Christmas Breakfast, Delivered

A soft knock at 9:30 and in came a tray of local cheeses, dried and fresh pears, "coastal" quince paste, warm pecan coffee cake, and fresh apple juice. Mmmmmm

Waiting For Santa At Manka's Inverness

Dinner at Manka's.

Everything was perfectly delicious.

Creamy, satisfying pumpkin soup topped with chestnuts and black truffle butter. Alluringly aromatic.

Fire grilled Dungeness crab with tangy Meyer lemon aioli. Maybe the most delicious, savory crab I've ever tasted -- including those I make at home. The fire, I am told, is the key.

Endive and celery root salad crowned with lively jewels of deep red pomegranate.

A second helping of fatty, hearty, soulful cassoulet.

Bloomy, perfectly ripe triple creme (especially made for Manka's) cheese with local honey and meaty walnuts.

English toffee, peanut brittle, and powdery "snowball" (Mexican wedding cakes) cookies along with a creamy, nutmeg flavored, egg nog.

Back at our cabin, cookies for "Santa."

Merry Christmas one and all.

Christmas Eve Eve At Mankas

Manka's Inverness is a place so special and so quirky I hesitate to tell friends about it. I don't want to hear judgment on the mostly charming inefficiency or field cautious stares brought on by the extravagance of cabins at Manka's. I want to keep it our little secret. A place where perfect happiness thrives. A place where the fireplace is always lit and the soaking tub always extra warm. Onetime hunting cabins in the West Marin "wood" welcoming guests with luxury rustic chic and delicious, beyond locavore, thoughtfully prepared meals. Unlike the endless tasting menus in the dining room, tonight's in-room "fireside" dinner was a tasty cassoulet (slow cooked beans, slab bacon and duck confit with plenty of garlic) followed by ginger cake with warm caramel sauce and fluffy, softly beaten cream.

We came North to find Christmas and were rewarded.