Red Scooter Deli - Paso Robles, CA

There's a sleek square of streets surrounding a gorgeous green in the town of Paso Robles. Every restaurant is well-manicured, and it looks like fine dining all around. But it seems there are affordable places to grab a square meal, and Red Scooter Deli is at least in the top 3! 

I haven't even looked at the menu for any other restaurant, but I can say this with conviction because I've NEVER had anyone make a Turkey Club exciting. Turkey is my least favorite sandwich, but theirs is done really well. The meat is a juicy roast, the bacon is a chewy savor, and there's a thick layer of ripe avocado smeared across the top. The sour from the sourdough is a flavor that amplifies all the others. 

Their cold stuff is perfect if you're on the run, but the French Dip'n is a must if you have a moment to sit. The roast beef is medium rare in the middle and it melts in your mouth. Check out the stretch on the provolone, and pause to enjoy the au jus, which is basically French onion soup. Put your hand upon my dip, when I dip, you dip, we dip!

Even if you're not feelin' the food, they make a mean Latte all day. They have all sorts of flavors for your morning coffee, and the Berry Sunshine is one of a whole list of refreshing smoothies. If you're visiting Paso Robles or just stopping through, give Red Scooter Deli a try. They have a drink for every diner and sandwich for every palate.

Restaurant Tunich – Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Crepes to beach chair, beach chair to boredom. We still have a couple hours to kill before we have cab it to the Dos Ojos cenotes, and we rack our brains for something to do.

Eating is always an option in Tulum, and drinking is always an excellent choice. Drowning, however is not so we go for the non-alcoholic libations instead. Tunich has Smoothies, and they're the best we've had this trip. They mix a lot of organic ingredients, and they've figured out so many combinations that work. One of these is coffee-based, but they manage to make it healthy by blending in chia seeds and a few other health-nut foods, except it doesn't taste intentionally healthy. It's dark, earthy, and eye-opening, a memorable wake-me-up boost. I like my smoothies sweet, and mine is less creative, but it's full of strawberry, mango, and several things tropical in a cohesive blend. It's worth mentioning that the texture is perfect.

They have mosquitoes, but their jungle seating area is too pretty to skip. It's calm and cool in the shade, and the Cheese Quesadilla really hits the spot. It's fuel for cenote snorkeling, and the guac is really creamy and well-balanced, also some of the best we've had this trip.

We only nibbled at Tunich, and I feel like we barely scratched the surface of what they're capable of. Tunich is so much like the spirit of Tulum; beauty in perfect simplicity. Well Tulum didn't stay a secret for long, and if the rest of the menu is as good as their smoothies, neither will Restaurant Tunich.