Cutting + Cheesecake - Arizona

Greetings y'all! This was pretty much my Arizona "Jump Start Your Year" Horse Show outfit. It was chilly willy in the mornings so you know I had on layer upon layer. Bloggin' from our Ford 650...

I couldn't stand not taking a photo of these two dudes. Bobby and Scott have been friends for over 20 years. I love this photo.

Lunch at the horse show took a few trial and error runs but by the last day we finally got it right. They had a Pulled Pork Comb - Which included a sandwich, fries and a soda. I asked for the bun to be left off so I could make it a forked up meal. With each bite I snagged some sweet pork, a french fry or two and had it sauced up with ketchup and mustard. Now that was a meal. Washed down with Mountain Dew. Oh ya...

And for dinner? Why not another chain? On the scale of chain hood I would say Cheesecake factory is on the higher end. I have always had a good meal here and always left totally satisfied.

For dinner I had the Salmon Genovese and it was amazing! I was so pleased with order and ate every single bite. The salmon was a wonderful medium rare and rested on a bed of pearl couscous. The pool of almond pesto was so tasty, I wish I ordered a side of it so I could eat it up with a spoon. The sun dried tomatoes, green beans and artichoke hearts were all vegetables I could deal with. Order this and order this now. Delicious!

 How can you go to the Cheesecake Factory and not get a piece of cheesecake?!  I decided to go with the original version and was perfectly happy. Sometimes the toppings mask the taste of the good, old fashioned cream cheese so I was happy with my decision on keeping it classic. I was supposed to share with the table but I think I mowed down the most of it.

I love the Cheesecake Factory!

El Rancho Futurity #2 - Rancho Murieta, CA

 Days came and went with early mornings and warm evenings during the 8 day show. It seemed like it all blended together and I opened my eyes and the last day was upon is. We managed to get off the show grounds a couple times and during one of those trips we decided to give Big Al's BBQ in Elk Grove a try.

Animal hide on the wall, different BBQ sauces to try and an all wood interior got us in the mood to get our fingers messy with some BBQ. The menu was pretty straight forward: Pulled Pork, Brisket, Chicken and Ribs. 

 Scott went for a Brisket Sandwich Special with Beans and Potato Salad. He said the brisket was tasty as he doused the entire sandwich with their BBQ Sauce that is made in house. The potato salad was fresh and the beans lacked the pizazz he was looking for.

I wanted to get down with some ribs so I decided to do a Combination Plate as well. The ribs were fine, nothing that my momma can't do better. The french fries were divine. I was really craving french fries. Dipped in the BBQ Sauce was just perfection. They served a small piece of cornbread that I was not expecting and that was my favorite thing on the plate! Ask for the cornbread...

Back at the horse show...

Cowboy Ron made both of his finals the in the Non-Pro Derby and Amateur Derby. How cool is that? He walked away with a big check and two trophy knives!

Are you curious how Elvis and I ended up?

We navigated our way to Reserve Champions of the Non-Pro Futurity! I could not be any prouder of my horse, help and myself! It was just an outstanding experience. I got to add another El Rancho Futurity buckle to my belt and I could not be any more thrilled to sport it.

Thank you to show producer, Carol Ward and her entire staff... 

Cheers to the memories!

Bell Street Farm - Los Alamos, CA

On the drive home from the Madonna Inn last week I made a few pit stops on the way home. Most were fashion shopping related but one of them was to the Bell Street Farm in Los Alamos. I had heard any exciting things about their food and concepts so I decided to wheel in and see for myself. It is an order at the counter joint, that gives you a number and then they walk out food. They ask for a tip but I am always confused on how to tip them, considering at that point I was not given any service and have no idea on what they truly deserve.  

I ordered a real Coke and asked for water on the side. I was never given a refill on the water. So I guess the tip I left was pretty hefty given the service. You got me Bell Street Farm, you got me. 

I always love a good soup, you know that. This was ok. Minestrone was fine but in my personal opinion I prefer my vegetables cut into much smaller pieces. I don't want a knife and fork soup, I want soft and silky. The flavor was good despite needing a shake of salt, that was not on the table.

I was torn on what salad to order, on paper they all sounded good but I was talked into the Rotisserie Pork Salad by the cashier so I followed his lead. The menu read"Hot and Crispy Pork belly wrapped Shoulder" and I would love to say it was really that but a more accurate description would be "Warm and Chewy". The butter lettuce was fresh, onion fantastic and roasted potato was just fine.

Did I love Bell Street Farm? I wanted to, I really did. It was darling and the owner greeted and waved goodbye to all the patrons. The food was ok. Maybe I ordered bad, I would give it another shot but it had better deliver!

Ol' South - Fort Worth, TX

 After a busy morning of working horses and stall cleaning in Texas we decided to break for a late breakfast. We had already tried our hand at the Swiss Pastry Shop earlier in the week for a late breakfast and was burned so we decided to go back to the ever faithful, Ol' South. The coffee is always hot and food made to order.

German Pancakes were ordered for three. I like that they take the time to create a table side show of squeezing the lemon, pouring the powdered sugar and then mixing it. It makes it seem like you r meal was handled with love and care. 

They are then individually wrapped up into a little ball, I am not sure why they do that. As soon as the waitress walks away I unwrap mine and eat it laying out flat. 

Like so... As you can see my pancake looks quite small, I ordered the Dutch Baby. It is made the exact same way as the others just a smaller portion size. That is my bacon up there in the corner, extra crispy all the way.

Done. My favorite breakfast in the books.

Lanny's Alta Cocina - Fort Worth, TX

When we are in Fort Worth I wear many hats. I am first and far most, horse preparer to the stars: Cowboy Ron and Scott - grooming, spoiling, graining, spoiling, wrapping, spoiling, loping... all the important things. I am head laundry lady, occasional stall cleaner and full time comic relief. But, what I am mostly taken on the trip for is restaurant adviser, "Melissa, where are we going to eat tonight?" So, I always have to have an original list ready. 

That is what brought us to Lanny's Alta Cocina just a few blocks from the Will Roger's Coliseum. When you walk in don't be alarmed it seems like it may actually be someone's home or possibly a dentist's office but keep on stepping and be sure to have a reservation, the space is small so I am sure it fills up fast.

We were started off with an amuse that I didn't snag the details of but it basically tasted like a well made sausage, with a little kick and a tasty sauce that was a cross between barbeque sauce and mole. That was the most generic description ever but it did its trick and we already began salivating for what was about to come out next.

After Cowboy Ron read through eleven pages of wines we all decided to forgo the grape and have a Pomegrante Margarita. The weather was nice and we were feeling sassy so went went for cocktails instead. On the first round we were served our margaritas straight up, nice ice. We had a few suggestions amongst the group on how it could be better prepared. 

 Fantastic, warm rolls came to the table and I knew by eating one I would just open the flood gates of eating many, many more. They were too delicious to be made anywhere but steps away and I could probably made a meal out of just them and a stick of butter. Fortunately, I composed myself and stopped the carbohydrate consumption after two, possibly three.

Cowboy Ron wanted to sample a variety of appetizers so the waiter was so kind to coach us through what might be the best representation of the restaurant. Starting up top was Ahi Tuna Tartar served with Pepita Lavash, Huitlacoche Crepes with Tomatilla Sauce, Cochinita Pibil Tamales with an Apple mole. My favorite was the tamales, the meat was deliciously tender and sauce a smoky, savory masterplace - first place! Second, was the Ahi Tuna. It was so fresh and had a little kick with chile on the crisp cracker. Third were the corn crepes, they were just a tad doughy for my taste. But, what do I know?! It was Cowboy Ron and Scott's favorite!

Round two, with ice addition!

I know you are thinking scallops?! Again! I know, I know - I am a straight up sucker. These were fantastic. I loved the presentation but the delicate, clean flavors were just to die for. The scallops were seared to perfection, parsnip puree super creamy and the cauliflower and almonds added that right amount of crunchy texture. Amen!

Cowboy Ron went for the Seafood Paella and declared it was the best he had ever had. I know he is nice to everyone about everything but I do believe him as I saw him wipe his plate clean to consume every last drop. The seafood was fresh, rice flavorful and vegetables looked cheery bright!

Scott ordered the Carne Asada thinking it was going to much different than this elegant plate. Who would have thought carne asada could ever look so chic?! Well, it can apparently and this is how they do it here. The serrano wrapped asparagus came bundled and looking cute as well as all the baby gnocchi. Those were fabulous as they were seared in brown butter, I ate most of them directly off his plate.

 Dessert was light and simple as I ended up doing my same old thing over digestion and after dinner conversation. The custard was smooth and perfect so I lingered over the dish.

Start to finish the meal was outstanding! A highly recommend dinner spot for anyone traveling through Fort Worth. I will be back and encourage if you have not given it a try to do so during the NCHA Summer Spectacular in July!

Wood Ranch - Ventura, CA

Scott usually goes surfing by himself these days. When he loads up his surf truck I find myself running my own errands or meeting up with one of my hilarious friends. I told him to hang ten and sent him on his way to catch some waves in the big blue. I buzzed around town, had a short visit with my buddy Lindsay and then surprised him at his favorite beach just as he got out of the water. He was thrilled and we decided to have an impromptu date night to celebrate. 

We decided on Wood Ranch as we had a gift card that needed to be used and it was located just down the street. The place was packed on what one would think was a regular Wednesday evening. Scott checked us in and we grabbed a seat at the bar for beer and to wait for our dinner table. This is when I act like I just met him for the first time and ask him questions like, "Do you come here often?"... 

The hostess grabbed us and we ordered Onion Rings right away. They are fantastic and even more so dipped in their BBQ sauce.

At a BBQ place I should have been craving ribs but I truly was in the mood for a salad. But not just any salad, but Natalie's Salad with baby greens, avocado, candied pecans, gorgonzola, cucumbers and a supplemental Salmon filet. It was terrific, light but totally satisfying after all those onion rings.

Scott was in the mood for manly food after burning calories during his late afternoon surf session. He wanted tri-tip, corn on the cob and I wanted suggested pulled pork with macaroni and cheese. We ordered it all with the piece of mind knowing we would just take home what we didn't finish. The tri-tip was a bust, it took a lot to saw and chew through - the dogs enjoyed it. The pulled pork was solid, the best on the plate. The corn on the cob was a smidge soggy, but he did appreciate the char on the kernels. And macaroni and cheese, not as goo as Melissa Good Taste's version but that is a tough battle to win!

Some of the best times are the ones that are unplanned. When you roll off the seat of your pants and live in the moment you create the best kind of memories. Keep your relationships fresh, fun and easy my friends!

La Flor de Michoacan - Meiners Oaks, CA

Most of my days while home in Ojai require a lot of errand running. We work horses in the morning and then I set for down the hill and check out places I have never been. I know you must think it is not possible living in such a small community but it is true!

The small town of Meiners Oaks, which is just a hop, jump and a skip from Downtown Ojai, is a convenience store by the name of La Flor de Michoacan. Sodas, alcohol, chips and candy line the shelves along with a full Mexican kitchen busting out great, traditional food from their home country. 

I ordered a trio of tacos with meats of carne asada, carnitas and al pastor with everything. They were all outstanding. I dressed them with Valencia hot sauce and washed it down with a Coca-Cola. The meal was extremely affordable and totally hit the spot. If your a local and have not tried it, you are missing out. Go and get authentic Mexican food today!

El Epazote - Hollister, CA

Hey Melissa Good Tasters! I am finally home but have loads to blog about on my vacation home. One of the places that was recommended to blog about was El Epazote. My sister likes the owner and place so I was down for a visit. With a Mexican Coke in my hand and a menu set in front of me I was ready.

The chips and salsa come with ordered entrees and it is not for the weak. The salsa is spicy! It gets your motor running that is for sure.

My sister swears by the Green Enchiladas, filled with chicken. She loves every tangy bite. The bites of rice and beans are nice too. The portion for lunch is a hearty one.

They serve Pozole everyday! that is so rare for a mexican restaurant! Normally they only make it on Sundays so I was so pumped up. The soup comes out hot temperature wise, and spicy taste wise. I loved it! The tostadas served on the side added crunch and allowed me to dip as the broth cooled. Everyone finished their meal watching me sip my soup so I felt bad about that!

The lunch was lovely and worth a visit for all you Hollister folks!

Sabor - Oxnard, CA

I was cruising around running last minute errands before we had to pack up our rigs for Paso Robles and I finally made it to the famous "Sabor". I have read many reviews of their authentic Mexican food, especially their tacos.

I went for the pastor, carne asada and carnitas. They all were delicious! I would have liked to order 3 more tacos but I was on the run! The most famous thing on the menu according to the cashier was the fish tacos, award winning even! I cannot wait to take Scott their to try them, as he loves a good fish taco!

I will be back for all the traditional, spicy food!

El Pueblo Mexican Restaurant - Lamont, CA

Ok, the lets start off with the size of their margaritas! They are grande! And, they come in even larger sizes! Our friends, Pete and lisa took us to this exact restaurant earlier in the year and I fell in love with it. Since we were back in town for a few days, we decided to go back!

There is nothing better than their warm chile verde dip and chips. I go through bowls of it and ask for more. The savory chile is so addicting, I could probably make the chips and dip my meal alone.

I enjoy the green sauce so much that I went for Chile Verde Enchiladas. The pork is so tender and flavorful, I just cannot say one bad thing about it. It took me so long to finally wave the white towel but I tried to eat my way through the whole plate. Mission was not accomplished but it was a tasty adventure. The rice and beans are pretty solid too.

Cheers to El Pueblo Mexican Restaurant. I love their service, food and atmosphere so much. I wish they had one in Ojai!

El Lugarcito - King City, CA

Between drives from my homes in Ojai and San Juan Bautista I plan to make stops for lunch. On one of the trips I stopped in king City, tired and hungry from 4 hours of driving I picked El Lugarcito. Known as the "Little Place". 

They were fast and efficient in seating and ordering.

I ordered the Chile Verde and it came out within minutes of my ordering. The sauce was spicy and the pork very tender. I know others may enjoy having vegetables in their rice but it ruins the flavor for me. I spend most of my time eating around it. I like my rice and beans pure, exactly what they are. 

There are a lot of options of Mexican food in King City, at least 5 restaurant within walking distance on one street alone. Where should I stop next?