I tried these spots today at lunch. The first is on Alafaya near 50. The second is east of that on 50 before the 408 (?). The last is in a strip mall back towards Orlando on 50. There is a bowling alley and Bravo supermarket there. I also got more items at Shah's and Juici Patties because these sucked so badly. I really only made the journey for Haraz.
Haraz Coffee House - They said they were Yemeni. Have 28 locations. I guess the media makes things seem worse than they are because I was under the assumption that the whole country was lawless rubble. This place looks sharp. Just opened a month ago. Light tones. Gold accents. Dubai chocolate. Beverages, pastries and savories. I chose a butter leek pastry that the receipt lists as parmesan leek. It was ok. Probably not made there. It cost $5.50. Empanadas were $6. The sweet items were around $8. It was a bit overpriced for me. Twenty tables. Mix of Arabs and UCFers. Order at a counter. A bit of a wait.
Luminescent - They serve booze too. Only after 5pm though. No logical reason supplied. I had a $4 small Americano because I hate these places and this is all they have anyway. At least they attempt to provide a reason (booze) for existing. Typical store bought pastries. Large footprint. Spartan. Oval bar in the center. Open since June.
Hong Kong Alley's Kitchen - They said open for seven years. I'll bet that is this iteration of it. Place looks forty years old. Spartan. Twenty tables. I just had an egg drop soup to go for $3 because this was a pity fuck to begin with and they weren't serving a lunch special ($13) on the weekends. It was the usual. Wonton crackers stale as always. Typical menu for the region. Catering to hispanics. Clientele (3 and 2 take out) was mostly that and that kind of music being played.
*Travel Notes - California and Nevada: I flew to SFO on United for $237 (really $37 because I used a $200 credit they gave me for screwing up the Bozeman flight). 7pm (two hours late because rain and failure to fuel up) and red eye (30 minutes late because late from getting to us). Let me say here that SFO was a joy compare to the ass crack incompetency of MCO. Car from Hertz for a week at $339. I stayed the first night at Motel 6 near the San Jose airport for $104 rack rate. It was $80 thru travel booking sites. I drove around there for an hour rejecting hotels before I gave up. This was the cheapest by half (several had closed their offices). Book ahead.
The next day I drove towards 680 to Huong Lan for a Thit Nguoi banh mi for $8. I believe I learned of this place from that PBS show from twenty years ago. It was the last on the list. Good banh mi. I then drove 680 to 84 through Livermore to the 580 to 205 to 120 towards Yosemite. It went through Manteca. Livermore and Manteca are on many wine labels. I'll have to go back and check out the wineries. I couldn't go through Yosemite before 2pm, so, I took 108 over it. I decided to go for it and took 395 all the way down to Big Pine and east to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest twenty miles in. Make a left at the U of California something sign about halfway up. That is all they supply to guide you. It was late, so, I just did the short path. There is a four miler to the unmarked "star" Methusulah. I learned of this (I think) from this show by a guy named Aiello. Oldest trees in the world. Nearly 5k years old. $3 for parking if you don't have a parks pass. Worth it. I then drove back north. I didn't book a room ahead of time. expensive here as well. I settled on the $113 rack rate Townhouse Motel in Bishop. I had beer and a burger at the Mountain Rambler Brewery.
The next day I had breakfast at Whiskey Creek because McDs wanted $3+ for a fucking hash brown. I had a three egg cheddar omlet with potatoes and toast for $13. McDs wanted $9+ for their shit pancake option. Whiskey Creek started at Mammoth. They said that closed. It was the OG. Brought back memories eating here. I didn't initially put two and two together. Drove north to June and Silver and Mono lakes. First time for the first two. The third has these dried up springs they call tufas. Grabbed a tri tip sandwich with tots at Bodie Mike's in Lee Vining (Mono Lake and west Yosemite entrance town). Drove up 395 (BTW construction at the 108 intersection) to Reno. I passed the road to a ghost town called Bodie. Will do next time. I stayed at the J Resort for $256 for three nights plus $102 RF. They upgraded me to the Aspen Tower. I walked about eight blocks down the river walk to Greater Nevada Field to see the Aces play for $30 (third base/left field). Ate chicken fingers there.
The next day I tried to eat at a diner (3D) down the street. It was being renovated. Got the car and drove up Virginia a few blocks to University of Nevada. Back to 80 and east a few miles to Sparks and the Carolina Kitchen and Barbecue Co. Excellent brisket and better ribs. PS and Mac were meh. Saw them on 3D. Back to Reno. Had beer at Pigeon Head Brewery and Slieve Brewing Co. I should mention here that if you weren't in the mountains it was in the upper nineties. I had dinner of a venison patty melt, ff and beer at Washoe Public House (3D).
The next day I drove to South Lake Tahoe (395 to Carson City to 50) to see the American Century Championship at Edgewood for $56. Parked at Bally's (passersby said it was the cheapest by far) for $35. It was great. So many stars. Curry, Barkley, J Allen, Romo, Rice, Anika, Kelces, Rodgers, etc. Course was beautiful. Music and shooting hoops at 17. Great weather. Had an ok turkey club there for $16 ($6 for the soda). I grabbed two terrible slices at Noble Pie (3D) when I got back.
The next day I drove 80 to the 5S. Went all the way down to Lost Hills. I tried to stop for a 3D lunch in Truckee, but, those pricks parking metered the whole town. I'm not paying to pay to eat in your little hick town. I took 46W to Blackwell's Corner General Store. It was the last place James Dean stopped at before he crashed. I went on to the intersection at 41 where he bought it. They are redoing the highway, so, you can't see (or stop) where the crash happened. I had just seen a documentary on it. It must have been old. There is an unmarked memorial a half a mile up on the left. There is a sign/symbol for a restaurant that isn't open any longer. That is the only marker. I went west to Paso Robles. I stayed at the Adelaide Inn for $138 rack rate. I t was the only one I inquired at. Online said the whole area was booked up or over $375. I got groceries/wine at a Smart & Final and a Grocery Outlet. There must be over a hundred wineries there. Will do them next time. And some kind of fair set up where they seem to have concerts, etc. Watched HR Derby.
The next day I drove back east a mile or so to take photos of the wineries I passed. Then down 101 to the 1 at Pismo Beach. I was there for the clam chowder in a bread bowl at Splash Cafe. I saw that on Rick Stein's Monterey to Mexico. It had a big line. Must be famous for other reasons. I walked the pier. Went up 101 to SLO and onto 1. It is still closed 40 miles past San Simeon (people said it hasn't stopped land sliding). No warning until then. I had to backtrack ten miles to 46. Took that to Paso Robles. Up the 101 to Salinas. Then the 68 to Monterey. I stayed at the Arbor Inn (Booking 8.3) for $108. Found wine and groceries at Trader Joe's a few blocks away. Watched ASG.
The next day I had breakfast at Wild Plum Cafe (3D) down the block. They even had parking. Salsa steamer with potatoes and toast. Steamed eggs. I drove down Del Monte to Monterey's Fish House (3D). Had an ENORMOUS serving of fried red snapper with fries for $23. Doggy bagged most of it. Drove 1 up to Half Moon Bay. 92 to 101 to the airport. Got gas near the exit that has driving range nets. Returned the car.
Lucked out on the accidents/traffic. Could have done better on hotel costs (but wanted the flexibility). Didn't really have a plan when I booked the ticket. Had a lot of fun. Seemed like every inch of this region is growing grapes. Spent $155 on gas. Had to be smart to keep it under $5 a gallon. Nevada wasn't much cheaper. Suburbs around Reno were gouging. $820 on hotels. $135 for MCO parking, $509 on everything else. $1995 in total.
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