Last week, I was driving from the Bay Area to Davis on Interstate 80 when I spotted a cow jumping over the moon.
More specifically, what I saw was long-standing sign As for the old Milk Farm Restaurant in Dixon, after perusing reader submissions about iconic roadside attractions, we learned that this restaurant is a landmark for many travelers in the Sacramento area. When I actually saw it, I felt like I was able to glimpse a whole new side of California that I had never known before.
Last week I wrote about popular roadside attractions like Pea Soup Andersen and the Harris Ranch that feel deeply personal to Californians and remind them of old commutes and family road trips. Ta. I am very happy to read the email you sent in response and to be able to see the state’s highways and landmarks with your own eyes.
On the same trip to Davis, I followed the recommendation of one of my readers, David Hayashida, and parked at Ikeda’s house. He wrote that his favorite thing to do when traveling from Greenbrae, where he lives, to Sacramento is to stop at the country market. He recommended the crumbly Dutch apple pie, and it did not disappoint.
Here are some other lightly edited suggestions from readers:
“My family’s favorite landmark memory is the color-changing illuminated pylons at the LAX gateway. When our sons were little, as we drove down Sepulveda Boulevard, I They looked in front of the tower and played a game where they had to guess the color combination of the pillars by the time the car reached the tower.” Kathy Tyler, Santa Barbara
“Whenever I return home after exploring California on a road trip, I get excited to see the beautiful Placer County Courthouse just off Interstate 80, signaling that I’m almost home.” Jan Foster, Auburn
“One of my favorite roadside attractions is santa claus lane Between Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. This Christmas-themed district on Old Highway 1 featured a giant Santa Claus atop one building and a giant snowman atop another. There are restaurants and souvenir shops, and when I was little, riding Santa’s train that ran through the area was a must. When I used to travel with my parents, I always really enjoyed it. Although it is still called Santa Claus Lane, all traces of Christmas past are now gone. “— Jim Buster, Solvang
“When I was a kid, Schatz Bakery in Bishop was the place my dad would stop every year on vacation when we were driving back and forth to Mammoth. They made the best shepherd’s bread. , my father would ask for one loaf of sandwich bread while camping and another loaf on the way home.” Donna Witham, Idaho Falls, ID
“Who can forget the smell of garlic year-round just west of Gilroy on Highway 152?” — Barry Goldblatt, Princeton, New Jersey
“When I was a kid, driving north on the 101 through San Rafael, I saw the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin County Civic Center and thought, ‘What the heck is that?’ I remember.’ It was just something from the future. ” — Anthony J. Newton, Oro Valley, Arizona
tell me
Today we ask about love: not Who I love you, but what You love your corner of California.
Email a love letter to your California city, neighborhood, region, or the entire Golden State. We may share it in a future newsletter. You can reach the team at CAtoday@nytimes.com.
And before we leave, I have some good news.
Chef Sylvain Mishima Brackett of San Francisco’s popular Rintaro restaurant is known for incorporating a California flair and local, seasonal ingredients into traditional Japanese cuisine.
A typical New Year’s tradition at Brackett is to prepare Osechi Bento, a handmade box filled with traditional Japanese holiday dishes, for customers who pre-order. However, that custom was interrupted in 2022 when the restaurant was flooded with bento orders and Brackett was forced to close for a while.
This year, Brackett and his mom instead created a holiday feast for close friends and family, complete with drinks, a carefully selected playlist, and, of course, his signature California and Japanese cuisine.
Jessica Battilana detailed her festive meals, from soup to nuts, in a recent article for New York Times Style Magazine. The article features photographs by Philip Chan, describes the meal, the table, and its appearance, and includes a recipe for marmalade chicken, a holiday staple made by Brackett’s mother. . It’s also in Rintaro’s new cookbook.
thank you for reading. I’ll be back on Monday. Enjoy your weekend! — Soumya
PS it’s here today’s mini crossword.