2013 Rose Parade Float Road Test-and breakfast at Euro Pane Bakery (Pasadena)

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog. Kirk, ed (from Yuma) and Cathy do things and eat, just like you.  Today Cathy is writing about why, where and what she had for breakfast.

As you (may) know, The Mister and I grew up back East watching the Rose Parade from our snow covered homes on January 1 (or 2nd, if the 1st was a Sunday) for most of our childhood.  At some point, we were able to fulfill one of our "when I grow up" goals.  We have volunteered decorating floats for a few years now and know that the parade does not happen overnight.  Planning for next year starts almost as soon as the parade ends.  One of many steps is the "road test" of the floats.  I've posted about the July and the August road tests from this year and skipped writing a post in September, but did, once again, wake at 4 a.m. (so the dogs could all be let out) before leaving our home in East County so as to be on Raymond Street in Pasadena at 7 a.m. to view the floats. We did it all over again on Saturday. So, here are some photos of the September and October road testing..and our breakfast. 

 

The Banner Float-the first one you'll see, showing the Theme of the 2013 parade.  It will have so many different items to match and contrast all the colors painted on here as guidelines.  

The LAX float was just a shell of rebar in August.  That's the new Tom Bradley Terminal, which will open in March.

The HGTV float last time was kind of difficult to picture, but now, all the different home styles are clear.

This little guy, in his own home, will be on the "camera" side of the float.

So those were the 'completed' floats from September.  

After we saw all the road testing, once again, we stopped at Lucky Boy and pretty much ordered what apparently has become our "usual".  I didn't think you'd be interested in another post, especially containing the same meal...

But I did think you might be interested in seeing a September road test of the rebar-only floats and the resulting October completed floats...

All we knew about this float was that it was the Farmers Insurance Group entry in the parade. It looks like some sort of centerpiece or that something will be featured on the top of the vessel. 

It turns out that one lucky couple will be getting married on this float during the parade! (There was a contest to pick the couple, entries ended October 14). The people are on the float to test how it moves/turns with weight, as there will be people riding on the float during the parade. 

In September, seeing this...

pulling this, with our only clue being this was the RFD-TV float, had us guessing what was what (other than we knew the front item was a tractor). 

Amber waves of grain- so surprised to see such a beautiful result.

Here's the "camera" view...

The Donate Life float appears to be one long mobius ribbon forming hearts along the float.  The riders will all be recipients or families of organ donors, as always.

<--This is a closer look at the float, while the riders were exiting on a fire drill.

There was only one 'bare' float being tested and I'll save it for next time. (Hint: Honda) 

After this early day, we headed out to seek breakfast 'somewhere on Colorado Boulevard'.

and since it was before 9 a.m., only had to look where we saw vehicles parked...and Euro Pane Bakery looked like a nice place.

Not very large inside (I counted 12 two person tables, and one that could seat eight).  When we arrived, only five tables were occupied.  

The two photos show all of the display cases and breads available (those are very large macarons in the photo above).  Of course, I didn't want any sweets, and chose a slice of spinach quiche:

It came with a currant filled eggy roll... fresh-soft and lightly chewy, which went well with the unsalted butter.

The quiche is very spinach-y, without addition of other flavorings (i.e., no onion or nutmeg).  The custard part of the quiche was smooth and eggy, like flan (there was an opposite of a custard:spinach ratio in the pieces near the edge). The crust was light and flaky...and gosh, so fresh.

The Mister saw this item on the counter and asked what it was and the nice Lady said "ham and cheese". Turns out there was also bacon, onions and carrot inside this fresh, crispy crust.  It was very much like an Alsace Onion Tart (or the Tarte d'Alsace sold at Trader Joe's), but rolled and inside a crust.  The onion was a carmelized sweet and inoffensive (The Mister only eats onions if they are battered and fried or in French onion soup and he did eat some of these, although a nice stack was on the side of the plate when we traded.).

Both items were heated-in an oven in back-for us and brought out to our table. Heating made the flavors even better. I neglected to take the receipt and only know that these two items plus one coffee cost a bit less than $13.  I must say the quality was there and the sandwich menu board looked extremely interesting...and now I wish I had grabbed a sweet, or a loaf of bread...

Euro Pane Bakery 950 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 107 Pasadena, CA 91106 (626) 577-1828

 

 

Comments

[caninecologne]

Great post! It's cool seeing how the floats look before they will appear on TV. Your husband's ham and cheese filled bread (with onions) looked quite tasty!

[Dennis]

Always look forward to these posts from you guys this time of year!

[Cathy]

Thanks, cc. Its so interesting to see things up close almost step by step and then see how others view it on TV. I am so glad we stopped at Euro Pane; the food was exceptional.
Thank you Dennis, it's fun to get a peek at the progression of the two hours we watch on January 1. It's also fun to take a quick trip North...a short vacation.

[Carol]

It's so cool to see those floats "kind of" close up through your pics, Cathy.

[Cathy]

It isn't easy to get across the detail and size of all of it, Carol. Pictures, words -just as with food- experiencing it is so much better.

[caninecologne]

I'd like for us to go here for our road trip! Macarons please!:)

[Cathy]

Passed by here yesterday morning, cc. It was early and nobody sitting out in front. However now know there is a second location on Colorado Boulevard...we can check out both!

[caninecologne]

Yay!