Hello, it’s me, Milady… Yup, doing that weird guest post that happens once in a… Well you get the idea.
This is a gist of our foray up to Santa Barbara, territory I had never been to or at least that I could ever recall. We went to the Natural History Museum, where we found only certain rooms were air conditioned, but fun nonetheless. Then after visiting with Niekon and Cache’s uncle and his family, we went to the Stow House. It was really interesting to see an old house with rich history. Niekon was most enamored with the kitchen. Fascinating that the dining room rug reflects exactly where the chairs were moved in and out for all those years. For those Bay Area people, Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park was named after the patriarch of the family who had helped design said park. We then traipsed around SB’s downtown area as it was too late to go see much else museum or zoo wise. After sniffing out a bar and having a few, we met up with the uncle and family again for dinner at a pub. It was a good day. I must say that the girl behind the bar was quite generous with the Jack Daniels.
But let’s get to the review of the subject line, shall we?
The drive was uneventful. That was good because it meant no traffic jams and the like. The only surprise was a rather steep drive downwards and the realization of having to repeat the same road in reverse. We made a stop in Carpinteria on the recommendation from Niekon’s uncle to break our fast at the Cajun Kitchen, where Niekon was very impressed with the mom and pop feel of the layout, even though there are now six locations to choose from.
The menu was a nice size with many items one would not expect from other eateries for breakfast–blackened salmon, catfish or snapper; pork chops and apple honey pork sausage. All of these items were offered on the side as well. A nice perk to try some of the items without having to inquire or resorting to ordering the complete meal.
Niekon got his favorite meal of chorizo and eggs with hash browns and whole wheat toast. As he was intrigued by the variety of sides, he opted for the lemon chicken sausage as a side.
Cache ordered the two eggs (perplexed as Niekon would say or in the King’s Euphorium, scrambled), with pork link sausage, hash browns and a biscuit. He also ordered a side of biscuits and gravy which caused the waitress to remark, “That’s a lot of food.” I told her that he was a growing boy.
As for moi, I went for the two eggs (smiling or sunny side up if you prefer) with the apple honey pork sausage, home fries and corn bread. On the lighter side, I also ordered a bowl of fruit. Fruit is always nice on a warm day. Quite refreshing.
The fruit and bicuits and gravy arrived first. It was a nice little bowl of fruit that included the usual melon, grapes with diced up orange as well. Not everyone includes orange in their fruit bowl.
Not having been to the South and therefore my culinary palate deprived of such wonderment from the homeland, the biscuits and gravy were like heaven. The gravy was thick and full of flavor. The gravy caused all country gravies we have had in the past to pale in comparison. There were none of the sausage chunks as in other gravies but those were unneeded. It almost seems now that the others have put those chunks in to be the gravy flavoring but to little avail. It is a difficult thought to swallow knowing that we will have to suffer with other gravies until we come back to this one or find one better.
Our breakfast arrived just a few minutes after our “appetizers” and there was a slight scramble to find enough room on the table for the breakfasts and sides. The portions themselves were quite nice and generous, though not overly much. It reminded me of portions my mom would serve.
Niekon was very happy to see that his scrambled eggs were chock full of chorizo goodness. But he didn’t attack that first, he went for the lemon chicken sausage. The hot dog sized sausage was butterflied and nicely cooked. Though the serving was a single link (as the portion seemed to be for the sides). it was still enough to taste and share. The sausage was mild with a wonderful lemon aroma. It was quite tasty. Niekon believes that lemon grass was used to infuse the lemon goodness and not actual lemons. Niekon got a small kick from the lemon flavor that missed Cache and I.
The sausage we seemed to enjoy most though was the apple honey pork sausage. The apple was in the forefront but the overall flavor was delicious. A definite must again. I know it made Niekon want to ask (but didn’t) where they got their sausage from or was it made there.
Breakfast was quite nice. Coffee refills were offered regularly and no one forgotten. The hot tea drinking folks should be warned though. You are charged by the tea bag used. I can’t blame them as I am sure many tea bags would walk out the door otherwise. For me I only needed one as I placed my tea bag into the tea pot to use all the water at once opposed to just in the cup, thus making one use another tea bag because you should NEVER reuse a tea bag.
All in all, this is a place we would definitely come back to. The prices were reasonable, the service friendly and the food superb.
