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Journal KshGoddess's Journal: What I miss about California 14

Journal by KshGoddess

Ben & I were talking about this yesterday, and we both miss California. Here's the short list of the things I miss.

  • Fry's
  • Ikea
  • Henry's Marketplace
  • Real Mexican food
  • The little Indian market
  • Thai food
  • Our (really good) butcher
  • Rosie's Calico Cupboard

Fry's. I miss Fry's. Their reasonably-priced electronics (everything from components to blenders to big-screen tv's), their warehouse feel, the big dot-matrix-printed price stickers. DVD's for less than an arm and a leg. CD's for reasonable prices, in a browseable format.

Ikea. Ah, ye of cheap put-together furniture. You would've been nice to visit when we were looking for a cabinet. We'd have had to make a trip to Tempe, or to somewhere in Texas, though. Not that I'm complaining about the cabinet -- it's beautiful -- but it would've been nice to get something equally as usable for half the price.

Henry's Marketplace. Specifically the one on 13th street in Escondido. Fresh produce, grown if not locally, at least within the state. Produce that wasn't too green or rotting, for reasonable amounts of money. Wild Oats is NOT Henry's. Wild Oats is more on par with Whole Foods. Overpriced organics for people who feel guilty for being successful.

Real Ethnic food. Mexican, Thai, Indian, Japanese... Taco Bell has killed the american palate for Mexican food. Mexican food should not taste like a bottle of tabasco sauce dumped on soy meat. Thai food here has been less than spectacular. It's either bland, or too spicy (too spicy being defined as I can't taste anything but the peppers in this dish). Good Indian food has always been a gamble. Even in San Diego. But the samosas at the little Indian place... sigh.

You would think that a place that grows cows would have 2-3 GOOD butchers in town. I drive past cows on my way to anywhere, but have yet to find more than a mediocre butcher. Andy's is OK, but it's not as convenient as our old butcher, and the meat's not as good in quality.

Rosie's Calico Cupboard. How do I miss thee? Let me count the ways. I miss the large selection you have, and the way I could browse without feeling pressured. The way you would say "There's a MAN in our shop!" when I brought Ben and sometimes Michael (both of whom were rather skilled in choosing their own darn fabric). The 3 (or is it 4) storefronts that you occupy, full of fabric and ideas, and helpful staff. The closest I have to that now is Ruth's Stitchery. They're the only place in town, and they're not big, and not dedicated to quilting (they have quilt fabric, but half the store is sewing machines and embroidery).

I love my yarn stores, and my house, though. My commute sucks, and work... well... the less said, the better. But I have a house and a yard, and a dog -- 3 things that we couldn't afford to have in California.

We'll go back and visit some time this year, I'm sure. I don't think we'll take meat back with us, or fruits or veggies, but we'll go back to visit.

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What I miss about California More

What I miss about California

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  • Wait (Score:2)

    by nizo ( 81281 ) *
    What about the ocean? That is the one huge thing I miss about North Carolina. Well that and the Durham Kid's Museaum.
    • The ocean is cold. And we're not really "beach" people. I did like to see it when I drove around, though. It makes a really nice backdrop, and smells good when carried on a summer's breeze.
  • You would think that a place that grows cows would have 2-3 GOOD butchers in town. I drive past cows on my way to anywhere, but have yet to find more than a mediocre butcher. Andy's is OK, but it's not as convenient as our old butcher, and the meat's not as good in quality.

    Finest meats you are likely to find anywhere:

    http://www.tonysmarket.com/ [tonysmarket.com]

    But $$$ expensive

    • Comment removed based on user account deletion
      • Huh. The Dry Creek store is the only one I've ever been to. Sure, it's cramped. Sometimes annoyingly so, when full of people. But it's a foodie paradise. I'll have to check out their other stores.

        Their prepared dishes are top-notch as well. They're also good if you want stock and can't make it yourself (they make it in their own kitchens), or for things like demi glace when you really want to go all out on a meal.

        I was complaining to my girlfriend (who's GM for a 'Casual Dining' chain restaurant) abou
        • All of those are difficult for me to get to or get meat home from. Although I may try to convince Ben to try them out.

          And our butcher was usually priced cheaper than the supermarket. Not that I mind paying for quality, but it was so nice to spend $100 on meat and have enough for a month of meals (steaks, hamburger, stew beef, and usually a roast and a flank steak, too).
        • Comment removed based on user account deletion
          • I live in the suburb south of C470. :)

            There's a suburb south of C470? Well, you learn something new every day.

            Actually, I lived in HR about 7 years ago. Then went to Virginia, then to New Jersey, and then back to where I am now. Then the bubble burst, the music stopped, everyone found a chair (or didn't) and it looks like touring the world on company paid moving expenses and signing bonuses is much harder to pull off. But it was fun while it lasted.

  • Ikea. Ah, ye of cheap put-together furniture. You would've been nice to visit when we were looking for a cabinet.

    Cough! Did I really hear you say that? Ikea is never nice to visit. It's an unavoidable necessity at times, sure, but it's an experience to be avoided at all costs wherever possible.

    "There's a MAN in our shop!"

    When I went to Florida recently, I went trawling the local fabric and quilting shops, looking for fabric and other supplies that are hard to find this side of the pond. I got exactly

    • We always went to Ikea at weird times, when there weren't that many people in the store. Mostly because the damned thing was so hard to get to from our place.

      Men just don't go shopping for fabric much anymore. At least, not usually as anything but 'purse-holders'. The cool upholstery fabric place just down the street from Rosie's was always awesome, though. Run by men, oddly enough.
  • is there anything of yours that we can keep as a momento of this visit?

    take california.

  • Ikea (Score:2)

    by allism ( 457899 )
    We almost got an Ikea in Denver, but they decided to go into Salt Lake instead. Should be open in about a year and a half to two years.

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