California Dreamin'.

Last year my girlfriends and I went on a ladies weekend up north.  We left the kids, husbands, and animals at home, and took off in the motor home filled with Zingermann's food and laughter.   The husbands did a stellar job.  All children and animals were accounted for upon our return, so.....

This year, we upped the anty a little and headed out west to the California coast...Road Trip!!!!

We flew out last Wednesday night, and woke up on the ocean in Montara, Ca, about a half an hour south of San Francisco.  My friend Kelly's Aunt and her family were our lovely hosts.  A beautiful timber framed home on five acres, overlooking the ocean, complete with horses and cuddly dogs, became our new digs for the weekend.   A mustang convertible became our transportation :).

Day one...We drove south on the 101 a little ways to the sweet town of Pescadaro, Ca.  We ate artichoke soup at Duarte's Tavern, a perfect late 1800's tavern complete with a quaint lunch counter and fancy bathroom.  Perfection.  I picked up some crocodile cowboy boots at the Pescadaro thrift store (score), and as we ate, the farmers market bloomed into life in the town green.  We bought baskets of fresh berries, tomatoes, lettuce, squash...everything so bright and beautiful!

On the way home, we stopped at a local goat farm (Kelly is a goat farmer people, and always eager to get a peak at other goat operations!).  The farm, barns, goats, and gardens were beautiful...and the goat cheese was delicious!

When we got "home," Allison leaped into action.  With Allison as our head chef, Kelly and I faithfully took orders, and we prepared a lovely dinner for our host family - Ratatouille, herbed rice, salad with almonds and plums, baked goat cheese ricotta, and hazelnut ice cream with macerated berries for dessert. (Eating well was clearly not an issue on this trip.)  

Um, this is where I was for 5 days.

Duarte's Lunch Counter...I could live here.

Yes, I had to run out and get my camera to take bathroom pictures at Duarte's ;).

Kelly and I get car sick, so Allison had to jump in the back for the entire trip :).

On to the Goat Farm!  Nestled into a beautiful hillside, I could also live here!

The Loft of the barn is used as an events center...just stunning.

Time to drive home...

Making dinner - Allison is so sexy with a full bottle of olive oil and a counter full of veg.  You just know goodness is gonna come out of all that chopping!

Bitey.  Or Chewy.  Or something like that ;).

Stay tuned for day two Cali style!   xoxo, e.