Saturday morning. We're up at 4.30 am. The 9 hour time difference taking longer to adjust to than usual. This may be due to a rough and sleepless flight back. Somewhere over Butte the plane shook so much the water jumped out of my glass. On board there was a cathedral choir returning to England from a tour of California. As the plane lurched they started to sing. A psalm amidst the turbulence might have seemed like a good idea to some passengers but was rather too much like a scene from 'Airplane' for my liking.
It goes without saying that Bob and Sophie think that getting up early and haring round the garden in the pitch dark is a wonderful start to their day. We head off to the bakers at 5.00 am. The cakes on display somewhat less 'muscular' than the example seen on sale in Carmel.
Ladies of the night, recreational pharmaceutical users and late returning clubbers with more tattoos than is perhaps wise hang out in the Pacific Beach Denny's at four in the morning. They are joined for a while by a (comparatively) staid European couple who are adjusting to California time. By the third day the waitress has reserved us a booth by the window and is treating us as regulars.
'The Font' orders oatmeal and fresh fruit. Fresh fruit in Denny's means sliced bananas. Angus discovers the Sticky Bun Pancake Breakfast. Cinnamon sauce and cream cheese icing drizzled over two new fluffy buttermilk pancakes with glazed pecans cooked inside. Hash browns, a couple of eggs and bacon positioned alluringly alongside.
An article in the New York Times about our little touch of paradise. The cafe in the little market town marked out as one of the best in France. The effusive writer has clearly never tasted their coffee. How strange to be reading about it sitting under the neon lights of a California diner.
Not every Sunday morning is the same.
Some California golf courses could be in Scotland although the weather is altogether better.
16 comments:
Dude...you missed your opportunity and could have been hanging out with David all this time and perhaps have been included as a 'colorful' character in his culinary memoir. Bummer. Or is it possible you just may be in the book???
Carmel and Pacific Beach...quite a contrast. I read that article in the Times online as well as some of the comments, which would seem to indicate that it might result in a boost in tourism. Keep an eye on the Café to see if people are waiting in line!
Befitting your new “dude” persona, I want to imagine that’s you posing on the skateboard beside the beach.
Denny’s? But at 4:00 a.m. the options would be very slim.
And you didn't opt for the Peanut Butter Cup Pancake Breakfast?
Denny's? Really?
Scots are brave.
I always look forward to a proper American breakfast (involving pancakes).
Cheers, Gail.
What a contrast between the beautiful mouth watering French confections you normally show us, and the messy, hastily thrown together Red Velvet cake ! I hope you had a few photos on your phone to show whoever produced that, how things are done in France?
Did you dine at the Tree House in Carmel?
Sadly no. When not at the hotel we ate at Grasings, Anton and Michel and Flying Fish. Angus noted that the British Pound has fallen sharply against the dollar !
Must admit that the American cakes taste very naughty !
Is this where we mention haggis?
How could you possibly beat the Sticky Bun pancake offering ?
Pacific Beach to Pebble Beach is an even greater contrast.
If he writes about a black and white and very shaggy dog that lies under a table and snores we'll know.
I have to admit, I'm a little troubled by the use of the word "new" to describe the pancakes.
Dennys breakfast looks like it would keep you going all day.
The waitress will remember you for life. You didn't try to skip out on the bill, pull a knife or steal the tip from the previous customer.
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