Westside Grill - Gilroy, Ca

8080 Santa Teresa Boulevard, Suite 100 in Gilroy. You know where it is... Remember when this place was J.R. Brewskies? Remember? I do. Many o' times I have eaten there. But, I guess that must have been a long, long time ago because Westside Grill has been in it's place since 2006. Wow. Well, I went back and now it is Westside Grill.

The bar is really a magnificent one. Not because of all the glorious alcohol but because it looks old world. Beautiful wood work, a step down and really dark. I have always thought is was very sophisticated place. Not much has changed.

The bread was good stuff. The crust was that of rosemary and gave great texture. I liked. So much so, I had the majority. Yikes! Now on to some comedy... They had Lobster Bisque as a regular on their menu. I am spoiled because I have had Maine's best. I am now addicted to the stuff. So when I see it on the menu, anywhere, I order it in hopes it will be the same as my original experience. So as it was set before me I notice there were "chunks" through out the soup. Could it be actual lobster? Usually bisques here are thin, blended versions. Low and behold these "chunks" floating through my bisque are cooked pieces of flour! HA! I am such a sucker, I should have know for $6 it could not have been the real thing. Onward, the salad was fine. Fine, fine, fine.

The Drunken Clams brought me back to life and gave me back some faith in the Westside Grill. White wine, garlic, lemon butter, tomato and herbs made a terrific bath for the clams. I should have saved room for more bread to soak up the fantastic broth. A+. Next up in this rodeo is the Pasta Pomodoro with Chicken as the protein. Fresh tomato, basil, garlic and olive oil round out the dish. Was it tasty? Yes. A tad spicy? Yes, from what? Who knows. Would it be ordered again? No, order something else. So was it bad? No way. Just would explore the rest of the menu a bit.

Westside Grill, a beautiful place. A smidge hard to find. It looks like it would be a dentist's office from the outside, in fact it is next to a gym. It is awkward, but find it. Go for drinks and an appetizer. Maybe on a romantic date or just to watch the game. They have a couple TV’s in the bar and a friendly bartender - she talked to the lone couple in the bar the entire time of my visit. Yowza! Anyhow. I give it 1.33 thumbs up. It is pretty good, kind of pricey but worth it. Stay away from the Lobster Bisque and you will have a wonderful time.

-MGT

San Benito Chamber of Commerce Mixer

The July Chamber of Commerce Mixer was a great one! The hosts, Serene Home and Dassel's Petroleum, welcomed the Chamber for drinks, appetizers, salads and bbq bites. Serene Home is located at 243 6th Street in downtown Hollister. There you can find great gifts, dishes, home decor, jewelry and much more! Dassel's is located at 31 Wright Road in Hollister as well. We offer propane, gasoline, diesel, lubricants and much more. Keep us in mind for your energy needs!

Grillin' it up!

Our beer selection.

Red, red wine.

The whites chillin' on ice.

The beautiful spread. Watermelon Salad with red onions and cilantro. So refreshing!

Pasta Salad with basil, garlic and tomatos. And of course, veggies and dip.

Yum, yum. My favorite of the evening...

Chicken salad served on a tortilla chip! Perfectly sized for the perfect bite!

Sausages - some spicy, some not.

Rolls for the Tri-Tip Sliders.

Perfectly cooked Tri-Tip. Yum!

Mixing.

Mingling.

Enjoying the beautiful day!

Jeri, the wonderful hostess, from Serene Home.

Jim, from Dassel's, co-host for the evening.

Frankie, calling out numbers for the raffle.

What a wonderful event!

Downtown Hollister Farmer's Market

So Melissa Good Taste finally made it to the Downtown Hollister Farmer's Market with her trusty camera. There are so many things to take pictures of - I just went snap happy! In all fairness to all the vendors, I took a lot of photos but missed many booths! This is just a taste of what is there every Wednesday from 4-7PM on a blocked off Fifth Street. I will be back and I will bring my camera! Enjoy...

Please remember that these photos are owned by Melissa Good Taste. If you would like to use one of them please email me first! Thank you.

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa - Ojai, Ca

For over 80 years, the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa has been considered one of the best secrets among leisure and business travelers. Escape to this historic resort of casual elegance offering you 220 acres featuring luxury accommodations, Spa Ojai, and a championship golf course.

The Oak Grill is where we had dinner. Prime steaks, chops and the freshest seafood are featured on the dinner menu. The chefs feature garden grown and hand made ingredients complimenting the dramatic surrounding scenery. The award winning wine list and professional and knowledgeable service staff will complete a dining experience that will exceed expectations.


The first order was the Ahi Tuna Tartar served with crispy Wontons. The was amazing! Avocado and citrus rounded out the plate. Loved it. Couldn't finish it though!


Sister just had to order the crab cakes! These were pretty special ones though. In fact the best I have had in awhile. Ojai Valley Inn does it right!

The last dish that came out was the Lobster Risotto - umm... wow! So creamy, rich and just fabulous! The lobster was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. The risotto was also executed correctly and had enough bite without being overdone.


I wish I had taken better photos or had even remembered what exactly else was on the menu. I was just consumed in the sheer beauty of the Ojai Valley. The beautiful oak trees, lush terrain and beautiful mountains just seem to take over all senses. The Spa is world renowned, so it is official, I have to try it! Will come back at you for more Ojai!

Stuffed Baby Peppers

These suckers really have caused a stir! Everyone wants my recipe. It is really not a recipe more of a go with the flow kind of deal. No exact measurements but a run down of what is in them!

Super easy. Mini bell peppers halved. Mix cream cheese, Monterey Jack, browned sausage, green onion, garlic, diced green chilies and if your feeling spicy... diced jalapenos (I love it). Fill up peppers and bake @ 375 in the oven until peppers and soft and topping is golden brown. Somewhere between 25-30 minutes...

See told you they are super easy!