Three Birds

The new Three Birds in Ojai, which I could potentially confuse with Brass Bird in Carpinteria. This space, which is a good one, was formerly LO>E Social Cafe and before that NoSo Vita. Full story on the changeover here: https://www.ojaivalleynews.com/news/business/lo-e-social-cafe-to-close-oct-29-after-nearly-9-years/article_ee670538-7480-11ee-b33c-63a2af57322e.html

not in the Mooood....

I second the sentiment.

May flowers

On a sidewalk stroll, and even at home!

a new hue

Sometimes while driving back with Vietnamese takeout you glance at the channel and are really struck by something unusual - the sea looking lighter than usual, lighter than the sky even; a light, bright aqua blue of the sort you'd see in the Caribbean or some other tropical locale. The Santa Barbara Channel takes on many different hues at different times, but this was unusual - in a good way. 

 

anniversary bowl in use

new connections

Lovewell date

ramen bowl

When we heard that Harvest Cafe had a ramen bowl, we had to try it. It was different.

VBG May 2024

A nice display of spring flowers in the May gloom...

return of the croquettes

Stopping for lunch at Plenty on Bell in Los Alamos was one of the best decisions we ever made. Not only did they finally have the famous sweet potato croquettes, but the rutabaga soup was an earthly delight I'd never encountered before. 

morning Paso stroll

Perhaps you will recognize some of these Paso landmarks...

Farmhouse Motel at night

Della's

As the saying goes, if The Hatch is full to capacity, try Della's. They are in fact sister businesses. I think this one had something to do with wood-fired pizza.

Farmhouse Motel

More well-designed boutique lodging in a blazing-hot small town on the Central Coast. Fine with me. This one is a sister property of the Hotel Ynez and you could feel it. The same hotel group, Nomada, runs the Skyview in Los Alamos and the Granada in SLO. We've been to all of those. I'm glad someone specializes in this well-defined niche market.

AMSTRDM Coffee revisited

Goshi

For years I took note of this sushi restaurant in the old Paso Robles train depot, thinking one day it'd be nice to eat there. After leaving P.G. it finally happened, and it was every bit as pleasant as I had hoped. Both food and space were totally agreeable. I love a good business in a repurposed train depot.

P.G.coastal finale