2014 Food Blog Roundup

Pop the champagne and blow your horn - it's the end of 2014! Besides Auld Lang Syne, it's the time of year for "best of" lists. Here's the highlights from the food I blogged about in and out of Santa Cruz last year:

Best burrito - De La Hacienda Tacqueria

This one has it all - a generous size, delicious ingredients, and a salsa that won't quit. All for an affordable price. Nestled along Laurel Street, across from the high school, don't blink or you might miss this Mexican gem.

Best place for a pint - Half Moon Bay Brewery

There's a reason we live on the west coast. The sun, the waves, the mellow vibes. So, why not with a cold one? HMB Brewery has a great atmosphere to enjoy your meal inside or out. But better out.

Best breakfast - Zachary's

If Michelangelo was a short order cook, the Mike's Mess would be his masterpiece. Everything there is tasty. There's a reason that this place is a Santa Cruz institution.

Best Asian - The Panda Inn

There were many Asian places I went to over the last year - Thai, Chinese, Japanese. But out of all of them, I'm rated the Panda Inn in Aptos the highest. Everyone who goes loves that place. You should go too!

Best overall dish out of Santa Cruz - Rangoli's Sweet & Spicy Cauliflower

No other dish I enjoyed this year topped this. It was a surprise to find something so flavorful with of cauliflower! Of course, you need to like a bit of spiciness, but if you do, it pays off big time. The texture, the color, the flavor... I will be making special trips to San Jose for this one.

Best overall dish in Santa Cruz - Scalloppine do Pollo alla Modo Mia at Lago Di Como

Mmm, this was the best dinner I had last year at a restaurant. I never heard about Lago Di Como on Portorla Drive before then, but now I'll never forget it. Treat yourself to this and the rest of their wonderful menu. The burrata appetizer is heavenly as well.

Where would I go for my last meal?

Okay, so this is a bit controversial, because it's not in Santa Cruz, but my pick for best meal (all courses) for 2014 would actually be in South Lake Tahoe at Mont Bleu. The meal I had at the Ciera Steakhouse blew the doors off my culinary car.

It was a bit pricey, but so worth it. From the French Onion Soup starter to the Chocolate Molten Cake dessert, I can not say enough about this dinner. I still dream about the Chicken Mediterranean entree I had. This steakhouse is now on my "must-stop" list when in Tahoe.

So that's it! Forty-nine blogs about where I ate in 2014. It's been fun and I will continue to write up more into the new year. Please send me ideas for places you want to hear about. We live in a great city with lots of great food choices. Bon appetit!

Casa Rosita's

Who likes Mexican food? A show of "manos", por favor. Aha, I knew it. You can't escape it here in California, but why would you want to? Melty cheese, spicy salsa, succulent meats all served with beans and rice. Sign me up!

Casa Rosita's (Yelp)

There are a lot of Mexican spots around town, so what makes this place any different? Let's find out. We got there on a Friday night and we had to wait about 5-10 minutes for a table. That is a good sign.

They have a small bar with about four bar-stools if you are thirsty, but they only serve beer and wine. Ever have a Beer-rita?

We were seated in the corner and chips and salsa were promptly delivered. They have two kids: pico de gallo and a spicy red. The red didn't kick in at first, but had a slow burn if you like that sort of thing. Not too hot, but I'd advise against guzzling it by the gallon.

She went with the #1 combo of a Beef Taco and Steak Enchilada with rice and beans ($11.50). It arrived hot with lots of cheese on top. She liked how the meat was cooked and the little bit of guacamole on the side. A star of the plate was the enchilada sauce, which had just the right amount of chili flavor.

I went a la carte (that's how I roll) with a Spinach Enchilada, Chicken Tamale and 1/2 beans for $11. I didn't miss the rice and I got some avocado slices on my tamale. Mmm... just looking at this picture now as I'm writing up this review makes me want to drive down there again tonight. Everything in this meal  was delicious. The tamale had a nice light cheese sauce over it that was a good contrast to the slightly spicy enchilada sauce. Magnifico!

This place is a bit far for me, being out on Portola Drive (right behind Cole's BBQ). But if you want a homey, feel-good Mexican meal, you know where to go. Tell 'em Juan sent you!

Scores out of 10:
Food: 8
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Value for price: 8
Overall: 7.75

Main Street Burger - Los Gatos

Happy holidays everybody! What a great time of year... for eating! Let's jump right into this yummy burger place in Los Gatos (just over the hill from you, Spencer!).

Main Street Burger

Right at the start of downtown, this place is right next to Willow Street Pizza. Besides burgers, they have chicken, fish tacos, hot dogs, salads, onion rings and ice cream too. Even breakfast eats too. A real American cafe.

You order at the counter and they give you a buzzer, so no table service. That's okay with me! You can get a soda at the million-choice soda machine. You can watch the cooks make your food. You can sit at the high tables by the windows and watch the world go by.

I got the Nirvana Burger ($10) with cheddar, bacon-onion jam, lettuce, tomato and Sriracha mayo on an egg bun. As you can see, I couldn't wait to take a picture. But where's the pickle? They didn't ask us how we wanted our burgers cooked, but this one came out medium and was good. The bacon-onion jam is so delish. I could eat a whole bowl of that stuff. I would be sick, but it'd be worth it.

The Idaho Fries ($2.75) were super yummy - skinny like I like them. Crunchy outside, soft inside. Very tasty with the mayo side we got to dip them in. Burger and fries heaven!

She got the Side Burger ($5), which was supposed to be smaller, but it was close to the size I got. Maybe the bun wasn't as large? Either way, she got her burger fix sedated with this - a great $5 deal.

I'm calling this place's burgers as good as In-And-Out, but with more choices for toppings. They have Bacon & Bleu cheese, Mushrooms & Swiss and even the fabled "heart attack on a plate" - two grilled cheese sandwiches as buns for a double-cheeseburger. Eat at your own risk!!

Scores out of 10:
Food: 8
Service: n/a (but they did give us a dip for free)
Atmosphere: 7
Value for price: 7
Overall: A solid 7.25

Panda Express

Time for lunch! It was a cold and rainy day this week, when my brother Mike and I wondered where to fill our bellies after a meeting at work.

"I'm not too hungry."

"Something fast..."

"Something close."

How about the panda?

Panda website

I know, I know... why are you reviewing a chain restaurant? Well, it's not the Santa Cruz "No Chains" Food Blog and sometimes you can't plan out for a better place. And when quickness is a factor, it's nice to go to a cafeteria-style eatery. Grab a tray, pick your food, pay and eat!

On a side note, let me join the mournful outcry of many in NorCal with the signing of our Panda to the Red Sox. The Giants won't be the same without you, Pablo! Okay, now back to the food...

Stepping up to the counter, your first choice at the P.Express is for here or to go. Then you choose rice or noodles or steamed veggies. Then how many entrees do you want - two ($6.70) or three ($8.20). I guess you can ask for all of your choices to be crammed into a bowl, but Mike and I wanted plates. Better to see what you are eating! Oh and there's two kinds of rice - white or brown. My dream of quinoa is still waiting.

Mike got the chow mein noodles, Beijing Beef and SweetFire Chicken. The noodles were good with chopped cabbage and onions mixed in. Not too greasy. The beef was cooked well and had red peppers and onions in a sweet and sour sauce. The chicken is a new flavor with pineapple chunks and peppers too. Mikey likes it hot! He also got two side sauces: teriyaki and sweet and sour because you can never have enough sauce.

I got the veggies, Eggplant Tofu and String Bean Chicken. The steamed veggies looked kind of plain, so I got some teriyaki sauce for them too. The chicken was good with no grisly pieces and the beans were not soggy at all. It was cooked in a ginger-soy sauce. The highlight for me was the eggplant and tofu in a sweet and sour sauce. There could have been more tofu, but the eggplant was not mushy and it absorbed the sauce excellently. I would get that again.

Mike and I both like to eat and for under $10, we both were satisfied with our lunch. Another reason we chose this place was because GameStop is next door. Hey, we needed to update our Christmas lists!

Scores out of 10:
Food: 6
Service: n/a
Atmosphere: 5 (think mall food court)
Value for price: 7
Overall: 6

Buttercup Pantry (Placerville, CA)

On the way to South Lake Tahoe (from Santa Cruz) is a great place to stop and grab some grub. It's in Placerville (formerly Hangtown) on Highway 50 called Buttercup Pantry.

Yelp webpage for Buttercup

We stopped there for breakfast and found the place very charming. Many old-time trinkets adorn the walls and their bakery display was crazy. Pies, cakes, apple turnovers - all mouth-watering. (I didn't get a picture to show you, dear readers, but please take my word for it. Or check out the pics on Yelp.) You can wait to be seated or eat at the counter like we did. That way you can watch the cooks do their thing.

They have old vending machines in the lobby and fun signs all around from days gone by. A big plus for kids and cultural historians. You get a real sense of an country store at this place. Let's see if their food is a good as the decor.

She wanted biscuits and gravy and they came with sausage patties, eggs and potatoes ($9.89). She switched the taters for fresh sliced to'maters. She liked the thick, creamy gravy, but the sausage was sort of plain. That is a crime in the world of sausage! At least the portions were generous.

I ordered the Ham and Eggs ($10.95) and kept the home fries and biscuits & gravy. I was thinking the ham would be diced, but I got a ham steak as you can see. Not disappointed! It was flavorful and slightly salty, but not too much. Just right with the savory, fried potatoes and eggs. The coffee was strong and hot and the servers were friendly.

Breakfast was good! Next time, we will come by later to enjoy their massive salad and soup bar. And maybe some dessert too! It's very close to the freeway exit and is worth a stop. So much better than Denny's!

Scores out of 10:
Food: 7
Atmosphere: 8 homey!
Service: 8
Value for price: 7
Overall: 7.5