Author Archive
By Michelle Portesi
Ask any long time locals where the best breakfast place in town is, and the answer in unison will most likely be “The Firesign Cafe. No question.”
Located just outside of Tahoe City on Hwy. 89 South at Sunnyside, it’s a perfect rest stop along the way to the West Shore’s hiking, skiing or bike riding opportunities. In fact the bike trail runs in front of the establishment and is right across the street from the lake. Decorated with warm, cabin-y touches and a large fireplace, it’s just the place to give you the warm fuzzies on a cold mountain morning and hit the spot for a hungry stomach.
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Grab a seat by the window…
…take in the Fall color display.
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Their menu not only boasts fresh and tasty food with healthy portions, but some very creative house specialties you won’t find anywhere else. One of my personal favorites is the Firesign Crepes. Filled with scrambled eggs, green onions, mushrooms and melted cheese, then smothered in hollandaise, this meal is a decadent dish to treat yourself to when you’re not obsessed with counting calories. You can even request a half order if the richness of the meal is just too much for one sitting.
I’m also a big fan of their Huevos Rancheros with black beans, fresh salsa, avocado slices, flour tortilla and sour cream. I can never eat the whole thing, and often split it with a friend (or take the rest home for breakfast the next day if I’m on my own.)
In addition, you’ll find daily specials, fresh made muffins, coffee cakes and cobblers too. They also serve lunch as well, with fresh salads, soups and sandwiches (both hot and cold), but I’ll be honest here and tell you I rarely make it past the breakfast menu.
OK, sometimes we do order lunch. Tuna Melt. You’ll never leave The Firesign Cafe hungry. Ever.
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Firesign Cafe is open 7 days a week from 7 am to 3 pm all year long.
Come early on the weekends or expect a wait, although the beauty of dining at the Firesign Cafe in the off season means the wait won’t be anywhere near as long as it can be in the popular summer months or during the height of holidays and ski season. Not to fret however, if there is a wait, they often have a separate cabin open where coffee or a latte can be had to tide you over until a table becomes available.
The Firesign Cafe
Tel 530.583.0871
1785 West Lake Blvd.
Tahoe City, CA 96145
Located 2.2 miles south of Tahoe City
For more information or to view their menu, go to their website at: www.firesigncafe.com
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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The new Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Lodge
by Tim Hauserman
Tahoe-Truckee cross country skiers, as well as residents and visitors of Tahoe Donner have something to get excited about: The new Tahoe Donner Cross-Country Ski Area Lodge (also known as the Alder Creek Adventure Center, since during the summer months when it will be the home of mountain biking and equestrian use.) This $9+ million building is a state of the art facility and a giant step forward from both the previous lodge, and for cross-country skiing in the region.
While the total building footprint for the lodge is not much bigger then the previous building located on the same site, the usable space is over double the size (much of the old building included the barns for the equestrian operation). The feeling inside is open and bright, with lots of wood and rock accents, and solid banks of windows overlooking the trails. A design team put a lot of thought into how best to accommodate all levels of nordic skiers, from the first timers who need to rent equipment and eat a meal, to the season pass holders who want to go for a quick ski before heading off to work.
The new Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Lodge
The primary features of the lodge are:
An expansive restaurant with a huge seating area, and a wide variety of food offerings.
A bar surrounding the fireplace with big screen TV’s and comfy chairs.
Locker room for season pass holders with adjacent shower and bathrooms.
A large rental shop with state of the art movable racks for skis, boots, and poles. The boot racks are even heated to dry out yesterday’s rental boots.
A separate club room for nordic teams or other groups to have a gathering spot.
Public waxing room with three stations, and tech waxing facility for the staff.
Employee room with lockers and laundry facilities.
Ski patrol room
An extensive clothing and gear shop
Expansive patio between lodge and the trails with fire pits and seating areas.
Truckee High School nordic coach Mary Ellen Benier told me she is pretty happy to be gathering with the kids where it is warm instead of in the barn where they did in the past.
Tahoe Donner Cross Country
The lodge is quickly becoming a hit not only with cross country skiers, but with Tahoe Donner residents who have a new neighborhood bar and restaurant where they can sip a cocktail while watching the skiers.
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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View of Lake Tahoe from Tahoe Meadows on Mt. Rose Highway.
By Tim Hauserman
As is the case almost every year, my first chance to glide along on my cross-country skis arrived last week at Tahoe Meadows and Chickadee Ridge. At nearly 9000 feet in elevation, that first decent sized storm almost always brings in snow, even when we are getting rain at the level of Lake Tahoe. As an added bonus, the terrain around Tahoe Meadows is relatively easy, and thus gives you plenty of opportunity to get used to being on skis again. In just an hour or so of skiing you can get the kinks out and enjoy spectacular views.
With just an inch or two around my house, I was a bit concerned about whether there would be enough to ski in Tahoe Meadows, but by the time I drove past 8000 feet the snow depths were starting to rise and there was a solid 6 inches on the ground. I emerged from my car to a quick reminder of the disadvantage of that high elevation, it was 19 degrees with a brisk wind roaring across the meadow.
It didn’t take me too much time skiing in the meadow to decide that in the trees, where I would be blocked from the wind, would be a much warmer experience. I was somewhere in the vicinity of the Tahoe Rim Trail, as I made my way up to Chickadee Ridge, where you find awesome views of Lake Tahoe.
Chickadee Ridge is so named because of the enormous number of very tame chickadees who hang out in the lodgepole and white bark pines on the ridge. While admiring the view, folks have been feeding them, and the birds are happy to sit on your hands, shoulders and head if you will give them something. While signs in the area do warn chickadees to not eat the food provided by humans, apparently some humans don’t read chickadee.
Getting antsy to get on your cross-country skis and the resorts haven’t opened yet? Tahoe Meadows is a good bet.
To get there: Take Mt. Rose Highway 431 in Incline Village towards Reno seven miles to where the road levels off. Park on the wide shoulder and ski off into the meadow and trees.
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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