Another attraction on Moonstone Beach Drive is Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill.  Our dinner here proved to be a special event showing a large menu with a full page of exciting seafood entrees.  Following cocktails we opened with a cup of creamy clam chowder, then followed with two entrees which we shared.  One was the seared sea scallops on a bed of Spanish rice,  the other  Shrimp pasta, large shrimp sauteed  with mushrooms and white wine and tossed with rotelle pasta topped with Parmesan cheese.
Besides the seafood this restaurant has a large assortment of lamb and beef entrees and eleven sides available.  The lunch menu is also large and includes fish tacos, sandwiches, burgers and salads.
This full service restaurant is large with every table offering an ocean view.  There is a full bar and lounge as well as a very large oceanfront patio.
There are forty tables and the restaurant can accommodate over 200 people.  It is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week with a Sunday Brunch.  Hours are for lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner 5 p.m.to 9 p.m.  The restaurant is closed between 3  and 5 p.m. each day.
This restaurant does not except short notice reservations.
Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill is located at 6550 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria, Ca. 93428 with off street parking.  Telephone 805 927-3859, web. www. moonstonebeach.com.

Cambria  is another of those California beach cities that have changed little  over the decades.  Downtown  is nestled in a valley a short way from the coast.  At the coast Cambria has Moonstone Beach and following the coast line  is Moonstone Drive with its long row of inns and resorts.
Moving through downtown Cambria is a look of an earlier time in America.  Most of the shops and businesses are small and intimate featuring a single commodity or service.  The city is divided in its downtown area with an East Village and West Village.
The East Village places Cambria’s historic past on display.  There is an historic Walking Tour through East Village that links the city’s past with the present.  Most of the winery tasting rooms are located at the East Village.
Moonstone Beach Drive follows the ocean shore for a few miles offering views of scenic coast to the far distance.  We found the trail adjacent to this road most rewarding with the close-up ocean shore and stunning views.
As a stop on the  San Luis Obispo Coastal  Wine  Trail Cambria hosts many wine tasting rooms as well as some very special restaurants.  On this visit we visited one of the downtown tasting rooms, Cutruzzola Vineyards.
 The wine tasting rooms in Cambria are in both villages, Cutruzzola Vineyards is located in the West Village.  We were greeted by Mari Fedrow at a very well appointed facility with adjoining off-street parking.  Cutruzzola Vineyards was established early in the 21 century with the actual vineyards located at   Cambria adjacent to the Pacific Ocean.  Thanks to this terroir  Cutruzzola features wines from the Riesling and Pinot Noir varietals that do particularly well in a cooler climate.
The wines we tasted proved to be exceptional vintages for Riesling and Pinot Noir.  General Manager Reyna Jonas explained that the vineyard proved ideal for  these varietals and the powerful wines they produce.
The only other wine produced is an excellent Zinfandel.  This  is from a vineyard located in the Russian River Valley at Forrestville from vines first planted in 2006.
We enjoyed the wines and considered the Cutruzzola Tasting and its facility well worth a visit.  It is located at 555 Main Street in Cambria, and open daily.  For hours call 805 927-2670, web www.cutruzzolavineyards.com.
Once again we visited Stolo Family Vineyards  on the outskirts of Cambria.  It is the only winery in Cambria that includes 22 acres of vineyards, the winery, tasting room and picnic patio.  All this only a few minutes drive from downtown Cambria.
 Here we met Diego Aguirre who is general manager.   On an earlier visit we met Winemaker Nicole Bertotti Pope  who took us on a tour of the  modern winery and explained the adjacent vineyard is only three miles from the Pacific Ocean located on Santa Rosa  Road 
Nicole learned her winemaking skills at Cal Poly.   With its nearby ocean location  Stolo offers true Burgundian style wines.  Adjacent to the tasting room and vineyard there is a patio for relaxing picnics  and a whole series of summer  concerts while tasting some very good wines.  The vineyards are on land that has been in the  Stolo family for generations.
 Stolo Family Vineyards is located at 3776 Santa Rosa Creek Road in Cambria.  The tasting room is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Telephone 805 924-3131.

Our visit to the San Fernando Mission was a retreat from the electronic frenzy of Los Angeles to the peace and tranquilly of another time.  The San Fernando Mission dates back to 1797 as the seventeenth in the chain of missions extending along Alta California that became El Camino Real.
The San Fernando Mission stands apart, in one aspect,  from all the other missions since it is named for a King of Spain.  He was King Ferdinand  who reigned from 1217 to 1252.
There is much to see and enjoy here so allow plenty of time for a visit.  Both the East Garden with its flower shaped fountain and the West Garden with rare and massive trees invite leisurely resting places to relax and let a busy world pass you by for at least  a brief time.
The Old Mission Church, an exact replica of the first erected in 1806, is open to visitors and the interior furnishings are from the original some dating back to the l6th century.  On Sundays Mass is still conducted here at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Behind the Church is the Bob Hope Memorial Garden where the famed entertainer and his wife are buried.  Here again is a lovely designed garden that encircles the original  cemetery and resting place for the first neophytes and settlers.
The main building of the Mission, entitled ‘Convento’ was completed in 1822 after 13 years of construction. Along its corridor are twenty one Roman arches, each made with massive amounts of adobe.
Here can be seen the original workshops that included blacksmith, saddle and pottery sites with all still containing the original furnishings.
Also here the Historical Museum which includes art and photographs as well as costumes of the earliest arrivals to the region
At the Convento is the original wine cellar of the Mission and a room offering several historical films on early life at the original Missions.
The Mission property includes Bishop Alemany High School and the San Fernando Mission Catholic Cemetery.   The Cemetery is large and was ablaze with color from huge number of flower bouquets the day we were there.
This Writer is well acquainted with this Cemetery since my parents, Joseph and Josephine Hilbers, rest there under a live oak tree.
For visitors the San Fernando Mission is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  There is a $5 admission charge for viewing the premises.
It is located at 15151 San Fernando Blvd., Mission Hills, Ca.  with free off street parking.  Telephone 818 361-0186, web www.missiontours.org.
The serenity we enjoyed at the Mission soon vanished for en route home we encountered a massive traffic tie-up at the 405/ 101 freeway interchange. Welcome back.

When it comes to wine Lebanon has a history that extends back almost six thousand years.  The land and climate was friendly to viticulture and it was peopled by Phoenicians who were renown principally for their wide travel and trading.  They were shipping wine to Egypt two thousand years before Christ. 
Modern vineyards and winemaking received fresh stimulus when the French arrived in the country during the last half of the  19th century.  First by Jesuit monks and then by French vintners.
When we decided to explore wines from Lebanon we visited Phoenicia Restaurant in Glendale where Ara Kalfayan shows award winning Lebanese cuisine.  It also features  a huge wine list that prominently features wines from all over the world and some from Lebanon that are exclusive to Phoenicia.  Ara gave us free reign to explore his wine cellar and seek out some of the classic vintages from that country.
Chateau Kefraya is produced in the Bakaa Valley just 18 miles from Cana where the Bible tells us Jesus turned water into wine.  Chateau Ksara makes French styled blends and the winery dates back to 1857.  Chateau Fakra offers red wines from the Kfardebvian Valley north of Beirut.  Another Bakaa Valley winery is Domaine Wardy. 
Most of the red wines are blends of classic French varietals like Cinsault, Mourvedre, Syrah and Cabernet Sauviginon.  Cave Kouroum features wine  blends of Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot and Syrah.  Chateau Ksara also offers a white wine  blanc de blanc of Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Semillon
In the last two decades the number of wineries in Lebanon have expanded dramatically. Most vintners are using French varietals but still to be found are some of the original varietals like Obaideh and Merwah.
Our explorations of Ara's wine cellar complete we settled down to eat with a throng of other diners.
We opened  with appetizers that included Hommos; Labni, Lebanese cream cheese served with garlic; Warak Enab, grape leaves stuffed with rice, oil and vegetables, cooked in lemon juice and olive oil, and Tabbouleh, chopped parsley, crushed wheat, tomatoes and onions.   Some hot appetizers we tasted included Kibbeh Makli, beef dumpling stuffed with ground beef; Bourghoul , onions and pine nuts as well as San Bousek, freshly prepared dough with ground beef and pine nuts and Rekakat, a selection of Lebanese cheese baked in a pastry dough.
With the cold appetizers we had the Chateau Kefraya Comte de M, a French chateau style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvedre and Syrah aged 16 months in French Oak.  It was a very good wine, hearty yet  smooth and with a long finish.   With the hot appetizers a Chateau Ksara 2016 Reserve Du Couvert which was a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.  This winery dates back to 1857. 
 Our samplers of grill selections included Beef Kafta, ground beef, onions, parsley and spices, grilled on skewers.  This is one of our favorites and arrived with  lamb chops marinated with spices and grilled.  Also chicken breast kabob, perfectly prepared rice and the best french fries we have had in a long time.  Here we had a most unusual wine, Massaga 2017, a Rhone styled blend, also from the Bakaa Valley, a blend of Censaulis, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre.  Mellow and with a hint of sweetness it was a welcome companion to the meats.
This is a restaurant where everything is done well and most professionally.  
Phoenicia is  located at 343 North Central Avenue in Glendale with  off street parking.  It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. except on weekends there is live entertainment with a 2 a.m. closing time.  For more information or reservations call 818 956-7800. 

  The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library has established itself as an outstanding museum by hosting  interesting historical exhibitions.  And through the years we have taken full advantage by attending many of them.  At present the exhibition is devoted to the life and works of Leonardo Da  Vinci.
 Exhibits include actual reproductions and models  of  his mechanical inventions which included a unique musical organ as well  as the first design of the machine gun in warfare.
His art is included with a history of painting masterpieces like Mona Lisa and The Last Supper and how the search for one of his painting , Salvator Mundi, is current news.
There are reproductions of his writings, Filios and designs as he studied the concepts of flight by observing birds and how the wings controlled lift and control.
 His life story is well told and how his writings have amazed scholars for the five hundred years since he lived.
 Many of the authentic artifacts are on loan from the Leonardo 3 Museum in Milan.
 The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is one of Southern California's premiere attractions and is worth a visit regardless of personal political affiliations.  We had been to the Library in past years but our recent visit showed additions and vast improvements that have been made.
 Location alone is always a special treat as it has been built on top of a mountain with commanding views in every direction including the Pacific Ocean.  On this visit we made it a full day's outing with time out for lunch at Reagan's Country Cafe which also includes a Ronald Reagan Pub. 
 Twenty four galleries tell the story of Ronald Reagan's life before the Presidency and much of the personal relationship of he and his wife, Nancy.  With her death  she now is buried next to her husband at the Library.  We always enjoy looking at the perfect replica of the Oval Office at the White House and the place of business for so many presidents.
 The landscaping and gardens that surround the Library are worth the time for a stroll and the views they offer.  The landscaping includes a replica of the White House Rose Garden. Also to be seen a part of the Berlin Wall brought to the U.S.
The Library is well staffed and the docents we met were most courteous  and helpful and with so much to see and do we needed them for advice and guidance.
The Reagan Library follows the tradition of established Presidential libraries first started by Franklin D. Roosevelt and has continued with every president since then.  California has a second Presidential Library for Richard Nixon located in Loma Linda
In all there are now twelve Presidential libraries in various states.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is located at 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, Ca. Phone 1 805 577-4000.  It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. web www.reaganlibrary.gov.  There is an admission fee for visits to the galleries.    
The Reagan Country Cafe is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

The Seven % Solution offered a new approach to the introduction and tasting of California wines.  Taking place in Vernon,  the heartland of Los Angeles industry, it included 42 California wineries , sixty grape varieties and some 200 wines.  An industrial firm producing restaurant aprons, Hedley & Bennett, was the actual location offering both in and outdoor sites for the winery booths.
Official host was Bergamot Wine Co, with Allison Levine of Please the Palate as event coordinator and Michael Helton of One Table Catering presenting the well chosen brunch that accompanied the tasting.
The participating wineries were from all parts of California and some with names that have strayed far from the traditional.  There was the Donkey & Goat Winery with brands like Twinkle or Eliza, Front Porch Farm from the Russian River, Horse & Plow from the Carneros region of Napa and Rootdown Wine Cellars.  Then there was Dirty & Rowdy Family Winery, Fine Disregard Wine and Nonesuch Wines.
The theme was “For Love of the Grape” with proceeds  going to that nonprofit organization  dedicated to the perpetuation of grape varietal diversity in California.
Certainly that diversity was present with grape varieties like Blaugrankisch, Negrette, Touriga Nacional or Zweigelt to taste and learn to pronounce.
With such diversity it proved to be a memorable occasion that those fortunate to attend and even Vernon looked, well not good, but o.k. on a pleasant Spring day.

When most people think of Italian its about the foods and wines.  O.K., pizza, and I rest my case.  However if your interest broadens then may we recommend Eataly Los Angeles located in the Century Mall. 
We were there recently to attend a well conducted seminar on Prosecco by Luigi Capasso. Luigi is Senior Beverage Manager at Eataly.  These sparkling wines are popular, not only in Italy , but enjoy a huge world wide following.  Last year almost five hundred million bottles of Prosecco D.O.C. wines were produced with twenty five percent for Italy and seventy five per cent for the foreign markets.
Prosecco, like almost all sparkling wines, are available as Brut, Extra Dry or  Dry.  This generally pertains to the sweetness with Brut the driest and the other two ranging higher residual sugar levels.
At our seminar we tasted four Brut wines and four Extra Dry.  All were recognized Italian brands and all D.O.C.  Principal varietal grape in these wines is Glera with a minimum of 85 per cent.  Four other native grapes to the region including Verdiso can be used in the blend.
D.O.C. rules include a second fermentation of at least 30 days and 18 months in the bottle.  All the wines we tasted were of excellent quality and it was just as matter of person taste as to which received the highest points.  Using a twenty  point system we gave one Brut nineteen points, two eighteen points and one seventeen points.  With the four Extra Dry wines we tasted one earned nineteen points, two eighteen points and one seventeen points.
As we tasted these wines an Eataly Chef was preparing Italian appetizers and pizza to match the sparklers and these proved  a showcase  on Prosecco’s food-pairing qualities.  Prosecco is a perfect food sharing wine which accounts for its appeal that continues to grow each year in  production volume.
Eataly L.A. is located on two floors of the Mall with the restaurant on one level and on the second a huge assortment of all the best in Italian foods and wines.
With my own Italian ancestry leaving all this was not easy.

Cedar Creek is one of those restaurants that you would have liked to visit much sooner.  And now that the personal discovery has been made want to visit it much more often.   We could not find anything not to like about this restaurant.  The ambiance and decor is what we would call contemporary rustic with, not one, but four fireplaces, high beamed ceilings and several dining rooms and patios.  The bar lounge is spacious with a view to the outdoor patio and yes has its own fireplace.
The menu is large and the cuisine  all  American.  We were at Cedar Creek for lunch which quickly moved to luncheon as our group had to try several of the most tempting selections.  We opened with the Calamari which was tender, flavorful and arrived with two dipping sauces.  Next to arrive was the Chicken Papaya Salad, a house specialty, with fresh fruit and batter bread.  Then followed the Monte Cristo with fresh fruit, and French dip prime rib sandwich.  The wine list is large and well selected and one of our party enjoyed a glass of Argentina Malbec while the rest of us had iced tea, lots and lots of ice tea as our most attentive waitress could not stand a half empty glass.
We thought the staff both well trained and professional.  We told co-owner Jim Walker just how much we admired the excellent, attentive service and he promptly introduced us to NanceeJo Hoertz, general manager.
The Cedar Creek is a large restaurant with four dining spaces that can accommodate private events.  Actually the restaurant can accommodate 300 guests at one time.  There are two back Terrace rooms for private events, also the well shaded front patio for mixer events.
Our next visit will be for dinner after looking over a menu that offers New York Steak with Whisky sauce, Porcini Crusted Filet Mignon, Cedar Plank Salmon, Chicken Cordon Blue or Jumbo Prawns over Garlic mashed potatoes.  We thought prices most modest for the quality of the cuisine and attentiveness of the service.
Cedar Creek is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday with an extensive Brunch menu served on Saturday and Sunday.
Cedar Creek is located at 20 Pointe Drive in Brea, California, 92821, with ample free off street parking.  Hours 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., later for the lounge and bar. Telephone 714 255-5600, web www.cedarcreekbrea.com.