Earlier this month, I enjoyed a delightfully long visit with my wonderful daughter Siri, complete with a trek to the rugged Mendocino coast.
Siri and I feasted on oysters in the Mendocino coastal town of Ft. Bragg.
We ordered oysters two nights running, and relished every sweet, silken-textured morsel!
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I had “won” a “Mendocino Getaway” in the “silent auction” at the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival. The package included a two-night stay at my favorite beachfront hideout, the Beachcomber Motel in the town of Ft. Bragg, plus dinners for two at a couple of restaurants that Siri and I both already knew and loved.
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Siri and I find new adventures and new flavors each time we visit. The terrific places to eat here include a tiny sushi spot called Taka’s Grill, the *very* aptly named HomeStyle Cafe, and the North Coast Brewing Company, which serves a full menu along with a wide range of their own excellent brews.
Wonderful, spicy shrimp ceviche at North Coast Brewing Company.
Tasty pub fare and brews, plus a wine list if beer isn't your thing.
Perfect, succulent oysters. Need I say more?
Try as many brews as you like, in 4-ounce sample glasses.
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Our favorite restaurant here, though, is a busy place called Mendo Bistro. Chef Nicholas Petti, who owns this popular hangout with his wife, Jaime Parsons, was a superstar student in the “Wine and Food Pairing” course that I taught at the California Culinary Academy ~ and fittingly, to match his eclectic menu, he’s put together a really excellent Mendocino County wine list.
Siri and I start our feast at Mendo Bistro with some fine bubbly from nearby Roederer Estate.
Chef Nicholas’s wine program lets you sample wines by the half-glass, as well as by the glass and bottle. Great way to explore flavor matches!
Oysters again (!), plus Chef Nicholas's award-winning seafood cakes and a salad with grilled local peaches. Wonderful starters!
A flavorful slab of grilled salmon and a plate of ribs ~ *great* with Handley Cellars Anderson Valley Pinot Noir!
Dinner at Mendo Bistro isn't complete without a Chocolate Volcano. Gooey, molten center ~ *so* decadent!
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Of course, to work off all this indulgence, Siri and I needed to do some heavy-duty walking. Though the skies were mostly overcast, we managed some good beach hikes, plus a full circuit through the gorgeous Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.
We had heard about the incredible dahlia garden, and we were fortunate enough to find it in full bloom. Colors ranged from pale yellow, peach and pink to impossibly vivid shades of red, magenta, orange, purple and more.
Just click below for a video slideshow of the stunning dahlia display ~ you’ll just about hear the bees buzzing. Enjoy!
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Hope you’ve enjoyed “taking Mendocino” with Siri and me, and sharing all the terrific food, wine and fun with us.
As always, my friends, I send my warmest wishes ~
Cheers,
Rosina
