Fair Warning this is a Longer Post BreakfastWe started off the day at Hollywood Cafe. After perusing the menu while waiting in line (they do not take reservations) I settled on the asparagus eggs benedict. I would say this was your run of the mill benedict, except the asparagus was grilled perfectly... and it was thick asparagus. Now I would never claim to be some great chef but I know how to cook my vegetables and I always stay away from the asparagus bundles with thicker pieces. I'm basically trying to get across how impressed I was with their grilling to perfection. In addition to my delectable veggies, I was incredibly happy to see that they make their hash browns on a flat top; so much crispiness to enjoy! ghirardelli SquareAfter breakfast we walked down to Ghirardelli square for some window shopping and to satisfy our sweet -tooth. For those of who don't know, Ghirardelli square doesn't actually house a factory but it does have a store and at the store there is literally chocolate flowing from faucets. Unfortunately, I was too distracted by all of the chocolate to get a picture but my sister Leslie and I did get a pick in front of this neat sign that I'm assuming lights up in the evenings. The square is located just off the water on a hill so the light sweater I choose to wear was perfect; check out my #ootd for details. lombard streetAfter walking around for a bit we went back to the hotel, packed up the car, and made our way over to Lombard Street. I know, way to be cliché, but its exciting! Anyways, the line we had to wait in to drive down the road was so long that I just got out and started walking up the hill. Both directions down were pretty stunning but the winding layout of the hairpin turn section kind of made things move in slow motion; dramatic effect is how I would best categorize it. Muir WoodsAfter traversing the San Francisco hills we made our way across the Golden Gate Bridge and over to the Muir Woods. This part of the trip was a complete surprise and reflecting on it brought out so many feelings on my relationship with my father that I made it into a separate post. Check out this special experience and photos here. Golden Gate BridgeWhen we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge it was immersed in a spectacular, creepy fog. One of the most beautiful sights I saw throughout my entire week in California was the fog rolling over the hills and the bridge. I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves. DinnerAfter our visit to the Muir Woods we started to make our way down to Monterey Bay. Since we apparently skipped lunch (did not realize that until I sat down to write this) a stop for dinner was a necessity. After a lot of light bickering, some of my family members stating that they "did not want Mediterranean", and me reading off the menu items from a restaurant that I conveniently did not tell them was Mediterranean we settled on Laili in Santa Cruz.
It was late and I was ready to stuff my face with pure goodness! I started with one of the specials, a ginger and carrot soup. I was like "hold the phone...this is the greatest soup I have ever had" and it truly was. The carrot flavor was the most prominent and it was compliment by a hint of ginger and a light tanginess from the yogurt. I finished off my meal with the Chicken kabob for my entree. The meat was incredibly juicy and perfectly seasoned with a few herbs. The vegetables were a fresh and perfect compliment for the dish. The kabob was served with a trio of chutneys: a jalapeno base, an apricot base, and I think a yogurt base (I honestly can't remember). The others were good but I was all about the apricot one. If you are ever in the Santa Cruz area this is a "must stop at" location.
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