North East San Diego County Road Trip: Amerient-Country Cooking & Oriental Cuisine (Ramona) and a drive to Julian

You are reading the blog named mmm-yoso!!! It's about food.  Not just a description of what, but also the where, sometimes the why and, occasionally how and who.  Kirk usually takes care of those pronouns and sometimes ed(from Yuma) writes in a way outlining his posts using the interrogatives.  Today, Cathy is using her grammar skills to share a day.

Hi.  Last week, on a particularly foggy weekday morning, The Mister and I decided we'd like to take a drive North, to Julian.  Originally we wanted to try Jeremy's on The Hill, which ed (from Yuma) had posted about earlier this year, but on checking, realized it was not open for breakfast.  However, figuring that people everywhere have to eat, we got in the car started the drive up Highway 67 and while on the lovely main street through Ramona, (cleverly named Main Street, just before it turns into Highway 78), I spotted this building, signage and decided this was where we should stop.

Perhaps you can't read the signage on the building. I had heard of Amerient years ago but never had even noticed it when passing through town on my way to and from other errands. 

We were greeted, seated and handed the leather bound combination menu. I noticed a lady in the corner booth rolling egg rolls and asked if I could order from the "oriental" part of the menu, even though it was barely 9 a.m., and was told that I could. (While we were there, several other people ordered other-than 'country cooking' items). 

The wall decor and table condiments reflect both cuisines offered here. 

The Mister decided on the Daily Special ($5.99, $2 off the regular menu price).  On this day, it was Country Fried steak, which came with two eggs (poached), home fries (thin sliced and crispy fried)...

Here is a cross section view of the tender, lightly breaded, perfectly fried steak which was topped with a *very* nice, slightly peppery sausage gravy. 

The Special also came with two GIANT pancakes, butter and heated maple syrup.  On the right in the above photo, you can see a partial view basket of teas to select from($1.95)

My meal came with two fresh made egg rolls.

These were more meat than filler/no cabbage and really good; properly fried and not greasy. Actually, they were more like a good lumpia,now that I think about it.  The neon red sweet-tart dipping sauce with a dot of hot mustard is something I rarely see or get to taste and it was a nice memory jog to my taste buds. 

Here is a cross section of my order-Vegetable Egg Foo Young ($7.25). I crave mushrooms and was silly happy to get this giant platter of goodness, with the fresh, al dente cooked mushrooms, carrots, peas, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots and -that patty- a fluffy, mostly cabbage, onion and egg delight.  Actually a perfect breakfast (the gravy was not salty).  Every restaurant makes egg foo young differently and this version was particularly memorable.  

We plan to return, because the Saturday evening special is Ma La chicken.  Spicy!

Amerient Country Cooking and Oriental Cuisine 668 Main Street, Ramona, CA 92065 (760)789-6855  website

We got in the car and continued on through the fog on the winding two lane road to Julian and were able to park on the main street, again having the clever name of Main Street. I so enjoy not having to think much. Parking on Main Street is something you can't do during apple-picking time in Autumn.  It was kind of strange to see the town, sidewalks and parking places in an uncrowded state. We walked and checked out every menu and determined that the price point for a meal started at $8, not including beverage.  It's also pretty consistent that a slice of pie with ice cream will cost $5.  None of the businesses offer coupons in the local free paper nor is trying to underpricce a neighboring restaurant.  

We drove just West, (Main Street turns into Farmer Road) to the cemetery, and walked around.

It was foggy and misty and peaceful.  

We started to drive South, and passed Jeremy's,which is about three miles from the center of Julian, then stopped four miles later, in the town of Santa Ysabel.  Usually we stop at Dudley's Bakery, but it's only open Thursday-Sunday.  There is a sign in the window that Dudley's items are sold in the small IGA market next door, but since the bread would not be baked-that-day-fresh, we walked across the parking lot to the Julian Pie Company.

where a cute door handle greets you...

Choices of fresh pie slices, cookies, donuts, carmel apples and a freezer of take and bake pies and no crowds or waiting made the choice overwhelming.

So, we got one apple cider donut (75¢) and a coffee ($1.50) and a pie to go. The apple cider donut is unique in flavor...made with apple cider instead of water, it has a nice, fresh apple flavor and the light coating of cinnamon sugar was complimentary and not overwhelming.  A good snack. 

The pie?  

The small size chicken pie.  Made with the crust used for all the fruit pies.  A good sized (one pound) meal for two. Baking fresh at home was perfect a few days later. The filling is almost all chicken, along with vegetables and the sauce. 

San Diego County is large and every area/city/road has something interesting to do and places to eat. I hope everyone can have an adventure someday soon.

SO...yesterday, ed (from Yuma) wrote about his vacation and today I wrote about my "staycation"...whose turn is it now?

Julian Pie Company 21976 Highway 79 Santa Ysabel, CA 92070 (760)765-2400 website

Comments

[ed (from Yuma)]

Nice pics. Fog in the mountains. Julian is kinda nice off season.

[Hannah J]

Julian is beautiful. Sadly, last time I went up there was for a funeral, feels like you snapped a photo from that day.

[Cathy]

Thanks, ed. The fog stayed with us that whole day; it was nice. The drive was peaceful and not seeing crowds was good.
Hi again Hannah. I find cemeteries loaded with history and mystery and always try to stop at one whenever I can. This one was empty that day, other than the horses doing the lawn maintenance.

[caninecologne]

Can't believe I missed this post. Love the photos of Julian in the fog.

I try to stop by cemeteries too. Glad I'm not the only one. The creepiest one we ever went to was in Chicago - Rosehill. Their mausoleum is purported to have the ghosts of rival businessmen, Sears and Montgomery Ward.

[Cathy]

This was a very nice day, cc. May is a great month for a vacation for us-no crowds is exactly how I like things. I have lots of cemetery stories; they are like reading a history book...and the old ones have streets that resemble the Candy Land game board. Most importantly, you missed the curiosity that is Amerient!