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Concord Taco Trail
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Submitted by Kathy Condon Journalist and Travel Writer www.PalmSpringsInsiderGuide.com
Why would I drive 450 miles from Palm Springs to explore Concord, California? The answer is I have never been there.
So let’s see what we can uncover about this town 46 miles from Napa Valley and 32 miles from San Francisco. It’s an easy drive, or you can take Bart there. Am I glad I took the journey? Absolutely.
Now I want to share with you my adventures in this community that unfolds as you slow down and take time to be seduced by its beauty. If you love Mexican food, you will be delighted you came to the area. Visit Concord recently received the State of California’s Top Marketing Award for its Taco Trail. The Trail was developed by five hearty souls who took up the challenge and ate at all places on the map. As of my visit, there were 39 stops, including respites at a few locations, in case you need to stop and have a refreshing drink between your samples of this local cuisine. All the restaurants are independently owned, and some stops include mobile venues.
My stop was at Pancho Villa. It has been remodeled with a grey/black and white industrial theme. I enjoyed the soft music while I drank a Pacifica waiting for my mixed fajitas. While I didn’t opt for tacos, I can attest that the fajitas were outstanding and arrived steaming hot. I will go back there on my next visit.
First Impression of Concord
Okay, I am a desert rat (That is what we call those of us who live in the desert year-round.), but the apparent preservation of aged trees is very noticeable. I don’t know if I have ever been to an American city with so many tree-lined streets. Add the preservation of 100 years plus Spanish architecture, and you start getting a sense of why this city has such an alluring ambiance. My hotel for my three-day stay was the Concord Hilton. I couldn’t have been happier with Visit Concord’s choice of accommodations to host me. Most of the hotel has been remodeled. My room not only was roomy with a kingsized bed, but I have to admit the lounge chair at one end, with a great view, was the perfect place to sip a glass of wine after a day of exploring. In addition, the Hilton is located directly across from the relatively new The Veranda, a shopping center and mall.
With the morning sun shining brightly, I headed out to explore. I parked my car and started walking to the 2.5-acre Todos Santos Plaza. Honestly, I stopped dead in my tracks. What lay before me was a scene reminding me of a fairyland. As I entered through the arch, flowering plants, a Spanish three-tier water fountain, and an expansive grass area spread out before me.
Formerly the area was called Salvio Pacheco Plaza. Pacheco donated the land, stipulating it would remain a community gathering place forever. Fortunately, the stipulation has been honored, and the Plaza recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. I’m not the only one who thinks this is a special place. The American Planning Council has named it one of three great places in California. With coffee in hand and pastry from Please turn to next page...
one of the more famous local bakeries, Alpine Pastry, I found a bench and observed the scene before me. Children screamed with delight as they played on the jungle gym playground while parents sat under one of the trees providing shade from the intense Concord sun.
It was time to plan my day, so I pulled out the Concord walking map tour of historic places. I immediately wished my granddaughter was along so we could find the places together as we explored. Since I was alone, I went to a few locations out of the 28 delineated. I found the architecture of the Bibber House, built in 1912, to be exquisite Victorian style. Owned by two generations, it is now a non-profit, and the wood paneling and majestic staircase make anyone feel special as they walk through the door.
Exploring Shopping
One would not often spend much time talking about a shopping center and mall, but I can’t help myself. Adjacent to an older mall, The Willows, designers devised a plan that embraces retail and a special events area, making The Veranda accessible and appealing to all family members. This reimagined mix-use mall is worth a stop.
Wander the grounds, sit by the pond’s cooling air, and let the fountains mesmerize you as you eat gelato from a nearby ice cream shop. Children can wear off their extra energy on the playground near the event venue. Still warm? The LUXE Cinema and IMAX may be the place to watch a movie you have never seen.
Dining Opportunities Abound
Concord is a highly diverse community, and its dining cuisine reflects this diversity. I have already established there are a plethora of Mexican restaurants. Still, Italian cuisine takes center stage at the Doppio Zero, located in The Veranda. With an expansive patio and comfortable dining chairs under dark blue umbrellas, it is the perfect place to slow down, relax, listen to the soft music vibes in the distance and sip some bubbly. My review of my entree, oh my! Opting for lasagna since any cook will attest it takes a lot of effort to make in our kitchens. There was no need for a doggie bag, and as I think about it, I wish I could have this savory, bursting-with-flavor meal again.
Years ago, Cinnaholic was featured on Shark Tank. While a proposed deal fell through, the owners have made their gourmet cinnamon rolls a franchise with small storefronts across the nation. What makes them unique? They are 100% vegan and have over 20 different frostings. When you walk in, you select your frosting and a decadent topping. I ordered one topped with regular cinnamon roll frosting and added a white peach topping. Since I am not a vegetarian, I was a bit hesitant, but after the first bite, I had no reason even to question the wisdom of such a delectable pastry. While the Bay Leaf has your regular breakfast fare, the ambiance makes it worthy of a breakfast stop. An early morning breakfast found me seated on a patio surrounded by a lush landscape along a tree-lined street and chirping birds. A couple
sitting nearby chattered about how much there was to see and do in the area. From what I experienced, I couldn’t agree more.
The Arts are Flourishing
Recognizing artists and art’s role in everyday life, Visit Concord came up with the slogan “Creative Concord.” It launched a month-long calendar filled with creative ways to showcase the arts throughout the community. Nine largescale murals were commissioned to grace blank city building walls. Many of them are now completed, so keep your eyes open as you journey throughout this community.
As I mentioned earlier, Todos Santos Plaza is a community gathering place. Concerts are held regularly there, and my sense is Concord is the place to visit if you want to hear good jazz music. Recently Head West Market Place, think Etsy in person, brought artists together, enabling them to showcase their products to residents and visitors in this beautiful space. Check the Concord Pavilion’s schedule. This 12,500seat amphitheater, designed by Frank Gehry, is one of the largest venues in Northern California. Frankly, I cannot think of a better way to end a day of exploring, sitting out under the dark, star-filled sky, surrounded by rolling hills dotted with oak trees, and listening to someone like Dirks Bentley or the Backstreet Boys, both of whom are scheduled this summer.
With time getting short, I was already regretting I did not have more time to spend in the area. I decided to head out to check out some of the surrounding wineries. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered a number of the wineries were closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. However, I have no regrets searching them out, for the beauty of the area seemed to unfold around every bend I made in the winding roads. There are more than enough wineries for wine enthusiasts to spend five days exploring the area.
I am back home in Palm Springs, and residents have taken notice of my social media posts. They are asking me lots of questions. It is obvious I have aroused interest in this community that so many have previously passed by on their way to other places. Now armed with the knowledge I have gained about Concord, I do plan to go back. Not only do I have more things to see there, but my sense is also this thriving community will have even more things to explore by the time I return.to be a wonderful reprieve from the outside world.
DorWood Distillery
Tucked away in an alley off Industrial Way is the family-owned DorWood Distillery. When you walk in the door, Jay, one of the owners, will greet you with a broad smile. The homey tasting room provides the perfect backdrop for you to learn about the distilling process.
Jay methodically takes you through the distilling process. Jay beams as he shows off the new distillery system, which will triple the number of liquors they can make each month. Yes, you can sip up to 1.5 oz at the distillery. Full disclosure, I am the owner of a bottle of DorWood Limoncello.
Dining in Buellton
Ah, let me count the places to satisfy the hunger bug. If you want western barbecue beef or pork, A.J. Spurs or the Hitching Post will help check that food off your list. Visitors rave about breakfast at Ellen’s Danish Pancake House.
Industrial Eats proudly serves organic farmto-table cuisine. The menu constantly changes because they use the available fresh produce. Check out the offerings for the day listed on brown butcher paper. This popular restaurant may have a line at the door, but it is worth waiting.
No trip to the area is complete without having pea soup at the internationally known Pea Soup Andersen Inn. This hearty soup will sustain you as you head out on your journey home. A suggestion is to get the Traveler’s Special to take the shake with you for the drive home.
With my eyes wide open, I went to this community under the auspices of Discover Buellton and 360ViewPR. It is the perfect place to make a home base as you explore Santa Ynez Valley and this beautiful wine country. More importantly, visiting this community was a delight, AND I have already gone back once.
