2015 Tournament of Roses Rose Parade Road Test #6-plus. Breakfast at Lucky Boy(Pasadena), Lunch at Tom's Farms (Corona)

Thanks for stopping to read mmm-yoso!!! This food blog has been around a while now and most posts are written by Kirk, who is taking a bit of a rest today.  Ed (from Yuma) also shares food-based musings here and he is also resting.  Cathy is all rested up and so she is writing this post. 

Two weekends ago, yet another safety and maneuverability road test of 2015 Tournament of Roses rose parade floats occurred at Phoenix Decorating Company.  Only three floats were being tested that day.The Princess Cruise Line float is now completely colored in and those sort of 'tiki' faces (one on each side of the ship) will have small 'waterfalls' within.This super long float (see the viewer way in the back, above the float (second photo up) as well as the one in the front looking out (above photo)?) It's by Honda and the first one you will see after the Banner float on January 1, 2015.You can see the seated Spotter and Driver in the United Sikh Mission float, above.  

Here's the 'plus' part: my brother was in town on business last week and I asked him to delay his flight departure so he could see the float barn and a bit of Pasadena.
Welders were assembling rebar, floats were being taped off for coloring and foam additions and we got to see a bit more of the real work on the float building process. Then we all went for breakfast. Yes, a simple breakfast it was... The simple egg sandwich (now $3.50) on rye toast... Along with the slightly more complicated egg sandwich with bacon ($5.55) and cheese (40¢) on wheat. There was a *lot* of bacon on that sandwich; enough to share.

Lucky Boy 640 Arroyo Parkway Pasadena 91105 (626)793-0120 website

We drove and saw things around town (Rose Bowl Stadium,  the street markings for the float drivers to follow along the entire parade route, bleachers being set up for the parade (those need to be tested for safety before January 1 too) and the Farmers Market, then started the drive back toward San Diego.
Taking the long way, along Route 66. Then we got to the 15 and headed South, stopping at the ever curious signage for Tom's Farms. (which I wrote about for 2009 Burger Week).
Coincidentally, we ordered similarly to that 2009 post, and inflation has barely batted an eyelash here.  The 1/3 lb Tom's Burger is now $3.99 (it was $3.95) and the 1/3 lb chili size is now $5.99 (it was $4.95) The whole onion lightly breaded perfectly fried onion rings are $3.99 ($3.69 back then).  The food was as good and fresh as ever (the buns are made here; vegetables same as the ones sold here and the meat was cooked to a nice medium-rare) and the small vacation was fun.  

Tom's Burgers 23900 Temescal Canyon Road Corona 92883 (951)277-4103 website

Comments

[caninecologne]

Yay, how cool it must have been for your brother to see the floats ahead of time. One day I'll have to try Lucky Boy (and pop into the 1st Trader Joe's)...Great update on the floats. I can't wait to see that really long one with the arches once it's decorated.

[Cathy]

It was so good that I was able to show him things 'up close'; the photos and descriptions aren't quite the same long distance, as you know, cc. The original TJs is just a block away, so we had to (he had also gone to the In-N-Out University in Irwindale earlier in the week when he had a break). That Honda float will be road tested with at least three others this weekend (yes, a 7th road test)...you know the drill if you want to see it in person.

[Soo H]

Thanks for the float pictures! That's cool you can go into the secret building area!

[Cathy]

Anytime, Soo. It's not a secret- that's the Phoenix Decorating Company barn where the road tests initiate (and end) and where we decorate the Saturdays before Christmas and every day from the 16th-31st. During the week, the float builders are working; we drove up and walked to the office to ask if we could take some photos. When decorating is going on, there is a charge ($5) for people to walk along a catwalk and watch the workers and progress.