Plates Cafe - Sacramento, CA ---- November 20, 2014

Ken and I have nothing better to do on this rainy day than to run a couple of errands in Sacramento and of course to try a new lunch spot.

Our first stop is at Lam Kwong Deli and Market(link) in the south downtown area of Sacramento.
I need to pick up some Baked Cha Sui Bao to take home to freeze.  These are often referred to as "Pork Buns".

Shot looking north from U Street.

This is looking through the entrance doorway.

They have quite an extensive number of items for the size of this small market.

This is the steam table where the precooked items are kept warm

From Lam Kwong we take the three block drive to Osaka-ya(link)  the traditional Japanese confectioner.

Entrance

 They also sell some packaged Bento, Japanese lunches as well as other packaged items.

 
But the mainstay of their business is their mochi and manju.

They are celebrating their 50th year in business.

On the way from here to lunch at Plates Cafe (link) Ken is going to pick up his granddaughter who is a Freshman at Sacramento State.

Plates is located far from downtown in a part of what was once the Sacramento Army Depot.
It is a part of a program for homeless women and children.  More information here (Link).

Plates is open for lunch only from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

The current menu

Here is Ken and his granddaughter reading the menu.

Plates has been in business for the past 5 years.  Perhaps they started out as a cafeteria like place.

Now there are waitresses and white table cloths.  Notice in the background that the room in the back has been rented out for a luncheon meeting.

Two of us have the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich while Ken has the Shrimp Tacos.
I forgot to take the photos until half way through eating.

My side is the sweet potato fries

Ken's comes with chips and salsa

Granddaughter has the fries

A mural that is in keeping with the Plates theme.  Each leaf contains the name of a graduate of the program.

Before heading home we stopped at Grateful Bread (link) and Oto's Market.

~end
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Taste Restaurant - Plymouth, CA ---------- Nov 8, 2014

Taste Restaurant {link}

9402 Main St, Plymouth, CA 95669

November 8, 2014

Both Auntie El and Patti came up sick at the last moment so a party of four had suddenly become a party of two.  I drove my Camry along with Kenny to Plymouth, CA.  This is the home of the Amador County Fairgrounds along Hwy 49, the Mother Lode Road.

Here is a photo of the front of Taste.

This is the wine bar as you enter the front door.

This is the back room.  We ate in the main room adjacent to the bar.

Most of the tables in this room are not shown because the front window spoiled all of my photos taken in that direction.

The obligatory three types of bread with Balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Tracey Berkner, who with her husband Mark own and operate Taste{link} as well as the Volcano Union Inn. {link}  Brought the Small Plate, Lettuce Cups, which consist of root beer braised pork belly, almonds, herbs, pickled vegetables, hydroponic butter lettuce.

 

The Lettuce Cups.

The Lettuce Cups displaying the Root Beer Braised Pork Belly.

Ken's main course was

Grilled Beeler Farm Pork Loin

Sierra Nevada goat cheese pierogi, thumbelina carrots, toasted sunflower seeds, golden raisin, carrot harissa vinaigrette

He said it was very moist and very tasty.

I had the

Gyro

house made pita, lamb meatballs, cucumber, buttermilk tzatziki, pickled vegetables, greens.

Interesting rendition as it was open faced.

A nice leisurely lunch in this small Mother Lode town of 1,030 people.  The city is located at an elevation of 1,086 ft.

~end
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Rosamunde Sausage Grill and Toronado Pub - Oct 21, 2014

October 21, 2014

Acting as Tour Guide for a couple from Darwin, NT, Australia. I wanted to give them a taste of everyday San Francisco away from the tourist scene so I decided to take them to lunch in the Lower Haight, exactly on Haight between Steiner and Fillmore.  Ordered sausage sandwiches from the Rosamunde Sausage Grill and had them delivered next door to the Toronado Pub.  We ordered drinks at the pub and ate our sausage sandwiches in the Pub.

An internationally known, legendary destination in San Francisco, the Haight is the birthplace of Rosamunde Sausage Grill in 1998. Our Haight Street location sits next door to Toronado beer bar, the single most important Bar for the craft beer movement, propelling SF to the forefront in the early days of the ‘80s. Our sausages are made to feed the craft beer drinker. Locals and tourists alike order their sausage and enjoy them next door at the bar! And have you tried Burger Tuesday?

It was a Tuesday that we were there.  And since Tuesday's are the only day of the week that they cook burgers they were inundated with burger orders most to go and some with a box full.  So it took awhile to get our order next door.

Adjacent to the Rosamunde is where we will eat the sausage sandwiches we ordered.

Like beer, but hate people? Cool, so do the bartenders at this iconic Lower Haight establishment that boasts a seriously impressive tap list. Pro tip: know what you're ordering before the bartender looks at you. Or you look at him. Or the guy next to you looks at him. Literally, if anyone is looking anywhere, know what you're going to order. Also: have cash.


This is Pommie and his wife Deidre from Darwin, Australia.  Pommie's first trip to San Francisco.

Trying to decide what to get

Too many choices.

Still deciding.

I got too hungry and ate so did not take any photos of the sandwiches.  :-(

The Toronado allows you to order food from any of the restaurants on the block and eat it in this dive bar.  It does give you a flavor of San Francisco that is definitely not Tourist.

~end
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Waterloo Gun and Bocce Club - June 3, 2014

Waterloo Gun and Bocce Club

June 3, 2014

Four members of Gobo's Lunch Bunch, one substitute and one guest are at the Weekly Tuesday Buffet lunch at the Waterloo Gun and Bocce Club.

Gobo, Elsa, Patti and I are the members.  Brenda is the sub for her older sister Grandma and Dan is the guest.

Today is Spice Rubbed Pork Ribs

A bigger than normal crowd today because I guess a lot of people like Pork Spareribs.

About 90 people today

The dessert table before lunch

Elsa getting her ribs

Patti keeps adding potatoes

Dan getting his ribs

Gobo wants another rib

Digging in

Elsa's plate

Gobo's plate

Girl talk

Everyone but me is eating

Here is my plate

Our substitute is running late but does make it.  This is Brenda, Grandma's younger sister.

Elsa explaining things

Really?

Gobo's Lunch Bunch Members

The rest of today's group

~end
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