WATERFRONT HILTON- CHRISTMAS DINNER (OUR 100TH POST)

PICTURED (top to bottom): Hotel Entrance, Lobby, Restaurant Sign, Cheese, Fruit and Salad Station, Sushi Station, Seafood Station, King Crab Legs and Oysters on the Half-Shell, Turkey Carving Station, Prime Rib Carving Station, Dessert Station, Cheesecake, Carrot Cake and Chocolate Layer Cake, Creme Brulee, Chocolate Cupcakes and Tiramisu, Live Entertainment.

Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort

21100 Pacific Coast Highway

Huntington Beach, CA 92648

(714) 845-8000

www.waterfrontresort.com/

What a special day! It's Christmas and we're dining at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort for Christmas dinner. Coincidentally, it is also our 100th post. What better way to celebrate than at the lovely Waterfront Hilton right here in our home town!

The Hilton puts on a truly magnificent Christmas Dinner Buffet. The presentation is fabulous, the food fresh and well prepared and the service and ambiance are five stars all the way. The food choices seemed almost overwhelming. In addition to the items pictured above, choices included Crab Cakes, Grilled Swordfish, Leg of Lamb, Apricot Glazed Pork Loin,  and Stuffed Chicken Breast. Also available were a variety of potato and vegetable dishes ( our favorite was the Brussels Sprouts with Pearl Onions).

The ladies thoroughly enjoyed the Turkey, carved to order and accompanied by Stuffing, Gravy and Cranberry Sauce. They also liked the Stuffed Chicken Breast. We all enjoyed the Prime Rib, carved to order and accompanied by Au Jus and Horseradish. The Grilled Swordfish was excellent- tender and moist. The Crab Cakes could have used a little more Crab (and less filler). The Lamb was a little tough, but the Pork was divine. I spent a lot of time at the Seafood Station. I particularly liked the King Crab Legs, Oysters and Sushi.

The Dessert selections were seemingly endless. The Tiramisu was a little dry, but we enjoyed the Chocolate Mini-Cupcakes, Chocolate Eclairs, Creme Brulee and Chocolate Layer Cake. I also liked the Chocolate Covered Strawberries and the Pumpkin Pie.

Today's Christmas Dinner Buffet at The Waterfront Hilton gets three thumbs up from the 3 Tubby Tummys!

PAUL'S PANTRY- TAKE TWO

PICTURED (top to bottom): Restaurant, Cinnamon Roll, Omelette, Ham Steak and Eggs, He-Man Breakfast.

Paul's Pantry

27409 Bellogente #B

Mission Viejo, CA 92691

(949) 364-1088

We had such a wonderful breakfast on our last visit to Paul's Pantry, that we couldn't wait for a return trip. Good food, large portions, reasonable prices and very nice people are a winning combination for us. Of course, we all ordered the signature Cinnamon Roll (instead of toast). Paul's is the best; and always freshly baked.

Sweetie Pie had her favorite Meat Lover's Omelette (minus the Bacon). Big, beautiful and delicious, with lots of Cheddar and Swiss Cheese. Her mother changed up to the Ham Steak and Eggs. Also big and delicious. I decided to try the He-Man Breakfast. The waitress exclaimed "Are you serious!" Yes, I was serious. The He-Man Breakfast is four eggs, four Sausage Patties with Biscuits and Gravy and Hash Browns. Was it good? Yes! I especially like the Sausage Patties over the Biscuits; and Paul's has a great gravy. Their Hash Browns are among the best (cooked just right- crispy on the outside and tender inside). Was I able to finish it all? Yes! (And I helped Sweetie Pie with her monster omelette).

Today's Paul's Pantry breakfast gets three thumbs up from the 3 Tubby Tummys.

KATELLA DELI / HUNTINGTON HARBOUR BOAT PARADE

PICTURED (top to bottom): Restaurant Sign, Chef's Salad, Knockwurst Cheddar Dog, Blueberry Muffin, The Boat Parade.

Katella Deli

4470 Katella Avenue

Los Alamitos, CA 90720

(562) 594-8611

Today is the day of the Huntington Harbour Boat Parade. We had gone out to eat for breakfast and lunch today, and the boat parade ( a Christmas Tradition for us) was coming by Sweetie Pie's mother's house early this year. So we decided to dine in, and stopped by the Katella Deli for take-out.

The ladies decided to split a Chef's Salad (with Ranch Dressing on the side) and a Blueberry Muffin. I ordered the Knockwurst on a grilled Onion Roll, with Cheddar Cheese, Chili and Onions (and French Fries). 

The food was all very good, but truly it was the boat parade that made the evening memorable. This year's theme was "Harbour Hoedown" and many of the boats did quite well decorating in tune with the country western theme. Pictured are some of the boats we liked.

Today's Katella Deli take-out dinner and Boat Parade Extravaganza gets three thumbs up from the 3 Tubby Tummys!

BAKE N BROIL- LUNCH REVISITED

PICTURED (top to bottom): Restaurant, Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing, Navy Bean with Ham Soup, Salad with Ranch Dressing, Vegetable Beef Soup, Country Fried Chicken, Pot Roast Special, Grilled Tuna and Cheddar on Rye, Lemon Lush Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie.

Jongewaard's Bake n Broil

3697 Atlantic Avenue

Long Beach, California

(562) 595-0396

We enjoyed our lunch last month at Bake n Broil so much, that we just had to return to try it again. The food and service are great, the portions large (and the price is nice) and the Restaurant is nicely decorated for the holidays. We also wanted to try some of their freshly baked pies this time.

Sweetie Pie ordered the Country Fried Chicken Dinner (Small Salad and Cup of Soup included) and her mother had the Pot Roast Lunch Special (Small Salad and Cup of Soup also included). These were actually the same dishes they ordered last time, and they enjoyed them just as much this time around. I decided to try the Grilled Tuna and Cheddar Sandwich on Rye (with a cup of Navy Bean with Ham Soup included). The sandwich was very good, but could have used a little more Cheddar Cheese!

For dessert, we decided to pick something from the extensive list of Fresh Baked Pies for the day.The ladies both chose their all-time favorite Bake n Broil Pie- The Lemon Lush. I had the Lemon Meringue Pie because I saw a piece go by earlier, and it looked too good to be true! Both pies were off the chart fantastically good. Bake n Broil has the best Pies and Cakes, and we often order them here for special occasions. Our favorite is the Lemon Lush Pie, but the Holiday Lush is also very good.

Today's Bake n Broil lunch gets three thumbs up from the 3 Tubby Tummys!

PAUL'S PANTRY

PICTURED (top to bottom): Restaurant, Meat Lover's Omelette, Bacon and Eggs, Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs, Cinnamon Roll.

Paul's Pantry

27409 Bellogente #B

Mission Viejo, CA 92691

(949) 364-1088

Saturday morning we decided to drive down to Paul's Pantry in Mission Viejo. We hadn't been there in quite some time; and we wanted to see if it was as good as we remembered it. We were delighted to find that it was even better now than when we were here last. The staff is very efficient and super friendly. The prices are reasonable and the food, which has always been excellent, seems to have gotten even better! The portions are enormous, and their signature Cinnamon Roll is not to be missed (and can be substituted for toast with no up-charge).

Sweetie Pie ordered the Meat Lovers Omelette with a side of Cottage Cheese. The Meat Lovers Omelette has Ham, Sausage and Bacon with Cheddar and Swiss Cheeses. Not only was that Omelette delicious, it was the biggest Omelette I have ever seen. It covered most of her plate, and even with help from me, we couldn't finish it and ended up taking some home. Her mother ordered Bacon and Eggs with Hash Browns. Also very good and an extremely generous portion. The eggs were prepared as ordered (over hard), the bacon was nice and crisp and the hash browns golden crispy on the outside and fluffy inside (just how we like them). I ordered the "Award Winning" Chicken-Fried Steak and Eggs, and I have to say that it is as advertised ("We Know How" OC Register). The coating was thin and crispy and the steak tender and flavorful. The Sausage Gravy was heavenly (we ordered a side to pour on our potatoes). And, once again, the portion size very generous.

We each substituted the Giant Cinnamon Roll for toast. Those Cinnamon Rolls are freshly baked and sinfully delicious. They are big enough for sharing, but we each had our own.

Today's Paul's Pantry breakfast gets three thumbs up from the 3 Tubby Tummys!

PACIFIC DINING CAR

PICTURED (top to bottom): Restaurant Sign, Buttermilk Biscuits and Rye Toast, Butter and Jam, Ham and Cheese Omelet, Eggs Benedict, Roast Beef (Prime Rib) Hash, Sausage Patty Side.

Pacific Dining Car

1310 West 6th Street

Los Angeles, CA 90017

(213) 483-6000

www.pacificdiningcar.com

We were celebrating a Tubby Tummy birthday this week-end (Sweetie Pie's mother), so we decided to take a trip to the Pacific Dining Car in Los Angeles- our all-time favorite breakfast dining spot; and breakfast is available here 24 hours a day. The food is great, the service  impeccable and the ambiance "special occasion" nice. We were greeted right away, and promptly seated at our favorite booth in the front room.

The ladies both started off with the Buttermilk Biscuits- their favorite. PDC bakes them fresh and makes them good. I ordered the Rye Toast ( with Blueberry Jam). If you ask for it, you can get Blueberry Jam. I just love their Blueberry Jam. The Orange Marmalade and Strawberry Jam are also very good.

The ladies both ordered their favorite dishes. Sweetie Pie had a Ham and Cheddar Cheese Omelet with Cottage Cheese on the side. It was a very generous portion, loaded with Ham and Cheddar Cheese, and perfectly prepared. Her mother had the Eggs Benedict, picture perfect and delicious! Also with Cottage Cheese on the side. The ladies say that PDC's Cottage Cheese is the best ( I'll take their word for it). I decided to try something new. I ordered the Roast Beef Hash, made with tender Prime Rib and topped with a Poached Egg. With all that meat and potatoes, I just had to order a couple more poached eggs to throw on top. (Now that's a Burger Boy dish!). I also had my usual Sausage Patty Side. OMG- their Sausage is the best around. They make it in-house and it is good, great flavor and nice and spicy. My favorite dishes here also include the California Omelet and the Creole  Benedict.

Today's Pacific Dining Car breakfast gets three thumbs up from the 3 Tubby Tummys!