Breakfast/Brunch – Page 22

From Saint Jean de Luz to Bordeaux, a Visit to Bar a Vin, and Goya Lives!

March 11, 2016 mmm-yoso Basque Country - Spain and France, Bordeaux, Breakfast/Brunch, France, Travel, Wine Bars/Wineries

After a wonderful day and evening in Saint Jean de Luz, we woke refreshed and rested…..I guess this town will do that to you. Before breakfast and heading off on the train to Bordeaux, we took a nice stroll around the town.

Down past the port down to the beach and back around to the street we stayed on.

We didn't know what to expect for breakfast, but it was quite substantial…..great fresh pressed coffee, and egg made to order….all by the wonderful owner of our little hotel.

We bade our farewells and headed off to the train station. Waiting for our train was, well interesting….while the Spanish were rather boisterous, fun loving, out-going….the French as a whole were very polite, precise, and in most cases to the point. We loved the contrasts in personalities….I told the Missus that the Spanish very social personality reminded me of the Chinese, while the more reserved, yet very polite French, the Japanese. Anyway, for some reason folks seemed confused about which track the train to Bordeaux would arrive on, and in spite of all the other folks there, they would undoubtedly ask me….the most "un-French" looking person you could possibly find. The Missus couldn't stop laughing….."je parle non Francais". Strange thing, even after saying that they would show me their tickets! And after the second time, I could figure out where the car they had seats on was stopping!

When we got to Gare Saint Jean, the train station, we found the tram that we needed…it was all easy, as the ticket machines had an "English button" that made selections simple. Then it happened again, folks in line kept asking me, very politely, how to use the machine! The Missus explained it away by telling me, "the French are asking the only Japanese they could find, because he thinks like them how to get to their destination……"

The location of our apartment was awesome, a few blocks from the city centre, bit not too close, and a short walk from the tram stop.

Our unit was not quite ready when we arrived, so we dropped things off and set out to explore. We were also quite close to one of the city squares, Place des Quinconces, and were quickly noticed the Monument aux Girondins, built in the 1880's to commemorate the Girondins from Bordeaux, who were executed by Robespierre during the Reign of Terror.

The column itself is made up of several pieces, each of which has a meaning, from the statue at the top which represents the spirit of liberty, to the three lying at the feet of the horses in the fountain representing Ignorance, Lie and Vice.

From here it was a short walk to the area called the "Golden Triangle". There was a place I had marked on my Google Maps along the way. Years ago, the Bordeaux Wine Council wisely bought a 18th century building near the center of the city. In this building, the wine council holds a Wine School and Classes (L’école du vin), being a somewhat of a neophyte when it comes to wine, I would have loved taking those classes, but it was too early in the season for those.

What we really enjoyed was the wine bar located on the premises; Bar a Vin. First off, the prices were amazingly reasonable….even though we'd find that everyday table wine in Bordeaux was very affordable, here we could have a generous pour of a Chateau Landreau Bordeaux Superior for 3 Euros, then have the Server explain to us what the designation of a Supérieur is; the wine must be aged at least 12 months and the wines are from "old stock:, meaning vines of a certain age, along with the actual land the grapes were grown on being documented as parcels that have been growing grapes for a certain amount of time.

Folks that read this blog regularly know that I'm more of a beer guy, but all of this fascinates me…plus, the Missus enjoys a nice glass of wine…nothing fancy per se, but a nice glass. And with the pretentiousness that sometimes surrounds the consumption of wine, it's really nice to have a place like Bar a Vins. It also puts things into perspective; wine is something for everyday…..

We seem to have our favorite places when we travel. Those places that we visit more than once on our trips…..Bar a Vin, with the wonderful staff, the bright and friendly setting, and the location was one of these.

Bar a Vin
3 Cours du 30 Juillet
Bordeaux, France

We then headed down to the Grand Theatre a few blocks away.

More on this beautiful building in a future post, because there was something that immediately grabbed our attention.

Across the way was a piece of modern art, a bronze head that completely mesmerized us. It was flat, yet looked so real and alive…angles were everything….was it 2D or 3D, or 2.5D? It depended on the angle you viewed it. After getting into the apartment, I found out this was by Catalan Artist Jaume Plensa. It just looked so real that we were stunned…..

I'm still not sure what it was about this bronze sculpture that always got our attention, but we could not help but stop whenever we passed it and view it first from one angle….then move over a bit and check it out from another.

It's always nice to find something you don't expect that catches you attention this way.

We then headed down the major shopping street, Cours de l’Intendance….the Missus loved this street and I ended up spending a few Euros here later on.

While walking down the street, I noticed this……

It was a plate with the profile of Goya on it. Goya? I'd seen his works at the Prado Museum in Madrid, I knew he lived in Madrid, I have a postcard of his rather disturbing work; Saturn Devouring His Son on my desk….a reminder for me that things are never as bad as you think. But why Bordeaux? Well, it turns out that Goya left Spain in 1824, accompanied by his "maid and companion" Leocadia Weiss and lived at this residence until his death. All these facts I never learned in school…..

Down one of the many arteries that feed into the large main street and squares, we found a large church; the Church of Notre Dame (Eglise Notre-Dame).

The Baroque stylings caught our eye and we decided to check the place out.

The interior belies the rather over embellished exterior. I really enjoyed the simple, yet elegant stonework. The light really enhanced the choir, as it seemed to come down from the heavens.

What was interesting, even here, in the square where the Eglise Notre-Dame stood, there was the presence of Francisco Goya, as his statue stands in Place du Chapelet, a few steps from the church.

It does make some sense as Goya's funeral was held at Eglise Notre-Dame….and yet, it seemed quite interesting that a city in France would celebrate the life of a Spanish artist!

Well, at least here, Goya Lives!

Ok, enough of that….by now our apartment would be ready. It was time to head back there; freshen up, and then get some lunch.

Thanks for reading!

Breakfasts at the Patio at Desert Hills, Yuma

February 11, 2016 ed fromyuma Breakfast/Brunch, What Ed Eats -You too can be like Ed!, Yuma

While Kirk is out of the country adventuring and eating and taking photos that he will share with us later, Cathy is doing most of the posting here at mmm-yoso. Some days Ed (from Yuma) helps out, and today is one of those days.

I really don't eat a lot of breakfasts, and when I do, it is often instant oatmeal or toast or a burrito from Jector's. But on weekends, Tina and I like to go out sometimes for a morning meal. The problem is that a crowd of people breakfast out on weekends, particularly during our tourist season, and a lot of restaurants stop serving breakfast after 11 am. So when we heard that a talented young chef had taken over the Patio Restaurant at the Desert Hills Golf Course and was serving breakfasts beginning 6 am every day and continuing on Sundays until 3 pm, we just had to try it.

The restaurant is located in the clubhouse building,

and you enter through the main door,

walk back toward the well-equipped bar, and then wait to be seated:

Of course, there is seating indoors and at the bar,

but weather permitting, Tina and I enjoy outside on the patio itself with its views of the golf course:

The menu is one page, but Tina and I had no trouble finding several things we wanted to try. I opted for the Eggs Benedict:

The hollandaise was smooth and subtle and the eggs perfectly poached, so the yolks and sauce mingled together and flavored everything. On the other hand, the tomato slice, while lightening things up a bit, seemed to soggy up the muffin halves, and I wouldn't have minded a little larger round of ham.

No complaints at all about the home fries. They were lightly dusted with seasoning and had been crisped up on the grill. Overall, this was an interesting and tasty breakfast.

Tina chose the mushroom and spinach omelet:

A real winner. Alongside those same good potatoes, lay perhaps the best spinach and mushroom omelet I've ever tasted. Fully flavored and packed with spinach and mushrooms:

My only complaint was Smucker's fruit flavored high fructose corn syrup spreads masquerading as jam or jelly:

Our meals, including coffee, came out to just over $21 (before tax). Good value we thought and some excellent preparations.

Since then, we have been back a couple more times and always enjoyed our food. I'll admit that the stack of blueberry pancakes looks pretty mundane:

but they were made with a flavorful batter, griddled to a slight crisp, and packed with oversized blueberries:

The enchiladas and eggs, one of the house specialties, looked like this:

The scrambled eggs on top were nothing special, so we would probably order them over easy or poached next time, but everything else here was outstanding. The house made sauce – dark, rich, and mellow – flavored everything. The corn tortillas (also house made?) were thick with substantial mouthfeel and intense tortilla flavor. Usually the tortillas fly under my palate’s radar when I order enchiladas, but these yelled out, "pay attention to us." And there was, to my taste, just the right amount of quality cheese, not gloopy gobs of gluey blandness. This dish worked on so many levels, the ingredients complementing and enhancing each other.

Equally outstanding was the chicken fried steak and eggs:

While the potatoes were not quite as good as before, the chicken fried steak was beyond exceptional in flavor and crunch, and good creamy gravy only made the steak better. I did a little yoso-delicioso dance in my chair.

Of course, with food this good (and inexpensive) for breakfast, Tina and I and friends have been back for several other meals, but descriptions and pictures will have to wait for a different post.

While the service and ambience at The Patio are good, one extra thing makes the place special and that is chef Alex Trujillo:

Several times we've seen him go table to table asking if everything was okay and making sure that we all enjoyed our meals. Nice to see a chef talented both in the kitchen and the dining area.

Lemon Grove Deli & Grill- revisits/new ownership

February 8, 2016 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Breakfast/Brunch, Sandwiches, What Cathy Eats!

This is mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog. Kirk (and his Missus) are on vacation. Ed (from Yuma) (and Tina) have also been on vacation. Cathy (and her Mister) have been staying in the County and eating food after taking photos of it. She is posting today.

In April of 2015, Howard's Lemon Grove Deli & Grill was sold to a new family after many decades as a mainstay on Broadway Avenue. The new owners are a very nice Italian family, who have made a few cosmetic improvements to the interior and tweaked the menu.

The exterior is pretty much the same. You can walk in and find a seat or stand and order items 'To Go'. The menu is on the back wall.The corned beef hash and eggs ($8.99) is always a good choice. Two eggs, a choice of home fries or hash browns, and a choice of toast, biscuit and gravy or pancakes are al part of the meal. The corned beef hash is very good and not too salty.Two visits, I've ordered each of the breakfast sandwiches on the menu. Both with rye toast. The top photo is the "Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich" ($7.75)- scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, ham, sausage, mushrooms, bell pepper and avocado. Hearty and good.

The bottom photo (directly above) is the simpler "Breakfast Sandwich" ($5.75)- Scrambled eggs, cheese (you have a choice of cheeses) and ham or bacon or sausage. Bacon in this case. Unfortunately the Eggs Benedict is no longer on the menu, but a "Grilled Bone In Ham Steak" with eggs ($9.75) is. The Benedict and its sauce was very good when we ordered it. The home fries are the same as in this photo. Since there is an easy way to order online, I've done it a few times. The "Famous Pastrami" ($8.50) is large enough for two. The bread is grilled, there's a choice of cheese and a choice of ingredients. 8 ounces of meat. Really good sandwiches here.

Its great that the Roberto family has kept this East County institution going.

Lemon Grove Deli & Grill 7860 Broadway Lemon Grove CA 91945 (619)464-2928 Website Open daily at 7 a.m Closes at 4 p.m. Mon-Thurs and Sat; closes at 5 on Fri; closes at 2 on Sun Website

Celebrating Chinese New Year early – at Sam Woo BBQ

February 7, 2016 Cathy Breakfast/Brunch, Chinese Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is the name of the food blog you are reading. Kirk is not writing today (remember, he needs a vacation), nor is Ed(from Yuma). Cathy has a short post.

The Mister and I usually go out to breakfast on weekdays, but know that if we can get somewhere early on a weekend day, most places are not crowded. Since we also try to get shopping in early, 99 Ranch Market is sometimes a weekend stop.The exterior is decorated for the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration, which is Monday February 8 this year. Inside the store are decorations, gift baskets, treats and many choices of red paper envelopes to purchase. Across the hall, Sam Woo BBQ opens for breakfast from 9-11 a.m. Monday-Friday and 8:30-11 on the weekend.

The menu has 31 items (each $4.25). { In 2007, breakfast items were $3.20, in 2009, the price had jumped to $3.50 in 2011, breakfast prices dropped to $3.25. Good times. Still, worth it.}

Hot tea or a very strong cup of coffee, served with sweetened condensed milk is still only 30¢ (hot tea is free at lunch and dinner).We usually order three items, one always some sort of soup or porridge. This time, #11, Shrimp Dumpling Noodle Soup- yellow eggy noodles and five shrimp with pork stuffed dumplings along with a piece or two of bok choy. The soup bowl is large.

The #23, Roast Duck Lo Mein, served 'dry', with a rich with anise flavored broth on the side is just a perfect breakfast for me. The meaty duck with its crisp skin along with the noodles and broth is fresh and satisfying.The top item on the menu (#1), Stir Fried Rice Vermicelli with Luncheon Meat is another great item. Two types of onion, sprouts and slices of luncheon meat all stir fried in a wonderful seasoned wok has such flavor that either this or the bottom item on the menu (Fried Rice with Luncheon Meat) is always ordered. If we can't finish all of the food, those can be re-heated.

Sam Woo BBQ inside 99Ranch Complex 7330 Clairmont Mesa Blvd San Diego 92111 (619)505-9888 fax (619)514-8988 Breakfast 9:00 -11:00 a.m. M-F, 8:30-11:00 a.m. Sat-Sun

We wish all of our mmm-yoso!!! readers good health, wealth and luck for the forthcoming year of the Monkey!

This is a link to an amusing article about Chinese New Year do's and don'ts, from Australia (turn down the sound!)

2016 Rose Parade Showcase of Floats, Breakfast at Philippe the Original, Snack at House of Cookies

February 6, 2016 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Bakery, Breakfast/Brunch, Festivals & Events, Los Angeles County, What Cathy Eats!

Thank you for stopping to read mmm-yoso!!!, a blog with almost daily posts about food. For over ten years, Kirk along with some help from Ed (from Yuma) and Cathy (and a couple of others) have been sharing cooked and purchased meals and incidental stories to go along with the consumption of said meals. Today, Cathy is writing.

On January 2 of this year, The Mister and I drove to Pasadena to see the 2016 Tournament of Roses Rose Parade floats lined up end to end, at the Showcase of Floats. The 42+ floats were viewable at 2 p.m. on January 1, but we were watching a football game and didn't want to drive up. I've been keeping you up to date with the float road tests as well as a day when we helped decorate floats for this parade, themed "Find Your Adventure", which was co-sponsored by the National Park Service (which is celebrating its 100th year as a government agency). This gathering is all the floats at the end of the parade route, on display following almost a year of work.The City of Los Angeles float "Discover Los Angeles" is the float that Dennis, The Mister and I worked on and it is quite beautiful with all the organic materials.

Singpoli Group's float "Marco Polo- East Meets West" and the detail of one of the dragon paws gives you an idea of the work that goes into each of the floats in the parade.

The Lions Club "Camps for All Abilities" float was a magnificent display of use of live and dry materials.The South Dakota Department of Tourism sponsored this float, "The Great Faces and Great Places of South Dakota", which was overwhelming in detail. Notice the multiple colors/materials used to depict the carved rock and shading of Mount Rushmore. This was my favorite.Rotary International float, "Working Together for Peace" was filled with great details, like this grasshopper on a watering can.
Trader Joe's "Fearless Flyer" in full decoration (he's even wearing a Hawaiian shirt) was magnificent.The details of The Sierra Madre "Rollin on the River" are just beautiful.The 'bees' stuck on the beehive on the Miracle-Gro "Life Starts Here" float are really peanuts!The American Heart Association teamed up with Union Bank to celebrate its 30th anniversary in "A Union of Hearts". So Cute! People were posing along the side of the surreally large "Every Second is an Adventure"float sponsored by the Los Angeles Lakers.Northwestern Mutual sponsored this float, "Dancing Into Adventure". The City of South Pasadena constructed and decorated "Fishing Follies".

"Adventures in Real Food" sponsored by Real California Milk was displayed next to several booths which were handing out samples of yogurt and cheese, along with coupons and t-shirts.Just to give you an idea of how crowded the Showcase can get, this is a view from the East end at about 10 a.m.. That's the Royal Court float a bit to the left; they were posing for photos.

All in all, a great parade. The theme for the 2017 Parade has been announced: "Echoes of Success" and the planning has begun.

Of course, there was food involved in this day. Since the Showcase opens to the general public at 9 (although Seniors and Handicapped can go to view the floats as early as 7 a.m.) we drove up at a leisurely pace and took the 101 from the 5.Philippe The Original opens at 6 a.m. daily. Kirk has posted about a meal here and so have I. It's the same system, just not as busy in the morning. Walk up, order and the nice lady orders from the kitchen, which prepares most of the meal while she is preparing your tray. You pay her (they take credit cards now!), grab the tray and find a table. The whole meal was $15.04. I am fascinated with this self serve water dispenser; it reminds me of elementary school.The ham and cheese omelet is $6.60- it comes with the potatoes, biscuit (or toast) and coffee (or tea or juice). Quite large and good.The egg & cheese sandwich with sausage ($5.60) because I always order breakfast sandwiches. I like this version. A slice of still warm fresh made coffee cake ($1.60) rounded out this meal.

Philippe the Original 1001 N. Alameda Street Los Angeles 90012 (213)628-1731 open seven days 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Website

When we drive to the Showcase, there are three entrances. You can park for free and take a bus directly to an entrance gate for $3, pay for parking closer, or park a bit farther on a neighborhood street for free and walk. We park on Washington Street, nearest the North entrance. We've stopped at House of Cookies, run by a very nice husband and wife only a few times over the years, I posted about it once. The wife (who is usually working) remembers us. This year she asked why we don't stop in more often…and we told her that we live in San Diego. She was surprised that we stop at her place, and we were surprised she remembered us. It was nice.
The store is a tiny tiny place. Everything is fresh and tasty.
We bought the potato cheese filled puffy pastry and the Napoleon and the tiramisu all for less than $4.

This was a great second day of 2016 and prepared us for the upcoming year.

Arsen Bakery House of Cookies 2451 East Washington Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91104 (626)794-4280

Madrid: Maestro Churrero, Buen Retiro Park, Buying Jamon at Ferpal, and Lunch at La Posada de la Villa

January 30, 2016 mmm-yoso Breakfast/Brunch, Madrid, Spain, Spanish Restaurants and Cuisine, Travel

We really hadn't planned on getting Chocolate con Churros, even though it's a favorite breakfast for many. I'm just not a big fan of Churros….as we know it in SoCal. But Emilio, one of the owners of the apartment we were staying in really said that we should try the Chocolate con Churros (for some reason folks tend to call it Churros con Chocolate) at Maestro Churrero in Plaza de Jacinto Benavente, which was quite close to the apartment. So on our last morning in Madrid we headed over. We cracked up when we found the place; we'd passed it once at least everyday we were in Madrid. It really looked like some fast-food joint.

So, how did we like it? Well, the churros weren't overly sweet, but crisp, light, and reminded the Missus of youtiao for some reason. The chocolate was thick like pudding and not overly sweet either. The Missus enjoyed it much more than I did, so I'm thinking we may have this again if we're back in Spain.

Maestro Churrero Cafeteria Churreria
Plaza De Jacinto Benavente 2
Madrid, Spain

After this we headed back to Puerta del Sol. While the Missus loves the Tio Pepe sign, my favorite landmark is the Bear and The Madrono Tree, which is the National Coat of Arms of Madrid.

While the sun was shining brightly, the temperature was still fairly mild, so we headed down Calle de Alcala……

Here you can see the top of the Metropolis Building, a landmark on longest and one of the oldest streets in Madrid.

We walked to Puerta de Alcala…..

Then right into Retiro Park, a very nice green area that was once the lair of the Monarchy in Spain.

There are gardens, sculptures, galleries, and a lake…..called "Estanque del Retiro", Retiro Pond, which is does not resemble any "pond" I can think of.

The grand structure you see in the photo is the Monument to Alfonso XII.

After a nice stroll in the park we headed up Calle de las Huertas, then, somehow ended up on Calle Concepcion de Jeronima…and the intersection of Jeronima and Calle Toledo. The Missus immediately recognized the shop on the corner Calzados Lobo. this store specializes in espradilles; shoes and sandals and has been around since 1897. The Missus suddenly just "needed" some sandals. Though it looked pretty mellow from the exterior, it was packed……

I just tried to stay out of the way and hide in a corner while the Missus went about things.

Actually, the guy that helped the Missus was a total pro; the Missus told him Her size…..metric of course, which he brought, in addition to a size smaller, which he thought would fit Her better and did.

The Missus was quite happy, until She came upon Casa Hernanz….which claims to have been in business since 1845….check out the line.

Talk about buyers remorse. I didn't feel so bad though, as I really didn't want to stand in this line. As we walked around the streets near Puerta del Sol, the Missus reminded me of how boring my tastes are in clothes….so I ended up buying some bright, bright, blue loafers….I was actually going for the red; but even the Missus backed down on those.

We had a flight the next morning and started thinking about having something to snack on….and Ferpal, which we'd visited earlier came to mind. So we stood in line…..

And got some of the Jamon Iberico Pata Negra; the top of the line Jamon……as you'll see in a later post, even at 160 euros a kilo, this was worth much, much more…..

It was getting close to 1pm….early for lunch by Madrileno standards, but we were hungry. Emilio had recommended trying La Posada de la Villa, which, for some reason we had never seen during our visits to Calle Cava Baja.

This restaurant, built on the site of an inn which dates back to 1642 is full of character. From the somewhat formal, though still relaxed service, to the chairs, which have the names of famous customers carved in them.

Want to know who this dude was? Well you can find out here…… there's even some scandal involved!

The meal started rather inauspiciously. The croquettas didn't impress. The Revuelto de Esparragos was nice, the eggs fluffy, but the dish wasn't anything special.

The mushrooms were nice, the portion size amazingly large.

But it was the Callos Madrilenos, tripe stewed in the style of Madrid that really got us. The "stew" was thick and just coated your belly, rich and slightly gelatinous.

06072015 2204 The texture of the tripe was perfect; not too chewy, but toothsome; the morcilla was fine, nothing special, but it just fit well in the dish. This was a nice, hearty dish. and while we were a bit afraid that the place would be a tourist trap, it was not. In fact, if we're ever in Madrid during the winter season, we might just stop in for the house specialty; the roasted kid lamb for two!

Posada de la Villa
Calle de la Cava Baja 9
Nadrid, Spain

T’s Cafe Restaurant & Bar (Solana Beach) (Breakfast)

January 27, 2016 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Breakfast/Brunch, What Cathy Eats!

Thank you for reading mmm-yoso!!! all these years. Kirk really needs a break and so does Ed (from Yuma); Cathy is writing her first post of 2016…so much for that resolution to help Kirk on a more regular basis…

Late last year, The Mister and I were driving down Highway 101, looking for breakfast and noticed cars in front of this unassuming Cafe. We decided to park and walk in.Noticing the narrow ramped entrance and neatly decorated lobby, the architecture and decor made us think this restaurant must have been here a long time. The menu (a small photo is at the bottom of this post) states that T's Cafe Restaurant and Bar has been family owned and operated since 1978. This was a chilly morning and we saw an empty table near the fireplace and asked to be seated there. We were here close to the 7 a.m. opening and only two other tables were occupied at the time.The walls are filled with historic photos and descriptions of the local (Solana) area. The seating area is comfortable. There is a back patio area that is used for groups. The Mister has been on a waffle kick for the past few months and this day was no exception. He ordered the "Combo Wombo" ($11.95) with over easy (local) eggs, (homemade) sausage patties and a really good Belgian waffle. He could have chosen bacon or ham and also French Toast or pancakes. This was a tasty and filling meal.Noticing the corned beef hash was also homemade, was definitely my choice. ($11.25) I chose poached (local) eggs, rye toast and grits. The corned beef was finely ground and mixed with a minimal amount of potatoes and fresh herbs. It was light and fluffy in the center while being lightly crisped on the edges; a really excellent version.It is difficult to find good grits and these are excellent. You can see a pat of butter was 'hidden' in the middle of my serving.

So glad we stopped and discovered another local place.

T's Cafe 271 N Highway 101 Solana Beach, CA 92075 (858) 755-7642 Open Wednesday-Monday 7 a.m.-2 p.m., closed Tuesday

Portland: Public Domain Coffee and Tasty n Alder (yet again)

January 8, 2016 mmm-yoso American/New American Restaurants, Breakfast/Brunch, Caffeine Fix, Portland, Oregon, Travel

*** Public Domain Coffee and Tasty n Alder have closed

We had a gameplan for our last morning in Portland. More on that later. First, we needed some coffee. Back in March, FOY (Friend of Yoso) "James" recommended Public Domain Coffee Never let it be said that I don't take recommendations seriously. Unlike many of the coffee shop in the downtown area which open later on weekend, Public Domain opens at 6am every day. Which made it an easy choice early on a Sunday morning.

They were doing some nice business at this early hour. Just a simple cup of coffee. Service was great and we enjoyed the place except for the two morons who blocked the condiment section….they kept adding cream, sugar, and whatever, then tasting their coffee, then adding more stuff…pouring off some coffee to compensate…wash…rinse…repeat….meanwhile a line was forming behind these two clueless, entitled knuckleheads…until we finally went, "excuse me, but can we get some sleeves…."

One other funny incident. There was an older gentleman, though perhaps life had made him look a bit older than he was, who was sitting on the sidewalk outside Public Domain. He seemed quite kind, asking for change, or a cup of coffee, addressing folks as "sir" and "ma'am". We got him some coffee and a croissant….and damn if he didn't give the Missus a bow and a flourish, finishing with what looked like a modified curtsy, which was pretty much worth the price of the cup of coffee and pastry.

Public Domain Coffee
603 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205

We went back to our room and packed. Breakfast was going to be at….well, where else; Tasty n Alder, the decision was not up for negotiating. We travel light. On this trip, a single carry-on for both the Missus and I, a Tom Binh Aeronaut 45. Tasty n Alder doesn't open until 9am and out flight was at noon. On our visit the previous morning, we asked our server, who had also been our server on the previous two visits if she thought we could actually have breakfast here; catch the light rail, and make our flight back to San Diego. She believed we could do this. We'd have to be in line 20 minutes before the restaurant opened and she was sure we'd make it.

And so we got to the front door; with our bag, 20 minutes before the place opened. It was good advice. Within minutes there was a line behind us.

We got in and wouldn't you know it……we got the same server….I got her name…but sadly can't remember it right now. You know how the Missus enjoys the food here. All I've got to add is, that young lady was just on top of things, she was just amazing.

Besides the usual suspects, we also ordered the Watermelon Salad, which the Missus loved. This is what made ordering the Watermelon Salad at Risibisi a few months later an easy sell.

And just like that second visit seven months before, we were treated to some cake.

Which she brought with the check, knowing we were in a hurry. Touches like this mean that we'll always come back here……. We're just visitors….who knows when, or if, we'd ever be back. And still there's such a nice gesture.

Tasty n Alder
580 SW 12th Ave
Portland, OR 97205

And of course we made it to the airport with time to spare.

Swami’s (La Mesa)

December 29, 2015 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Breakfast/Brunch, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is a regularly posting blog about food (for the most part). Kirk, Ed (from Yuma) and Cathy are the usual writers here, sharing some sort of food memory, along with random factoids. Today is a meal from Cathy.

The Mister and I don't usually stop at the Swami's in downtown La Mesa unless we are there before the parking meters are enforced. But most of the summer, there had been much street construction on and around La Mesa Boulevard and parking has been free. The street did just re-open before Christmas, with new bench seating and just a nicer, cleaner 'Village" feel.There are six (and soon to be seven) locations of Swami's in the County, the first opened on Highway 101 in Encinitas in 2005. There are also two other East County restaurants ( La Mesa Bistro and Bakery and ECB (El Cajon Bistro) which are also owned by the same family and follow the same business model (walk up, order and pay and your food is brought out to you), similar menu (in choices and chalkboard presentation) and local wall mural decoration in the eating area. The consistency and extensive menu choices between all locations is comforting.

Family and friends who come to visit are usually from another time zone and at 6 a.m. here, their internal clocks are telling them it is 9 a.m. and they are ready for breakfast (all locations open at 7 a.m.), so one of the Swami or Bistro locations is a usual spot of us when we don't want to cook at home. But, in the case of free parking, we did stop at the La Mesa location for breakfast a few weeks ago.

The Mister has been having waffle cravings for the past few months and the Granola Multigrain Belgian waffle ($9.95) with strawberries was his (predictable, to me) choice one morning. The whole grain batter and added crunchiness is a little sweet and a sort of blend of healthiness (that Coca Cola bottle is holding warm maple syrup, for people who want even more sweetness). He added two eggs and bacon for $3, making this quite a large meal.The breakfast (ABC) quesadilla ($9.95) comes with a choice of fruit or potato, and my choice was predictable as well. The avocado, bacon, cheese and egg on the wheat tortilla is filling and tasty. Again, it's a good start to the day.

Another local, family owned business.

Swami's 8284 La Mesa Boulevard La Mesa 91941 (619) 668-9030 Mon-Sat 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (all locations) Website

2016 Rose Parade Float Decorating and other year end activities

December 26, 2015 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Bakery, Breakfast/Brunch, Burgers, Chains, Festivals & Events, What Cathy Eats!, yoso-silly

Thanks for stopping by to read mmm-yoso!!!, primarily a food blog. Now that Christmas is over, Kirk and Ed(from Yuma) are relaxing. Cathy is switching into overdrive, because she's been following traditions which continue until the 12th Night after Christmas Day.

On the drive home after The Mister and I had another non-traditional Thanksgiving meal, we talked about our next drive to Pasadena which was almost a monthly road trip this year. I had signed us up to volunteer to decorate Rose Parade floats back in June, choosing a Saturday in early December. When we arrived to check in, fellow blogger, Dennis, was also at the Rose Palace decorating barn of Phoenix Decorating Company, fulfilling one of many items on his "Bucket List". The view from the floor when we walked in is amazing.

There were two floats still under construction ( sponsored by United Sikh Mission, to the right in the above photo)… and this one, sponsored by Farmers Insurance. This float, mentioned/pictured in my October Road Test post will be following behind the main part of the Farmers Insurance float.

It was a day of preparation of dried flowers (so they could be pulverized in blenders and then the powder glued onto the floats), 'beaning' and 'seeding' and various jobs involving glue. More soothing and meditative, not the frenzy of fresh flower preparation (including the filling of thousands of vials with water) which begins today and continues until judging on the 31st. Taking a break, Dennis and I climbed to the catwalk (where the general public can also walk, for a fee) to take some photos…

The parade will be on television, kicking off at 8 a.m. on January 1. If you'd like to follow along and know the Order of the March, this link to the Pasadena Examiner lists each participant in order. There is also an app (it's free), mentioned on the the Tournament web site of the 2016 Parade Program. Beginning on page 39, there is a short paragraph explaining each participant and a photo of the band, equestrian unit, or the artist rendition of the float as it will appear in the parade. The Theme of "Find Your Adventure" combined with the co-sponsorship with the National Park Service (and the beginning of the NPS 100th year) is sure to make this parade one to remember!

Since this is a food blog…our meals that day…since we didn't have to leave the house at our usual 5 a.m., we had some breakfast at home then stopped in Tustin for cheesy delights; my most favorite version of ham and cheese baked into a bread and, on the left…a sort of cracker-cheese with a bit of flour; just the right amounts of each for a lightly salty, crispy pastry. Once again, we didn't purchase the delicious strawberry confections that Cream Pan is famous for. Cream Pan Bakery website

We did bring our own lunch, some sandwiches, and had those with coffee at the nearby Starbucks.

On the way home, there was one stop and then we saw horrible traffic, so ended up taking side roads to try to avoid, eventually stopping at the Etiwanda Avenue (in Mira Loma) location of Farmer Boys
Where I ordered my 'usual' breakfast sandwich (this time with bacon) and The Mister tried some sort of chicken/cheese/avocado/bacon sandwich… I have no description, except it was good as always; we were exhausted. Farmer Boys Website

Leaving the decorating barn, we had stopped at Orchard Supply Hardware in Pasadena to pick up the first of 2016 business giveaway calendars.Orchard Supply always has a train themed calendar and this year is the first time (in 85 years of calendars) when an artist's work has been featured two years in a row. The artist, Ken Muramoto, is extremely talented (and the youngest artist who has contributed to the tradition of OSH calendars). You can read about him HERE.

I enjoy the Vallarta Market calendar, because it lists the Days of the Saints in a format I can look at randomly. The Nijiya calendar is always beautiful. The Vietnamese Market Thuan Phat's calendar is HUGE and beautiful. The calendar from Lucky Seafood was…um…interesting this year. I know there are alway several designs chosen for the printing. This one we received well…I just never thought of a cartoony Asian man taking a selfie…but this calendar will be in my kitchen and I am sure it will make me smile every single morning in 2016.

The Mister and I also went to Fort Rosecrans, just after the annual volunteers from Wreaths Across America had finished placing wreaths in memoriam of our fallen military. Not every grave was covered, but each year a different section is completely filled. Volunteers will be needed for cleanup the second to last Saturday in January.
Once again, before our trek to the Cemetery, we stopped at P.L. Bagels for a buttered, toasted (available on weekends only) bialy and a (similarly prepared and available every day) everything bagel. Reasonable size, fresh made daily, seeds on the top AND bottom and sold until they run out. This family owned and run San Diego institution is great. P.L. Bagels 3704 Voltaire Street, Suite 107 San Diego 92107 (619) 223-4788 open daily 6a.m.-1 p.m.
Finally, one last local institution (more than 50 years in the same location) is closing and moving, because the land on that corner is more valuable than whatever rent the owner can get from the gas station, car wash and Mary's Donuts, combined. I've briefly mentioned Mary's in only two posts over all these years, but it is walking distance from home and since it is open 24/7…it is very much part of our 'rotation'. The new location is even a bit closer for us, but the ambiance just won't be the same…I hope the donuts are.

Mary's Donuts 9031 Mission Gorge Road Santee 92071 (619) 448-4800

I hope you are having a wonderful Season.