September 28, 2014 - Marianne's Ice Cream - Aptos, California

We drove home back down Highway 1 with a stop at Marianne’s Ice Cream….I ordered the German Chocolate.  It was delicious.  The shop has a huge menu…and I am going to take every opportunity that I get to return and get another cone or two. 

 Marianne’s Ice Cream

783 Rio Del Mar Blvd.

Aptos, CA 95003

(831) 688-7442

Tip:  Bring cash because the minimum credit card purchase is $20...okay..don't bring cash and eat $25 worth of ice cream.

September 28, 2014 - Phil's Fish Market and Eatery - Moss Landing, California

Rose Filicetti, Neal Savage, Matt Savage and I went to Phil’s Fish Market  in Moss Landing.  I ordered the Halibut Fish and Chips…it came with coleslaw…a huge plate of food…five large pieces of halibut….a mammoth serving of coleslaw…lots of tartar sauce and  ketchup for the chips….I loved my selection.  The pieces of halibut was served in a batter that was thick and fluffy….fried to a golden brown…that is the way I like my battered fish.  The coleslaw was served in a sweet and creamy dressing.  Neal ordered exactly what I ordered.  Rose ordered the three fish and chips…cod…shrimp and scallops.  Matt ordered Fish Tacos..and they looked good…very good.

Phil's Fish Market & Eatery
7600 Sandholdt Rd.
Moss Landing, CA 95039

Phone: 831.633.2152
Fax: 831.633.8611

September 28, 2014 - MoBo Sushi - Santa Cruz, California

I am visiting cousins, Rose Filicetti and Neal Savage in Capitola Beach, California.  The beach town is very close to Santa Cruz, California.

Rose and I lunched at MoBo Sushi before attending the production of Saint Joan at the Jewel Theater in Santa Cruz.

Rose ordered the Mobo Wrap – deep fried shrimp, snow crab, avocado,  and smoked  salmon wrapped in fresh cabbage.  It was served with sweet sauce, tobiko and green onion.  (there is no rice in this roll.)

I ordered the Crunch Dragon – Tempura Black Tiger shrimp, crab, cucumber and avocado in a roll covered with spicy tuna, tempura slakes, spicy mayo and sweet sauce.  I really loved my selection…a mix of spicy and sweet.  It was the best roll that I have ever tasted.

I thought the presentation was absolutely lovely.

MoBo Sushi

The Galleria, Downtown Santa Cruz

105 South River Street

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 425-1700

www.mobosushirestaurant.com

…MoBo….Mobo (mo’ – bo)

The shape of your  mouth when eating something delicious at MoBo.

MoBo Meanings….

In the 1920’s Japanese youth, who wore western clothes and assimilated western ideal, called themselves modern boys or MoBo.

MoBoKanji translation:

To search while standing still and wandering.

English derivation (slang) from Mobius, inventor of famous paper strip science experiment.

A pragmatic example of illusion and perception.

Alludes to the integration of East and West into a symbiotic world culture.

Humble dedication to preparing and serving the freshest food in the most pleasing manner.

A magical incantation.

September 26, 2014 - Grenzella's - Williams, California

Olive Tasting at Granzella's in Williams, California - this could become a favorite hobby of mine.  I love olives.  Some of my favorites:

Garlic Flavored Olives

Deli Mix

Hot and Zesty Olives

Garlic Cloves

Italian Oil and Dry Olives

We ate a lot of these as kids...and I hated everyone I ate because they were so sour.  These were absolutely wonderful.

Green Olives

Spicy Greek Style Olives

Sicilian Style Olives

These were my favorite.  I bought a jar of these to take home.

(Of course, I could have bought a jar of everyone.)

Marinated Artichoke Hearts. 

I know this was an olive tasting stop but I couldn't pass up tasting this or the garlic cloves.

A look at one part of the tasting bar.

I would stop here every time I passed this way.

September 26, 2014 - Pagoda Hills - Yuba City, California

Visited on September 26, 2014 with Jim Granier, Carolyn and Steve Battaini, Mike Renzullo, Jeanine Caron.  We go into this huge dining hall.  There are 8-10 food lines of buffet food. OMG!   You could find anything.

I especially liked the General Tao’s Chicken,  Salt and Pepper Shrimp, Black Pepper  Beef as well as Pepper Beef.   It was delicious.  I also liked my bowl of Hot and Sour Soup.

As far as Chinese Buffets go…this was good.  Everyone was hot that I chose.  There was also food available. Or...maybe because my fortune cookie gave me a really great fortune. I bet it was the great company that made this food taste so good.

Jim Granier's plate.  As you can see there is a wide selection of food at this buffet.  I did not try the sushi as I am darn particular about my sushi...but mostly because I was hungry and I wanted a big plate of Pepper Beef.

The restaurant is actually:

Yuba Buffet

840 Gray Ave,

Yuba City, CA 95991
(530) 671-0888

Steve Battaini calls it the Pagoda Hills (yes...from Paint Your Wagon)...and the name just sticks.  I have to admit though, Steve is pretty convincing.  As we pulled up I was looking for the Pagoda Hills.

September 24, 2014 - Lockeford Sausage Company - Burson, California

I am visiting Jimmy Granier in Concord, California.  Today we drove to Burson, California where Jimmy's pistachio farm is located.  We stopped at the Lockford Sausage Company to buy sausages for grilling at lunch.

We bought Hot Italian, Bavarian, Kielbasa, Beer links and andouille.  Jeanine also bought some  sausage sticks for a quick treat in the car…OMG…they were hardy…tasted wonderful…and no…lardy filling. 

                                Paul Granier getting ready to dig into his Hot Italian Sausage.

I also chose the Hot Italian sausage.  It was tasty…and hearty….none of that…or at least not much of the grisly, lardy fill.  It did have a kick to it…but the Italian seasonings were perfect.  I ate it on  a soft bun.  I never put any condiments on the bun or the sausage.  I wanted to enjoy the flavor and I did.  We washed it down with beer.  

September 18, 2014 - Vito's Pizza and Ristorante - Mesa, Arizona

I went to lunch at Vito's today with the Las Palmas Tag Along Lunch Crowd.

I ordered the Baked Ziti… Ziti pasta tossed in a meat red  sauce with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese…and I really liked my dish.  I just felt as if it had been left in the oven or microwave a little too long…most of the outside ziti were really hard…as in overcooked.  It was served with two slices of garlic toast cut into four pieces.

I would like to return here and try something else on the menu like the Italian Beef Sandwich.