Sunday, October 26, 2025
Breakfast in the hotel, which included potato strata as the hot dish. Patrick and I walked the wharf and saw the sea lions. We were about halfway back to shore when we saw lifeguards hurrying to dress in diving suits and then a surprising number of emergency vehicles headed toward the end of the wharf. We later learned that a few minutes after we had passed Mariani's a car had driven over the edge of the wharf. Back at the hotel we relaxed in the hot tub awhile before driving to Soquel Vineyards where we bought a case of wine at a great price ($120) and two more bottles at $50 each. Back to the hotel. Nap. Drove to dinner at Hanloh Thai (1101 Cedar Street) inside the bookstore called Bad Animal. I don't think I have ever eaten at a restaurant inside a bookstore before. We were pleasantly surprised to find that our server was again Sydney whom we had as server yesterday at The Midway. Drink: glass of Domaine Oudart Fabaccae for Patrick, glass of La Patience Rose for me. We shared mieng (four pieces, plum, ginger, shallots, peanuts, lime, toasted coconut, tossed with tamarind caramel dressing, served over nasturtium leaves, $11), roti martabak (pan-seared roti stuffed with carmelized onions, garlic, and curry-spiced yukon gold and sweet potatoes, served with cucumber relish, $19), gai tod prik khang (double-fried boneless chicken thighs marinated in coriander, fish sauce, and garlic; normally brushed with red curry but we asked for them to omit this; served with fried shallots, basil, sweet and sour sauce, and cucumbers, $31), and jasmine rice ($5). Dessert: we shared vietnamese coffee creme brulee with sweetened condensed milk ($10). The mieng was pretty to the eyes and delightful on the tongue; we had never tasted anything like it before. The entire meal was essentially perfect. Afterwards we walked to Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium to see Jacob Collier perform. It was the first time for both of us seeing him perform. This was the first time I saw someone play the guitar and piano at the same time. This was also the first time I saw someone create an improvised choir from the audience for multiple songs and for extended durations. He touchingly sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow for a 101-year-old woman in the audience. We had started to leave but then there was an encore which included Queen's We Will Rock You mixed in with other songs. Afterwards we tried to get ice cream at Penny but the line was long and not moving even after a few minutes so we abandoned and returned to the hotel. Patrick got a chocolate chip cookie from the cookie jar and I had a bite.