A Veg Escapade on the California Coast

My hubby and I spent our 13-year anniversary at The Stanford Inn by the Sea, an incredibly beautiful place in a breathtaking location, on a pristinely kept property overlooking the Pacific Ocean and tucked into the woods. What more could you ask for?

Well, plenty more, it seems, because not only is the hotel vegetarian-owned, but the award-winning restaurant, The Ravens, is worthy of its many accolades. It is vegetarian and vegan, leaning more toward the latter.

The breakfasts do include eggs and dairy products, along with a bevy of vegan dishes, and the delectable dinners are ALL VEGAN. The menu is extensive, and the dishes are creative but familiar.

For dinner the first night, we enjoyed an appetizer of Japanese sushi, a salad of fennel and mixed greens, and two delicious entrees: one a ravioli in a wonderful cream sauce and the other was a vegetable-filled phyllo wrap. Though there were more decadent items on the menu, for dessert, we each enjoyed a frozen treat: David had the special cashew-based nutmeg ice cream in a delicious anise-flavored tuile, and I had the selection of sorbets. (I got the ice cream the second night, because it was so delicious!)

For dinner the second night, the prie fixe Mushroom dinner special was the route we took, and it was just incredible. Each course was more flavorful than the last, and we had the pleasure of thanking the chef in person.

Breakfasts consisted of pancakes, waffles, scrambles, muffins, and roasted potatoes, and everything was divine, including the views and the service.

I can't recommend this place enough. If it didn't rain virtually every moment we were there, we would have hiked and canoed, but as it were, we settled for shopping in town (which was quite adventuresome of us, considering the wind, which caused the rain to hit us horizontally) as well as an hour-long massage. Just walking the grounds is enjoyable enough, and the gift shop is packed with veg- and animal-friendly items and books.

But that's not all, you can bring your pooch, too! Though kitties abound for those of us who crave kitty love (and one sweet girl, Callie slept in our room one night), the place is kept so clean, you'd never know this was a retreat for human AND non-human animals. The rooms are just so lovely, including wood-burning fireplaces that just increase the romantic feel of The Stanford Inn.

A delightful way to spend a special weekend. Book your reservation today! :) And tell them Compassionate Cooks sent you!