Monterey and Carmel

It is amazing how many great places are within a 2-3 hour drive of Merced.  This weekend we escaped the heat of the Valley by heading to Monterey and Carmel.  We started off Saturday morning with a stop at the Merced Farmers Market for grapes to snack on in the car.  Of course we had to stop at La Super Michoacana for breakfast smoothies. 

We drove for a little over 2 hours, through Los Banos, San Juan Bautista, and Castroville, where there are artichokes growing as far as the eye can see.  We entered the coastal summer fog and high temperatures in the mid-60s which were a welcome change from the 105 expected in Merced.  We checked into the Victorian Inn, our hotel within walking distance of Cannery Row and headed to lunch outside at the Trailside Cafe where they welcome pets with water and treats and have heaters hanging from the arbors.  Then it was off to introduce Kodi and Ili to the Pacific Ocean (well, Monterey Bay, anyway). 

A stop at the Ghirardelli shop brought hot chocolate and 3 bags of delicious chocolate squares.  Pierce Ranch Vineyards has a tasting room in Monterey, so we stopped in for a liesurely tasting of their wines made from Argentinian grapes.  So delicious that we bought a mixed case.  We had a terrific dinner at the Duck Club Grill with a lovely view of the water from our table.  Sunday brought breakfast at The Monterey Crepe Company followed by a 4 mile walk on the trail along the coast from Monterey, past Pacific Grove.  We saw beautiful views, seals, and sea otters and the huskies smelled more smells than they have in a very long time.

Sunday evening we enjoyed a good dinner and great drinks at Hula's Island Grill and Tiki Room.  Sean was so happy to see Painkillers on the menu, not just because he has been experiencing back pain, but because he first tried them in the US Virgin Islands and they became his favorite drink.  Monday we were up early for a breakfast of hot chocolate, yogurt with fruit & granola, and beignets at the Trailside Cafe with the dogs.  Then we headed a few miles south to Carmel-by-the-Sea, most commonly known as Carmel.  We took a walk along a beautiful trail in the Mission Trail Nature Preserve near the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo which was founded in 1771.

There were lovely shops all over downtown Carmel, but we focused on tasting and selecting some delicious cheeses, bread and olives at The Cheese Shop.  Then we headed to Carmel Beach for one last look at the ocean before heading back to the San Joaquin Valley.  We even let the huskies dip their feet in the Pacific.

On the way home we stopped at the Casa de Fruta in Santa Clara County.  It is a pretty tacky place, with a miniature train for rides through the grounds, but they had some delicious local fruits and nuts that paired nicely with our bread and cheese from Carmel.  It was a tasty picnic lunch and a good end to our trip.

Move-in Day at UC Merced

Welcome to the 1,400 plus new students moving in and starting classes this week at UC Merced, who bring our campus population past 5,000 students for the first time! I remember how exciting it was to start my undergraduate studies.  A bunch of staff and faculty volunteered to help with move-in this morning I was assigned to hand out keys as students checked in to The Summits residence halls.  While I was busy on campus, Sean took Ili in to get her stitches removed.  She is healing well from her surgery.  When he picked me up, naturally we had to stop at La Super Michocana for some aguas frescas.

This year's Common Read Project book is Popul Vuh, which I have been reading in preparation for the beginning of the school year.  Luckily I have friends on campus who are in the loop, as Heather told me about the Common Read book, and Belinda told me where I could pick up a free copy.  It is providing interesting food for thought as I prepare to co-teach a Freshman Success course.  I am looking forward to heading back into the classroom, if only for 1 hour per week.

Visitor from Home and Agua Fresca

When we told friends and family we were moving to California they assured us they would visit when work or other travel brought them to the area.  The trouble is, work doesn't really bring a person to Merced.  But it might just bring them near Merced.  Case in point, my friend Mao whose good friend lives in Sacramento. She awesomely drove down Highway 99 to visit this evening.  We gave her a tour of campus, had dinner at Houa Khong, and purchased delicious aguas frescas at La Super Michoacana Paleteria & Neveria.  The owner gave us samples of rose petal, tequila, and strawberry/cinnamon ice creams.  So fabulously freshly made and delicious!  It is one of our favorite places in Merced and will be one spot we take all visitors.  Then we walked down Main Street for the Market on Main where there were fantastic farmers, bakers, and others selling treats and gifts.

We passed by Merced's Multicultural Arts Center, which was saved from closing by generous, creative donations from the community, and Mao told us about the symbolism in the tiles on the side of the building, so we had to pose for a picture.  What a fun visit from a good friend!  More visitors from home are welcome anytime!

Market on Main
Thursdays from 6-9 pm, August 3-October 13

La Super Michocana Palateria & Neveria
http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-super-michoacana-merced
661 16th Street, Merced, CA

Forestiere Underground Gardens and Fresno-area Wineries

Heather, Joe, Sean and I headed out on a day trip to Fresno.  Since our destinations were on the north side of the city, it only took about 45 minutes to arrive at our first stop: Forestiere Underground Gardens.  This spot is on the National Register of Historic Places.  One man, when his dream of growing citrus became difficult due to the hardpan soil on the acreage he had purchased, decided to build a subterranean garden and living area.  It was an interesting tour and well worth the trip.  (As a bonus there is an In-N-Out Burger right across the street, so when the 11:00 tour ended at 12:00 we were set for lunch.)

After lunch we set off to Engelmann Cellars for a bit of wine tasting.  The guy working the tasting room just started his bachelor's degree in Enology at Fresno State.  When the group that arrived after us was done he sat out in the patio area with us and told us about the winery he plans to start on his family's grape growing farm when he finishes.  We will definitely add his winery to our list when it opens up in a few years.  It will be located in Lodi where there are many wineries to visit.  We bought a few bottles of wine each (their 2009 Summer Quartet white was a particular favorite) and plan to return for one of their many outdoor events.

We only planned to visit the one winery, but our guide at Engelmann Cellars suggested we stop at LoMac Winery which is owned by the brother of the owner of Engelmann's.  While the folks were nice and we enjoyed chatting with them, the wines were not our favorites (though I did like the label of their dessert wine).  The LoMac folks recommended we stop at Milla Vineyards and we are very glad they did as these wines turned out to be some of our favorites!  Plus they make an amazing vanilla limoncello that I fell madly in love with.  Based on our purchases I would say we must schedule a party at our place soon.

Merced Animal Medical Center

We feel fortunate to have found a home to rent that welcomed our dogs and has a large, shady, fenced-in backyard.  The huskies love to roam around and sniff and wrestle.  Last weekend, however, we were introduced to the perils of letting them have free reign of the yard.  Having no sense of what is and isn't actually food, Ili decided to eat this:

We are not positive what it is, but it appears to be some sort of fruit pit.  A really expensive fruit pit.  It is small enough to have gotten down her throat, but too big to have passed through her system.  It got lodged in her stomach opening, causing her much pain and preventing her from eating.  The folks at the Merced Animal Medical Center were very kind and helpful and Ili's surgery to remove the thing was completed at 1:30 am, with a call from the veterinarian to assure us that she would be fine.  They are open 24 hours, are affiliated with the University Pet Resort, where we take the huskies to be kenneled, and both offer a 10% Catspots discount for members of UC Merced Staff Assembly.  We are grateful they are so professional and competent.  Now Ili, shaved belly, stitches and all, is healing comfortably at home.

Merced Animal Medical Center
3765 East Yosemite Avenue
Merced, CA 95340
209-383-0434

Yang's and De Angelo's

Sean drives me to work a few days a week so he can have the car to get to his chiropractor (R. Bryant Owens at Holistic Xchange - great guy).  This afternoon he surprised me by stopping at Yang's Produce beforehand to pick up some strawberries, saving us the trip on our way home.  We stop at Yang's, a farmstand on McKee Road at least 1-2 times per week to stock up on fruits and vegetables in season.  They have the best heirloom tomatoes and cherry tomatoes I have honestly ever tasted.  So fabulous in a caprese salad!  The family that owns the stand and raises the produce are friendly and kind.  Sean never used to like strawberries, but this spring when we moved here I would bring home 3 baskets after work and then receive a text from him the next day requesting that I stop and pick up more because he had eaten them all.  The summer strawberries are great, but we are already looking forward to next year's spring harvest because they are the sweetest little red strawberries in the world.

My friend Heather, who started the same day I did at UC Merced as the university's Director of Alumni Affairs, had the splendid idea of inviting a group of folks out to dinner at De Angelo's this evening after work.  It was so great to meet others who work in different parts of the university.  There was a fun mix of people from Merced and other parts of California, and some from out of state.  The food was good and the company was great.  We plan to make our meetings a regular occurrence.

The names of these two establishments also highlight one of the things I really love about the Merced area.  Though the city's population is only 80,000, there is such a great racial and ethnic mix.  The food and cultural celebrations are two ways we have already celebrated this wonderful variety.

Yang's Produce Stand
McKee Rd. and Alexander Ave., Merced

De Angelo's Restaurant
2000 E Child Avenue, Merced

Summer Weather in the Valley

As expected, morning and evening are the best times to spend outside here in Merced (unless, I have heard, you have a pool).  We are fortunate to have a very shady backyard at our rental home due to a large number of mature trees, which is somewhat of a rarity here  We've been assured that this summer has been uncharacteristically cool and we shouldn't get used to it.  The only triple digit run we had was 4th of July weekend, which was a bit hot for my taste.  Of course the old saying about it being a dry heat is very true.  A little shade and a breeze and 95 degrees doesn't actually feel that hot.

We do try and keep the huskies indoors during the heat of the day as much as possible, but I sit outside with them in the mornings on the weekends and in the evenings most nights of the week.  Ili likes to lay in the grass or the cedar chips:

While Kodi, ever the protector, can't help but constantly sweep the fence perimeter:

Merced County Certified Farmer's Market

Saturday mornings are farmer's market mornings when we're in town.  The Merced Certified Farmer's Market has multiple locations on multiple days, but Saturdays fit best into our schedule.  The location on 19th & N downtown is open on Saturdays from 7 to 12.  Merced Farmer's Market link  This morning's purchases included yukon gold potatoes, peaches, arugula, butter lettuce, sweet corn, and rosemary & olive bread.  One of my favorite farms has the most delicious fresh figs and I was happy to hear there will be a second harvest starting next week.  The myriad opportunities to purchase fresh produce in the Merced area mean we are eating healthy, fresh, locally grown food for every meal.  And, as much as I love and miss the St. Paul farmer's market, it's fun to have this view while I shop:

Houa Khong Restaurant

As if the editors not only personalized their magazine but also predicted my future, this month's issue of Saveur magazine featured an article on the food of the San Joaquin Valley, "the most productive agricultural region in the world".  Featured in the article was a small, "bare-bones" Laotian restaurant called Houa Khong.  We ventured there this evening with some friends from UC Merced.

Having come from the Twin Cities, which has the largest population of people of Hmong descent in the United States, I have developed a taste for Southeast Asian cuisine.  Merced County has the highest concentration of people of Hmong descent in the U.S., and I hoped this demographic fact would equate to tasty restaurants.  So far, the Southeast Asian restaurants of Merced have not disappointed.

The chicken larb was flavorful and the Thai-style papaya salad was perfectly spicy and reminded me of a trip to Hmong Town in St. Paul I took with my friend Mao last winter.  Deliciously crunchy and cool.  Perfect for the hot valley weather.

While paying my share of the bill at the register I chatted with our waiter who imparted his culinary knowledge of the subtle differences among the Southeast Asian cuisines as well as the Laotian names for the Thai and Vietnamese dishes I was familiar with from St. Paul.  When I inquired whether he was aware that the restaurant had been featured in a national magazine, he asked whether I had written the article.  I sadly told him I had not, but promised to bring him a copy of the article which he plans to hang on the wall.

What Merced restaurants may lack in trendiness, they definitely make up for in pride and personal attention.  Hearing this young man's pride in his family's business and lament over loss of business due to the relocation of the hospital and major construction on the main road leading to the restaurant made me want to spread the word about this gem of a place.

Houa Khong Restaurant
85 East Street, Merced
209-722-5541

About this blog

Sean and I moved to Merced, California on May 1, 2011. When interacting with folks around town who hear that we moved from the Twin Cities, the most common response from locals is, "But why Merced?" While my career was the primary reason for our move (I work at UC Merced), we are excited by so many of the opportunities this area has to offer.  In these first few posts I plan to highlight some of the activities, roadtrips, restaurants and markets we have already found in our first three months in the valley, but I will also be updating our new finds as they happen.