Friday, December 27, 2013

Red Orchids - Stockton, CA

December 27, 2013
Elsa, Holden and Don

The Red Orchids for their buffet.  It is a Filipino restaurant.
126 East Main Street

We are the first ones there at the opening bell.


Elsa and Holden exchanging Holiday Greetings

 Today's buffet menu.  There are changes everyday although some items are repeated.
Garden Salad and Seaweed Salad

 Rice, Chicken Soup, Mac and Beef and Pancit

Baked Salmon, Lumpia and Pork BBQ

Beef K and Pork Adobo

Desserts and Macaroni Salad.  Notice the fresh Filipino Mango.

Our starting dish.  Holden starts with a bowl of soup.

 Elsa's brother shows up for lunch with his friends.  Elsa did not know that he was going to be here.


They have other choices besides the buffet.

 Here the owner chats with Elsa.  It seems that they are a few mutual friends.
All of the dishes were tasty.  The Beef K was very good.  There is a nice variety of dishes and at $6.99 a real bargain.  Drinks were only $1.25.  So with sales tax and tip we had a full lunch for $10 per person.


The exit/entryway.

Their current hours are from Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

They also are available for parties as well as outside catering.

They also have plans to open for weekend evening entertainment and dining starting next Spring.


~end
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Sunday, April 7, 2013

California Academy of Science - San Francisco

April 7, 2013

Elsa, Grandma and I visit the California Academy of Science inside of Golden Gate Park.

A current feature on exhibit is Earth Quake.

This first photo shows the line starting to que up 40 minutes before the general public can enter.
Since I have a Membership on Tuesdays and Sundays members and their guests are allowed in one hour early.
We got in an hour early as a Member benefit

Not all exhibits allow photos to be taken.  But this one is a favorite of the kids because you can actually put your hands in the water and feel the sea creatures.
The touch tank

Not just kids are intrigued by this exhibit.
Elsa is as curious as this young child

We then tour through the Aquarium.


Since it is getting warm in the building we decide to head to the Living Roof.  The plants on the roof of the building act as insulation.
On the viewing area of the Living Roof

The docent explains what is going on with the roof.
Giant dome
The dome is the top of the Living Forest exhibit.

Here we are in the Living Forest.  The birds and butterflies will fly right around you as the Living Forest is an enclosure within the building.
In the Rain Forest exhibit
We next visited the Earthquake exhibit where there is a shaking house.  It was like a Disneyland E Ticket Ride.  No pics though.

We then took in the Planetarium show on Earth Quakes.  Photos not allowed.

By now it is 12:45 PM so..............

Of course this is the Lunch Bunch and today we will eat at the Academy Cafe.
This is located within the building as serves food at stations in a cafeteria like style.

From the Academy's web site:  http://www.calacademy.org/visit/shopping_and_dining/
Under Executive Chef Kelly Degala, the academy cafe serves a wide variety of multi-cultural cuisine, made fresh, with healthy, seasonal and organic ingredients. In redefining museum dining, the cafe offers delicious and healthy foods using sustainable ingredients. From the raw organic sugar used in our baked goods, to the sustainably farmed local vegetables prepared daily, to the organic, fair trade coffee, every effort is made to support local producers and promote environmentally responsible farming.
It is a bit pricey but the food is very tasty.  Elsa has the Roast Pork over Noodles with a Vietnamese touch.
Lunch at the Academy Cafe


Grandma has the Tofu in Curry Sauce
Grandma's lunch

I had the Fettuccine in butter sauce with diced ham and Garlic Bread - no photo.

A visit after lunch to a few more displays then Elsa has to visit the Kiddie Shop.
Buying a gift for the infant grandchild

After we leave the Academy it is off to get ice cream, but as I head out I asked them if they had seen the Mosaic Stairs.  Since they had not I took the back route to Moraga and 16th Avenue.



Grandma walked the 163 stairs up then back down

Grandma walked the 163 stairs up then back down


Their first visit to the Mosaic Stairs


We then made our way to Mitchell's Ice Cream, but I forgot to take photos.  Good ice cream.
    opens in a new window     Mitchell's Ice Cream web site



~end
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Mi Ranchito Breakfast

April 5, 2013
Gobo and Don to Mi Ranchito in Stockton, CA for breakfast.

Gobo had to pick up his income tax return which I had prepared so we decided to go for a Mexican breakfast.

I opt for the chorizo and eggs with rice, no beans and no potatoes.
My Chorizo con Huevos


Gobo wavers in that he orders his eggs over hard from his previous over easy.  Must be old age.
Gobo has his usual bacon and eggs with french fries and whole beans and a side of Ranchero sauce


We have been coming to this place for over 50 years, off and on.
 
Heading out after breakfast



~end
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Friday, March 22, 2013

Farmers Catfish House

March 22, 2013
Modesto, CA

The Lunch Bunch makes a long overdue return to Farmer's Catfish House restaurant on the outskirts of Modesto, CA.

This used to be a country Mobil Gas Station

The following is a list of the items that the group had for dinner.

These prices include: Fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw and dessert before 6pm
All dinners served with: Rice Pilaf, Red Beans and Bread  $8.00

  Well we have dinner reservations for 4:00 PM so we can the Senior Specials.

 from Farmer's Catfish House web site:

The moment you sit down you’ll be greeted with French fries, hush puppies and fresh coleslaw, served family style. All beverages are served in our finest glassware (mason jars) and you’ll enjoy your starters on tin plates.

The free appetizers are Hush Puppies, fries and coleslaw

Linda arrived first followed shortly by Elsa and Joe.  Patti and I arrived about 10 minutes later right at 4:00 PM.  We had gotten caught up in the Bay Area traffic heading out for the Easter Break.
Linda, Elsa and Joe had finished a bunch of appetizers already as we arrived.

And there's Patti
I was too hungry and forgot to take photos of our paid Appetizers.  We shared a Crawdad Enchilada, Fried Gator, Fried Calamari, Fried Okra and Fried Frog Legs.  Umm.  Lots of deep fried stuff.  :-)

Grandma had been delayed in starting, got held up in traffic too and then trusted her GPS which took her on a route that was 10 minutes out of her way.  So she missed the paid appetizers.
Grandma and Patti had the Senior Crawdad Enchilada as their entree

Linda and Elsa had the Fried Catfish Filet

Joe had the Spicy Shrimp and I had the Fried Whole Catfish

Patti and Grandma

Linda, Elsa and Joe

Joe panning for the camera

Grandma talking while she eats

Interesting photo taken from outside through the window

Another photo taken from outside through the window

My dessert - Peach Cobbler with ice cream.  Included with the Senior Dinner


Linda waiting to eat her dessert

Joe had already finished his dessert

Staged shot of me.  The only thing left on our table was some coleslaw.

 

~end

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