Greetings from Palm Springs

Greetings from Palm Springs!

There was fog very early this morning, a rarity in the desert but the weather turned coldish overnight and I guess the contrast between the cold and the warmth of the morning sun brought in fog.

But, by 8 a.m., it was burning off as I headed out to the gym. Our condo backs up to Mount San Jacinto and is always a glorious sight, especially early in the morning.

After my workout, I headed downtown to see what's new, changed, and the same.



I didn't get very far because I discovered Lush Couture, a very attractive boutique for women where everything is priced at $16...that is EVERYTHING, except one rack of clothing where everything was marked down to $6!!! And the clothing is nice! While I was purchasing a sweater I chatted with the sales person who told me the owner goes to Los Angeles every week and knows people from whom she buys. I still don't quite get it, but their dresses, tops, skirts, jeans, jackets, shoes...you name it..seem to be good quality and I can't believe the prices. The clothing is junior sizes so some bigger women might not find sizes that fit, but there are always shoes and accessories! The store is crowded but the clothing is displayed by color themes...very appealing.

Oooh La La, one of my favorite shops, albeit much more expensive than Lush Couture, is still thriving. Their pink poodle greets customers decked out in a green boa for St. Patrick's Day next week.



Jim and I were in the mood for BBQ. With a little research I discovered Tootie's in Cathedral City, very near the Pickford Theatre where we were going to see The Blindside, one of the few Oscar-winning films we haven't seen. So after the show, we stopped at Tootie's which is on a back street where there are a lot of car dealerships.

It was Pork Ribs for me



and Brisket for Jim.



You order at the counter and your food is brought to you in a paper carton.



Tootie's serves Texas BBQ and our food was good. My sides were Cowboy Beans (Ranch style) and Cole Slaw; Jim had Baked Beans (sweeter beans) and Cole Slaw.

After dinner we chatted a bit with owner Larry Babitz who bought the place a year ago. He's kept it pretty much as it was for the last 8 years, adding a spicy Kick Ass BBQ sauce to complement the sweet one that is always served. I like the hot sauce and even added it to my beans to spice them up. Larry's life has included being a Navy Seal, working on the set of Titanic, and doing food service for several sitcoms in L.A. And now he is dishing up BBQ in the desert. Hope to come back here again next year!!

CASUAL DINING...GREAT BBQ!

Two weeks post-op of a biggie knee surgery, I decided that J needed a break from being my personal chef.

Thinking of a comfortable restaurant close to home where no one would mind if I elevated my leg on a chair, I thought of Sunrise Bistro, one of my longtime favorites for healthful casual food at moderate prices.

Over the many years that Sunrise has been in Walnut Creek, just a short walk from Broadway Plaza and the Walnut Creek Downtown Century Cinemas, it has remained a busy popular spot for breakfast and lunch. From time to time, they've opened for dinner but haven't attracted a big enough crowd, I guess, to make it worth their efforts.

I am hoping that what they've been doing for the last 6 months or so with their dinner service will be a "keeper." They are open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday evenings. In addition to selections from their daytime menus of sandwiches, salads, and soups, Sunrise now has a full Barbecue menu which includes Baby Back Ribs, Brisket, Chicken, Tri-Tip and Pulled Pork. And, they offer options on serving size...small and full. All the Barbecue meals come with your choice of two Fixin's and a Jalepeno muffin.

My choice last night was a small portion of the Baby Back Ribs...as you can see from the photo, it certainly isn't small. My Fixin's choices were cole slaw and sweet potato mash. J ordered, and finished, a big order of Brisket with Collard Greens and Sweet Potato Mash as his Fixin's choices.

For dessert, we couldn't manage a big slice of Red Velvet Cake, much as I wanted to try it, but, instead, each had a very large chocolate chip cookie...we each took half a cookie home.

Sunrise has always been a health-conscious restaurant and features many vegetarian items on its menu. Its menu now indicates which items have sugar as one of the top three ingredients...a new way to guide those watching their sugar intake in their choices. Sunrise makes all its baked goods in house. I never tire of their Herbed Bread...always my choice when I order a sandwich.

Our tasty meals, with a glass of wine for J and a glass of OJ for me (I'm not yet cleared for wine), came to less than $40, not including tip.

DRUMS & WINGS

When I go to Costco, it is generally with a big list.

Monday was no exception.

I timed my trip for later in the afternoon, thinking that I'd pick up a Rotisserie Chicken for dinner that evening. Costco's chickens are delicious and, at $5 or $6 per bird, they can easily feed a family of five. In our case, we have dinner for at least two nights.

So, I took my time doing my shopping...finding the necessaries and even indulging in a very cute Skinny Minnie top that was only $15.99...I wanted to get the Chicken last so it would stay warm enough to eat without reheating when I got home.

Finally, I meandered over to the Chicken and Ribs counter...they also sell hot-from-the-oven BBQd Baby Back Ribs. And wonder of all wonders, there was a sign stating "NO CHICKENS 9/15/08." I was so stunned, I had to call home in shock! Others around me were equally surprised, shocked, and dismayed.

Then, came the realization that I had nothing to eat for dinner.

But, I spied another item where the Chickens are usually displayed: MESQUITE DRUMS & WINGS. Each package weighed about 2 pounds and was priced at $3.99 a pound. I am not a big fan of Buffalo Wings and Chicken Drumsticks, but I needed dinner. So I bought them.

Got home, made a fresh tomato and mozzarella salad, poured some Ranch Dressing into dipping dishes, and we had dinner.

We also had dinner the next night, with slightly different side dishes.

I don't know if Drums & Wings are going to be a regular hot item at Costco, I definitely don't know where the Chickens went, but we had a good dinner and all is well at my house.

Do you think that Drums & Wings are a Monday night special for Football fans?

BBQ at BACK FORTY

So last night, it was off to Back Forty in Pleasant Hill for some of their "Award Winning Texas Barbecue."


We've been fans of Back Forty for more years than I can count.

I really do love their sauce and a meal here is always a great value.

In the current Pleasant Hill location, where they moved about a year ago, things have gone a bit more upscale than at their previous place in a strip mall in Pleasant Hill. This building they built from scratch and it sits on its own lot, not far from busy Highway 680. It's a great stop if you are traveling along 680 and want a good meal.



The lot on which Baby Forty sits has a heritage Oak tree, around which they have built their outdoor dining area.

I ordered, my "usual," Sliced Roast Turkey. Meals come with your choice of two "Fixins" (side dishes). Last night, I chose Sweet Potato Fries and Cole Slaw. J just about always orders the Roast Pork..his sides were Onion Rings and Cole Slaw.

Knowing that portions are rather large, we decided to order from the Lone Rangers part of the menu...for Juniors and Seniors. My Turkey cost $8.19 and J's Pork was $8.69 for the meal with the Fixins and a dessert...can't afford to eat at home with prices like this. I had Chocolate Chip Ice Cream for dessert and J had Banana Puddin'.

The menu informed us that the Banana Puddin' is an Austin Texas traditional specialty, which they make fresh every day.

With two glasses of wine, our bill was under $30 and we left happy and satisfied.

For the record, if we had ordered the full servings of Turkey and Pork, their prices are $14.99 and $14.49, respectively. Had we gone that route, we would have had leftovers to take home, but we most likely would not have ordered dessert.

A basket of warm muffins, cornbread, and biscuits is served with all meals, accompanied by butter and jam.

At this new location, the Pleasant Hill Back Forty also offers several Steaks, Catfish, and Salmon as entrees.

Of course, Back Forty serves BBQ'd Ribs...Pork Ribs and Beef Ribs. My person taste in ribs is for Baby Back ribs and they don't serve them; only the larger ribs...so no ribs here for me, but, I am not complaining.

If it's a sandwich I am after, I like the Turkey, Pulled Pork, or Hot Link Sandwiches. Sandwiches are served with one Fixin'. J recommends the Brisket Sandwich and orders it "lean" rather than "juicy."

Back Forty is famous at the Rib Cook-Off in Reno/Sparks Nevada. They go every year and usually come home with a prize or two for their barbecue and for their tasty sauce. This year's Cook-Off is August 26 - 31...check them out if you are up that way.

Here's one more view of the fabulous Oak Tree and a peek at the dining patio:



Back Forty has other locations in California in Roseville, San Ramon, and Shingle Springs.