Eating our way home

My friend and I are not most quilters.

We planned our trip by food stops.  In fact, on the way home we only made one fabric stop - well two, if you are generous and count the french linen shop as buying fabric - and four food stops.

But first, distracted as we were by the thought of pastry, we had to sew the morning away.

While we were getting ready for the day in our room my friend went out onto the balcony.  She came back in and told me there were drummers and it sounded like it was coming from the beach.  We decided to take a walk and see if we could find out what it was before breakfast.

Turns out much heartier souls than we were out running the Big Sur half marathon.  The drumming we heard was a group of women Taiko drummers who played all during the race.

The race goes up and back along the same course so runners were passing by us from both directions.  Speedy runners were already headed back at 7:30 - not a bad distance traveled in only half an hour!  We had a lot of fun listening to the drummers and cheering on the runners who passed by.

After breakfast we quilted and by noon were packed up and on our way.

First stop was Back Porch fabrics.  I don't think I was ten feet inside the door when a new book leapt into my hands.  Also, a bonus for me!  After stopping in during shop hops and trips to Asilomar I finally had spent enough to earn a $25 gift certificate.  Now, I must remember to take it in February when I'll be back again.

Next was our first food stop of our adventure.  We pulled off the freeway at a little produce stand that was plunked down in the middle of a field of artichoke bushes.

I did get some artichokes.  What we really were there for though was brussel sprouts.  Have you seen them growing?  Most people have only seen them in plastic bags at the grocery store.  My friend's husband likes them a lot so we just had to get him some on a stalk so he could see how they grow.

We had also been told that this was the place to eat deep fried artichoke hearts.  While my friend did buy a bag of frozen ones to take to a neighbor who loves them, we got distracted by the $1 tacos.

Seriously, could you resist this?  It was awesome. Sitting on the curb in the sunshine in the middle of an artichoke field eating delicious tacos.  Heaven!

Fortified by our quick lunch, we were off for smoked meats.

I still can't remember how my family heard about this place, but they really have the very best smoked bacon.  Thick, meaty and smoky porkiness.  Naturally a few other things jumped into the grocery basket, but really we were there for the bacon and bought plenty to keep us happy until we are in the neighborhood again.  

Down the hill and around the corner took us to Glaum egg farm.  Now, most people wouldn't be delighted at the thought of visiting a chicken farm.  However, this place has an egg vending machine.  Not only that, but after you pay a curtain rises on a window and there are chicken puppets who play and dance to "In the Mood".  Seriously, you just can't miss that performance.  

Put your money in the slot and out pops a flat of eggs.  That is just cool all by itself.  But then the music starts.  Sadly, the sun was at our backs so most of my photo's have too much reflection on the glass to see well.  I did get one close up of the bouncing chicks though.

And yes, they were even dressed up for the season.  Truly, it makes me want to go back in December to see their costumes.  It's really one of the funniest things I've seen and we did laugh in the car for quite a while as we made our way to our final food stop.

Our last food stop was Gayle's bakery.  I love this place.  I've eaten more than my fair share of deliciousness since I found it in 1983.  Recently my sister told me she used to go even before then with an old friend of ours who used to live in Aptos.  Can you believe they ate there and neither one ever told me about it?  

The bakery is always crazy busy and Sunday afternoon was no exception.  We bought our bread and pastry and then had to sit and eat a treat for energy for the ride home.  All that food shopping was serious work you know.  Let me just say that the ollalieberry turnover was a winner.

There was a bit of beach traffic, but all in all it was a nice ride home.

The best part was being greeted by my husband who had made us pot roast for dinner and pumpkin pie for dessert!  I am so spoiled.

-- marcella