Tucson: Food Paradise

Ok. I feel the need to express my love for Tucson's food scene. It's been very good to me and my friends during our stay. I"m gonna rattle off some of the things we've experienced.

Frost: Gelato place. Put quite simply: amazing. They're starting franchise opportunities. If you have extra money laying around, don't hesitate. You'll make a fortune.

Ra Sushi: Probably some of the best sushi I've ever had. The Lobster mango roll was so light and fresh. The King Crab roll was stellar, and the Pork Gyozas were out of the park. Having eaten there three times with several different friends, I can safely say that everything we tried was sensational.

El Charro: The birthplace of the chimichanga, and rightly so. Tiger shrimp, roasted corn, bacon, white queso. Delish. And the salsa was the best I've tasted. Ever.

Rosa's: Kylee and I ate at this little hole-in-the-wall place. OMG. The salsa had so much garlic in it... and I love garlic. I ordered everything a-la-carte. One cheese enchilada, one chicken enchilada, one green corn tamale and one chicken flauta. It all sounds like normal Mexican fare, but it was so not normal. The flavors were so spot on - subtle, without smacking you in the face. Nice. And the sopapillas.... yum.

Cafe Poca Cosa: I had high expectations after reading all the good things about this place. And I wasn't disappointed. It had been featured in all kind of magazines and periodicals. NY Times, etc. I had the Chicken Mole, Kylee and Neil had the combo platter that had a chicken dish, steak dish and eggplant dish. All of them were great. The big surprise for me was the beans. They weren't refried... but borracho style. I'm used to beans being a little grainy... but these melted in your mouth. So good. And the salsa was also amazing. A very close second to that of El Charro's.

El Guero Canelo: This place was featured on Man Vs Food. I had to go and get the Sonoran style hot dog. It was a hot dog wrapped in bacon, topped with beans, mayo, ketchup, mustard and a jalapeno sauce. So good. Also had a steak quesadilla that was so full of flavor.

So, Tucson, I tip my hat to thee. You have thoroughly impressed a well-traveled foodie. Cheers.

Ra and Frost

Mary King, my former business manager on the east coast, recommended I go to a sushi place called Ra for happy hour. I can't thank her enough. I enjoyed my first trek there with Mel so much that I had to go again after the show with Bogdan and Michelle. Both times the food was amazing. I must also mention the amazing gelato place that Mary said I had to go to. It's called Frost, and it's a little slice of heaven. I HAD to sample several flavors (there was no way around it) before I decided that Hazelnut was the winner. It was like eating a Ferrero Roche, but in ice cream form. I think I can die a happy camper after my recent excursions into food heaven. Thanks, Mare! You're the best :)

Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Outline

http://www.travelchannel.com/Places_Trips/Travel_Ideas/Road_Trips_And_National_Parks/Road_Trips_Usa/Pacific_Coast_Highway

Plans!

As I sit at my computer in a hotel room in Tucson, I start to realize that I better start planning my escapades now, otherwise I might run into logistical problems. Sure enough, next week is Bakersfield... Bakersfield isn't the idea that pops into most peoples' heads when you mention California... and rightly so. There isn't a lot to do there. What it does offer is close proximity to Monterey. Monterey will mark the start of my drive south on the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara. This, my friends, is something I have wanted to do for a long time. What a nice slice of life I'm enjoying right now. :)