CORONAVIRUS! Part 29 – Happy Cinco de Mayo!
And it’s also “Giving Tuesday” (so give it away now)
***GIVE BLOOD!***
THE RED CROSS NEEDS BLOOD AND PLASMA DONORS!
redcrossblood.org 1-800-RED-CROSS Blood Donor App
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 – It’s Cinco de Mayo! STAYTHEFUCKHOME!
2:30am: We ate the chili dogs and fell asleep for a bit.
And when we woke up it was Tuesday morning around 1:00am!
We took the dogs out again and we are back in the Home Office.
11:30am: No one told me the gardeners were coming on Tuesday at 8:00am!
Of course, we were already awake, the dogs had already been outside and were fed.
So we got the newspapers and said “Good Morning” to the guys in the driveway.
They will be working in the backyard most of the day doing the hard labor stuff.
We had juice, an espresso, and a toasted bagel with cream cheese this morning.
We got the mail and we took the dogs out again a
nd now they’re asleep here in the Home Office.
Yeah, we’re hungry, and we could takea nap.
It’s a beautiful day today and it’s going to get HOT later.
2:15pm: Well, we didn’t eat, but we did take a nap for a little while.
And now it’s HOT and there’s a Hot Wind blowing. (Earthquake weather?)
And the day went by. So, we fed the dogs and we were outside in the sun.
The gardeners did a nice job clearing the backyard of stuff
and they pruned one tree all the way down to the sticks.
Cinco de Mayo and Taco Tuesday at Home. (dinner at 11:30pm) On the Menu: Chili and cheese soft taco with fresh guacamole and salsa verde, salad with Caesar dressing, tortilla chips, red grapes, two tequila shots, and an iced espresso.
Olé! Salud! CHEERS!
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Super Bowl Sunday!
February 2, 2020 – Kickoff 3:30pm PST
Groundhog Day is also February 2nd.
Punxsutawny Phil, the Groundhog and
The Punxsutawny Groundhog Club est. 1887 “A popular tradition in the United States, Groundhog Day is also a legend that traverses centuries, its origins clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specific dates. Myths such as this tie our present to the distant past when nature did, indeed, influence our lives. It is the day that the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow. If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole. If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.”
“Punxsutawney Phil’s prognostications have drawn the attention and praise of thousands of his faithful followers who now flock to Gobblers Knob each year from around the world.”
– from The Punxsutawny Groundhog Club website
UPDATE: Sunday, February 2, 2020, 0730am PST – Groundhog Day!
Punxatawny Phil did not see his shadow. Early Spring predicted!
Punxsutawney Phil is betting on Kansas City!
SUPER BOWL 54 San Francisco 49ers – National Football Conference (NFC)
@ Kansas City Chiefs – American Football Conference (AFC)
The winning team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy, created by Tiffany & Company, and made of sterling silver. The trophy is a regulation-size silver football mounted in a kicking position on a pyramid-like stand of three concave sides.
Height: 20.75 inches – Weight: 107.3 ounces – Value: In excess of $10,000
The Halftime Show: Jennifer Lopez and Shakira
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens, Florida
Capacity: 65326
Parking: 26718
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
And now a quick message for the NFL (and all the closet racists out there):
The Chiefs are slight favorites over the 49ers KC -1.5
The Chiefs Money Line: Kansas City -122, San Francisco +101
The Over/Under is currently 54.5
“Football is like life it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice,
dedication and respect for authority. “ – Vince Lombardi
The Halftime Show: Jennifer Lopez and Shakira
(we don’t think J-Lo likes Shakira….)
and it will probably SUCK. Wait for the reviews.
“Her hips don’t lie and her lips don’t sing.” – Dave Siegel
PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!
NOTE: Face it, you don’t care about either team this year, so it’s all about THE SUPER BOWL PARTY, the food, drink, and the Commercials, right?
Drinking Rules for Super Bowl 54:
Take a sip of beer every time the broadcasters mention the Chiefs haven’t been to the Super Bowl in 50 years and every time they show Chiefs fans doing a tomahawk chop.
Take a sip every time they mention Colin Kaepernick, the controversial former San Francisco Quarterback.
Take a sip of beer. whenever the broadcasters mention that Chiefs Quarterback Mahomes’ dad, Pat Mahomes, once pitched for the New York Mets and every time the broadcasters mention Coach Andy Reid’s poor clock management.
Take a sip every time a well known celebrity or Jerry Rice appears on camera.
Take a sip anytime they show Joe Montana, or mention him playing for both teams.
Take a sip when Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce does his signature “Magic Mike” dance when he scores a touchdown.
Take a sip every time the broadcast shows an aerial view of South Beach.
Do a shot when Pitbull does his “surprise” cameo during the halftime show. STOP DRINKING IF YOU FEEL DRUNK!
POSTING THIS ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 31st at 12:05am. Our predictions for the Big Game:
(we are not liable for any gambling losses,
this is not an actual “tip” or “tout” site. For amusement only!)
*Kansas City will win. Final score 27-20, so take the Under.*
And always take “HEADS” in the coin toss.
Most of all just have fun and be safe!
UPDATE: February 2, 2020 1730pm (Halftime)
Well, the Over/Under shifted to my final score prediction!
And we’re tied at 10-10 at the Half.
UPDATE: February 2, 2020 2010pm (Game Over!)
Final Score: San Francisco 20 – Kansas City 31
NOTE: At the time we predicted the Under score the Over/Under line was 53.5
We would have won the Under Bet and our prediction KC 27 – SF 20 was pretty close!
“El Zono Finale.”
NOTE:“Where The Buffalo Roam” with Bill Murray and Peter Boyle is a classic film and a Super Bowl viewing must! Try to find it with the original music soundtrack.
NOTE:We will continue to add and update this Blog Post before, during and after the Super Bowl in Miami on Sunday!
On The Menu:
Friday evening, we made a big pot of thick and extra spicy chili for Sunday.
(we are also defrosting chicken wings, but we won’t cook them until Gameday)
Start with a big pot of thick and extra spicy chili
Saturday evening, we cut up a pineapple and a watermelon, and we made a fruit infused lemonade (used fresh lemons right off the tree). We went to the market and bought food and supplies for the party: chips, hummus, dill pickles, celery, Persian cucumbers, raspberries, “beverages” and mixers, peanut M&Ms, ice cream and more.
Sunday morning we cut up the veggies, made some fresh guacamole (our recipe is in a previous Blog Post) and then we cooked up the hot wings.
Buffalo Hot Wings! Ingredients:
Chicken wings (trimmed and cut)
1 cup all purpose flour
3 eggs
1/3 cup water
1 stick of Butter
1 bottle of Frank’s Red Hot sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
dash(es) Tabasco
dash(es) Worcestershire sauce
Vegetable oil (for frying) Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Heat 2″- 3″ of vegetable oil to 400 degrees in heavy pot.
Whisk flour, eggs, 6 oz of Frank’s Red Hot sauce, a couple dashes of Tabasco and Worchestershire sauce, garlic, and black pepper in a large bowl until it makes a batter.
Salt the chicken wings and add them to the bowl, Coat them thoroughly with batter.
Fry the chicken wings in hot oil for 5-7 minutes until cooked golden brown.
Remove the chicken wings from oil and drain on paper towels.
Melt butter in a saucepan on the stove, then add 6 oz of Frank’s Red Hot sauce, a dash of Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce and simmer quickly.
Place chicken wings in oven safe dish (PYREX or a metal pan) and cover them with sauce.
Bake in oven for 15 minutes. Remove and coat with heated sauce again.
Garnish with celery & carrot sticks
Serve with Blue Cheese and Ranch dressing
Thick and Extra Spicy Chili (w/cheese, onion and crushed tortilla chips)
Words of Wisdom:
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!
“Ain’t no Hunter here! This is a party! Not a safari!”
“Tickets, passes, and a key?”
“Still not weird enough for me.”
“Everybody is going to be excited to play in a Super Bowl. When you still enjoy the preparation and the work part of it, I think you ought to be still doing that. I think as soon as I stop enjoying it, if I can’t produce, if I can’t help a team, that’s when I will stop playing.” – Peyton Manning
Super Bowl 50, February 7, 2016, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
The Pregame Show was a NFL Football masterpiece!
Marino, Montana, Brady, Manning, Staubach, Favre and Elway!
THE GAME!
KC scores the first TD!
First Half: pretty even.
Both teams score a touchdown and a field goal.
San Francisco threw an interception.
Lots of good commercials!
SF scores the second TD and ties the game at 10!
Third Quarter: All 49ers.
San Francisco kicks a field goal, then intercepts and drives for a TD! Score is 20 – 10
Fourth Quarter: All Chiefs!
Big Play! Touchdown! Interception! Touchdown! Chiefs Win!
Touchdown Kansas City! San Francisco leads 20-17
After further review the play stands as called. Touchdown Chiefs! KC leads 20 – 24!
BIG KC DEFENSE! San Francisco turns it over on downs with 1:30 left on the clock.
Game Over! Touchdown Kansas City! Chiefs now lead 20-31! Then they intercept the ball again with less than a minute left to play! Game Over Man!
The Kansas City CHIEFS WIN! Final Score: San Francisco 20 – Chiefs 31
PREMATURE CELEBRATION
A short RANT about the PREMATURE CELEBRATION:
This just needs to stop. The End Zone Exhibitionism should be penalized!
No TD dances! No group selfies! None of this “Jerk-Off” behavior!
How is this not “TAUNTING” the other team? It’s just Poor Sportsmanship!
“I’m going to Walt Disney World!” Super Bowl and NFL League MVP!
Big Congratulation to 24 year old Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes! He’s the Super Bowl MVP and the NFL League MVP (and the youngest player to ever win those awards) along with being the holder of a bunch of other new football records. He made some “rookie mistakes” during the game, but he played like a Champion and made the BIG PLAYS when he had to and led Kansas City to victory.
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE! CALL A RIDE AND GET HOME ALIVE!
We had a weird. thought today (Friday) as the GOP Senate voted against witnesses and documents (i.e. evidence) in the Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump.
What if there’s a “false flag” event at the Super Bowl? Hmmm. Conspiracy theory much?
And don’t forget who controls what you see, hear and read:
or just Watch the Puppy Bowl on the AnimalPlanet channel!
Team Fluff vs. Team Ruff: 96 puppies from 61 animal shelters and rescue organizations across the United States will compete, the highest number of puppies ever, making it the “biggest and most epic game in Puppy Bowl history,”
And all the puppies are available for adoption at www.animalplanet.com
“Happiness is a warm puppy” – Charles M. Schultz
UPDATE: February 4, 2020 – Best Story of the Super Bowl!
Kelly Kay Green, 27, a Los Angeles Instagram model, who has more than 275,000 followers on her “Kelly Kay” Instagram page, tried to get on the field during Super Bowl LIV in Miami and was arrested on a trespassing charge and taken into custody. Green jumped over the northwest rail and onto the field in a restricted area. “Social media showed security and police taking her into custody near one of the end zones and leading her off the field. At one point, she appeared to lift off the back of her dress as she walked with her hands handcuffed behind her.” She was booked and later released on a $1000 bond.
THE END(s)
UPDATE: February 3, 2020 THIS IS A REAL TRUMP TWEET! The Chiefs play in Missouri! HE DOESN’T KNOW AND HE DOESN’T CARE!
THIS IS A REAL TRUMP TWEET! The Chiefs play in Missouri!
SHARING THIS FROM OUR FRIEND:
“President Numbnuts strikes again!!!
Yes, he posted this then deleted it.
The Chiefs play in Kansas City MISSOURI!
Millions of people feel he should’ve been impeached, removed from office (and squished like a bug) for simply being an absolutely wretched human being with zero interest in:
-geography
-history,
-truth,
-leadership,
-honor,
-people,
-pets,
-veterans,
-veterinarians,
-women,
-men,
-children,
-Armenians,
-Americans,
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – !!!
Fuck This World Class Asshole and get him out of the white house.
Oh, and Happy Groundhog’s Day.”
Los Tres Hermanos Bar and Grill Mexican Restaurant
in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
NOTE: This Blog was started and in “draft” form for a couple weeks before being finished and published. Posting now because writing helps as a distraction.
Mexican Food!
Saturday night in the beautiful San Fernando Valley on Van Nuys Blvd near the Government Center (Courthouses, Police Station, Post Office, etc.) at Erwin St.
Los Tres Hermanos Bar and Grill Mexican Restaurant
Front Desk at Los Tres Hermanos Bar and Grill
We parked in back and used the Rear Entrance. (just a little sketchy)
The Rear Entrance to Los Tres Hermanos Bar and Grill in Van Nuys
There’s a large dining room with tables and booths along the side walls. And of course there’s a long bar, and a very nice one too. they also have a very small stage for live music on Fridays and Satudays and this was one of those nights.
The Large Dining Room at Los Tres Hermanos Bar and Grill
The Long Bar at Los Tres Hermanos Bar and Grill
Live Music on a Small Stage on Friday and Saturday
The live music was good. Two guys, one on guitar and one on a kid’s drum kit, singing and playing classic rock tunes while we enjoyed our Mexican dinner.
Live Music and the Bar at Los Tres Hermanos Bar and Grill
When we arrived the bar was empty, and when we left it wasn’t.
The Bar at Los Tres Hermanos Bar and Grill
We were seated in a booth without having to wait and presented with a “classic” Mexican restaurant menu and warm chips, red pepper salsa and a bean dip.
This being our first time here, we decided to compare the Fiesta platter, a favorite found on most appetizer menus.
The Classic Mexican Restaurant Menu:
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On The Menu: Chips and salsa, Fiesta Platter with chicken wings, nachos, taquitos, a quesadilla (and we substituted more taquitos for the quesadilla, because we made a large one for lunch) and a Dr Pepper
Tortilla Chips and Salsa
Fiesta Platter!
We enjoyed the food! It was classic Mexican, very tasty and they have pretty good chips and salsa. The Fiesta Platter was done well, but the nachos could have been better. My dining companions enjoyed their choices as well and the prices are very reasonable! They have lots of fun cocktails and drink specials on and off the menu. We would return if we were in the neighborhood on a Saturday, but probably not on a weekday.
Tres Hermanos Mexican Restaurant – Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, CA
All photos copyright 2016 JoshWillTravel
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A large, tasty chicken burrito (“wet” ranchero sauce & melted cheese) with rice and beans inside and tortilla chips “to go” for dinner a few nights ago. Only ate half, then ate the other half the next day for breakfast.
Memorial Day: A Day of Remembrance!
Originally it was called Decoration Day. A day when Americans went to cemeteries and placed flags or flowers on the graves of the war dead. It was a day to remember ancestors, family members, and loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in service for the United States of America. Waterloo, New York, was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, but over two dozen cities and towns claim to be the birthplace of the holiday. Decoration Day was created during the Civil War to honor the dead. It was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic: “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.”
Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years and many Americans have forgotten the meaning and traditions of the day. At many cemeteries, the graves of American war dead are increasingly ignored or neglected while backyard barbecues and a three day weekend are now the only celebration of the holiday.
FRIDAY
Our “three day weekend” began on Friday afternoon.
Friday Lunchtime!
Lunchtime! Quesadilla with red pepper salsa, avocado, celery & carrots, persian cucumber, dill pickle, strawberries, blueberries, mango and an iced espresso
Dinner with a friend at Mucho Mas Mexican Restaurant in North Hollywood. We been here before and you can read about it (See our Previous Blog! Search Box: Mucho Mas^^^^^)
Dinner at Mucho Mas Mexican Restaurant in North Hollywood, California
On The Menu: 2 beef tacos, a cheese enchilada, Mexican rice, refried beans, a green salad with ranch dressing, fresh made tortilla chips & spicy salsa and a Dr Pepper.
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!
Memorial Day Weekend in Los Angeles is a “Maximum Enforcement” period by local law enforcement to combat drunk driving. On our way to NoHo we saw LAPD Metro cops on motorcycles already patrolling the San Fernando Valley. Once again we were the designated driver, so we didn’t drink any alcohol before dinner or at the restaurant, so our friend could enjoy his beers and stay safe in North Hollywood.
Neon Clown Drive-by at Circus Liquor in North Hollywood
SATURDAY
Chore Day! Laundry and Spring Cleaning! We spent most of the day trying to clean and get organized. We are on a mission to get rid of the clutter and stuff we don’t need.
We finished and posted a new Blog about the “Slugfest in Hollywood” on Tuesday: the Dixie Hollywood Hotel, Dinner at Susan Finegar’s Mud Hen Tavern and The Cure at the Hollywood Bowl”.
Saturday Lunchtime!
Lunchtime! Sesame bagel with hummus and persian cucumber, dill pickle, avocado, carrots, celery, red grapes, blueberries and an iced espresso.
A beautiful sunset in the San Fernando Valley:
Saturday Sunset in the SFV – San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California
And a pretty boring Saturday night at home…
Dinner: Enchilada Nachos!
Dinner: Enchilada Nachos! Used the leftover Mexican food from last night: cheese enchilada cut up with the rice and beans and then more cheese over tortilla chips with taco bell hot sauce. “Life is short, make it saucy!”
And we watched “The Intern” with Robert Deniro and Anne Hathaway on HBO. A cute film about a 70 year old retired business man (played by Deniro) who interns for a successful online women’s clothing company owned by a young, overworked woman with an adorable young child and a “stay at home” husband (played by Hathaway). The cast is rounded out by a crew of young, nerdy “Tech Bros” and Rene Russo as the company masseuse.
It’s really a romantic comedy without the romance between Deniro and Hathaway, adding Rene Russo as the hot, younger old person and love interest. It was a fun movie with a great cast, but the happy ending was kind of lacking in resolution and could have been much better! Deniro got to chew on the scenery and play a custom tailored part and that’s what he’s great at. Hathaway is a terrific actress, and this role mirrors her part in “The Devil Wears Prada” as a young and successful working woman conquering adversity.
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Deniro with a cute kid
Deniro & the Tech Bros
Deniro & Rene Russo
And we ate some Hot Tamales to better simulate the “movie theatre” experience.
Hot Tamales!
We also did a little Periscope viewing too. We watched The Cure live from Washington and Steven Brody Stevens killing it and rockin’ comedy at the Improv on Melrose.
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The Cure Live in Washington
The Cure Live in Washington
Brody Stevens Live at the Improv
Brody Stevens Live at the Improv
Brody Stevens Backstage at the Improv
Brody Stevens Backstage at the Improv
FOLLOW Good Guy Steven Brody Stevens on Periscope and Twitter: @Brodyismefriend
And then we worked on laying out this Blog until we got tired and fell asleep.
SUNDAY
We slept in and then made breakfast/brunch.
Sunday Breakfast – Bacon and Eggs!
Sunday Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with cheese & hot sauce, bacon, English muffins with peanut butter & raspberry jam, nectarine, orange juice and an iced espresso.
And we were going to do stuff today and then we turned on HBO and saw they were running a marathon of “The Pacific”, the under appreciated follow up to “Band of Brothers” in honor of Memorial Day. It’s a great period piece about World War II and the war against the Japanese. So, we didn’t watch all 10 hours, but we did watch…and worked.
Hot Dogs! Sunday afternoon with the dogs in the backyard:
We were invited to go to the movies, but passed because we didn’t want to see the film and we hate going to the theatre on weekends or holidays because there are just too many people, and all it really takes is one person with a cell phone to ruin the experience for me. So, we stayed at the home office and someone brought me dinner!
Sunday “To Go” Dinner delivered: Orange chicken, steamed rice, sautéed vegetables from The Cheesecake Factory and a Dr Pepper. Tasty “comfort” food makes me happy.
Sunday night “must see TV” on HBO: New episodes of “Game of Thrones”, “Silicon Valley” and a previously aired episode of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
SPOILER ALERT!
“Hold the door!” We waited all week for this episode of Game of Thrones. Last week’s episode “The Door” was excellent. And sad. And emotionally involving. And as always, there are so many story lines running that each episode feels incomplete…
And so, with great anticipation we waited and watched this week’s episode.
Do you think Hodor will return as a wight?
NOTE:“Silicon Valley” is “genius” humor.
This week’s episode was pretty great. Oh the Bachmanity!
MONDAY – It’s Memorial Day!
Grapefruit, coffee, leftover cold orange chicken for breakfast and then back to bed…
The annual “Band of Brothers” marathon on HBO was interrupted by a LIVE televised Memorial Day Holiday High Speed Pursuit at noon!
“Band of Brothers” is a 2001 American war drama based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose’s 1993 non-fiction book. It is based on the true World War Two story of the men of Easy Company from the US Army 101st Airborne division who fought in Europe during the war.
NOTE: We’ve seen “Band of Brothers” in it’s entirety a couple of times. So when a social media alert was broadcast about another LIVE high speed pursuit in Los Angeles, we switched over and began watching the car chase.
Memorial Day Holiday LIVE Televised High Speed Pursuit:
Memorial Day Holiday High Speed Pursuit in Southern California
The French Open was rained out so NBC stayed on the chase that started at about 10:30am… Stolen vehicle: a silver KIA Sorrento SUV with an “impaired” driver on surface streets in East Los Angeles. We picked up the pursuit at noon as the suspect got on the empty freeways and continued driving for almost 3 hours. NBC commentary was complete speculation and stupidity, so we switched over to ABC and then KCAL9 (our local CBS affiliate). Please just the facts, not ignorant newscaster’s uninformed opinions!
Memorial Day Holiday High Speed Pursuit in Southern California
Memorial Day Holiday High Speed Pursuit in Southern California
And Fox 11 had coverage too:
Memorial Day Holiday High Speed Pursuit in Southern California
At 1pm, KCAL 9 and FOX both cut off their news coverage and returned to regular programming, so we switched back to ABC and NBC because KTLA 5 News didn’t pick up the chase at all for their one o’clock broadcast. And just after 1pm he ran out of gas on the 405 near the Long Beach Freeway, smoked some more meth in the car and then surrendered without further incident to the California Highway Patrol.
Memorial Day Holiday High Speed Pursuit – 405 South near the Long Beach Fwy
Memorial Day High Speed Pursuit – Suspect in Custody!
Just another holiday Monday in Los Angeles! And with the suspect in custody and the chase over at 1:30pm, it was time for lunch.
Monday Lunchtime!
Monday Lunchtime! A bacon, lettuce and cheese sandwich on challah bread; dill pickle, celery, carrots, blueberries, red grapes and pineapple juice.
Afternoon CHILLIN’ in the backyard and more episodes of “Band of Brothers” while getting some work done in the office was how we spent the rest of the day.
Monday Memorial Day Holiday Chillin’ on the Backyard Patio
We worked, we cleaned, we played with the dogs.
And then we got hungry and went to see what ingredients we had for dinner. We decided to make some pasta and did a little fancy cooking in the kitchen:
Dinner on Monday: Spaghetti with garlic alfredo sauce, grilled chicken, stir-fried broccoli & sautéed onions and a coke.
Where did the three day weekend go? Mostly boring. We hope you had a good one!
REMEMBER THE FALLEN! Some gave all so you could BBQ in peace.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Mexico’s Independence Day (from Spain) is celebrated on September 16.
A PLETHORA OF MARIACHIS!
Cinco de Drinko! IT’S TEQUILA TIME! Tequila is the general name for a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant, produced in the specific region surrounding the city of Tequila, 40 miles northwest of Guadalajara and in the highlands (Los Altos) of the central western Mexican state of Jalisco. Mexican law states that Tequila can only be produced in the state of Jalisco and in certain places in the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit and Tamaulipas.
The two basic categories of tequila are mixtos and 100% agave. Mixtos use no less than 51% agave, with other sugars making up the remainder. Mixtos use both glucose and fructose sugars. Tequila is usually bottled in one of five categories:
Blanco (“white”) or plata (“silver”): white spirit, unaged and bottled or stored immediately after distillation, or aged less than two months in stainless steel or neutral oak barrels
Joven (“young”) or oro (“gold”): unaged silver tequila that may be flavored with caramel coloring, oak extract, glycerin, or sugar-based syrup. Could also be the result of blending silver tequila with aged and/or extra-aged tequila.
Reposado (“rested”): aged a minimum of two months, but less than a year in oak barrels of any size
Añejo (“aged” or “vintage”): aged a minimum of one year, but less than three years in small oak barrels
Extra Añejo (“extra aged” or “ultra aged”): aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels, this category was established in March 2006.
The Four Stages of Tequila:
2 shots “I’m rich!”
4 shots “I’m good looking!”
6 shots “I’m invisible!”
8 shots “I’m bulletproof!”
Strawberry Margarita!
The traditional margarita uses Tequila, Cointreau and lime juice, though many variations exist and a large number of tequila drinks are made by adding fruit juice. The International Bartenders Association (IBA Official list of Cocktails) standard is 7:4:3, that is, 50% tequila, 29% Cointreau and 21% fresh lime juice
The standard margarita is a cocktail consisting of tequila, triple sec and lime or lemon juice, often served with salt on the rim of the glass. The drink is served shaken with ice (on the rocks), blended with ice (frozen margarita) or without ice (straight up).
Margarita:
1 ounce tequila
Dash of Triple Sec (or Cointreau)
Juice of 1/2 lime or lemon
Pour over crushed ice and stir. Rub the rim of a stem glass with rind of lemon or lime, spin in salt. Take care to moisten only the outer rim and apply the salt on it. The salt should just coat the rim and never mix into the cocktail. Add fresh fruit or juice for more flavor!
TEQUILA!
Tequila Sunrise:
3 oz (6 parts) Orange juice
1-1/2 oz (3 parts) Tequila
1/2 oz (1 part) Grenadine syrup
Pour the tequila and orange juice into glass over ice. Add the grenadine, which will sink to the bottom. Do not stir. Garnish and serve on the rocks in a collins glass.
The Three Amigos!
“Take another shot of courage Wonder why the right words never come You just get numb It’s another tequila sunrise, this old world Still looks the same”
~The Eagles “Tequila Sunrise”
Viva Mexico! (copyright 2013 JoshWillTravel)
MEXICO!
CLICK TO SEE A LARGE PIC OF “THE REGIONAL CUISINE OF MEXICO”
Click to View Large Scale Image
“One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, more… four tequila, five tequila, six tequila… floor.”
Our Periscope videos from Katch are now on YouTube:
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“But there’s booze in the blender, And soon it will render That frozen concoction that helps me hang on…”
Margarita!
“…Wasted away again in Margaritaville Searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt. Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame, But I know, it’s my own damn fault.” ~Jimmy Buffet “Magaritaville”
Believe it or not, I’ve never had Chipotlé. There are so many good Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley that chain restaurant “fast-food” from Chipotlé was never a “go-to” option.
We had a Coupon (and it was about to expire on May 1) for a FREE Burrito, Burrito Bowl or Order of Tacos at any Chipotlé Mexican Grill. And there’s one that opened up relatively recently in Encino on Ventura Blvd and we’ve wanted to try it for awhile now.
NOTE: We’ve been hesitant to eat at Chipotlé because of the recent “food-borne” illness news reports centered on the restaurant chain, which is why we call this a test.
So, Wednesday evening at 7pm we stopped and picked up an order “TO GO” for dinner on our way to our friend’s place in North Hollywood.
There’s metered street parking on Ventura Blvd (8am-8pm) but you can’t park on the street between 4-7pm because it’s an ANTI-GRIDLOCK ZONE during “rush hour”, so there’s drive-in underground parking (which we can’t tell you about because we parked on the street just after 7pm).
The restaurant was clean and bright with a big letter “A” health rating on the front window which was good. It wasn’t very busy and there wasn’t any wait to order, which is always of concern at fast service restaurants where the food sits and waits for a customer.
The young guy behind the register said hello from across the empty front area as we entered. The young woman who prepared the order was very business-like and efficient, but not very friendly (and she shorted us on the steak…yes we noticed that sneaky move!) as she quickly made our Burrito Bowl.
On The Menu: A Burrito Bowl with 1/2 chicken, 1/2 steak, 1/2 black beans, 1/2 pinto beans, 1/2 brown rice, 1/2 white rice, hot sauce, guacamole, lettuce and a large flour tortilla
NOTE: We read a food article about “How to get the best value at Chipotlé” which said that if you order the Burrito Bowl with 1/2 of each ingredient, you will get more food than if you order a Burrito or a Burrito Bowl with single ingredients. And of course you have to get the guacamole (on the side) for a “small additional charge”.
We exchanged the food for the coupon and took it “TO GO” We drove over to our friend’s place and ate after we arrived, so the food traveled in the car for about 15 minutes. We removed the lettuce from the bowl and heated the meat, rice and beans in the microwave for a minute to get it hot again. We emptied the contents of the bowl onto the tortilla, added the guacamole, took a few pics, rolled it up into a very large burrito and promptly ate the whole thing (except the lettuce, which we didn’t eat at all) and it was okay. Not great, but we were very hungry so it was good. And the price was right, it was FREE.
“Rub-A-Dub-Dub Thanks For The Grub!”
We would eat there again, but it still wouldn’t be a first choice for “fast casual” Mexican food, It wasn’t bad, it wasn’t great. It was okay and it was an okay value. There was a lot of food in that large burrito and we don’t feel sick the next day.
Chipotlé Mexican Grill – 16350 A Ventura Blvd., Encino CA 91436 818-808-0816 chipotle.com
Copyright 2016 JoshWillTravel
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NOTE: My own homemade steak soft tacos the previous night were much better!
Taco Tuesday! Steak soft tacos with 2 kinds of cheese, grilled red onion, flour tortillas, brown rice, refried beans, lettuce, fresh guacamole, salsa verde, tortilla chips and a coke
We like to cook fresh Mexican at home. We enjoy Cuban food from Versailles and casual Mexican food from El Torito and Poquito Mas. And every once in awhile we’ll eat at Taco Bell or Del Taco, although that doesn’t really count as Mexican or real food.
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We like to eat at Mucho Mas in NoHo. And we also like to call, order and pick up a very large and tasty Chicken Burrito with rice and beans “Gringo Style” (with melted cheese and red sauce on top) from Las Fuentes Mexican Restaurant on Vanowen just east of Reseda Blvd in Reseda for about the same price as Chipotlé:
We got recently got one “TO GO” with fresh made chips, a large avocado salsa, and a variety of different salsas from the salsa bar and we made the fresh guacamole at home before going to pick up the order.
Dinner at Mucho Mas Mexican Restaurant in NoHo (North Hollywood)
Friday night in the beautiful San Fernando Valley with friends
and where shall we eat?
MUCHO MAS in North Hollywood! Mexican food (“gringo style”) for dinner!
Dinner at Mucho Mas Mexican Restaurant in NoHo
The neon lights welcome you! On Burbank Blvd east of Vineland, just across the border of North Hollywood and in the City of Burbank is a great Mexican restaurant, Mucho Mas.
Dinner at Mucho Mas Mexican Restaurant in NoHo
“No Shoes, No Shirt, No Dice!”
The place is a CLASSIC “gringo style” Mexican joint, with wagon wheel chandeliers and bunch of grapes lighting fixtures in addition to the neon exterior signage. Brick, plaster, wrought iron, wood and ceramic shingles with velvet paintings and “kitchy” rustic “South of the border” type decor combine to make you feel as if you’re actually in Mexico!
The Bar at Mucho Mas Mexican Restaurant in NoHo
There’s a small bar with a dining area, an outdoor patio and an “L” shaped dining room with comfortable booths and wooden tables. The menu is traditional “gringo style” Mexican food with additional house specialties (there’s a menu page pic below).
Start with a shot of tequila or a margarita!
Tortilla Chips & Salsa with a Shot of 1800 Tequila and a lime wedge
ON THE MENU: Fresh and warm tortilla chips & salsa, a shot of 1800 tequila and a Grande Combination: green salad with ranch dressing, 2 beef tacos, a cheese enchilada, (with an added chicken tamale) and Mexican rice & refried beans.
Dinner at Mucho Mas Mexican Restaurant in NoHo
Menu Page from Mucho Mas Mexican Restaurant – Grande Combo #16
Mucho Mas Green Dinner Salad with Ranch Dressing
Mucho Mas Grande Combo: 2 Beef Tacos & Cheese Enchilada w/Rice & Beans
You get a lot of food for $13 and the drinks are very reasonably priced! They have beer, wine, hard alcohol and cocktails on the menu and nice food and drink specials during the week and at off hours.
We’ve been coming here regularly for a while now. The food is good, the prices are very reasonable, the service is pretty good, parking is free (there’s a small parking lot and plenty of street parking), it’s not too far from my friend’s house and we never have to wait for a table. So, if you’re in NoHo and hungry and want some good “gringo style” Mexican food, I would definitely recommend trying Mucho Mas!
Margarita on the Rocks
Velvet Paintings! Joaquin Murrieta we think…He’s watching you!
Mucho Mas Mexican Restaurant – 10405 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601 www.muchomasrestaurant.com 818-980-0300
All photos copyright 2016 JoshWillTravel
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Taco Tuesday! Mexican food at El Torito in Sherman Oaks.
Thinking about chips and salsa! We hit up the El Torito Mexican Restaurant at Ventura blvd and Van Nuys blvd. There’s a parking lot that’s always full, valet parking and (TIP) street parking available. If you get lucky, you’ll find a parking space in the lot. If you’re smart you’ll find street parking at a meter on Ventura blvd, Moorpark street or Van Nuys blvd.
Mexican Food at El Torito Restaurant in Sherman Oaks
Enter through the double doors and into the reception area. There’s a Taco Bar (and Lunch and Brunch) Buffet area and a hallway to the restrooms on the left. The Bar is ahead of you behind the hostess desk and the large dining room divided into three areas is to the right.
Dinner at El Torito Mexican Restaurant in Sherman Oaks
The Bar is usually busy, and on Tuesdays it is really crowded because of the Taco Tuesday $1.99 Taco special (It used to be $1.00) and the Taco Bar spread which is only available in the Bar area. It’s also very loud with music and conversation, so we decided on the regular menu and a comfortable booth in a quiet corner of the center dining room.
At the Bar at El Torito in Sherman Oaks
The Bar is pretty fun if you can find a seat. They have beer, wine and spirits. Usually there’s a tequila drink (margarita) on special or it’s “happy hour” and there’s always a game on the televisions and loud music playing.
Besides the Taco special and Taco Bar Buffet, they have a Bar Menu with appetizers and small plates and you can order off the regular menu in the Bar area as well.
Taco Tuesday! The Taco Bar Buffet at El Torito in Sherman Oaks
I haven’t tried the lunch buffet or Saturday/Sunday brunch in a long time, but it’s a pretty good value and a they have a lot of different choices available. A Mexican food buffet is always pretty good! Tacos, burrito makings, fajitas, enchiladas, tamales, rice, beans, desserts, fruit, salads, soups, salsas and more; and then breakfast foods, menudo, juices and pastries for the weekend Brunch buffets.
Center Dining Room at El Torito Mexican Restaurant in Sherman Oaks
The Dining Room is large and spacious, and divided into three areas. There are tables and large booths available. The menu is traditional Mexican (gringo-style) fare, but they recently upgraded the recipes and the food is very tasty and you get a lot of it!
Mexican Food at El Torito in Sherman Oaks
Drinks from the Bar and all kinds of fun cocktails are available at your table too!
Drinks on the Menu at El Torito in Sherman Oaks
On the Menu: Chips & salsa, Fiesta platter (nachos, beef flautas, chicken wings and a cheese quesadilla), Macho Combo (chicken burrito, beef taco, tamale & chile relleño with rice, beans and sweet corn cake) and a shot of Silver tequila with lime.
Warm Tortilla Chips & Roasted Pepper Salsa
The chips are made fresh and served warm with roasted pepper salsa. They’ll make fresh guacamole at your table if you order it. They have a good selection of appetizers, entrees and ala carte items. Not so much on dessert, only deep fried ice cream, flan and a tres leches cake. Free refills on soda and most other beverages and more chips and salsa too.
I recommend the Fiesta Platter to start. Eat the nachos and chicken wings, take home the quesadilla and flautas. Then order a Macho Combo (your choice of four items) with rice, beans and sweet corn cake. Eat what you can and take home the rest for tomorrow.
Happy Birthday! Mexican Birthday Song at El Torito Restaurant!
It wasn’t my birthday, but the waitstaff came over and sang to the table next to ours so I got a nice picture. The service was excellent! I didn’t have to look around for our waiter because he was checking in with us regularly. When I finished the coke, he was right there asking “would you like a refill?”. Every request was handle promptly and the Manager even came by to ask how everything was.
The prices are reasonable. The Buffets and Specials are a pretty good value if you’re hungry and want to eat a lot of food. Drinks are also pretty reasonable and some of the drink specials are excellent! You get a lot of food and we even got a AAA discount on the check!
It was a very good meal and a pleasant dining experience. Good food and lot of it. The service was excellent and it wasn’t too expensive. A Very Happy Taco Tuesday!
El Torito Mexican Restaurant – Ventura Blvd (at Van Nuys Blvd) in Sherman Oaks
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Saturday Night! Mexican food, Blues music and BBQ in Pasadena, California
So you’re probably wondering about the title….here’s the story:
We got invited to see and hear a blues band play in Pasadena on Saturday night at a place called Big Mama’s Rib Shack. I was not responsible for the planning or execution, once again I was a passenger along for the ride.
Someone may have told someone that the Rib Shack’s food wasn’t good, so the plan was to eat before the show and the decision was to go for Mexican food.
Two Tacos at La Fiesta Grande Mexican Restaurant
Take the 101 freeway south to the 134 east past Glendale and into Pasadena. I wanted to take more pictures along the way, but “stupid” traffic had us running late to dinner. We finally arrived (only ten minutes late) at the restaurant and found a good parking spot on the street right out front.
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La Fiesta Grande Mexican Restaurant in South Pasadena
The restaurant is a relatively small place, with simple Mexican decor, and it quickly filled up with people once we were seated. We ordered drinks and then perused the menu.
La Fiesta Grande Mexican Restaurant in South Pasadena
La Fiesta Grande Mexican Restaurant in South Pasadena
La Fiesta Grande Mexican Restaurant in South Pasadena
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It’s a standard Mexican restaurant menu with tacos, burritos, enchiladas and the usual appetizers and entrees. EXCEPT THE FOOD IS GREAT! IT’S REAL MEXICAN FOOD!
On the Menu: 2 crispy tacos, one shredded beef and one chicken, two chicken enchiladas in mole sauce with rice & beans, chips & salsa and a margarita pre show!
Margarita – with a lot of tequila!
Two Crispy Tacos – One Chicken & One Beef with Chips & Salsa
Two Chicken Enchiladas with Mole Sauce and Rice & Beans
I was told that we would be eating at the show later, so I didn’t try a burrito, a combo or the Fiesta platter of appetizers…and I would happily go back. They also have an “All you can eat” Taco special that I would like to try.
We finished eating and then motored across Pasadena to Big Mama’s Rib Shack.
Blues & BBQ at Big Mama’s Rib Shack in Pasadena, California
Go north up Lake Avenue, past The Hat (really good pastrami sandwiches) and Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles, and you’ll come to Big Mama’s BBQ Southern Country Rib Shack.
Big Mama’s Rib Shack in Pasadena
Big Mama’s Rib Shack in Pasadena – Southern Country BBQ
The building’s not much to look at and the interior design is “whacked”. There are white vinyl booths on one side, tables in the middle with both plastic and wood chairs, and a beer & wine bar in the corner of the dining room. there was an area cleared as a stage (but no stage) next to the bar and a small area for the band’s merchandise as well. They have Saturday night performances, but it’s not real design as a performance space at all.
Big Mama’s Rib Shack in Pasadena
Big Mama’s Rib Shack in Pasadena
Heineken
Here’s the menu: pork, chicken, seafood or beef, beer, wine and soft drinks and a full list of classic BBQ sides. Tickets were $20 for the show and dinner was also required, so we ordered food, with the plan to take home a good portion for lunch on Sunday.
What’s on the Menu at Big Mama’s Rib Shack?
On the Menu: BBQ Baby Back Ribs, mac’n’cheese, hush puppies, cornbread muffins, collared greens, yams & Heineken beer
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There were only two servers and a bartender covering the crowd, so we ordered before the first set and the food came during the performance before the intermission. And contrary to what we had been told, the food was good (not great, but good) country BBQ.
8:00pm – SHOWTIME! John Németh and his blues band from Memphis, Tennessee
John Németh from Memphis, Tennessee
He Brought His Many Harps! (Blues Harmonicas)
I checked out the merchandise and the band’s setup before the show. I had never seen or heard the band before, but when I saw the collection of harps I knew it was going to be a good show. And I was not disappointed, the music was great!
John Németh and his blues band played two rockin’ sets of Chicago and Texas inspired music. He really is a master of the harp (blues harmonica) and his backing band was tight! The guitar, bass and drums were well rehearsed from playing gigs all over the country. At one point in the second set a guest bassist ( a former band member) stepped in for a few songs. I periscoped three of the songs and links to the live performance videos are located below.
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Rockin’ Blues on Periscope> view on YouTube
More Rockin’ Blues on Periscope> view on YouTube
Even more Rockin’ Blues on Periscope> view on YouTube
Mexican Food! El Torito (near Warner Center) in Woodland Hills has been at this location for many, many years. Casual dining, good Americanized Mexican food, and cocktails have been the foundation for this restaurant’s success.
Dinner at El Torito (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Dinner at El Torito (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
ON THE MENU: Chips and salsa, Caesar salad, Mex Fix Platter: chicken & avocado roll, steak nachos, buffalo wings, quesadilla, beef taquitos with sour cream, guacamole, ranch dressing, & sweet sauce. Here’s the “food porn”:
Dinner at El Torito – Chips & Salsa (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Dinner at El Torito – Strawberry Margarita (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Dinner at El Torito – Mexican Caesar Salad (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
Dinner at El Torito – Mex Fix Appetizer Platter (copyright 2014 JoshWillTravel)
and Deep Fried Ice Cream for dessert! Sorry, no picture because it got “inhaled”….
