Foothill Flavors 765 words Every Mother Has Her Day

By Antoinette May Herndon

Just the other day Chloe asked me where I wanted to go for Mother’s Day. Now she didn’t say it in so many words. It’s more like she laid her nose on my knee, stared up with her soulful eyes and wagged her tail.

Clearly, Chloe wanted me to go some place and take her with me. I don’t know of any dog-friendly restaurants. Do you? Tell me, please, if you do. Chloe’s 14, really up there in dog years, but she jumps straight in the air at the prospect of a bye-bye.

Be that as it may, Chloe’s earnest query set me to thinking about Mother’s Day and all that entails. Where to go? What to eat? Last year I suggested four venues:

Cozy Cabin (277 Main St., West Point. Phone: 293-7232) for breakfast. The Pickle Patch (577 St. Charles St, San Andreas; phone: 754-1978) for lunch. Tea Eras (34 Main St., Sutter Creek; phone: 267-0333) for tea. Taste (9402 Main St., Plymouth; phone: 245-3463) for dinner)

These choices still stand; they really can’t be beat. But what if Mom has been there, done that. This is—remember!--the day that Mothers get to be officially appreciated and catered to. That involves a lot more than just remembering the date (May 13). Celebrating the occasion in some predictable ho-hum sort of way is almost as bad as forgetting the day.

Sometimes if the mom in question doesn’t throw out a hint or two, the problem of where to go begins to loom large. So, to lessen the pre-holiday anxiety, I’m going to throw out a few hints.

Let’s start with breakfast.

Camps, Angels Camp’s

stylish restaurant, is at it’s very best on Sunday morning’s The stylish bistro has a clubby ambience that’s both warm and welcoming. Mom will know that she’s going to be well taken care of and so will you.

Some might say, “Breakfast is breakfast, what’s so exciting about that?” But they’d be wrong. The menu at Camp’s is full of thrilling surprises. (Yes, I really mean thrilling.) It’s hard to choose from among the delicious sounding selections, but I always find myself returning again and again to my favorite, “Our Special Eggs Benedict.” When Camp’s says special, they mean special. Think light, creamy hollandaise with blue crab served beside breakfast potatoes and a luscious array of fruit. And don’t forget that bartender Donivan Manaka mixes a mean Bloody Mary.

Camp’s is located in the Greenhorn Creek Golf Course at 611 McCauley Rd. Phone: 736-8181.

With something so elegant for breakfast, you might prefer a more casual lunch. I’m thinking Andre’s in Amador City. Andrae’s is teeny, but the view from the front deck faces out onto Highway 49. I always expect to see stagecoaches rounding the bend filled with gold barons, fancy ladies, dudes and desperados.

As fun as that is, to my mind, Andrae’s best seating is on the narrow footbridge at the back of the building. The setting is bucolic now but just imagine the gold panners of yesteryear. Currently, the babbling brook is at its best, a rushing stream surrounded by lush greenery.

Andrae’s bread is famous, so you can imagine how good the sandwiches are. My favorite is brie and roasted red tomatoes with artichoke-lemon pesto on French bread. Iced chai tea latte is

a perfect complement, and who can resist a coconut cream macaroon for dessert?

You’ll find Andrae’s a 14141 Highway 49. Phone: 267-1352.

To wrap up the day with a true flourish, what about a dinner fine enough for a Gold Rush baron? Think 19thcentury elegance transformed to 21st century comfort. Think Columbia’s City Hotel Restaurant where everything old is new again. I love the wonderful old paintings with elaborate gilt frames, handsome dark wood tables and high back chairs.

But I love the food even more. For starters, try the lobster cheesecake. The taste and texture is lusciously creamy, a perfect foil for the grilled lobster tails inside. Progress to the shrimp gazpacho. I make a darn good gazpacho myself, but the City Hotel’s is out of this world good.

Continung on, their medallions of beef is an excellent grilled filet mignon with its rich tarragon béarnaise sauce; but my absolute favorite is Fallon roast ducking, a pan seared marinated breast with raspberry and port wine sauce. It’s original and flavorsome. The City Hotel Restaurant is located at 22768 Main St. Phone: 532-1479.

I’ve got to tell you, it’ll take a lot of will power to save anything to take home for the dog. Poor Chloe, but have a great Mother’s Day!

Captions:

Pastries are a specialty at Andrae’s in Amador City.

Diane Sanchez serves a cool ice chai latte at Andrae’s in Amador City.

The view from Andrae’s in Amador City triggers fantasies of the past.

There’s always plenty of action at Camp’s in Amador City. Everything old is new again at the City Hotel Restaurant in Columbia.