A couple days back I read a post from Jeff Dowler - that guy who's picture has been on the front page of AR damn near since I started (how does he do that?). Anyway, Jeff was announcing the big marathon running this weekend in Carlsbad, CA. As luck would have it, a good friend of mine was coming out from Colorado to run the race and we wanted to get together for dinner last night. Not being that familiar with Carlsbad, I asked Jeff to recommend any places he might know about.
Jeff recommended a few, a couple he was personally acquainted with, a couple that had been recommended to him and a couple that might be popular but overrated. We ended up going to a little place on the Coast Highway called El Papagayo and it was superb. One of those funky little beachy places, small, noisy, super friendly local staff, a couple old dudes playing my era blues & rock & roll (Stones, Clapton, Hendrix) and some fine, fine food.
This tiny little dive of a kitchen turned out some perfectly done and beautifully presented lamb chops w/garlic potatoes for me, scallops w/black sesame & truffle oil crust & plantain fries for my friend and a tender poached Baso fish dish w/sweet mango relish made from mangos the cook brought in from his own tree. I won't even talk about the coconut creme brulee. Great food, great service, great atmosphere. Naturally I took credit for everything.
Thanks to ActiveRain & Jeff Dowler, a good time was had by all. It was even better since my friend picked up the tab. I'll be trekking over to the coast to visit El Papagayo again and if I see Jeff there, I'll owe him a cocktail. Thanks a million.
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