Sweet Spot - Santa Cruz

Sweet Spot indeed.

Ice cream is not something I buy a ton of, because I would probably consume a half gallon in a matter of days. Plus, its more fun to stop in at a quaint shop to grab a cone with friends and family. AJ's family came across a cute ice cream shop, called the Sweet Spot. Only a couple blocks from where they were staying, it made a convenient place to grab coffee every morning, and ice cream in the afternoon.

Brownie batter and oreo mint.

AJ loves ice cream, and went for the two scoops, oreo mint and brownie batter. The oreo mint was refreshing, with nice bits of chocolate cookie and cream goodness mixed in. The cloying brownie batter tasted more like a cookie dough batter with chunks of brownie mixed in. I would skip the scoop of brownie batter and double up on the oreo mint.

Mexican Cocoa

I was a in a chocolate kind of mood and decided to go with the mexican cocoa. The cinnamon notes were nice with the milk chocolate ice cream. I was pleasantly surpised when I bit into a chocolate covered almond, which were interspersed throughout!

Chocolate malt - this thing was ginormous!

I am the walrus, goo goo gjoo.

Jeremy ordered up the "largest chocolate malt you can make". Boy do these guys know how to follow directions! The ice cream was perfectly blended, remaining smooth and creamy, yet drinkable.

Bottom Line: The Sweet Spot has all your ice cream needs covered, and they do it with a smile.

The Sweet Spot

827 Water St

Santa Cruz, CA

La Barrenada - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Beach

AJ's family came to visit this past week. They stayed in Santa Cruz, giving us an excuse to head to the beach! While it was a tad too breezy to lay out on the sand, we did enjoy walking down the boardwalk. We stopped at La Barrenda, a taqueria and seafood joint, for lunch. I had yet to try fish tacos since I arrived in California, and knew I would be able to satisfy that craving at La Barrenda!

Outside La Barrenda

Order at the counter

The restaurant is a casual eatery, and food is ordered at the counter. The walls were brightly painted, adding to the festive atmosphere. There are a plethora of options, ranging from chicken tacos to seafood soup. A variety of beers and sodas are offered, as well as margaritas. Dishes are brought to the table by the friendly staff.

Fish tacos

I ordered two fish tacos a la carte. If you order the platter they come with rice and beans. After I placed my order I was a little worried about whether the fish would be fried. I prefer my fish sans batter, so that I can taste the freshness of the flavors. These tacos were exactly what I wanted. The tilapia tasted like it had been caught that day. The light and flaky fish is served in chunks on two corn tortillas with lettuce, cilantro, and a red sauce. The red sauce was deliciously spicy and refreshing. I could taste the onions, garlic, and peppers. A fresh squeeze of lime juice and you're good to go.

Bean burrito

AJ stuck to his vegetarian diet and ordered up the supreme vegetarian burrito. This burrito is filled with rice, pinto beans, guacamole, and sour cream. While nothing special, the burrito was fresh and certainly filled up his empty stomach.

Jeremy is excited for his enchiladas.

Enchiladas with rice and beans.

Heather and Jeremy shared the enchilada platter served with rice and beans. The fare was much better than the burgers and fried food on the boardwalk. Don't get me wrong there is a place for fried dough in my diet, but when I'm at the beach I tend to crave seafood. The prices weren't bad either.

A margarita to complete the meal.

Nothing like a cold margarita to finish the meal. The staff even sent an extra glass filled with the extra margarita. How's that for service?

La Barrenada (by the boardwalk)

Santa Cruz, CA