Well this post is mainly about some of our favorite eateries, but a later one will hit the highlights of some special places to see. (And then we'll move on to our nephew's wedding last week.)
One of our favorite hangouts when we go to Braga is Café Vianna, a café overlooking Praça da República (Republican Square). There are tables inside and out, but we sit at an outside table under one of their giant umbrellas sipping wine and people-watching.
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Café Vianna used to be a
hub of political activity in
the years before Salazar. |
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Now it's just a popular place
for tourists to enjoy. |
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| It's almost always busy. |
The square is dominated by an immense circular fountain, and on a hot day it's refreshing just to watch the streams of water shoot up and splash down. (It was hot in early June!) The square was being decorated while we were there (as was the city) for the coming
Festa de São João (St. John the Baptist), a very popular festival that occurs mid-June.
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| I was surprised by a rainbow! |
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The arches are part of the decoration
for the coming Festa de São João |
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Two gracious women at
the tourist office, Márcia
and Cristina, have helped
me a lot with my research. |
The eating places in Braga are quite interesting. Each of them has a unique flair. And I don't mean just what kind of food they serve. They combine
ideas about eating. For instance, on our last trip, we discovered a wine bar called Copo. But Copo isn't just a wine bar. or a
tapa bar, although that, too.
It's several things rolled into one. Here we are enjoying our favorite small table by the corner window. But this building -- which is really two -- is full of nooks and split levels. The room next door is a wine and gin bar (with an actual horseshoe bar.) Up a flight from that is a cocktail lounge. A stairwell off of that leads to a small restaurant area. From where we are sitting in this picture, stairs lead down to a little champagne nook, which leads up to another restaurant area, and also down to yet another restaurant area. Surprises abound everywhere. And Copo does serve great tapas.
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| A little dining hall. |
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| Unless you prefer the garden. |
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Art on the wall, food on
the table, books to read.
What's not to like?
|
A favorite lunch place of ours is
Centésima Página, The Hundredth Page, a unique bookstore and café housed in a Baroque building on Avenida Central. I can't begin to tell you how inviting it is. These pictures may help. There are numerous little side rooms, small indoor tables, a garden patio. And books, books, books, everywhere! They also offer art exhibits and guest speakers, and special kid programs at various dates and times. But the books and snacks are irresistible.
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Exterior: The bookstore/cafe is on
Avenida Central, not
far from Praça República. |
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| Books, books, books! What's not to like? |
Not far from Centésima Página is a remarkable place called Casa do Professor, a home for retired teachers -- at any level: elementary to university level. It houses a library and a restaurant and bar, among other features. The goal is to make the teachers feel at home. But the restaurant is also open to outside guests and parties. We didn't take any picture of it, but here is
a website that can tell you more about it . There is a buffet dining room at street level, and both a cafeteria and a menu restaurant down a few stairs to the next level. The food was delicious and so reasonably priced. Being vegetarians, we had a vegetable-filled pastry for lunch that was so good I could swoon over it. And a party of teachers were at a group of tables near the far window, having a wonderful time.
Last spring, visiting the
Museu Imagem for research
, (Image Museum), a unique photography gallery, we were privileged to meet the director, Rui Prata, who introduced us to both the fabulous three day photography exhibit last fall, and also Casa do Professor, as well as two other noteworthy restaurants. The names of those two wonderful restaurants elude me, but we found two more in a little square (
Largo da Praça Velha) near the museum:
Taverna do Felix, and
Anjo Verde.Anjo Verde means Green Angel, and it's all vegetarian food that must be cooked by angels! Last fall we enjoyed a memorable lunch of eggplant parmigiana cooked just right. We split an order, and their portions are so generous we still were quite stuffed. I only have one picture to share, but
this website can show your more of the interior, as well has samples of their wonderful food :
Right next door, in the same
largo was a restaurant I'd been intrigued by online while doing research -
Taverna do Felix (Felix's Tavern). I want to place a scene in my book there. These pictures should give some idea of it's distinct ambience, which is both elegant and cosy.
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| A great selection of wines. |
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| Gray lace on white linen. |
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| Combined with Marilyn! |
There was a homey quality to this restaurant, established by all the antiques placed here and there, I suppose, and the soft lighting.
Little tables were also in clusters, here and there. We were among the early guests, but were welcomed in, and "Nina" the owner, explained the wonders of Port to me as she and a warm and friendly waitress named Sandra set things in place: White Port is an appetizer, and red Port is for dessert. (I knew about the red, but not the white, did you?) In the course of the evening, she gave us a sample of each.
Here's a video that gives you more information about the restaurant and owner, and you'll encounter the beautiful Portuguese language as well. And here are some
photos of the food: as well as more pics of the restaurant. Our meal was lovely. We do eat fish, and we had broiled sea bass beautifully presented.
Meanwhile, the restaurant had started filling up, and there were couples at various tables from all parts: Netherlands, Belgium . . .
The man from Belgium recommended a hotel to us, and it turned out to be where we were staying: Hotel Senhora a Branca, reflecting the name of the church - Igreja Senhora a Branca - and the name of the square - Largo Senhora a Branca, where the hotel is located. We have stayed there all three trips and will again. It's a comfortable hotel, reasonably priced, with beautiful rooms and a friendly staff. And we made friends with a young intern who has received her Masters in cultural tourism and who took us on a tour of her Braga the last evening we were there. (Thank you, Ines!)
And then there is the mysterious young woman who is always playing her violin on one street or another:
 |
| who is she? |
 |
| Her playing is haunting. |
Next blog will be about the Churches, Gardens, and Museums of Braga. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, what is the best restaurant meal you've ever had? Do you like to read while you eat? Are you a vegetarian? If so, what kind? (I have learned that there are quite a few classifications.)
Nunzio’s Restaurant, Loves Park, IL
It’s been a while since I wrote a “What’s to Like About Rockford” post. During most of 2012-2013 I was in the habit of posting one feature per month about my favorite places unique to the city I’ve called home for the last fifteen years. Rockford tends to get a bit of bad press and since, for the time being, my family has planted our roots here, I thought spreading some optimism was warranted.
So why did I stop writing these feel-good posts? I’m thinking it had something to do with my serving jury duty on a horrific murder trial and listening to the testimony of a dozen or more local police officers. Yes, I admit I was a bit jaded about my home town afterwards. My posting habit was broken.
Yet, there I was at Nunzio’s last Saturday night, enjoying the food, the service, and the conversation with my gal pal about everything writing (she’s one of my critique partners) and everything wedding (she just got married), when I realized, “Hey, I really like this place. I should write about it on my blog.”
So in the spirit of revealing Rockford’s gems rather than ruminating about my beleaguered city, I offer up Nunzio’s as another entry in the “What’s to Like About Rockford” series.
Nunzio’s is a family-owned restaurant that has been in Rockford for over thirty years. Their menu features Italian cuisine from pizza to pasta to pork chops. It was certainly the go-to place last weekend. We had a long table next to us that seemed a bit grim when they were first seated, but they loosened up after a few cocktails, and left in a very good mood right before us a mere 3-1/2 hours later. Prom goers sat at most of the other surrounding tables and there was enough sparkle to steer a ship through a fog bank. In other words, there was an awful lot of this:
Sequins, sequins, everywhere
But the real star of the night was the food. My friend Jen and I both had the famous Steak Sinatra, a char-broiled New York Strip, covered in De Jonghe butter and crumbs, baked in an oven, and then bias cut. It comes in two portion sizes, 14 oz and 20 oz.
Steak Sinatra, the smaller one ;)
One half of this meal for dinner, and the other for breakfast!
If you’ve never been to Nunzio’s you should give it a try and if you haven’t been there in a while, well what’s keeping you? Check out their menu here and their website here.
Photos of Nunzio’s by Karin Blaski; Photo of sparkle © Jessie Eldora Robertson
What to eat and what to do in San Francisco (photo courtesy of Flickr user runner310)
“Where should we go to eat?” In San Francisco, that question can have a myriad of answers. Never fear, whatever you decide will be delicious. Considered to be mecca for foodies everywhere, be prepared for your taste buds to dance in gastronomical delight!
Here are my top three reasons San Francisco offers the best culinary experience.
First, we have a diverse menu to choose from for your palette. From Japanese to Vegan to Brazilian and Pakistani, there isn’t much that’s missing. In addition to the diversity in food, we also like to offer yummy cuisine Off the Grid style or in a food court like the Hall SF.
Second, food is just a hop, skip, or even a jump away in many of our neighborhoods. The Mission District is the first that comes to mind when it comes to door to door food options. When people think of the Mission District the Mission Burrito usually comes to mind, and yes it’s good, but there’s also so much more!
Third, and my final point although I could go on and on, you will always find traditional and long standing establishments such as the House of Prime Rib, The Cliff House, and Farallon among the new and innovative restaurants that pop up around the city.
The only downside to being in such a great place to find delicious food is deciding where to go. For your viewing and tasting pleasure, we’ve provided you with some of our favorite restaurants that are easily accessible by BART, MUNI, or within walking distance of the San Francisco Main Library, the Moscone Center, and the ALA hotels. Click here for some delicious dining options courtesy of the ALSC Local Arrangements team.
After a great meal, I love to walk around the city to do some shopping. Near the Powell Street BART station, you’ll encounter numerous shoppers walking up and down Powell Street as well as around Union Square. You can also spend a fair amount of time shopping in the Westfield San Francisco Centre which is also conveniently located at the Powell Street BART station. Fairly close and within walking distance is Chinatown. Take a picture on Bush Street at the entrance and then have fun visiting all of the shops and eateries. Another tourist must see for shopping is Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. You can find plenty of San Francisco themed gifts in both locations including one shop dedicated to Alcatraz. Don’t forget to take a picture with the famous sun bathing sea lions also known as the “Sea Lebrities while you walk around.
Welcome to San Francisco! Have fun and eat lots!
**************************************************************
Today’s blog post was written Rebecca Alcalá-Veraflor, the Early Literacy Coordinator at the San Francisco Public Library, for the ALSC Local Arrangements Committee.
The post San Francisco: Where To Eat and What to Do? appeared first on ALSC Blog.
We became pretty solid soccer fans while living in Germany, especially around World Cup time, so on our recent return trip, we were psyched to watch games with our German friends.
For the U.S. v. Germany game, though, we were on our own in France. We planned the whole evening around the game, which aired at 6 p.m. in that time zone.
It was also the only night we could eat at the local Michelin-starred restaurant—and the night they serve a very reasonable prix-fixe menu. So we made a late reservation to fit in both, planning to watch the game at our B & B.
We’d biked 15 miles that day (a lot for us), and I planned to take a shower during half time.
One big problem. After the pre-game commentator chatter, the screen went blank with a message that said something like: “This game is not authorized to be shown in this region.” We flipped around, hoping another station would carry it, but the only game on was the other World Cup match happening at the same time.
Luckily, we were staying right near the German border, so I took a 3 minute shower, hopped into a dress, and we loaded up and drove to the ferry to cross the Rhine. On the other side, my husband knocked on restaurant doors until we found one with public viewing in its little bar area.
The one long table was full of retiree-aged tennis table club members, and the only free seats were at the front with a mustachioed man who’d already had a few too many beers.
He was friendly, though, and when he found out we were American, he told us over and over how much he loved Americans and how the best possible outcome for the game would be a 1-1 tie. He reminded us many times (a few too many) that the German coach and the American team coach (also German) were best friends and how they would both want this.
If you were watching, too, you know the Americans actually lost 0-1. We were disappointed, but after the game, everyone (except the kids) was treated to house-made pear Schnapps while the table tennis team sang the German victory song (is there a name for this?). Everyone was very friendly, and when it was over, we thanked our hosts and dashed back across the river to make our 8:30 reservation.
The restaurant was lovely, with a view to a garden and a stream. The noise level was nearly silent, but our kids were completely awesome and went with the flow.
We opted for the prix-fixe menu and added on the “Festival of Desserts,” which sounded perfect. We envisioned a dessert sampler.
First course (salad above) was great, second course (some kind of meat pie) was amazing. Meanwhile the service was first-rate. Our hostess made sure to graciously inform us when we were missing something, i.e. “You can actually eat those flowers,” and, “Those table decorations are actually pretzels” (in the first photo, the rock-looking things behind the ceramic elves).
Here’s the cheese table, from which we could choose what we liked.
And then the desserts started. First, a platter of teeny tiny cookies of many kinds. Then, a pastry with gelato. Another pastry with gelato. Another….we were losing count.
Surely the cookies had counted as dessert #1. There were supposed to be five desserts in total. Surely the gelato counted for one and the pastry counted for another, right? Wrong. The desserts kept coming, and we slowed down so much that we started getting two at once. The cookies hadn’t even counted as part of the five.
Not only that, but the kids had gotten (included) a dessert of their own, so they couldn’t help us out so much. Still, we were determined to do our duty and eat every bite. On top of the five desserts + cookies + cheese course, there was a tiny truffle course where we could choose our own adventure. How could we say no?
At one point I said, “If they bring another dessert, I’m going to cry,” and we all started laughing, on the verge of breaking the Code of Near-Silence.
Finally we ate our way through the last plate, now having finished enough dessert for about ten people. The last plate was probably my favorite, some kind of cherry cake (pictured above). We rolled out, giggling to ourselves.
My son said the other day, “Let’s never take the circus of desserts next time.” Amen. Maybe just 1/10 of it.
Below is a picture of one of the children’s desserts.
And in case you’re wondering yes, I threw the whole gluten-free eating thing out the window that week. I paid for it the next week, but it was well worth it!
Last year we launched wordpress.com/restaurants, giving restaurants the ability to quickly and easily build a site with menus, maps and directions, an OpenTable reservations widget, and more, along with an elegant new free theme. Since then, we’ve seen restaurants from venerable favorites to underground supper clubs using WordPress.com to entice customers with websites as beautiful as their signature dishes. Here are a few whose sites (and menus!) we love:
POSH is an “improvisational restaurant” in Scottsdale, Arizona where Chef Josh Herbert creates custom menus for each evening’s crowd based on seasonal ingredients and personal preferences. Using the Confit theme developed especially for restaurants, he’s able to give potential patrons a feel for the restaurant with a custom background photo showcasing the restaurant’s interior while maintaining a clean overall feel.
We particularly like the way he’s loaded up the left sidebar with all the key things a customer wants to see — links to information about the chef and his food, the restaurant’s hours and location, the OpenTable reservations widget — while using the rest of the page as a blog to highlight well-loved recipes.
(And Confit doesn’t have to be just for restaurants — it also works for secret supper clubs, rental properties, and more. Visit the Confit page for instructions on configuring all the restaurant-specific features.)
The Elephant Walk, a popular French-Cambodian restaurant in Waltham, Massachusetts, is a “benefit restaurant” — 3% of its profits go to non-profit organizations dedicated to fighting poverty. Using a customized version of the premium Duet theme, they’re spreading the word about their food and mission.
They’ve souped up their site with a custom header (which they carry over into an image widget, to keep the look consistent), and custom navigation that quickly shepherds readers to menus, FAQs, and information on the non-profits they support. As with POSH, they’ve also kept the most popular information in the sidebar, so readers can get directions or make a reservation no matter which page they’re on when the mood strikes.
Friends Matthew and Sean run Canapé, a pop-up restaurant, every Sunday night, taking over an existing restaurant space to present a new 11-course menu. Their site, using a customized version of the free Forever theme, uses stunning close-up photographs of their inventive, refined food to great effect.
Their custom background and header hint at their elegant but playful style, but it’s the slider of featured images that really steals the show — it showcases ten of their perfectly composed dishes, leaving each on the screen just long to activate your Pavlovian response before shifting to the next. Above, a custom menu takes visitors to more information (including a whole page dedicated to food photography, if the slider images weren’t enough for you) while below, blog posts keep followers up to date on upcoming menus and other news.
Some of these sites use premium themes or other upgrades, like a custom domain name or custom design – but not all. The Confit theme is free, as are its options to use a custom background and OpenTable widget. Many other free themes can be customized with a header, slider, and menus, and image widgets are always available for adding more visual interest.
Are you a restaurant owner who needs an upgrade, or just a happy customer whose favorite taco joint has a website from 1997 and wants to help? Welcome to WordPress.com!
It has been nearly 6 weeks since Mark and I moved from Athens, Ohio, to Harbor Springs, Michigan. So much has happened! I am going to let my photos do most of the talking! These are not in chronological order, but neither are the happy memories, visual experiences, and feelings that swirl around in my heart and mind as I become acclimated to this new hometown.
When spring finally arrived, Mark and I went down to the Marina after dinner and enjoyed seeing the first boats docked in the Harbor Springs marina on Lake Michigan.
This is the most recent photo, taken May 24 at Petoskey State Park, about 10 miles from our home. I lived by the Gulf of Mexico for 17 years. It is good to live near water again!
I loved this plant, growing on the sand dunes.
We have become more active recyclers in our new town. These "friends" appear at the various recycling collection stations.
Here is my Hipstamatic pic of the marina in May. Soon, this place will be full of boats!
Public Domain Photo: http://tinyurl.com/7e7g7dm
- Think Ahead – Whenever possible, reserve a table several days before your event. It’s easier to book a table on a Tuesday or Wednesday for the upcoming weekend than any other day. The more important the occasion, the more important it is to reserve in advance.
- Be Flexible – If the restaurant is ultra popular or it is tourist season in your area, consider eating there on a weeknight, rather than on a weekend.
- Go for the Heart – Tell the Maître d’ you need a table for a special occasion – birthday, anniversary, marriage proposal – and be passionate about it. Chances are that the Maître d’ will be touched by your special event and will want to accommodate you.
- Butter ‘em Up - Mention to the Maître d’ how much you love the restaurant and how often you eat there. Everyone loves repeat business, and regular customers tend to be treated like royalty.
- Go for the Gold – Don’t be afraid to ask for the best table. Perhaps you want to be seated close to the live entertainment, in a quiet corner or at a table with more legroom.
- Order in Advance – If you’re really going to be celebrating a special occasion, consider ordering a fine wine or champagne in advance. This will not only ensure you’ll be treated to your favorite label, but it will also send the Maître d’ a message that you will be splurging on your meal.
- Watch the Clock – Arrive at the restaurant about 10 minutes prior to your reservation time, but not any earlier. If you are going to be unavoidably late, call the restaurant to let the Maître d’ know, and expect a longer wait when you do arrive.
- Look the Part – Take the time to dress for your special occasion. You simply cannot expect to be treated like a special customer if you show up at a popular upscale restaurant in jeans and a t-shirt.
- Ask and Ye Shall Receive – Ask your waitperson what he or she recommends for the best entrée. They’ll almost always tell you what they prefer themselves, because in fine restaurants, every worker has tasted all the dishes and knows all there is to know about how it is prepared.
- Compliment the Chef – Tell your waitperson how much you enjoyed the meal and give your compliments to the chef. Your kind words will be remembered.
- Be Generous – Being a generous tipper when receiving great service is good practice and can take you a long way in establishing a relationship with the restaurant – at least 20%.
- Tell the World – If you love the restaurant, write a glowing review online and tell the restaurant about it.
- Leave the Attitude Outside the Door – Even at the finest restaurants, even with the best planning, there can be a longer wait than you expected or a situation may arise that inconveniences you. Don’t be offended or take it personally. Be gracious and patient no matter what – that is, if you ever want to come back.
By: Neal Thompson,
on 3/20/2012
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Beer and beef, wine and chocolate, butter and olive oil - all the good stuff is properly represented among the nominees for the annual James Beard Foundation awards, which are given to cookbook authors, food writers, and chefs in numerous categories. The nominees announced today include three of Amazon's Best Books of the Month picks from 2011, including Blood, Bones & Butter, chosen as one of our Best Books of the Year.
American Cooking
Cooking from a Professional Point of View
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The Hungry Ghost of Rue Orleans. Mary Quattlebaum. Illustrated by Patricia Castelao. 2011. Random House. 32 pages.
Fred lived alone at 28 Rue Orleans. Once the house had been a jazzy-snazzy, sweet-and-spicy spot, but now? The floors squeaked, the roof leaked, and dust coated the chairs. But Fred liked his rickety house. All night he moaned and clicked his fingers and tended his tiny cactus. If he got hungry, he gobbled some air. The perfect life for a ghost.
Books--even picture books--can surprise you. I didn't think I'd like this one--at all. And I'm not saying that I love it, but when you begin a book with big, big doubts, thinking that it most probably won't be for you, when that turns out not to be the case, well, you can't help getting a little excited about it! (The opposite of how you feel when you expect to love, love, love a book and end up being frustrated, disappointed, etc.)
Anyway, this picture book is about what happens when an old house in New Orleans is bought and turned into a restaurant. Fred is used to haunting a house--a wonderfully dusty, creaky house. But Fred is NOT happy about haunting a busy, noisy restaurant! And haunts it he does. But while he intended--perhaps--to scare the guests away, he ends up being the unique charm of the place. People see him as a little something extra that makes this restaurant worth eating at. How does Fred feel about all this?! Well, his mind might change once he gets a taste of powdered "ghost" puffs!
What I liked about this one was the language. With phrases like "munchers and clankers" to describe the customers, it had me at hello. I just thought the language, the style, was lovely. I still don't necessarily "like" ghost stories. But this one, well, it worked for me.
Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10
© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers
By: Lauren,
on 7/26/2011
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Even today, Truman Capote remains one of most America’s most controversial authors. Following early literary success his flamboyant became well-documented at the many parties and restaurants he frequented. Always claiming to be researching his next book, Capote was a social celebrity and may have had just as many strong opinions about other people as they had about him.
In the quiz below, you'll find a series of quotes from
Please read my review on Wandering Educators of The Great Outdoors, a popular restaurant in High Springs, FL.
Yes, this chocolate layer cake tastes as good as it looks!
By: Lauren,
on 4/19/2011
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If you’re anything like me, then when a friend asks, “Hey, do you wanna go to Taco Tuesday at that new place over by–” you interrupt with, “Whoa whoa whoa. You had me at taco.” I was flipping through one of my favorite Oxford volumes, The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink edited by renowned food historian Andrew F. Smith, and came across the entries for both Taco and Taco Bell. After reading some surprising sections aloud to fascinated colleagues, I decided I couldn’t keep these morsels to myself. “Oh please,” you might say, “I already know all there is to know about tacos!” No, my good sir/lady, I don’t think you do. So in advance, you’re welcome. –Lauren Appelwick, Blog Editor
Tacos
In Mexico the word “taco,” which means a bite or snack, came to refer to a particular genre of edibles – a tortilla wrapped or folded around a filling [...] (The traditional Mexican taco is made with a soft, fresh corn tortilla; “hard shell” tacos, made with tortillas fried in a basket to give them a sturdy “U” shape, are a creation of Mexican restaurants in the United States.) The first known English-language taco recipes appeared in California cookbooks beginning in 1914.
[...] Until the 1960s tacos were mainly served in California and the Southwest at small roadside taco stands run by Mexican Americans. This changed when Glen Bell launched the first Mexican American fast food franchise in 1962 in Downey, California. Taco Bell had to overcome vast distrust and prejudice among many American consumers against Mexican restaurants. The new chain’s advertising emphasized that these were American restaurants that just happened to server Mexican-style food. Taco Bell assured the public that it’s tacos and other offerings were no more spicy or “foreign” than hamburgers. [...]
Taco Bell
During the early 1950s, few Americans outside California and the Southwest knew what a taco was. In the early twenty-first century Mexican American food is one of America’s fastest-growing cuisines. Although there are many reasons for this change, one was the Taco Bell fast food chain launched by Glenn Bell.
Bell operated a one-man hamburger and hot dog stand in San Bernardino, California, but he liked eating Mexican take-out food. Taco stands dotted the southern California landscape, but none offered fast food. Bell developed ways to improve the efficiency of preparing Mexican food. At the time, taco shells were made by frying soft tortillas for a few minutes. Bell invented a prefabricated hard taco shell, which did not have to be fried, thus saving time on each order. Bell also developed procedures for accelerating service.
Bell decided to test his new ideas. Bell opened a Taco Tia restaurant in 1954 in San Bernardino, California, the same year and the same city in which Richard and Maurice McDonald opened their revolutionary fast food establishment. Like the McDonald brothers, Bell quickly opened more restaurants in the surrounding area. Bell sold his interest in Taco Tia, and with new partners launched another chain, El Taco. The first outlet was opened in 1958 in Long Beach, California.
In 1962 Bell sold his share in El Taco to his partners and opened the first Taco Bell, in Downey, California. The menu consisted mainly of tacos and burritos plus beverages. This small outlet was quickly followed by eight stores in the Long
By:
Claudette Young,
on 4/10/2011
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One of the things that keep a person engaged is finding new locales to explore.
A person doesn’t have to take a plane, train, bus, or even a car. All that’s required is physical mobility. Some use feet, others use personal wheels. Sometimes when the weather is bad, a leisurely finger walk through the yellow pages can give a person an entirely new look at their hometown.
When Sister Jo and I go into a new town where we’re going to spend a few days, I look at the yellow pages as soon as I can. From those pale tissue leaves I discover the range of amenities available to locals and visitors alike. The demographics of the community are contained with that phone book section.
If you don’t believe me, go to the restaurant section of the pages. See what’s available for your dining pleasure. How many Mexican restaurants are there? Chinese, Thai, or Japanese? What about Mid-Eastern fare? Any Russian, French, or American Steak Houses? These numbers often reflect the population of an area.
What about churches? What denominations are there and how many of each can one choose from?
Is there a dealership where you can take your car if something goes wrong or you need an oil change? What if you need a new tire? Can you find a reputable local tire dealer that won’t cost you the contents of your bank account?
Sheer volume of entries in the yellow pages, their sizes, and the boldness of print tell the explorer much about where they are and what they can expect while in the area. This kind of information is overlooked many times in favor of asking available locals specific need-to-know questions. That’s fine, too, but laborious in nature. The phone book holding the yellow pages also gives you a map of the town so that you can find your way around without having to use the trial and error method.
Much entertainment can be reaped by locals from tourists asking those “Can you tell me…?” questions. Ask any farmer outside any small town how much fun it is to give directions to newbies.
Of course, if you ask the right questions and pay attention in the right locales, you can find your way around easily. Oklahoma is one of those places. The state’s smaller road system is set up on a one-mile grid and named accordingly. That holds true everywhere with one exception. Those areas in former logging areas along the eastern edge of the state and where rivers and lakes don’t allow for straight roads.
Local signage also clues the traveler as to the demographics of an area. There are clues everywhere. It’s up to the visitor to look for the gems.
Here’s an example from yesterday. We took in a local fresh-air farmer’s market in Templeton, CA. There was almost a carnival air to the occasion. Kids ran and played while parents selected the best of the locally grown produce.
We saw artichokes twice the size of softballs. I’ve never seen anything like them. Beside them were egg-sized purple artichokes. I’d never seen their like before either. Vine-ripened tomatoes that filled the hand snugged up against green onions that could feed three. It was marvelous.
The local historical society building was open for visiting where we found fodder for many future investigations. Watching the shoppers told another story. Old or young, they enjoyed the sunshine and produce presentations. Conversation was lively and relaxed
Lucky’s Hot Dogs and More * * * * * (Five Stars)
4251 N State Road 7
Hollywood, FL 33021
Phone 954-967-0809
Fax 954-967-0810
If you are a hot dog lover, you’ve got to try Lucky’s Hot Dogs. Owner Dick Simon does everything right at his new restaurant:
- It’s in a great location on 441, across from the Seminole Bingo Hall and a block from the Seminole Hard Rock Casino.
- It’s immaculate, inside and out.
- It’s charming.
- The service is excellent.
- The food is great.
- The prices are terrific.
- AND I got a FREE hot dog, because it was my birthday yesterday!
- Even the cutomers were real friendly too.
Look for the big yellow building on the corner of Stirling Road and 441 (State Rd. 7)
Coming from Chicago, I can only eat Vienna hot dogs. In fact, whenever I see the photo of a Vienna dog with the Vienna logo, my mouth waters. These are absolutely the best, highest quality dogs you can eat. Like me, Dick Simon is from Chicago originally. He’s been in South Florida for 35 years. He was retired but jumped at the chance to open this new place, and I’m so glad he did!
Dick Simon proudly showing me around Lucky’s
A Chicago Style hot dog all the way, with a side of Black Jack Fries
Italian Beef sandwich dipped all the way
In addition to dogs and Italian beef, other specialties include Polish Sausage, fried sausage, grilled salami sandwiches and fish and chips. There are also burgers, chili and chicken tenders on the menu and plenty of sides. (My regular fries were terrific – hot, tasty and perfectly salted.) You can even get fresh main course salads here. There’s ample counter space to eat inside the well air-conditioned restaurant a well as a few tables with umbrellas outside. There’s also a drive thru window, but I’d rather order inside and enjoy the total experience. Also, there’s a cute Hall of Fame on the wall for the youngest hot dog eaters. Pick up a sandwich card for frequent visitors so you can get a free hot dog after so many visits.
Lucky’s Hot Dogs is the kind of place that will quickly become your favorite sandwich shop. Even if I didn’t write this 5-Star review, I’m sure Dick S
I've decided to try something a little different with my reviews from now on. I'm going to keep the "numbered" format of my previous reviews, but incorporate the ROUS initials of my site and make the format a bit more open to reviewing other types of things, like restaurants and the like. Let me know what you think!
Reviews Of Unusual SizeRestaurants RED'S EATSMain St. & Water St., Wiscasset,
Funny Lunch by David Catrow
This second Max Spaniel book offers mayhem and fun with a pizza theme. Max is not a dog, he is a chef! He and his cat friend have a restaurant where they serve pizzas. When one customer refuses the special and orders chili instead, he is given a scarf, hat and mittens. When another orders a hot dog, a panting dog with a fan is served. Trouble arrives by bus with an order of 100 pizzas with everything! Max cannot make pizzas that fast and ends up with a mess instead. Luckily great pizza is only a phone call away. Even better, Max got to enjoy the pizza too.
Catrow successfully mixes very simple beginner reader words with pictured filled with funny details and merriment. The jokes are classic and there are some that only those looking at the pictures will find. Catrow’s watercolor illustrations ooze giggles and laughs as well as pizza sauce and cheese. They add another dimension of fun to the book. The relationship between Max and his cat friend is a good one that plays out primarily in the illustrations.
A frolic of an easy reader, this book will be enjoyed by young pizza and dog lovers. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Reviewed from copy received from Scholastic.
The Dancing Pancake by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Bindi is facing a lot of changes in her life. First, her father has left their family to find a job in another city. A few months later, she learns that her parents have separated. Now her mother and her aunt are starting a restaurant called The Dancing Pancake. They will be moving into the apartment above the restaurant and out of their house. As all of these changes hit, Bindi finds herself feeling sad and angry about them. People at the restaurant and her extended family help her deal with her feelings and show her the positive in her life.
This verse novel features a full cast of interesting characters. The poems are written from Bindi’s point of view. She is a protagonist who is open and honest about her feelings, even when she is struggling with them. She offers readers a clear view of what children deal with when parents separate and life changes. At the same time, she is uniquely Bindi, a girl who loves to read, worries about what sort of friend she is, and tries to help others whenever she can.
Spinelli’s verse is short and sweet. It has a clarity and understated feel to it that makes it very easy to read. Lew-Vriethoff’s illustrations have a breezy, effortless quality to them. They are simple line drawings that capture the moments in the book. The verse format and the illustrations throughout the book will make this a very inviting title for young readers.
Highly recommended, this book strikes just the right balance between a girl’s life falling apart and a family ready to catch and hold her. Appropriate for ages 7-10.
Reviewed from copy received from Knopf.
Posted on 7/23/2009
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Time Machine, Three Trips: Where Would You Go?
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In a fast food restaurant in the city, two young women are chatting while they wait in line for their fried chicken orders. One of the women is a young mother with her daughter. The child appears to be around two or three years old. The first lady tells the mother that she has recently gotten married. While they’re talking, the child swings around a rope that is connected to a brass stand creating a maze for the customers. The little girl, bored, climbs up and down the metal stand and pulls the rope down each time she goes under it. The mother sees but says nothing.
The woman with the child responds to the other.
“I don’t want to get married. There’s not enough money in the world for me to put up with the same man every day.”
The first woman still has rice in her eyes.
“I couldn’t be happier. We’ve got a little house near the waterfront.”
A handsome man with muscles bulging through his shirt walks up to the register and places an order. The mother’s jaw drops.
“I need me a son,” She says loudly. “I got my two girls. I don’t want to get married. I can take care of my children myself.”
The newlywed, unaware that the dynamic in the restaurant has changed, tries to appeal to the mother’s common sense.
“I don’t mean to overstep, but you’ve got two children already by two different dads and…”
“You just crossed the line. No one has the right to say anything about my kids. I’m a damn good mother!”
The bride tries to explain herself.
“I only meant that it’s not easy for a single mother with two children. You’re saying that you want to have another child. What kind of sense does that make?”
The mother is insulted.
“You’re saying I’m stupid?”
“No of course not, I’m just saying that a third child will only make things more difficult. Your older daughter is what…four? This one is two, right?
“What are you trying to say?”
“Look. I don’t want to argue with you.”
“I don’t want to argue with you, either. If you say one more word, we’re through talking.”
Everyone standing on the line is silent until the man behind the counter walks over with a large plastic bag and calls a number. The mother had ordered her food after the other woman, but somehow her food is ready first. She hands her receipt to the man, snatches her bag and walks off the line without a word to her friend. As an afterthought, she looks back and calls her young daughter.
Stomping through the dining area, she approaches her older child who has been waiting at one of the tables. She nearly comes to a stop.
“Let’s go.”
The woman and her children leave the restaurant.
At the counter, the other woman breathes a sigh of relief. She exchanges her receipt for a bag of food when her number is called. She exits the restaurant. Outside she finds the woman waiting for her.
Posted on 7/23/2009
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Time Machine, Three Trips: Where Would You Go?
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Image via Wikipedia
In a fast food restaurant in the city, two young women are chatting while they wait in line for their fried chicken orders. One of the women is a young mother with her daughter. The child appears to be around two or three years old. The first lady tells the mother that she has recently gotten married. While they’re talking, the child swings around a rope that is connected to a brass stand creating a maze for the customers. The little girl, bored, climbs up and down the metal stand and pulls the rope down each time she goes under it. The mother sees but says nothing.
The woman with the child responds to the other.
“I don’t want to get married. There’s not enough money in the world for me to put up with the same man every day.”
The first woman still has rice in her eyes.
“I couldn’t be happier. We’ve got a little house near the waterfront.”
A handsome man with muscles bulging through his shirt walks up to the register and places an order. The mother’s jaw drops.
“I need me a son,” She says loudly. “I got my two girls. I don’t want to get married. I can take care of my children myself.”
The newlywed, unaware that the dynamic in the restaurant has changed, tries to appeal to the mother’s common sense.
“I don’t mean to overstep, but you’ve got two children already by two different dads and…”
“You just crossed the line. No one has the right to say anything about my kids. I’m a damn good mother!”
The bride tries to explain herself.
“I only meant that it’s not easy for a single mother with two children. You’re saying that you want to have another child. What kind of sense does that make?”
The mother is insulted.
“You’re saying I’m stupid?”
“No of course not, I’m just saying that a third child will only make things more difficult. Your older daughter is what…four? This one is two, right?
“What are you trying to say?”
“Look. I don’t want to argue with you.”
“I don’t want to argue with you, either. If you say one more word, we’re through talking.”
Everyone standing on the line is silent until the man behind the counter walks over with a large plastic bag and calls a number. The mother had ordered her food after the other woman, but somehow her food is ready first. She hands her receipt to the man, snatches her bag and walks off the line without a word to her friend. As an afterthought, she looks back and calls her young daughter.
Stomping through the dining area, she approaches her older child who has been waiting at one of the tables. She nearly comes to a stop.
“Let’s go.”
The woman and her children leave the restaurant.
At the counter, the other woman breathes a sigh of relief. She exchanges her receipt for a bag of food when her number is called. She exits the restaurant. Outside she finds the woman waiting for her.
By:
Aline Pereira,
on 9/22/2007
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Yesterday was Peace Day – thousands of people around the world stopped to stand together for a world without conflict, for a world united:
PEACE is more than the absence of war.
It is about transforming our societies and
uniting our global community
to work together for a more peaceful, just
and sustainable world for ALL. (Peace Day)
There is an ever-increasing number of children’s books being written by people who have experienced conflict first hand and whose stories give rise to discussion that may not be able to answer the question, “Why?” but at least allows history to become known and hopefully learnt from.
For younger children, such books as A Place Where Sunflowers Grow by Amy Lee-Tai and illustrated by Felicia Hoshino; Peacebound Trains by Haemi Balgassi; and The Orphans of Normandy by Nancy Amis all 
focus on children who are the innocent victims of conflict. We came across The Orphans of Normandy last summer. I was looking for something to read with my boys on holiday, when we were visiting some of the Normandy World War II sites. It is an extraordinary book: a diary written by the head of an orphanage in Caen and illustrated by the girls themselves as they made a journey of 150 miles to flee the coast. Some of the images are very sobering, being an accurate depiction of war by such young witnesses. It worked well as an introduction to the effects of conflict, without being unnecessarily traumatic.
The story of Sadako Sasaki, (more…)
By:
Aline Pereira,
on 7/13/2007
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It’s hard to believe that it’s summer here in the UK at the moment but the sunflower seed which Son Number One planted a couple of months ago is about 30cm tall and still growing - so we may eventually have a happy ball of sunshine in our garden to counteract the rain, which may also still be falling!
Keeping watch over every millimetre of growth has been a good time to read A Place Where Sunflowers Grow, this year’s winner of the Jane Addams Book Award for Best Picture Book. It is a beautiful and poignant story about one little American girl’s experience of adjusting to being interned during the Second World War because of her Japanese heritage; the character, Mari, is based on author Amy Lee-Tai’s own mother. You can hear Amy reading extracts from the book and talking about it here.
The book is published by the independent, non-profit publishing house Children’s Book Press, whose executive editor, Dana Goldberg, has just been interviewed by Just One More Book. It’s part of their Publishers’ Showcase, a special series of interviews with children’s book publishers – well worth listening to.
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Oh how fun! I totally would have eaten every bite as well!:-)
I’m ready to explode just reading about it and seeing the photos…bon appetit had by all. What better way to vaycay!
Thanks, Donna! It was definitely a memorable night.
Yes, that was really the only thing to do :)