Friday Food 10-27-23

The other day when Carol and I had lunch at Fitness Grill in Yorba Linda we both ordered Chicken Chipotle Kabob: Chicken breast, chipotle ajoli marinade, grilled tomatoes and chilies, basamati rice.  When we were seated we noticed a man seated nearby had something that looked delicious and asked the waiter who gave it thumbs up.  Oh,my goodness it was fantastic. So much so that I can hardly wait to go back and have it again. I had already tucked  in before I took the picture. The two tomato halves are the light red  on either side of the plate and the bright red at the top isone of  two mild chillies,  I had already  removed the VERY hot green chili so it  wouldn't contaminate anything else.

Of course I couldn't eat all of this for lunch, so I have enjoyed it for dinner, along with two of Carol's chicken pieces and some broccoli from my frig.   YUM.

I  was recently  at a meeting at Rosie's in San Diego and we all  went next door for lunch at the Mexican place. I think their food is good, but they are shortofstaffsoittakesawhiletogetserved.

LookslikeIhaverunoutofspaces!  

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Cost of living 02-02-23

We all feel it!  Some more than others.  I am being a bit more of a penny-pincher -  this from a lady who has splurged at Whole Foods twice in the last month!  But some things are a little hard to take.  

Twice when I went to the market lately there were no eggs for sale.  But when I went to Ralph's the other day they had lots of eggs, however they are mostly "designer" eggs.  I actually looked up some of these terms when I got home.  The price was about $9/dozen!  Fortunately they did have some plain ole brown eggs for $5.29/dozen.  Still a bit high and I bet they taste just as good as the designer eggs.  

Today I had lunch with a friend at Fitness Grill in Yorba Linda, one of my favorite lunch spots.  It has never been a low cost meal, but it is getting more expensive.  Today we both had two salmon tacos, which are on tortillas about 4", and I had ice tea.  Our bill and added tip was $44.   I brought home our uneaten bread and chips so maybe it was 2 1/2 meals.  It was much more satisfying than a Mexican Pizza at Taco Bell but is not something I feel I could afford very often.  

On another note: my latest gas bill was $244.  About four times what it was for the same period last year.  I use gas for heat, hot water, and clothes dryer.  It is not just that it has been colder this winter, it seems the cost of gas has gone through the roof.  I'm thinking about putting up a clothesline and hanging most things out to dry in the free air.  Just like old times. 

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Friday Food 01-07-22

It was a little foggy and about 45F when we went out for our walk this morning, It was not a promising day.  Last evening my laptop couldn't do a wi-fi connection so I missed my Thursday ZOOM meeting with my art quilt group and I was not able to blog.  Some how I just couldn't face it this morning.  Instead I picked up my friend Carol and we went out to lunch at one of our favorite places, Fitness Grill in Yorba Linda.  We sat on the patio with the overhead heater on and there was only one other table occupied.  We do hope the place can stay open with the Covid lurking again.  I guess both Carol and I needed this outing because I think we both felt better when we got home.  

We both ordered the same thing - salmon tacos and lobster bisque.  Both were delicious.  We opted for the tortillas instead of the lettuce wrap.  Somehow it isn't a taco without a tortilla. 

Nice grilled salmon with a green sauce that wasn't too spicy.  It was a big lunch so no dinner required this evening. 

I had an announcement from Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove that they are now open in their new location, which is about a block and a half from the old site - on the west side of Lighthouse St.  Wish I could pop in, but Covid keeps me from traveling. 

Back Porch Fabrics   218 Grand Ave   Pacific Grove, CA  93950

www.backporchfabrics.com

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Ladies who lunch 10-28-21

Lunch out with friends two days in a row!!  Living large.  Yesterday I met three quilting friends in south county and enjoyed some tasty seafood.  The salad had lots of lettuce, two shrimps, one scallop, a scoop of shredded crab, a few olives, half a dozen nice little plum tomatoes, an artichoke heart, some cucumber slices, and a tureen of thousand island dressing.  It was very tasty and was enough to let me skip dinner last night.  But the bill seemed a little high.  However, I find that everywhere eating out is more expensive than ever.  I know that food service places are having a hard time due to the pandemic, but they are about pricing me out of dining out!   

Seafood Salad at Cedar Creek restaurant in San Juan Capistrano.

But the company was great and I so enjoyed catching up with quilting friends.  Traffic wasn't bad for a change and it was a thoroughly enjoyable day. 

Today I had lunch with two Placentia friends at one of our favorite places Fitness Grill on Imperial and Yorba Linda Blvd.   They have a patio and the food is always excellent.  I had the salmon burger which I didn't take a picture of because it just looks like a hamburger!  A nice fluffy assortment of lettuces are served with it and we all had their refreshing ice tea which is not sweetened, but has a lovely fruit flavor. They were not at all busy and we sat with our tea and talked for at least an hour after we finished our lunch.  It did get a little warm as the high today was 94F, but we were engrossed and enjoying our visit.  

The pandemic isn't over and I continue to take precautions and wear a mask when I am out and about.  Everyone I was with has been vaccinated and most have even had the booster.  I will get mine next week.  I put it off because some people are saying they felt lousy just as they did after their second shot.  Since I had all those after effects I wanted to not have anything on my schedule for a few days after I have the booster.  

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More Food 06-12-21

Food again.  After viewing my refrigerator I decided to eat out tonight and took KoKo with me to the Fitness Grill Kitchen in Yorba Linda.  We went early, about 4:30pm and there was only one other table occupied on the patio.

Here is view from our tabler just before we left to return home.  The waiters were setting up a table for eight behind us, so I was glad we were ready to go. It is so interesting to observe other people without masks, although all the waiters wore them.  The four ladies on the left were celebrating one of their birthdays and they were very animated and happy.  My "doggy box" is on my table.  Thinly slices of grilled sirloin with Bastamanti rice, grilled tomatoes with parmesan and two grilled green chili peppers which I tried a tiny bite and then moved to the far edge of the plate.  

This is their version of carrot cake which is more frosting than cake, but it had a nice flavor.  I wanted to lick the leftover caramel off the plate, but decided it was too un-cool.  

KoKo was very good, perhaps because he has been there several times before.  I take a long flat pad - like a very flat pillow - and put it near my feet under the table.  After he has checked everything out he will patiently lay on the pad until I am done eating.  As long as somebody doesn't stop and squeal, "Oh, a doggy."  which prompts him to get up and try to lick that person to death.  I wish people would apply the same rules that are in place for seeing-eye dogs - don't touch, don't talk to them, don't step on them!  KoKo does love people so he always has to respond to any attention anyone offers.  

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Friday Food 11-15-19

Lunch out today with two friends.  We went to Fitness Grill in Yorba Linda, one of my standby places where the food is always exceptional and they have outdoor seating so I can take KoKo.  He is a very good dinner companion and the waiter brings him a bowl of water.  Since he is always excited to go out he always drinks water if offered.  

I did not take pictures of our main dishes, but we all had some kind of seafood, which they do so well.  Mine was a salmon burger that I ordered on sourdough and I ate half, bringing the rest home in a box for dinner tonight.  I wanted to have dessert and the waitress brought the dessert tray - hard decision.  I chose the Hazelnut Torte and it was fabulous.  I have always liked hazelnuts and buy them at TJoe's, but rarely see them on menus.  I did take a picture of that:

My two friends each had a tiny bite and I scarfed the rest.  I wondered if they put it on such a large plate so it would look like a smaller serving, in keeping with their fitness theme.  They have Keto, veggie, vegan, and such on the menu. 

There is also a Fitness Grill in Brea which I have not been to in many years, Yorba Linda is closer for me.

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Friday Food - on Saturday 04-06-19

Out to lunch one day this past week.  We went to Fitness Grille in Yorba Linda.  One of their lunch specials was blackened sea bass with veggies.  What a delight to the eye and the taste buds.  

Not terribly spicy, the fish was cooked perfectly and the veggies.....

were al dente, tasty and colorful.  

We sat outside which turned out to be a mistake as the crew refurbishing the parking lot came back from their lunch break and fired up their equipment.  It made it hard to hear and was somewhat annoying.  But the food made up for it - delicious.

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Good Food at Fitness Grill 10-08-13

When I heard the news of Lisa Quintana's failing health I was so down I needed to be with people.  Like so many bloggers I felt that Lisa was a very special lady and a cherished friend.   The only thing I could think to do was find someone to go to lunch with me.  I would be out of the house, not alone, and unable to let my mind dwell on the loss of a friend.  I called my friend Carol to find out that she and Teresa had a lunch date set up.  Carol invited me along and I was out the door.  We ended up talking for several hours and the wait staff kept telling us not to worry, we weren't in their way.  The conversation and the company of two of my "bookie" friends helped me deal with my sadness.

Fitness Grill in Yorba Linda has been in business for years and I have eaten there, but it is off my usual routes and I don't think of it as a possibility.  I will in the future.  The food was fresh and imaginative and the service friendly and timely. 

Teresa enjoyed: Fitness Rolls - Blackened all natural chicken breast, caramelized onions, avocado, and ginger rolled in wheat tortillas and flash baked.

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Carol ordered:  Spinach Chicken Wrap -  Blackened chicken, spinach-artichoke mix, low-fat mozzarella cheese and fresh spinach baked and wrapped in a spinach tortilla.  Served with a side of cucumber and ginger.

 

I had: Kinki Ahi Rolls - Seared Ahi, caramelized onions, avocado, red cabbage, lettuce, cilantro and ginger rolled in wheat tortillas and flash baked.


My  wrap came with a soy, ginger, oil, sesame seed dip.  But Teresa's plate came with a creamy dip that the waiter said contained ground macadamia nuts.  It was fantastic.