Snowbirds Living in the Philippines : Lunch at La Fontaine and Ima's Kitchen in Concord

Monday, March 11, 2024

Lunch at La Fontaine and Ima's Kitchen in Concord

As part of this Month Travel Adventure Series-Taste of Southern France, THD Activity Directors Karen K and Galen C hosted a Lunch Excursion to La Fontaine Restaurant in Downtown Walnut Creek. I canceled my participation due a conflict on another Ethnic Food Adventure in Concord with my oldest son, Dodie.

https://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?authorid=108890

Based on my personal interviews from several attendees, the lunch excursion at La Fontaine was a Gastronomic Success. Here are a sample of positive comments from THD residents who participated at the Lunch Excursion.

1. It was fun and a very leisurely lunch. I enjoyed it very much.

2. Yes, it was great. The food was good and THD even paid for our appetizer.

3. Yes, I love the place. It was mostly Italian food and not Southern France at All.

4. The luncheon was marvelous!! The appetizers were delicious. I had a beet salad with prawns that was not remarkable. However the dessert was absolutely awesome. Others had dishes that were very tasty and the presentation excellent. I understand that the soup was very good. The price for food was reasonable. The restaurant was beautiful and the wait staff were delightful. I want to go back with my family.

5. I had a grand time. The food presentation and styling was A plus. I will go back there soon.

6. Besides the delicious food and ambiance, the young Italian waiters were easy to the eyes.

For more details on La Fontaine visit their website

https://www.lafontainerestaurant.com/walnut-creek-home

In contrast to the leisurely 2 hr-lunch at La Fontaine, my Filipino Lunch at Ima's Kusina ( Kitchen) in Concord was a take home ( turo-turo) fast food atmosphere. I enjoyed Pork Sinigang💥 (best tasting soup in the world), eggplant omelet ( tortang na talong) and fried boneless milkfish ( bangus) with steam rice and puto( rice cake) for dessert. For more information on Ima's Kitchen visit:

https://imaskusina.com/

Pork Sinigang and Torta Na Talong ( Eggplant omelet) from Ima's Kitchen in Concord

💥 https://marinduquemyislandparadise.blogspot.com/2024/03/pork-sinigang-best-tasting-soup-in-world.html

The attendees informed me that Karen K took photos during the excursion. I am hoping Karen will share her photos with us soon. Karen showed me a couple of photos at the Pre-Oscar Champagne Reception last night. The photos in her cell phone were enticing. Speaking of the Oscar TV Presentation at our Cinema: The Cinema was full and the Snacks delicious and drinks plentiful and flowing freely. Thank you Karen for being a Great Host.

I guessed the Best Movie, the Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and the Best Actress Award. What's my prize, Karen?

https://planningtovisitthephilippines.blogspot.com/2024/03/my-movie-of-week-poor-things.html

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Joys of Retirement

I have been retired from USFDA since 2002. At first, I feel I have lost my identity as an individual or have lost my contribution to society. However, within a few weeks all these feelings were gone. It started when my wife and I started baby sitting one of our grandchildren. As some economics professor states: "Your children are your capital investments, but your grandchildren are your profits. That is why you love your grandchildren more than your children". I really agree with the statement. Retirement also gives you lots of time to do things you like to do, such as your hobbies and of course travel. In my case, I turned my hobby of gardening and landscaping into a small business in the Philippines. This endeavor was planned about five years before 2002. That year my wife and I started construction of our retirement home in Boac, Marinduque , Philippines. The next year we built a beach house, followed by a Conference Hall two years later. Needless to say, planning and executing the landscaping was a challenge and very enjoyable. With the help of local labor, I not only enjoy the time gardening and landscaping, but also help improved the economic situation of the province by providing work and jobs to the local residents. With plenty of time, I have engaged into two specific activities as follows: First, I created a website for my small business. By trial and error, I created and design the website, www.chateaudumer.com I have never been a computer nerd or expert. But with plenty of time and patience, the fruits of my labor could be enjoyed if you visit the website above. The second activity, I have not done before was to utilize on-line activities, such as shopping, paying bills ( save you stamps) and playing computer games in the Internet. I really enjoyed playing duplicate bridge on line. You play with players all over the world and can chat in between games. But be careful, you are not spending too much time in the computer. It is very addictive. With a lots of time, my wife and I devoted more time on our favorite humanitarian project. For the last 15 years, we have been involved with medical mission to the province of Marinduque. For details please visit the website: www.marinduqueinternational.org As a summary, the joy one gets on retirement is very specific for an individual. Some enjoy their free time by learning new activities, getting involved with humanitarian projects or spending more time with their grandchildren. Others hate it, since they missed their former jobs and co-workers. Others with no children still enjoy retirement by traveling, turning their hobbies into business or more community involvement. Of course those that retire and hate it, is believe to die earlier than those that enjoy their retirement years. So, plan your retirement as early as you can. The happier you are on retirement, the longer you will live.