It actually started Wednesday night at a little place the BF and I found by my new condo still in Houston. Ragin Cajun is the name, and cajun food is obviously their game. And it is a game they win. The food is delicious, and both times we have gone there we have been stuffed full and used a groupon! Awesome food and an even more awesome price. I think less than 30 bucks for...
BF:
Salmon with grilled veggies and potatoes
Cheesecake
Sara Marie:
Grilled Tallpia with grilled veggies and sausage and chicken jumbalya
Brownie with ice cream
I don't have pictures of this one but check out their website here. It is always packed, but they have great service and delicious cajun food.
Now Thursday we headed for the Golden State, and upon arrival we did what most tourists and locals alike do, drove directly to In N Out. I freaking love burgers of any kind, and this is seriously close to the jackpot of all burgers. I get a #3, a hamburger with pickles and ketchup only, an order of fries and a drink. The BF goes Double/Double Animal Style. If you are American, and have not had In N Out, your citizenship should be revoked at some point.
I don't have pictures of the burger heaven, but here is a sample of our meal, click here.
The next meal was at some place in the harbor in Santa Barbara. We have been here twice and for some reason I cannot remember the name. Oh well. We had crab pasta with crab cakes as appetizer. I also had a glass of a local Santa Barbara wine called Endless Summer Chardonnay. Everything was exceptional. And upon googling, I found it! Chuck's Waterfront Grill!
Following that meal, the BF and I headed to the beach. It was well after sunset, but we had a celebratory bottle of our, or my, favorite champagne, Freixenet. We found this particular Cava last time we were in SB, so what better way to kick off our vacation there than to have a bottle of it on the beach?
The next morning it was a homemade breakfast at the Eagle Inn. Individual egg quiches with asparagus and a bowl of fresh fruit was on the menu, and minus some not so great coffee there were no complaints.
For lunch the Original Freebirds (Aggies read here if you don't believe me) was planned, but given that we were all the way up in Pismo Beach area, we had to grab a snack. A roadside stand with fresh veggies and fruit was just the ticket. And as we drove down the PCH 1 to UCSB where that original Freebirds is, we enjoyed cherries and some guacamole sent from above!
When we made it to Freebirds it was just how I remembered last time except warm enough to sit outside and enjoy the weather too. Burritos and sunshine!
That evening is where things really take a turn for the out of control. While getting ready the BF thought a bottle of Andre would be fun, and he was right. We had a glass or two under a lemon tree at the hotel while we waited for our cab.
We headed to dinner...in a limo cab... and arrived at the very restaurant, Holdren's, that we discovered the Freixenet a year before, so natually we ordered up a glass. For dinner I had a Halibut steak with red peppers and grilled veggies after a salad with homemade balsamic vinegrette. BF had some peppered steak also with veggies and a salad. I will admit here, his steak was better than my halibut, but not by much.
Then came dessert. Now BF and I like to play the "its her/his birthday" game as often as possible to satisfy the fat kids in us. On this night it was my birthday, and before I ran to the ladies' room for a minute I told BF that he could choose one of three desserts I had narrowed my choice down to. It was either the Sampler with peanut butter pie, flourless chocolate cake and cheescake; the homemade cookie and ice cream sandwich; or the smores. Well as I returned from the restroom our waitress delivered the ice cream sandwich with HAPPY BIRTHDAY written on it. I was thrilled and laughed when they also put down the sampler in front of the BF. Then they also set on the table the smores!!! BF said he couldnt decide either so he got all three...which was really FIVE desserts because of that sampler plate. We had a good amount of the Sampler, probably half of the ice cream sandwich and one smore each. To say we were full and the dinner was an massive success would be quite the understandment!
The following morning, as if we could possibly eat anymore, we did just that. And this was one of the meals, much like the night before, I had literally been dreaming about... Cajun Kitchen on de la Vina in Santa Barbara. We sat at the counter, one of my favorite things to do, and both ordered up Chilaquiles. They were devine. They have some secret in keeping the chips crispy in them while still using some kind of spicy sause. It is a mouth watering combination.
After breakfast we hopped in the Jeep and headed to Santa Barbara Wine Country. Our first stop was Mosby Winery. This place had Italian wines that varried in taste. I loved two and didn't care for two. And then there were two I could live with or without. The Rosata was one I liked and it was really yummy.
From there it was down the road 4 miles to Alma Rosa Winery. This place looked like it could be in the Texas Hill Country and all 6 wines we tasted were fabulous. I am not a huge fan of fruity or reds of any kind, but the three whites and three reds were all exceptional. I even bought a bottle of the Chardonnay. The setting was beautiful and the wines were worth it, so if you are ever in Santa Barbara County, stop by Alma Rosa.
From there we hopped back in the Jeep and made our way all the way down to Manhattan Beach. We went to a local Brewrey for the Spurs game. Brewco was packed, but the Kings game was on so the 12 hockey fans in the LA area were out in force. I had fish tacos, of which I only ate one. Not because they were not good, but more because, well, the massive amount of food intake at this point I guess. We boxed up the half of the Club sandwich BF couldnt eat and headed out.
The next day we googled some breakfast spots and came up with two possibilities, Uncle Billy's or Ocen View Cafe. The reviews for both were great, but there was something about the wait time that kept popping up for Uncle Billy's. They were right next to one another so we decided to go and see for ourselves. And what do ya know? Uncle Billy's had a wait, and there was only one other person at Ocean View. We picked our own seat on the patio and got ready for what would end up my second favorite breakfast. (Come on you cant beat those chilaquiles) Anyway, I ordered the Ultimate Breakfast with a waffle, fruit, sausage and scrambled eggs, and the BF got a breakfast burrito and fruit. The whipped cream was homemade and everything was incredible.
We started with a lump crab sandwich and sweet potato fries. We split this delicious dish and were still a little hungry when we finished. So we ordered up the Mahi Mahi Sliders. They were out of this world, and I was finally getting full. That is when the table next to us had their dessert delivered. And because we were on vacation we ordered the crazy huge treat. It was chocolate, vanilla and coffee ice cream layered with butterfinger and oreo crumbs, topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. It was so filling, but wonderful.
Now because we were entering the 7th ring of hell as gluttons at this point, we took it easy on dinner and just split an order of truffle fries after enjoying that bottle of Chardonnay I got from the winery earlier in the day.
Our final food outing was on the way back to LAX and was none other than the glorious In N Out again! We had our normal order and headed for the plane. Another fantastic food and drink filled trip to the Golden State was under wraps. I cannot wait to go back... after I lose 10 lbs.
xoxo Sara Marie
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