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Culinary Connection
The Beachcomber Café & Malibu Pier Club
By Lark Aldrin-Clement
If you're expecting out of town guests and are looking for a new Los Angeles area venue to take them to, why not make a day trip and go for a scenic drive down Topanga Canyon Boulevard (about an hour drive) to the Malibu Beach Pier, home of The Beachcomber Café and the Malibu Pier Club. This historic landmark rampant with surf culture has been the backdrop of movies such as "Gidget" with Sally Fields and "Beach Blanket Bingo" with 1950's teen icons Annette Funicello & Frankie Avalon.
A two part venue, the "Café" is enclosed with green leather booths and dark wood. With a maritime theme accompanied by an excellent view of the Pacific Ocean this is the more traditional restaurant seating area. Just three feet away is the "Club" which has high tables and bar stools on an open balcony with blue and white umbrellas. Next to an enclosed lengthy bar and a private area called the "Tonga Lei Room", this side of the establishment is for a more casual crowd and for perhaps a more adventurous crew if you want to brave the seagulls overheard with outdoor seating.
If you decide to go for brunch, start off with a spicy "Bloody Mary" ($9) that comes adorned with a garden of lime, celery, and a huge pimento olive. If you want a more exotic taste, a traditional "Piña Colada" is well mixed and can be made non-alcoholic upon request. For an interesting twist on classic "Clam Chowder" ($4.95 cup), nuances of bacon infuse the generous meaty pieces of clam. Topped with slices of avocado, the "Gazpacho" ($8.95 bowl) is robust with flavor.
Touched with California flair, the "Heirloom Carpaccio" ($10.95) is a large plate of thinly sliced red and yellow heirloom tomatoes topped with shaved red onions, crumbled Gorgonzola bleu cheese, and a surprising crunch of fried capers. Drizzled with citrus avocado oil, this dish is keen on the presentation. The "Green Goddess Calamari" ($10.95) is light on the batter, and comes with a variety of dipping sauces including the house mix of green and tangy tartar sauce.
With a great view of the Malibu surfers and the smell of fresh salty air, try segueing in to your entrée by first cleansing the palate with an "Apple, Pecan, and Bleu Cheese Salad" ($12.95). A mixture of organic greens, shaved apple, and candied pecans, this salad is tantalizingly sprinkled with red wine vinaigrette. For the ultimate entrée, The Beachcomber serves up a killer "Kobe Beef Burger" ($14.95) on an Artisan roll topped with bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a sumptuous sun-dried tomato aioli. With your choice of cheese, this patty melts in your mouth and surpasses any restaurant style burger you have had before. For those cow friendly people, a garden burger can be substituted. Accompanied by French fries and Coleslaw, there will be no room for dessert.
If you're worried about rolling out of the café, stretch your legs and take a stroll down the pier that extends far in to the blue abyss, but, remember to wear comfortable walking shoes because heels will catch between the slats of the wooden planks. With a diverse crowd and light fare, this restaurant is perfect for visiting in-laws. With an adjacent parking lot, the cost is only $4; however, you must give a $10 deposit, get validation, and then receive $6 change when you leave.
After such a feast, take an eight mile trip up the coast to The Getty Villa on Pacific Coast Highway and finish off your day with an appreciation for a wonderful collection that consists of more sculpture and Roman antiquities in comparison to The Getty Center off of the 405 freeway.
Brushed with a retro stroke, the Beachcomber makes you feel like you took a step back in time and are a member of the famous Rat Pack, except, you'll be wearing Bermuda shorts instead of a tux and sipping on a tasty umbrella drink instead of a cigar.
The Beachcomber & Malibu Pier Club
23000 Pacific Coast Highway,
Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 456-9800
www.thebeachcombercafe.com