Carole Terwilliger Meyers's Blog, page 2

Santa Monica, California: Urth Caffe Santa Monica; restaurant review

Urth Caffe Santa Monica  

2327 Main St./Pico, (310)314-7040.  No reservations. 

patio seating at Urth Caffe in Santa Monica, California

interior at Urth Caffe in Santa Monica, California

The menu at Urth Santa Monica features local,seasonal, and organic fare.  Place yourorder at the counter, then select from one of many tables both inside and out.  Breakfast is a popular time because of thegreat selection of delicious pastries, but lunch brings on a large variety ofsandwiches--including The “New Yorker” Sandwich, which is a tasty classic Reubenwith Russian dressing on marble bread. Pizzas and salads and plenty more options round it out.  Among the desserts are an acclaimed pecansticky bun and personal-size pecan pie, but don’t miss the delicious and lightberries-and-cream cake.  Acclaimed drinksinclude the Spanish latte and Japanese green tea latte, but I favor thesmoothies.  

New Yorker Reuben sandwich at Urth Caffe in Santa Monica, California

berries-and-cream cake at Urth Caffe in Santa Monica, California


All this and it’s popularwith celebs, too!  Though I saw somebody here (I’m just not sure who!), at the Beverly Hills branch Ionce saw Reese Witherspoon with her halo of blonde, blonde hair setting up shopwith her young children.  Keep your eyespeeled. 

Shopsand more restaurants are sprinkled along Main Street, and the Community Garden can be seen across thestreet at #2224. 


More things to do in Santa Monica.
 
More ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. 

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Antonio, Texas: La Panaderia; restaurant review

La Panaderia    

Downtown:  301 E Houston St., (210) 592-6264.  A few blocks from The Alamo.

Alamo Heights:  8305 Broadway St., (210) 375-6746.  The original location is convenient to theairport.

La Cantera Heights:  17030 Fiesta Texas Dr. Suite 105, (210)600-4460. 

counter line at La Panaderia in San Antonio, Texas

Operatedby brothers David and Jose Caceres, who moved here from Mexico City in 2014, the La Panaderia mini-chain is super popular with locals for breakfast.  

pastries at La Panaderia in San Antonio, Texas

The baked goods are particularly good due tothe 48-hour fermentation process the kitchen uses.  Patrons line up at the pastry case to selectfrom the array of exquisite pan dulces (Mexican sweet breads).  A house specialty is the hefty anddeliciously over-stuffed tequila-almond croissant, which is also now my ownfavorite, and the conchas have the reputation for being the best ever.  Someday I hope to actually have room to try thejalapeño croissant.  A few egg items arealso available.  I am definitely alsoaddicted to the superb, thick Mexican hot chocolate, though I favor orderingthe “dirty” version that includes a shot of espresso.  And I do like a glass of fresh OJ (for some wonderfulreason, fresh OJ in San Antonio is usually actually fresh-squeezed OJ).  

"dirty" hot chocolate with pastry at La Panaderia
in San Antonio, Texas

Forlunch, popular choices from the extensive torta (Mexican sandwich) options includea chicken milanesa torta on telera bread and a jalapeño sausage bun.  

"I'll have this one" at La Panaderia in San Antonio, Texas

The food is top quality, and the HoustonStreet space is particularly attractive. 

seating at La Panaderia in San Antonio, Texas

More things to do in San Antonio.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

San Antonio, Texas: Ladino; restaurant review

Ladino 
200 E. Grayson St. #100, (210) 325-6007.  

family dines inside at Ladino in San Antonio, Texas

Serving Sephardic Jewish cuisine--an oldtraditional style of Mediterranean fare--in a rustic contemporary setting, thisunusual restaurant is a delightful surprise.  

Cocktails are interesting.  I drankPersephone’s Kiss, a tasty mix of tequila, pomegranate, salgam, and mint.  Others in my group ordered the unusual house rakiservice based on a strong, anise-flavored liqueur, and the sophisticated winelist has representation from Oregon to Israel.  

raki drink service at Ladino in San Antonio, Texas

Mezza plates are exceptional and include a large variety of vegetariandishes as well as some meat-based dishes. A plate of substantial, very large pita breads are included.  Hummus with a topping of roasted cauliflower,capers, and pickled lemon is a personal favorite, along with unphotogenic butspectacular leeks in olive oil with kohlrabi greens (so good I laughed with thewaitress that she should take the plate away before I ate that, too).  A plate of spicy Feta cheese, another offried eggplant, and some beets with za’atar and crispy rice satisfied my partyof four.  However, we opted foradditional plates of shishbarak (beef and lamb dumplings) and fish koftqa withwhite beans and chermoula.  

hummus with pita bread at Ladino in San Antonio, Texas

shishbarak at Ladino in San Antonio, Texas

fish koftqa at Ladino in San Antonio, Texas

A favoritedessert is pistachilo-topped knafeh (order early as it takes 30 minutes toprepare), but our new bestie is krembo, which with its marshmallow top lookslike a crème brulelle, but which is layered inside with a dreamy, creamy darkchocolate namelaka, sour cherries, and hazelnuts. 

krembo dessert at Ladino in San Antonio, Texas

More things to do in San Antonio.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

San Antonio, Texas: Tarka; restaurant review

Tarka Indian Kitchen

427 N. Loop 1604 W, (210)499-0982

exterior of Tarka Indian Kitchen in San Antonio, Texas

ThisTexas Indian restaurant chain provides some delicious renditions of Indian favorites andtakes pride in operating green.  At Tarka Indian Kitchen, chickenis hormore free and lamb is grass fed and halal.  And in addition to offering the expected meatdishes, the menu makes it possible to put together a very satisfying vegetarianmeal.  For that, begin with vegetable samosas, adda few curries--perhaps malai kofta dumplings, channa masala garbanzos, or aloogobi cauliflower and potatoes.  An orderof garlic naan or roti will round things out, and a mango or strawberry lassi drinkcan pass as dessert. 

samosas at Tarka Indian Kitchen in San Antonio, Texas

aloo gobi at Tarka Indian Kitchen in San Antonio, Texas

order counter at Tarka Indian Kitchen in San Antonio, Texas

interior overview at Tarka Indian Kitchen in San Antonio, Texas

More things to do in San Antonio.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Grants Pass, Oregon: Hellgate Jetboat Excursions; things to do

Hellgate Jetboat Excursions  

966 SW 6th St.  Trips run daily May through September.   

Grants Pass is headquartersfor the popular jet boat rides along the Rogue River.  Jet boats have flat bottoms and no rudder orpropeller, allowing for a smooth and safe, yet fast and exciting, ride throughthe sometimes shallow water.  In additionto being extreme fun, jetting down the Rogue River in one allows you to observesome of the area's plentiful wildlife. On my family's ride, the driver slowed to point out ospreys, great blueherons, and deer.  We also saw fishermennetting huge steelhead. 

Trips vary in duration, and some include a meal.  The four- hour dinner excursion boat venturesinto the spectacular Hellgate Canyon and then turns around and docks for dinnerat the OK Corral ranch.  You’ll have thechoice of walking up to the dining room or of riding in a tractor-pulledcart.  There, sheltered in a covered diningroom with window portals open to the outside, you’ll be seated at a table withseveral other families and served a bountiful home-cooked meal.  

Itis convenient to stay the night in town, especially so at the Riverside Inn wherethe boats dock.

More things to do along Highway 5 in Oregon.    

More ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

Grants Pass, Oregon: Weasku Inn; hotel review

Weasku Inn  

5560 Rogue River Hwy.(Hwy.99).  Breakfast included. 

porch at Weasku Inn in Grants Pass, Oregon

First, a little history.  Movie star Clark Gable vacationed regularly here in his favorite fishing lodge, and he also holed up here for two weeks and mournedintensely when actress Carole Lombard, his third wife and the love of his life,perished in a plane crash in 1942.  Duringthat time he didn’t want to see anyone, and so food and drink were left outsidehis room.  Eventually, he exited to facehis obligations and, at age 41, to enlist in the Army Air Corps and volunteerfor combat duty (he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal forbombing missions in Germany). 

fan in Clark Gable room at Weasku Inn in Grants Pass, Oregon

Whenyou see the rustic beauty of this old-fashioned lodge, you’ll recognize that itcould easily hold healing powers.  And,at the very least, it will work some temporary magic on both the nerves of roadwarriors who spend the night here, resting away from the highway battles ofInterstate 5, and on the general psyche of anyone coming here to recuperatefrom the trials and tribulations of everyday life.      

Thoughit obviously has always been a comfortable spot to kick back, this circa 1924log cabin lodge is not as “rustic” as it once was.  It has been carefully restored from ruin,with five lodge rooms--including Gable’s vaulted ceiling room (#4)--and fourriverfront cabins holding nine guest rooms. All have been completely rebuilt and updated, and each has a privatedeck or balcony with a river view.  Someof the suites have a two-story-high ceiling crossed with massive log beams, ariver-rock fireplace with a split log mantle, and an oversize whirlpoolbathtub.  Throughout, the cozy decorconsists of expanses of beautifully patinaed wood floors, primitive landscapepaintings, handmade quilts, and comfortable furniture reflecting the inn’s heydayera.  Forest views are seen from everywindow.  When rebuilding, pains weretaken not to disturb the trees and gardens and vast expanses of manicuredlawns.  And indeed, the whole propertylooks like it has been here for a long, long time. 

Oneof the most popular activities is fishing. Famous anglers in the past include Gable as well as crooner Bing Crosby,Western writer Zane Grey, and President Herbert Hoover.  Since the inn is situated beside what isreputed to be the best fishing hole on the Rogue River, you might want to packalong your favorite pole.  Or you canborrow one from the front desk.  The inn providesa barbecue so you can cook up your fresh catch for dinner. 

Theevening wine and cheese reception is a good time to relax beside the enormousriver-rock fireplace in the lodge’s inviting Great Room and soak up thedays-gone-by atmosphere.  On weekends,guests can opt for a do-it-yourself evening barbecue on the lodge’s deck.  A complimentary buffet breakfast is laid outin the lodge’s distinctive Rainbow Room dining area.   Should you prefer, it can be delivered rightto your room.  Either way, you’ll leavethis roadside haven refreshed and ready for whatever comes at you.

More things to do along Highway 5 in Oregon.    

More ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images copyright Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Antonio, Texas: Dashi Sichuan Kitchen+ Bar; restaurant review

 Dashi SichuanKitchen+ Bar

2895 Thousand Oaks Dr., (210)-562-3343. 

colorful dining room at Dashi Sichuan Kitchen + Bar
in San Antonio, Texas

Hidden inside a nondescript building in an unremarkablelittle mall, Dashi Sichuan Kitchen+ Bar is a lovely surprise. Diners pull open the ornate door handles and enter another world.  A dark, high-ceilinged interior room isoffset by brightly colorful accents, conveying a touch of mystery.  

Delicious Sichuan Chinese cuisine is on themenu.  Cocktails include a classic lime daiquirias well as several sakes and plenty of beers. Exceptional dishes include the Signature Spicy Cumin Lamb Lollipops,which are especially popular, as are the superb green beans and XL shrimp.  With the exception of Spicy Garlic Eggplant,dishes tend to be dry rather than saucy, and most are smothered in fiery redpeppers.  Child diners have been known toplay a bit with their food.  One I dinedwith designed a unique dish of curly-hair noodles surrounding a dumpling face.  

overview of dishes at Dashi Sichuan Kitchen + Bar
in San Antonio, Texas


child-created dish of noodle art at Dashi Sichuan Kitchen + Bar
in San Antonio, Texas

It will take many visits to properly explorethe enticing, extensive menu here.  Don’tforget to take a few extra fortune cookies as you leave. 

tiger decoration and fortune cookies at Dashi Sichuan Kitchen + Bar
in San Antonio, Texas

More things to do in San Antonio.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Aurora, Oregon: Old Aurora Colony Museum + antiques shops; things to do

Aurora, Oregon

Alternate route Highway 99E goes right through town, splitting it in half.

Time After Time antiques shop in Aurora, Oregon

Aurora is the first organized Christian communal society established west of the Mississippi.  The 400 original colony members arrived via the Oregon Trail in 1855.  Sharing property and labor with one another, they flourished here from 1856 through the mid-1880s.   The community became known for simple living and for accumulating a minimum of material things, and it produced fine musicians, craftsmen, and scholars.  Though the colony disbanded in the 1880s, many descendants continue to live here. 

Aurora opened its first antique store in 1959.  The town was designated Oregon’s first National Historic District in 1974.  Now, with more than 200 antique dealers, it claims to be Oregon’s antique capital.  What I like best about antiqueing here--besides the generally good prices made even better by Oregon’s policy of charging no sales tax--is that many of the shops operate within restored historic buildings.  But be cautious.  On my last visit I purchased an item that I later found in Portlandfor half the price! 

merchandise in Home Again Antiques shop in Aurora, Oregon

Old Aurora Colony Museum 
2nd/Liberty.  Fee. 
Five buildings display a collection of kitchen utensils, farm implements, and other artifacts once used in the daily lives of colony members.  Informal guided tours begin with a slide show telling how the mostly German colonists settled first in Pennsylvania, then in Missouri, then here.  The tour also includes the restored 1870s Steinbach Log Cabin and Kraus House.  Browsing the exhibits, we saw some unusual musical instruments--most of which still work--and an elaborate music box sent back to the town by Henry Theophilus Fink, who was the first Oregon student to graduate from Harvard (the whole town helped him with expenses) and who worked at the New York Post as a music critic from 1881 to 1924.  As a Bay Area resident, I found it interesting to learn that the town once operated a busy hotel serving travelers on the road between San Francisco and British Columbia.

Contact the Aurora Colony Visitors Association for more information about antiques shops, restaurants, and lodging.

More things to do along Highway 5 in Oregon.    

More ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

San Antonio, Texas: Los Patios+Comfort Cafe; restaurant review + things to do

Los Patios   

Diners park in a spacious lot and then walk in to the woodsy restaurant through a large park-like setting.  Set on 18 rustic acres with hundreds of mature trees, Los Patios has been a hospitality and special event venue for more than 50 years.  Yet its preserved, natural setting surprises first-time visitors.  Several health-related complexes, a few shops, and an AirBNB also operate here.  

Los Patios park area in San Antonio, Texas



● Comfort Cafe  Located in this woodsy spot, this unusual cafe has spacious indoor and outdoor patio seating. It is operated by individuals in the SerenityStar sobriety recovery program. Your tab is by donation and yours to determine. The suggestion is $15+ per plate, which we followed, adding also a generous tip. The extensive brunch menu includes pancakes, omelettes, bennies (eggs Benedicts), and scramblers as well as salads and sandwiches. Servings are generous. Specialty coffees and desserts are also available at a separate counter. It’s cash only here, an ATM is available, and 100 per cents of proceeds go to helping recovering addicts. My family group left stuffed and happy.
skipping to entrance of Comfort Cafe in San Antonio, Texas

interior dining room of Comfort Cafe in San Antonio, Texas

menu at Comfort Cafe in San Antonio, Texas


child eating strawberry pancakes at Comfort Cafe in San Antonio, Texas




● Naco 210   

MOVED  (210) 996-1033.  

exterior of Naco 210 in San Antonio, Texas

t is difficult to say what is the best thing about this simple Mexican spot.  The spectacular park-like area it is located within--Los Patios--or the atmospheric Naco restaurant itself, with its exceptional Mexican fare.  Plenty of seating is available indoors, where large windows let in abundant light and a tree grows right through the dining room ceiling, and even more seating is awaits outdoors on an expansive deck surround by shade-providing  trees.  Salado Creek runs alongside the deck, which is the place to be in good weather, and grassy areas invite children to romp freely.  

dining room at Nico 210 in San Antonio, Texas


menu at Nico 210 in San Antonio, Texas

And then there is the food.  Using fresh organic and locally sourced ingredients when possible, Nico 210 is popular for its stellar oversize tacos made with flour tortillas.  My favorite is the popular Diablo version, stuffed with large grilled shrimp and avocado.  The menu offers plenty more, including chilaquiles, tortas, and enchiladas, as well as a few items with unusual ingredients like squash blossoms and huitlacoche (a fungus that grows on corn and is considered a delicacy in Mexico).  A special brunch menu additionally offers breakfast tacos as well as huevos rancheros and several omelets and Benedicts.  

dining deck at Nico 210 in San Antonio, Texas

tacos Diablo at Nico 210 in San Antonio, Texas

Place your order inside at the counter.  Servers bring items to the tables as they are ready, as well as complimentary tortilla chips to nibble on while waiting.  

● Olla Express Cafe   

MOVED  Plan to stop in here after your meal for an unusual coffee.

More things to do in San Antonio.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

images ©2022 and 2024 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

updated 4-15-24

San Antonio, Texas: Naco 210 + Los Patios; restaurant review + things to do

Naco 210  

2015 NE Loop 410, (210) 996-1033.  W-Sun 8am-4pm.  

exterior of Naco 210 in San Antonio, Texas

It is difficult to say what is the best thing about this simple Mexican spot.  The spectacular park-like area it is located within--Los Patios--or the atmospheric Naco restaurant itself, with its exceptional Mexican fare.

Los Patios:  

Diners park in a spacious lot and then walk in to the woodsy restaurant through a large park-like setting.  Set on 18 rustic acres with hundreds of mature trees, Los Patios has been a hospitality and special event venue for more than 50 years.  Yet its preserved, natural setting surprises first-time visitors.  Several health-related complexes, a few shops, and an AirBNB also operate here.  

Los Patios park area in San Antonio, Texas

Naco 210:  

Plenty of seating is available indoors, where large windows let in abundant light and a tree grows right through the dining room ceiling, and even more seating is awaits outdoors on an expansive deck surround by shade-providing  trees.  Salado Creek runs alongside the deck, which is the place to be in good weather, and grassy areas invite children to romp freely.  

dining room at Nico 210 in San Antonio, Texas


menu at Nico 210 in San Antonio, Texas

And then there is the food.  Using fresh organic and locally sourced ingredients when possible, Nico 210 is popular for its stellar oversize tacos made with flour tortillas.  My favorite is the popular Diablo version, stuffed with large grilled shrimp and avocado.  The menu offers plenty more, including chilaquiles, tortas, and enchiladas, as well as a few items with unusual ingredients like squash blossoms and huitlacoche (a fungus that grows on corn and is considered a delicacy in Mexico).  A special brunch menu additionally offers breakfast tacos as well as huevos rancheros and several omelets and Benedicts.  

dining deck at Nico 210 in San Antonio, Texas

tacos Diablo at Nico 210 in San Antonio, Texas

Place your order inside at the counter.  Servers bring items to the tables as they are ready, as well as complimentary tortilla chips to nibble on while waiting.  

Olla Express Cafe:  Plan to stop in here after your meal for an unusual coffee.

More things to do in San Antonio.

Great ideas for travel adventures in California and the U.S. and around the world.

images ©2022 Carole Terwilliger Meyers