Blog:
The View from the Gulch
Our inside scoop on all of the things we love about the Mendocino coast
The Inn has been extra blessed this year with the addition of Sous Chef Tori Menna, she made a complete package for us when we transitioned to our new Executive Chef, and we are continually impressed by her artistry…
We love enticing our guests into taking a shot at something new on the coast. We are proud to say, they did not disappoint…
I can’t help but picture garden gnomes and fairies flitting about their branches and nestling in the soft petals of the blooms.
…We had gotten a little taste of the joy that inspires the passionate enthusiasm of the dedicated mushroom forager. And we were ready for more!
We ordered the classic Stout-Braised Pot Roast, made with Covelo beef, carrots, mushrooms, fingerling potatoes and horseradish cream. Scrumptious bits of beef and vegetables in their own juices were beyond comforting on this autumn day.
Attention espresso lovers visiting Mendocino, this is the place to get the dreamy espresso, perfectly foamed latte, or frothy cappuccino. Drum roll please…
There are even a few resident Pelicans on the coast, that don’t migrate with the others. Perhaps they’ve found that their heart is Mendocino, too, just like many of us.
As I sit here and type, I find myself daydreaming about all my favorite spots and memories…
…We had been spending a leisurely day in the Anderson Valley, and this last stop of the afternoon at Navarro, one of the most classic of Mendocino wineries, was just perfect…
You know those instances when your mind is slowly turning off from the clamor of everyday worries without you even realizing it, and you begin to taste afresh how beautiful it is to simply be in the present moment?…
It was all a buzz this day particularly, it was Sunday, the famed and ever popular Paella night. Drawing in plenty of passers-through and an undisputed hands-down favorite among locals. Paella being such an amazing dish, is almost outdone by the presentation, or shall we call it a performance. Masterfully executed in front of the drooling masses gathered each Sunday. Did I say “feast for the eyes” already? Obviously not just the eyes!
…we really need to introduce you to even more wines from the winemaker behind scenes, the fellow who waves the magic wand and creates such liquid loveliness…
…Since then, I’ve made a point of regularly meandering down to the beach there to watch the sunset or sunrise and absorb the peace of the waves in the rocky little cove…
…“Lauren’s just moved to the old Buckhorn a few months ago – why don’t we go try them out in their new location?” “Ok, as long as we get to have some ice cream from Paysanne after!” It was a deal!…
…We looked at each other and laughed out loud, knowing that we were just going to have to get another…
…We asked the staff at the inn where they liked to go to hang out and relax, and here is what they had to share…
…if you read that and thought, “Wait, does a brand-spanking-new employee file mean that the Brewery Gulch Inn has a new chef?” you would be absolutely correct!…
The newest restaurant on the coast, with the best British fare on the Mendocino coast. Guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds!
…A couple of months ago, Tom had mentioned how much he loved the natural rock arches around the headlands, and out of that comment had blossomed this plan for an early morning stroll to go admire them together…
“Estrellaaaaaa...” Guy staged whispered as he walked through the office to his desk. It was lunchtime, and he was oh so subtly trying to convince me to go get tacos with him…
…this week we went back on a day off to explore the trail we had been wanting to add in to our original visit – the Caspar Uplands Trail…
I slowly blinked awake. The sound of the gently rolling waves on the shore tumbled softly through my car where I had parked just off of Caspar Beach…
“Hey! Wanna join me for dinner tonight? I’ve been hearing really good things about Mayan Fusion’s outdoor seating area, and I want to go check it out”….
…whenever we get the chance to go spend some time out along the meandering route of Highway 128, we jump at it, eager to revisit favorite spots and find something new to add to the list of places we can recommend…
…That itch to get out combined with more flexible work schedules and all the accumulated vacation time that didn’t get used last year means that people are able to book longer stays too and really settle into their time in Mendocino…
…To be honest, this “secret” access point is not really much of a secret… But still, it never fails to feel like we have insider knowledge when we pull to a stop in the dirt on the side of the road and swing our doors open to the quiet sounds of the trees around us. Yesterday was no different…
…we were still in the mood for something a little different than the normal visit-a-winery kind of experience. So we decided to switch things up a bit and spend a little time at Disco Ranch, a great little wine bar in Boonville that opened just a couple of years ago…
…sometimes even we want a little break from all the wine! So, this past weekend, we made ourselves a dinner reservation at the Albion River Inn…
…And what in the world is Moonberry? Well, as I learned the other day, Moonberry is magic…