Reliveit! Carmel

We just had a whirlwind weekend trip to

Carmel by the Sea

with 

great friends!

It started with just the four of us chilling around Ocean Avenue

and grabbing some quick "snacks"

at

Hog's Breath Inn.

See the hog up there breathing on my son?

Yeah, that was fun.

We grabbed our own fire pit and just enjoyed each other.

And speaking of "Hog's Breath"

we sure had it after 

we stopped here.

Spicy Garlic Fries.

Need I say more?

This was real fresh garlic from Gilroy

and man

the whole inside of my head

was taken over by 

the lingering presence.

Even my eyeballs felt hot.

They were good.

I must apologize for the lame pics you are going to have to suffer through.

Guess who forgot her camera?

RRRRR!

So all of these were taken with my phone and not half bad,

but I do apologize.

TrueLove

eek! might have needed to photoshop 

the right side of that picture

And an apology to anyone on the patio that

endured our silliness that afternoon.

Oh yes,

we were very silly 

and there are pictures to prove it

but unfortunately 

they are on TrueLoves' phone.

After that, 

our friends treated us to a lovely

play at 

Forest Theater.

Just imagine how fun it was to watch

Little Orphan Annie

with picnic basket bursting with hot food,

wine and nibbles,

outside (good thing too-remember the garlic breath?) under trees and stars-well

maybe not stars-fog, but beautiful dreamy whispery kind-of-fog,

in a rocky amphitheater flanked with fire pits.

I apologize for the run-on sentences.

You'd never believe I once taught a writing class.

So we also enjoyed some very dramatic special effects

when 

a flash of lightning 

stretched above the set

followed with that

awesome rumble that reminds you

that nature is alive

and will make a cameo appearance

if it so chooses.

It was a lovely memory.

Even the short drive home was romantic.

Driving through the sheer fog,

street lamps glowing,

tiny streets that are interrupted

by strong crooked trees,

and 

that misty reminder that you are

indeed

by-the-sea.

The next morning was scrumptious!

Slept in

ate breakfast spectacular-

(which is what my SweetFriendJill calls "low key")

fresh juicy fruit, fluffy eggs, sizzling sausage, 

and buttery chocolate croissants

served hot right out of the oven.

(I might have just drooled thinking about it.)

Espresso and I'm pretty sure there was 

champagne too.

I'm not sure why,

but do we need a reason?

Oh I know.

Sleeping in!

 Definitely a reason to celebrate!

Sorry no pics.

We were too busy indulging.

Trust me it was gorgeous!

Then to top off how gorgeous our morning was,

we lingered.

We lingered for hours on a foggy day,

in a cozy cottage,

just enjoying 

good company,

good coffee,

and 

good memories.

MY FAVORITE!

Then we ate again.

Just so you know,

this is how we vacation. 

Some people like adventure,

sight seeing,

 exercise,

entertainment,

but not us.

We like those things.

But when we are honest with ourselves,

vacation really revolves around

amazing food around 

every corner.

And conveniently,

Carmel is filled with 

fabulous food

around every corner!

So we were in the right place.

So for lunch our friends introduced us to a fabulous place!

Carmel Belle.

Oh jeez!

They make their own cheese!

(I did not intend for that to rhyme-just a cheesy coincidence.)

This place might be beyond words.

It felt like a food court in the way that it was inside the breezeway

of a mall

(a quaint little Carmel mall just sayin'),

however,

the food faire completely

blew away any previous reference

of food experienced in this kind of venue.

oh.

my.

word!

It's one of those places where they understand

that if you use the 

highest

quality

local

ingredients,

that you don't need much more.

It felt farm-to-table fresh to me.

Farm-to-table delicious.

Seriously.

Why had I not been there before?

I probably would have misjudged it by it's location.

No view.

People crowded around your table.

Noisy.

But as I said,

it would have been a misjudgment

because-

This.

Place.

ROCKED!

They make their own mozzarella!

I saw it and it nearly sparkled.

This is a place you go where ambience does not even need to play a roll.

Everything is second fiddle to the amazing local ingredients

and decadent flavor.

Simple.

Go there for the food.

Already planning how soon I can

get back there.

(Because I saw the fresh mozzarella after I ordered 

and now I'm obsessed).

Then 

SHOPPING!

Yes, the girls and the boys,

did a divide and conquer,

although there was nothing to conquer

except

fun to be had.

So with full bellies,

focused pursuit,

the ladies shopped

and the boys

cruised.

So fun!

Now

anybody who's anybody

knows that shopping

also involves snacks!

Don't judge us.

Shopping uses energy and 

we tried a lot of things on.

So we earned ourselves a little treat 

and tucked into

sorry for the lamo pic

Pastries and Petals

This is a bakery cafe from Heaven.

All I can say is

"Cinnamon Pull-Aparts".

Insane!!!!!!!

I'd describe to you the taste sensation,

but I'm afraid you would

be mad at me

because

you'd have to get in the car now

and drive to Carmel

and 

order one.

But after the long drive (depending on where you are)

you couldn't just get one.

You would buy a whole case of them.

And you wouldn't be able to stop 

yourself from eating them

ALL

on your way home,

so you must 

go there

when

you are in Carmel and taste for yourself.

There.

Is.

Nothing.

Like.

It.

And the "petal" part?

you ask?

There is a fresh garden picked arrangement

on every table

AND!

every plate that

comes out of the kitchen

has a sweet little flower on it.

I just saw all the girly-girls smile when they read that.

Me too.

Well now we're on to dinner at Demetra's.

And all of my silly pics from my chair.

Delicious mediterranean faire,

with the most gracious hospitality you will find on this continent-

smiles-hugs-cheek kissing-compliments-and-

SERENADE! 

Who does this anymore?

They do.

Yep.

It's wonderful.

And so are they.

And so are they.

And so are they.

Then,

the young ones wanted to go back to the cottage for

facials (the girls did)

and

movies.

So the old ones went down to the 

Cypress Inn

for 

entertainment.

Entertainment is an understatement.

(again, did not intend for rhyme)

I'm stumbling with the right words to describe this place.

It is a landmark boutique hotel,

owned or co-owned by Doris Day,

nestled in Mediterranean architecture and 

meticulously appointed decor.

It's glamorous and cozy.

You can step into their lounge after dinner

and curl up with a decadent wine on a gorgeous deep sofa

or handsome wing back chair,

as if you are in someone's home,

while listening to live jazz.

However, 

as much as I've described it's 

beauty and warmth,

nothing can prepare one for the pampered

guests that pepper this 

glorious place.

DOGS!

Oh

my 

gosh.

It's so hard to believe it until you experience it.

It's a dog friendly hotel.

This picture I grabbed from tripadvisor was photographed during the day

but at night it's dark and dreamy

and there are dogs

EVERYWHERE!

cute dogs

ugly dogs

big dogs

barking dogs

fluffy dogs

dogs that match their owners

It actually reminds me of that Dr. Suess book Dog Party.

They are in the lounge,

by the fire,

on the patio,

in the bar,

in the walkways,

and 

apparently

in the beds.

Such an amusing experience.

And don't let the dog thing fool you.

There's Ginger, our friend's dog.

This place is top shelf,

from the decor,

to the food,

to the service,

to the live music.

It's first class all the way,

except there are dogs

everywhere.

So fun.

So we are winding up our whirlwind weekend

by saying that we had to leave

Sunday morning early

to go home and

host the CAbi 

party I mentioned in a previous

posting.

On our way out,

Breakfast.

"Oh no you didn't?" you say?

Oh, yes we did!

We went back to 

Pastries and Petals.

It wasn't fair.

The boys didn't get to go with us the day before.

So there we are.

Very happy.

Rich Velvety Hot Cocoa

Grilled Nutella Sandwiches

Pastries

Eggy Sandwiches

Vibrant Fruit

Foamy Cappuccinos.

It was a perfect cap 

(no pun intended)

to a perfect

 weekend.

Thanks "Bagels"!

Making Memories!