Brews, Burgers and Beaches (Part 1)
Greetings, Readers!
For my birthday weekend this year I decided to do something most Los Angeles residents forget to do from time to time: leave Los Angeles.
I’ve been around this state quite a bit, but there are still plenty of spots that I want to visit. Hearst Castle has always been one of them. Nestled on a hill along the Central Coast, Hearst Castle was the modest home of William Randolph Hearst, the famed newspaper man.
“Modest”.
The kind of “Modesty” that is 60,645 square feet for the main house.
My first experience with the property was many years ago on a return trip from Big Sur where I noticed signs along the freeway that assured me that I wasn’t high, I actually might be seeing Zebras running along the property.
From the property itself to the main house and the guest cabins, Hearst Castle is a sight to be seen, especially if you’re a resident of California.
So how would I match a visit to a ridiculous mansion? Obviously by pairing it with a ridiculous sandwich.
Pasilla Pepperjack Burger
In nearby Cambria, there is a restaurant called Linn’s Restaurant, associated with a nearby fruit farm run by the same family. It’s a hot spot in this small village, and a name known throughout the area.
Settling down into this quaint eatery on Cambria’s main road with a Hoppy Poppy IPA from nearby Figueroa Mountain brewery, I perused the menu while trying to keep my eyes from the assortment of pies on the dessert page.
The Pasilla Pepperjack Burger stood out not only because of its use of bacon and Pasilla peppers, but also because the patty was made with Hearst Ranch grass-fed beef and glazed with Linn’s Apple Butter.
The beef patty was incredible. Full of flavor, juicy, savory. Every bite was incredible, and I can easily say it ranks in the top levels of burgerdom for me. The pepperjack cheese was thoroughly melted and added a spice kick that shone through the black pepper and savory flavor of the beef. The bun held together until the end and really tied the whole sandwich together.
The Pasilla peppers added a bit of smoky flavor along with the smoky and savory bacon (also a delicious high point), which was piled high on top of this amazing sandwich.
Pair this guy with a Pale ale or IPA. You’d need some bright flavors to shine through the savory/spicy flavors of this burger. Hoppy Poppy was a great partner.
Honestly, this burger was worth the stop here at Linn’s, but if you get the chance there are plenty of other amazing options on the menu. Especially the desserts with their signature olallieberry pie (a cross between a raspberry and blackberry).
Sea Otter Overload
Finishing off this day of tourism and sandwiching, we spent the evening along the coast at a overly adorable motel called the Sea Otter Inn. Seriously, if your grandmother had an obsession with sea otters and owned a seaside motel, this is exactly what it would look like.
So obviously, it was awesome.
The sunset on the beach was also a must see in this small seaside village.
Sadly, despite the zebras, sea lions, and a number of other wild animals in the area, we didn’t sea any sea otters. Of course I felt ripped off, but if that’s the only downside to this trip, I think we did pretty well.
Next week, I’ll continue with another fantastic sandwich from the Central Valley of California at a very well known location and a place I’ve long wanted to visit.
What could it be?
NOTHING, BUT…DANGER.
Pasilla Pepperjack Burger
***** Stars
Linn’s Restaurant
2277 Main Street
Cambria, CA 93428
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