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Mother's Day Lunch in Gila Bend, AZ You have to love the name of this restaurant.
And you have to appreciate the name of this town as well! Why Did We Go? This was not exactly a Destination Mother's Day Celebration. We were on our way from Alpine, CA to Tucson, AZ.  It happened to be Mother's Day, which meant I got a little extra say so in where we stopped for lunch. How could I resist this 1960's diner, with the sparkly white paint job. The blue tiles had glittery sparkles, too. Wish my photo could have captured it. Where is Everyone? It was sort of a bad sign that the place wasn't packed on Mother's Day. There was nowhere else do go in Gila Bend and who wouldn't want to bring their mom here?
I had to grin when I walked inside. The modern spotlights were aimed at the colorful space mural and the counter stools were right out of the Jetson's cartoon show. The white dots on the shiny black floor made me feel like I was looking down into outerspace! The Menu We were given menus right away.
I admired the friendly cover, with a very exciting image of a flying saucer/coffee cup. The History Inside the menu there was a write up about the history of the Space Age Restaurant and Motel, built in 1964. (postcard image from the internet) The futuristic design was created by Al Stovall, who at that time was affiliated with the newly founded Space program.  He owned a plastic factory among other things and was able to use factory materials to create some of the unique features, like satellite replicas on the roof. Mr. Stovall passed away in the '70s, but his family is still involved in ownership. The restaurant was rebuilt after a fire in 1998, so sadly some of the truly retro features are missing. Food We were starved, so ordered quickly.
Don's hamburger didn't look terribly exciting, but the space age china that the burger sat upon, made up for that. Do make note of the etched glass behind Don. Planets and Spaceship! Another Room I made sure to order a salad bar with my tuna sandwich and chili. That meant I got to go into another room with more wall art. Painted Rockets and astronauts, saucer style lamps, dramatic blue ceiling with dangling planets!  This shouldn't impress me since Houston's Space Center, is a 45 minute drive from my home. But it all seemed hysterically fun, out in the middle of nowhere, in Arizona! My Dish You can tell by the unmelted cheese that my chili was not served piping hot. Our server was kind enough to give it a little zap in the microwave, when I asked.  It still was only lukewarm, but I enjoyed my flying saucer plate so much that I hardly cared. Time to Go I'm glad we didn't drive 2 hours (or 2 days) just for Mother's Day Brunch, because our dining adventure was over in about 30 minutes.  Which was just fine since we needed to get on the road. I wish we'd had time to stop in the motel lobby before departing. The lobby is underneath the saucer-like structure to the left! My Purchase I did make a fine purchase from the diner gift shop.
This very awesome Space Age mug is my most favorite coffee mug these days. I made sure to capture its image on some reflective foil to add some excitement to the photo. When We Return Don and I realize we may not have hit the restaurant on the best of days.
I have a feeling the people of Gila Bend were doing what all families should do on Mother's Day. They were home celebrating with Mom. So we'll just have to return another time and maybe even stay at the Space Age Lodge!
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Dining In Venice!
Well, sort of... Dining at an Outside Café...  Well sort of... Canelleto's Canelleto's is actually a restaurant at The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Which means, when you dine at one of the hotel's "outdoor" cafes, you actually have a roof over your head. And what a roof!  The clouds on the ceiling made it feel like dusk, 24 hours a day. The street lamps felt like they were just lit. The sounds of singing gondoliers and sloshing water could be heard in the nearby Grand Canal. And the musicians playing flute, violin and cello created an atmosphere that felt like a summer evening in an real Italian piazza. The View  When Don and I dined last May, we chose to sit "outside" so we could take in the view. But when I ventured inside in search of the restroom I was amazed at the festive interior. And there was a pretty spectacular view from the upper floors! Italian Dining  My enthusiasm sounds like someone who has never dined in Venice, Italy. In fact, I have such good memories of the "real thing" that I really expected not to be impressed. But I do love playing pretend. And I do love a restaurant with a gimmicky theme. I'd say Canaletto's pulled it off. And I must say, I love the idea of sidewalk cafes with white tablecloths, minus the issues that come with Italian pigeons. Getting Started
I took some time to study the menu artwork which showed a bustling harbor scene and Palazzo Ducale. Then I got very hungry absorbing the mouthwatering details inside the menu. It was nice enjoying a little Chianti and some warm Italian bread as we made up our minds! The Meal  Our waiter had an accent but I didn't dare ask. I'd like to just assume he was Italian, although chances are he was not. We were given just the right amount of attention and the food didn't come out too quickly. I hate feeling rushed when you're trying to enjoy your wine. Pasta, Soup & Salad Don's pasta with prosciutto and cream sauce was deliziososissma. Picture me giving my fingertips a quick kiss, so you know what that means. My Insalata Cesarina, was surprisingly yummy with egg slices and a large sheet of parmesan! I ordered the Minestrone with crossed fingers.
When I was 11 my family moved to Italy for a half year and I remember soothing my homesickness with minestrone. I've been searching since 1969 for the amazing combination of vegetables, cheese and spices, that I remember adoring. Once in a blue moon have I tasted a soup that comes close. The minestrone didn't quite make it. But that's okay. The search is part of the fun. Playing Tourists  When in Rome, (or in Venice) I say, "Act like a tourist and pose on the bridge!" It was a good way to end our meal, before hiking back to our hotel room. We worked off a few calories as we got a bit lost, kind of like you do in the real Venezia!
Tiki Stops in Nevada & California This past spring Don and I had a chance to make 3 retro Tiki Stops on our road trip from Texas to California and back.
There wasn't much dining to be had at the first and no time for dining at the other 2, but they were all quite worthy of a write up! 1- Frankie's in Las Vegas! Being in Vegas puts you in the retro mood. We took a 10-minute cab from our hotel to this 24-hour lounge, far from the touristy Strip.
Our driver chuckled with us and took our photo before entering. (More or less wishing us luck) When we stepped back out later that evening, we got to see the bright pink neon. Interior When we entered through the red door, we thought our daylight eyes would adjust.
They didn't. It was so dark we couldn't see the bamboo walls or mermaid on the ceiling, until viewing these "flashy" photos. Décor It took nerve to use the camera flash, since we seemed to be the only tourists. But we wanted to see (and remember) this awesome setting that was designed by Bamboo Ben.  He and owner P. Moss, with the help of a number of tiki artists created an atmosphere of southseas exotica and modern primitivism! Frankie's Tiki Room has been hopping since it opened less than 10 years ago. I admire Moss' mission to revive the tiki glory days while preserving the name and stucco structure of an actual 1950's Vegas cocktail lounge. Bar & Drinks The bar was an exciting clutter of Polynesian delights. The black and white TV played beach-y film clips while retro island music played.
We used our cell phones to light up the tropical menu, all priced at $9. It wasn't an easy choice since there were 77 cocktails offered at Frankie's. I chose a tasty, coconut Malakula. The menu gave it 3 skulls for "strength" instead of 5. Bartender, Mike A space opened at the bar, so we moved to chat with Mike, the most energetic, upbeat bartender you could hope for.  Being tourists, we bought some quite amazing tiki mugs designed by a local artist and Mike called our cab. There's no food to be had at Frankie's, so some of us can only linger so long. But it was well worth the cab fare to come enjoy for a while! 2- Bali Hai in San Diego Area We discovered this tiki lounge/restaurant on Shelter Island after seeing it pictured, along with a recipe in a 1959 Ford Motor Co. Travel Cookbook.
We were mighty excited to find it open and still being operated by the same family since 1955! Not Sure... These Polynesian figures are shown in the cookbook illustration. No one seems to know the full history of the character nicknamed "The Goof" on the roof top.
The other greeter was by the door. "Mr. Mai Tai" was less cheery, but equally odd. I'm not sure about political correctness at tiki bars, but there were many more carved tiki figures to wonder about once we stepped inside. Grand Round Room When we stepped inside, we were greeted by live acoustic Hawaiian music and about 100 tiki artifacts.
The shiny, massive support logs were impressive, as was the wall of glass with its spectacular view of San Diego Bay. But from 4 to 6, the action was centered around the dramatic bar under a narrow cone-shaped ceiling. Mai Tais We squeezed in at the corner of bar, with light illuminating the thick stone surface. The timbers holding the cone roof held dangling lanterns and glowing puffer fish, as well as a sign with changing numbers.
A man drinking a Mai Tai beside us, warned us about the strength of Bali Hai's Mai Tais. "No juice. You have to be careful." Just then, the sign changed to 2,285,362. That's a lot of Mai Tai's served at Bali Hai! Two Mai Tais We each ordered one. I ordered mine in the special Mr. Mai Tai mug.  Once again, I'm not sure about these tiki images. But I think the half closed eyes are a reminder of what you will look like if you have more than one. Meal with a View The dining area was beginning to fill around 6, but we had to take off.  It would have been nice to have dined with that view! Quick Chat Before Leaving Big Brian, (as he told us to call him) was the only bartender. He was moving fast, whipping out the cocktails, but I couldn't leave without showing him the cookbook. That odd book had acted like a treasure map, luring us to our little our island paradise.  Big Brian's reaction was pretty fun! He nearly hopped over the bar to get to the book. He was giddy over the "Chicken of the Gods" recipe and raced back to the kitchen (abandoning the bar) to show the chef. It was a perfect ending to our second Tiki Adventure. (I look like I had numerous Mai Tais in this photo) 3- Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach, California It was a bright Sunday afternoon when we found Don's on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Once again we aimed early for a tiki visit, but the place was throbbing by 5. Arriving The wonderful swooping roof and swordfish sign lured us right off the Highway. It was tricky getting into the parking area, which was bustling with very efficient traffic directors, who must double as security guards or bouncers.
They were having their weekly Reggae Event and we made the mistake of trying to go in the VIP door. We eventually found the bamboo door in front, with sign. "Host to Diplomat and Beachcomber, Prince and Pirate." "Don" or Ernest Gantt from Texas This is the guy who started the real Polynesian craze in 1930's Hollywood.
Inspired by his own island travels, he ended up with a chain of Tiki Lounges all over the country and a list of over 80 patented drinks. None of the original restaurant/lounges remain, but the nostalgic chain has been revived in 3 US locations. The other 2 are in Hawaii. The Other Don I had my Don pose with the sign before heading in. A man snickered nearby, when I snapped the photo. "He must be important!" the man teased. I agreed, "Oh he is! This is Don."  I felt bad when I had to explain to the man that "my" Don wasn't "The" Don. That Don died in 1989 at 82. I guess the teasing man was a tourist or he would have known that. Dining Once again, I wish we had been able too stay for a meal. It would have been a slice of tropical heaven to sit beside a waterfall or Hawaiian mural and sample the Polynesian foods that became especially popular after WWII.
The real tiki craze began in the '40's after soldiers returned home, craving the exotic foods they had sampled in the Pacific. I'm sure there wasn't really anything that unusual about the dishes served up then or now, with all their decorative pineapples and flowers, but I wouldn't mind trying! The Bar We passed up the Reggae event, and headed for the cozy Dagger Bar.  Karaoke was in full swing, at 4:30 in the afternoon. Enjoying the Show Once again we found ourselves relaxing with more locals than tourists. There seemed to be some karaoke regulars and a few were pretty decent. A couple made us wince, but that's all part of it. The fine fellow with gray beard, knit Rasta hat, braids and croqueted eye patch (with crocheted eye) was quite the performer.
The lai-adorned woman pictured dancing along, was actually our delightful server. I had a chance to tell the "pirate" he did a nice job before we left. He said "Thanks!" instead of "Aye!" So I guess we didn't get to meet a pirate, prince or diplomat after all. The Hut... Next Time! We only had 3 Tiki Adventures on our trip. But on our way home we did spot this fine image not far from our hotel in Tucson.
We'll have to try The Hut on our next Western Road Trip! I have a feeling there could be many more to choose from. Tiki is making a comeback!
California Cookbook Adventure Of all places to eat in the LA area, this was high on the list. Not because we knew the food was excellent. Not because someone told us about it.
It was because we saw it pictured in our travel cookbook... from 1963. More on that later. Studio City Now, the hotel & restaurant sits beside busy Ventura Boulevard. But, the 8-acre complex actually predates studio film history.
When we arrived there was a lot of activity nearby. We heard sirens and saw flashing lights. We heard the sound of LAPD helicopters overhead. Filming a movie? No it was real. Before we knew it, Ventura Blvd. was closed down due to a nearby robbery at a cell phone store. Eventually we heard the thief was caught. Today's Look The grand motel was added in 1962. It's recently been renovated in a very modern-sheik style.  Don and I parked in a huge lot and walked to this great retro entrance. Lobby The sitting area and bar near the lobby looked extremely mod and fun.
We had heard the hotel gets some very interesting guests and it did seem like everyone who walked through the door was a part of something interesting. To The Cafe I carried our special cookbook as we walked down the hall to the café.
We hoped we might end up talking to someone who was interested in the history of Sportsman's Lodge... and the odd book. Orange and White The café felt like a giant crème-cicle, with it's fresh décor!
The woman dressed in white behind the counter, made me think of old fashioned bakeries. The orange stools reminded me of Howard Johnson's
The slick white chairs made me wish I could watch the Jetson's on TV. No cartoons for me, but I did get to feast my eyes on the wonderful display of Hollywood stars... who once visited the lodge. Meeting Moe I didn't' get to meet any celebs, but I got to chat with our wonderful waiter from French Morocco. I showed him our cookbook with the watercolor illustration of the lodge, along with a recipe for Beef Stroganoff.  He was quite amused and said they actually had that on the winter menu. He was intrigued enough by this old Ford Motor Company Travel Cookbook that he disappeared to his car to get his cell phone to take a picture. Another People Encounter We had no stroganoff options for lunch, but the menu looked very good. While we were checking out the food choices, we had a nice visit from a woman who was seated behind Don.  She had noticed our enthusiasm for the place and seemed excited to let us know she was the designer for recent renovations. She shared a few stories and we let her know we were impressed with the new, fresh and modern concept. Food! I can get overly eager about a place and end up not even caring about the food. But this food was absolutely perfect. I had a Caesar salad with chicken wrap that came with sweet potato chips.
Don's sandwich with incredible sauce was equally yummy. Can I tell you what it was? Actually I can't remember for the life of me 2 months later. But I remember begging for bites. So much for food review. Posing Moe offered to take our photo. I see we're properly lined up with Clark and Kate.
We stumbled across their hand and footprints an hour later when playing tourists at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Mermaids in the Pool? After eating, Don and I went exploring a bit. The wonderful pool area looked quite inviting and also very quiet.
If we'd come another day we might have caught a performance or taken a class by "Aqualillies" a synchronized swimming group. To view the fine Aqualillies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i7sPwOeGd4 The Old Sportsman's Lodge Before we departed we had to explore the old lodge area from the '40's, where you can still dine at night or book an event.
The water color image is taken from the cookbook and shows the view through the window glass. Lush ponds, bridges and swans create a little urban oasis hidden in the middle of Studio City. This is where John Wayne supposedly taught his kids to fish. Further Back
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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
November 2024
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