2009 Dec 16 - Mi Ranchito

2009 Dec 16 - Mi Ranchito Breakfast (Stockton)
and March 17, 2010 at bottom.

{Click on any photo to view the full size image}

Note: Gobo is the Japanese word for the greater burdock root, which is a long skinny root, that is how Gobo got his nickname back in high school.

Not officially a Lunch Bunch function, but what the heck it is my Blog.

Gobo and I have been going to a Mexican breakfast every few months. Usually it is Mi Ranchito, but sometimes it is Maria's. Today we are headed to Mi Ranchito. And with us is another old timer from our long lost school days, Eugene.

Gobo's pick up truck he has picked up Eugene on the way over to my home. It had obviously rained a bit over night.

We used to eat here during High School days which for us was from 1958 - 1961. But usually late night on Friday or Saturday. In those old days you had to ask for a fork. The regulars all ate with a tortilla. And I think the menu was written in Spanish on a chalkboard.
Gobo and Eugene heading into the place

The hours are from 6:00 AM to Midnight.
The breakfast menu

We all order something different. You can get rice, beans (whole or refried) and French Fries along with flour or corn tortillas.
Eugene has the Chorizo con huevos with whole beans and fries

Gobo has the bacon and eggs with Ranchero sauce on the side

I have the Mexican omelet which has diced tomatoes, onions and Jalapenos

The total bill with three coffees came out to $27 and change.

~end part 1
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Part 2: 2010 Mar 17 - St. Patrick's Day

What better way to celebrate St Paddy than to have a Mexican breakfast at Mi Ranchito! I have to give Gobo his Income Tax returns so we schedule a breakfast for this morning. He picks me up and we head toward old town Stockton.

I actually ran into a couple of people that I have known for a long time at Mi Ranchito.
Ray and Judy. Judy was a classmate of ours during high school and a buddy of fellow Lunch Bunchers - Grandma, Patti and Linda. I also knew Judy's siblings. Her younger sister wrote and published a book about their Grandfather's life in America: "Bury My Bones in America".
The link is to a free eBook if you wish to read it.

Carol and Floyd, who we called "Concrete" because of a disastrous concrete job that he did for TG once. TG owned the pool hall where we had our coffee break in the 1980's and early 1990's.

On to the food photos.
My Mexican Special Scramble. Eggs scrambled with tomatoes, onions and Jalapenos with rice and potatoes.

Gobo has his usual bacon and eggs with beans and potatoes with a side of Ranchero sauce

Ranchero sauce at the top and some hot salsa on the bottom

Ray has an appetizer of Menudo and Judy has a cup of coffee

The unpaved overflow parking lot. All the cars were in the front lot today.

~end
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2009 Dec 2 - Winter Buffet

2009 Dec 2 - Student Chef - Winter Buffet

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Today's story is about the food so there will not be many people in the photos.

This is the annual Fall fund raiser for the culinary arts program at San Joaquin Delta College, the community college located in Stockton, CA.

A rather weak showing for the Lunch Bunch, since it was Grandma's hubby's birthday and it seemed that most others had Holiday obligations. Also this date was inflexible since it was an annual fund raiser for the Culinary Arts department and a one shot deal. So just Elsa and I from the Lunch Bunch joined by my golfing lunch bunch-er Holden.

The first thing on the food line was the whole poached salmon. The first one was covered in a layer of cream cheese with thin sliced cucumbers for the fish scales. The second had thin sliced carrots for the fish scales.
The fish is on a mirrored serving platter, so the bottom part is the reflection

The fish is on a mirrored serving platter, so the bottom part is the reflection

A bunch of mussels and prawns on a bed of ice

Assorted sushi

A bunch of different canapés

Grilled veggies

A wonderful appetizer with some duck in it

The Pasta Station would cook up your pasta dish fresh.

The lamb chops and the grilled chicken were in warming trays.
Lamb chops with vegetables

Grilled chicken with mushrooms

A few cold starch salads

The Carving Station had a turkey breast, prime rib and a suckling roast pig.
Prime rib and a turkey breast

A suckling roast pig with chutney

Below are Holden and my third helping plates.
Clockwise futomaki sushi, pasta, grilled chicken, potatoes, lamb chop, prime rib and poached salmon.

Assorted canapés and roast pig

At the table next to us was Barbara and Art who both Holden and I know.
Barbara and Art and a Mr Lee

Of course I had planned on a three course dessert to end the meal.
The tree in the upper left is made with a bunch of mini cream puffs.

Chocolate mousse in the wine glasses, fresh fruit and fruit tarts

Chocolate ganaché strawberries

Creme brulée and pumpkin cake

Here is my second dessert course after my creme brulée

Here is Elsa's dessert plate

They were also making Banana's Foster without flaming.

My third dessert course is the Banana's Foster

Now Barbara has her own desserts but she is stealing some of her husband Art's dessert.

After resting a bit with a cup of coffee I was debating a fourth dessert course, but decided against that. :-)

The food was quite tasty and the choices were too many. It was reminiscent of the Grand Buffet at the California Culinary Academy's Carême 350 restaurant in San Francisco.

~end
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