People who don't live in Southern California forget that in the winter,
the temperatures can drop into the 40s and even the 30s at night.
That's mild compared with the weather experienced by our friends and relatives who live in other parts of the country.
But
even here, a sunny day is appreciated all the more after several weeks
of gloomy weather. The last couple of days were beautiful. Bright blue,
clear skies and temperatures in the mid-70s. Just about everyone
switched to shorts and t-shirts.
A perfect time to drive up the coast and have lunch at Malibu Seafood
(25653 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, 310/456-3430, 310/456-6298, fax
310/456-8017), 1 1/2 miles north of Pepperdine University.
Even
though the menu has a lot of variety, I always order the same thing, a
very politically incorrect basket of fried fish with fat cut fries and
tartar sauce. Michelle likes the ahi tuna burger or the grilled fish
taco with a side of cole slaw. If you want to keep the calories down,
there are salads and grilled fish and for anyone flush with cash, the
Maine Lobster plate.
Besides the made-to-order
food that reminds me of East Coast clam shacks, Malibu Seafood is also
fun because the location is so beautiful.
Sitting
on a rise above the Pacific Coast Highway, the open-air, covered dining
areas look out over an expanse of bright blue water. What a treat to
sit at the battered, wooden picnic tables, eating salty, crunchy fish,
drinking iced tea with lemon wedges, feeling the cool breeze coming off
the water, just taking it easy and enjoying hanging out with my wife.
David Latt is an Emmy-award winning television producer who turns to
cooking to alleviate stress. He shares his experiences with food and
his favorite recipes on his blog Men Who Like To Cook.