Nick's Cove

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Stories from the Coast - The Nick's Cove Blog

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Tomatoes and the Croft

As we enter September, we are finally starting to get some consistently warm weather in our coastal garden at Nick’s Cove. Growing tomatoes and peppers in our cooler climate is a challenge, as the fruit needs heat to develop and ripen, but with good planning and timing it can be done. 

Fresh tomatoes from the Nick’s Cove Croft

We’ve had tomato plants producing for the last month thanks to our new high tunnel greenhouses, and now our outdoor crop is starting to produce in earnest. 

The fruit from this second succession should be even sweeter than our earlier tomatoes, and with an increased yield we’ll be featuring our small heirloom varieties in more items on the menu. 

Be sure to look for them on your next visit to Nick’s!

Brendan Thomas

Outdoor Activities

I have been the general manager at Nick’s Cove for over two years, but I have had the pleasure of growing up in Marin County my whole life. I grew up in Novato which is only a short thirty-minute drive to the coast and I have fond memories of dining at Tony’s Seafood and Nick’s Cove as a child. For those visiting from out of town, Marin County is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and food lovers, and I love when guests at Nick’s Cove ask me to suggest local outdoor activities for them to enjoy. Here are a few recommendations for an amazing outdoor adventure:

Dillon Beach

Located just about 8 miles north of Nick’s Cove, Dillon Beach provides a great dog friendly space for a family outing! Dillon Beach holds a special place in my heart because I proposed to my wife there! We now have a two year old son that we love making new memories with at Dillon Beach. It will forever be our go-to spot on the coast for a day of family fun!

Bioluminescence Kayaking Tour

Do you remember the shiny algae in the ocean from the Disney movie Moana? Well, you have the opportunity to experience the magic right here on Tomales Bay! For those of you who are not familiar with Bioluminescence, it is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Blue Waters Kayaking hosts tours that launch right next door to Nick’s Cove at Miller Boat Launch, and the guides are very friendly and super knowledgeable. They teach you the basics of kayaking from start to finish so no need to have previous experience. The tours are usually scheduled in the evenings, preferably on moonless nights, to be able to enjoy the full effect of the bluish white flickering lights in the water. Last year I was able to participate in a tour with some buddies of mine and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

Sailing

You may also charter a sailboat that departs right next door to Nick’s Cove at the Miller Boat Launch! Tomales Bay Sailing offers customized tours for up to six passengers on about a 22 ft. catamaran where you will be able to enjoy abundant wildlife and scenic landscapes. The captain, Brett, is a longtime friend of us here at Nick’s Cove. He will make sure to provide you a spectacular and safe fun-filled voyage!

Hiking

My favorite hike in the area is up to Alamere Falls. Just about 30 miles south of Nick’s Cove on the Pt. Reyes National Seashore, you can enjoy a rare 40 ft. waterfall that flows directly into the Pacific Ocean! These stunning views of the ocean are well worth the hike totaling 8.4 miles there and back. The trail begins at the Palomarin Trailhead in Bolinas. This picturesque opportunity is not one to be missed!

I love to be able to call the Bay Area my home. I now live about forty-five minutes from the gorgeous California coast and I consider it a true blessing. If you are ever travelling along Hwy 1 or have the opportunity to visit the area or have the opportunity to visit the area, I highly suggest you check out one of my recommendations to create lasting memories that will warm your heart for years to come.

Wade Nakamine
Nick’s Cove General Manager


Dog’s need vacations too

I am a relatively new kid on the block at Nick’s Cove and when I was slogging away in Southern California, I used to look at the Nick’s Cove website www.nickscove.com and dream about living and working here. Now, I am employed here and working on the living closer part, but I digress. I usually start my day by seeing the cottage guests lounging on their front decks with their morning coffee and newspaper and their faithful four legged friends right at their feet. It makes me happy to see the contented faces on the cottage guests and frankly, the pooches as well. Nick’s is unique in so many ways, not only for the beautiful location, amazing food and ambiance, but you can bring your dog with you! How great is that? To have a luxury accommodation and the comfort of your four legged family member is just too sweet to pass up. Whether you are on a long overdue vacation or a quick get out of town trip, knowing your dog can be with you will make your trip even more special and memorable. There are plenty of places along Highway One where you can bring your dog for a fun filled day! Here are a few spots to check out:

Pt. Reyes Station located approximately 20 minutes south of Nick’s Cove on Highway One. Pt. Reyes Station is a quaint town that has a slower vibe and a great resource to find locally crafted cheeses, bakeries and cafés. Pt. Reyes Station has three beaches where dogs are permitted: Kehoe, Limantour and Great Beach. I haven’t been to Kehoe or Great Beach, but I can certainly vouch for Limantour Beach. Dogs must be on a leash at Kehoe and Great Beach and on the north end of Limantour.

Limantour Beach located approximately 40 minutes sound of Nick’s Cove on Highway One. Limantour Beach is a breathtaking south facing beach split between Drakes Bay and the Limantour Estero estuary. Limantour Beach allows dogs on the southeast end of the beach.

Dillon Beach located approximately 15 minutes north of Nick’s Cove. Dillon Beach is a very dog friendly beach AND there are no leash laws as long as your dogs are friendly!

Portuguese Beach located approximately 35 minutes north of Nick’s Cove. Portuguese Beach is three miles north of Bodega Bay and it is a nice long and wide sandy beach. Dogs are allowed on the beach with a leash no longer then six feet.

Ultimately, the best part is coming back to Nick’s Cove, having a fantastic meal and then retreating to your cottage where you and your fur baby can fall asleep to the gentle sounds of lapping waves of Tomales Bay.

Mary D.

The Croft News

Hello from the gardens at Nick’s Cove! Lots of folks have been asking me what we’ve been up to over the winter, and how the weather affects our daily work and the growing season. We’ve had a good amount of rain this year, with a couple of huge storms hitting us on the coast in the form of atmospheric rivers that bring tons of water all at once. After these big weather events, it’s generally too wet in the vegetable beds to work the soil, but we stay busy by turning our attention to other needs in and around the garden. Our crops grow slower in the shortened days of winter, and it gives us time to tend to the perennial ornamentals and herbs on the property. We also try to get any repairs and projects out of the way. Now that it’s Spring we’re ready to hit the ground running!

Winter was a time for reflection and planning. Notes and data from last year’s crop plan are distilled into useful information that will help up lay out the coming year. With this information, I will make adjustments in our timing and crop quantities. I also sat down with the chef to create a timeline of the seasonal changes that will be reflected on the menu. We went through a handful of seed catalogs together and will select new varieties and vegetables that will suit our menu concept and the Croft’s growing parameters.

In January, I got the opportunity to attend the 39th annual EcoFarm Conference in Pacific Grove. The event, put on by the Ecological Farming Association each year, is a three day gathering of farmers, educators, agricultural scientists, industry product and tech specialists, an environmental advocates and professionals. The conference consists of workshops, events, and keynote speeches. It provides information, tools, and resources to those who work to reduce the environmental impact of farming practices and provide an alternative to the destructive practices of industrial agriculture. It was a great way to connect with other farmers, and learn what practices are being successfully implemented elsewhere on a similar scale. I learned a ton about soil health and ecology, and it was a great way for Nick’s Cove to continue its commitment to a sustainable approach to sourcing our food.

I’m also excited to share that we’ve currently installed some growing tunnels in the Croft that will make our garden more productive then ever. The increased heat inside these tunnels will give us more fruit in the summer and allow us to grow longer into the winter. Be sure to visit our garden and follow us on Instagram @NicksCoveCroft throughout the year to check our progress!

Brendan

Hiking Review: Alamere Falls

Located 30 miles south of Nick’s Cove, Alamere Falls is a dramatic 40-ft tide fall which pours its waters into the waves of the Pacific Ocean. The trail to Alamere Falls is a 7.5 out and back and takes about 3 hours to complete. The hike to get here offers countless spring wildflowers, wide ocean views, gray whale watching opportunities, and access to both Bass and Pelican Lakes.

The best time to go is spring when the wildflowers are in full bloom and there’s a chance for a gray whale siting. The trail to the beach can be unstable, so we suggest to wear good hiking shoes.

Explore Historic Petaluma

Downtown Petaluma is located about 20 minutes east of Nick’s Cove and offers many things for visitors to enjoy. Here are some out-of-the-ordinary attractions Petaluma has to offer:

Visit Locations from Famous Movies

Downtown Petaluma is oozing with charm and history.  The unique building designs and architecture has appealed to Hollywood more than once. A self-guided walking tour will take you to key locations for films like “American Graffiti” and “Basic Instinct” in the downtown area.  Download directions for the self-guided Petaluma Film Tour, here.

Military Antiques and Museum

If you’re visiting historic downtown Petaluma, a must-stop is the Military Antiques & Museum. There are vintage artifacts for sale in the military shop and the museum features enough artifacts to keep you busy for hours (with no entrance fee!)

Chick-a-Boom Vintage

Another experience quite fitting to enjoy in the historical downtown is exploring Chick-A-BOOM! Vintage. Their collection features vintage pieces from as early as the 19th century to as recently as the 1980s and promises a fun time for anyone who appreciates a good shopping experience.

Adventure onward!
Heike

 

 

 

Featured Cocktail: Bastani Fizz

Have you tried our amazing hand-crafted cocktails?  This summer we’re especially excited about the Bastani Fizz.

Our Bastani Fizz is a play on a Ramos Fizz and a Bastani ice cream. Bastani is an Iranian ice cream that contains saffron, rose water, and pistachio. Because a Ramos fizz shares many of the same components as ice cream, the combination of the fizz and Bastani seemed too good to pass up.  

We first start by infusing Ginny’s gin with a few saffron threads; a little goes a long way and this step is primarily for aesthetics. Next, we begin to caramelize sugar in a pan and allow it to get a deep amber color. We then introduce more saffron threads to the caramelized sugar and allow it to extract as much aromatic and flavor from the spice. We dilute the mixture with a little bit of hot water to obtain the appropriate viscosity to mix it in our cocktail.

To create the cocktail we combine our saffron-infused Ginny’s gin, saffron caramel syrup, lemon, cream, egg white, and a few dashes of rose water. We give the cocktail a vigorous shake to make it as frothy as possible. Once poured in a 12 oz Collins glass, we top it off with a little bit of soda water and garnish it with our house-made pistachio saffron tuile.

Cheers,
Jojo

 

 

Summer Events at Nick’s

Summer is one of our favorite times of year here at the coast. The weather is cooler here than it is inland complete with beautiful views of the bay, and of course breathtaking sunsets! The weekends are picking up and we now have our waterfront Oyster Bar open from 12-4 on Saturdays and Sundays. Here we serve up fresh oysters, clam chowder, select salads and of course, hand-crafted cocktails.

And new this summer, we invite you to visit our Bayside Market which is held the first Saturday of every month from 1-4pm on the waterfront lounge. We are happy to have some our favorite local vendors join us each month, including Freestone Farms, Folly Cheese Company, Tomales Bakery, Boheme Wines and many more!

Come join the fun with us all summer long!

 

 

 

 

Things To Do With Your Dog

We love all of the fur-babies that come to visit us out here at Nick’s Cove. We love to see them have the time of their lives out here on our property; laying in the sun on our waterfront lounge; running down the long pier to our boat shack; and chasing the ball into the water on our beach. There are also plenty of local pup-friendly spots nearby to enjoy with them, and here are a few of our favorites:

Dillion Beach

Dillon Beach Resort sits on 55-coastal acres on the Marin-Sonoma County Line, between the mouth of Tomales and the entrance to Bodega Bay. This beach is the perfect hidden gem to explore the sand dunes, admire the tide pools and soak up the sun. A dog-approved beach day is always an afternoon well–spent.

Point Reyes Station

Point Reyes is located about 20 minutes south of Nick’s Cove on Highway One and is one of the most charming towns you’ll ever see. The sidewalks buzz with activity on sunny weekends, and there are some not-to-be missed cheese shops, bakeries, cafes and more where you can fuel up before you hit one of the many beautiful hikes in the area.

For tips on more pet friendly local activities, head to our partner website, DogTrekker.com!

Explore on!

 

 

Local Creameries You Should Know About

March is cheese month here in West Marin and what better way to celebrate than going on a “cheese tour” during your stay here?!  Seeing as there are endless possibilities when it comes to choosing which creameries to visit, planning your day can be a bit overwhelming. Here are a few of our favorite stops:

Cowgirl Creamery

Visit the original creamery in Point Reyes on Fridays for a 60-minute presentation on West Marin, Cowgirl’s beginnings, and their cheeses; or stop in Wednesday through Friday to view the cheese making firsthand. Free tastes can also be enjoyed at the shop.

Tours can be booked online at http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/

Marin French

Marin French Cheese is the longest continually-operating cheese company in America and has been handcrafting traditional and soft-ripened cheeses for over 150 years.

Stop in to sample and purchase award-winning cheeses and picnic by their pond.

Point Reyes Farmstead

This family’s dairy farm was originally purchased to sell milk to a local creamery. It was always the father’s dream to make cheese, and in the late 90’s, his four daughters came back to the farm to do exactly that. In 2000 they began producing the first wheels of their well-known Original Blue, and later added additional award-winning cheeses.

Tours are given April – October and can be booked by calling (800) 591-6878.

Folly Cheese Company

Husband and wife duo, Christian and Ashley, just began their cheese making adventure by making one delicious product: a Swiss Alpine-style firm cheese (similar to Gruyere or Comte) in very small batches.  Specifically, only about 10 wheels per month. Even though they are a small operation, they are making a big buzz in the cheese world.

Tours are given by appointment only; call (707) 879-8183

Once your cheese coma sets in, head back to Nick’s to curl up in your cozy cottage or out by the wood-burning stove in our Boat Shack.

Happy touring,
Chef

 

 

 

photography by Frankie Frankeny, Cindi de Channes, Val Atkinson
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