In an effort to dine
at all 3000 San Francisco restaurants (800 and counting) and visit all 600 Napa
wineries(350 and counting), my wife Linda and I recently traveled to Santa
Barbara.
From our home in
Danville, it is an easy 5 hour drive. We stayed at Bacara Resort and Spa on the
Santa Barbara coast offering 78 acres of relaxed luxury. It is located about 2
hours north of Los Angeles and offers 3 restaurants, world class spa, meeting rooms,
wine tasting, and some great golf courses nearby.
We had a nicely
appointed room and very comfortable bed with pool and ocean views from a large
balcony.
The service staff has
golf carts that will shuttle you to the restaurants or spa after a day at the
beach or nearby Sandpiper Golf course that is known as the "Pebble
Beach" of the Central Coast. We enjoyed playing the course with many holes
overlooking the deep blue Pacific. It offers 4 sets of tees for to satisfy all
skill levels. After golf, the spa offers an extensive list of treatments to
soothe your soul and pamper any of your golf aches and pains.
On site, Foley Wines
has an elegant tasting room with many of their great wines and daily wine
tastings and a knowledgeable staff of wine lovers. If you purchase one of their
great wines, you can bring it to dinner for a $15 corking fee.
Angel Oak is their new
restaurant that just opened 1 month ago. Like an eagle, it proudly sits high
above the ocean with spectacular vistas and sunsets. We ate on the patio of
this great place and enjoyed a knowledgeable, attentive and happy wait staff
feeling lucky to be working at this beautiful restaurant. They have an
extensive wine and drink selection and blankets and gas heaters provided if it
gets too cool.
We began this foodie
experience ordering one of their specialty cocktails called "Smoke On The
Water." It is fabulous and finished tableside with Woodford Reserve
Select Barrel, Apple Brandy, Creme De Noyaux, All Spice, Smoked With Cherry Wood.
Chef Alexander
Bollinger recommended we try the bone marrow for an appetizer. We were not
disappointed as it was cooked to perfection with oxtail marmalade, pistachio
gremolata, herbs and grilled sourdough.
There is a wide
variety of steaks and seafood dishes all served with warm homemade rolls and
house butter made with coriander-lime-espelette or truffle and herb.
We chose to dine on
the light side ordering a jumbo shrimp cocktail with 3 large shrimp served on a
bed of popcorn, Caesar salad with Pecorino Romano, boquerones, radishes and
herbs. We also tried the French Onion soup served steaming hot with a variety
of imported cheeses that was the best we have ever experienced.
Since it was Linda's
birthday we were advised to try their famous candy bar desert. It was presented
with a birthday candle and happy birthday written in chocolate gracing the
plate. It is dark chocolate cremeaux, peanut butter crunch and salted caramel
ice cream that was fabulous. The couple seated next to us ordered Baked Alaska
flamed at table side with toasted coconut ice cream, strawberry elderflower gel
and grand mariner that added to the fun of this special foodie experience.
We would highly
recommend this resort and on your way home to stop at one of the 200 wineries
making great juice in Paso Robles only 2 hours away.
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