To be honest with you, when the craving for a mid-day snack starts to build around that 4:00 p.m. hour, eating a bagful of popcorn is the last thing on my mind. Rather, my habits are generally reserved for a plate of Oreo cookies, a bowlful of Planters peanuts, or perhaps a small serving of M&M's candies. On hot days, I'll drag myself from the cool confines of my office to hit the nearby vending machine for an It's It ice cream sandwich or a frozen Chocolate Taco.
Within the last few years, food trucks and sidewalk carts have been migrating out of their conventional sites such as construction zones, carnivals, and college campuses. Redefined and redesigned, these "meals on wheels" can now be seen popping up in high-frequency areas where even the most discernible diner isn't afraid to sidle up to the takeout window.
Now, if you're thinking that you need to travel to the nearest big city to sample such fare, don't. Because parked alongside South River Road in nearby Clarksburg sits the Dinky Diner, a converted travel trailer that's been a community destination for breakfast and lunch since 1998.
Everything is made to order by a three-person crew, and they do their darn best not to step on each others' toes in the cramp quarters of the "kitchen." As one member commented, there's a methodical order to their madness "that's never dull."
To be honest, Temple City is not the first place that comes to my mind when searching for "worldly" things such as material goods, clothing, or cuisine. If asked the question, cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, London, Paris, or Tokyo are generally mentioned. But as I found, don't be too quick to judge this book by its cover because Temple City is, in fact, home to a wide variety of ethnicities, and there is a cultural balance to what you can find here.
And now, here we are perusing through a menu that offers an extensive variety of flavors. There are thirteen ramen combinations alone, including Spicy Pork Ramen, Tomato Beef Ramen, Miso Ramen, and a Seafood Ramen that brings together fresh mussels, shrimp, and fish balls. Their rice dishes include much of the same combinations, however, there are four kinds of fried rice to choose. Our recommendation, try the grilled eel fried rice.
By the way, for those of you who are a little less squeamish with your food, Ajisen Ramen also offers more adventuresome fare as well. For example, anyone up for a bowl of baby octopus? How about spicy conch? Or maybe the Kani and Fish Roe Salad is more to your liking.
There's a time-tested gesture native to New Zealand that if given a "chocolate fish," you are being recognized with either a very special thank you, apology, or reward for a good deed. As I understand it, it's their unique way of paying it forward to ensure harmony within a family dynamic, a community, or some other microcosm such as an office or a classroom.
Located on the corner of 3rd and Q Street, Chocolate Fish Coffee was established in 2008 by Andy and Edie Baker, both of whom have made it their personal commitment to provide some of the best tasting beverages made from the highest quality coffee beans the world has to offer. As they are quick to note, "We love espresso, and hope to pass this passion on to our visitors."
Tucked away at the northern-most end of midtown Sacramento is Boulevard Park, a quaint neighborhood where tree-lined streets shoulder classically designed Craftsman and Colonial Revival homes. It wasn't always like this, meaning that before this became a residential community, it was home to Union Racetrack where the California State Fair once held its annual horse races. But that was then, and Boulevard Park is now a place were many local artists and artisans have carved out long and successful livings.
During our recent visit, I had to sink my teeth into an apple turnover because it looked perfect behind the glass counter. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed. It was light, flaky, and very good. And while my son went with a more conventionally sized glazed donut, my daughter went with one of their super-sized sugar donuts. We all shared a laugh as she held it up to her face, and the only thing we could see was her eyeball peeking through the hole.
Everything, but the kitchen sink. We've all heard of this frequently used idiom, especially when describing something or someone who tries to include as many things as possible for convenience or comfort. In fact, I'm betting that you have used it for one occasion or another. I know I have:
Ladies and gentleman, I give you THE KITCHEN SINK: Three sliced bananas, your choice of up to eight heaping scoops of ice creams, eight servings of toppings, mounds and mounds of whipped cream, chopped toasted almonds, and a handful of cherries. This behemoth of a sundae weighs in at about three pounds (roughly a gallon-and-a-half of ice cream), and it's held together in a custom-designed kitchen sink.
But it’s not just about the desserts, albeit they are the main attraction when stepping into the creamery. They also boast a fresh selection of soups, sandwiches, burgers, pastas, and appetizers. Our suggestion, try the crab salad sandwich made with real chunks of dungeness crab blended with mayo, lettuce and a dash of paprika.
In a recent quest to find reputable locations for chicken and waffles in Northern California (specifically the Bay Area), we put out a call to a few of our food friends and followers. Needless to say, no one failed to respond. The choices were seemingly endless and quite promising. Among them was the aptly named Home of Chicken and Waffles.
Similarities aside, however, there's just enough of a difference in what they're serving up here that can warm the cockles of one's heart. In other words, there's still a lot about Home of Chicken and Waffles that's uniquely special from its edgy and vibrant 60's appearance to the hand-painted murals that adorn the walls.
In all, Home of Chicken and Waffles offers a total of forty-one different "family-member" named combinations that are generous in portion and flavor. All are made with fresh ingredients, and many are priced under $10.00, meaning that you can go a long way with the paper in your pocket.
Of all the food festivals that we've had the pleasure of visiting, only one holds a sentimental place in my heart: Courtland's Pear Fair. Now, there's nothing particularly unique that sets the Pear Fair apart from any other food festival. Rather, it is the only one where my grandmother had been a participant, representing the best the Sacramento Delta has to offer in terms of hospitality, knowledge, and a passion for good food. Bringing her together with the Pear Fair was a match made in heaven, and as kids growing up in her shadow, we had front row seats. As I recall, she not only shared stories of what it was like to live in the Delta, but she was also not shy to talk about one of the region's leading crops. It seemed like there wasn't a thing she didn't know ... But I'm digressing.
What is Halo Halo? 
Ever since we moved from Los Angeles in 2005, we've been in search for a new place to find good, wholesome Southern Soul Food. From staples as mac-n-cheese, collard greens, and smothered pork chops to standards that are more for the adventurous such as oxtail soup, pickled chicken gizzards, and chitterlings and hog maws. We've come close a handful of times, and one of our favorites can be found on the city borders of Oakland and Emeryville.