Street Fairs and Death Traps

     Today was a day full of surprises: some good, some not so good. When I got up this morning, I had a single cup of coffee in preparation for the family breakfast at Coogie’s Beach Cafe! Warning signs appeared as we walked in the door: they’d had a full renovation of the restaurant. Sometimes change is good – in this case, why would they try to fix something that’s not broken to begin with??? The interior was very sterile and blocky, not friendly, light and cozy like it used to be. Now let’s get to the food!

     We sat down at the table and I ordered my soy mocha.

I think they forgot to add the espresso. This tasted like hot chocolate, which isn’t a bad thing unless you only had one cup of coffee in preparation for the caffeine overload.
     When we used to go here every Saturday, I’d order the chocolate chip pancakes. One of the changes they made – no more chocolate chip pancakes :(. I went for the breakfast burrito: eggs, bacon, cheese, sour cream, potatoes, guacamole and pico de gallo!
Try #1. The burrito was barely warm and already congealed. I had to send it back to be reheated (I hate sending things back. I feel like an annoyance, but if I can’t eat it, I don’t want to pay for it).
     
     When it came back, they had made a new burrito from scratch. It was pretty bad. The only things inside were massive amounts of eggs and bacon, a little bit of cheese, and…. oh wait, that’s it. I had a forkful of the eggs inside, then finished up the tortilla chips and guacamole on the outside. Hooray for breakfast…
My parents had better luck: my mom got whole wheat blueberry pancakes, and my dad got filet mignon chili. He actually had to send his back to be reheated too. What’s happened to this place???
     After my last visit EVER to Coogie’s (I’ll miss the good times – I wish they hadn’t screwed it up), we enjoyed a foggy ride up the coast.
I don’t know why I love clouds so much, but they make me happy!
     We got to our second destination, Squashed Grapes in Camarillo. I’ve been reading about this place online and they carry a lot of beer/wine making supplies.

A pretty cute little place, but I was misinformed online and thought they brewed beer on premises as well. Well, it’s a start!
     We walked outside and discovered that there was a BIG street fair going on in Old Town!
This ride was the most terrifying thing I’d ever seen: It throws the cars in a revolution while lifting them up, then dropping them Tower of Terror-style. If there’s one bolt loose, Godspeed, everyone!
     Here’s the food section:
Fried foods should not be piled this high. Don’t worry, I didn’t touch the fried donuts with whipped-cream mountains, or the fried potato chips that were glued together with cheese.
     Back to the fun, non-deadly section:
The ferris wheel could be deadly, I guess. Also, the strings on the puppets could strangle children… Hmm….
Okay, hot tubs and bungee jumping on the street: it’s just too much!
     There were no purchases made at the fair, but it was quite entertaining/frightening. After the long drive home, I dropped onto the couch to play with my dad’s new iPad while he and my mom went out for accessories. There was an Amanda Bynes marathon playing (in tribute of her “retirement”?) so I zoned out and played air hockey on the iPad while Sydney White flashed across the screen. I’m a dork – I’m okay with it.
     Dinner was reheated/refurbished Summer Corn, Bacon and Potato Chowder – a little more of everything was added in to increase the volume and make for some more leftovers.
Possibly one of the easiest, healthiest comfort foods to make – as long as you like chopping things with big knives :). 
I also had a Stockyard Oatmeal Stout while watching my DVDs of the show Extras – written/directed/acted by Ricky Gervais. Another AMAZING show! Ashley Jensen is one talented lady – LOVE her, and Ricky!
     I apologize again for another picture overdose. Tomorrow will only be pictures of work food and possibly a few friends, so I wanted to buffer you for that boredom. Enjoy your Sundays!!!
What’s your favorite breakfast joint/meal?

6 Comments

Filed under beer, camarillo, Extras, iPad, Ricky Gervais, squashed grapes, Street fair

6 Responses to Street Fairs and Death Traps

  1. Katie @ Healthy Heddleston

    The BEST place I have ever been to for breakfast was a place down in Durham called Elmo's!! It was FABULOUS!!!! My husband and I still want to go backkkkk (to live not just eat!) haha.

    Anyway, a more local place that we love is called The Inn on Coventry here in Cleveland Ohio. It's famous for it's huge pancakes and probably everything else too. It gets super packed on Sundays around church time and has a great atmosphere.

  2. Bexter

    @Katie @ Healthy Heddleston
    If you ever come out to LA, we'll go to The Griddle Cafe – pancakes the size of your torso that are stuffed with espresso and chocolate chips, or pumpkin pie batter, or anything your heart could desire! YAY PANCAKES!

  3. the actor's diet

    chocolate chip pancakes are my fave too, though your mom's blueberry wheat pancakes would probably be what i ordered. my fave place closed; it was on larchmont – cafe du village. more for proximity and the fact that we were regulars than for the food; i've yet to find a brunch place in los angeles that i'm totally ga-ga for (because i can't stand long lines!)

  4. Justin

    Mine is blueberry cobbler of course! 🙂 What's your favorite breakfast meal Becki? Chocolate chip pancakes?

  5. Bexter

    @the actor's diet
    The Griddle Cafe on Sunset is completely empty on a weekday morning – no lines unless it's Fri-Sun. Whatever type of pancake you order, ask for a single pancake – it's enough to feed a normal human for two days!

  6. Bexter

    @Justin
    I think chocolate chip pancakes are my favorite, but I do love the breakfast burritos at a small local place down the street from where I live. And breakfast isn't breakfast without some delicious coffee-drink alongside!