***** (5 stars)
We did a cookie taste off, buying tubs of butter cookies all over town, and these were my favorite. I particularly like the crispy kind with raisins (or are they currants?) All these cookies seem to have a bit more body than most other bakeries in town.
Danish Mill Bakery, Inc.
1682 Copenhagen Dr
Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 688-5805
http://www.yelp.com/biz/danish-mill-bakery-inc-solvang-2
***** (5 stars)
This was a great lunch find in Manhattan Beach. Bustling at lunch time on a Sunday. There are some very creative rolls here, including a cajun one that was our favorite. The team-tag approach to service worked well, keeping our drinks and tea replenished. The lunch specials are a pretty good deal, although we went ala carte, and the price was still reasonable for the exotic feast we assembled.
The Izaka-ya By Katsu-ya
1133 Highland Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 796-1888
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-izaka-ya-by-katsu-ya-manhattan-beach
**** (4 stars)
We’ve stayed at several upscale Beverly Hills hotels on our annual Thanksgiving trips, but decided to try something different this year, and were quite happy with Le Parc Suite. It seems to be a converted apartment building in a residential neighborhood. The pluses are:
Very large rooms with kitchens, easily sleep four.
Convenient (but expensive) parking.
Great room rate.
Convenient location.
Decent work out room and restaurant.
Gas fireplaces in rooms.
Fairly quite area.
Free fast Wi-Fi.
Friendly staff.
There are really no downsides, and I am sure we’ll be back.
Le Parc Suite Hotel
733 W Knoll Dr
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 855-8888
http://www.yelp.com/biz/le-parc-suite-hotel-west-hollywood
***** (5 stars)
This is one of my favorite tasting rooms in Los Olivos. The big surprise here was the cabernet sauvignon, our favorite wine, at a very reasonable price. It’s great to see such success with this varietal in this region. We ordered a half case shipped home to Florida!
Alta Maria Vineyards
2933 Grand Ave
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 686-1144
http://www.yelp.com/biz/alta-maria-vineyards-los-olivos
***** (5 stars)
I’ve been buying Longoria wines since the second vintage in 1983, and still remember that particular pinot as the best I’ve ever had from California. On a recent visit the standouts were surprising wines: the chardonnay, and the Hoo Doo red blend.
Longoria Wines
2935 Grand Ave
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-0305
http://www.yelp.com/biz/longoria-wines-los-olivos
***** (5 stars)
What a cozy and cute place. The outside dining, where you’re almost engulfed by a tree, is very romantic, and the inside is a quant and charming bistro. Service is friendly and professional. The standout dish when we visited was the scallop trio, a special with three very different preparations. The winelist offers hundreds of selections, almost all local wineries. Wine recommendations were spot on.
Bouchon
9 W Victoria St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 730-1160
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bouchon-santa-barbara
**** (4 stars)
In our taste off of four different Solvang bakeries, I found that Mortensens has the butteriest tasting cookies. I particularly liked the plain round ones with the curved tops. They have a long, buttery finish that is slightly salty and not as sweet as some.
Mortensen’s Danish Bakery
1588 Mission Dr
Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 688-8373
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mortensens-danish-bakery-solvang-2
***** (5 stars)
This is one of four bakeries in Solvang where we purchased tubs of butter cookies for a taste off. They were among the best, but the real standout here were the pastries. The macaroon was the best I’ve ever had, with a perfect crispy crust and chewy but not soggy interior. The cinnamon pastry, a sort of palmier with a cinnamon crust was amazing. We nursed it for breakfast three days in a row, and it was still just as good!
Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery & Coffee Shop
1529 Mission Dr
Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 688-6314
http://www.yelp.com/biz/olsens-danish-village-bakery-and-coffee-shop-solvang
**** (4 stars)
This is one of the best bakeries in town. As of this writing their butter cookies still come in the traditional waxed cardboard tub rather than a plastic bucket. We compared the butter cookies from four bakeries, and these were the softest and crumbliest. The standout is their plain, round, flat butter cookie, simple and very buttery.
Birkholm’s Bakery& Cafe
460 Alisal Rd
Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 688-8188
http://www.yelp.com/biz/birkholms-bakery-and-cafe-solvang-2
***** (5 stars)
I’ve been going to El Cholo for so long I can remember when the kid’s menu was spaghetti! If you don’t remember when the place was a little house, you won’t remember that. Since then they’ve added a bar, the world’s best margaritas, the best nachos anywhere, guacamole, and about 200 seats. But the number 1 dinner is identical to the one they served back in the 60s, and probably back in the 20s, when they opened. Sure, it’s not 25 cents any more, but what is?
If you’re going to El Cholo for authentic Mexican food or for Tex Mex food, you won’t find either. The fact is, El Cholo invented what they serve, and it’s simply El Cholo food. For example, their “taco” is meat rolled in a corn tortilla and fried, sort of like a taquito, but then buried in lettuce, tomato and so on. What is it? Who knows, but it’s good, just eat it! The cheese enchilada has green onion in it, and is smothered in a delicious red sauce. Paired with a taco it’s called a number 1, and I’m making myself hungry just describing it.
Service is always friendly, and it’s not unusual to have a server who has been working (and eating) there for 30 years. It’s a fine tradition to uphold.
El Cholo
1121 S Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(323) 734-2773
http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-cholo-los-angeles