Duke's Malibu - Malibu

You don't know what you got 'til it's gone. Arizona houses the majestic Grand Canyon, North Carolina boasts the Blue Ridge Parkway, Alaska doesn't deny Denali. California had Malibu. A safe-haven for celebs, a bounty of breathtaking beauty of cliffs that jut out over the edge of the world, views of oceans that illuminate every sunset. If there were a single restaurant to define Malibu, it would be Duke's. Loved by most, enjoyed by all. Affordable pricing and an approachable all-American menu, Duke's stands strong, and after recent events, I hope it continues to help this community come together. 

A friend had been itching to visit this place, and I'm glad I went along. Maybe he knew we should experience this place while it stood, to get a fleeting taste Malibu while we can. It was so much fun sipping a beer from the tap at their bar, and there's nothing like watching the waves crash on the rocks in the darkness. 

The food is undoubtedly quality, and they serve all your favorites. The Shrimp Cocktail is a classic, and it turns out to be my favorite thing on the menu. These jumbo monsters are as tender and juicy as they get.

Lilikoi Ceviche is a cool customer. Tender fish stewing in its own citrus juices, a plethora of accent veggies, a splash of spice from the fierce fresno chli.

The Banana Leaf Steamed Island Fish & Shrimp is a fun concept. They really do know how to cook their shrimp.

The thing is, they make a stink about their seafood, but maybe their calling is the steak. This Kona Coffee Crusted New York looks like just a steak n' potatoes, and it is, but the quality does persist.

It may be a while before we get another taste of Malibu. My in-laws lost everything in the fire, and rebuilding from the ground up will take all the strength we have left. But Malibu is strong, and Malibu is resilient. Malibu is so much more than a collection of cliff-side mansion and celebrity dwellings as the media would have us believe. It won't be an easy recovery, but if anyone can do it, Malibu can.

Mivida - Tulum, Mexico

People are always surprised to hear that I went back to Tulum. "So soon?" they ask, "but didn't you just go there?"

I'm surprised myself. I'm so novelty-oriented I can't eat the same meal twice in a month. The world is so full of new places and yet, here I am, two weeks shy of a year later, going back to where I was.

We trudge in from a red-eye, after a frugal but grueling journey on the ADO. Our bags are deposited at reception while we wait for our room, and we've got time to kill. We sit down next door at Mivida because we're too hungry to hunt.

There is no view like this one.

The food isn't equal to the view, but we're hungry and it'll do. The Salmon Tartare could have had fresher salmon - this one tastes a bit fishy, which the mustard doesn't hide. Avocado is always a welcome addition, and the ones in Tulum are always ripe.

Points for creativity in the tapas. The Stuffed Squid is a new one for me, and the giant squid makes a pretty tender husk. The shrimp inside are sheltered from the flames so they also stay soft. The eggplant works as a texture but finishes a little too bitter, and with the mint it gets weird. Fortunately, a thick layer of aioli acts as a universal unifier. 

They get props for homemade pasta, but the Maltagliati "Polipo" is a smidge undercooked and could have boiled for another minute or two. The octopus is right on, and the pesto rocks. 

I can think of worse ways to start a day, and Mivida isn't it. The view is divine, and the food is close enough. Too pricey to eat here again, but overall not too bad.

Mateo's Mexican Grill – Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

The tamales kept us from killing each other, but the post-plane munchies are strong AF.

Posada del Sol gives us a free upgrade for the first night, thanks to a glorious mix-up, and our room faces an open ocean.

The mosquito-netting canopy cascades in soft waves, billowing in a cool breeze, keeping time with the waves washing up a sandy shore.

When you get into a room like that, it takes a while to leave. It’s pitch dark along the only road by the time we stop staring into the aquamarine sea, and we can’t go far for food. But we do see lights twinkle and glow in the night, sultry red stars from across the street, and soon I sip on a Strawberry Basil Mojito as we give the Mateo’s menu a glance. 

My mojito is a strawberry mash with a touch of terrible rum. Its quality matches that of my no-light, mood-light photos, but it hardly matters as the live band plays.

Ceviche is a must. Mariscos are the specialty of everyone in Tulum, and this marinated bowl of fish and shrimp does not disappoint. The lime juice is thick, and the avocado is so ripe it’s almost sweet as it oozes over striped, fleshy cubes of fish and chewy cocktail shrimp.

The Appetizer Platter is a plato of indecision, a relief for those too travel-weary to think. Fried chunks of fish are perfectly battered, a neutral cheese quesadilla is great with guac, and the carne asada is impossibly juicy and soft. There are grill-lines charred into the soft strips, and they taste like fresh flames.

Sour, salty, savory, all that’s missing is a sweet Coconut Flan. It’s airy but dense, with the occasional coconut shaving cutting through the sugar and egg.

Full belly, gorgeous shower, and waves lapping ashore in warm salt air. We pass out too soon, after what is probably the best first day we’ve ever had in another country.