Among Friends

[BirdieGal]

@Noel7

I fondly remember going to two outstanding Italian bakeries when I was very young with my mother. One was Claro’s and the other Federico’s. 

I have ave never been to any or had anything from another bakery since that can even come close to those. Federico’s as I recall was our favorite! 

Sadly out here it seems bakeries are a dying breed. 

[Noel7]

We are all so lucky to have grown up or spent time in CA.  We've had an incredible state as our backyard: Mountains, ocean surf, bay, redwoods, desert, forests, Lake Tahoe, sun, fog, snow.  Just amazing.

[Noel7]

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@BirdieGal wrote:

@Noel7

I fondly remember going to two outstanding Italian bakeries when I was very young with my mother. One was Claro’s and the other Federico’s. 

I have ave never been to any or had anything from another bakery since that can even come close to those. Federico’s as I recall was our favorite! 

Sadly out here it seems bakeries are a dying breed. 

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@BirdieGal

Believe it or not, bakeries are making a huge comeback in SF.  We get fresh baked bread from them often. 

[Moonchilde]

Ohhhhh, memories, @Noel7! In my 20s I went to the Spaghetti Factory in Newport Beach with friends and co-workers aaaall the time! I loved that place! For those who know the area, I worked at the Hospital on the Hill :-)

I just looked it up and there’s one in San Jose - road trip! I absolutely adored the spaghetti with mizithra cheese & browned butter - rarely got anything else. Such a delightful, fun place. It always put me in a good mood.

[BirdieGal]

@Moonchilde

I actually went to a Spaghetti Factory for the first time when flying with DH at work. It was in Salt Lake City. I fell in LOVE with the spaghetti with browned butter and mizithra. We have one in Sacramento, yeah...2 hours from me at least but when we are down there we eat there. Have you tried the steamed

broccoli with browned butter and mizithra? To. Die. For!

We don’t get down there too often. I make both of those dishes myself. Luckily one of our grocery stores here carries a very nice mizithra. I always have it on hand. Either of those dishes are so easy to make as well. 

Okay...now I want broccoli. Thanks! I know what’s for Dinner now!

[BirdieGal]

Does anyone remember Griswolds in Claremont? I loved that place. I even used to go there on field trips as a kid. My mom and I would go there often.

And....what about Vince’s? Love that place too. The only one left is actually in the one of two of the towns I lived in when I was growing up. Or right next to it.

I managed to find their meat sauce recipe and that is my go to. My husband’s all time favorite sauce. 

[DiAnne]

@Moonchilde

Hoag?  My first job was at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange.

[Noel7]

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@Moonchilde wrote:

Ohhhhh, memories, @Noel7! In my 20s I went to the Spaghetti Factory in Newport Beach with friends and co-workers aaaall the time! I loved that place! For those who know the area, I worked at the Hospital on the Hill :-)

I just looked it up and there’s one in San Jose - road trip! I absolutely adored the spaghetti with mizithra cheese & browned butter - rarely got anything else. Such a delightful, fun place. It always put me in a good mood.

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I didn't know there were others, what fun there's one in San Jose you can go to!  It had the magic touch, lots of fun for some reason.

@Moonchilde

[Noel7]

The Old Spaghetti Factory, SF, back in the day, waiting in line.

[Moonchilde]

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@DiAnne wrote:

@Moonchilde

Hoag?  My first job was at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange.

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That be the one, @DiAnne. Or as we fondly called it, Hog on the Hill. I met John Wayne there and got a present from him :-)

I think I worked at half the hospitals in OC at least, but never worked at St Joe’s. My very first hospital job was St Mary’s in Long Beach.