Road trip! Michelin reveals its top picks for high-priced dining along Californias scenic Highway 1
High-dollar diners looking to heed the call of the open road should head for the West Coast, where just in time for summer travel season, the culinary authorities at Michelin have curated a culinary map for hungry and deep-pocketed drivers hitting California’s iconic Highway 1.The paved road through paradise covers nearly 700 miles, winding its way along the Golden State’s Pacific coastline.Along with vineyards, old-growth forests, panoramic views, and an endless expanse of beaches, the serpentine road is flanked by some seriously stellar restaurants.A few of these are studded, to varying degrees, with the high honor of Michelin stars, awarded to restaurants based on the quality of their ingredients, mastery of techniques, personality expressed through the food, harmony of flavors, and consistency across multiple visits.The curated five-day itinerary released by the travel authority begins up north in Mendocino County, home to the two-Michelin-starred Harbor House Inn, a hotel and restaurant with a 20-seat dining room perched along the existential edge of the ocean.Sounding every bit like an elitist Viking, the restaurant relies on “steam and fire to highlight the true taste in our ingredients.”Harbor House Inn offers a tasting menu that begins at $325 per person+ tax and gratuity.
Lunch is available for the comparative bargain of $150.Menu standouts include black cod smoked over bay laurel.
As “scent and taste are inherently linked,” the restaurant asks diners to refrain from wearing fragrances.From Elk, drivers are directed to Tony’s Seafood in tony Marin County, a laid-back, bayside institution in the town of Marshall for fresh oysters where a dozen grilled, locally sourced bivalves will set you back $48.For the true Sybarite, a watermelon-tarragon sake oyster shooter goes for $11.Curling south into San Francisco, the guide bids you to brunch at Outerlands, where you can go bargain, albeit still full Paltrow, with a $10 serving of bone broth.An...