Strawberry fields forever
This weekend my twin and I went down to Monterey for the annual pilgrimage to Gizdich Farm.
We met some friends and their kids. I had come prepared with trays for picking berries. Quickly we charged the fields- past the white pipe- and got down to the business of loading our trays with succulent orbs of red fruit. I explained to the kids that they had to calibrate how sweet the red ones were by sampling randomly across the rows. I don't think they believed my motivation.
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| Gizdich Ranch2007 |
After 2hours of picking everyone has mounds of ollalieberries and bright red fingers and lips. The sign in the weighing stall says "sampling is ok but grazing is prohibited", I think that we are a hair short of the forbidden fruit.
12 lbs later we decide the thighs and backs are dead, and I have a good sunburn coming up. I have a whole new respect for people who work out in the fields. I can't imagine that as my job.
We reconvene at the pie shop, sampling the dutch apple berry pie. Do you like pie? there's all different types- highlights include the apple dumpling served warm with caramel sauce. My fav's are the apple pie- piled high with apple and covered in a short flakey tender buttery crust. and the olalliebarry pie- juicy, sweet and purple.
All pie can come ala mode.
We get into a thumb wrestling match over the last strawberry-rhubarb pie. Happily I have a herculean thumb.
Cool play area with a red tractor to climb on.
My Central Texan BBQ Yelp Review
Then we stopped at the Central Texan BBQ in Castroville. It used to be a real hole in the wall with a Giant Artichoke as a landmark. Now in the new location, it's still a dive with lots of character and sawdust on the floor. The short and grizzled owner Don Elkins, appropriately topped with a cowboy hat and rearing rattlesnake greets all with amiable heckling.
" What'll it be for you missy?"
"The beef ribs please"
"How about an onion?
"No thanks"
"How about some beans?
"No thanks"
"Ah no farts for you today" With a wink and a nod, chuckling at his own joke, he slams the cleaver into the pile of meat on the counter.
As he chops your order, take a look at his hand where you'll notice he's missing fingers. Perhaps too close a call with the massive cleaver he wields? He smokes all of his own meats and makes his own sausage, and it is absolutely brilliant bbq. My favorites are the beef and pork ribs, and the sausage. If you love bbq, want to sample everything and can eat a horse the "Trail Boss" is the sampler. (You'll have leftovers)
Passing the torch to his son, the food is as good as I remember.
He hates when people don't order food, and will hassle non-ordering folk if they try to sit at the tables. He can get down right ornery when people try to split meals! Consider yourself warned...