Thursday, October 15, 2015
Here Kitty Coffee!
Here is just a quick review of the Grumpy Cat coffee I recently enjoyed. Or should I say, Grumppuccino. Grumpy Cat is an cat made famous via the Internet. The natural markings of a sweet cat give her the look of a cat who has a permanent loathe for life. The Little One had seen this iced coffee drink at Gelson's a few months back and asked if we could try it together. She prefers cold coffee to hot and I can go either way. So while she was resurfacing the laminate counters in our parents kitchen, we decided to take a break and try them out. We invited our mom to join in too. Overall, the two flavors were really good. I liked the coffee flavor whereas my mom and sister liked the mocha flavor better. It was refreshing and smooth. No hint of bitterness and not overly sweet. The downside? Price. Each bottle is well over the four dollar mark. There is a third flavor, vanilla, but I don't believe it was available at the time my sister bought these. Grumpy Cat, offers lots of fun merchandise featuring her sourpuss face, but this was our first blue-eyed celebrity kitty purchase. There are other famous Internet cats, like Lil Bub, who while overcoming her disabilities, has managed to raise money for other animals in need, through merchandise like socks and books featuring her. There's also Colonel Meow, who passed early last year but was made famous for his scary face. He was 2014 Guinness record holder for longest hair on a cat. And one of my favorite Internet cat stars, Maru. Maru lives in Japan and just loves getting himself into boxes. He's adorable. As for now, Grumpy Cat seems to be the only one I know with her own coffee line.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Coffee At Club 33
In 1967, just a few months after Walt Disney's death, the private
club he had built to entertain dignitaries and VIPs, opened. He never
got to use it for it's intended purpose but supervised the process to
make sure it was built to his specifications. Club 33, hidden in New
Orleans Square in Disneyland, is a posh
restaurant that you can only dine in if you are a member or a guest of a
member. Every detail was mapped out by Walt, either to serve a purpose
or maintain a piece of history. But as time went on, the almost 5
decade old club needed to be updated, so it was recently renovated.
The Boss and her husband are members of Club 33. Though it is near impossible to become a member these days, they joined the list a while back and have been enjoying the perks of membership ever since. Special events, unlimited annual passes, celebrity hobnobbing, and the good food are just some of fun that the membership will get you. With the recent changes, the membership dues have gone up, but they now offer a second club in California Adventure.
The husband and I got married the day after Chinese New Year this past February. Every year for Chinese New Year, I host a small dinner with friends to celebrate. Some of the friends that were dining with us that night brought wedding gifts, as they would not be attending the following day. The entire wedding party consisted of the bride and groom, my two sisters, and our two closest friends (who are engaged to each other). Among the cards and gifts, The Boss and her husband gave us a beautiful wedding card with a personal message inside. It said that the gift from them would be lunch together at Club 33 to celebrate our happy new union. So as soon as we all got our schedules together, we had a double date at Disneyland and Club 33.
Finally, on a not so hot day, at the end of July, we were Disneyland bound. The Boss's husband had to work in the morning but he met us just in time for lunch.
We have joined them before at Club 33 for other occasions, but this would be the first time being there since the renovations were completed a year prior. I am a purest when it comes to Disneyland. Walt said, as the future progresses, we continue to build and bring new technologies to the park so the park will never be completed. Of course, when there is a remodel or change at the 60 year old theme park, I cringe a little each time. As much as I love Star Wars, the new Star Wars Land that's slated for a 2017 opening, hurts a bit, as it will alter some of the original park layout. Naturally, I cringed when the Market House coffee shop on Main Street closed for a full re-do, closing it off from the stores it once flowed into, and reopened as a large, singular entry Starbucks. So you can imagine how I felt when I first heard they were going to update Club 33. The reasons they had were sound, but when touching a personally designed Walt Disney site, I drop into historical landmark protester mode.
Walt had set up Club 33 for himself and his guests, first and foremost. Up until June 2014, it was set up like this with very few changes over the years:
The door, plain, pale greenish-blue, had a covered doorbell to the left and a mirrored, elegant 33 to the right. The 33 did not seem out of place. The address above the Blue Bayou restaurant next door is 31, and throughout all of Disneyland, you can see these "suite" numbers on every store. A member, or guest of a member, would ring the doorbell and the host on the other side would verify name, reservation time, and make sure all of the party was there and ready to come in.
Upon entering, the host table is up a step to the right and to her side was the stairs to ascend to the dining room, or you could take the small glass elevator. Remember when I said Walt had a reason for creating this place the way he did? That glass elevator is actually a French Lift. Walt and his wife were in New Orleans when he spotted the lift that he had to have. The hotel he saw it in, would not sell it to him, so he had an exact replica created. The carpet and walls of the entryway are dark pink with a Victorian style.
The landing at the top of the stairs greets you with access to the Trophy Room, entrance down the lounge hallway into the main dining room, and the original phone booth prop from the 1967 movie, The Happiest Millionaire.
The Trophy Room was Walt's real vision. It had a masculine feel with an autographed rifle from Fess Parker (Disney's Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone) on the wall and some Disney memorabilia adorning the shelves. In the chandeliers above the tables, Walt had microphones hidden so that he could hear his guests talking, and could respond via the auto-animatronic birds in the room. It might sound weird but Walt did it to impress his VIP's with this new technology, "adding magic" (Disney lingo) to his guest's dining experience. The wiring has since been disconnected but it all stayed just so this whole time.
Down the lounge hallway, you see concept art for The Happiest Millionaire and Mary Poppins. Concept art from Mary Poppins hangs in the hall. There is a side table that was used in Mary Poppins nonchalantly placed up against a wall. A green harpsichord, that looks like a small piano, sits to your left as you continue down the hall, and has a soft Renaissance painting on the lid. Sounds like just like another piece of furniture, but there is a rumor that is was actually built for Walt's wife. Oh, and it has been played by Elton John and Paul McCartney.
On the left, before hitting the second dining room, there is a bar. It is the only place in Disneyland that serves alcohol. It is not original to the club but the dazzling glass light fixture above it gave it a complete look in it's station.
Just beyond the bar was were the lunch buffet tables sat. Originally, lunch at Club 33 was an all you can eat cold salad bar that included shellfish, a main course entree, and all you can eat dessert. Dining options for dinner were a la carte but again, with the update, this menu style has changed.
Enter the main dining hall. Thick drapery over large windows, crisp, white tablecloths with folded napkins on large chargers with 33 painted on them, and a huge fireplace as the centerpiece of the room. Additionally, a long veranda wrapped around outside this second floor room, overlooking New Orleans Square and known for being the best spot in the park to watch the nighttime show, Fantasmic.
The new look for Club 33 is very polished with much less focus on dark woods and with added windows, the sunshine pours in from every direction. The changed the entrance to a location a little farther down, incorporating a grand staircase known as the Court of Angels. Other major changes are that the restrooms have been moved outside of the main restaurant, the tiny kitchen downstairs has been moved to the area previously known as the Trophy Room, a large bar/lounge area has been added, and the whole place now complies with ADA regulations (no more step up to the lift). The large bar, also know as The Jazz Lounge, now houses the French lift as a seating area and some of the auto-animatronic birds are found throughout the restaurant. The art on the walls is mostly the same and the harpsichord still hold a prominent place for guests to admire. A large player piano sits in the lounge up against lead-lined windows and stained glass. The giant fireplace in the main dining room and been removed and replaced with more windows. The new dining options are price-based for either 3 or 4 course meals. I'm happy with a lot of the changes and am really glad they kept some of what was important to Walt. This fan-based site has a lot of great pictures if you are interested in giving it a click:
http://www.disneylandclub33.com/
As I was saying, The Boss's husband met up with us just in time for lunch. He found us in the lounge, enjoying some drinks while relaxing in the over sized couches. The Boss was having a mint julep, I had a Mai Tai, and the husband went with an oatmeal stout. Nothing but water for the Boss's husband, he was ready for lunch. The drinks were fantastic and the service was wonderful. The host then took our drinks on a platter and lead us to our seats in the main dining room. A square table right by the window was all set up for us with fresh flowers too. The missing fireplace was all I kept focusing on. It was weird to not to have this iconic piece in the room. It was dark and heavy and the new windows in it's place were quite a contrast.
We ordered lunch and I grilled the Boss and her husband for happy marriage tips. Seeing as they have been married for almost 35 years, I figured they might know a few things. None of the tips were out of the ordinary but as we have been friends with them for many years, it's obvious to see that communication and a great sense of humor are the top tips. We each ordered a 3 course lunch. A mixed variety of soups, salads, entrees, and desserts with the mindset that we could each get a taste of what everyone else was having. When it came time for dessert, the Boss and her husband surprised me and mine with special 'Congratulations' messages and heartfelt well wishes from the Club 33 staff. (And some macaroons for each of us.) To go with our desserts, the Boss and I ordered coffee. Two little coffee cups were brought out with a tray of creamer and different types of packaged sugars. I got excited to see uncut sugar and raw sugar, as I haven't had that as an option with my coffee before. I enjoyed how it kept with the high end theme. The boss ordered decaf as usual and I got the regular even at 3 in the afternoon. I needed it for the rest of the day running around Disneyland, of course. The coffee paired with dessert was wonderful. I would love to get that coffee again and sit in the lounge or on the veranda and take a nice slow break from the big crowds and long ride queues.
After lunch and coffee, we did a few rides, took a few pictures, and did some shopping. Seeing as the husband and I didn't have all the fun extras of a wedding shower or reception, we got ourselves some wedding themed gifts while there. The husband and I try to mark trips or events together with an ornament. We have ornaments from our honeymoon in Palm Springs, our first trip to Seattle, one from when we got our first place together, so naturally we found the Just Married ornament that would be perfect for our collection. Our friend would just had her bridal shower, received these Mr. and Mrs. mugs and I loved them when I saw her open the box so we also got those mugs when we picked up our ornament.
In the evening, we got tea and watched the Paint the Night parade followed by the fireworks. It was an amazing day and definitely gave us wedding memories to cherish always.
The Boss and her husband are members of Club 33. Though it is near impossible to become a member these days, they joined the list a while back and have been enjoying the perks of membership ever since. Special events, unlimited annual passes, celebrity hobnobbing, and the good food are just some of fun that the membership will get you. With the recent changes, the membership dues have gone up, but they now offer a second club in California Adventure.
The husband and I got married the day after Chinese New Year this past February. Every year for Chinese New Year, I host a small dinner with friends to celebrate. Some of the friends that were dining with us that night brought wedding gifts, as they would not be attending the following day. The entire wedding party consisted of the bride and groom, my two sisters, and our two closest friends (who are engaged to each other). Among the cards and gifts, The Boss and her husband gave us a beautiful wedding card with a personal message inside. It said that the gift from them would be lunch together at Club 33 to celebrate our happy new union. So as soon as we all got our schedules together, we had a double date at Disneyland and Club 33.
Finally, on a not so hot day, at the end of July, we were Disneyland bound. The Boss's husband had to work in the morning but he met us just in time for lunch.
We have joined them before at Club 33 for other occasions, but this would be the first time being there since the renovations were completed a year prior. I am a purest when it comes to Disneyland. Walt said, as the future progresses, we continue to build and bring new technologies to the park so the park will never be completed. Of course, when there is a remodel or change at the 60 year old theme park, I cringe a little each time. As much as I love Star Wars, the new Star Wars Land that's slated for a 2017 opening, hurts a bit, as it will alter some of the original park layout. Naturally, I cringed when the Market House coffee shop on Main Street closed for a full re-do, closing it off from the stores it once flowed into, and reopened as a large, singular entry Starbucks. So you can imagine how I felt when I first heard they were going to update Club 33. The reasons they had were sound, but when touching a personally designed Walt Disney site, I drop into historical landmark protester mode.
Walt had set up Club 33 for himself and his guests, first and foremost. Up until June 2014, it was set up like this with very few changes over the years:
The door, plain, pale greenish-blue, had a covered doorbell to the left and a mirrored, elegant 33 to the right. The 33 did not seem out of place. The address above the Blue Bayou restaurant next door is 31, and throughout all of Disneyland, you can see these "suite" numbers on every store. A member, or guest of a member, would ring the doorbell and the host on the other side would verify name, reservation time, and make sure all of the party was there and ready to come in.
Upon entering, the host table is up a step to the right and to her side was the stairs to ascend to the dining room, or you could take the small glass elevator. Remember when I said Walt had a reason for creating this place the way he did? That glass elevator is actually a French Lift. Walt and his wife were in New Orleans when he spotted the lift that he had to have. The hotel he saw it in, would not sell it to him, so he had an exact replica created. The carpet and walls of the entryway are dark pink with a Victorian style.
The landing at the top of the stairs greets you with access to the Trophy Room, entrance down the lounge hallway into the main dining room, and the original phone booth prop from the 1967 movie, The Happiest Millionaire.
The Trophy Room was Walt's real vision. It had a masculine feel with an autographed rifle from Fess Parker (Disney's Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone) on the wall and some Disney memorabilia adorning the shelves. In the chandeliers above the tables, Walt had microphones hidden so that he could hear his guests talking, and could respond via the auto-animatronic birds in the room. It might sound weird but Walt did it to impress his VIP's with this new technology, "adding magic" (Disney lingo) to his guest's dining experience. The wiring has since been disconnected but it all stayed just so this whole time.
Down the lounge hallway, you see concept art for The Happiest Millionaire and Mary Poppins. Concept art from Mary Poppins hangs in the hall. There is a side table that was used in Mary Poppins nonchalantly placed up against a wall. A green harpsichord, that looks like a small piano, sits to your left as you continue down the hall, and has a soft Renaissance painting on the lid. Sounds like just like another piece of furniture, but there is a rumor that is was actually built for Walt's wife. Oh, and it has been played by Elton John and Paul McCartney.
On the left, before hitting the second dining room, there is a bar. It is the only place in Disneyland that serves alcohol. It is not original to the club but the dazzling glass light fixture above it gave it a complete look in it's station.
Just beyond the bar was were the lunch buffet tables sat. Originally, lunch at Club 33 was an all you can eat cold salad bar that included shellfish, a main course entree, and all you can eat dessert. Dining options for dinner were a la carte but again, with the update, this menu style has changed.
Enter the main dining hall. Thick drapery over large windows, crisp, white tablecloths with folded napkins on large chargers with 33 painted on them, and a huge fireplace as the centerpiece of the room. Additionally, a long veranda wrapped around outside this second floor room, overlooking New Orleans Square and known for being the best spot in the park to watch the nighttime show, Fantasmic.
The new look for Club 33 is very polished with much less focus on dark woods and with added windows, the sunshine pours in from every direction. The changed the entrance to a location a little farther down, incorporating a grand staircase known as the Court of Angels. Other major changes are that the restrooms have been moved outside of the main restaurant, the tiny kitchen downstairs has been moved to the area previously known as the Trophy Room, a large bar/lounge area has been added, and the whole place now complies with ADA regulations (no more step up to the lift). The large bar, also know as The Jazz Lounge, now houses the French lift as a seating area and some of the auto-animatronic birds are found throughout the restaurant. The art on the walls is mostly the same and the harpsichord still hold a prominent place for guests to admire. A large player piano sits in the lounge up against lead-lined windows and stained glass. The giant fireplace in the main dining room and been removed and replaced with more windows. The new dining options are price-based for either 3 or 4 course meals. I'm happy with a lot of the changes and am really glad they kept some of what was important to Walt. This fan-based site has a lot of great pictures if you are interested in giving it a click:
http://www.disneylandclub33.com/
As I was saying, The Boss's husband met up with us just in time for lunch. He found us in the lounge, enjoying some drinks while relaxing in the over sized couches. The Boss was having a mint julep, I had a Mai Tai, and the husband went with an oatmeal stout. Nothing but water for the Boss's husband, he was ready for lunch. The drinks were fantastic and the service was wonderful. The host then took our drinks on a platter and lead us to our seats in the main dining room. A square table right by the window was all set up for us with fresh flowers too. The missing fireplace was all I kept focusing on. It was weird to not to have this iconic piece in the room. It was dark and heavy and the new windows in it's place were quite a contrast.
We ordered lunch and I grilled the Boss and her husband for happy marriage tips. Seeing as they have been married for almost 35 years, I figured they might know a few things. None of the tips were out of the ordinary but as we have been friends with them for many years, it's obvious to see that communication and a great sense of humor are the top tips. We each ordered a 3 course lunch. A mixed variety of soups, salads, entrees, and desserts with the mindset that we could each get a taste of what everyone else was having. When it came time for dessert, the Boss and her husband surprised me and mine with special 'Congratulations' messages and heartfelt well wishes from the Club 33 staff. (And some macaroons for each of us.) To go with our desserts, the Boss and I ordered coffee. Two little coffee cups were brought out with a tray of creamer and different types of packaged sugars. I got excited to see uncut sugar and raw sugar, as I haven't had that as an option with my coffee before. I enjoyed how it kept with the high end theme. The boss ordered decaf as usual and I got the regular even at 3 in the afternoon. I needed it for the rest of the day running around Disneyland, of course. The coffee paired with dessert was wonderful. I would love to get that coffee again and sit in the lounge or on the veranda and take a nice slow break from the big crowds and long ride queues.
After lunch and coffee, we did a few rides, took a few pictures, and did some shopping. Seeing as the husband and I didn't have all the fun extras of a wedding shower or reception, we got ourselves some wedding themed gifts while there. The husband and I try to mark trips or events together with an ornament. We have ornaments from our honeymoon in Palm Springs, our first trip to Seattle, one from when we got our first place together, so naturally we found the Just Married ornament that would be perfect for our collection. Our friend would just had her bridal shower, received these Mr. and Mrs. mugs and I loved them when I saw her open the box so we also got those mugs when we picked up our ornament.
In the evening, we got tea and watched the Paint the Night parade followed by the fireworks. It was an amazing day and definitely gave us wedding memories to cherish always.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
National Coffee Day
September 29th is National Coffee Day. Now, I haven't heard of it until this year, however everyone seems to be celebrating. Time to get in on the action. In the link below, there is a short story about the possible origin of one of the most traded and consumed commodities in the world. There is also a link inside the link to some of the coffee companies around the U.S. that will be participating in free or discounted coffee drinks for the holiday. It's definitely worth the few clicks. Not included in their list is Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (one of my favorite coffee places). At participating locations, they will be offering 1/2 off iced coffee, flavored iced coffee or iced americano drinks all day.
I'm looking forward to celebrating but not really sure where I will end up. Possibly a new cafe to explore? Or a favorite cup at home with the husband and Nugget. I could also meet with friends, maybe even over Skype. Share with me how you celebrate. Take it in, savor the break in the day, snap a photo. That little cup is more then just a drink. It's an international symbol to relax and bond.
A friend of mine recently sent me a shirt for the holiday. I'll be sporting it wherever I end up. The shirt's message rings true, everyday is National Coffee Day. Enjoy.
http://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-coffee-day-september-29/
I'm looking forward to celebrating but not really sure where I will end up. Possibly a new cafe to explore? Or a favorite cup at home with the husband and Nugget. I could also meet with friends, maybe even over Skype. Share with me how you celebrate. Take it in, savor the break in the day, snap a photo. That little cup is more then just a drink. It's an international symbol to relax and bond.
A friend of mine recently sent me a shirt for the holiday. I'll be sporting it wherever I end up. The shirt's message rings true, everyday is National Coffee Day. Enjoy.
http://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-coffee-day-september-29/
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Free Sample Review
My older sister is signed up with Ralph's grocery store. They email
her coupons for new products or items that companies want people to try
and it's all free. She just goes in on the day they state and pick up
the item. No charge. Over the years she has gotten some good stuff and
some stuff she'd rather pass on. If she gets something that she's
allergic to or thinks someone else would like more then herself, she
will pass it along. So when she sent me a text asking if I preferred
vanilla, cappuccino, or mocha, I knew a sample was coming my way.
The coupon was for Skinny Cow Creamy Iced Coffee. Naturally, I chose the mocha latte flavor. She picked it up and delivered it to me. Skinny Cow makes a lot of great tasting, low calorie products. The reason stands because they use regular ingredients but the portion size is majorly controlled. So when my sister handed me this tiny 8 ounce bottle, I wasn't shocked, but my inner fat American felt a little sad. To make things seem normal, I used an 8 ounce mug. Not a very common sight in my vast mug collection. (For years, this mug was used as just a pencil holder on my desk. The Batz Maru character is my favorite from the Hello Kitty family, so I loved looking at it when I wrote letters. It was a gift from my mate, who now sees it was only one of many mugs he would be getting for me over our long friendship.)
With my "full" cup of iced coffee, I sat down and relaxed for a bit. It was delicious. A rich, creamy flavor, so I didn't feel like I was drinking diet coffee. I would definitely get it again and even try the other flavors. They come single serve or in a four pack in 3 flavors. I look forward to seeing what other free stuff my sister will share with me. Trying new things is fun.
The coupon was for Skinny Cow Creamy Iced Coffee. Naturally, I chose the mocha latte flavor. She picked it up and delivered it to me. Skinny Cow makes a lot of great tasting, low calorie products. The reason stands because they use regular ingredients but the portion size is majorly controlled. So when my sister handed me this tiny 8 ounce bottle, I wasn't shocked, but my inner fat American felt a little sad. To make things seem normal, I used an 8 ounce mug. Not a very common sight in my vast mug collection. (For years, this mug was used as just a pencil holder on my desk. The Batz Maru character is my favorite from the Hello Kitty family, so I loved looking at it when I wrote letters. It was a gift from my mate, who now sees it was only one of many mugs he would be getting for me over our long friendship.)
With my "full" cup of iced coffee, I sat down and relaxed for a bit. It was delicious. A rich, creamy flavor, so I didn't feel like I was drinking diet coffee. I would definitely get it again and even try the other flavors. They come single serve or in a four pack in 3 flavors. I look forward to seeing what other free stuff my sister will share with me. Trying new things is fun.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
It's Never Too Late For A New Favorite
My mom has lived in the same area code her entire life. Of that, she's lived in the same vicinity for roughly the last two decades. In Reseda, in the Loehmann's Plaza, sits a cafe, that in all the years my family has been going to that plaza, we hadn't tried until now.
The store Loehmann's, which was a clothing store, in the Loehmann's Plaza has long closed, but the name stays. For the most part, the same stores have been there for forever. CVS, Vons, Pizza Hut, Kaye's Music Scene, and Carl's Junior are all still there. Gone is the Blockbuster Video and KayBee Toys. It's the new home for Fab Dogs, a terrific hot dog joint, made famous on Diner's, Drive-in's, and Dives on the Food Network. It got too famous for it's old location and moved here to continue gifting the world with their bacon wrapped hot dogs and genuine Chicago dogs. Next to Kaye's is a cafe that I swear has been there for forever. Glass front windows and colorful high-backed booths for outdoor seating always looked inviting but we always felt they would be too expensive. We never gave them a chance. It turns out, Roladin Bakery and Cafe is a fabulous little Mediterranean restaurant with good prices and simple, clean, inviting decor on the inside as well.
The Little One, her techie friend, and myself needed to run errands and the plaza had most of the stores we needed. We hadn't had breakfast or coffee yet, so we thought now is as good a time as any to give them a shot. The three of us walk in and behind the large glass bakery counter, we're greeted by a couple of girls who show us to our seats and hand us each a tall, spiral bound menu. This menu has everything. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, desserts, and a huge section of coffees. Before we order, a pretty, cold bottle of water was brought for the table as well as some Turkish appetizers.
We each order breakfast, which the portion sizes are huge, and a coffee drink. The Little One ordered a blended iced mocha. Chocolate was poured down the sides of the glass and it was topped with java chips. Her friend ordered a cappuccino that came with pretty design in the foam. For myself, I thought I would try a house specialty. The Roladin Dream is a hot coffee with caramel and white chocolate. The white chocolate isn't just an added powder. It was white chocolate chips melted into the coffee. It was sweet and rich and at the bottom of the mug was a pool of leftover melted white chocolate. All the coffees were great and so was the food. We didn't have room to try anything from the bakery case but we're sure to revisit soon.
We rolled out, very full and very satisfied. We needed to walk off some of our recent indulging. Lucky for us, they turned the old Blockbuster into a Petco Unleased. Buying cat food and litter was next on our errands list. And we may have needed to check out the newest Star Wars cat toys.
The store Loehmann's, which was a clothing store, in the Loehmann's Plaza has long closed, but the name stays. For the most part, the same stores have been there for forever. CVS, Vons, Pizza Hut, Kaye's Music Scene, and Carl's Junior are all still there. Gone is the Blockbuster Video and KayBee Toys. It's the new home for Fab Dogs, a terrific hot dog joint, made famous on Diner's, Drive-in's, and Dives on the Food Network. It got too famous for it's old location and moved here to continue gifting the world with their bacon wrapped hot dogs and genuine Chicago dogs. Next to Kaye's is a cafe that I swear has been there for forever. Glass front windows and colorful high-backed booths for outdoor seating always looked inviting but we always felt they would be too expensive. We never gave them a chance. It turns out, Roladin Bakery and Cafe is a fabulous little Mediterranean restaurant with good prices and simple, clean, inviting decor on the inside as well.
The Little One, her techie friend, and myself needed to run errands and the plaza had most of the stores we needed. We hadn't had breakfast or coffee yet, so we thought now is as good a time as any to give them a shot. The three of us walk in and behind the large glass bakery counter, we're greeted by a couple of girls who show us to our seats and hand us each a tall, spiral bound menu. This menu has everything. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, desserts, and a huge section of coffees. Before we order, a pretty, cold bottle of water was brought for the table as well as some Turkish appetizers.
We each order breakfast, which the portion sizes are huge, and a coffee drink. The Little One ordered a blended iced mocha. Chocolate was poured down the sides of the glass and it was topped with java chips. Her friend ordered a cappuccino that came with pretty design in the foam. For myself, I thought I would try a house specialty. The Roladin Dream is a hot coffee with caramel and white chocolate. The white chocolate isn't just an added powder. It was white chocolate chips melted into the coffee. It was sweet and rich and at the bottom of the mug was a pool of leftover melted white chocolate. All the coffees were great and so was the food. We didn't have room to try anything from the bakery case but we're sure to revisit soon.
We rolled out, very full and very satisfied. We needed to walk off some of our recent indulging. Lucky for us, they turned the old Blockbuster into a Petco Unleased. Buying cat food and litter was next on our errands list. And we may have needed to check out the newest Star Wars cat toys.
 |
| What Dreams are made of. |
 |
| Cappuccino. |
 |
| Blended iced mocha. |
 |
| I liked the big landmark photos hanging above the booths. |
Fiesta For The Bride To Be
If you're from L.A., you know the term, "South of the Boulevard" means the upscale-ish or desirable neighborhoods just south of Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley. My high school was "South of the Boulevard". A large portion of the student body lives in that area as well. I haven't thought much about it until I recently attended my co-worker's bridal shower.
Our Disney team, as I've said before, is more of a small, wonderful family, then of a place of cold laborers. My co-worker and her fiance have been together a long time, so our store was overjoyed when they announced their engagement. Her best friend, that she has known almost her whole life, was hosting her fiesta themed bridal shower, at her house, South of the Boulevard. The guest list was all women, including the bride's family, childhood friends, co-workers from her other job, and the Disney Store family. Our family took up two large tables, filled with the old and current teams that she has worked with.
In the backyard of this big, beautiful house, there was bold colored tablecloths, stunning floral centerpieces, a fun photo op spot with props, traditional paper banners, lots of delicious homemade food, and a margarita/sangria station. The bridesmaids offered tropical Jell-o shots between courses while the guests fanned themselves with sequined folding fans. The weather was perfect to be outdoors, laughing and eating. As the sun set, we played some shower games. One of the games gave some of the guests a chance to tell stories about the bride. Another game found us decorating each other in toilet paper wedding gowns, complete with accessories. Our bride even had a paper guarder and a paper diamond ring. The last game was a version of musical chairs, but instead of moving chairs, the guests passed a bouquet of flowers around until the music stopped. If they had the bouquet when the music ended, they were out. Out of all the guests, it was down to two of our own girls. The bride laughed as our 20-year Disney veteran waved the winning bouquet around and teased the other girls with it.
During and after the games was dessert and coffee. Traditional Mexican candies and desserts were laid out buffet style. The coffee was in a tall metal container and I was hoping that it too, would be traditional. I was not disappointed. Mexican coffee has spices, including cinnamon, that give it an almost soft, chai coffee taste. If you have never tried it, I highly suggest you bring a big mug and dive right in.
The bride moved on to opening her shower presents. Our big boss at work suggested that ever bag that came from our store include a sexy piece of lingerie. "A little something for the honeymoon *wink*" So along with a stack of cards wishing her and her fiance a lifetime of happiness, there was knife sets, mixing bowls, and tiny pieces of floss that is intended as underwear. It was a blast!
The bride is ready for the big day and it's fast approaching. Like myself, the bride had attended the same high school that was "South of the Boulevard". Though she was a different year, she had a lot of the same teachers. It's really awesome how our Disney family is so intertwined through many of life's paths. She has worked with our team for many years and I know we all can not wait to see their happily ever after.
Our Disney team, as I've said before, is more of a small, wonderful family, then of a place of cold laborers. My co-worker and her fiance have been together a long time, so our store was overjoyed when they announced their engagement. Her best friend, that she has known almost her whole life, was hosting her fiesta themed bridal shower, at her house, South of the Boulevard. The guest list was all women, including the bride's family, childhood friends, co-workers from her other job, and the Disney Store family. Our family took up two large tables, filled with the old and current teams that she has worked with.
In the backyard of this big, beautiful house, there was bold colored tablecloths, stunning floral centerpieces, a fun photo op spot with props, traditional paper banners, lots of delicious homemade food, and a margarita/sangria station. The bridesmaids offered tropical Jell-o shots between courses while the guests fanned themselves with sequined folding fans. The weather was perfect to be outdoors, laughing and eating. As the sun set, we played some shower games. One of the games gave some of the guests a chance to tell stories about the bride. Another game found us decorating each other in toilet paper wedding gowns, complete with accessories. Our bride even had a paper guarder and a paper diamond ring. The last game was a version of musical chairs, but instead of moving chairs, the guests passed a bouquet of flowers around until the music stopped. If they had the bouquet when the music ended, they were out. Out of all the guests, it was down to two of our own girls. The bride laughed as our 20-year Disney veteran waved the winning bouquet around and teased the other girls with it.
During and after the games was dessert and coffee. Traditional Mexican candies and desserts were laid out buffet style. The coffee was in a tall metal container and I was hoping that it too, would be traditional. I was not disappointed. Mexican coffee has spices, including cinnamon, that give it an almost soft, chai coffee taste. If you have never tried it, I highly suggest you bring a big mug and dive right in.
The bride moved on to opening her shower presents. Our big boss at work suggested that ever bag that came from our store include a sexy piece of lingerie. "A little something for the honeymoon *wink*" So along with a stack of cards wishing her and her fiance a lifetime of happiness, there was knife sets, mixing bowls, and tiny pieces of floss that is intended as underwear. It was a blast!
The bride is ready for the big day and it's fast approaching. Like myself, the bride had attended the same high school that was "South of the Boulevard". Though she was a different year, she had a lot of the same teachers. It's really awesome how our Disney family is so intertwined through many of life's paths. She has worked with our team for many years and I know we all can not wait to see their happily ever after.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Easy, Breezy Evening
My idea of perfect weather changes based on my situation. Sure, A crisp autumn day with a few clouds in the sky is ideal but if I'm gonna be at work during that optimum outdooriness, then I get upset. I feel like it's a perfectly good day, wasted. During this summer's heat, there isn't many days that I enjoy the weather, working or not. However, there was an evening not too long ago that it was nice enough out to go for a hot drink and a stroll.
The Little Boss had had two workout classes during the day, and I had run errands with my sister. We decided that we should meet up for coffee and some girly gossiping.
The Calabasas Commons is a shopping center near each of our houses with restaurants, a movie theater, a bookstore, and a fountain with live turtles in it. Not gonna lie, that little fountain with the turtles is really cool. I've not seen another like it anywhere else around here. We picked the Corner Bakery for coffee but once we got there, my mood changed. She still had some of her post-workout smoothie so she didn't order anything, but as the sun was setting, I felt like tea instead of a heavy coffee. Specifically, mint tea.
The tea was exactly what I wanted. The subtle mint flavor matched the quickly cooling summer air.
I got my cup of tea and we picked a spot on the side of the restaurant with a few shady trees. We talked about the drama at the hotel and how they had offered me a job again but it was just my same position with 5 more added tasks, for less then a dollar more an hour. Uh- no.
The sun finally set and we still had the rest the night to free to do whatever, so we called up another coworker of ours and told her to come meet us. The Little Boss and I took a stroll to the bookstore at the other end of the Commons.
This Barnes and Noble has been there as long as I can remember and is one of the few chain retail bookstores left. I usually buy all my books at libraries in their various used bookstores, but Barnes and Noble has a great selection of action figures, journals, and notecards that still brings me in. As we walked around waiting for our friend, I was trying to explain something I saw online earlier in the week. It was a set of sticky-note paper bookmarks that can be mixed and matched to create scenes at the top of your books. Check out this link to see what I was talking about.
http://www.boredpanda.com/miniature-sticky-paper-bookmark-worlds-duncan-shotton/
I couldn't remember where I'd seen it until a few days later. You could say having a bookmark would have helped. See what I did there...
Our friend finally arrived. We finished up our browse around the store and went outside where we found a table with exactly three chair and no one around to bother us. The weather was perfect to just sit and catch up but we lost track of time. After several hours of enjoying the night air and each others company, we went our separate ways home.
The Little Boss had had two workout classes during the day, and I had run errands with my sister. We decided that we should meet up for coffee and some girly gossiping.
The Calabasas Commons is a shopping center near each of our houses with restaurants, a movie theater, a bookstore, and a fountain with live turtles in it. Not gonna lie, that little fountain with the turtles is really cool. I've not seen another like it anywhere else around here. We picked the Corner Bakery for coffee but once we got there, my mood changed. She still had some of her post-workout smoothie so she didn't order anything, but as the sun was setting, I felt like tea instead of a heavy coffee. Specifically, mint tea.
The tea was exactly what I wanted. The subtle mint flavor matched the quickly cooling summer air.
I got my cup of tea and we picked a spot on the side of the restaurant with a few shady trees. We talked about the drama at the hotel and how they had offered me a job again but it was just my same position with 5 more added tasks, for less then a dollar more an hour. Uh- no.
The sun finally set and we still had the rest the night to free to do whatever, so we called up another coworker of ours and told her to come meet us. The Little Boss and I took a stroll to the bookstore at the other end of the Commons.
This Barnes and Noble has been there as long as I can remember and is one of the few chain retail bookstores left. I usually buy all my books at libraries in their various used bookstores, but Barnes and Noble has a great selection of action figures, journals, and notecards that still brings me in. As we walked around waiting for our friend, I was trying to explain something I saw online earlier in the week. It was a set of sticky-note paper bookmarks that can be mixed and matched to create scenes at the top of your books. Check out this link to see what I was talking about.
http://www.boredpanda.com/miniature-sticky-paper-bookmark-worlds-duncan-shotton/
I couldn't remember where I'd seen it until a few days later. You could say having a bookmark would have helped. See what I did there...
Our friend finally arrived. We finished up our browse around the store and went outside where we found a table with exactly three chair and no one around to bother us. The weather was perfect to just sit and catch up but we lost track of time. After several hours of enjoying the night air and each others company, we went our separate ways home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)