We decided to escape the San Joaquin Valley heat Sunday morning and head for Phil's Fish Market at Moss Landing on the Central Coast where you can get some of the best seafood in America. My favorite dish is the Cioppino and it didn't disappoint. Jill had the blackened sea scallops and they were wonderful. You can't get bad seafood at Phil's. But I was there for the Cioppino.
Among the many things I'm doing on this journey to age 60 is eating some of the best food in America. I also love the Cioppino at the Tadich Grill in San Francisco's financial district, and it would be difficult for me to pick the best between the two.
Phil's Cioppino was featured earlier in the year on the Food Network's "Throwdown With Bobby Flay" so the restaurant's reputation is taking off. (Phil's Cioppino won the Throwdown). The show has made this tiny little restaurant even busier, but they handle the crowds well. You can see video of the Throwdown by clicking here.
The beauty of getting to Phil's is that Moss Landing is situated on Highway 1 halfway between Santa Cruz and Monterey. So if you're visiting either place, the drive to Moss Landing is only about 20-25 minutes. In recent years, they replaced the one-lane bridge to Phil's so you don't have to wait for traffic coming the other way. But I kind of liked the old one-lane bridge because it increased the anticipation.
After eating, you can walk to the beach right behind Phil's and take in the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The cool air was refreshing, especially considering how hot it was in Fresno.
There's something about the ocean that puts life into perpective.
I love Phil's, but get the Cioppino in a bread bowl. . . The best part is eating the Cioppino-soaked bowl when you're done. You are absolutley gorged.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that Phil's now has a bar and the place is even more packed than it was before the "Throwdown" show. Phil's no longer is a secret.
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