This past weekend we celebrated the birthday of a close friend. The four of us have a tradition where we treat the birthday person to a meal of their choice at a restaurant of their choice. This time, M chose to spend the afternoon at the Redondo Beach Pier capping off with dinner at Tony’s which is right on the pier.
The Pier was having a sidewalk chalk drawing display. I don’t know if it was being judged but I don’t think so. There were some really creative drawings and then there were many done by children. There was also music, one being a drum circle, and bands. However, the most interesting event was the dolphin run. First we thought it was a race somewhere. There was little information on the poster except that all proceeds would go to the library. We walked around the pier, seeing people pick out their crabs, watching them die in the boiling water and then pulling them apart to eat the tasty meat. I prefer mine away from the live animal so I can forget that it was once a living creature that has a right to live.
As we walked more, we noticed many people were standing along the railing looking at the water. We looked and saw nothing except what looked like a group of blue junk floating. I went to a police officer and asked what everyone was looking at. He said the dolphin run. I looked and then said that I needed more of an explanation. He said they take the dolphins and throw them in the water from a boat and the first one to reach the beach wins. I must have looked horrified as I pictured these poor dolphins being thrown from a boat and I didn’t see any. After seeing my face, he said that they were plastic dolphins about 3 to 4 inches long and each one was bought by someone which is where the library gets its money. The blue stuff in the water were the plastic dolphins. We walked to the other side to get a better view. Watching this was almost like watching grass grow. We stood there for quite a while and then we decided it was time to eat dinner.
Luckily, we were able to get a table right next to the windows, some of which were open, and right on the ocean. In fact, for part of the time, a sea gull stood on the railing intently watching us. Three of us ordered iced tea and BK ordered a Diet Coke. Tony’s is mainly a seafood restaurant but they do have other food as well. The four of us really like seafood so this was perfect. I asked the waitress which of the fish are fresh and she said they only have fresh fish. There was an extensive seafood menu with many different choices. There were two specials. One was crab stuffed shrimp which BJ ordered. The other was lobster and shrimp linguini in a lemon garlic butter sauce which both M and BK ordered. I ordered the lightly breaded, sautéed halibut. Both BJ and I ordered rice as our side. All dinners include soup and salad which is really unusual today and they were all below $24.
First we were served bread and butter. It looked fresh but none of us ate any. Then BK, M and I had clam chowder. BJ passed on the soups. There were three choices – clam chowder, minestrone and smoked salmon chowder. We all liked the flavor and there were many, tender clams and not many potatoes which to me is always a plus. However, it was rather thin and seemed to be thickened with corn starch and little creamy type base that we are used to. BK and I had some of the most wonderful clam chowder ever in the Maritime Provinces and down the east coast so maybe we are a bit spoiled. We all declared that the soup was good but not great.
We were then served a salad consisting of various types of extremely fresh and crispy lettuce and those who ate the croutons said they were good – not excellent. The salad dressing was also fine. As the waitress brought the entrees, she tipped one of the linguini plates and spilled some of the butter sauce but not on any of us or our table. BK felt that didn’t detract from her dish. This was a plate full of linguini covered with many, many chunks of lobster and many shrimp, all of which were very good. The problem with the meal was the sauce. It didn’t have very much flavor. Both felt it was a bit tasteless and, after BK finished her meal, she saw many garlic cloves but they were whole, not crushed or diced so the flavor never permeated the sauce. Both finished their meal and really liked the seafood.
BJ had the crab stuffed shrimp – four extremely large ones. They were delicious. The stuffing was made up almost entirely of crab and then had been browned on the top. She ate two of them and took the others home for a delicious dinner the next day. My halibut was as tasty as any I have ever had. It was lightly breaded and very moist. It was a very large piece of fish and I savored every bit of it. BJ and I both had the rice and it was the kind that is often served in restaurants which I really liked it as did BJ.
I had told our waitress that we were celebrating M’s birthday and she told us that they would give her their famous chocolate mousse. When she gave us the dessert menu, BK and I decided to share a piece of Red Velvet Cake and that was a great decision. They gave us a nice size piece. The cake had 4 layers filled with cream cheese frosting and dark chocolate slabs like candy bars. It was fantastic. M’s birthday mousse came with a lit candle. Thankfully, for her, they did not send in all the waitstaff to sing. We very quietly sang and she blew out the candle. There was a lot of whipped cream on what appeared to me to be not that much mousse. Since I don’t like whipped cream, this would not have been great for me. But M does love whipped cream and BJ tasted the mousse and announced that it was very good. The best part was that it was on the house, a very nice gesture.
While we were eating, we looked out to the water and saw that some of the plastic dolphins had made it to land. After dinner we continued a walk on the pier and listened for a while to band that was playing. This was a very nice afternoon and evening. Our dinner was very good. The setting was beautiful. The company was great. What more could a person want?
Showing posts with label scenic view. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scenic view. Show all posts
Monday, August 24, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Beachcomber – Malibu
This morning I realized that I was in a rut. Wake up – eat breakfast – go to gym – eat lunch – read – eat some dinner - watch TV – go to bed. Every day, Monday through Friday, I do the same things. I realize that most people live like this and I did when I worked but my work was always exciting and different within itself. I have to have more variety so today I declared I wasn’t going to the pool. That did not upset B in the least. I wanted to go somewhere and, after reading the Westways magazine from AAA, we decided to go to Malibu for lunch. They had a wonderful write-up for The Beachcomber at Malibu Pier so, after I slowly got dressed, we were on our way.
The ride was very pleasant. We took Topanga Canyon, knowing we would then have a ways to drive on PCH which is always calming for me. The temperature was 92 in Woodland Hills and 72 in Malibu. We hit some construction on Topanga Canyon which was reminiscent of our recent journey as we waited about 10 minutes to be able to drive on the one lane road. When I drove into the parking lot, I immediately saw the handicap parking. After pulling in, I felt I should go and ask the man collecting money if I needed to pay. He told me it cost $14 and when I came back with validation, he would return $10 to me. I pulled out a $20 bill and he said he had no change and did I have correct change. I looked and showed him I had 4 single dollars and just 20s. He took the $4 and told me to forget about it. I saw the sign that said $14 for beach parking, $4 for restaurant parking. Did we look like people who were going to the beach? I think not.
To our recollection, we hadn’t ever been out on Malibu Pier. We remembered it only as being closed due to some storm and it was questionable as to whether or not it would be open again. The Beachcomber is not actually out on the pier but rather just before the pier. They have two areas to eat, one on each side of the pier. We went to the outside desk and asked for a table for two outside. The woman asked if we minded being in the sun. Well, B doesn’t like to sit in the sun because she gets too hot and I like the sun so we told her we needed some shade but not entirely in the shade. She had us walk up a few steps to a sort of deck and was going to seat us there. I immediately told her that I could not sit on the high chairs that were around the high tables. I also felt that those seats were much too far from the view of the ocean. She then did find us a table right next to the glass wind breaker, right next to the ocean. This was perfect and I wondered why she was going to sit two older women on bar chairs away from the water.
She gave us the menus and left. Then our waiter came and asked about drinks – Diet Coke for B and iced tea for me. I didn’t want to get stuck with a bottle like yesterday and wanted as many refills as I desired. As it turned out, the drinks were constantly being refilled and we never had to ask. At the table next to us, a woman didn’t know which wine she really wanted. The waiter actually brought her samples of the two wines for her to try. I thought that was a nice touch.
Now the food. B. ordered “wild mushroom and truffle mac” and I ordered a club house sandwich. When they brought out food, B. was a bit surprised because she expected more of a macaroni and cheese dish and this didn’t look like that at all. I was surprised because the person who delivered my food spilled about half of my fries and the ketchup all over the floor. None of it came on me and he swiftly cleaned it up as our waiter also quickly came over to see what happened. He asked if I wanted more fries and as I opened my mouth to say no (I had promised myself not to eat any fries so I thought it was divine intervention that put less on my plate), B. says yes she does want more. They brought me a full bowl of fries which B polished off easily. They were very good and I did eat those left on my plate. My sandwich was on toasted artisan bread. It consisted of real turkey as opposed to deli turkey, lettuce, tomato, bacon and avocado. It was very good as was the cole slaw that also came with it. I even liked the pickle. B’s meal was fantastic. I took one taste and could have eaten the entire, delicious meal. As it was, B ate ½ and took the rest home for dinner. The pasta was this curly-que kind. There were a number of different kinds of mushrooms in this magnificent light sauce which apparently was made from truffles. What a treat!
Our waiter nonchalantly put the dessert list on our table. Had he asked if we wanted dessert, I would have quickly said no. However, faced with the list, B had to order the one dessert they showed in the magazine - s’more sundae. This consists of a scoop of vanilla ice cream with four half squares of graham cracker sticking up on the side of the dish. Along one side and a little on the top was chocolate, some that hardened on the ice cream. Along another side with a little on top was marshmallow which had been fired with a torch. Then there was whipped cream on top of that. I have put a picture on Facebook. B described this dessert as not as good as it looked and over-priced at $8.99. We both felt there should be more chocolate and B thought that a place like that should have their own whipped cream, not from a can. She is a connoisseur of whipped cream. It did taste good and the ice ream was very creamy. I helped her eat it.
The setting is wonderful. The food was very good to excellent. I would skip the expensive dessert next time. After lunch we walked out on the pier where people were fishing and the waves were splashing. It was so nice. The weather was perfect. There is a Ruby’s Diner at the far end of the pier but all seating is inside. I would go back again when I need a reprieve from the daily life and want to feel like I am somewhere else. I also love to be next to the water – ocean, lake, river, pond – makes no difference. I am now revived. Maybe that’s because I am a Scorpio.
The ride was very pleasant. We took Topanga Canyon, knowing we would then have a ways to drive on PCH which is always calming for me. The temperature was 92 in Woodland Hills and 72 in Malibu. We hit some construction on Topanga Canyon which was reminiscent of our recent journey as we waited about 10 minutes to be able to drive on the one lane road. When I drove into the parking lot, I immediately saw the handicap parking. After pulling in, I felt I should go and ask the man collecting money if I needed to pay. He told me it cost $14 and when I came back with validation, he would return $10 to me. I pulled out a $20 bill and he said he had no change and did I have correct change. I looked and showed him I had 4 single dollars and just 20s. He took the $4 and told me to forget about it. I saw the sign that said $14 for beach parking, $4 for restaurant parking. Did we look like people who were going to the beach? I think not.
To our recollection, we hadn’t ever been out on Malibu Pier. We remembered it only as being closed due to some storm and it was questionable as to whether or not it would be open again. The Beachcomber is not actually out on the pier but rather just before the pier. They have two areas to eat, one on each side of the pier. We went to the outside desk and asked for a table for two outside. The woman asked if we minded being in the sun. Well, B doesn’t like to sit in the sun because she gets too hot and I like the sun so we told her we needed some shade but not entirely in the shade. She had us walk up a few steps to a sort of deck and was going to seat us there. I immediately told her that I could not sit on the high chairs that were around the high tables. I also felt that those seats were much too far from the view of the ocean. She then did find us a table right next to the glass wind breaker, right next to the ocean. This was perfect and I wondered why she was going to sit two older women on bar chairs away from the water.
She gave us the menus and left. Then our waiter came and asked about drinks – Diet Coke for B and iced tea for me. I didn’t want to get stuck with a bottle like yesterday and wanted as many refills as I desired. As it turned out, the drinks were constantly being refilled and we never had to ask. At the table next to us, a woman didn’t know which wine she really wanted. The waiter actually brought her samples of the two wines for her to try. I thought that was a nice touch.
Now the food. B. ordered “wild mushroom and truffle mac” and I ordered a club house sandwich. When they brought out food, B. was a bit surprised because she expected more of a macaroni and cheese dish and this didn’t look like that at all. I was surprised because the person who delivered my food spilled about half of my fries and the ketchup all over the floor. None of it came on me and he swiftly cleaned it up as our waiter also quickly came over to see what happened. He asked if I wanted more fries and as I opened my mouth to say no (I had promised myself not to eat any fries so I thought it was divine intervention that put less on my plate), B. says yes she does want more. They brought me a full bowl of fries which B polished off easily. They were very good and I did eat those left on my plate. My sandwich was on toasted artisan bread. It consisted of real turkey as opposed to deli turkey, lettuce, tomato, bacon and avocado. It was very good as was the cole slaw that also came with it. I even liked the pickle. B’s meal was fantastic. I took one taste and could have eaten the entire, delicious meal. As it was, B ate ½ and took the rest home for dinner. The pasta was this curly-que kind. There were a number of different kinds of mushrooms in this magnificent light sauce which apparently was made from truffles. What a treat!
Our waiter nonchalantly put the dessert list on our table. Had he asked if we wanted dessert, I would have quickly said no. However, faced with the list, B had to order the one dessert they showed in the magazine - s’more sundae. This consists of a scoop of vanilla ice cream with four half squares of graham cracker sticking up on the side of the dish. Along one side and a little on the top was chocolate, some that hardened on the ice cream. Along another side with a little on top was marshmallow which had been fired with a torch. Then there was whipped cream on top of that. I have put a picture on Facebook. B described this dessert as not as good as it looked and over-priced at $8.99. We both felt there should be more chocolate and B thought that a place like that should have their own whipped cream, not from a can. She is a connoisseur of whipped cream. It did taste good and the ice ream was very creamy. I helped her eat it.
The setting is wonderful. The food was very good to excellent. I would skip the expensive dessert next time. After lunch we walked out on the pier where people were fishing and the waves were splashing. It was so nice. The weather was perfect. There is a Ruby’s Diner at the far end of the pier but all seating is inside. I would go back again when I need a reprieve from the daily life and want to feel like I am somewhere else. I also love to be next to the water – ocean, lake, river, pond – makes no difference. I am now revived. Maybe that’s because I am a Scorpio.
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