuits.  The biscuits were hearty, holding up to all the gravy and generous handful of sausage pieces sprinkled on top.  Some additional black pepper brought it close to perfection, and that plate was killed in a matter of minutes.

This may be my new go-to destination these weekly poker tournaments.  I'll probably pass on the Liver and Onions, but a Banana Split sure does sounds good right about now...

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates

Leaving without some of these would be 
a HUGE mistake.

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates
1801 L Street
Sacramento, CA

Attention Ginger Elizabeth:

Under no circumstances are you allowed to close up shop or move farther than 50 miles from my house...ever!

This chocolate is TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.  One day, I came this close (thumb and index finger half a centimeter apart) to heading home without making a stop here.  Boy, would that have been a mistake!


Unless you're looking for it, you may miss this sweet little shop.  Look for it.  Burn the address into your memory.  Then, visit again and again and again.

On my first of many, many visits to come, I chose a couple of Parisian Macarons and the Cafe Cremeux.  My boyfriend chose the Gianduja Cake and European Sipping Chocolate.

Believe me when I say this may be the BEST HOT CHOCOLATE EVER!  One sip, and I was hooked.  With a robust, not-too-sweet chocolate flavor, coupled with giant homemade marshmallow cubes, it was instantly declared the best hot chocolate I've tried.

The Cafe Cremeux was a hemisphere of awesomeness: shortbread, cake and chocolate creme housed within a thin chocolate shell, topped with a tiny chocolate candy (of course) and the smallest slice of candied orange peel.  A masterpiece.

We left, completely satisfied and looking forward to a chocolate macaron breakfast the next day.

Katrina's

Best.  Gravy.  Ever.

Katrina's
456 Grass Valley Highway
Auburn, CA

Dude.

I would come back here just for the gravy.  Not the Biscuits and Gravy, although the biscuits are pretty dam perfect; but I could just eat a bowl of gravy. Full of chopped meat (Ham? Bacon?), they could serve it in a bowl and I would slurp it down.

BELIEVE what the locals say.  Our food arrived super fast, and the quality was fantastic.  My homemade Corned Beef Hash was phenomenal and could easily feed a family of four.  My boyfriend's pancakes were so thick and luscious he could only eat one of them!

Get here early, because the tiny dining space fills up quickly.  You don't want to be famished, sitting a few feet away from me on a bench, salivating over my leftovers.

Rick's Dessert Diner

Calories, schmalories.  Just do it!

Rick's Dessert Diner
2322 K Street
Sacramento, CA

To those opposed to birth control:

If you must bring your family of eight, please note:

1)  There WILL be a line.  Single file should be the obviously logical choice here.
2)  The queue progresses along the dessert case.  When you get to the register, please do not ask, "So, what kind of pies do you have?"
3)  The dessert case area is not the size of a ballroom, so kindly think of the diners and control your brats (if they are brats, of course)!

Now that I've gotten that off of my chest...

Amazingly beautiful, scrumptious delicacies can be found here.  Slightly pricey, yes, but quality takes time and effort.

Two thumbs up!

Silver's at the Wharf

Check out my mussels!

Silver's at the Wharf
32260 N. Harbor Drive
Fort Bragg, CA

It took a bit of research to find a "nicer" restaurant open past 4pm on a Saturday night in this sleepy town, but we found one.  On the water? Bonus. Too bad it was too dark to enjoy the view, though.

Silver's was one of the only restaurants in the area that I noticed had tablecloths.  I thought to myself, "Great!  I'll fit right in with this cocktail dress!" Apparently, the other diners thought, "Great! I'll fit right in with these jeans!"  I suppose they already knew that the air conditioning runs on full blast, nighttime or not.

Luckily, our server's cheerful demeanor warmed me up, as did the fresh French bread and appropriately-softened butter.  I scanned the menu, hoping to fulfill my craving of seafood, and chose the Mussel Steamers; they sounded light, somewhat healthy, and a good pick after all of the candy and other crap I had devoured earlier in the day.

The mussels arrived.  I SWEAR I do not purposely order the largest physical dish on the menu when I go out to eat.  It just happens.

A substantial bowl was placed in front of me, piled high with steaming (of course) mussels swimming in a luscious, buttery wine sauce. This mountain of shellfish carefully concealed a rather large supply of chopped garlic, adding a kick to each and every bite of these phenomenal bivalves.  I went to work, systematically transferring mussels to mouth and empty shells to extra bowl.  When finished, I sopped up the wine sauce with bread.

So much for a light meal...there's always tomorrow.

Bob's Big Boy

Too many of these might turn me into
a Big Girl.

Bob's Big Boy
4211 West Riverside Drive
Burbank, CA

Ignored was the fact that I had just inhaled a rather substantial grilled lobster Mexican feast. I was on vacation, dammit.  I wanted a picture with that Big Boy statue, dammit. And no dinner while on vacation is complete without dessert.

Bob's Big Boy is like stepping onto the set of Happy Days (or so I assume...that show was too squeaky-clean for me).  This particular Friday night found me freezing my rear end off in a strapless sundress, quickly making my way through the weekly classic car show so I could accumulate 1,200 more calories for the day.  A buddy and I snagged a couple of seats at the counter instead of waiting for a table like the other chumps in line. I was on a mission, after all.

I think I glanced at the menu for .0001 seconds before demanding the Decadent Hot Fudge Cake.  I caught a few annoyed looks from folks still in line who wished they'd made our move to the empty seats.  I sent some looks back for holding the door open the entire time they were in line, sending a chilly breeze throughout the counter area.  Brrr, for crying out loud!

A towering mass of moist chocolate cake, piping hot fudge and sweet whipped cream soon arrived, and I felt eyes of envy descend upon me.  A young man seated next to me stole a glance at my plate, likely wishing he'd saved room for dessert.

The first forkful of thick, warm hot fudge against the tender crumb of chocolate cake was enough to send me swooning.  This is what a diner experience is all about.  Scan for available counter seating at all times, people, and you will be rewarded handsomely.

Ice Burgie

Keep those eyes wide open in Gridley!

Ice Burgie
1575 State Highway 99
Gridley, CA

Don't blink, or you'll miss the Burgie.  Then you'll go home, read this article, and wish you'd been more vigilant.

Ice Burgie has been around for a long time, and will likely continue to as long as they keep cranking out quality burgers, fries and shake.  There's outdoor seating in the front for those like me who find it somewhat peaceful to watch traffic cruise by, and additional seating out back for those too shameful to admit they just ordered two shakes...for themselves.

I stopped by between lunch and a visit to a penny candy store, so I went easy and just ordered a small Chocolate Malt.  Yummers!  The chocolate was luscious and creamy, made thicker and richer from a generous helping of malt powder.  Under three bucks?  I can swing that, for sure.

Next time, the Peanut Butter Shake!

Granzella's

Olive this place!

Granzella's
451 6th Street
Williams, CA


Here's a suggestion: stop by charming, decades-old Granzella's before heading to nearby Colusa Casino.  That way, no matter what happens at the blackjack tables, you'll at least have something to eat on the way home to distract you from your pity party.

Better yet, why not start the day with a hot breakfast at Granzella's Restaurant?  Fill up on country fried steak and Belgian waffles, then head into the delicatessen for some treats to share later.

This region sure loves their olives, and you can find plenty of them here in jars, oils, and at the tasting bar.  Not your cup of tea?  Pick up locally-made fruit preserves, marinades, spices or specialty pastas and breads.  For the ride home, don't miss made-to-order pastrami and roast beef sandwiches or heaping scoops of Italian gelato.

Granzella's also boasts a rather large selection of traditional and microbrewed beers...but let's save those for your arrival home.

Race Street Seafood Kitchen

When I seafood, I eat it!

Race Street Seafood Kitchen
247 Race Street
San Jose, CA


I loved the charm of this place.  Half market and half restaurant, it was really fun to browse the fresh fish counter while waiting for my order.  It was also fun salivating over everyone else's orders, as usual.

I pretty much wanted to order one of everything on the menu.  But in the interest of looking at least somewhat ladylike, I settled for the giant Grilled Ahi Sandwich.

Ahi grilled to perfection arrived on grilled bread (!) with shredded lettuce. I forgot to add tartar sauce, but honestly, it didn't need it (neither did my hips, although I did sneak a couple bites of delicious cole slaw).  My dining partner's shrimp and chips looked equally amazing.

Everything's made to order behind a glass barrier, which is especially fun to watch when they fling giant planks of pescado towards you.  Did I mention all of their grilled items can be made into a sandwich at no additional charge?  Clearly, I need to move closer to this place.

Rockridge Market Hall

Eating on the sidewalk never tasted
so good!

Rockridge Market Hall
5655 College Avenue
Oakland, CA

Peek inside and you might think this is just another gourmet bakery, florist or butcher shop.  Step inside and you'll discover it's all of those...and so much more.

With eight distinct vendors under one roof, Rockridge Market Hall is your first - and last - destination whether you're grabbing a quick snack or planning an elaborate dinner party for twelve.  Grab some java at Highwire Coffee Roasters to sip while perusing grass-fed beef at Marin Sun Farms Butcher Shop, choosing between gnocchi and ravioli at The Pasta Shop, or contemplating a catfish sandwich from Hapuku Fish Shop.

Snagging a table outside may prove to be a challenge, but you can probably find a vacant mini-bench alongside parallel-parked cars out front.  Enough for your butt and a grocery bag, it's a nice spot to park yourself before you wolf down a sourdough roll filled with crunchy fried oysters, slaw and tartar sauce.  Heaven.

Dairy Belle

Riptide!  Riptide!

Dairy Belle
2285 W. Tennyson
Hayward, CA


I love, love, LOVE places like this!  Sure, it looks and feels like a Dairy Queen knock-off, but can you really pass up a roadside joint run by Asians that serves burgers, ice cream...and Mexican food?

Skip the Mexican food.

Order the 1/4-lb. Burger with its perfectly toasted bun and charred patty, piled high with juicy tomatoes and pickles and crisp lettuce.  Bypass the soda in lieu of a Riptide: soft-serve blended with your choice of candy or fresh fruit...I highly recommend strawberry!

So, so yummy.

And if you're lucky, maybe you, too, will be forced to witness a single mother breast-feeding three feet from you!  Egad.

Penny Candy Store

Where copper turns to candy!

Penny Candy Store
10221 Live Oak Boulevard
Live Oak, CA

Had I known the Penny Candy Store sold over 30 varieties of Hawaiian Snow starting at $1.50, I probably wouldn't have guzzled down a malt from Ice Burgie down the street only moments before.

Luckily, you CAN take candy home to enjoy later, unlike an ice and syrup creation.

Stepping into the Penny Candy Store was like a trip down memory lane for me.  One bite of a Brach's Sundae Neapolitan Coconut cube and I was transported back to my great-grandparents' house - this time, without the lingering cigarette smoke.

With most candies selling for several cents apiece, "Penny Candy Store" may very well be a misnomer.  But really, who cares with such a great mix of classic confections like Necco Wafers and modern treats like Pez and Junior Mints.  There are several giant bins dedicated to different-flavored Tootsie Roll Midgees, and this is the only place I can recall that sells bite-sized Turkish Taffy in both chocolate and strawberry.  You will even find individual Sugar Daddies on sticks here!  Chocolate snobs can choose from dipped nougats and bon-bons behind a glass case while watching a snow cone being artfully carved for patrons approaching the walk-up window.

Fond childhood memories...a bargain for a few hundred pennies!

Burr's Fountain

Shhh...a master's at work.

Burr's Fountain
4920 Folsom Boulevard
Sacramento, CA


What's better than watching food being prepared on television?  Watching food being prepared right in front of you.

Lucky for me, all of the counter seats were available during my lunchtime visit.  I plopped down on a comfy, padded stool and tuned out the nonsense of the boisterous crowd behind me.  I instead focused on my sandwich and soda fountain options, trying not to salivate down the front of my hoodie.

Corned Beef Sandwich and Chocolate Phosphate, please!

I then turned my attention to a quiet, reserved older gentleman manning a station piled high with sandwich fixings, alongside two industrial-sized panini presses atop bread shelves filled with sourdough, 7-grain and both light and dark ryes.  After only a few moments, I realized this individual was single-handedly cranking out each and every food order, from hot dogs to Reubens to turkey salad...with nary a word spoken to the young men and women picking up and dropping off their orders.  He moved gracefully, yet speedily, as if to say, "A party of 20 just walked in?  Bring it on."

I was enjoying the show so much I was almost disappointed when my order came, providing a slight distraction from the one-man machine.  It was a delicious distraction, however: the perfect combination of juicy corned beef and rye, all washed down with a fizzy chocolate beverage that told me I wouldn't be needing another meal for hours.

The food and fountain treats are reason enough to come back, but the one-man show is the real highlight.  His frenzy likely started well before I arrived and ended quite some time after my departure.  I'm looking forward to that quiet entertainment again.

Squeeze Inn

Drool much?

Squeeze Inn
Various Locations In & Around Sacramento, CA


The Squeeze Inn was one of Sacramento's best-kept secrets until the establishment was featured on the Food Network.  As if the lines weren't already long enough, all hell broke loose and today, the now-franchise is a true legend in Northern California.

I come often for burgers and tacos, but mostly to watch the creation of the Cheese Skirt.  Fistloads of shredded cheddar are dropped over sizzling patties on a flat-top grill, and the intense heat proceeds to morph that queso into a crisp, chewy topping, flavor concentrated by the heat and evaporation of some of the cheese's moisture (there's a bit more to it but I won't ruin the fun for you). The result is a "skirt" of cheese that is often 6-7 inches wider in diameter than the patty itself.  You have to see it to believe it.  And you'll have to taste it to experience it.  It's the icing on the cupcake, if the cupcake were a juicy, beef patty coupled with fresh produce on a perfectly chewy bun.

Over the years, Squeeze Inn has expanded to locations in Galt and West Sacramento and is still on the move.  No matter which location you choose, expect a wait.  Squeeze Inn doesn't rush the process just because there's a line out the door.  Impatient?  Chew some gum and wait your flippin' turn.  You won't be sorry.

Ludy's Main St. BBQ and Catering

This should hold you over till dinner.

Ludy's Main St. BBQ and Catering
667 Main Street
Woodland, CA


This is real stick-to-your-ribs kind of food.

Get it?  Ribs?  BBQ?  Am I amusing only myself at this point?

The line was ten deep when my buddy and I arrived.  The wait was long, but so was the menu; it gave us plenty of time to decide what 5-6 meats we wanted to try.

Yep, I said 5-6!

BBQ Brisket Sandwich, Pork and Beef Ribs, Chicken, Tri-Tip, Hot Link and Western Chili.  Yum!  Tangy sauce with a bit of zing without being overly spicy.  Tender smoked meats with layers of flavors.  Generous piles of brisket atop a soft roll, just absorbent enough to soak up all the juices without becoming too soggy.  Out-of-this-world Dill Potato Salad and Cornbread, served with butter and honey.

I think I just gained a couple pounds writing this article.

Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab

Science: delicious!

Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab
114 W. Branch Street
Arroyo Grande, CA


Doc Burnstein's is an ice cream parlor for all ages.  Adults will love the nostalgic model trains running along the perimeter of the parlor and appreciate the old-fashioned glassware used for their signature fountain treats and desserts.  Kids will get a kick out of watching the creation of new ice creams during the weekly Lab Shows.  Everyone will enjoy the high-quality ingredients used to make such inventive flavors as Motor Oil, Merlot Raspberry Truffle and Vanilla Chai.

I prefer to stick to the basics, and ordered a Regular Sundae with hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry. It was my birthday, so I was offered an additional treat, on the house!  Amazingly, their Frozen Chocolate Banana managed to stay intact all the way home...to Northern California!

One bite of their luscious ice cream and I was sold.  The Rocky Road was chock full of nuts and marshmallows, swimming in rich, chewy hot fudge which started melting the fresh whipped cream.  The atmosphere didn't hurt, either: bright colors, friendly staff, and smiles on every patron's face are nothing to complain about.

Doc's community involvement takes the form of reading labs, movie nights, blood drives, and even creating a 100-inch ice cream sandwich for your party.  35 gallons of ice cream never tasted so good.

Tadich Grill

Culinary gold can be discovered here.

Tadich Grill
240 California Street
San Francisco, CA  94111


Tadich Grill has had a long, storied history with San Francisco since the gold rush.  Their food has had a long, storied history with my mouth since the early 1990s.

Arrive before lunch and dinner rushes if you want a first-come, first-served seat at the bar, where most great dining experiences occur.  The servers might look more like dentists in their white coats if they weren't floating around behind the bar meticulously preparing place settings and individual sourdough bread and butter portions for each guest.

Running nearly the entire length of the dining room, the bar allows diners to see what everyone else is chowing on, from Louie salads piled high with fresh crab and shrimp to cioppino, pork chops, pastas in meat sauce, and dozens of fried, sauteed or broiled seafood dishes.

San Francisco is already well-known for its clam chowder, but Tadich Grill knocks it out of the proverbial park.  A standard mire poix is the basis for one of the thickest, chunkiest chowders you'll ever try.  No skimping on clams here, and the potatoes are diced large enough to hold their shape and not dissipate into the soup.  Just be sure to save some of your bread to clean the last traces of it out of your bowl before your dentist - er, server - swipes it from you.

Bottley's Bar-B-Que

"Love At First Bite?"  Exactly.

Bottley's Bar-B-Que
2210 Country Club Boulevard
Stockton, CA


Nearly 20 years ago, my late father hired Bottley's to cater his company's annual picnic.  I distinctly remember one dish: Dirty Rice.

Fast forward two decades, and I'm standing at the counter inside their newest location, talking to a family member who not only remembered catering that function, but my father as well.  Unbelievable!

Unfortunately, they no longer offer Dirty Rice as a menu option; however, I was given a sample of the Boudin, which is a spicy meat and rice mixture formed into sausages.  Odd-sounding, but mighty delicious.

I ordered the Pork Ribs Lunch Plate which included four fall-off-the-bone ribs in my choice of sauce (medium), a scoop of tangy Potato Salad, two slices of soft white bread and a choice of sides (in my case, creamy Macaroni and Cheese).  For $8, it was a bargain of a deal, especially when factoring in the genuine hospitality emanating from each and every employee.

The food is prepared with care, the walls are covered with decades of local sports memorabilia, and the operation is family-run. There's little room for improvement as far as I'm concerned.  On second thought, if they could wave a magic wand and make it all fat-free, then that would be perfect.

Deb's Great American Hamburgers

Tasty, even when completely sober!

Deb's Great American Hamburgers
3340 Redwood Drive
Redway, CA


First impression: That's quite an extensive menu on the wall.  Do I want a burger, taco salad, or egg rolls? Apparently Humboldt County residents are pretty specific about their munchies.  I guess being the only diner for miles also lets you get away with charging nearly nine bucks for a Patty Melt.

Twenty minutes later:  This is a pretty f**king good Patty Melt.  I'd pay nine bucks for this again.

Contrary to most online reviews, Deb's isn't swimming in Betty Boop memorabilia.  Sure, there are items on the wall, but it's no Mel's Drive-In or Hard Rock Cafe, for Pete's sake.  Settle down, folks.  I was able to thoroughly enjoy my Patty Melt, juicy and rich with sugary caramelized onions on toasted rye, and wash it down with a creamy shake without feeling like a thousand female Depression-era cartoon faces were staring me down.

Then again, I did not partake in any pre-meal recreational "fun" as was evident by a handful of patrons.

Solvang Brewing Company

Three for me, none for you!

Solvang Brewing Company
1547 Mission Drive
Solvang, CA


Nothing cures an Aebleskiver overdose like some salty logs...am I right, ladies?

After a morning of fudge samples and pastry balls, I needed something savory.  Being a chick obliges me to order mass quantities of cheese any time it's on a menu, so Pretzels with Ale Fondue were in my immediate future.

Melted cheese is good, but combined with beer, it's GREAT.  The perfect foil to chewy soft pretzels rolled in salt, the fondue was rich without making me feel as gluttonous as I should have.  Spicy mustard provided a kick and rounded out this classic bar snack.

I left with the full intent of walking off the last few hours' calories.  Unfortunately, Olsen's Bakery was beckoning me next.  Dammit.

Egghead's Restaurant

There's no place like...THIS place!

Egghead's Restaurant
326 N. Main Street
Fort Bragg, CA


I'm one of "those people" who is thoroughly creeped out by The Wizard of Oz, largely due to those crazy Pink Floyd rumors and disturbingly bad special effects.

But, when I heard a Fort Bragg restaurant served up some wicked awesome breakfast fare, I was willing to patronize an Oz-themed establishment.  Oh, the sacrifices I make for you people.

The decor was more cute than obtrusive; more private collector than in-your-face Planet Hollywood.  That's a good thing.  One wall was painted with silhouettes of the Oz cast, and on the floor was a "yellow brick road".  Other Oz memorabilia peppered the walls and tables, but it didn't make me want to kick the Tin Man in his...tin can, so to speak.

Torn between my duty to order a famed Benedict and the desire to not blow up like a balloon on the first day of vacation, I chose the Dorothy's Delight.  English muffins were topped with poached eggs, melted cheddar, salsa and sour cream and were accompanied by home fried red potatoes.  It was more than someone who'd been dieting for the last five days could handle, but well worth it as the eggs passed the OSBPEYT (Official Stacy Barawed Poached Egg Yolk Test), all runny and mingling with the spicy salsa and cool sour cream.  I'm salivating just thinking about it.

A side of Grilled Cinnamon Raisin Bread was also ordered, and in my mind I pictured a small order of cinnamon French toast.  Wrong. So very wrong!  What arrived was a nearly five-inch high hunk of warm, chewy bread, slathered and soaked with maple syrup and topped with a generous scoop of whipped butter.  Dessert at 9am, anyone?

Good thing Fort Bragg is a walking community!

Yasoo Yani Restaurant

Bring your vehicle to a screeching halt!

Yasoo Yani Restaurant

326 E. Main Street

Stockton, CA

I grew up in Stockton, yet patronized this establishment for the very first time only recently.

Dumbass!

To be fair, it's downtown...off of a main thoroughfare...and I never knew it existed.  My cousin knows a few people who work there, and swore by the food.  I thought to myself, what does a 25-year old know about Greek food?

A lot, as it turned out.

Gyro Sandwich?  Amazing.  Perfect amounts of everything: just enough tsaziki, diced tomato, lamb...not a morsel left on the plate.  I stole a bite of my coworker's Moussaka and it was well-seasoned, hearty and served with fresh sauteed vegetables.

Great service, comfy atmosphere, and very generous prices.  I'll be back soon.

Trader Vic's

Liver, you're about to do WORK!

Trader Vic's

9 Anchor Drive

Emeryville, CA

At first, I balked at the nearly-$10 cocktail, legend or not.

Four sips in, the knock-me-on-my-ass concoction that is the Original Mai Tai seemed (a) like a sheer bargain and (b) like a potential nightmare for my lightweight innards unless I got to some food, STAT.  I perused a lengthy menu of Polynesian treats, trying to ignore a particular tiki mask on a distant wall which reminded me of the Hawaiian vacation episodes of The Brady Bunch.

Crispy Duck Tacos did the trick, oozing with plum sauce inside fried won ton shells which also held julienned vegetables I was too ravenous to identify before devouring them.  The Mahi Mahi Sliders' buns provided some much-needed absorbent carbs, and slaw dripped sloppily from my jowls.

So into this meal was I that I hadn't noticed several elderly couples had arrived, with matching shirts to boot.  Is this what my future holds?  Aloha, indeed.

Papa Bear's Chocolate Haus

One (seven), please!

Papa Bear's Chocolate Haus

45150 Main Street

Mendocino, CA

I arrived twenty minutes before business hours.  Argh!

Like a bad Mervyn's commercial actor, I paced and waited for the doors to open.  My mission?   Raspberry Bark.  It was all I could think about.  Through the front window, I could see a single gentleman inside, carefully spreading white chocolate to a precise thickness on a huge marble (?) counter. Nineteen more minutes.  Next, he uniformly sprinkled fresh raspberries atop the chocolate.  Eighteen more minutes.  I had to get out of there before I started salivating all over myself.

I found a kitchen store - the perfect place to kill seventeen minutes.

Finally, the doors opened.  What the hell?  I guess I spent more time browsing for aprons and cheese graters than I had thought, because I was tenth in line; no worries though, because the candy maker was just about to divide the slab into manageable slices.

One, please!

I was hooked after the first bite.  Where in the world did they find these raspberries?  Clearly, someone had sold his soul to the devil. One after the other, they burst inside my mouth.  They were juicy, amazingly tart, and perfectly complemented the smooth, white chocolate.  I almost forgot I had also purchased haystacks, fudge and chocolate nut clusters.

Almost.

Jacob's Produce

Stop here if you know what's good for you!

Jacob's Produce
10954 E. Highway 120
Manteca, CA

Roadside fruit and veggie stands are some of my favorite things about California.

I would have passed Jacob's completely had it not been for the cars and trucks out front that caught my eye.  I couldn't resist stopping after spotting mounds of vibrant, fresh produce.

I started grabbing and filling bags as if it were some kind of ridiculous contest a la "Supermarket Sweep". A few apricots here, two avocados there, a bunch of bananas, a netted bag of garlic, and several red potatoes.  I must have looked like a loon to the young lady behind the register...

Grand total?  Six bucks and change.  What a steal!  Supermarkets can't even come close to that quality for the price.  Be a peach. Support your local growers!

Machado Orchards

I'll take seven, please!

Machado Orchards

100 Apple Lane

Auburn, CA

There's a long-standing debate between fans of Machado's and Ikeda's (across the freeway) because they both serve up some pretty phenomenal pies.

If you ask me, they both have their merits...but Machado's pie and fruit products take the cake (!), hands down, in the dessert battle.

During my visit, no less than half a dozen ladies scurried about the kitchen, fitting pie tins with dough, piling fruit sky-high into those tins, then crimping the edges of the top layer of dough to seal in the goodness. Along the wall, rows upon rows of pies were cooling; one of the managers kindly opened the sliding window so I could get a better photo.

Unfortunately, Machado was one of my first stops of the day, so it was hours before I could sample my first bite of the whole apple pie I had taken home.  It was worth the wait; tender, flaky crust, firm apples with the right combination of tartness and sweetness, and a subtle blend of spices that didn't overpower the fruit.  Perfection.

Get your burger at Ikeda's, then head over the freeway for dessert.  Or do dessert first.  Who am I to judge?

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

Yee-haw!  Seaweed!

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

2011 S. Broadway

Santa Maria, CA

As expected, I devoured some good ol' BBQ the moment I landed in Santa Maria.  But, after two days of leftovers, I was ready for something new.  A little online research pointed me to a nondescript Japanese restaurant in a strip mall in the land of steakhouses and taquerias.

Ravenous from a day of sightseeing, I was ready to chow down; after a brief encounter with the menu, I chose the Jalapeno Roll and Chicken Katsu Combination.  The size of other diners' meals seemed average, so I figured this would be "just enough" food.

The Jalapeno Roll arrived, freshly tempura-fried and topped with roe.  I gulped it down too quickly to even remember its ingredients. Then, my entree arrived.

Um, I guess I overlooked the word "Platter" that followed the words "Chicken Katsu Combination" on the menu.

It was a beauty of a dish, complete with a side salad topped with sweet miso dressing, deep fried gyoza, shrimp and vegetable tempura, teriyaki chicken skewer, and, of course, a healthy portion of chicken katsu.  Breaded in panko and fried to a golden brown, it was juicy, tender and perfect when dunked into the accompanying katsu sauce.

I got a few stares since my plates took up more than half of the table.  Luckily, I have no shame.  I worked my way in circles around the platter, and each bite was better than the last.

I left full, happy and completely satisfied with the gracious service provided.  Sushi in Santa Maria?  Proof you should never rule anything out while you're traveling.