GreatFoodFunPlaces.com

Stopping at a filling station in Monroe, Washington, to ‘top off’ the tank before driving over Stephens Pass and the Cascades into Wenatchee, we are curious about a restaurant that appears to be ‘attached’ to the gas station and even more curious about it’s name, ‘Clay Oven’ and it’s advertising of  “Cuisine of India – Take Out”….at a gas station?

The Clay Oven is a pleasant surprise with an inviting inside dining area. The menu is intriguing and the little bowl on the reception counter offering a ‘mouth freshener’ mix of roasted fennel and sesame seeds, which we have only experienced at the Nirvana restaurant  in Washington D.C., convinces us that this is definitely a place to eat!  

We enjoy a delicious and satisfying lunch of excellent Indian curry, paprika calamari and special Indian ‘bread’.  This is a totally unexpected discovery, especially at a gas station in the Washington Cascades!

Fourth of July celebrations typically center around picnics, barbecues, parades, and fireworks…all decked out in Red, White, and Blue  and all of which are complimented by a a refreshing and colorful salad! Here, from Tablespoon.com is a light and tasty Red, White and Blueberry Salad  that combines watermelon, jicama, and blueberries over crisp greens and dressed in a tangy lime yogurt. Easily adapted, it is delightful just the way it is!

The afternoon is beautiful (typical San Diego gorgeous!) and we relax on the patio at the Prado, enjoying the fresh air, the setting, and anticipating a scrumptious lunch which starts out with a variety of seasoned flatbreads and a small serving of hummus to appease the appetite while we peruse the menu.

We are focused on salad, and quickly decide on the  Chopped Salad (napa cabbage, radicchio, julienne carrots, mango, snow peas, & wontons tossed in a sesame-mustard vinaigrette, and substituting Prawns for the grilled chicken) and the Prado Pressed Salad (organic baby arugula, shaved asiago cheese, strawberries, candied walnuts & figs dressed in a sherry shallot vinaigrette).

I begin reminiscing about my childhood experiences in San Diego and finally my curiosity gets the better of me. I send my sister a phone picture (just love this new-age technology!) and dialogue with her via text messaging. She remembers that we dined at the Cafe del Rey Moro with our grandmother. Our charming and efficient waitress, Stephanie, confirms that the Prado evolved from the Cafe del Rey Moro — I am immensely relieved and thrilled by this piece of trivia!

Feeling very satisfied, and with no particular agenda for the rest of the afternoon, we linger, enjoying the serenity of the park and this peaceful patio; and still considering possible ‘extraordinary’ dessert options, we indulge!  This choice is much more difficult than our entrees were:  unique variations of traditional fare create light delicacies such as amaretto liqueur- infused Creme Brulee with “almond cookies and fresh raspberries” or a simple Sorbet Trio of “pear, forestberry & mango sorbet served in an almond-poppyseed florentine with a raspberry coulis”…maybe it is just the description that sounds so intriguing!

We order the Balsamic Plum & Apple Tart: a crisp butter tart shell with aged balsamic vinegar, roasted plum & apple filling served warm with praline ice cream and a caramel sauce drizzle.

Well….decide for yourself!

Discovering the Prado Restaurant in Balboa Park was a delightful surprise!

As we wandered into the courtyard at the House of Hospitality searching for the familiar blue-tiled fountain that I remembered from my youth, there, quietly and elegantly under one of the arches, was the entrance to the Prado, inviting us into the cooler shadows of the veranda, and where we discovered a peaceful dining area overlooking the courtyard.

Stepping on into the restaurant, the colorful and almost whimsical decor beckons us further inside.      

I am intrigued and curious if this might actually be where my sister and I had lunch with our grandmother years ago.

It is an honor and privilege that Great Food Fun Places was mentioned in this Timeshare Information article about Balboa Park and vacationing in San Diego! Read it and learn about the wealth of activities and events you will find at Balboa Park while enjoying a timeshare vacation.  Have fun!

Another childhood memory of San Diego is brought to life with a visit to the city’s beautiful Balboa Park.

It has been years since I experienced more than just a quick nostalgic drive through the park.  This time, while staying at a lovely timeshare, we are enjoying a leisurely week-long visit, with time to explore San Diego.

On  the recommendation of a family friend, we are planning to have lunch at the Prado in the park.

We wind our way into the park and locate a parking lot.  With no idea of where this restaurant actually is, we just head out and wander around absorbing the peace and tranquility and history of this lovely park.

Having its beginnings back in 1868 when the parcel of land was first set aside, the park developed slowly over the years, eventually hosting a World’s Fair: The 1915-16  Panama-California Exposition commemorating the opening of the Panama Canal, a second World’s Fair: The 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition which was held to boost the economy during the depression, and Expo 2000, celebrating San Diego’s millennium.

Balboa Park is home to the world famous San Diego Zoo,  the internationally acclaimed Old Globe theater, the original 1910 Balboa Park Carousel, 15 major museums ranging from art and science, air and space, to natural history and anthropology, and the Spreckles Organ Pavilion which houses one of the world’s largest outdoor pipe organs.

My Grandparents held their 50th wedding anniversary reception in the House of Hospitality building which was built to be the centerpiece for the 1915 Panama-California  Exposition.

My grandmother also used to treat my sister and me to special outings, having lunch outside on a patio somewhere near the House of Hospitality.

I am filled with nostalgia as the old familiar park emerges through the changes that have occurred over time.

In the courtyard of the House of Hospitality, I am happy to discover the familiar blue-tiled fountain still there. Here also–we discover the Prado!

It was an especially lovely summer evening and we decided to enjoy the cooler temperatures by attending the ‘2nd Saturday Art Walk’ sponsored by the Uptown Merchants Association of Lake Havasu City, AZ. Local Artists display their work, either in or on the sidewalk in front of different businesses along McCulloch Blvd, giving exposure to both the artists and merchants and encouraging business for the merchants in the uptown area.

We discovered quite a variety of ‘art’ from traditional oil paintings, modern media, photography, weavings, etchings, jewelry and other handcrafted items, some mediocre while others were exceptional.

All locations offered refreshments, usually a cheese and cracker tray or platter of cookies. The biggest surprise was an offering of edible Food Art. This was fun and very creative. The ‘artist/cook’ admitted to being inspired by a book she had found and had expanded on some of those ideas.

It reminded me of the marshmallow ‘Snowmen’ my sister and I used to make during the Christmas holidays, and now I am thinking how much fun these might be with our grandchildren, and much healthier using pretzels, slivered almonds (for ears), and cherry tomatoes..these have caramels holding them together — I’m thinking peanut butter fondant? ….no limit to the imagination!!

Seeing fresh rhubarb in Sprouts the other day, I immediately (in a pavlovian response) started craving it.  I also started noticing recipes in magazines, references to rhubarb uses, and even other’s posts and comments about real-time cooking of rhubarb. (Is it just because I am craving it,  or is rhubarb getting it’s 15-minutes of fame?)

To my surprise (and delight), my sister was already planning on making a rhubarb dessert during my recent visit!  We had fun looking at various new recipes and reminiscing about old family recipes. To my further delight, another sister arrived with fresh rhubarb from her garden for both of us! I have just cooked (and devoured) mine – a simple ‘stewed’ rhubarb, with a little sweetener; nothing fancy and no other flavorings. I love it just plain. IF I had more, I might have made a pie….there IS something special about the combination of all the flavors (with or without strawberries, apples etc) baked in a crust that makes for a satisfying and tasty treat.

So…I’m thinking it would be fun during this ‘Rhubarb Season’ to share some of our favorite recipes. What is yours??

Following is one of mine — an ‘oldie but goodie’. It comes from a dear friend, Lorraine, who baked pies for our restaurant way back when. It is a little on the sweet side for my tastes now but it is delicious covered with a crumb topping and almost fail-safe using strawberry jello.  Watch for other recipes on the Recipe Page!

LORRAINE’S RHUBARB PIE

1 unbaked deep dish pie shell

Filling:

4 Cups Rhubarb cut into small pieces

1 Pkg (small size) Strawberry Jello

1 Cup Sugar

Combine dry jello and sugar, then stir into cut rhubarb and put mixture into a raw crust.

Crust:

1 cup Sugar

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

2 Tablespoons Flour

1/4 Cup Butter, melted

Dash of Salt

Blend sugar, cinnamon, salt, and flour together. Add butter and mix with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over top of pie.

PIE ALWAYS RUNS OVER! So place on a baking sheet.

Bake 425º-450ºF for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350ºF and continue baking 20-25 minutes until bubbly and topping is lightly browned.

Let cool, then refrigerate until solid. Once set, pie can be served at room temperature

HAVE YOU EVER FOUND YOURSELF RUSHING TO THE AIRPORT…

to arrive the required two hours early, checking your bags, getting through security, arriving at your gate, and THEN you begin to relax, breath normally again and you realize:  it is meal time?

Or it soon will be, and you should get something to eat since no meals are being served on your flight and you’ll be lucky if you even get peanuts!  And if you want to eat at one of the ‘nice’ restaurants, you haven’t arrived with quite enough time for that…can’t risk getting delayed with slow service. So, you give in and walk through the ‘grab it and go’ line for packaged sandwiches or salads that have been prepared who knows how long ago– that look it AND taste it! OR you give in and buy a cinnamon roll (that cinnamon smell is tantalizing but not very nutritious!) or even just a candy bar at the newsstand…YIKES!

Since we have become more focused on healthier nutritious meals, eating at airports is even more of a challenge for us. Some airports’ food service is offering fresh fruit and salads but they are rather pricey and not always fresh looking. To find something substantial to eat that is also quick and somewhat healthy has definitely been a challenge…UNTIL we found ourselves at the Portland Airport.

The food court is inviting and friendly and offers several intriguing options! And it is right there at the ‘front door’ where you walk in after checking your bags, before going through security, so you can even purchase your food and take it to your gate or have it to eat during your flight. Or even better yet – take it to the Atrium…a beautiful area just inside security with a full wall of windows overlooking the runway (for those of us who like to watch the planes landing and taking off) and letting in filtered sunlight (yes, the sun does shine in Portland!) creating a peaceful seating area where semi-private chairs with Internet connections (FREE Wi-Fi!) & outlets for recharging cell phones and computers are placed in a setting of trees and other greenery.   A grand piano sits ‘center stage’ where local musicians entertain for tips and sales of CDs. I didn’t want to leave, and Tommy had to rush me to our gate, arriving just in time to line up for boarding!

OH YES – the FOOD:  PIZZACATO PIZZA!  We had surveyed the establishments at the food court at the Portland  Airport, always looking for a light and fresh, healthy salad option. Not expecting it at a pizza place, Pizzicato Pizza actually offers several choices of delicious sounding salads and other temptations including a Hummus Plate and a Greek Antipasti (fresh tomatoes, cucumber, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, pepperoncini, & red onions with Balsamic Vinaigrette.) along with their equally delicious looking (and smelling) pizzas! We settled on the Spinach Salad with pine nuts, feta cheese, tomatoes, and a Balsamic Vinaigrette (omitting the red onions–I don’t do onions). We have enjoyed this delicious salad twice now while traveling through the Portland Airport (and still haven’t gotten a picture…sorry, I get so focused on eating, sometimes I forget to take pictures!). The first time we ate during our flight, and it was a delicious in-flight meal. The next time, we enjoyed that beautiful serene atrium, and I was so relaxed, we almost missed our flight (thank goodness for those moving walkways!)

We discovered that Pizzicato Pizza is a Portland establishment grown from a ‘tiny hole-in-the-wall to a dependable neighborhood pizzeria” with numerous locations, some are franchises, in and around Portland, even reaching out to Hood River, Lake Oswego, & Bend Oregon, Vancouver, WA, Petaluma CA, and as far away as San Diego and Encinitas CA. Hmmm…. San Diego? I will have to check it out! Meanwhile, for the best airport food yet, YOU should check out Pizzicato Pizza at the Portland Airport or visit any of their other handy locations!