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Mornings Kolaches

A kolache? What's that? And don't you think Texas is a strange place to look for a kolache? Actually, Texas is the perfect place to look for a kolache because Galveston is where the kolache first entered the U.S. Texas is not just big, it is diverse. Texas pulled together a very wide collection of cultures during the immigration land rush years of the mid-1800's.

Each of these cultures added a unique flavor to Texas making a truly diverse society, rich in traditions, music, dance and food. The Czech/Slovak's brought a type of pastry consisting of a fruit or cheese fillings call the kolache. In Europe it was originally only a sweet dessert. Like most things coming to the U.S. the kolache changed and now you can find fruits, meats, cheeses and/or vegetables as filling.

Mornings Kolaches has been going strong since their humble beginning in 1991. They now have seven stores. But the big news was the bold move in 2004 when they created the "California Panitos", "the beautiful sandwich." If you have not tried a California Panito, then you should. Even today our Czech cultural beginning are growing.

(Oh, if you live in California like I do and want a California Panito or even a real kolache I recommend you go home to Texas. So far there are none for sale west of Houston.)

Czech immigrants also settled in the middle of Texas. If you want to celebrate and, really who doesn't, I recommend a visit to Caldwell, Texas. Their annual Kolache Festival will be held on September 8th this year.

Buck Owens Crystal Palace Museum & Theatre

Last Sunday my wife and I enjoyed an exceptional buffet served with warm hospitality. We highly recommend brunch especially at the bargain price, including tip, of $25 per person. All the food was perfect! Six stations included (1) salad/fruit, (2) breakfast, (3) meat, (4) omelet, (5) waffle and (6) desert. Buffet presentation, quality and service were the best we have ever experienced.

Sunday buffet is served from 9:30am to 2:30pm. We arrived at 11:30am and got seated within 10 minutes without a reservation. Tables surrounded the performance area with the food stations at the lowest level next to the stage. The room is surrounded by display cases of memorabilia. Signed photographs cover most walls. On the way out we enjoyed a walk looking over the tasteful collection as we remembered Buck's varied career.

Everything we tried at the buffet was fresh from the kitchen, cooked perfectly and tasted great. I tried the fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, chicken friend steak, gravy with biscuits and enchiladas from the salad and breakfast stations. My wife's waffle was cooked perfectly and delicious. Service staff and cooks continuously monitored and attended to the modest size service pans of fresh warm food. Our waiter Rudolph came by frequently to keep our drinks filled.

Two meat carvers sliced ham, beef and turkey. A chef cooked omelets to order. Ice cream with toppings was included at the waffle station. The desert station offered hot apple or peach cobbler, cakes, cookies and more. My favorite was the pecan cinnamon rolls which reminded me of my grandmother's Sunday feasts.

The kids were enjoying their Sunday brunch along with their entire family. Even at twice the price, my wife and I agree, this brunch is a special treat and we will return for more.

Cliff House

One of two must visit restaurants in San Francisco. The spectacular view is matched by exceptional food and service. World class chefs offer seasonal menus presenting the best California cuisine. An excellent wine list and wonderful deserts round out the perfect dining experience. Worth the higher price.

Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill

Rubio's consistently delivers on all their promises of taste and freshness. The service terrific at this location near my home. We pass by at least 10 other taco shops and go to the best.

Lowell's Restaurant

Ask to be seated at a window table second floor bar area. The views will make you fall in love with Seattle. I was fascinated with the ferries docking, undocking, coming, going. Ferries are an essential part of the Seattle water world. Lowell's is the perfect vantage point for a relaxed stop when in the market area. Good food, good drinks, GREAT views.

Wild Ginger Asian Restaurant

Microsoft invited me to their headquarters and took me out to dinner. They picked the perfect place. If you visit Seattle you just must go to Wild Ginger.

I recommend you try...
- Saigon scallop
- Laksa
- Lamb bumba
- Dungeness crab
- Chinese oolong tea

Victoria Gardens

Victoria Gardens is an open-air town center at the heart of a 160-acre planned "main street" community located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, consisting of residential, office, retail, public plazas and a civic Cultural Arts Center. Three major department stores, cinema and 150 specialty retailers are included in this "lifestyle center."

I love this place! The cobblestone streets remind me of Disneyland. The mall recently opened the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center, which consists of the Victoria Gardens Library, a performing arts center, and a multi-use reception hall.

The development company, Forest City, calls this a "main street" community. It is drawing lots of visitors. Caltrans started work Feb 5, '07 on a $2.3 million project to ease congestion on the often-clogged Interstate 15 offramp near the Victoria Gardens shopping center.

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is open. This store is super amazing, a must see!

El Ranchito

This is my favorite Mexican restaurant of all time. While growing up in Seguin and on each return trip to visit I have enjoyed eating at El Ranchito. This is a one of a kind family owned close to the earth establishment. The restaurant is lovingly run by a family dedicated to providing the best food with the best service in south central Texas. The warm smiles reach out and touch your heart with warmth and make you happy to enjoy a great meal with them. The nearest restaurant that even comes close is in New Mexico 625 miles away. Oh, and ask the folks at El Ranchito to add a chewy pecan praline as a delicious take-with-you treat!

Rio Seco Winery & Tasting Room

Carol and Tom Hinkle and the kids produce very special handcrafted wines with a unique taste of loving care. Rio Seco is a tiny winery compared to most in Paso Robles. I recommend you take the extra time to stop by and see Carol in the tasting room. She can tell you how they looked at over 200 parcels of land before finding this location in the spring of 1996. The 63 acres of rolling hills with a big red barn was originally the set of a 1984 movie. Lucky for us the Hinkles started by planting Zin and Cab. Then they added Cyrah, Cab Franc, Roussanne and a test block of Viogner and Merlot. Drop by, talk to Carol and maybe enjoy a picnic. They are fine folks with a fine wine.
http://www.riosecowine.com/

Enterprise Rent A Car

I was returning from a Holland America Panama Canal cruise docking in LA with a need for surface transport back down to San Diego. The Cloud 9 shuttle folks charge $230 for a pick up at the pier and a drop off at my home. Not too bad if you consider a return flight alternative. But my wife, a very smart lady, suggested I call Enterprise Rent-A-Car. I reserved a car at their office location across the street from the ships' pier, standard size car for $50 plus $25 more for their one-way drop off fee. (Incidentally, Enterprise Rent-A-Car hires only college grads to work their desks --- but read on!) So we arrive on May 9th and call Enterprise. The guys says wait on the curb, shuttle on the way. It arrives, stops 75 feet to our left and fills with other fellow passengers who had no reservation. Driver said "Sorry." I said "RESERVATION!!" Driver, college grad, says "Oh, I'm so sorry. But just wait, another shuttle is right behind me." I wait 20 minutes, no shuttle. Finally a shuttle was sent to picked us up after I called their office twice more. The shuttle drive explained how they only hire college grads. When I got inside their office I saw 5 Enterprise employees with no customers. They knew about the 12 other customers waiting at the pier to rent a car but seemed to care less. Good for me I guess they all waved and smiled. I wondered if they were all high on something. Or maybe they all knew that waiting an hour or so, doing nothing, staying in their office, would ensure that no more customers were waiting at the pier. Odd wait to run a business.

Enterprise gets one star for keeping my reservation and one star for having a car to go with the reservation. They get minus three stars for attitude and poor customer service. Enterprise not only needs to hire college grads but needs to hire people with a good work attitude.