As some of you may remember, Animated Meat first came to life in 2008 as a way to document some sights that managed to slip through the cracks of most popular travel websites. You may also remember that the original website was built on Apple's now defunct iWeb. From there, it migrated over to WordPress where it met an untimely demise at the hands of Russian hackers. Many of those old, pre-2012 entries have found a new home here in the Before the Now section. I would consider these posts as my starting place as a writer, probably comparable to a musician's first demo tapes. They are very rough, but I took them all seriously and wrote each one with passion. While I would like to believe that I have matured in my abilities as a writer, it is my hope that I carry this same blind passion into all of my new efforts.

Splash Cafe - Originally Published 2008

July 11, 2018

Next time you make a run up Pacific Coast Highway, make a stop at the Splash Café in Pismo Beach. There will be a line. There always is. However, it’s worth a little wait.

What makes it so special? The serve clam chowder in bread bowls. I know that’s not the most original idea. But Splash Café does it right. Their New England style clam chowder has something really unique in the flavor department. My theory is that it’s addition of carrots that sweeten it up. However, it could also be that mermaids make it with a touch of love. I’m not sure, but it’s worth a stop.

The other thing that makes a visit so special is that it’s only a short stroll to the Pismo Beach Pier. This is a place to relax and breath a lot deeper. There is more to life than sitting inside with a remote in hand, waiting to go back to work.