December 21-26, 2010 we visited the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Borrego Springs for the holiday season.
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| Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
The Anza-Borrego Desert had experienced recent rains and so there were a few more blossoms and greenery than you would normally see, at the start of the winter season. Here are a few photos of desert plant life that I took during our visit.
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| Very green ocotillo, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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| Sand Verbena, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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| Chuparosa, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
No visit to the desert is complete without enjoying the last few bottles of wine from our
Las Américas Trip. One evening we opened a 2008 Bonarda Reserve Organic Argentine wine from the Bodega Nanni Viña, Cafayate, Argentina. It was excellent!
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| Bodega Nanni Bonarda Reserve 2008, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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| Bodega Nanni Bonarda Reserve 2008 at Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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| Bodega Nanni Bonarda Reserve 2008, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
Another evening we had a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chilean wine from Casa Lapostelle Viñ
a, Colchagua Valley, Chile. In earlier Spaswinefood posts on
Cafayate and the
Colchagua Valley I have described these wineries.
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| Casa Lapostelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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| Casa Lapostelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, at Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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| Casa Lapostelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
Given that we planned to leave early on December 26
th to return to the Bay Area, we made a reservation for Christmas dinner at the
Krazy Coyote Restaurant, which is located in The Palms at Indian Head, Borrego Springs.
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| Red Ocotillo is a casual restaurant, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
Both the Red Ocotillo/Krazy Coyote restaurants are at The Palms at Indian Head, an historic desert inn. The Inn is located near the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Campground and Visitors Center.
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| Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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| Palms at Indian Head, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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Palms at Indian Head at sunset on December 26, 2010, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood
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The historic Palms at Indian Head Inn is where movie stars and socialites such as, Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant use to escape and relax. While it no longer attracts the rich and famous as it use to, it is still a great place to escape and relax in a beautiful desert setting. The Palms was a great setting for Christmas dinner. When we arrived the sun was just setting and the Christmas tree's lights were on.
For dinner we had the following:
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| Fresh Vegetable appetizer, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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| Brie appetizer, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
For first course I selected a creamed broccoli soup and John ordered a salad.
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| Cream of Broccoli Soup, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
For main course I had a vegetable plate and John had a salmon entree.
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| Vegetable Plate, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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| Salmon Entree, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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| Beautifully decorated "to go" box, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
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| Christmas, Anza Borrego © Spaswinefood |
Reviews of the Krazy Coyote Saloon and Grille by
Tripadvisor and
Yelp give it four stars. I think this is about right. On the other hand reviews of the more casual Red Ocotillo tend to be mixed. The reviewers tend to either rate it high or very low. Those who rate it at the high end tend to be charmed by the setting whereas those who rate it low usually want faster service and/or better food. If you are looking for something fast then maybe neither the Red Ocotillo or the Krazy Coyote is the place for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a beautiful desert setting miles away from hustle and bustle then you can choose from the Red Ocotillo or Krazy Coyote depending on your needs.
I invite you to join me in my travels in California and elsewhere at Spaswinefood, or you can visit my travel column at the Examiner.
Borrego Springs, California
December, 2010
© Spaswinefood
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