Eat. Travel. Eat!

Having enjoyed vegan/vegetarian focused restaurants in the past ( Cafe Gratitude , Real Food Daily ), we started off a visit to Santa Barbara by visiting Mesa Verde for lunch. It had been positively reviewed on multiple websites, and its own website showcased beautifully crafted vegetarian cuisine. Housed in its own quaint grey and green building, parking is a tight, only having a few dedicated spots in the parking lot.  Although we arrived relatively late for lunch (around 2pm), we still had to wait more than 10 minutes for a table. The restaurant was near capacity, and employees were busy in the kitchen and serving customers seated indoors and outdoors. The environment was still relaxed, with locals enjoying a wide number of items from the menu. The owner happened to serve us that day, and apologized for the wait. After ordering and asking for his input on recommended lunch items-- the Patatas Bravas Tacos and Picadillo Empanadas came highly recommended--he provided u...

L'Etoile, located on the Capitol Square, is a fine-dining establishment in Madison, Wisconsin, focused on local and seasonal offerings. Arguably Madison's most renown restaurant, I couldn't have skipped a trip to Madison without trying this place for myself. L'Etoile provides an air of simple elegance. Housed in a building with floor to ceiling windows, with an interior that has understated neutral tones, the scene warmed up with the extensive wine cellar, candlelight, and flower arrangements. At our table, we received custom printed menus for the evening. It was here that the attention to detail came about. When making the reservation, we had noted the occassion that presided our visit, and our menus had a small message to reflect that note. Moreover, the employees also were aware of the occassion--a very nice touch.

  There are certainly a multitude of ways that one can get from Los Angeles to San Francisco, but driving allows one to perceive the amazing landscapes along the way. Driving to Los Angeles to San Francisco can also be done in several ways; one can pick the Interstate-5  for the shortest drive, the U.S. Route 101 for a "more interesting" drive, or the State Route 1/ Highway 1 for a long, oceanside drive. Although my companions and I chose the 5 freeway to go to San Francisco, we still passed by some picturesque areas: plenty of farmland and mountain views. Maybe it was coincidence, but the blue sky and beautiful clouds enhanced the appearance of everything we saw during this drive. The clouds that day were beautiful; arranged in beautiful patterns, it was easy for me to get distracted from my reading selection. In this picture it seems like as if a fleet of clouds are moving towards one direction. Simple scenes such as a curve around a hill were so beautiful thanks t...