A few weeks ago, you may have opened up the Sun and flipped straight to the Eats column (as all our readers do, I imagine) and read my take on the start of fall and the Pumpkin Spice Latte-shaming that comes along with it. I wrote about rain and colorful leaves and boots and sweaters—apparently forgetting that around these here parts, fall is the hottest time of year.
Last week, for example, as I marinated in my own sweat in the 101-degree weather, I wasn’t exactly craving a piping hot cup of spicy pumpkin goodness. Nope—I wanted something cold and refreshing and potentially sinful. And I suspect it won’t be the last time this fall I have such a hankering.
So, without further ado, I’ve compiled for you a craving-based list of must-try eateries for those disgustingly hot days when Starbucks’ fall aesthetic just doesn’t jive with the hellish Indian summer that’s going on outside.
Craving: Ice cream
Try: Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab
Ah, the Central Coast’s pride and joy (at least as far as I’m concerned, but I’ve got a one-track mind): Doc Burnstein’s. The stuff is to die for. My personal favorite is the sea salt caramel, though the black raspberry cheesecake, motor oil, and mint fudge Oreo are also delightful. Whatever you order, it’ll be creamy and gourmet and—yes—potentially sinful.
Check them out in Orcutt at 168 W. Clark Ave.
Craving: Iced coffee
Try: Coffee Time
Yelp reviewers swear by Coffee Time’s Vietnamese coffee, which comprises drip-filtered medium to coarse-ground dark roast coffee and sweetened condensed milk. Not only will it cool you down, but it’ll wake you up—like, a lot. It’s a drive-through venue, perfect for a quick mid-afternoon rest-break jolt.
Drive on through at 151 E. Betteravia Road in Santa Maria.
Craving: Smoothie
Try: Blenders in the Grass
OK. So. It may be a billion degrees outside, but it’s still fall. And you still want to act like it’s fall—but without melting. Blenders has you covered. As a seasonal special, they’re serving a pumpkin pie smoothie, which blends pumpkin pie mix with nonfat milk, ice milk, and cinnamon. (I am now officially craving one.)
But if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, or if you’re just craving a plain ol’ non-seasonal smoothie, you’ve got a bunch to choose from, including classic fruit smoothies as well as creamy, tropical, and “powerful” selections. Yum.
Blend it up at 4854 S. Bradley Road in Santa Maria.
Craving: Milkshake
Try: TnT’s Ice Cream, Yogurt & Smoothies
Sweating through your shirt and can’t decide between ice cream and a smoothie? Well my first suggestion would be to just go for both, because why not, but my second is to compromise and find yourself a nice milkshake.
TnT’s is all about the frozen yogurt milkshakes, and they offer six flavors that are rotated out on a daily basis. Check out their Facebook page to keep up to date on TnT’s daily flavors each week, and then indulge.
Satisfy your cravings at 1102 E. Clark Ave. in Santa Maria.
Brenna Swanston apologizes for giving you the visual of her marinating in her sweat. Lecture her at bswanston@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 6-13, 2016.