mmm-yoso!!! is being written by Cathy today. This blog is about food as well as reasons leading to the food.
On the last Saturday of October, The Mister and I drove up to Irwindale to observe the fifth road test of 2023 Tournament of Roses Rose Parade floats.
On this day only a few floats were being tested for mechanics and maneuverability.
Here is the Elks (a fraternal organization) 2023 Rose Parade entry, which needs to collapse to go along the Parade Route. The size of the door leading to the Phoenix Decorating Barn is the exact maximum height and width to allow passage.
It is a magnificent float when fully expanded.
Fezzy Bear, the Shriners Hospitals for Children mascot, and their 2023 float, is still in its rebar stage.
Apparently this float will be highlighting the annual Shriners Golf Tournament fundraiser.
The Lions Clubs International float, "Bridging the World Through Service" was tested with weight (people) onboard for the mechanics and maneuverability as well as the ability to exit the float within 45 seconds in case of a fire.
All in all, a short day. So, we headed out to look for breakfast.
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It is so easy to get to the West Covina Portos (six miles South on the same road as the decorating barn). 
Getting here before 8 a.m., there are no crowds.
We ordered a medianoche (Midnight) sandwich ($7.19); a Cubano (pork, ham, Swiss, pickles and a mustard/mayonnaise dressing) on a sweet, dark bread (instead of a lighter Cuban roll).
Also a ham and cheese omelette sandwich ($5.95) (on a fresh, buttery croissant).
Of course, I had to get a loaf of bread (walnut raisin ($4.15)).
Also a few other items (apple strudel ($1.55), gingersnap cookies (0.85), a pumpkin spice danish ($2.49) and three pan de muerto ($2.45 each) along with a dozen turkey-gravy potato balls ($18.79)).
I also noticed the guava rose cakes ($3.85) so very pretty- and delicate and delicious (guava mousse with a chunk of guava in the center on top of a thin sponge cake, topped with a white chocolate).
Of course, some of these items were shared with friends. Portos Bakery, many locations, Website
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Then I remembered our breakfast after the Fourth Road test and wanted dim sum!
Once again, The Mister was navigating via his phone, searching for "Dim Sum". Soon we were here. 
There is no eating area, which is fine since we were full and heading home. 
Quite unassuming and very popular, this was a perfect place to pick up some Dim Sum to go. 
There is a small interior with a small selection shown, the kitchen is behind the steam trays. 
Photos are on the front window.
Menus with pens are at the front. Not many descriptions are available. 
Steamed Fun Guor (ground pork, dried shrimp, peanuts, chives, mushroom and radish in a tapioca wrapper) ($3.98)
Shrimp Har Gow (only shrimp in a tapioca wrapper) ($4.38)
Baked BBQ pork pastry ($3.98)
Shiu Mai (ground pork and minced shrimp, water chestnuts, mushroom in a flour/dumpling wrapper) ($4.38)
Rice noodle roll with shrimp ($3.98)
Everything held up well on the drive home and we had a wonderful lunch!
Dim Sum King 11230 Garvey Ave, Suite D El Monte, CA 91733 Website Closed on Thursdays, opens 8 a.m. other days. 
I enjoy your Rose Parade float posts as a preview to watching it on tv. I went to LA this past Saturday, and stopped at Porto’s in Buena Park. It’s a huge bakery, and at 9am, the line was snaking outside like at a theme park. I don’t think I saw turkey-gravy potato balls, but at least I got my fix of the regular ones.
amazing floats and meals!
Thanks, Sandy-the tradition of watching the Rose Parade while wearing new (Christmas gift) pajamas from the snowy Detroit neighborhood where I grew up and wanting to somehow participate ‘when I grew up’ is just a wonderful achieved bucket list item. Isn’t Portos magical? So fresh, such quality and so very good. (If you can get to the Kolache Factory in Tustin, their Kolache of the Month is turkey with dressing and gravy).
That elk is a showstopper, Kat. Both meals were excellent that day.
I did stop at Kolache Factory and Cream Pan! Those are my regular stops on the way to LA, but this was my first time stopping at the Buena Park Portos.
Wow! That’s awesome Porto’s had pan de muerto. Thanks for the float update.
Wow, good price on those dim sum.
Great minds, Sandy; I may run into you one day! We are thinking of Portos for our ‘after decorating’ dinner (because I always want soup everywhere and it’s not available until after 11). Then again, we’ve tried quite a few new to us places this year.
Yes, Soo- got an email and it was only available the week before All Souls Day (November 2). It had orange peel and was very eggy.
Started ‘research’ on dim sum after we came home, TFD. The prices up there are excellent. Ocean Bo (after the Fourth road tes) was reasonable, too. t
Yum, I love Porto’s
Breakfasts, lunches, dinner, snacks, desserts and beverages, ST! Such a wonderful family run business.