California! Northern California, with its wind and gray and beautiful fog, and wonderful local food, and wine... love.
We were out there for a few days late last month, which wasn't long enough by half to see everyone and do everything we would have wanted to. But we did get to have a lovely visit with my aunt, and her dynamo friend Kathy (who ditched her husband and came to hang out with us for a few days) and my not so little anymore brother and his wonderful girlfriend Courtney who flew out from freezing Chicago for the occasion.
In fact, their flight was seriously late getting in on Friday night, and it was close to 3 AM before we all got ourselves to bed (for those keeping time score, that's 5 Central). So we ended up sleeping a good chunk of Saturday away, and then hanging out in our pajamas drinking coffee while the rain came down outside.
Finally, in mid-afternoon, a couple of people got the crazy idea that we should, I dunno, leave the house. So we did, and drove to Half Moon Bay. The rain had made everything green and lush, very unlike the brown hills we usually see when we visit.
Crazy people were out in full wetsuits surfing the Waves of Unusual Size (W.O.U.S.'s, for you Princess Bride fans).
Logan got David and Courtney to pose all cute-like. I still can't believe she was able to take her shoes off in the cold - Texas has made me all soft and fleshy and afraid of the chill.
I know the Marvin the Martian hat on Auntie will raise many questions. We think it might have been David's sometime around 1990. The brim is still remarkably uncurved. I love this picture; it makes me smile.
And then, we went out for high tea! Low tea? Which is the one where you eat a fairly hearty meal around 3 or so? That.
Auntie has a place she likes just up from the beach, so we went there. It was just right.
Bright, loudly patterned plastic-backed fabric adorned tables jammed into a small room with the kitchen clanking away in the back. I kept thinking the waitresses were going to call me "hon", and I imagine if I went back they totally would.
We were cold, so we ordered nice thick soul-warming clam chowder.
The chowder was good - not mind-blowing or anything, just a good chowder. We love oyster crackers.
The cheesy crabby bread, on the other hand, DID blow our minds. And it is exactly what it sounds like, except there are loads of butter and garlic involved as well; but cheesy garlicky crabby butterbread doesn't really have the same ring. This, though, needs to be on your table if you are at the Flying Fish Grill.
That's not a trick of the angle; the crabby cheesy bread is actually taking off from the table directly towards your face. It has tiger's blood and Adonis DNA, don'cha know.
I had to order a scallop taco, because, well, did you say scallop taco? Grilled scallop, tasty cabbage slaw, a hit of mayo - my only complaint is that the tortilla could have been better, but I do live 7.1 miles from El Milagro Tortilleria.
A basket of fish and chips hit the spot - the five of us shared it and were very happy with the level of snackage. I also loved the fresh crunch of their slaw and the tart hit of their tartar sauce. I love tartar sauce. And mayonnaise. And fried things. Sigh.
And then, we drove back to Fremont and ate a crapton (well, probably 15 pounds or so, really) of Indian pizza. Yes, INDIAN pizza. This is the new hotness which I will talk about when I get around to doing that post.
For now, Flying Fish Grill is at 99 San Mateo Road (otherwise known as the corner of Main Street and Highway 92) in Half Moon Bay, CA. 650.712.1125.
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