Recipe – Bruschetta 8 slices firm, crusty Italian bread 2 cloves garlic, halved 3–4 T. extra virgin olive oil 4 medium, ripe tomatoes ½ c. fresh basil leaves salt and ground black pepper to taste Preheat oven to 400ºF. Core and dice tomatoes. (Note: I grow wild cherry tomatoes, so I sometimes … Read Entire Post
Recipe – Stuffing (includes Vegan option!) 1 lb. firm French or Italian bread (including crusts), cut into ½-inch cubes (I like to use a mix of 6 oz. of French bread, 6 oz. of Italian bread, and 4 oz. of baguette) 8 T. butter (Vegan option: 4 T. extra virgin olive … Read Entire Post
Exploring Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone I recently spent 2 nights in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone—home to 15+ wineries, a few brewpubs & taprooms, restaurants and more. Located just west of Highway 101, it’s right next to the beach (great for graysuits!) and easily walkable on foot from one end to the other. The … Read Entire Post
Here at Dark Surf Nightly we like to explore the “dark” side of the coast—including hidden gems and secret tips. Wow, do I have a hidden gem for you! The wineries of Lake County, Calif. Lake County is located just north of Napa County. Napa, of course, is a renowned & wildly popular wine … Read Entire Post
My friends and I rarely leave the coast. (It’s a graysuit thing.) So, when we do head for the hills, we have to have a really good reason—like fabulous wines. If you want a quick getaway to a wine lover’s paradise, try Murphys in the central Sierra Nevada foothills in Calaveras County, … Read Entire Post
Which wine goes better with turkey—Chardonnay or Pinot Noir? The Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association has published a handy “Thanksgiving Wine Pairing” infographic. Check it out to see which traditional Thanksgiving foods pair best with which wines—and then taste for yourself. (For a larger downloadable version of the infographic, … Read Entire Post
More and more olive oil boutiques are popping up in California—and that’s a tasty trend. We visited The Quail & Olive in Carmel Valley to sample an array of premium olive oils and vinegars. Tasting of the olive oils and vinegars is free, and the staff are extremely knowledgeable. What’s unique … Read Entire Post
Like many brewpubs, Highway 1 Brewing Company in San Mateo County was started by a homebrewer. Its slogan is “Turning Water into Something Drinkable.” The indoor dining room (with its 12 windows) and the bar have views of Highway 1 and the Pacific Ocean. From the bar, if you follow the … Read Entire Post
During my stay in Kauai, we embarked on a quest to find the area’s best fish tacos. We didn’t have time to sample them all but we gave it our best shot, stopping at several destinations from Poipu Beach to Port Allen. The biggest difference between Baja-style and Hawaiian-style fish tacos … Read Entire Post
I generally like my beer on the darker side of the spectrum. West Coast style red ales are my all-time favorite. I also like a hoppy brown ale or a roasty porter. Kauai Island Brewery & Grill, the world’s westernmost brewery, serves a spectrum of beer, from light to dark. I … Read Entire Post
