2017 Tournament of Roses Rose Parade float road test #1 -Tan Hoang Huong (Tustin), Copenhagen Pastry (Pasadena) and Burger Basket (Corona)

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog with contributions about food consumed from various places under various circumstances.  Kirk and Ed(from Yuma) are relaxing today.  Cathy is writing about her circumstances.

Yes, it is that time of year again.  The President, Theme (Echoes of Success), Marching Bands and some float designs for the 128th Tournament of Roses parade were announced not long after the 127th Parade ended on January 1, 2016.  Floats are in the beginning stages of being built and a "T-1" (first float road test of mechanics and maneuverability) of floats built by Phoenix Decorating Company (who built 22 of the 44 floats in the 2016 parade) was held on Saturday morning at 7 a.m.

Listening to traffic reports, an accident had the North 5 with all lanes closed, so The Mister and I left home before 5 a.m. and stopped at Tan Hoang Huong (THH) in Tustin, since we were there before 6 a.m. (when Cream Pan (our usual stop) opens).  Located just West (under the 5) of Cream Pan, it is good place to grab a sandwich and other treats. I knew about it because of several posts on CC's blog.   

 We ordered two egg rolls (@65¢) and a pork pate chaud (85¢) to eat while we waited  for our bahn mi to be prepared. Yes, that's a 'spam' and egg sandwich ($4.25).

Fresh items, great tasting.  Not the same as K Sandwiches, but very good. THH 14081 Newport Ave Tustin, CA (714)731-1366 Open Mon-Sat 5 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Sun 7 am-4 pm website

We detoured around the accident (which blocked the North 5 for more than six hours) and arrived at the Road Test just after 7 a.m.

   Raymond Street is the place. The floats were lined up. The Rotary International float is in a very basic stage.  You can see exactly where the driver and spotter are seated. They are communicating via headsets, as they will during the parade. The spotter on the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs float is the lady to the left in the photo.  She will be seated below the floor of that gazebo-like structure.    The Kiwanis float is taking shape.   The City of Alhambra float has a fire engine being driven by both a fireman and a fire dog... Lions Clubs International is celebrating 100 years of Service in 2017.  I can tell this float will be even more magnificent once it is decorated.

There were more details, but you get the idea.  We were off to our next stop, Copenhagen Pastry (again, I knew about it from CC's blog), located East on Colorado Boulevard. The truck (and a few cars) parked in front of the otherwise quiet street made the subtle storefront easy to find. The fresh selections were so tempting- yes, that's about everything offered-   We bought a loaf of Rye bread ($6) the dense, chewy style, made with rye berries, sunflower and black flax seeds, a Spandauer ($1.95) flaky pastry topped with almond paste and custard and a slice of Kringle ($1.95) also filled with almond paste, custard and sugar.  We will return. 

Copenhagen Pastry 3731 Colorado Blvd Pasadena 91107 Open Tues-Fri 7-5, Sat-Sun 8-4 Website

This location of Copenhagen has closed

We began heading home, stopped at a Super H-Mart for some items and then hit another accident prone area of the 91 freeway, exited and decided to stop at   
Burger Basket, which we have driven past during prior sidesteps from traffic.   Order, pay, have a seat...watch the char grill happen.   A double cheese burger- (charred to perfection)($5.49) Gosh, I haven't had such a great burger since Sima's.  My semi-usual morning order of an egg sandwich with sausage ($5.89).  Let me say, this was heavy and huge with  unexpectedly large tasty breakfast sausages (skin slightly burned), a lot of egg and lettuce with tomato and mayonnaise.  Burger Basket has been at this location since at least 2007 and again, wish we had stopped here sooner. We will be back.

Burger Basket 1058 West Sixth Corona, CA 92882 (951) 734-1331 Open 7 days 6:30-9:30 Website

It was a long morning and we were home before noon.  I hope you are having a good weekend!

Comments

[caninecologne]

It's always a treat to "see" the floats from the early stages up to fully decorated. Thanks for showing us something that we don't normally get to see. I look forward to seeing the floats' progress in the coming months. THH and Copenhagen...good stops! I always want to get every pastry at Copenhagen but I don't, ha ha.

Now THAT is a sausage sandwich. Why can't San Diego eateries do that, eh. I like that the total cost of your breakfast at Burger Basket is less than the price you would pay at those overpriced hipster breakfast joints.

[nhbilly]

SPAM FTW!

[Soo @ hungryones]

Thanks for starting your documentary of next year's floats!

I like the looks of that burger. The breakfast sausage are huge! I'm use to mini size ones...

[Cathy]

The way things work has always been fascinating for both of us, cc. The little quick trips North are also fun to do, especially with new and fun food stops (thanks for also taking vacations up there). Yes, the $12 Burger Basket breakfast is a great deal, just as good (or better) in flavors than a lot of places.

It was a great sandwich, Bill.

I enjoy sharing these particular adventures, Soo...the road test was only mentioned on Facebook on Friday, so it was a spur of the moment trip for us. The food at Burger Basket was outstanding and unexpected...although when we got into the parking lot and there was only one empty space, we should've known.

[janfrederick]

Great post. We'll have to make my uncle from Corona take us to Burger Basket.
Our 10-year-old played in the Mira Mesa area school concert last night and we got to hear the Mira Mesa marching band play God Bless America and Ode to Joy for the first time since they brought up the rear of the Rose Parade is past January. Wow! It was much better in person than seeing them on TV at the end of marching for 5 miles playing the same two short songs over and over. They kind of put my high school band to shame.

[Cathy]

Thanks, JF! The bands for the 2018 Rose Parade have been invited: not only do they submit videos for consideration a year in advance, the preparation (conditioning and fund raising) for the rigors of the parade has to be part of it no matter what, even for the youngsters who will graduate before their band goes to Pasadena (BandFest is so informative). You'll like Burger Basket.