Quinoa Salad with Squash, Beets and Arugula

You all know how much I love my local farmer's markets.  With no less than 6 surrounding me with fresh, local and organic produce, my heart sings with happiness as I shop to my heart's content.  Unfortunately, Liv's extreme dance schedule occasionally leaves me without time to actually visit my favorite markets. 

Enter a fairly new service in our San Diego area - Naturally to Your Door, Delivery of Farm Fresh Fruits and Veggies.  I've since forgotten which local blog I first read about this service on, but I've used them numerous times over the last year when my personal market time is not to be found.  Ordering online on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, Naturally to Your Door features in season and organic produce from some of my favorite local farms (Suzi's ranks right up there).  With choices from individual items to a preset CSA-like box, your shopping is covered and a few days later dropped at your door.  (Note... Naturally to Your Door has not idea we are writing about them, nor did we receive any sort of compensation to mention their company.  This company is simply one I love, whole heartedly support and wish to share).

While I've enjoyed all of my delivered boxes, last week's preset box ranks up there as a favorite and brought me everything I needed to embrace autumn with some of my favorite fall salad ingredients.  Squash, beets, arugula and a heavy pomegranate had dinner on my doorstep.

Roasted squash and beets have become some of my most loved ingredients, and the kabocha squash included in my box worked perfectly into my veggie mix.  Commonly called a "Japanese Pumpkin", the beta-carotene filled kabocha brings a natural sweetness and rich, pleasing texture.  Mixed with ruby-red beets, chopped onions and a touch of oregano, the veggies roast in the oven for about half an hour before exiting with brilliant colors and flavor as well as filling the house with an incredibly delicious aroma.

Cooled and then dressed with a simple white balsamic vinaigrette and then served over oiled arugula, this salad has me obsessed.  Crumbled feta or goat cheese finishes the salad beautifully, and a sprinkle of pomegranate literally makes the salad pop.

While I may not be loving the shorter and cooler days of Autumn (I keep telling Liv I'm moving to Australia in search of my own endless summer...), this fall-like salad is making my transition just a little easier.

SLO Weekend Part 2, Bubble Gum Alley and Big Sky Cafe

College applications... words that seemed so distant 17 years ago are now nearly an every day part of our vocabulary.  Doing due diligence, our travels this summer took us on a California college tour including Cal Poly, UCSB and UCLA.

Overnighting in one of my favorite central coast towns, San Luis Obispo, I eased my college anxiety with a visit to the SLO Farmer's Market, time in Morro Bay (see yesterday's post on Morro Bay) and also enjoyed a fabulous breakfast at the esteemed Big Sky Cafe.

Dinner....!

After driving a little over 6 hours on our trek from San Diego, our schedule just happened to mesh perfectly with the weekly downtown San Luis Obispo Farmer's Market, held Thursday's from 6-9 PM.  Covering some 5 blocks on Higuera Street - between Osos and Nipomo Streets - the road is closed to car traffic as rows of vendors fill the area with many intersections featuring live music and entertainment.

Incredibly popular, the mid-market hours find the area packed with locals and tourists alike as people fill up on produce for the week or simply fill up on BBQ for dinner.  One end of the market features a plethora of prepared food choices ranging from homemade pasties to Indian dishes to tender BBQed ribs and artichokes, while the other boasts the bounty of the area with tables overflowing with produce.

McLintocks BBQ... mouthwatering!

While we didn't wait in the 2 block long line for McLintocks BBQ, one couldn't help but stand and watch the grilling guys who sang and cheered their way through the evening.  Cheerful bouts of laughter resounded as customers made their orders of grilled corn, artichokes and the famous McLintock Tri-tip, and happy faces eagerly received their loaded plates of bounty.  The incredible aroma, wafting for blocks, will easily lead you to their location, which I hear is most definitely worth the wait.

Taking a gander around town, we made a point to stop at a San Luis Obispo landmark... Bubble Gum Alley.  Whether your thoughts turn somewhat to disgust or pure fascination, the alley is worth a peek.

Legend has it the bubble gum in the alley began to accrue sometime in the 1950's as a rivalry between SLO High School students and those from Cal Ploly (though it has also been said that the gum may have began as far back as WWll as a SLO High School graduation event).  In any case, Bubble Gum Alley has been very "gummy" since at least the 1970's and has been growing every since.

Located between 733 and 734 Higuera Street, the alley walls are covered with vibrant wads of chewed gum.  Have you left some on your visit??  While we didn't leave our mark, we did watch a young couple fashion their chewed gum into an artistic heart, marking their love on the wall forever more.

SLO has numerous lodging options, and I thought I'd mention our stay at the La Cuesta Inn.  Cute, comfortable and clean, the Inn offered a reasonable price, a good location and my son loved the free wifi.  Note the Apple Restaurant across the street was NOT recommended by a number of locals.  And luckily, I have a wonderful alternative...

Big Sky Cafe... what a treat!   With breakfast served until 1 PM and dinner menu beginning at 4:30, all day is covered (they are open for lunch as well) with healthy, fresh choices.  Offering a comprehensive menu in addition to vegetarian and vegan options, everyone is sure to find something to suit their tastes, and I loved the local and organic resources.

Breakfast for us began with good (and I mean really good) coffee and juice quickly followed by our entrees of eggs, oatmeal and a fabulous yogurt/fruit/granola parfait which I selfishly refused to share.  My son gushingly commented on the bacon which he refused to share, and my husband devoured his perfectly cooked steel cut oatmeal and ended up ordering a fruit plate of his own.

Heading out of town on our way to UCSB and then home, we all three reflected on our stay.  My son loved the campus as well as the towns of SLO and Morro Bay, but more importantly (teasing!) so did I.  Stamping my whole hearted approval on this college possibility I know I'll be happy visiting often should this be his final decision.  If not, I'm happy to visit anyway!

----------------------------------------------------

From the Archives....
Perusing my iPhoto Library, this shot turned up from exactly 7 years ago to the day of our 2013 visit to Bubble Gum Alley.  That's Liv on the right in the pink... 4 of the other kids are beginning their own college searchs this year.  Dave, the man in the back, is a good friend of ours and a Cal Poly graduate.  He insisted the wall was a must see and the kids loved it!

Notice from the photo above how the gum goes so much farther down on the walls.

Liv Life - 2007 - SLO Bubble Gum Wall

Visions of Venice and a few Tips for Travelers

Ahhh, Venezia... timeless and stunningly beautiful, at each turn she becomes a photographer's dream.  With multitudes of watery canals and winding alleyways, Venice provides a mosaic of color, texture and pure brilliance in addition to traditional history, architecture, and art.

The first stop on our summer 2012 vacation, Liv Life and Family arrived to the Grand Canal by water taxi, all four of us gushing at the sheer beauty of the city.  Traveling down the bustling thoroughfare, we had not doubt that we were no longer in San Diego.

In my research for our vacation, I found myself craving photos of Venice along with trip reviews outlining what others had done during their own stays in this Jewel of the Adriatic.

The stunning photos I stumbled across only served to grow my excitement, while tips regarding water taxis, churches, architecture, gondolas, costs of tours, worthiness of tours, Vaporettos, etc., etc., etc., helped me to plan my own trip.  Tailoring my days in Venice to suit my tastes, I'm ever so thankful to those who took the time to post their own thoughts and tips along the way.

Now, with my own trip now under my belt, we wanted to share a few of the tips that worked for us...

First of all, I can't say enough how much we enjoyed and appreciated our arrival to Venice by water taxi.  Arriving mid morning at Marco Polo airport, the water taxi was easy enough to find - turn left outside of the terminal and follow the signs - and once on the path to the water taxi departure area, one has about a 5 minute walk.  Note that walking with heavy luggage could be a bit challenging, and I found myself more thankful than ever for my rolling suitcase.

Once arriving at this stand we found a man with a clipboard and he coordinated with one of the drivers to take us to our hotel by way of the Grand Canal.  The cost to go directly to the hotel was quoted at €110, an additional €50 was charged to take the canal route.  With our limited time in Venice, this was indeed the way to go as the taxi not only provided easy and personal transportation, but a tour of the canal.  Watching the kid's eyes as we entered the canal, viewing the real Venice for the first time, is a memory I will carry with me forever.

Knowing the ease of the water taxi, our hotel arrangements became even more attractive as we learned of the ability to step off of the taxi and into the hotel (i.e. no schlepping your cases over footbridges, etc).  The historical Palazzo Pisani, overlooking the Grand Canal, provided a delightful stay for our overnight in Venice.

Time and again my research highlighted how Venice is an attraction in and of itself.  I too, found this to be indeed true, and took great pleasure in simply walking the alleys and stumbling upon hidden treasures, shops or gelaterias.

Yes, you will get lost in Venice, but that in itself is indeed indeed a treat!  A good map helps to gain perspective (and ease frustration), but streets are not always well marked and as such, sticking with the direction of main landmarks, such as one of the major bridges or a major church, is helpful.

Without getting lost we would not have found some of our most beautiful and interesting views of Venice...

St. Mark's Square remains a major destination for most Venetian visitors.  Know that since it is such a main attraction, crowds of tourists may jam the square at peak times during the day, especially during summer and as cruise ship passengers visit during their docking hours.  Most of my research advised to visit the Square either early, or late, and indeed my earlier morning visit proved to be far more pleasurable than my ultra crowded mid-afternoon visit.

With attractions such as the beautiful St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace in addition to St. Mark's Campanile, one could feasibly spend hours in the stunning square and still not see it all.  Add in time for gelato, shopping, feeding the pigeons, or an evening taste of prosecco whilst listening to the dueling orchestras, and one has a very full day.

As our time was somewhat limited, this trip only allowed for one stop in the square, and our family chose the Secret Itinerary Tour of Doge's Palace.  Mixed online reviews had me slightly worried that the kids would find the tour boring, however we all walked away happy that we had chosen this tour, and Liv to this day is still talking about facts and lore of ancient Venice that she learned from our animated tour guide

Booking our tickets ahead of time directly through the Palazzo Ducale website over 3 weeks in advance, our midsummer tickets were the last available for the day we desired.  As such, booking as early as possible, especially in summer, is highly recommended.  I did find numerous sites available for booking the tours, but also found numerous prices for tickets as some of the sites charged extra booking fees.  Hence, we chose to book directly through the Palace website.

Note that no backpacks or large bags are allowed into the Palace, and for most of the tour, photography is also not allowed.  Note also that I did carry a medium size shoulder bag and had my camera slung over my shoulder for the entire tour with no issues.

Within Doge's Palace (Venice, Italy) courtyard, these "mail slots", shaped at lion's heads, can be seen.  In ancient Venice, one could slip a paper into the Lion's mouth to anonymously report the crime of a neighbor.  Careful though, if you falsely accuse another you will suffer the punishment of the crime reported.  Would you report your neighbor??

Attached to the Palace, one finds the infamous Bridge of Sighs.  Made of sparkling white limestone, the bridge passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the prison with the interrogation rooms of Doge's Palace.  The view from the bridge became the last view of Venice that convicted prisoners would see as they were led to their cells, and legend has it that prisoners would sigh while passing over the bridge.  Hence... the Bridge of Sighs.

Liv and I capture the Bridge of Sighs

Sigh....

Our Secret Itinerary tour had us travel the same path as the prisoners and see for ourselves the view from the Bridge of Sighs.

Heading back out into Venice, getting away from St. Marks will often lead you to less crowded areas, and our day had us heading back across the Accademia Bridge.  With a bit of time to spare in addition to my Farmer's Market obsession, I couldn't help but visit the Rialto Bridge Market.  Brilliant vegetables, fragrant melons, and mounds of sun dried tomatoes in addition to just about any vegetable you can think of, beckoned to me, and it took every bit of willpower I had to resist filling up a bag.  With no kitchen though, my shopping was done through my lens, and while the photos did bring the market back home, they are missing the abundant aromas of fresh produce that just can't be captured.

View of the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge

With the addition of the extensive fish market, the Rialto Market becomes one stop shopping. Featuring big fish, little fish, shelled fish, and unshelled fish, the market brimmed with choices and freshness.

Octopus chilling on ice

While the produce and fish themselves provided endless enjoyment, it was the people of the market who made my visit even more special.  Haggling is not something I'm familiar with, but the enthusiasm with which these shoppers bargained with the sellers, all followed by comments checking on grandma's health, held me entranced.

The last stop for our day was the majestic Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, or easier i Frari.  Known as a minor basilica, the church stands on the Campo dei Frari in the San Polo district.  Granted the land to build on in 1250, the Franciscans completed the magnificent structure in 1338, with the campanile (bell tower), the second tallest in Venice, completed in 1396.

Housing numerous excellent examples of Renaissance art, the austere church drew oohs and ahhs from my teenage children.  Their first visit to a major European church, so historical and different from home, has remained with them and both have spent time reading about the history of the churches of Venice and reveling in the fact that they actually visited a few.

Note, again no photography allowed inside the church.  Tempted as I was to snap a photo or two on my cell phone, my photo-guards (kids) literally slapped my hand with a stern "No!".  As such... no photos of the Frari Church.

With our day in Venice drawing to a close, we made our way back into the alleys of the city.  Passing over footbridges, through back alleys and past even more winding canals and gondolas, Venice remains a vibrant memory with visions tempting us to return.

San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market... a foodie haven!

The San Francisco Ferry Building

I admit to having a penchant for farmer's markets and I also admit to having good friends who giggle that I actually plan vacations around said markets.  The KCC Market on Oahu has always been my hands down favorite, and while the Hawaiian Market still remains in that honored #1 position the San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market and Marketplace sure gave it a good run for its money.  (Oahu wins with tropics!)

The last day of our whirlwind San Francisco summer vacation had me setting the alarm at 6:30 AM making sure everyone was up, dressed and on the road by 7:30 so that we hopefully would avoid a few lines at the breakfast booths.  With two sleepy, hungry men grumbling all the way we found easy parking on the streets around the market along with an easy to reach parking garage on the corner of Clay and Davis made even better with market validation.  A few minutes walk had us at the market in no time... ahead of the major crowds.

Before leaving home I had spent some time on Tripadvisor and other websites jotting down a few of the "must visit" booths mentioned in reviews of the market.  The first one I recognized was the Blue Bottle Coffee Company to which my caffeine deprived husband made a beeline even before I pointed it out.  With recommendations from home as well as online I was eager to try the freshly roasted, organic, shade grown coffee and promptly made my order for a Cappuccino to go as my husband chose his simple and black.

Blue Bottle Coffee... Why didn't I buy some to bring home???

With each cup brewed freshly on the spot, the aroma of fresh coffee permeates the market.  A quick visit to the Blue Bottle Coffee website lent the following history and made me an immediate fan:

Best Cappuccino ever!

319 years later (after coffee was introduced to Vienna), in Oakland, California, a slightly disaffected freelance musician and coffee lunatic, weary of the grande eggnog latte and the double skim pumpkin-pie macchiato decides to open a roaster for people who are clamoring for the actual taste of freshly roasted coffee. Using a miniscule six-pound batch roaster, he makes an historic vow: “I will only sell coffee less than 48 hours out of the roaster to my customers, so they may enjoy coffee at its peak of flavor. I will only use the finest organic, and pesticide-free, shade-grown beans.” In honor of Kolshitsky’s heroics, he names his business The Blue Bottle Coffee Company, and begins another chapter in the history of superlative coffee. 

Blue Bottle most definitely lived up to its reviews and I've crossed all my fingers hoping to see them in San Diego.

Rose's Cafe

As my husband waited in the coffee line I took a few moments to peruse
the market and scope out the most appealing breakfast venues.  Closest to the coffee both was a booth with boxes of fresh veggies just waiting to be sauteed and a menu boasting of Egg Sandwiches with Applewood Smoked Bacon, Heirloom Tomato Scrambles with Stracchino Cheese and Prosciutto, and Pablo's Pancakes with Stone Fruit Compote and Orange Butter.  Thinking I'd found "the" spot I headed back to the coffee line to inform my husband and that is when our wonderful day took a turn for even better.

Standing in front of my husband was a petite woman signified as a local with her foggy August garb of full jacket, scarf and hat.  As I mentioned to him that I thought I had found "the" spot she turned around and said, "Well... Chatty Cathy here, and I just can't help piping in that yes, Roes's is the best place for breakfast in the market!  What you want is the Heirloom Tomato Scramble or the Scrambled Eggs with Arugula and Crispy Proscuitto.  I go there every week after I get my coffee".   With a recommendation like that, how could we go elsewhere? 

Rose Pistola, a restaurant on Columbus Avenue, has been "going to the market" since 2004 and from the rave reviews I read online as well as heard verbally from the many customers in line, it is "the" place to enjoy breakfast on Saturday Morning at the Market.  Turns out Chatty Cathy was right there in line, just as she said she would be after we picked up our own coffees.

Notice the Blue Bottle Coffee cup in the upper right!

Saying she wanted people to take happy memories from her city she kindly insisted on us moving in line in front of her and reminded us of her favorite menu selections.  Taking her recommendations to heart we ordered and watched as the workers quickly plated up heaping portions of eggs scrambled with heirloom tomatoes, toast and veggies.  Note:  Rumor has it that Rose's is immensely popular and lines get lengthy quickly, advice is to arrive early. 

Honey sized for airline travelers

Grabbing our plates we made our way to the seating area and once again, Chatty Cathy invited us to join her.  What a treat we were in for!!  As we got acquainted, I was excited to learn that not only was Cathy a long time resident of San Francisco, but she actually remembered when a certain restaurant in Tiburon from years past was named the Windjammer.  My dad had owned a portion of that restaurant when I was young and I have fond memories of being spoiled by his waiters.  Her comment of "I arrested someone right at that restaurant" had us raising our eyebrowns in question and she proceeded to fill us in that she was a recently retired homicide detective for the City of San Francisco.

For the next 20 minutes we enjoyed tales of her adventures during her SFPD tenure, and she kindly gave my son advice on living life in a safe manner that will most likely stick with him forever.  Cathy was a true gem, and she most certainly did as she had hoped in giving us a lasting, wonderful memory of San Francisco.

With more of Cathy's recommendations for the market in hand, we headed to the center of the market in search of Olive Oil, cheese and of course, bread.  Stall after stall was filled with offerings from the exotic Lion Mane Mushrooms to the plain bunch of carrots to raw and vegan prepared offerings... all quickly having me wish I was closer to my home kitchen.

A purchase of Sciabica's Olive Oils had one of those "one for her, one for me" moments as I picked up a sampler for my mom as well as one for myself.  Flavors of Meyer Lemon, Jalapeño, Basil and Garlic had me planning menus in my head as we chatted with the owner and chose our bottles.

In the main part of the Ferry Building a foodie meca of cheeses, bread, pastries and chocolates awaits as you make your way past the permanent vendors.  Home to the famed Slanted Door, the Market Plaza also houses Cowgirl Creamery's Artisan Cheese Shop where I found a most wonderful Humbolt Fog Cherve.  With 8 hours of driving time in front of us keeping the cheese fresh was a concern, but the vendor promptly told me not to worry as he packaged up two bags of ice for my cooler and assured me we would be fine.

Yes... it was that good!!

Just next door, the Acme Bread Co. was wafting aromas of freshly baked bread into the aisles and drawing customers from all corners of the Plaza.  I was lucky enough to be right behind a man in a chef uniform with his helper and I simply ordered what he did, a little French Bread, an Italian Loaf and of course, a crusty Sour Dough to bring home to mom.

Acme Bread Co. - I followed the chef and simply got what he got!

As my husband informed me time was ticking by and that the roads to San Diego were not getting any shorter I bid goodbye to the market, only stopping at two more stalls on our way out to pick up honey (local from Marin where my mom grew up) and a couple of scones and cupcakes to keep our energy up on the long drive home.  Arms loaded with packages we made our way back to the car, headed across the Bay Bridge and out of the city.

Cable Cars, Fog, Fisherman's Wharf, Billy Elliot at the Orpheum, the Exploratorium and Palace of Fine Arts, China Town, Lombard Street, Ghirardelli, shopping in Union Square, Alcatraz, the Farmer's Market and Chatty Cathy.  I think you know where I've left my heart...

Breakfast with a view... and also an audience!

Santa Barbara - dinner at Jane and the Santa Barbara Farmer's Market

Liv Life and Family set off on our California Summer Vacation last week with a long list of "to do's".  Cameras in hand and the iPad set on "maps" we departed San Diego and made our way north to the 405.  With plans to visit numerous Universities on our route, UCI (Irvine) became the first stop on the College Tour part of our itinerary.  A lovely, fairly new campus greeted us as we enjoyed the grounds nearly all to ourselves while exploring the college and my husband and I reminisced about college life.  Loading back into the car, our heading continued north to our final destination of the day, Santa Barbara.

Liv at the Santa Barbara Mission

Always a charming, lovely town, the weather was a bit warm for the area and we soaked up the high 70 degree temps and the Southern California sun.  Stopping at my husband's alma mater, UCSB, my husband gave us a full on tour while pointing out the many changes that have occurred in the last few years.  The campus, being right on the coast with surfers riding the small waves down below and a fairly relaxed pace, was immediately appealing to my son.  Kids in shorts and flip flops wandered the campus moving from class to class as groups of parents and freshmen attended orientation.

Catching my eye, I watched a family of four with the parents and younger sister hugging the older sister as she turned and walked away, waving over her shoulder as she left - all of it a sight that made the experience all too real for this mom.  It seems only yesterday that my little boy was running around playing Buzz Lightyear or begging me for a Light Saber fight like Darth Vader.  Now he's more interested in golf and surfing, and not particularly in doing any of it with me.  I plan to hold on to these last few years as tightly as I can, knowing that the inevitable is on its way, and that in no time at all that mom standing on the corner watching her child walk away will be me...

In any case, this trip was not about letting go (yet!) and as we settled ourselves into our State Street hotel I was beyond thrilled to see the block just outside closed off for the weekly Farmer's Market.  How could I get so lucky??

Leaving the kids to rest up, my husband and I quickly changed and headed out to see what we could see.  A full two blocks of Lower State Street were blocked off for the event where tables lining the streets were filled with fruits and vegetables of all kinds.  Flower stalls were interspersed along with additional tables overflowing with local honeys and jams while musicians played varying instruments along the way.

Purchasing a few of my favorite extraordinarily fragrant tuberoses I moved on to the berry table.  Brilliantly hued baskets of organic raspberries, blueberries and blackberries made their way into my bag along with a jar of low-sugar strawberry/raspberry jam for my mom.

Another table filled with corn and most interestingly, eggplant colored bell peppers had me almost wishing I was home so I could load up and cook with these gorgeous fresh ingredients.  Then came the herb table... an entire table filled with nearly every herb you could think of lending a beautiful fragrance to the air and sending even more ideas into my head of all the wonderful recipes I could use them in.

With our stomachs rumbling, dinnertime was upon us.  Gathering the kids we made our way down State Street to a recommended restaurant and within moments after arriving we were certain we had made the correct choice in dining venues.  Jane, located at 1311 State Street, offers inside dining as well as an adorable 2nd level balcony with views of the State Street below.  We did not have reservations, but luckily had arrived early enough to be seated immediately and were promptly endowed with perfectly sweetened Fresh Squeezed Lemonade for the kids and an ideally fruited White Wine Sangria for the adults. (Dining early we had no trouble without a reservation, however by 7 PM the restaurant was packed, I would recommend reserving if your dining plans have you eating at peak dinner hour.)

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade on the left, White Wine Sangria on the right

As lunch had become a distant memory, the Grilled Pasilla Chiles stuffed with Swiss Cheese, Fresh Cilantro & Tomato Vinaigrette appetizer nearly jumped off the menu and had our appetites appeased in no time.  Liv's entree, reminiscent of her last fillet in Las Vegas, had her eagerly cutting into the perfectly cooked medium-rare fillet and once again groaning with pleasure as she asked why I can't make steaks "this good at home".  

My husband joined her with a fillet of his own, though he enjoyed the oyster mushroom cream sauce over the top rather than on the side.  My son and I both chose the Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak with Roasted Onion, Cracked Pepper & Madeira with me making it to nearly three bites before I proclaimed the tender beef one of my best meals ever.  A side of gratined potatoes, both extraordinarily tender and flavorful yet still retaining a nice firmness (in other words, perfectly cooked!), along with steamed vegetables rounded out our plates bringing smiles all around.

After reading reviews online I had little doubt that the Coconut Cake would be my dessert of choice as Liv quickly jumped at the Vanilla Creme Brulee.  Both desserts lived up to our expectations and we were frankly thrilled that the boys were too full for sweets.  Shortly Liv and I were holding our full stomachs as well, and my son enjoyed the rest of my cake later in the evening when the teenage late night hunger pangs set in.

Jane leaped on my short list of all time favorite restaurants and will be my dining destination of choice when I return to the lovely town of Santa Barbara.  From the upscale yet casual decor to the friendly, spot on service to the beautifully prepared food, Jane has it all going on.  And best of all?  Jane, herself.  Greeting us with a smile as we walked in she had us seated in no time and checked on us throughout the meal.  Jane, thank you for a wonderful evening! 

Annel and Drew's Kitchen - Leucadia, CA Farmer's Market - Lamb Sliders!

Three hours into my six hour drive across the desert from Las Vegas to my home in coastal Carlsbad, CA it must have been my rumbling stomach that had me daydreaming of Annel and Drew's Lamb Sliders.  Even though I was returning from the restaurant rich Vegas Strip and the mere thought of Mesa Grill's Coffee Rubbed Fillet still brought a reflective smile to my face, those juicy, bursting with flavor, sliders had me eagerly anticipating Sunday.

Sunday for my husband and I begins with a leisurely cup of coffee before we make our way at 10 AM to the Leucadia Farmer's Market.  North of San Diego, CA and along the coast in quaint Leucadia, near Encinitas, the market not only fills our fruit and veggie needs for the week with local and organic offerings, but it starts our day with those coveted Lamb Sliders from Annel and Drew's Kitchen.

Stumbling upon the stand a few months ago, my husband and I have come to crave Annel and Drew's menu items.  Fresh, local, and innovative, the team has put together food that is not only good for you, it's just plain good.  Drew's background not only includes graduation from the Culinary Institute of America but time in restaurants in my recently visited Vegas, including the Bellagio and Red Rock Resort and Spa.  Annel, born into a family of restaurateurs, has worked in the food industry for years and brings a flair for design to the plate (literally!).

From their web site:  Annel & Drew opened the kitchen with the objectives of having fun, making people happy, providing an original dining experience, and most importantly, creating great homemade food prepared with as many local ingredients as possible. They always like to support local businesses and the local economy.

With the lines I see at their kitchen in the Leucadia Market alone, the comments I hear in the community, and my own personal experience, they have most certainly succeeded!

As mentioned more than once already, my favorite mouth-watering menu item is the Lamb Sliders:  Hormone free, vegetarian fed ground Lamb “Mini-Burgers” cooked to sizzling perfection, served with house-made cucumber –dill yogurt sauce on fresh baked rolls with Farm Fresh veggies: arugula, tomato and red onion. Paired with seasonal mixed veggie salad picked straight from Suzies Farm.

Available with one, two or three sliders (we get three... two for me, one for my husband) Annel's salad includes fresh, organic greens and grilled seasonal veggies.  I've not asked what the dressing is, but the light and savory flavors only enhance those fresh, organic greens.

Walking around the market I see numerous plates of Drew's Grilled Balsamic Artichokes (California grown, cooked with lemon, herbs & garlic, then balsamic marinated and grilled over an open flame. Served with lime aioli or chili aioli dipping sauces.) and will concur with the general consensus that they are some of the best around.

Breaking out of our "we must have Lamb Sliders" mantra last weekend my husband ventured into the infamous Spiedie Sandwich arena telling me that he's no longer sure which is his favorite.  From the menu:  Your choice of meat made with our very own famous marinade, then skewered and grilled to achieve perfect tenderness. Served on fresh baked Sicilian style bread with Suzie’s organic baby greens, heirloom tomato, onion and avocado.  Watching Drew put this guy together only heightens the anticipation of the first bite.  I only wish I had had my camera focused as my husband's eyes grew wide with pure pleasure as the first taste hit his tongue.

This little guy enjoys a Chicken Skewer every Sunday!

Wandering over to the tables at the friendly market many of the market customers will peer over their plate to get a look at what you have on your plate.  We've frequently bumped into other Drew and Annel fans of all ages enjoying their own plates of freshly cooked food, some of them for the second day in a row as Saturday finds the team in Encinitas across from Cap'n Keno's.  Can't wait for the weekend?  No fear!  Wednesdays will find Drew and Annel at the Ocean Beach Market and Thursdays they pop up at the Oceanside Sunset Market.  Check their web site for times, and you can also find them of facebook.

Whether in town on holiday or a regular market visitor, Annel and Drew's Kitchen is worth stopping by the market for.  Hmmm...Today is Tuesday, only 5 days to Lamb Sliders!