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If you’ve Food Partied! before, you know we lean plant-forward – the place where plants are the star of the show, and animals fill in as sides and condiments. It’s fun to watch chefs play with plants on plates.
Checking back in to Secret Season part one, my local BFF Francesca and I sit down to dinner on the porch of MacCallum House Restaurant for Executive Chef Alan Cantor’s Vegetarian Tasting Menu – one of the best veggie salutes I’ve experienced in awhile. A fellow student of the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) I assumed chef would put on a good show and he and his team did not disappoint. A little Antonin Carême, a lot of flavor and not cheap at $90 p/p, but five delicious courses make it well worth the cost.
Speaking of plant power, drive a few minutes south on Hwy 1 to another renowned vegetarian restaurant at Stanford Inn By the Sea, the historic farm and eco-resort we went mushroom hunting with in 2023. For years, Ravens restaurant has been dedicated to a “comprehensive and extraordinary plant-based menu.” They’ve put a lot of thought into playing with plants and we applaud them with a Food Party! YahOOO. Enjoy happy hour, afternoon tea for hotel guests, or dinner. Call for reservations, and save a little extra time to walk around the area.
Back at MacCallum House, enjoy morning sun on the ol’ porch with the cool ocean breeze and a hot cup of coffee. (overhead heaters for breakfast). Inside is cozy with wood furnishings, or a sun room with small bar and fireplace.
After breakfast it’s bike tour. You can walk or bike this route. Strava shows 6-miles in and outside of town, but the Big River Trail goes for miles along the Big River, up to Mendocino Headlands State Park. It’s relatively flat riding where I went. Really fun! MacCallum House is marked with the star.
During or after – you gotta do Cookie Wars. We pitted Garden Bakery (right next to MacCallum House) with Good Life Café and Bakery a short walk away. Who has the best cookies? Hard to pick the winner but we’re giving it to Garden Bakery. Don’t miss the Apricot Almond.
Filled with delicious sweet, and smiling with an unexpected surprise of afternoon sun, I grab my boogie board and go searching for “secret beach.” Francesca told me the ‘locals way.’ shhhh…
From MacCallum House, cross the street to Kelly House Museum (guided and self- walking tours). Pass the gas station that supposedly sells the most expensive gas in the USA.
Keep walking to the coast and cross behind the stately old church, descending her stone stairs. Look for an unmarked trail and follow it to all-seeing surfer whose board points the way to another unmarked trail.
Follow this second trail to paradise – Big River Beach. What a place to boogie board!With a high sand bar creating the wave break at least 200 feet past shore, you get unexpected power plus a long ride back in. Surfers enjoy the area too.
Yeh, the water was cold… 54ish degrees… but it was great. Besides, guess what’s back at the House just a short walk away….
Come back for Secret Season Road Trip -Part 3 when we drive home two ways with overnights in Cloverdale, (Farmhouse Inn) and Healdsburgh, (Harmon House). Plus we’ll unexpectedly stumble onto one of the years Top Hikes of 2024.
- photos by LSIC
