Discussion:
Grapevine Choices?
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The Ranger
2008-07-17 01:40:36 UTC
Permalink
One of the daughter-units is driving down to LA through the
Grapevine this weekend. All the group needs is a quick bite
without tanking the wallet or cutting too severely into the
drive. Suggestions or recommendations?

The Ranger
Gary Charpentier
2008-07-17 05:21:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by The Ranger
One of the daughter-units is driving down to LA through the
Grapevine this weekend. All the group needs is a quick bite
without tanking the wallet or cutting too severely into the
drive. Suggestions or recommendations?
The Ranger
I believe In-n-Out fits your description.
The Ranger
2008-07-17 13:20:32 UTC
Permalink
Post by Gary Charpentier
Post by The Ranger
One of the daughter-units is driving down to LA
through the Grapevine this weekend. All the group
needs is a quick bite without tanking the wallet or
cutting too severely into the drive. Suggestions
or recommendations?
I believe In-n-Out fits your description.
She's unable to handle In-n-Out burgers, unfortunately. (As a
parent, I'll only force the issue once and learn from that
traumatic event.) Are there other choice, of similar quality to
In-n-Out? I'm not looking for a Panda Express or Quiznos,
either, since those are truly horrific experiences without
adding in speed and motion.

The Ranger
Gary Charpentier
2008-07-17 16:21:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by The Ranger
Post by Gary Charpentier
Post by The Ranger
One of the daughter-units is driving down to LA
through the Grapevine this weekend. All the group
needs is a quick bite without tanking the wallet or
cutting too severely into the drive. Suggestions
or recommendations?
I believe In-n-Out fits your description.
She's unable to handle In-n-Out burgers, unfortunately. (As a
parent, I'll only force the issue once and learn from that
traumatic event.) Are there other choice, of similar quality to
In-n-Out? I'm not looking for a Panda Express or Quiznos,
either, since those are truly horrific experiences without
adding in speed and motion.
The Ranger
I've heard tell that LA has an abundance of fine establishments like
MickeyDee's, Carls Jr., Wendys, Burger King, Subway, Togo's. Of course there
are also lots of Coco's, Carrows and Dennys too. :) They tend to be in sight
of major routes like the Golden State. If she really needs to save money and
time there are even joints like "Extra Mile" and "AM/PM."

Want to give a bit more info on what she is looking for? Something LA like
Pink's hot dogs or Tommie's? They aren't located at the Grapevine though. Also
a time when she is passing through. How far south is she going?

If the trip is on the Golden State and she wants to stay in sight of the freeway
stopping in Castic/Valencia is probably smart. Next would be beautiful downtown
Burbank. Once in LA proper the 5 tends to be in more industrial sections rather
than trendy. However getting off in East LA and going to El Tepeyac
http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/59599 could prove culturally enriching
as well as fattening.
Meg Worley
2008-07-18 00:18:31 UTC
Permalink
Post by The Ranger
One of the daughter-units is driving down to LA through the
Grapevine this weekend. All the group needs is a quick bite
without tanking the wallet or cutting too severely into the
drive. Suggestions or recommendations?
Good god, they're old enough to drive now?

There are pretty much three options that I know of (having driven
that route too many times to count). A) Stop off in Los Banos and
chow down on a huge Basque meal at Woolgatherers. You won't have to eat
again for a week. B) Stop off at Harris Ranch and eat at the casual
place there, which is okay but overpriced. C) Stop at Tehachapi Ranch
at the foot of the mountain and have a Happy Meal at MacDo's.

We usually go with C, with the occasional A. As for B, once was enough.

OTOH, I have seen signs for an Indian restaurant, although I forget
where it is. King City, maybe?


Rage away,

meg
--
Meg Worley _._ ***@steam.stanford.edu _._ Comparatively Literate
Mark Mellin
2008-07-18 03:55:27 UTC
Permalink
Post by Meg Worley
Post by The Ranger
One of the daughter-units is driving down to LA through the
Grapevine this weekend. All the group needs is a quick bite
without tanking the wallet or cutting too severely into the
drive. Suggestions or recommendations?
Good god, they're old enough to drive now?
I was thinking the exact same thing!
Post by Meg Worley
There are pretty much three options that I know of (having driven
that route too many times to count). A) Stop off in Los Banos and
chow down on a huge Basque meal at Woolgatherers.
There's also a Wool Growers in Bakersfield,

<http://www.woolgrowers.net/>

620 East Nineteenth Street
Bakersfield, California 93305

I'll second the recommendation for the cafe at Harris Ranch.

There are also a handful of coffee shop/fast food places in Gorman,

<http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-474262-gorman_ca_vacations-i>

- Mark
--
Mark Mellin San Mateo Village, CA 94403 USA
The Ranger
2008-07-18 15:21:33 UTC
Permalink
Post by Meg Worley
Post by The Ranger
One of the daughter-units is driving down to
LA through the Grapevine this weekend. All
the group needs is a quick bite without tanking
the wallet or cutting too severely into the drive.
Suggestions or recommendations?
Good god, they're old enough to drive now?
Thank the gahds, no! That's a few more greys away (if the field
atop doesn't go completely barren.)
Post by Meg Worley
There are pretty much three options that I know of
(having driven that route too many times to count).
A) Stop off in Los Banos and chow down on a huge
Basque meal at Woolgatherers. You won't have to
eat again for a week.
I cannot, for the life of me, time it so that the family that
runs that particular restaurant doesn't go on vacation every
damned time I manage drive through Los Banos!
Post by Meg Worley
B) Stop off at Harris Ranch and eat at the casual
place there, which is okay but overpriced.
This is our MO; it solves my carnivore problem (we don't do a
lot of beef when home so...) But the last couple times service
has S-U-C-K-E-D warm, rotten eggs.
Post by Meg Worley
C) Stop at Tehachapi Ranch at the foot of
the mountain and have a Happy Meal at
MacDo's.
Is In-N-Out (and two-dozen other fastfood chains) there, too?

This might be the option that satisfies the driver's pedestrian
needs. They have the imagination and taste similar to an Okie
from Finokee.
Post by Meg Worley
We usually go with C, with the occasional A.
As for B, once was enough.
Thank you!
Post by Meg Worley
OTOH, I have seen signs for an Indian restaurant,
although I forget where it is. King City, maybe?
<sigh> The driver is of the class of consumer that think
Applebee's and Red Robin are high-dining because you can sit
and eat. You should have seen their reaction to a fresh-cooked
samosa with cilantro chutney from Lakshmi; you'd think I'd
given them cheese-flavored mealworms. Suggesting Indian cuisine
would be just too horrifically exotic (although it WOULD appeal
to Daughter-unit Alpha's sense of humor.)

The Ranger
Meg Worley
2008-07-18 16:14:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by The Ranger
Post by Meg Worley
A) Stop off in Los Banos and chow down on a huge
Basque meal at Woolgatherers. You won't have to
eat again for a week.
I cannot, for the life of me, time it so that the family that
runs that particular restaurant doesn't go on vacation every
damned time I manage drive through Los Banos!
Well, as Mark pointed out, there is also a Woolgrowers in Bakersfield.
Plus, there are a couple of other Basque trough-spots there as well.
There's one right off the 99 that's okay, although not as good as Los
Banos. (There's one in Chino, too, but that's a topic for another
thread.)
Post by The Ranger
Post by Meg Worley
C) Stop at Tehachapi Ranch at the foot of
the mountain and have a Happy Meal at
MacDo's.
Is In-N-Out (and two-dozen other fastfood chains) there, too?
I don't think there's an I'n'O, but there's a Wendy's, plus some other
stuff. I prefer stopping here over Gorman up the hill, because they're
prepared for crowds, whereas Gorman is always slammed.
Post by The Ranger
This might be the option that satisfies the driver's pedestrian
needs. They have the imagination and taste similar to an Okie
from Finokee.
Okay, well, there you go.
Post by The Ranger
Post by Meg Worley
OTOH, I have seen signs for an Indian restaurant,
although I forget where it is. King City, maybe?
<sigh> The driver is of the class of consumer that think
Applebee's and Red Robin are high-dining because you can sit
and eat. You should have seen their reaction to a fresh-cooked
samosa with cilantro chutney from Lakshmi; you'd think I'd
given them cheese-flavored mealworms. Suggesting Indian cuisine
would be just too horrifically exotic (although it WOULD appeal
to Daughter-unit Alpha's sense of humor.)
Maybe I'll try it myself, if I can find it. I'll be driving up the
5 in a couple of weeks.


Rage away,

meg
--
Meg Worley _._ ***@steam.stanford.edu _._ Comparatively Literate
Gary Charpentier
2008-07-18 16:15:41 UTC
Permalink
Post by The Ranger
Post by Meg Worley
Post by The Ranger
One of the daughter-units is driving down to
LA through the Grapevine this weekend. All
the group needs is a quick bite without tanking
the wallet or cutting too severely into the drive.
Suggestions or recommendations?
Good god, they're old enough to drive now?
Thank the gahds, no! That's a few more greys away (if the field
atop doesn't go completely barren.)
Post by Meg Worley
There are pretty much three options that I know of
(having driven that route too many times to count).
A) Stop off in Los Banos and chow down on a huge
Basque meal at Woolgatherers. You won't have to
eat again for a week.
I cannot, for the life of me, time it so that the family that
runs that particular restaurant doesn't go on vacation every
damned time I manage drive through Los Banos!
Post by Meg Worley
B) Stop off at Harris Ranch and eat at the casual
place there, which is okay but overpriced.
Sounds like Harris Ranch. Oh it is Harris Ranch. Have they changed hands or
why have they gone so far downhill.
Post by The Ranger
This is our MO; it solves my carnivore problem (we don't do a
lot of beef when home so...) But the last couple times service
has S-U-C-K-E-D warm, rotten eggs.
Post by Meg Worley
C) Stop at Tehachapi Ranch at the foot of
the mountain and have a Happy Meal at
MacDo's.
Is In-N-Out (and two-dozen other fastfood chains) there, too?
I don't remember much there last trip I did, but last trip was up 99 and perhaps
there is something before 99 and 5 merge on the 5. I know there is a lot of
choices on the downhill side now. That area has seriously been built out.
Post by The Ranger
This might be the option that satisfies the driver's pedestrian
needs. They have the imagination and taste similar to an Okie
from Finokee.
Post by Meg Worley
We usually go with C, with the occasional A.
As for B, once was enough.
Thank you!
Post by Meg Worley
OTOH, I have seen signs for an Indian restaurant,
although I forget where it is. King City, maybe?
<sigh> The driver is of the class of consumer that think
Applebee's and Red Robin are high-dining because you can sit
and eat. You should have seen their reaction to a fresh-cooked
samosa with cilantro chutney from Lakshmi; you'd think I'd
given them cheese-flavored mealworms. Suggesting Indian cuisine
would be just too horrifically exotic (although it WOULD appeal
to Daughter-unit Alpha's sense of humor.)
Take them into the San Gabriel valley and find a good place where neither the
sign on the place or the menu is in English.
Post by The Ranger
The Ranger
Peter Lawrence
2008-07-20 06:23:42 UTC
Permalink
Post by The Ranger
<sigh> The driver is of the class of consumer that think
Applebee's and Red Robin are high-dining because you can sit
and eat.
DING DING DING DING! I think we've got ourselves a winnah!

There's a Red Robin off of I-5 at Hwy 198 (exit 334). (That's the same
exit for Harris Ranch.)

The Red Robin is on the west side of the freeway. (Harris Ranch is on
the east side of I-5.)


- Peter
Julian Macassey
2008-07-19 02:21:20 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:18:31 +0000 (UTC),
Post by Meg Worley
There are pretty much three options that I know of (having driven
that route too many times to count). A) Stop off in Los Banos and
chow down on a huge Basque meal at Woolgatherers. You won't have to eat
again for a week. B) Stop off at Harris Ranch and eat at the casual
place there, which is okay but overpriced. C) Stop at Tehachapi Ranch
at the foot of the mountain and have a Happy Meal at MacDo's.
Never dine A, have done B. Good for breakfast lunch and
dinner. Won't do C.
Post by Meg Worley
OTOH, I have seen signs for an Indian restaurant, although I forget
where it is. King City, maybe?
Elephant washer food is always good, having some tonight
in fact.
--
"I hear the voices, and I read the front page, and I know the speculation.
But I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. - George W. Bush
Meg Worley
2008-07-19 17:37:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Julian Macassey
Post by Meg Worley
C) Stop at Tehachapi Ranch
at the foot of the mountain and have a Happy Meal at MacDo's.
Won't do C.
I have a soft spot for their small burgers. Not as good as Krystal or
White Castle, but in the same league. And my chosen Happy Meal is a
perfectly reasonable 500 calories.
Post by Julian Macassey
Post by Meg Worley
OTOH, I have seen signs for an Indian restaurant, although I forget
where it is. King City, maybe?
Elephant washer food is always good, having some tonight
in fact.
Alas, out here in the West Inland Empire, there's not much in
the way of curries. I've heard that there's a good place in
Rancho (Cucamonga), but I don't know the name or location.


Rage away,

meg
--
Meg Worley _._ ***@steam.stanford.edu _._ Comparatively Literate
jeremy
2008-07-20 07:48:26 UTC
Permalink
Post by Meg Worley
I have a soft spot for their small burgers. Not as good as Krystal or
White Castle, but in the same league. And my chosen Happy Meal is a
perfectly reasonable 500 calories.
meg
If it was just calories that defined food, metallic sodium would qualify as a
high energy version. Although I cannot argue with the predominance of your
dining preferences, I prefer to poison myself quickly and pleasurably with
good wines and rare liquors while consuming food that does not have an
ingredient list replete with salt, HFCS and MSG. On the up side, you must
seldom be disappointed and maybe you live a happier life :-)

JJ
Meg Worley
2008-07-21 15:53:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by jeremy
Post by Meg Worley
I have a soft spot for their small burgers. Not as good as Krystal or
White Castle, but in the same league. And my chosen Happy Meal is a
perfectly reasonable 500 calories.
If it was just calories that defined food, metallic sodium would qualify as a
high energy version.
True enough. But if I'm going to eat mediocre food, I certainly don't
want it to be high calorie.
Post by jeremy
Although I cannot argue with the predominance of your
dining preferences, I prefer to poison myself quickly and pleasurably with
good wines and rare liquors while consuming food that does not have an
ingredient list replete with salt, HFCS and MSG. On the up side, you must
seldom be disappointed and maybe you live a happier life :-)
I'm not sure what you mean by the "predominance" of my preferences. Do
you mean that my preferences are shared by a vast majority of Americans?
That doesn't seem to be the case; if everyone had no more than a couple
of annual visits to MacDo, I doubt the golden arches would stay in business,
and even the Inland Empire would have some grand dining.

Alas, for grand dining, we have to drive in to DTLA. Saturday we did
the tasting menu at Watergrill, which was superb. I thought the sear on
a couple of items (snapper and venison) was too salty, but other than
that, we were very impressed. Still not as good as Ortolan, but then
again, I wouldn't expect it to be.


Rage away,

meg
--
Meg Worley _._ ***@steam.stanford.edu _._ Comparatively Literate
b***@MIX.COM
2008-07-22 20:35:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by jeremy
Although I cannot argue with the predominance of your
dining preferences, I prefer to poison myself quickly and pleasurably with
good wines and rare liquors while consuming food that does not have an
ingredient list replete with salt, HFCS [...]
Speaking of which, here's a link to info about an interesting documentary
on corn and how pervasive it's become in the typical person's diet -

http://www.kingcorn.net/

Billy Y..
Meg Worley
2008-07-23 06:08:02 UTC
Permalink
Post by b***@MIX.COM
Speaking of which, here's a link to info about an interesting documentary
on corn and how pervasive it's become in the typical person's diet -
http://www.kingcorn.net/
Yeah, we saw it on the opening night in LA (I forget which theater --
somewhere in Hollywood), with the director and stars in attendance.
It's pretty good as polemical documentaries go -- more to my taste than
Michael Moore's work, which I've never much cared for.

The guys are quick to give credit for the idea to Michael Pollan and
*Omnivore's Dilemma*.


Rage away,

meg
--
Meg Worley _._ ***@steam.stanford.edu _._ Comparatively Literate
Steve Green
2008-07-25 19:44:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by Meg Worley
OTOH, I have seen signs for an Indian restaurant, although I forget
where it is. King City, maybe?
Maybe you're thinking of the one at the I-5 / CA 58 junction (west of
Bakersfield), in the purple building. Mixed reviews on Chowhound,
FWIW. We've never tried it -- long drives are not the time for
gastric crapshoots, so to speak.
--
Steve Green
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