Archive | May 2018

La Jolla

May22

California

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If you are looking for a beautiful seaside resort for a vacation getaway, look no further than La Jolla, California. This little town north of San Diego is located on seven miles of gorgeous Pacific Ocean coastline.

 

La Jolla Beach
La Jolla Cove

The name La Jolla actually comes from the Spanish words “La Joya” which means “the jewel”. Once you see this area – you will understand how it earned this name. There are gorgeous ocean views at every turn. Luxury shops, waterfront restaurants, boutique hotels, art galleries, and parks are located steps away from beautiful blue waters and breathtaking sea cliffs.

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My husband and I recently visited La Jolla after a vacation that included Palm Springs and Temecula. San Diego and La Jolla were the last stops on this California trip and all are within easy driving distances. We stayed at a little boutique hotel in La Jolla (Pantai Inn) just steps away from the coastline and in walking distance of shopping and restaurants. It was a perfect location!

 

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The La Jolla Walking Trail was located right in front of our hotel property. This paved walkway runs from the La Jolla Shores Beach to the La Jolla Cove. It is favored by locals and tourists alike and is enjoyed by joggers, dog walkers, families, bikers and casual walkers – like us! We walked this trail several times and enjoyed the grassy parks, the spectacular ocean views, the hidden beaches, the rocky shores, and the sandstone cliffs.  We encountered numerous sea birds and sea lions along the way. One of the most popular spots along the trail is the La Jolla Cove. This is a very scenic, ecologically protected beach for swimming, snorkeling, and diving.  If you keep following the trail past La Jolla Cove, you end up at the La Jolla Sea Cave. This is a very unique, natural formation with heavy surf, crashing waves, and clear ocean water. This is also a popular area for divers and kayakers.  

 

La Jolla Cove
Sea Cave
sea gull
La Jolla Trail

One of our La Jolla excursions was to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. This park is located north of San Diego between La Jolla and Del Mar, along the rugged Pacific Ocean coastline. There are miles of hiking trails, odd-shaped pine trees, sandstone canyons, sea cliffs, ocean views, wide beaches, and championship golf courses. The park’s namesake, the Torrey pine, is the rarest native pine tree and is an endangered species that grows only in this park. You may recognize its familiar, wind-blown, asymmetrical shape.

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If you like outdoor adventure, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is definitely the place to visit near La Jolla. Just lace up your shoes, pack your sunscreen and water, and bring your camera! The hiking trails are all well-maintained and are well-marked. Some are easy, some are more difficult. There is plenty of parking and a ranger station to visit for info before heading out on the trailheads. All of the trails provide breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean from high vantage points. A couple of trails have beach access and will lead you to the cliff-lined, sandy beaches. Other trails are lined with huge sandstone structures, pine trees, succulents, and beautiful wild-flowers. I will never forget the picturesque views we encountered on the trails here.

 

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At the end of these busy days of exploring, we were always extremely hungry and ready for a great meal. We found restaurants very close to our hotel – most in walking distance. The first night we dined at 910 Restaurant and had a most exceptional meal! We sat on the patio and had cocktails and one of the best culinary dishes I have ever had. The next night, we ate at the Crab Catcher and had a great ocean-view table that looked over the Sea Cave. We drank local California wine and dined on fresh seafood – delicious!

 

short rib ravioli
lobster salad
chocolate pistachio dessert
crab louis salad
spaghetti & clams
fish filet
key lime pie
chocolate torte

Great views, great adventures, and great food – what is not to like? La Jolla, you were truly a “jewel” to me! I enjoyed every moment – even the extremely smelly sea lions.

 

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Food for thought – Dr. Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel, lived in La Jolla. I wonder if the strangely shaped, wind-blown Torrey pine trees were an inspiration for some of his crazy, whimsical, cartoon trees? There are reports that his Lorax tree was actually inspired by this tree we walked by in Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove. Who knew?!

 

 

Rapscallion

May10

Dallas, TX

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I tend to get asked about brunch recommendations more than anything else that I blog about. Here is one of my recent favorites to pass along to you – Rapscallion.

This little neighborhood bistro is located on Lowest Greenville Avenue in the same strip center as Trader Joe’s. Rapscallion is the brain-child of three local chefs, one being Nathan Tate (Chef Tate is a Rockwall native and may be familiar to you from his co-ownership of Ava in downtown Rockwall). They have developed a very creative menu that I would describe as “modern Southern comfort with a Texas flair.”

Rapscallion’s decor is modern and rustic with both indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor seating is bright and open with a well-decorated bar area and open kitchen. Choose from cozy booths, high-top tables, regular tables or bar seats. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is the absence of televisions. Imagine that!! People can actually talk and visit with each other for a change. This makes for a very friendly, lively and enjoyable atmosphere.

Rapscallion’s latest brunch menu has a nice selection of drinks and cocktails. Pick your poison – I suggest a Mimosa, Peach Bellini, or Bloody Mary.  Next on the agenda…what to order? This is the most difficult part for me! Start with an order of Grammy’s Monkey Bread (cinnamon pecan sweet rolls baked in a cast iron skillet) or a Biscuit and Gravy. These are both great dishes for sharing. Let me stop here and say – Rapscallion KNOWS how to make biscuits, real Southern-style biscuits. Their square-cut biscuits are big, fluffy, and light – just the way they are supposed to be. And the gravy is thick, creamy and salty and exactly like my grandmother used to make. 

Aperol Spritz & Bloody Mary
Monkey Bread
Biscuit & Gravy
Rapscallion Bloody Mary

There are so many great entree choices on the brunch menu that it makes choosing ‘just one” very tough. Breakfast? Burger? Noodle Bowl? This is a tough decision! One of my favorite menu items is the Hot Brown, made famous at the Kentucky Derby.  This dish comes with thick slices of peppered turkey breast, crispy bacon, and sliced tomato served over toasted bread that is topped with a pimento cheese mornay sauce. Delicious! My other favorite brunch item is the Pulled Pork Benedict. This dish has an open-faced biscuit, mounds of lean pulled pork, poached eggs and a smoked peppadew hollandaise sauce. Both of the sauces on these two dishes are unique and dee-licious. I could eat the sauces, by themselves, with a spoon!

Hot Brown
Pulled Pork Benedict

I haven’t made it back to Rapscallion for dinner but plan to in the very near future. Their Nashville Hot Chicken, Collard Greens, Macaroni & Cheese, Cornbread, Pickled Shrimp, Pimento Cheese and Shrimp & Grits are now on my radar and all sound quite intriguing. I also hear the Spicy Chicken & Biscuit and Sweet Potato Hash calling my name for another brunch!

Big Biscuit
Old Soba
Chicken Fried Steak Breakfast
Spicy Chicken Biscuit
Farmhouse Breakfast

I hope you will take the time to give Rapscallion a try for brunch or dinner sooner rather than later. When you get in the mood for inventive Southern food and cocktails in a casual, laid-back setting with friendly service – this is the place to go. Rapscallion certainly checked all the boxes for me! I hope to see you there.  🙂