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This week of the Savory Road we continue on our West Coast Road Trip with two stops. The first stop, Eureka. A port city way in the north on California. Once a big logging port, now a beautiful historic city with lovely Victorian mansions. We took a trip back in time and headed to the 126 year old Samoa Cookhouse for dinner. Still serving dinner as they did for over a hundred years to loggers and their families, all family style.
The next day we stopped right over the Oregon border to Brookings. This was a quick lunch stop we choose Superfly Martini Bar and Restaurant. With great eats and a delicious Muddled Strawberry martini to start our journey up Oregon’s rugged coast.
Radio Copy:
Hi it’s Jeff Baker, our west coast trip continues here on the Savory Road. Here in southern California there’s an abundance of healthy foods, so we should all be eating them, right? Yeah, whatever. When I escape this Quinoa and Kombucha culture, I waste no time indulging in the food that the rest of the country eats and I try and justify these binges in the name of education. Like I did in Eureka – when I got to learn about northern California’s logging industry while eating like a lumberjack.
We took the short drive west to Samoa Island – the site of a former sawmill and last surviving cookhouse in the west. Built in 1890, the Samoa cookhouse and museum is decorated with artifacts from a time when men were men and trees were scared. Today, servers deliver platters of traditional American food that is enjoyed family style at long communal tables – so as you enjoy such fare as roast beef and mashed potatoes, you can chat with folks at your table about the efficiencies of an M-tooth saw compared to a perforated Lance-tooth saw, or recollect a workplace where men had titles such as Faller, Bucker, and River Pig.
The next morning, we continued north toward the border. Too many road-trippers get their first impression of Oregon via interstate-5, which pales in comparison to the coastal majesty of highway 101. There, the harbor city of Brookings welcomed us with its hills of green and huge uniquely shaped rocks wading in the blue surf. I could have stopped anyplace and just taken in the beauty, but there was food to consume and too little time. We grabbed the smartphone to find a local spot for lunch and the moment the list popped up it was very clear where we’d have lunch during our short time in this Norman Rockwellesque town – The SuperFly Martini Bar and Grill. One reviewer wrote “It’s located in the Bi-Mart parking lot, in case you need to pick up some ammo after dinner.”
The place looked like a former Sizzler or Love’s barbecue updated with modern and hip decor – yet – by no means pretentious. Inside, was not your typical martini crowd – the sun-bathed dining room was packed with working folks, and seniors enjoying a day with their grandkids. Given this atmosphere, it was “interesting” to see an active bar. There one can order not only get local beers, but specialty cocktails made with vodka they distill themselves.
We sat down and perused the menu. Seeings how Donna and I had been partaking in more and more chew effort in downtown LAs emerging food culture, I felt obligated to try one of Superfly’s au courant menu items – like the Steamed Obsidian Mussels with Chorizo, or the Angry Prawns – grilled with spicy sauce and jasmine rice. Our waiter suggested we order the menu item most popular with “guests.” This would be the Chicken Bacon Taters. I made like a guest and ordered them. When they arrived I took one whiff and realized I’d made the right decision – Warm flour tortillas stuffed with French Fries, chopped bacon, and grilled chicken, all smathered with creamy chipotle sauce.
Superfly originated as a distillery started by Ryan Webster, a California transplant and legacy of a restaurant family. He brought his dream of making potato vodka to Brookings, distilled for a while, then opened this bar and grill. Webster is so passionate about service, he didn’t’ install a phone because he didn’t want a bartender to get distracted while mixing a cocktail.
Did I mention that I ordered a martini? How can you visit a martini bar and not? They make them all year long with seasonal fruit and on our visit Muddled strawberry was the specialty. My sugar rimmed glass rived at the table and I handed my car keys to Chris. Okay, Donna helped me drink it. If we’d gotten here a few hours earlier we could have ordered breakfast along with a Superfly Bloody or Man-Mosa – both served in pint glasses.
I know some of you will hear this, hop in your car, and start driving to the northwest. But if you can’t, why not venture out locally? – The sausage and beer festival happens August 20 and 21 at Highland Springs Resort and will feature several local breweries. Or get your self downtown and check out the LA Taco Festival being held at Grand Park on Saturday August 20th.
For more information – visit our web site – there you can see photos and listen to podcasts where Donna and I share more about our adventures – that’s Savoryroad.com. Thanks for coming along – I’m Jeff Baker
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Eureka, CA