Sunday, February 28, 2016

Healthy Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
from the Smith Trees

If you buy orange juice at the store, you may lean towards the kind that advertises itself as “100 percent juice” and “not made from concentrate.” But have you ever wondered why every glass of it tastes exactly the same? 

That’s because the flavor of store-bought orange juice has more to do with chemistry than nature. For industrially-produced orange juice, after the oranges are squeezed, the juice is stored in giant holding tanks and the oxygen is removed from them, which allows the liquid to keep for up to a year without spoiling!!!

It also makes the juice completely flavorless. So the industry uses “flavor packs” to re-flavor the juice.

The photos below are of the Smith Family making Orange Juice from the organic oranges picked from our own trees.  Some of the oranges are blood oranges and gives the juice a red color.  We will get our vitamin C today!


Healthy Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice from the Smith Trees

Healthy Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice from the Smith Trees

Healthy Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice from the Smith Trees

Healthy Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice from the Smith Trees

Healthy Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice from the Smith Trees

Healthy Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice from the Smith Trees

Healthy Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice from the Smith Trees

Healthy Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice from the Smith Trees

Bright Outdoors Picnic Set #thebrightoutdoors


Set for 2 - Quality Flatware, Stylish Cheese Knife & Board, Durable Plates, Multi-function Wine Opener, Linen Napkins. 

 

Bright Outdoors Picnic Set #thebrightoutdoors

What a really cute idea. I love to do things spontaneously, and this set has everything you need to enjoy a meal and/or glass of wine outdoors. The high-quality poly canvass bag is well-designed and houses everything you need. You can just throw it in your car in case the opportunity arises. The case zipper works well and opens the bag completely so that you can lay it flat when it is open.

The two spoons, two knives, two forks and serrated knife (all wood handled) are sturdy. I also love the small cutting board and melamine plates. It even comes with linen napkins. I am sure the wine opener will come in handy also.

This would make a really cleaver gift for that student going off to college.


Product Description



Everything you need and always ready


When it comes to getting outdoors, nothing beats being prepared. This picnic wallet gets you out the door sooner - slip it in your bag, cooler or tote and know you're prepared for any outdoor dining occasion. The Bright Outdoors picnic wallet includes classic wood handled cutlery, quality plates, wooden cheese board and knife, multi-function wine opener and linen napkins.

  • EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A PERFECT PICNIC FOR TWO - Be prepared for your next outdoor dining occasion
  • QUALITY COMPONENTS - Every aspect has been specifically designed for deluxe, durable picnicking
  • COMPACT DESIGN - Easy to store and ready to use with any bag, backpack, cooler or tote
  • IDEAL GIFT - Give the picnicker in your life the gift of enjoying the outdoors together
  • RISK FREE PURCHASE – You will receive a satisfaction guarantee at today's special price




The Bright Outdoors Website




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Thursday, February 25, 2016

American Ginseng Capsules 500mg 60 Capsules #AmericanGinsengCapsules


Ginseng root has been used as treatments in Asia and North America for centuries. In fact, ginseng is one of the most popular herbal medicines in the world. Some studies have found that ginseng may boost the immune system. There is some evidence that one particular type of American ginseng extract might decrease the number and severity of colds in adults.

I found that the easiest way to enjoy the benefits of Ginseng is to take the tablets. I have taken these capsules (two a day in the morning) for about a week with no unpleasant side effects. I have noticed an improvement in my focus and thereby my productivity at work.

I love that it is harvested and made in the USA. I plan on continuing with the Ginseng Capsules and cannot wait to realize all the benefits!!!


Product Description



BEST Wisconsin Ginseng Capsules aka BEST Wisconsin Ginseng Supplements

100% PURE Wisconsin Ginseng capsules also known as Wisconsin Ginseng supplements are a convenient and stimulating way to receive all the benefits of ginseng. Each bottle contains 60 capsules at 500mg.

TUFF BEAR American Wisconsin Ginseng Capsules are made with 100% Natural Pure Potent Herbal Panax Quinquefolium American Wisconsin Ginseng Roots that are ground to an extract powder. These Ginseng Roots are grown in Marathon County, Wisconsin, USA.

SUPPORTS FOCUS AND MEMORY: American ginseng has been shown to provide fast-acting natural support for optimal mental focus and alertness, faster thinking and decision-making, quicker recall and overall increased clarity of mind.

FIGHTS STRESS & FATIGUE: American ginseng has a long history of use an adaptogen known to fight fatigue and stress by supporting the adrenal glands, while also helping muscles utilize oxygen.




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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

The End of an Escondido Landmark

Talone’s Meat Market

 

The End of an Escondido Landmark - Talone's Meat Market

Back in 1978, Opa built Oma their first Home in Escondido, California. It was a very functional and cute two-thousand square foot single-story family home on Metcalf Street. I remember the date of our move-in because it was just a few days before the birth of my youngest son.

Our Home Sweet Home in Escondido California
We all loved the twenty-two years we nurtured in that home. One of our joys was the proximity of its location. The boys would get up early and ride their bikes two blocks to the corner donut shop to pick up goodies for Sunday morning.

I was also delighted to purchase our meat from an Escondido historical icon, Talone’s Meat Market, which was a mere four blocks from our home.

Standing since the Great Depression, Talone's was one of the last slaughterhouses in San Diego County. Not only would it sell you an animal that they'll slaughter, they would also butcher an animal you've been fattening up on your farm.

Located in the shadow of the I-15/Highway 78 interchange along North Hale Avenue, the slaughter operation is located in the rear of the complex. Out front, the Talone's Meat Market, a convenience-style store would sell customers various cuts of meats and other groceries.

The End of an Escondido Landmark - Talone's Meat MarketI did not know that the Meat Market has a different owner from the slaughterhouse. And just to make the ownership structure more confusing, a separately owned wholesale produce and fruit company, Eduardo Produce, is situated in the middle. All three businesses have different owners, yet they all lease their facilities from another fourth person based in the Los Angeles area and owns the land and buildings.

But I digress into the boring part of the markets history.

What follows is the stores history as chronicled in a Union Tribune article dated August 28, 2011:

The slaughterhouse, which is inspected several times a month by the state agriculture agency for cleanliness and proper certification of its butchers and other animal handlers, is owned by Escondido businessman Eric de Jong and his brother, Johnnie de Jong, a hog farmer from Ontario who hauls pigs to this and other slaughterhouses scattered throughout Southern California.

De Jong has deep roots in the local agriculture scene. His father's side of the family immigrated from the Netherlands in 1949, settling in Escondido and North San Diego County. Besides owning the Escondido businesses of Diamond Environmental Services and Palomar Mountain Spring Water, de Jong has family connections to the landmark Hollandia Dairy in San Marcos.

In many ways, the history of Talone's highlights the changing landscape of slaughtering in the United States, and how the industry has moved largely to corporate production lines in Central California, or to beef packer and pork processor IBP Inc. in the Midwest ---- the nation’s biggest.

The de Jongs bought Talone's Custom Slaughter a decade ago, after the struggling business had limped along for several years under various owners.

From the late 1960s until the mid-1980s, Talone's changed hands a few times. Verit Industries bought it in 1969. Fullerton-based North County Packing Co. once owned a chunk. Fruit and vegetable wholesaler Eduardo Produce moved into a section of the North Hale Avenue building, where it remains there today.

In 1983, Norwalk shopping center maven Danny Sullivan eventually bought the entire piece of land and building at 559 N. Hale Ave. ---- which includes the slaughterhouse, meat market and produce company ---- because he needed a supply of fresh meat to sell into his family's chain of neighborhood grocery stores in the Los Angeles and Orange County region, according to Sullivan .

Sullivan briefly closed the commercial slaughterhouse in 1994 when he lost a major beef supply contract with the Albertson's supermarket chain. That's also when the Talone's Meat Market ---- which sells cuts of meat, chips, soft drinks, milk, bread and other staples ---- was split off from the slaughterhouse portion of the complex, and sold to someone else, he said.

During this time, the slaughterhouse was briefly leased by an ostrich farmer. "The bottom fell out of that," said Sullivan, who still retains title to the land and buildings.

Talone's got its start 80-plus years ago when Italian brothers Henry and Mario Talone opened a packing house and market at the Hale Avenue site to provide a one-stop shopping venue for anyone who wanted to bring a cow ---- or any other farm animal ---- to be slaughtered, packaged and distributed. Such an operation was federally inspected then. Its state-inspected now, which means it can't sell meat from its slaughterhouse to local food markets ---- like the one at the front of its complex.

Lourdes Sanchez, 39, who sold her homes in Lake Forest and Corona to raise the cash to buy Talone's Meat Market just as the economy turned south four years ago, has never visited the rear of the complex to watch firsthand a pig be slaughtered. It's a gruesome process that involves first killing the animal by firing a "captive bolt pistol," loaded with a slug, into the animal's head.

"It's sad," said Sanchez, who visited the market and slaughterhouse with her mother when she was young and living in Encinitas.

Sanchez has regrets about buying the grocery market because of competition from larger supermarket rivals, and the limp economy. "It's been so hard," she said.

Before the business was carved up, Henry Talone managed the operation and carried the title of CEO while brother Mario traveled to nearby ranches, and into Imperial and Riverside counties, to buy cattle.

The eventual death of the Talone brothers, the ebb and flow of economic turmoil over the years, and other factors led to a greatly downsized operation. As populations shifted, consumer preferences also changed on who shops there.

Eric de Jong revived the slaughterhouse when he bought the operation in 2001, but downsized it from a commercial operation to a "custom slaughterhouse."

The slaughterhouse draws a wide range of ethnic customers, including some from Middle Eastern cultures, Muslims, Filipinos, and others who see the custom slaughterhouse as the place to go for their fresh meat.

"We've got a luau (Hawaiian feast) event. I pick up the pigs every once in a while," said Carlsbad resident Mike Aubuchon, an assistant brewer with Pizza Port Brewing Co. in Solana Beach.

Customers order fresh meat for family-sized orders, or to serve at luaus or parties.

De Jong said the Great Recession has cut into his business. There was a time the slaughterhouse had hundreds of animals waiting to be processed. Today, a steady flow of customers order the slaughter of about 75 pigs and other farm animals per week.

"We do not draw a traditional American clientele that goes to Albertsons or Vons," said de Jong, who said the business has adjusted to the tough economy by slaughtering only Thursday through Saturday. "We make a profit. It's just not as good. We aren't going anywhere."

The End of an Escondido Landmark - Talone's Meat Market

Unfortunately, de Jong was incorrect. Oma regales the past of the Talone’s Meat Market because she was recently saddened to see the Market boarded up and empty. Graffiti insults buildings that once housed North County’s last slaughterhouse.

Talone’s will soon be demolished after two re studies determined they have no historical significance, despite being more than 70 years old. Talone’s might not be historical to the City of Escondido, however, it was so to the Smith family. It will be interesting to see what replaces this meat-packing company.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Topaz Unisex 5068AML White Face Brown Band Fashion Watch with Classic Design #TopaWatches


 
The Topaz Unisex White Face watch is very fashionable for either men or women. Its modern design is classic. I love the roman numerals. The strap is made of genuine brown leather and very comfortable. The watch is water resistant and will withstand rain or splashes of water.

This watch would make a great gift and comes with a two-year warranty.



Product Description



Luxury Fashion unisex watch with classic design. Engineered with a state-of-the-art quartz technology movement shows precise time and date. Stainless Steel case that makes it extremely durable. Great watch for those that need an everyday use timepiece that will withstand the wear and tear.
  • Rectangle Designers dress watch with logo on dial.
  • Beautiful companion with CLASSIC DESIGN at Super Low Price.
  • Brown leather with stainless steel case and Rose Gold Index Numbers.
  • JAPAN quartz movement with Genuine Leather Band.
  • WATER RESISTANT to 99 feet (30M). Withstands rain and splashes of Water but not for showering or swimming.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Two Long Beach Eateries
You Don't Want to Miss

(Nomad Asian Bistro and Catalano's Pizza)

 

Nomad Asian Bistro

My parents wanted to take me to their new favorite restaurant, Nomad Asian Bistro, located at 6563 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA, 90803.

This is a Halal Chinese restaurant that is open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 11a.m. to 9:30 p.m. They serve Asian cuisine you would find in any Chinese restaurant along with Hui specialties.

The Hui are a Chinese ethnic tribe who originate from regions along the historic Silk Road. This results in a unique blend of traditional Chinese food with Mediterranean influences introduced by Persian and Middle Eastern travelers along the trading route.


Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns

My parents have brought all their friends here and told me they could eat at Nomad at least five days a week. The restaurant is located in an outside mall that also has a movie theater. The outside of the restaurant is very pleasant, with beautiful fencing and succulents growing around the patio. There is plenty of outdoor seating.


Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns

Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns


The inside of the restaurant is not nearly as welcoming as the outside, but the service and food make up for that tenfold.

Pictured above is my parent's favorite waitress at Nomad, Mary. She knows just what they want and treats them like honored guests. She will have the kitchen make the dishes however you specify and you can also specify heat levels in the dishes. We started with their unique sesame flatbread. It was wonderful, warm and chewy and covered in sesame seeds. There are eight large pieces for one order! The three ingredient soup bowl was more than plenty for the three of us and Mary served it expertly using chopsticks.


Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns

Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns

Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns


I ordered a chow mein with homemade soft noodles (they did not call this dish a low mein, even though it had soft noodles in it.) They make all their noodles from scratch. The meal was huge and had lots of veggies and noodles. If I ordered it again, I would ask for more spice as I like my food spicy. We all ate the chow mein and there was plenty left over for another meal.


Nomad Asian Bistro by Stacey Kuhns


The menu is extensive and there is so much to try. It is a place you want to return to again and again.

Catalano's Pizza

One of the days in Long Beach, my friend, my parents and I were craving pizza. We did not want just any pizza, but wanted something special. My mom remembered a place near them, Catalano's Pizza, located at 1178 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, CA, 90807.

Don't let the shopping center fool you or make you turn away because you will miss some of the best pizza on the planet! They are open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. They offer delivery in a limited area with a $15 minimum.


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns

Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


This is a very small place, but I recommend you pick an off-time and eat in.


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


The owner, Christine, was so welcoming and friendly. The restaurant has been opened since 1993 and Christine took it over in 2011. She works with her two sons and some amazing employees.


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


Their dough is made daily from scratch with the finest flour (and their pizza crust is a marvel.) Their cheese is top quality whole milk mozzarella and they do not skimp on any ingredients. They prepare their Italian sausage fresh and chop it by hand. Their marinara is to die for (I asked for a taste of it since it was not on the pizza I ordered. Christine happily obliged then came by the table to see what we thought of it. We all loved it.) I wanted to take a bucket of it home!

Each pizza is hand rolled and tossed to order. Christine believes in using the best quality and freshest ingredients and she chops every ingredient by hand. I decided to take a chance on a pizza invented by her son. The girl working the register assured me it was amazing. My pizza came out first and everyone tried a piece. I think they were sorry they did not also order it. It sounds crazy but was the best pizza I have ever had.

It was called the Pastrami Pizza. The pizza has mustard, pickles, mozzarella and the finest pastrami. Christine said it took many tries before they found the perfect pastrami for this pizza and it definitely tastes like the work they put into it. The crust was not too thin and not too thick, just right (although you can order the crust the way you like it; thin or regular).

The pizzas come in 8", 12", 15", 18", and 24". The love and care and quality ingredients that go into these pizzas make the bit extra you pay for them well worth it. This is definitely NOT Domino's, Pizza Hut, or any of the other tasteless pizzas you can get for a cheap price. This is quality unleashed!

My friend and my parents got the Meta Lover's Pizza. I tried a piece and it was also amazing.


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


There are plenty of toppings in every bite. Catalano's also has seven different kinds of salads, spaghetti, lasagna (with or without meat), hot and cold sandwiches and several desserts, including cannoli’s. They also do catering. You can make your own pizza or choose between 10 specialty pizzas.

Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


One of the pizzas offered is wonderful if you want to try four different kinds. It is the Sampler Pizza and is 1/4 Cheese, 1/4 Pepperoni, 1/4 Sausage, and 1/4 Canadian Bacon and Pineapple.

Cute sign in the bathroom:


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


The pizza boxes were even high quality and had Catalano's menu and information taped to the top of each box.


Catalano's Pizza by Stacey Kuhns


Christine came over to our table and told us the history of Catalano's and her philosophy on making delicious food with the best quality ingredients. She works long days and pours her heart and soul into Catalano's and man oh man, can we tell. A MUST if you are in Long Beach.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Seven-Month-Old Coast Oak



Coast is becoming quite the character.  He loves to eat and also to make sounds.  He is starting to learn how to crawl and gets around by 'rolling.'  Reef and Coast are interacting and playing nicely together.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

A Day in West Los Angeles
(Places to go and a place to avoid)

by Stacey Kuhns

 

Laemmle Royal Theater - Cafe 50's - Emil's Swiss Bakery

On Saturday, February 13, 2016, my parents, my friend, and I headed to West Los Angeles. Our plan was to see two independent films at a small theater, find a cool place to have lunch, and possibly dessert.

We headed to the Laemmle Royal Theater  located at 11523 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90025. The Laemmle Theaters were established in 1938. They are the premiere art house theater chain in Los Angeles. They are a family owned business spanning three generations.

There are seven locations: Claremont, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, West L.A., Encino, and North Hollywood. I recommend leaving early if you are going to the Royal as the freeway is always a nightmare and parking is less than plentiful. Most is metered parking so bring lots of quarters.

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)


The Royal is a small theater. There are three theaters inside. You enter from the street into a small "waiting room" type area. You turn to the right and there is a counter to purchase tickets.

You then walk up the stairs or ramp to the concession stand. The walls are lined with pictures of the Laemmle family and history. The concessions seem to have larger candy bags than the standard everyday theaters, including a box of dark Godiva chocolates.

The concession prices were considerably cheaper than the Regals, United Artists, Edwards, and all the big theaters. If you are a senior citizen, you can get a box full of popcorn and a drink for $5! They also do not check bags (just saying.)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

The staff are very friendly and eager to help. The clientele seemed to be mostly older folks. Each theater is small, maybe six rows of seats and some extra handicapped areas.

There are no stairs as everything is one level, but slanted down so no one blocks your view when they sit in front of you. The theater was recently redone. The seats were the most comfortable movie seats I had ever sat in. Thickly padded and almost better than Cineopolis luxury seats. Only complaint we all had was the lack of leg room.

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

We saw an early afternoon showing of "Rams." This movie was a winner at Cannes and also won Best Narrative at the Hamptons International Film Festival. It is about two brothers who live in a valley in Iceland and tend to their sheep and rams. They have not spoken to each other in 40 years. They have a dog that takes messages back and forth between them. The story is what happens when a lethal disease infects one of the brother's sheep; how the brothers and the town handle the crisis.

The theater gave out little postcards that told about the movie (below picture).

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

I found the movie plot interesting but felt the movie was long and drawn out. My friend fell asleep. My parents loved the movie. So, it is just a matter of opinion, as all these things are.

After the first movie, we walked down the street to eat lunch at Cafe 50's, located at 11623 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles. They are open 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily. This was a fun place to go.

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

When you walk in, there is a soda counter on the right where you can sit and eat. Everything looks like you stepped back into the 50's. There is another room with additional booths. Each booth has a jukebox that takes quarters. We listened to some Fats Domino.

The menu is extensive and includes all that you would expect and a large variety of shakes. There are decorations and movie posters covering every wall and ceiling, which makes the time pass quickly as you are so absorbed in reading everything.

There is even a public phone booth. In the back is a set of lockers that have games piled on top of them.

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)


I was amazed by some of the things I was reading:

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

The food was good. I had a turkey sandwich. The others in my group had burgers, a chocolate shake, corned beef sandwich, fries and onion rings. The fries and onion rings were awesome. Everyone loved their meal and we all enjoyed the ambiance of the place. We like fun!

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

There are old fashioned candy and cigarette machines around the area. They do not work but you can purchase candy, such as bubble gum cigarettes (who doesn't remember those?!)

(I apologize about the fuzziness in the following pictures. They were taken with a phone instead of my camera.)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

There is also a public phone booth near the front counter. I know some kids who would not know what that is. All in all a worthwhile stop if you are in West L.A.

After lunch, we had some time to kill before the second movie at Laemmle. We decided to stop into a bakery I saw on the way to Cafe 50's. Emil's Swiss Bakery is located at 11551 Santa Monica Blvd #3 in West L.A. They are closed Mondays. Tues through Saturday, they are opened 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (I did not take an outside photo as it was a strip mall looking place with no distinguishing features outside.

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

There is plenty of places to sit and enjoy coffee, tea, Italian flavored sodas, or other beverages. The pastries looked gorgeous.

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)

A Day in West Los Angeles by Stacey Kuhns (Places to go and a place to avoid)



Emil's does catering, bakes fresh breads daily, serves lunch, dinner, and other assorted items. They also have a few shelves of items such as jams, beets, pickles, and coffees for sale. We decided to try the large brownie, chocolate chip scone and Florentine cookies. My parents each had a cup of decaf coffee. They said it was the best decaf they had ever had anywhere. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the coffee and it is not listed on their website. They did have it for sale in a greenish can, but it was over $11 for 8 ounces!

The cookies were delish. The brownie was so dry you had to chisel it with your fork and crumbs were flying everywhere. I thought it tasted like sawdust and could not get past the dry consistency. The scone was the same. Huge disappointment for sure. I would not recommend this place to anyone.

So, we returned to the Laemmle for our final movie of the day, "Son of Saul." This is a 2015 Hungarian film about two days in the life of Saul Auslander, a Hungarian member of the Sonderkommando (work camp units made up of German Nazi death camp prisoners).

This film won Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards. It also won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film.

The story is told through the eyes of Saul. One of his jobs in Auschwitz is to clear the gas chamber of bodies and to sort through the clothing of the prisoners. He also spends some time shoveling the ashes of the prisoners burned in the crematorium ovens. There is not a lot of visible violence or scenes. It is all perceived through knowledge of what is taking place as the background is blurred quite often in the movie.

I found the movie to be emotional for me for personal reasons, but I thought it was very good and suspenseful. My friend also liked it. My parents did not like it at all and felt the story was implausible and the actors looked too "Hollywood" so again, a matter of opinion.

For anyone who likes movies that are not mainstream and who wants to support independent movies, I urge you to find a local art theater and see some of these jewels.