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Tiki Mana in Breckenridge, CO

9/20/2019

Tiki Break in Breck

Before Don and I headed to Breckenridge last May, I did a Google search.

It was a fun surprise to see Tiki Mana listed, in case we needed a little Tiki-Time up in the mountains.

Finding It

Don and I arrived a few days before our kids joined us. We decided to locate the place early, so we could do some celebrating with the youngin's later. They love tiki adventures, too.

We walked over from our condo and found Tiki Mana, in the lower level of a hotel. The place wasn't open, but we could see some tropical decor through the windows. The patio faced the creek and looked pleasant in the sunshine.

Memorial Day Weekend Weather

We hadn't exactly expected snow for our visit. By the time we were gathered with our kids and their spouses, we were ready for a warm escape, to a tropical environment.

Tuesday Tiki Time

We concluded the bar/restaurant was open on Tuesday afternoon. We headed over for Happy Hour, at 4.

The entrance by the creek was much more festive than entering through the hotel. There was a cute little gathering space, right inside the door.

Bright

We stepped into the main bar and dining area and I was surprised with the bright lighting. Usually my aged eyes go into shock, when I enter dimly lit, tiki bars.

On a chilly Tuesday at 4:00. I wasn't too surprised that we were the first. It gave me a chance to peek around and snap a few pics.

There were cozy booths and thatched roofs.

There were bamboo walls and plants and windows. I'm not sure I've ever been to a tiki bar that had windows.

There were lots of Aloha Girls in the art and carved faces.

And carved Polynesian masks...

Our group of 6 could have fit into this sweet booth with seaside pillows.

But we decided to sit at the bar.

I sat near the corner and shared a little bar space with this carved figure.

A local man came after a while and chatted a bit, but he was pretty dull.

Our bartender was nice and he wore a flowered shirt. But he seemed sleepy and our enthused little crowd didn't seem to wake him up.

Menus and Water

You know you're visiting a high altitude Tiki Bar, when the bartender hands you big glasses of water with your menu. He did not give us the leis.

I packed the leis, because I am always prepared with props, for dining or tiki adventures! Luckily the kids went along with my silliness.

The Tiki Gang

Only two of us were willing to brave the cold and wear a tropical shirt, for our outing.

I failed to get close ups of our tiki cocktails. Besides the colors, they weren't really all that exciting to look at. I guess I had my hopes up, because we were sitting at the bar staring at some typical tiki cups. Oh well, we did enjoy our Mai Tais and Blue Hawaiians. We had a few toasts, while flurries blew outside.

Food

There were some decent appetizers on the Happy Hour menu. We had Tiki Poppers and Coconut Shrimp, Lava Edamame and Lava Wings, for $5 each.

Tiki Memories

Our tiki time was brief and then we were off, to other things.

I'm glad we experienced a little of Mountain Tiki Experience, but mostly our fun was about being together. We will always remember that that we walked in wearing coats and took off our gloves to drink our cocktails.

Over the days, the weather got even worse, so it would have been nice to have returned for some more tropical warmth. But we weren't inspired.

Mana Tiki just was not cozy enough. It needed better music and a happier bartender... which would have brought more customers and a better vibe. Maybe Breckenridge needs to stick to the mountain theme that it does so well.

Hmm? A Yelp search says that Mana Tiki has closed. Not sure.

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Dining Houses of Breckenridge

9/20/2019

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Colorado in May

Weather was cold and sloppy when we visited Breckenridge, last May.

Luckily the pretty town had lots of cozy indoor dining options.

Of all the meals we enjoyed during our week, I was happiest with the ones in quieter settings. Especially the ones in cute, old houses!

Briar Rose Chophouse and Saloon

Don and I arrived on May 25, a day before our kids met up with us. It was the only day of the week, with sunshine predicted.

We dined that first evening at Briar Rose. It wasn't exactly a house, but it was once home to miners. It had been a boarding house for the workers at the Briar Rose Silver Mine.

Actually, I learned later that it burned down. In the 1960's they rebuilt.

Oh well... still cozy, like a house!

When we arrived at 7, the place was packed. It was good we had reservations. Although we could have killed some time in the saloon, had we needed to wait. There was a happy crowd back there, hanging around the oak bar, beneath some deer heads.

Sneaky Photos

Breckenridge is full of tourists, so I'm not sure why I was so shy about pulling out the camera. I snapped a couple low pics with the old cell phone.

Our dining room felt both homey and elegant. I was happy to see tablecloths and wine glasses and candles. I was happy with the noise level... festive chatter, but easy to converse.

After a sip of wine I was brave enough to ask our server to take our photo. It was all good from there. Rosemary sourdough bread, spinach salad with egg and bacon, two filet mignons and cheese cake for dessert! No food pics, but all good!

Happy Hour Dinners at Twist

"Comfort Food Redefined" That's the claim of the second Dining House, we enjoyed.

This sweet old house up on South Ridge Street, didn't actually start out as a house. It was built in 1881 to house the Summit County Leader newspaper. It was remodeled as a home in 1898.

We had heard great things about the Happy Hours at Twist and we ended up going two times!

A little blue sky opened up on one of our visits.

Upstairs

The first time we visited Twist, we sat upstairs with Heidi and Jamie. The upper level was much quieter than below. The second story gave us a great view of the snowy mountains.

The Happy Hour menu offered 6-dollar glasses of wine and 5, 6, 7 and 9-dollar, plate options. A very happy hour!

We came another evening, 10 minutes before Happy Hour ended. The prize window table downstairs, had just vacated. Our wonderful waiter worked with us... taking our orders at 6, but delivering as needed! Another incredible dinner off the Happy Hour menu!

Coziest of All - Hearthstone

The big, blue house on the hill welcomed us with glowing widows, on our last night all together. It was chilly and damp and we needed a warm, comfy place.

The Kaiser's House

Back in the 1880's, the Kaiser family built their home up on the hill. They owned the Kaiser Market, just down the street.

The Kaiser's sold their house in the 1940's and it became Hearthstone about 30 years ago. There are some questionable years in between.

The Kaiser home looked pretty sweet and simple back in the day.

No bold blue paint or modernized roof and windows. No stonework and no trees!

Upstairs

There were lots of inviting dining spaces, upstairs and down.

I was glad when our hostess took us up the stairs, since there was still enough light to enjoy a view.

Window Table!

We lucked out with a window table in the front of the house. The wind and drizzle outside, made the Victorian decor extra warm and comfy.

The View

The weather altered our view of the mountains, but we got to look down on some curious giant circular art, that was being installed.

We could have done some people watching if the deck had been in use. I'm sure there were people sitting out at those tables enjoying the mountain view, the day after we left town.

Happy Diners

We have no photos of our whole group and no photos of our wonderful server, Shorty. But I do have a pic of these happy (and full) diners after their meal.

Our server was wonderful. She greeted us wearing 2 pigtails and a bowtie, made with dollar bill fabric. When we questioned her nickname she assured us she was a certified midget. Which was her word, not mine. She kicked off her shoes to prove that she was 4' 10''.

Shorty was pretty delightful with our group and she was especially kind when I suddenly realized I'd left our "coupon passport booklets" at the condo. She quietly whispered that she would honor them anyway. My Harris Ranch Beef Filet suddenly tasted twice as good. And now I'm dreaming about the Garlic Sauteed Spinach and the Gruyere Rosti Potatoes!

Peaceful Lingering

The place was surprisingly quiet by 8:30. We lingered a bit before bundling up, for the cold walk back.

I peeked around at some of the old photos, near the bar. The bartender talked a little about the history of the house. She mentioned something about it once being a brothel. I looked that up later and learned that a restaurant in 1970's, had a bit of a bordello theme. Hmm?

Post Meal

We had some good meals in cozy places, during our stay. We did end up seeing the sun a couple times. And we burned off some calories, pumping the bar in the circular artwork.

But we didn't work hard enough to make the neon face smile!

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Showboat's Drive By Pie in Colorado

9/19/2019

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Pie Time in Granby, CO

There's not a whole lot to do in the little town of Granby, but you can eat pie!

In fact you don't even have to get out of your car, to buy and eat your pie!

Reaching Granby

First we had to get to Granby.

With Denver traffic, it took 2 hours to reach the town that sits right on US Highway 80. We sailed right past the Trail Riders Motel, which was in fact our destination. We had to reach Showboat's before it closed at 5:30.

Signs

It should have been easy. Granby is small. There are only about 1,500 people in town.

There were even little signs that pointed us in the right direction.

We still got a bit lost.

Down the Alley

The little white building with red trim, was just .1 miles from our motel, so we could have walked.

But who wants to walk up, to a drive in window to buy pie? That's like sitting in a lawn chair at a drive-in movie. Cheating. Plus, we were racing the clock and we ended up driving around the block before we realizing we needed to drive down the alley.

The Green Window

We hoped they hadn't closed early, since we saw no other cars. We pulled in and drove past the red window and the sign that listed pie choices and an old fashioned bell.

We stopped beside the green order window, but we didn't get to clang the bell. Sherry was at the ready, in the window.

Sherry greeted us with a "Happy Summer!" We glanced at the pie menu and decided we probably didn't need a whole pie, for 28 to 45 dollars. Luckily we didn't want cream pie. "All Cream Pies - $500" I guess Sherry doesn't make cream pies.

Sherry chatted up a storm as she readied our 2 slices for $10.00. She asked if we'd be needing any raisin bread. She offered some dining suggestions for Granby. She told us about her catering work and how she works for some very famous people.

I was a little surprised that Sherry suddenly became shy when I asked to take her picture, as she handed the pie through the window.

"No, but thanks for asking." she said. "I'll let someone else enjoy my 15 minutes of fame."

Evening Pie in the Motel

I have no photos of Sherry, the Famous Pie Maker of Granby.

But I do have photos of her slices of Killer Apple and Wild Maine Blueberry, before we ate them in our room. They were good, but they would have been better if we'd warmed them in an oven and served them on vintage china. Or maybe if we'd eaten them on a pie picnic! A drive-by pie experience needs to be completed in a festive way! I'll think that through, before our next visit.

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Original Columbia Restaurant - Tampa

9/15/2019

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Dining Adventure in Ybor City, FL

This neon sign wasn't around in 1905, but the Columbia Cafe was!

I'm so glad I can make a check on the list! I finally experienced the Original Columbia Restaurant, in the historic district of Ybor City.

Columbia, in St. Augustine, Florida

There are seven Columbia Restaurants, still owned and run by the original family.

Three years ago, Don and I didn't know that, when we dined in the Oldest City in the US.

St. Augustine is OLD and we thought this building was also.

We had a great time, even when we found out the restaurant was built in the 1980's. We vowed we would someday dine at the original location.
https://www.thebethlists.com/diverse-dining-list/columbia-in-st-augustine-florida

Early Lunch!

Last January, Don and I planned a visit, while in the Tampa area. We arrived before noon, to avoid a wait. The building took up an entire block.

Colorful Exterior!

Cuban immigrant, Casimiro Hernandez, Sr. opened a corner cafe in 1905. Workers from the nearby cigar factories, came for Cuban coffee, bean soup and Cuban sandwiches.

The humble cafe expanded over the years and now looks like a Spanish palace, with balconies, painted tile and carved doors. It is said to be the oldest restaurant in Florida and the largest Spanish style restaurant in the world. I'll take their word for it.

The beautiful tile work was evidently added much later, in the 1970's. Cesar and Adela (third generation) acquired the tiles in Seville, Spain. Some of the tiles had painted images, like the wonderful Don Quixote and windmill scene. One tiled area, was covered with a painted family tree. Six generations of Hernandez-Gonzmarts were named on the tree.

Don Quixote Dining Room

Once inside, Don and I were happy to see that we had beat the crowds. We were able to be seated in the Don Quixote Room.

Casamiro Jr. added this room in 1935, along with an elevated dance floor. This became the first dining room in Tampa to have air conditioning.

Besides a lot of Don Quixote themed decor, there was a crazy huge chandelier and a mighty fine stairway to the second level.

Menus and Cuban Bread

Our menus and bread came right away. We were each given our own big old hunk of hot Cuban bread, wrapped in paper! I buttered a piece and pulled out my handy Ford Treasury Cookbook. A nifty cookbook can enhance the dining adventure... or not.

Tony and the Book

Tony was very good humored. He offered to pose with me and the book... and Don Quixote in the background. That part was his idea!

Steak Capachina?

I was relieved that Tony was properly amused by the vintage cookbook, which featured Columbia Restaurant in 1950. Servers under the age of 40 are often hard to impress, with kooky memorabilia.

I asked if they still served the steak recipe, (with chicken livers) like they did 69 years ago. I wasn't surprised that they didn't. Tony had very expressive eyebrows, though. He lifted them dramatically, when he noticed the book's illustration.

"That's the Patio Room and the fountain! It looks like the picture on our dessert menu!"

Half and Half!

I ordered the perfect combo, with a half Cuban sandwich and a small Columbia's Original 1905 Salad. The salad was tossed at the table with Swiss and Romano cheese, slivers of ham, Spanish olives and chunks of tomato, in a dressing with garlic and Worcestershire!

My "Smashed Cuban" (as some call it) was layered with ham, salami, pork loin, Swiss, pickle and mustard. The buttered sandwich was toasted in a hot press, before serving.

Ybor Chicken

Don ordered a traditional dish from the Ybor District. His quarter baked chicken was served on yellow rice with peppers, onions, peas, tomatoes and spices. It was mouth-watering-smooth! I'm glad Don's always up for sharing.

Observing

The food was wonderful, but the activity around us was just as entertaining. There was a steady stream of casually dressed guests coming to dine.

The diners in shorts and tee shirts, looked just a bit out of place, with the formal linens and impeccably dressed staff. I wondered about a few nicely dressed older men, who seemed to be keeping an eye on things.

Were any of those men, the 4th generation owners? They talked with each other and nodded and gestured... as proper as secret service men. Mostly, they added an intriguing, formal feel, that helped me pretend we were in the 1950's.. back in the day of the cookbook.

El Patio

After a bit, I just had to take my cookbook into the Patio Room to compare the illustration. In the center of the space, I spotted the curiously odd, Love and Dolphins sculpture from the illustration... with the bare feet in the air!

Over by the wall, I noticed a couple more, dapper-looking gentlemen "on duty". I decided to head over and let my cookbook start a conversation. Suddenly both were studying the pages of the vintage book and laughing. "Where did you find this?" "How old is this?" The man with the purple tie was so delighted that he offered to give Don and me a tour.

On Tour!

Our gracious host introduced himself as Cesar. He asked if we had about 30 minutes, because there was so much to show us. If we'd been at a resort somewhere, I would have thought he was trying to sell us a timeshare.

But Cesar was just genuinely excited to share some history. He started by looking again at the illustration in our 70- year old cookbook. Then he took us to the upper level of El Patio.

The Skylight

The book's brief description mentioned a sliding glass roof, on the patio. Cesar mentioned something about his dad's involvement with the sliding roof construction.

He told us the courtyard had been added in 1937, but the unpredictable weather led to the addition of a retractable roof. He talked briefly about the sculpture and how it was made in Italy, to replicate a statue found in the ruins of Pompeii. That was interesting, but it didn't tell me anything about why that dolphin was wrapped around that upside down body!

Wandering Upstairs

The place was a confusing maze, with numerous stairways and halls. We were told there is a total of 15 dining rooms, which can seat more than 1,700.

The upstairs was quieter, with most of the private rooms, not in use. We moved from room to room and I wished that I had a notebook to take notes of all I learned.

There was so much to remember. I think this room was used as a casino at one time. I believe it was called the Siboney Room. It opened around 1955, with tapestries and glossy painted tiles. The stained glass was over 300 years old. I loved the little faces!

Stairs and Tiles

We came down another set of stairs. The marble railing and colorful tile work was stunning. Every piece of the building had a story. Marble from Italy... tiles from Cuba.

As we headed down, I wondered if the servers used these stairs to carry their trays from the kitchen, to the diners above.

I don't want to think about what it would feel like to go tumbling down those beautiful steps... or the noise of a tray of Mojitos crashing down!

At the base of the stairs, I studied the shiny puzzle-work, beneath the rails.

Unlike most of the orderly tile decor, this display was like a crazy quilt, of mosaic pieces!

Old Saloon

Business was hopping by the time we got back downstairs, but Cesar ushered us on through. A couple of servers jumped out of our way, to let us pass into the bar area. Did they think we were celebs or high rollers, getting a special tour? Not the way we were dressed.

I wish I'd gotten a better picture of the bar, which was a beauty. Cesar pointed out the original brass foot rail and reminded us that it had been a standing bar, only. No stools and no women... back in the day. He laughed about those days long ago, when Ybor City was in the middle of swamp land.

"Leaving late in the dark of night, workers had to worry about alligators..."

Hard to imagine!

And More Tile!

I could have studied the patterns all day. I have no idea how many different designs can be spotted throughout the restaurant.

Just on the bar floor, there were numerous styles. Cesar pointed out how worn the tiles looked in the heavy traffic areas.

Beautiful Doors

I'm a big fan of interesting doors and there were so many. I didn't get the stories behind these, but I loved comparing them.

The cozy Red Room, was filled up with casual diners, by 12:30.

This whimsical door was my favorite. It reminded me of something in a Dr. Seuss book.

We walked through the door and I peered into another room, just off to the right...

Earlier, I peeked in the Red Room and snapped a photo. There were no diners yet, but the tables were properly set. I noticed a curious illuminated display of bottles and figurines, built right into the wall.

Without diners, it was easier to picture a different era, when people once dressed up in suits and pearls to dine. It made me want to return at night, to see if the crowds looked different.

Old Kitchen

As we wound our way back to the kitchen, we headed down hallways, with photo displays. This image showed the original and much smaller, kitchen. It's now another dining room.

Kitchen Tour!

I was thrilled to see the new kitchen, with all its good smells and cheery activity. We didn't just peek in the door. Cesar guided us right on in and gave us a tour, while the kitchen bustled around us. He even introduced us to a few, who had stopped to greet him.

Again, I was confused as to how we earned this tour. I never spoke of a blog... I just showed my cookbook. I kept thinking of the movie, "Waiting For Guffman" and hoping Cesar wouldn't suddenly realize we were NOT the important people he expected that day.

Much to See

We wandered around, dodging a few servers with food. The cooks and staff seemed very efficient as they worked. I noticed a few playful interactions. We surprised one exiting worker when Cesar opened the door of the walk-in freezer. "Well hello!" She laughed, as we almost collided.

No one seemed a bit bothered that we were intruding. I started to feel comfortable enough that I was tempted to grab myself a little flan dessert... or more bread!I

For 90 years, Le Segunda Bakery has provided the bread for Columbia. We learned how the Palmetto leaf was cooked into the bread, to allow the release of steam... or something. Cesar said it also created a seam, that helped the bread open easily, for buttering. I can relate to that!

History in the Hall

We stopped to study some family photos in another hallway. I was excited to get some of the family history straightened out. It was becoming clear that Cesar was family, but I wasn't sure where he fit in. I'm not sure why I didn't just ask.

Cesar pointed to one of the men in the photo and said it was his father, who had been a concert violinist.

The handsome young man in the ruffles was Cesar Gonzmart. I had seen his name in the family tree, but I was a little confused. So our gracious guide Cesar, was the son of the Cesar (in ruffles) who married Adela (the granddaughter of Casimiro Senior). I so hope I'm getting this right, but I believe the elder Cesar and Adela, first traveled with their music, before taking over the restaurant in the fifties. Family businesses are complicated.

Off We Go

We eventually ended up near the front door and Cesar shook our hands and thanked us so much for coming. Our tour had been much longer than 30 minutes and we had enjoyed every minute.

The Family Tree

I took a photo of the family tree before we headed to the car and I studied it as we headed out of town.

I was still confused. Where was our friend Cesar (Jr), on the tree? After doing some searching, I concluded our kind guide, was the first son of Cesar Gonzmart, before he married Adela. Gonzmart's other sons are listed on the tree. Or maybe I am totally wrong.

Maybe Don and I will need to return for another visit. This time we can dress up and drink Sangria and take in one of the evening Flamenco shows... and ask a few more questions!

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Lunch at Leddy's Porch, in Florida

9/13/2019

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The Florida House Inn, in Fernandina Beach

Last January, Don and I explored this sweet Amelia Island town, for the first time. We turned the corner and spotted a charming 162-year-old inn! On the porch, there were signs that got me pretty excited... a mermaid, a rooster and a chalkboard that let me know the place was open!

I love a porch! This inn had a great one, plus a restaurant with porch in its name!

History of the Inn

This rambling inn, is in the heart of the historic district. It was built by David Yulee, as a boarding house for railroad workers, in 1857.

Yulee had a dream to build a railroad, but the Civil War changed things. The building ended up housing Union soldiers and the railroad didn't get built.

Leddy's Porch

Leddy's is the restaurant's name, but it's also the name of family who bought the inn, after the war.

Fernandino had become a bustling seaport town and visitors like the Vanderbilts and Carnegies built homes, nearby.

Major and Mrs. Leddy ran the inn, to house the guests of those rich folks. Were the homes owned by the rich, really too small for guests? Maybe they housed their b-list guests, at the inn.

Mermaid Bar... And Famous Guests

When we came upon the inn, there weren't any diners on the porch. We headed inside and passed through the Mermaid Bar.

I doubt the Leddy Family had any mermaid decor, when they once ran the inn. Their snooty guests might not have approved.

There were some famous guests who might have enjoyed a whimsical mermaid or two. Laurel and Hardy, were once hotel guests and and they were always in good humor... at least in the movies.

Ulysses S. Grant was another of the inn's famous guests. I guess the comedy duo never bumped into Grant, since the general died before the actors were born. But there's another famous inn guest, who did lived during Grant's time. Henry Ford was a generation younger, but they could have crossed paths and shared a drink! Possible, but unlikely.

Dining Room

Don and I were seated in the Southern Dining Room. We could see a few mermaids through a window in the wall.

The walls were covered with barn red paint and colorful artwork, but I really loved the old wooden floors and tables best.

Evidently, in the 1990's the restaurant offered family style dining, just like the boarding house days.

That would have been fun, sitting around a large table sharing Sunday Supper, with other diners.

HUGE Mahi Sandwich!

Maybe it's just as well that we weren't seated with others. I'm not sure they would have wanted to see Don tackle his monster sandwich! He loved it! I loved his jalapeno coleslaw. Luckily he had a ton to share.

Comfort Combo!

I was in heaven with my grilled, pimento cheese and tomato sandwich, made with homemade bread. The potato soup was scrumptious as well.

Just the right amount for me.

The Back Porch

After eating, Don and I wandered out back and found the porches that possibly inspired the restaurant's name.

This was a little piece of heaven on a Sunday afternoon, in January! There were families lingering over meals, near the fountain and up on the porch near the tree. What a tree! I loved the way the centuries old oak, was leaning into the inn. They looked like old friends, whispering secrets about all the crazy past and present guests!

Must Come Back!

Don and I set off happy. Not only did we have a nice and comfy meal, in a charming southern town. We were able to add one more historic hotel to our list. I hope to someday have The Florida House Inn , written up in my 90-Notable Nights blog!

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Tiki Mana in Breckenridge, CO

Dining Houses of Breckenridge

Showboat's Drive By Pie in Colorado

Original Columbia Restaurant - Tampa

Lunch at Leddy's Porch, in Florida

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