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Lunch at the Museum I have a few fond childhood memories, of lunches in museums. Dining at the Detroit Institute or Arts seemed pretty darn classy, when I was a young girl.  I'm sure it still is. But the museum wasn't in Paris. And that museum (and all others I've ever dined in) was not housed in a former rail station! Gare d'Orsay... a Train Station I love art museums and I love old train stations!  Double Dining Adventure for a lunch outing, in a museum and a 125-year-old train station. Musee d'Orsay in 1999 Since I was 6 my dream was to go to Paris. Probably inspired by the Eloise in Paris book. (same Eloise who lived at the Plaza, in NYC)
I was over 40 when I finally traveled to Paris with Don. I remember posing with Degas' Little Dancer... in my hideous overall-jumper. And I remember eating ice cream in a magical cafe.  No photos of my ice cream, but I took one of Don, that I've always loved. He wears the chandelier so well! Cafe Campana in 2023 25 years later, we returned to Paris and toured Musee d'Orsay on a chilly November day. It was lunchtime when we exited the Impressionist Gallery and spotted this intriguing cafe.  What fun to dine near the giant clock window, beneath whimsical golden bells! But we both were eager to return to the main restaurant, that we remembered. Le Restaurant There are at least 4 places to dine at the museum. We of course chose the one with the simple name and the grand decor!  It looked as I remembered! Soaring ceilings, tall windows, marble and gold, crystal chandeliers. No way do you mess with altering that kind of decor. Tables & Chairs Well, some things had changed. The rattan chairs from a quarter century ago, were gone.  The dining section in back (with cool fireplace!) was closed. I took advantage and snapped a photo of a few unoccupied, colorful chairs.  These crinkly plastic chairs cracked me up! Did they forget to remove the cellophane after shipping? I was reminded of some "mod art" I used to make in the early '70s. We bent pieces of wire and dipped them into a can of liquid plastic, called "Fun Film". It was indeed fun. Fingers Crossed! There was a short wait for a table and I hoped beyond hope for a window view.  Clearly there were no bad seats. Marble Statue Maybe we'd be seated beside the marble statue.  Chances were even better we'd be seated beneath a lovely chandelier.  There must have been a dozen at least. Frescoes The lovely wall and ceiling frescoes (by Gabriel Ferrier and Benjamin Constant) could be spotted from any table.  Like I said. No bad tables. Better Table There were no bad tables, but there were better tables. And we got one!  How is that possible that we lucked out? Similar It was extra fun that our table was very similar to the one we had in 1999.  You can see the nude statue over Don's left shoulder in both. Less Lucky with Waiter We did not luck out with a kind, or fun, or gracious, or entertaining waiter. But who cares. We weren't there for the service.  Our waiter did not attempt English and we fumbled with a little French. I managed to ask which desert was best and he pointed to the menu. More to Observe I hoped our server would be slow delivering our food. There was so much to absorb around us.  The view with rooftops and clouds, was entertaining enough. But I also just enjoyed staring at the fancy metalwork. Yummy Stuff to Pour Don and I both ordered good stuff that involved pouring!  Don ordered the special of the day. It was a meat pie with Beaujolais sauce, served on mixed greens, with dried fruits. This guy is usually pretty adventurous with dining, but he seemed a little concerned about what kind of meat was inside his triangular pie.  I sampled a little and the crust was flaky and festive. There was sort of a meatloaf texture, but the flavor with sauce was delicious flavor. Do note the bread on the side of the table. So tasty I tossed one in my bag for later! Ice Cream! There was nothing to worry about with my order. I had dessert for lunch!  I ordered Affogato-Glace trois vanilles... which is "3 vanilla ice cream, drowned with signature coffee and praline" I felt like a chemist as I poured 1895 Lavazza coffee from a beaker, into the clear glass container that held my ice cream.  My photo doesn't capture the little reaction that happened when the warm coffee hit the ice cream. No photo of my little reaction when I tasted it, either. Heaven! So Happy We left happy! A great museum experience, followed by a magical little feast.  I peeked in the big doors before we headed downstairs. What was in this space back when the building was filled with rail travelers! What a fun thought before we departed. Good-bye Beautiful Museum We headed off with more good memories. No posing with Little Dancer this time. I had a better camera this time and captured some of those memories! No cellphone cams back in 1999!
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Lunch at the Date Garden At the end of this past April, Don and I were headed for Palm Springs.  We timed it so we could have a late lunch at the iconic Shields Date Garden, in Indigo. Roadside Don and I knew all about date palms and date shakes, from when we lived in southern California in the '80s. We had our favorite roadside date shacks. None had grand signs like this one.  We'd heard great things about the iconic place on Highway 111, just 20 miles from Palm Springs. But we'd never been. Summer of 2020 5 years ago, Don and I were making the same TX to CA trip, when we detoured to check out the giant knight, pointing towards the old white building.  The fancy sign and the building came to the property in 1953. That was 29 years after the company was founded by Floyd and Bess Sheilds. Curbside Back in 2020 Don and I were craving a date shake, during our pandemic roadtrip! We threw on our masks before heading in. That's when we noticed parking spots, for Curbside Delivery. The nearly 100-year-old date farm biz, was clearly adjusting to 2020 pandemic practices.  But the shop was open and we were dying to peek at the inside. We headed inside to place an order to go. Counter Seating I could picture folks in the '50s sitting on those stools, sipping date shakes.
The stools were off limits for health reasons, but the date shake makers were at work! Unofficial Drink of Coachella Valley We actually just ordered a large to share! This fabulously sweet concoction has been popular in the area since the 1920s. Shields' shakes are different than some. They use date crystals, which are dried date particles, sweetened with date sugar. A paste of crystals and water is then blended with other ingredients to make an insanely sweet beverage!  Sipping this thick, nearly chewy drink brought back memories. I didn't feel a bit guilty about the calories...  The drink is high in fiber, potassium, iron and niacin! Cheers to that! Return in 2025 This past April, Don and I took the same route from TX to CA!  Once again we pulled up on a sunny blue day, to the old white building. This time we were coming for more than a shake. Shopping? They do have a lot of merchandise! We could have.  I regret not buying a can of date sugar, sold in containers that look like cans of paint.  But it was expensive and I'm honestly not sure what I'd do with it. History? Yes we did come for a bit of history. It's intriguing to picture Sheilds Date Palm Orchard back in the '20s, when the whole date industry was new.  These displayed photos were pretty fun. I've seen sugar coated dates in boxes. I've seen date palms...  But these 2 photos reminded me of what dates actually look like, on the palm or after being picked. Romance? No, we were not stopping by for romance.  But I remembered being amused by this vintage poster 5 years ago. On this visit, we had more freedom to peek around and see what this place was all about. "Romance & Sex Life of the Date" In the back of the big shop, I found an amusing sign above 2 wooden doors.  There was a glow and muffled sound beyond those doors. The little theatre was sure enough showing a film to any folks who had a few minutes to be educated about this sexy date business!  Evidently Floyd was pretty proud of his work with dates. He bred a number of his own hybrids and varieties, including the "Blonde" and "Brunette" varieties. To help promote his exotic and complicated fruit, he began presenting lectures to his customers... then came a slide show and then a 39-page booklet! Today visitors can enjoy a modified presentation in the funny little theatre. Sadly we did not have time. Dash to Lunch I was sorry to miss the show, but lunch was only served until 2.  We headed outside to the walkway, that took us beside the grand date palms, back to the dining patio. Inside Cafe A small building held some booths and tables for inside dining.  It might have been a good option on a hot or rainy day. But it was a beautiful April day. Dining Patio Don and I were excited to dine on the spacious patio.  There were many tables beneath a large canopy.  But we (and others) were drawn to the tables that were shaded by date palms...  ... and colorful umbrellas.  I was sort of delighted about our chairs, with palms on the back! I loved the casual formality. A whirling fan kept flies away. Tablecloths and cloth napkins made us feel a little classy.  We ordered a date palm shake right away. (When in Rome) and studied the menu.
Dining at Sheilds' wasn't an option back in the '20s or 50's or even '90s. The cafe has only been serving food for about 15 years. "Date Me Omelet" How could I resist ordering a meal, with a name like this?  Red bell pepper, bacon, ham, onions, feta cheese and deglet noor dates!  Honestly it was just amazing! I wouldn't have ordered an omelet. That's more of a Don thing. But I was giddy over every sweet and savory bite. Who would have guessed dates and eggs could taste so yummy?  Don went with crab cakes, served on a bed of greens. We both enjoyed our meals and our server. Afraid I did not catch his name, but he was as nice as can be. "The Walk at Sheilds" After finishing lunch, our server encouraged us to enjoy the garden pathways behind the patio. We were a bit surprised to learn there was something else to enjoy on the property, besides date palms. 23 biblical statues to be specific. They moved to Shields in 2012, to create a biblical garden! Hmmm? A biblical garden sort of sounds like something Floyd and Betty might have been up for back in the day. They had some gimmicks after all. But Sheilds Company changed hands some years ago and the business changed. The dates no longer come from the palms that surround the sweet white buildings. The 17-acre property is now a garden with paths. But who added the biblical part? Well, the statues came from Canada. William and Lillian Vanderzalm owned a biblical garden in Vancouver and they needed a home for their statues when they sold their property. The statues were welcomed at Sheilds, just over a decade ago. Pretty sure there must be more to this story.  We had a nice and a curious time, walking in the orchard, all to ourselves. I think I worked off a fraction of the date shake calories!
75 Plus Years Last summer, Don and I had a memorable meal at Plaza Cafe, in downtown Santa Fe.  The menu told us it had been around for 75 years, but the history goes further back. Serving Since 1905 This prime spot, overlooking the historic Santa Fe Plaza, has been serving up authentic traditional dishes, for 120 years.  The pretty building is older than it looks. It doesn't have the soft curves you see in so many of Santa Fe's historic pueblo style buildings. This building on the Plaza, has housed a restaurant since 1905. I'm guessing the building is even older. New Owner in 1947 In 1947 a Greek immigrant named Dan Razatos, took over the Plaza Cafe.. from another owner, who was also a Greek immigrant.  While running his cafe, Dan met and married a local girl named Beneranda. Together they raised 6 kids and ran the Plaza Cafe together. Son Leonardo owns today. Our Visit in 2024 The cafe's exterior didn't look much different when we arrived in 2024, than when Mr. Razotos opened in 1947.  The brick and glass reminded me of Ben Franklin's or Cunningham Drugs, from when I lived in Grinnell, Iowa in the 1960s. Classic Diner The interior was bright and cheery at 11:30 am.  The old fashioned diner look was quite a surprise. It's not what we usually expect in Santa Fe. Counter Seating It was tempting to have a seat at the counter. I loved swiveling on a stool when I was a kid at Cunningham's... having grilled cheese or ice cream.  It's always fun keeping an eye on the action. Especially when there's a friendly staff of nearly a dozen, dressed in white shirts with black bowties! Design with China I was also entertained by the display above the counter.  What a clever way to make use of broken diner china... cups, saucers and plates! Tables & Booths Most guests opted for tables. Actually all guests did.  I was sorry the tables filled quickly before I could get nosy and look at some of the framed photos and art. I did manage to sneak a peek at this photo. Taken in 1949, during the Fiesta Parade.  Too bad the cafe no longer has that great neon sign. Near the Window We were seated at a comfy table in the front section. A great view of the whole restaurant and the colorful patio, just out the window.  Don sat beneath a wreath of red chiles and displayed jars of Plaza Cafe's special sauces. Salsas, I presume. Portrait Not far from where Don was sitting, was a large portrait on the wall.
Beneranda Razatos ran the cafe for many years without the help of Dan. Her husband died 25 years before her, in 2022. She was well loved at the Plaza and in the community. Breakfast & Lunch The cafe served breakfast until 4, so Don was able to order scrambled eggs with a big slab of ham, hash browns and toast.  He was mighty pleased. The lunch/dinner menu offered everything from Posole (pork & hominy stew) to grilled salmon. But I chose a spinach salad that made me so happy!  My bowl was full of goodies! Was this a shredded hard boiled egg? It was a tasty topping, sprinkled over my greens, onions, mushrooms and bacon. The warm bacon vinaigrette dressing was tangy-yummy! The chili-cheddar crostini was an added treat. I think our server Esther called in Pepper Bread. Surprise in the Wall I took a trip to the restroom after we finished and found 2 surprises. One was the fun wallpaper in the hallway.  The other was behind glass. Part of the original adobe wall was on display. I'm sure this building has had many renovations, but somewhere along the way, they decided to preserve this peek at the past. I wish I could have found more history about the age of the building before 1905! Cheers to Esther! Our server Esther took such good care of us. She chatted and answered silly questions every time she stopped by our table. She was efficient and friendly and I finally just had to ask how long she'd been working at The Plaza.  42 years! "What!!? You must have been a baby!" Before long we heard more of her story. She'd moved to the States as a teen in 1986. She found herself working for the Razotos Family and was very grateful for their support. She laughed as she remembered the very first order she took and how she messed it up. Eventually she became a citizen and brought her parents and 10 siblings from Guatemala. There were many servers working on that July day and we lucked out with Esther! Heading Off We left feeling happily satisfied with our breakfast/lunch.  But we were even more pleased that we'd experienced another side of Santa Fe. Our little retro diner had a whole different kind of vibe and history than much of Old Santa Fe. And our server made the experience extra nice. Next Time In a couple of weeks we'll be back in Santa Fe, dining on New Mexican cuisine, at some of our favorite places.  I'm hoping to return to Plaza Cafe. It's a refreshing change. This time I hope to sit on the patio, overlooking the old Plaza. And maybe I'll order the Greek Salad, in honor of the Cafe's Greek roots. That should be just right... along with a Red Velvet Cupcake!
I hope we see Esther! Ponderosa Restaurant Last June, Don and I dined well, on the first day of our road trip to Colorado. I looked on my phone for good lunch options as we drove through west-central Texas.  As we traveled on Hwy 180 towards the town of Snyder, I looked for ideas on TripAdvisor and found Ponderosa. The term "hole in the wall" was written in more than a couple reviews. Compliments about the owner and food were pretty much mentioned in all! Driving through Snyder I looked up from my phone enough to glimpse at the town as we rolled along 180. We didn't spot a sign for Ponderosa, but we saw quite a few worn and weathered restaurants.
I did love the vintage Sinclair sign, though! And the sweet dino and mint colored truck!  What a mighty tidy little station! Ponderosa's Sign We made it through town and I thought we'd missed the place. Then we spotted the fine sign above a cluster of buildings on the Ponderosa property. (This curious sign was not featured in any of the reviews)  I tried to quickly take in all the info, written in Spanish and English. Restaurant AND motel Phone & Fax numbers Money Transfer Service Open 24 hours... yet, Open Mondey to Friday 6 pm to 10 pm. Nothing on the sign told us where to park or which building held the restaurant. Entrance We pulled off the highway and drove between 2 blue posts. Colored lights were strung between a few buildings.  The property felt a little odd and confusing. The cars parked near the L-shaped motel indicated long term residents. Should we park there? We drove around to another L-shaped section of rooms, that looked unoccupied.  We parked and headed back to the area with dark blue paint and signs. I reminded Don, "The reviews are positive! I heard it's the best food in Snyder!"  It looked like a few projects were in progress. I could see some scaffolding on the roof of the white building. The planter and fountain area was partially coated in blue spray paint. Blue & White There was more fresh paint on a little shrine built into one of the posts. Luckily statues of Mary are usually blue. She might have gotten an added touch-up of paint on her robe,
Madonna was facing towards the white metal building, that we presumed was the restaurant. But the attached carport made us wonder if it was a home. Luckily we noticed a neon sign above the door. "Come In We're Open" Happy Greeting As we stepped into a sort of breezeway, a man in a cowboy hat nodded and smiled on his way out. After passing through a red door, we finally felt confident we'd found our restaurant.  Two men stood chatting beside one of the booths. One was dressed in a proper chef's cook shirt. He looked at Don and smiled, "Welcome back!" (hmm?) Then he invited us to sit anywhere. Pick of the Place It was just 11:30, so all tables were available. We had about 8 options.  I was eager to sit at a table with Spanish style barrel chairs. "Ponderosa" and a scorpion was engraved into each. Lots to See While the chef finished up his converstaion, we took in our surroundings. The alcove-type windows, reminded me of Mary's shrine outside, But they were filled with artwork and knickknacks...
... and an occasional religious figure, if you looked carefully. Luis of Ponderosa It was just a moment before the owner/chef said good-bye to his friend and greeted us again, with menus.  There was a photo of Luis and his late wife Lucia, just below the giant scorpion. (It say Lus & Luisa??) There was also an important quote, that we heard about later. Words in Red There were important words in bold red, that told us something else important. But we didn't have to read. Luis told us right away.  He was happy to cook anything on or off the menu, if he had the ingredients. "This is your house!" Chips & Salsa After dropping off menus Luis disappeared for a bit and returned with a basket of piping hot chips. Did he actually just make those back in the kitchen? And incredible fresh salsa!  Luis couldn't have been friendlier. He inquired about Don and seemed surprised to know they hadn't met before. He was sure he remembered Don. With no other customers around Luis was in no hurry for our order. We heard a lot about this interesting man, in chef's clothing. Luis in California We didn't have to read the displayed article to learn about Luis. He stood beside our table and shared about his life, with great enthusiasm. As a young child, he moved from Mexico to Los Angeles. That was after his father moved to CA with the Bracero Program, in the early'60s.  At one point Luis wanted to continue with school but his father gave him the advice (written on the menu) about study vs. work. He quit school and ended up working for numerous notable chefs in Los Angeles. He was trained in cooking all kinds of cuisine. Dad's Advice Usually I'd question a father encouraging a child to quit school, but the more Luis spoke, the more sense his father's words made.  Luis seemed to be such a content man. It sure seemed that his hard work had given him what he needed AND wanted. Cook & Serve Besides chatting with us, Luis also had to cook our meal and serve it as well. He disappeared for a while and eventually returned with our steaming plates.  Another couple came in, so Luis suddenly had more to attend to.  However he had time to pose with Don and his incredible 2.5 pound burrito, stuffed with his choice of many meats. Ponderosa Combination Plate My plate was just as heavy, with enchilada, tamale, taco, rice and beans.  I should have used my steak knife for that cheese! Man that was a decadent and delicious meal. We ended up boxing up more than half to take with us.  As we ate, Luis moved back and forth from the kitchen, attending to the new guests. I kept worrying over how he did it all.  His wife passed away 3 years ago and it's been hard to find good help. Luis works alone right now, but says he doesn't mind. He can count on himself and he loves the people he meets and serves. He assured me he had Mondays off, but maybe not holidays. I read a rave review about a feast Luis cooked on Christmas. Buying the Motel As we dined inside the white metal building, I thought about his story of purchasing the Ponderosa Motel a couple decades ago. He was married with a daughter in CA and had been working for some talented chefs over the years. (Historic LA Athletic Club!) But he was ready for change. He and his wife spotted an ad in the PennySaver paper for the Ponderosa Motel in Snyder, TX. They bought it for a little over $100,000., sight unseen!  They packed up and moved and found the motel in lousy shape. Only 4 of the 24 rooms were serviceable. After a couple years they had the motel fixed up and added a new storm shelter. Eventually they turned the shelter into the restaurant and Luis got back to cooking! He said they had no regrets. Especially since Snyder had been such a good place to raise their daughter. Name Trivia Luis finished serving the other couple and shared some more tidbits. He smiled as he recalled becoming an American citizen. Paperwork led to the discovery that there were 7 others with his same name, (and from his state, Jalisco) who had also applied. That seemed to amuse him.  He talked about meeting a woman in another town, who shared his last name. When she mentioned something about being siblings, Luis quickly did the math about when his dad came to the States. He said that just as he was wrapping his head around the notion of a half sister, the woman added sweetly, "We are all brothers and sisters in the eyes of God." He gave a big laugh at how he'd jumped to conclusions. Funny Signs Luis seemed to enjoy making us smile. So he pointed out some decorations. Mostly Luis made sure Don noticed the 20 or so little signs scattered about.  He said these were "double-tongue" messages. (Serious messages hidden behind humor) I snapped this photo with no clue. I looked up a translation... "Mr. Fiado died, he paid poorly and I killed him." We Paid Well We finished up and paid our bill at the arched opening to the kitchen. We offered much thanks and tipped well, for our nearly 2 hours of good food and entertainment. We didn't need a double tongue sign to encourage that!  Before we headed out, I asked Luis what he liked best about his work. He answered without hesitation. He loved delivering the dishes himself and seeing diners react to the food they saw and tasted!
What a sweet stop in the middle of nowhere Texas! I can see why the reviews were positive! We'll have to plan this route again! Fun Food Stop & Fun Sign I love old diners and drive-ins! I love old signs.  This pole on the corner of Jefferson and 13th, in West Sacramento, seems to have 3 signs. The Whitey's arrow at the top must be from 1963. Emile (Whitey) Boisclair Over 6 decades ago, a man nicknamed Whitey, bought this burger joint that was part of the Jolly Cone chain.  This photo from their website, shows Whitey cooking in the crowded little kitchen. Eventually Whitey's daughter and son-in-law became owners. Just 2 years ago, Whitey's grandkids took over the biz. Weekday in May For such a tiny "diner" there was a huge parking lot. Don and I arrived after 1:30 and there were still plenty of cars.  As we walked towards the tiny box of a building, we could hear music playing! The Monkees, Beach Boys... happy tunes from the 60s and 70s.  From the opposite side of the parking lot, we could see tidy plant containers and lots of tables with umbrellas. The umbrellas stayed closed on that gusty afternoon. Continuous Line We joined about 8 people in line and waited to place our order.  We had time to take in the festive vibe. Lots of regulars getting carryouts or just cones. Families, workmen, a mama with tiny baby, some elder folk... tourists? I'm guessing Don and I were the only out-of-towners. Order Time It was too early for Happy Hour.  But we had lots of beer and wine options!  Our son and daughter-in-law weren't with us, but they are locals and had heard about the amazing peach shakes.  I inquired, but sadly there won't be any until maybe July. They only go on the menu when peaches are in season. Whitey's is known for their fruit shakes, made with fresh fruit & no sugar! Kone at 1:47? It was nearly 2 when we placed our order. I was temped to order a swirly cone when I noticed the tall cowboy ahead of me, reaching for his Jolly Kone, through a tiny window.  But I was suddenly craving a shake. I failed to go the healthy route and ordered the Butterfinger Shake along with my lunch. Waiting Time The woman taking our order couldn't have been nicer. She got Don's first name and asked for a last name initial. She told us it would be about 10 minutes, with a "I hope that's okay?" kind of tone.  The small space behind the windows seemed to be filled with upbeat and efficient staff. No inside tables, but plenty outside.  The wind was chilly so I craved a sunny picnic table. But Don found a shady spot near the pick up window. Don't want some other Don Z. to grab our order! Meal Time! Our 10 minutes went fast, with people watching. There were more people in line or waiting at tables than eating. So many pleasant people chatting with each other.  Don went for a burger and was pleased! Hot Chihuahua & Shake I skipped the fries, since I was ordering a ridiculously unhealthy lunch!  My Butterfinger Shake was so thick I had to use my straw as a spoon!  My beef hotdog, onion & cheddar, wrapped in a grilled tortilla was pretty tasty. I asked for the house-made salsa, on the side. Can't believe it was only $5. I could have had a corndog for $3.75! Family Owned Since '63 The best part of our little diner adventure, was the friendly, old fashioned vibe. How fun that they kept the original building and how cool that the same family has owned Whitey's for 62 years!  We'll need to return in the summer for a Peach Shake and to see the summer vibe, I'm guessing it will be hard to find an empty table!
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The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
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