You’ve decided to make the long drive from Paso Robles to Carmel and the lack of quality dining options en route are making your family grouchy. Then all of a sudden the Big Sur Bakery appears on the horizon. No those tasty looking pastries and sandwiches are not a mirage, and breakfast fare like the wood fired bread of the day and nine grain pancakes with berries, along with lunchtime fare like the puréed vegetable soup of the day or a sandwich of oven-roasted meatloaf with buffalo mozzarella and wild arugula are as good as they appear to be. Refreshed and recharged, you get back into the car to complete your journey.