So, my birthday is coming up in March, and it's a big one. FORTY! How can that be? Rather than sink into a fug of depression, I decided to take the bull by the horns and celebrate with a trip. Katie and I have been dreaming of traveling together for ages, and late one night I got an email about a retreat in Carmel, California. It combined creative writing, painting, yoga, hot springs, hikes, and beautiful meals on a cliffside property overlooking the Pacific. Um, hello: what's not to like? It was organized by Darling magazine. I've long admired Darling's aesthetic, their no-retouching policy, and most important, their daring mission statement:
In a bold move (definitely not my style), I booked two spots that night. I just knew in my gut I wanted to be there. When I checked the next morning, it had already sold out.
We flew into San Francisco and drove straight to my personal mecca, Tartine Bakery. It was every bit as gloriously and deliciously boho as I'd imagined. And no, we didn't run into Elisabeth Prueitt or Chad Robertson. Alas.
Whoa, these panini were incredible. We ate our weight in bread and cheese, but man, was it ever good. Our favorite was the one with sharp sheep cheese, toasted almonds, lemon and sage. Mmm.
The famous Lemon Meringue Cake. I've had a tattered photocopy of this recipe in my "to make" pile for 15 years. I guess in my heart I wanted to taste the real deal. It was even more scrumptious than I'd hoped.
After braving the twisty and steep (so steep!) roads of San Francisco and drooling over the incredible architecture, it was time to drive down through the mountains and along the coast to Carmel....
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