mmm-yoso!!! is being written by Cathy today; Kirk and His Missus are vacationing.
The last time I wrote about Home Sweet Home Cafe was 2019-BC (before Covid-19). Time for an update, because this oddly located Breakfast-Lunch mainstay has survived (for more than 20 years). 
In the midst of a very industrial area of West Escondido, this nondescript restaurant storefront is open only for breakfast and lunch. Parking is in front and along the side of the building.
Many customers are 'regulars'. 
The menu is served all day. 
My usual order is a ham and egg sandwich ($12) on rye, made with a good amount of juicy, non-salty ham steak. The plate comes with a choice of potato. The home fries are excellent, can be made with or without bell peppers and/or onion. Optional home made gravy on the potatoes ($2.50) is worth it- it is bacon gravy (not sausage); a wonderful version.
The Eggs Benedict ($12.50) are made with perfectly poached eggs and plenty of ham on top of a toasted English muffin, covered in a home made, lightly lemony hollandaise- (we asked for added spinach on this day). Instead of potato on the side, a request for corned beef hash was accommodated ($2.50). A good quality canned hash and fried to a nice crisp. 
On another visit, The Mister ordered the corned beef hash and eggs ($12) substituting homemade corned beef ($1)- it's just corned beef! A wonderful, lighter carb breakfast. (The hash browns were nicely crisped, the over easy eggs were perfect and even the sourdough toast is a better/nice sour quality).
One day, I'll do a lunch post. Soo was here in 2021 and had a burger, among other items.
Home Sweet Home Cafe 662Enterprise Street Escondido, CA 9202 (760) 743-2233 Open Mon-Fri 5-2, Sat 5-1 Sun 7-1
The Christmas tree is decorated seasonally and there are small gifts (one per child) underneath always. A fond, old fashioned memory.
The float barn is filling up. 
It looks like 
The 
Unsure which float this is, but you can see the 'spotter' in front and a bit of the 'driver' all the way to the left and back in this photo. This float is small enough to drive the parade route without having to 'collapse' under street lights and the freeway bridge along the way. 
The float which will carry the Royal Court was being tested. It's the same float used the previous three years and is not judged for any awards. It is 'redecorated' each year. 
The 
"Hope for Peace", sponsored by 
First, the obligatory stop at 
So we waited in line and ordered, did see we could sit down for a moment and photographed some of our purchases.
We shared this 'new' item-a chicken and rice ball; excellent!
Then we started driving- cc always has a Plan A as well as a Plan B for our adventures. Turning South out of Portos and driving to Amar Road was new to me!
Yes we did! 
The choices and prices and wow! Everything was so fresh. (These three donuts were $6.25) The Donut Hole 15300 Amar Road La Puenta 91744
This mall, located between Amar Road and Manila Way, anchored by a 
We purchased pieces of lechon (slow roasted suckling pig)-perfectly cooked with a flavorful moist meat and crackly skin. We also purchased fried chicken skins; the chicharron were large pieces and perfectly lite and crisp. Toto's Lechon Manok 1545 Amar Road West Covina 91792
On the other end of this mall is a quite large building, part of a local chain, DJ Bibingkahan. 
A Turo-Turo (Point-Point) business, where you order, pay and find your own seat.
Corned beef silog and longsilog, served with hard cooked eggs and garlic rice, made a great breakfast. The corned beef was in chunks and in a flavorful broth with tomato, onion and potatoes. The longanisa was boiled, not pan fried, but the 'skin' still had a good 'snap' and the flavor was more sweet-I think it was made with pineapple juice. 
We asked the friendly man behind the counter if he had regular 
It is the 50th year in Glendora and also peach donut time for 
Each of the buildings has an underground "Guest parking" area before their respective security gates. 
There is usually a soup of the day, always Mom's Chicken Soup and always Mom's Beef & Bean Chili. Here's the chili ($5.75). An excellent, from scratch chili -not too spicy and very flavorful- the coarse ground beef and fresh cooked kidney beans make the texture of the chili very pleasant. 
At the bottom corner of the menu board are Monday-Friday daily specials. 
We also were here on Meatball Monday ($10.75) Mom's from scratch meatballs (five) covered in a from scratch marinara, melted Provolone and served on a toasted French roll. Excellent. The large meatballs were light, meaty and flavorful with basil, garlic and parsley. 
Bros, not 'Brothers', Bros. Waiting inside to pick up 'to-go' orders, you'll hear the phone answered 'China Bros'. 
There's a menu on the wall. If you are eating in, there are wipeable, one page menus handed out. I do appreciate attention to cleanliness.
As usual, I ordered hot tea ($2.25) which was kept refilled. Egg drop soup (with corn) was brought out for both of us. A very eggy version made with a rich flavored (not salty) chicken broth.
The Shrimp Egg Foo Young ($12.95), of course, had to be ordered for our first eat-in meal. What a lovely version! 
Fluffy eggs, light top and bottom crusts, plenty of plump, juicy shrimp. Served with rice and a good brown (again, not salty) gravy, this is an excellent meal with plenty of leftovers which reheated well. 
Lunch Specials (until 4 p.m. daily) are served with steamed rice, fried rice or chow mein or half and half of your choice, as well as the corn egg drop soup. This was L-19, "Fish filet with black bean sauce" ($9.95). The pieces of fish were lightly breaded and fried to a light crisp, which remained crispy even under the slightly thick, garlic-y, salty black bean sauce. The vegetables were very fresh and also remained crisp. The chow mein seems to be requested a lot here and has a slight smoky 'wok hei'. 
Located at the South East corner of Broadway at H Street, next to the new/current location of Aqui Es Texcoco (
Señorita bread is sold hot from the oven; that's why there is a short wait; it's never 'day old'…even if you take it home…
You can buy it by the bag or the box. You really should at least buy the minimum of five pieces as long as you are in the neighborhood. Buy more to give to friends. Buy some to eat in the car while driving home. Seriously, 60¢ for one piece. A piece of happiness. Joy. Deliciousness.
You might have noticed there are other bakery items in the glass case and on the counter. Many (sweet) baked goods are here (donuts, cupcakes, small poundcake). This is a guava jelly filled 
In 2016, Mahalo began as a shave ice food truck. It expanded into an Arizona franchise in 2020, along with catering events. The Zion Market storefront is the first brick and mortar location for this (now two location) locally owned business "inspired by the beauty of the Hawaiian people". 
The menu is simple; Five items.
The choice of flavors can be not as simple, depending on your cravings.
For this shave ice plate ($6), I chose li hing mui guava (li hing is the flavor of dried, salty plums) and tigers blood (strawberry, watermelon and coconut) flavors; not very photogenic but very tasty. Adding ice cream ($1) rounded out the plate.
This is the view from the doorway. 
The rye bread ($4) here is an especially good version, filled with seeds and surrounded by cornmeal. I appreciate that it is already sliced. 
Just realized I neglected the Italian bread (also $3 or $4) it can be plain or topped with sesame seeds and is a quality White bread. The above Italian rolls also available ($4/dozen). A good size for small sandwiches or burgers. 
The Theme of "Turning the Corner” celebrating the unlimited potential that each new year brings, was announced by the 
The 
The Spotter for the 
The 
No idea who has sponsored this float, but can see the the Spotter will be standing at the front and can also see the driver now while this float is in its rebar/pencil rod stage. 
This is the City of Alhambra float entry. Spotter is seated at the front and the driver is on the left side-near the red fuel tank. 
Well. Turns out at 8:05 a.m., there's not much of a line. I ordered pastries, breakfast and beverages all at one counter. 
The meat pie ($1.15) is filled with the same picadillo that is in the famous potato balls, but is baked in flaky pastry. A nice snack while we waited.
Also ordered: cheese roll ($0.99), apple strudel ($1.45) and a refugiado (guava cream cheese pastry) ($1.09). We took the sweets home.
Soon, the beverages were delivered to the table. Portos cortadito ($2.89) (espresso with sweetened condensed milk) and a summertime item- iced strawberry matcha latte (large) ($4.89). Both beverages are quality and flavorful. 
Soon, the ropa vieja sandwich ($7.50) was brought out. Served on fresh soft Cuban bread, the 'Cuban birria' (Cuban-style stewed beef with bell pepper, onion, olive, tomato sauce, and Spanish seasonings) was excellent and quite large. The plantain chips (mariquitas) are seasoned with garlic salt and are a perfect side to the sandwich, breakfast time or not. 
The ham and cheese (cheddar-jack blend) omelette ($5.50) is served on a fresh buttery croissant with a mayo-mustard spread and is also quite large. 
Recently, I had a craving for 
There is a chalkboard next to the cash register.
as well as a cup ($5) (vegetarian pea) were enjoyed on visits. The 'everyday' soups (tomato basil and chicken noodle) are priced $4 and $5.25.
Fresh roast turkey (as in roasted here, today), crispy thick quality bacon, shredded lettuce, house made Blue cheese dressing (excellent) served open faced on rye. This- THIS sandwich is fancy as well as wonderful. 
A similar item (in that there are crossover ingredients) is the California Cobb Salad ($12.95). Freshly roasted turkey (remarkably good), bacon, crumbled blue cheese, avocado, tomato and pickled egg.
There is quite an interest in eggs here; deviled egg dishes are used in the refrigerator and there is a collection on the wall above the kitchen. 
The Croque Madame ($13.95) is made with French ham, gruyere and a house made béchamel. Very tasty and filling. 
The Eggs Benedict ($12.95) served on an English muffin with ham and a very proper (unbroken) Hollandaise along with fruit and a hash brown patty is also filling and flavorful. 
The 2022 San Diego County Fair Officially opened yesterday. It's been a long time since I wrote the 
The planned Theme was "Heroes Unite"; that Fair never happened.
This year, the Theme is "Heroes Reunite".
The Midway was still being set up earlier this week. (You can see the Ferris Wheel way down there at the West end).
There are quite a few areas around exhibits where you can take photos with Superheroes.
Some things have changed. At the far West end of the Vendors Halls (next to Bing Crosby Hall), the new location of the Adult as well as Youth crafting, cooking and hobby exhibits has a new name- Home Made.
Of course, Preserved Foods
as well as Baked Foods
and Decorated Foods had to be judged. 
There are some amazing collections.
The Quilt display is original.
There were so many needle art items entered this year- Sewing, spinning and weaving, knitting, crochet and more. The displays are great. 
An "Express Line" if you are purchasing a turkey leg only!
The slices of 'Ten Pound Buns' are very large-the amount of avocado on that piece of toast…
Lemon mini donuts- we will definitely try those!
A 'themed' sandwich choice!
