California Eatin' On Foodie Friday

While we were in California last week, Howard and I had several memorable meals. Mostly I forgot to take pictures. I'm not a very good travel-blogger yet.

But for Foodie Friday on the Designs by Gollum blog

(click here to go there!), I'll share what I have.

On Monday, we explored the delightful but parking-challenged Balboa Island.

Howard explored a Balboa Bar, an ice cream bar dipped in
fresh chocolate and then into the topping of your choice:

The pigeons were waiting for Howard to drop his Balboa Bar. Ha!

They didn't know their customer. Howie don't drop no ice cream for no pushy birds!

On Wednesday, after whale watching, we went to lunch at The Crab Cooker in Newport Beach.
This was on the recommendation of someone at my daughter's church,
who called it the quintessential California experience. It was great!

The waitress looked a little fierce:

But she was actually quite charming, and brought us chowder.

Don't you love the elaborate and elegant tablescape?

Love the placemats with the slogan: Eat lots a fish.

Now, personally, I don't eat things that look as if they are trying to crawl

off the plate and escape their fate, but Howard enjoyed his soft shell crabs:

Alida and I had shrimp and scallops. . . and they were divine:

Yup, they were. If I ever go again... just the scallops, please.

Ummm... it was a good lunch.

Witness, two satisfied customers, fresh off the whale boat:

(Don't worry, Josh, I won't use your name.)

On Friday we rendezvous-ed with the kids in Los Angeles,

and the four of us went to lunch at a Greek place called Papa Chrystos.

Noisy and delicious! It was so good I forgot to take pictures until
just the remains of Alida's moussaka were left, so that's all I have for you:

Good Tzatziki sauce, great pita . . . I had grilled tomatoes and feta. Fabulous.

Alida took her leftovers back to her office. Grad students are thrifty.

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Lest you think we only ate at places that serve on paper and plastic plates and vinyl tablecloths, we did have some wonderful meals in other places. I had Thai and Indian food for the first time, in charming little restaurants in Pasadena's Old Town. Fantastic! Plus, we went to The Magic Castle in Hollywood for dinner -- the filet mignon was good -- and the magic shows were hilarious and amazing.

But the meal that was most important, and most delicious,and most special,
was the meal we had at this charming table on our first night in CA:

Cooked and served by this lovely hostess (and I say that as a totally unbiased observer!)

Our Alida, who a year ago couldn't claw her way out of a shake'n'bake bag, has become a very good cook.

She made the most delicious mushroom-stuffed chicken breasts. . .

They were perfectly done. And her sauteed spinach? Delish!

I was so proud of her! Doesn't she look domestic and capable,
in the apron her friend Claudia sent her from Italy?

Claudia stayed with us summer before last,
and taught Alida how to make authentic Carbonara.

Howard and I met her boyfriend that night, too.

He's terrific. I won't embarrass them by saying things like,
"Oh don't they look cute together?" No, I would never do that.

He brought her a beautiful pot of blue campanula, the most amazing color:

True confessions: after dinner, Howard and I were so sleepy (jet lag!) that

we both conked out on the sofa, while Alida and Josh made dessert. Peach crisp:

We woke up when the oven timer went off.

We're like two old war horses who smell battle. Only we smell dessert.

Well, that's our food stories from California.

Alida, thank you for your hospitality and tour-guiding,
and for finding so many neat spots for our shared meals.

We will be back!


And, Howard? Someone's looking for you, and says he's got a bone to pick . . . .

Have a lovely weekend, everyone! -- Cass