What’s a walk on the beach a good meal worth to you? To me, it’s worth a day trip down to Il Fornaio in Carmel. Yes we have a location in Downtown San Jose in a beautiful building, but you get two for the price of one if you want beach time now that Spring is here.

Nestled just inside of a small hotel in the heart of town is the Carmel Il Fornaio location and it’s a must hit if you’re visiting. They had a lovely bit of outdoor seating especially to accommodate for COVID. And I was pleasantly surprised that the menu stayed true to what I knew back in middle school and beyond when I would go with Mom to the El Segundo location.

Much to my surprise over time my tastes changed from basic fettuccine alfredo to vodka sauce based pastas. Of course, I am a huge carbonara fan, but nothing beats a well rounded creamy red sauce.

Priced at ~$21 for the large entree size this Pennoni (or Paccheri) Alla Vodka is worth every bite. As the menu says, “Large pasta tubes with bacon, vodka-cream-tomato sauce”. It’s probably way more calories than you need to worry about, that’s what they make leather hole punches for, for belts.

I could honestly say I would eat this pasta for the rest of my life, but I might pop and die from eating too much rich food too consistently. Get yourself a bowl and see for yourself, I’m sure there’s a location near you.

If you aren’t the rich pasta type, but you would die for something with seafood, I’d recommend this Linguine Mare Chiaro.