2016 Rose Parade float road test #1 (Cream Pan, Roma Market, Pasadena Farmers Market, The Donut Man and Tom's Farms)

Thanks for (continuing to) dropping by mmm-yoso!!! a blog about food.  Today, Kirk as well as Ed (from Yuma) are both resting and Cathy is filling in with a post long on photos of an event and of food. 

Last Saturday, it was 'that time' of the year- the first Road Test of floats which will appear in the 127th Tournament of Roses Rose Parade which will happen on January 1, 2016.  The Theme for 2016 is "Find Your Adventure", which will guide the activities and designs for floats.  

The parade is being sponsored in conjunction with the National Park Service, a bureau of the Department of the Interior.  The National Park Service, formed in 1916, preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.The Mister and I left home early, stopped for a quick snack (you'll see, below) and arrived in Pasadena just in time to park, stop at Starbucks, walk over the Metro tracks and South on Raymond Avenue, where the floats were lined up for their 7 a.m. Road Tests.This is the Shriners Hospitals for Children float entry (I haven't found a title or artist rendering for it) in a 'ready for foam' stage of construction.  It looks like a Shriner Bear in a fire engine.  You can see the small rectangular cutout in the front, where the 'observer' will be looking out onto the parade route so he can tell the 'driver' of the float if there is a reason to slow down or speed up.This is the City of Los Angeles 2016 float in its most basic stage of construction.  The float is titled "Discover Los Angeles" and you can see several things: a sunshine, maneuvered to its low position so as to meet the height requirements along the Parade Route; to the left, an outline of the Capitol Records Building and just underneath that, the "spotter" for this float, in a red shirt...while just to the right of center (behind the man on the bicycle) are seen the legs and arms of the 'driver' of the float.  Even at this point, the Road Testing has them communicating via headsets.This is the Lutheran Hour Ministries 2016 float entry, "Jesus is the Light of the World", foamed and ready for color.  That's a lighthouse in the back, with the top down, a position tested for the float to be able to fit along the Parade Route.This will be the 2016 entry for Rotary International.  This float, in its foamed and 'cocoon' stage (I haven't found a title). I can see a cute squirrel and snail as well as a grasshopper and lovebirds. "The Tree of Life's Adventures" is the 2016 entry of the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, another Service Organization. Colors are marked for decorating and the rectangular slot for the 'spotter' is just under the 'deck' in the center; quite well disguised.The Kiwanis entry, "Children, Our Treasure" looks like a bright, fun float. Here, it is backing into the construction/decorating barn (at Phoenix Decorating Company), fitting through the doorway which is the maximum height and width every float needs to be able to collapse down to along the parade route.Lions Clubs International is showcasing more of their philanthropic work with "Camps for All Abilities".Finally, the City of Alhambra's 2016 Rose Parade float entry is "Parks Make Life Better" and is a small diorama of the City archway, along with park benches, climbing tower, slide and soccer net.

I know, you are here for the food.  The Mister and I haven't been on a 'road trip' since January and didn't want to hit traffic.  Most of the food we bought was consumed in the car while driving.

We stopped first at Cream Pan, which opens at 6 and is convenient from the 5 freeway. This wonderful Japanese Bakery has changed just a bit, adding the dumpling warmer/reverse refrigerator and removing some of the interior seating.  The ham and cheese croissant is still $2.50.  The pecan cinnamon roll is now made with chopped pecans instead of halves.  Both are still wonderful and amazing pastries.  We also purchased some sesame rolls for meals at home, and no strawberry croissant! 

Cream Pan 602 El Camino Real Tustin, CA 92780 (714)665-8239 Open 6 a.m.-4 p.m. seven days

After the floats, we drove up Lake Avenue to the original location of  Roma Market (link is post about the Escondido/San Diego County location).   The Pasadena location is only about a block North from Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles, where we stopped about two years ago. This store is smaller than the not large Escondido location and more interesting.  Mr. Rosario Mazzeo, who has worked here since the 1950's, was busy preparing "The Sandwich"($5.50) as well as working the deli counter.  He is very friendly and said to us "this is what I do, all day, every day".  The simple three meat, one cheese, olive oil on a fresh Italian roll sandwich is perfect. We also purchased one fresh made Burrata ($2) to bring home.

Roma Market 918 N. Lake Avenue Pasadena 91104 (626)797-7748 Website

Following Roma, while eating the The Sandwich in the car, we drove to the Saturday Pasadena Farmers Market, which was enveloped in fog. The overcast day made the fruits and vegetables bright.  We stopped at the one vendor who has prepared Mexican food and purchased a chile relleño burrito ($2.50).  It's not large but is filled with flavor; a good snack while walking around.

Pasadena Saturday Farmers Market Parking lot of Pasadena High School.

Soon enough, we were headed East on Route 66. The line at The Donut Man was around the side, back into the parking lot. 

Being able to watch the bakers in the back was fascinating.  We bought two donuts and headed home. 

The Donut Man 915 E. Route 66 Glendora, CA (626) 335-9111 Website

We made our final stop at Tom's Farms, because we got to the 15 after a *lot* of traffic and honestly, I needed to use 'the facilities'. 

We grabbed some ring bologna to go with the bread and cheese and veggies that had already been purchased that morning and headed home.  Got back just before 1 p.m.. 

Tom's Farms  23900 Temescal Canyon Road, Corona, CA 92883Website

Thanks for reading!

Comments

[caninecologne]

Yay, the first float road test post! It's always fascinating to see the floats' progress from this point up to the finished product on New Year's Day. Thanks for the behind the scenes looks during the year. Great food crawl that you and your husband had as well. That's cool that you saw Mr. Mazzeo at the Roma Market. That's a long time to be working there!

[Cathy]

The President of the Tournament is announced six years in advance and installed the first week of January, then he/she announces the Theme by the end of January, then designing of the floats starts, but they have to be approved(you know, so there aren't six all depicting Mt. Rushmore) and early June are the beginning of Road Tests. The Parade is really a year round event and so much goes into it, cc. I'm so happy To share the behind the scenes. Then there's food, which The Mister and I wanted from everywhere we had been thinking about literally all this year!

[Soo]

Great way to spend the day! Thanks for the cool float preview!

[Cathy]

It was a fun day, Soo.

[Laura Monteros]

Nice post! I haven't seen the inside of Roma Market since we moved up the hill to Altadena 25 years ago. I'll have to drop by.

Special thanks for the photos of the Phoenix floats. I post the renderings of the float on my Facebook Page, "All Things Rose Parade", as soon as I see them. Float builders don't release them until they get permission from the sponsors.

https://www.facebook.com/AllThingsRoseParade

[Cathy]

Thanks, Laura. I've seen you at some of the float road tests (will introduce myself next time) and read all of your stories via Facebook; you write all inclusive Tournament of Roses Rose Parade events and I appreciate the 'background' stories of yours. Thanks for your link; I will incorporate it in my next Road Test post. (Next time you are at Phoenix... Roma's...such a great place).