By Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Sardine Factory Ice Swan

The Sardine Factory in Monterey is my new favorite restaurant. Not because it served the best pacific swordfish that I’ve ever tasted and not because it’s located in seaside Monterey, but because they made me feel special. My husband and I were enjoying a night out by ourselves, sans children, shirley temples and chicken nuggets.

Owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino have raised this dining establishment to legendary status, serving movie stars and famous sports figures, yet they made my husband and I feel like we were the VIP’s of the evening. From the sommelier, who helped us select the 2004 Calera Mills Vineyard Pinot Noir, to our waiter and the ever vigilant bus boy, we were welcomed into the upscale Northern California restaurant.

Our evening began in the Sardine Factory Conservatory, surrounded by lush greenery in the dead of winter, where we were seated beneath a glass-domed roof. We enjoyed the abalone bisque as much as President Reagan did at his inaugural dinner in Washington D.C. From there we were brought a refreshing blackberry sorbet served as an Intermezzo before the entree. Once again, it’s the special touches that will be remembered as the palate cleanser was served in a swan-shaped ice sculpture.

Next, we moved on to the broiled king salmon with crab meat served with a chive risotto in a tarragon beurre blanc sauce. I selected the swordfish with sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts in a champagne vinaigrette sauce. While I am a seafood lover, sometime swordfish can be dry. This center-cut piece was very moist. I also like the fact that the restaurant only serves fish approved from the “sustainable seafood” guide.

As this was a special occasion, we splurged on the warm chocolate lava cake with tahitian vanilla bean cream and fresh raspberries. Our waiter recommended that we try the “Flaming Sardine” a coffee and licorice liquor drink that is as tasty as it is showy. It was actually fun to have our dining neighbors oohing and ahhing as the waiter made the flames leap into the air, tableside.

TIP: Savvy diners order the prix-fix menu, served nightly from 5-6:30 p.m. This budget-friendly menu offers the abalone bisque or caesar salad and a choice of petite filet mignon, duck and pappardelle pasta or the scampi for a reasonable $19.95 per person. The restaurant also offers a children’s menu with kid-friendly pizza, mac and cheese and mini hamburgers.

Sardine Factory Reservations (831) 373-3775

701 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940

A new pre-game routine

Here’s a sight I hope never to see again: Mother Bear’s with an empty parking lot. I guess that’s what we get for not calling ahead to see if the campus classic would be open over Christmas break — but then we assumed the mere fact we were coming to Bloomington, Indiana, for a basketball game meant they had a table ready.

Having your pizza and breadsticks expectations ripped away from you is a stunner — and so is the fact that you now have to wander Bloomington seeking something else that will go well with popcorn and a Coke at Assembly Hall. The mall is, of course, crammed with restaurant choices — and all of them the same names I could have picked less than a mile from my house. I had my IU sweatshirt. I had my striped warm-up pants. I had my leather Indiana University jacket, my red and white tennis shoes and my tickets for H 29, 108.

I was not going to ruin the pre-game good luck routine by grabbing dinner any place short of a local restaurant.

Thank goodness Scholars Inn Bakehouse was open, or I might have missed the game in that mood. Yes, in the grand scheme of things, it’s a soup, salad and sandwich shop, but with a decor the owners at Panera Bread could only dream of copying. Instead of cramming strangers shoulder to shoulder and calling it cozy, Bakehouse offers plenty of personal space in the leather chairs and high-backed booths. The double-sided fireplace adds that “welcome home” touch, and more than two people can actually enjoy it at one time.

Coach Tom Crean

The menu is handwritten on a chalk board, making you think for a split second you’ve wandered into Lush, something no doubt the college students can follow easily. Alumni stand out by the way we grab for the printed menus, the better to see them up close and interpret what in the world goes into Hangover Special. (For the record, that’s two fried eggs on a mixture of mushrooms, onions, bacon, red peppers, seasoned home fries and Monterey Jack cheese. I’d rather be drunk.)

The gal at the cash register was eager to show us their new sandwiches, but of course when you didn’t know the place existed five minutes earlier, everything is new. The cinnamon carrot soup of the day sounded great if they hadn’t ruined it with carrots, so in the end I ordered a boring bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. I almost talked my husband into a Smokin’ BLT with habanero cilantro yogurt, served on jalapeno cheddar toast, but he saw right through that as my way of trying to snarf his popcorn while he spent the next two hours in the men’s restroom.

If there’s a downside to Bakehouse, it’s that the restaurant doesn’t appear to be especially lucky as a pre-game ritual. The Hoosiers had their lunch handed to them, 55 – 42, the lowest point total in history for our home floor. I might have enjoyed it more if I’d ordered that BLT. Or shown up drunk.

Malik Story

Scholars Inn Bakehouse

3002 East Third Street

Bloomington, IN

(812) 323-7070

Photographer credits: Jetalone, Julie Sturgeon

Tomkats Grille in Old Koloa Town, Kauai (Jennifer Miner)

One of my favorite things to do in the Hawaiian islands (besides the snorkeling, the hiking, the soaking up of the sun and mai tais) is finding relatively unknown restaurants and trying them out. You know it’s probably a good bet, for example, when you see a crowd of locals waiting to get in a restaurant that the concierge at your fancy resort never thought to recommend. I had just such a happy experience at Tomkats Grille, in the Poipu resort area’s Old Koloa Town, Kauai.

Old Koloa Town was Hawaii’s first real (read: successful) sugar mill. Today, however, it’s a humble Hawaiian village, dwarfed in popularity by the shopping area of Poipu Beach. There are only two real restaurants here; a pizzeria, and Tomkats Grille. Now, pizza’s fine any time of the year as far as I’m concerned, but if you’re on vacation in Hawaii, why not eat at a real Hawaiian joint? Tomkats fits the bill nicely.

This is NOT a health food restaurant by any stretch. The big plates of burgers, fish sandwiches and fries are

Mahi Mahi Sandwich at Tomkats Grille in Kauai, Hawaii (Jennifer Miner)

all very satisfying, and not for dieters. I made the mistake of ordering a Caesar salad appetizer, which frankly was subpar. The specialties here definitely run towards the greasy and satisfying. The size and selection of beer here surprised me; stouts, lagers, local and Maui micro brews…a beer goes down great after a morning in the sun, and we enjoyed ours immensely.

Old Koloa Town is a handy pitstop on the way back to Poipu from, say, a hike in Waimea Canyon or another great hike in Kauai. Hungry children will be very, very happy with Tomkats Grille, and their paper and crayon creations often end up hanging on the wall. Daily specials vary, of course, but when I was there the macadamia nut-crusted ahi and the fresh caught mahi mahi sandwich were both really great, and generously proportioned. One of my kids gobbled up every last bit of her fish and chips – made with locally caught ono – and said they were “better than the fish sticks at home.” I should hope so! The relaxed, casual atmosphere at Tomkats Grille perfectly epitomizes small-town Hawaiian restaurants, and we all enjoyed our midday meal there.

Tomkats Grill

5404 Koloa Rd,

Old Koloa Town, Kauai

Tam's in Pacifica

During the holidays, it is a tradition for lots of families to have a big Chinese dinner at least once – with many relatives and extended family all around the table.

Along the Pacific Coast, south of San Francisco is a great spot for just this occasion – at Tam’s Restaurant in Pacifica. Here you can celebrate the holidays or have great Chinese food along the ocean. The west coast sunsets are beautiful here!

Months ago I discovered Tam’s Restaurant is perfect for the big family meal now or any time. Whenever I am there, even if I go for a dinner out with my husband – there are always groups of loud and rowdy families enjoying a great time together.

House Chow Fun

They have mai tai drinks that remind you of Hawaii and their house dishes never fail. We have had lots of plates that have been hits and misses – such as their house chow fun – always a big thumbs up – though their breaded orange chicken has been a miss.

I love the honey walnut prawn and their chow mein can’t be beat. If you need a warm family restaurant or just a nice spot for some yummy Chinese food – Tam’s is a great location – and has friendly wait staff. They have lots of parking and are conveniently located between the Pacific Ocean and Highway One.

A great Chinese meal

494 Manor Plaza
Pacifica, CA 94044
(650) 359-7575

Open for Lunch and Dinner