Who doesn't love a good cinnamon mousse?

Last night I went to Sonoma Wine Garden at the top of Santa Monica Place. I'm not one to frequent restaurants in malls, but this my friend is not just any mall. It's the Santa Monica Place...how many malls do you know that have ocean views from the top floor? And this is exactly where the Sonoma Wine Garden is. Now before this post goes any farther I'm going to make a promise to you my fine readers. I, The Sunset Bandit, do solemnly promise to go back and take pictures of the patio, and of course, the ocean view, so help me God...if I have to...I mean, I guess a sunset happy hour will definitely have to be in order. 

Tonight however was in a lovely dinning room nestled in the back of the restaurant. I was with a big group of friends and this worked absolutely perfectly. You could hear yourself think, and talk, or just talk who are we kidding, it's a wine garden. (note: is that a classy version of a beer garden?). We ordered the prefixed menu. It was four courses for $35.  The food was hearty and the service was impeccable. We were never waiting for a course and our drinks were always magically full. The price was definitely worth it. 

I feel ridiculous saying it, but this iceberg lettuce wedge with caramelized walnuts, blue cheese, bacon, and tomatoes might have been my favorite course. All the flavors were perfect together. You really can't beat a fresh lettuce wedge sometimes. 

An old fashioned on the rocks. This one wasn't mine, but man does it look good. I love the one big ice cube for strong drinks like this. It melts at the perfect pace so your liquor opens up perfectly but doesn't get to watered down. 

The fries were just the amount of crispy and salty for my pallet. They had a tad of grated parmesan cheese on top that really hit a home run in my heart. 

The pumpkin ravioli was good, but not great. It was nice and pumpkiny, very smooth and velvety, but just a bit bland for my taste. I imagine if it was the fall it might have been exactly what I wanted though. Possibly with some warm cider. (just sayin'...)

The arugula pizza was the winner of the three...but the margarita was no slouch. I just loved the blend of mushrooms, arugula, and feta, it was bitter and sweet all once. The dough was nice and thin with the right amount of crisp. Not the best thin crust pizza I've ever had but definitely not to shabby either. 

I have to tell you something. I'm a bit of a liar. I named the post after this dish and alas, it was my least favorite of the night. I really, really, rrrreally wanted it to be amazing. Heck, it looked amazing, but it fell flat for me. I have two disclaimers though. 1. I thought it was going to be some sort of bread pudding, and holy smokes, do I love me some bread pudding. 2. It ended up being an apple pie-esque dessert and of all of the desserts in the world apple pie is my least favorite one of them. I should just turn in my American passport now and move to Canada. What American doesn't die for apple pie? Sadly, this one. With that said all of my dinner companions felt the same way except for one, Mac, who ate a fair share of our helpings. I think he was quite pleased that we were in fact less than pleased. He was in love. It just didn't do it for the rest of us. I'd try something else next time (for happy hour, hurray!!). 

The murals on the walls were all hilarious and kitchy, just like this one. I'd like the "gorgeous hill town without newspapers" please...

The tables are all quite pretty and the ambiance is a warm California regal. This bar opens up to three huge glass pocket doors onto the patio with an ocean view. Clearly there is a next time in the cards (wait, have I mentioned that I want to come back?). With some sort of decadent chocolate dessert and a fabulous dress with strappy sandals. Yep, that's it, a pink sunset and decadent chocolate. Do you think that's on the menu?

Salvador Dali Vacations in Florida, Who Knew?

I just got back from 17 days of traveling. It was a whirlwind of good tea, oceans, family, concerts, cooking, bike rides, beaches, bathing suits, beagles, champagne, and lots of red wine. 

As I type this I'm wearing the most comfortable pair of pink plaid pajama bottoms that I own. And by own I mean borrowed  stole from my friend Jenny. There may or may not be a Dominos pizza box sitting on my kitchen counter. I also may or may not have watched the most amazing pre-blogging romcom ever, Julie and Julia. Listen, who am I to ruin the suspense for you...I want you to use your big old imagination. It may have happened like that, it may not have. All I'm saying is that it's nice to be back home. It's also (really) nice to travel. 

I can, however, tell you what certainly did happen. I did go to The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida on one of the 17 days that I was gone. And I was blown away by it. 

The actual story of the museum itself is super interesting (if you think slightly dorky historical stories are interesting...). Basically there was this couple, the Morse's, from Ohio, who went to a Dali exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1942. They fell in love with the artwork (and each other) and decided to buy their first Dali piece later that year as an anniversary present for themselves. So began a 40 year patronage and friendship of, and with, Salvador Dali. They amassed a huge collection of his work. After a change in the tax code they decided that they needed to start a museum. Ta-da the waterfront town of St. Petersburg, Florida won out. It houses the largest collection of Dali pieces outside of Spain. 

A structure built specifically for the collection was opened in 2008. It was design by the international design firm HOK. Let me tell you. It is awesome. I know, not very eloquent, but it's true.

R and I rode our red cruiser bikes the mile and half from his mom's house to the museum. We rolled down cobblestone streets and next to gorgeous sailing yachts. We said hello to some pelicans along the way. It was grand. 

I'll let the photos speak for themselves. (Of note, there was no photography allowed in the museum itself so I took screenshots of some of my favorites). (Also of note, I should have taken a whole lot more pictures). 

R and I love bikes. Currently I have 5 bikes sitting inside of my tiny apartment. It seems excessive, but once you get into them, that's it (much like shoes...let me tell you I have a lot more than 5 pairs of shoes). These two bad boys currently live at his mom's house in St. Pete's courtesy of his lovely sister N and brother-in-law J. Thanks guys! We also love bike bells. Look for C 'n R in a club near you soon. Bike bells are totally the new cowbell. 

Helloooooooo Pelicans. 

The landscaping outside of the museum is said to be reminiscent of Dali's birthplace, Catalonia, Spain. 

One of the two glass domes. 

Reflections. 

Interior staircase 1. 

Interior staircase 2. 

Interior staircase 3.

Clearly a painting of bicycles will make my favorites list.

Dali was hugely interested in both religion and science, and the relationship between the two. This painting represents the digital pixel in painting form. From regular viewing distance you see the painted square pixels while also clearly seeing the cross and a woman looking out through it. You'll notice on the bottom left a small pixelated painted image of Abraham Lincoln. When you step back from this painting it then appears to be a large version of that small tile. It all appears to be a pixelated version of President Lincoln. What I love about this is that is all hand painted. It's classical art, modern computer art, technology, and a comment on religion in society all at once.  

Not too shabby of a view. 

This is what they call the wishing tree. At the end of your visit (and before you explore the labyrinth...yep, a real labyrinth...which honestly is more of just a walk about not a real maze, but it's still cool...I got so wrapped up in it (get it...wrapped up. heh. heh) I don't have any good pictures of it) you take off your wristband and write a wish on it. Then you tie it on to strings hanging from the tree. The tree ends up having has tons of wish streamers hanging down from it. I've never seen anything quite like it.

 | Patagonia jacket - similar | DL jeans | JustFab boots - similar | RayBan Wayfarer sunglasses |

R and I trying to look respectable.

R and I acting normal. 

well aloooooha!

Well here I am in the blogging universe. It's about time, huh? I think my 100 year old grandma might actually have a blog. When I say she is 100 I don't mean, like a hundred. I'm not using hyperbole here. She is, in fact, 100. And might secretly have a blog about being immortal. Who really knows. Let's put it this way, I wouldn't be shocked if she did. 

Which is a good segue into my thoughts on this blog. Recently I've been thinking about what I want in life and who I want to be. We're allowed to think these thoughts at 33. They are just reserved for the young(er).

If this rodeo is going to last into my 100's, I want to be surfing into the next century of Cate...not walker-ing. 

I'm going to be taking lots of photos. For fun. 

I'm going to be experimenting with new outfits and clothes. 

I'm going to be surfing.

I'm going to be snowboarding. 

I'm going to be cooking...let's hope...

I'm going to be seeing more live music.

I'm going to be getting into a lot of general mischief. 

And I'm going to be back in action Cate style. 

Bandit style.

Sunset bandit style.

Hello alter-ego. It's a pleasure to meet you.