2017 Tournament of Roses Rose Parade- float decorating, meals at Kolache Factory (Tustin) and Tops (Pasadena)

Thanks for stopping to read our food blog, mmm-yoso!!! Kirk, Ed(from Yuma) and Cathy contribute to various posts about various foods and various activities.  Today is that kind of a post, by Cathy.

Yes, it is that time of the year. The countdown to the 128th Tournament of Roses Rose Parade has begun, floats are being decorated. We volunteer with the Petal Pushers at the  Phoenix Decorating Company Rose Palace barn.  We had to check in at 9 a.m. to begin work, left home at around 6 a.m., stopping in Tustin.

 In the same mall as THH, where we stopped for breakfast before the first road test this year,  the Kolache Factory has its sole California location. Kolach, Czech or Slovak in origin, are soft, puffy, slightly sweet dough 'circles' filled with various ingredients.  These portable, almost 'hand pies' are fresh made all day.     As you can see, quite a variety are available.  In the back, a sausage, egg and cheese ($3.19), the middle is a 'Kolache of the month'-turkey with stuffing- ($3.88) and in the front is a cream cheese kolache ($1.62). Each of these were warmed, so very fresh and really tasty.  We have such a variety of places to choose from on that street (Cream Pan is less than a mile away, just East of the 5) Kolache Factory 14091 Newport Avenue Tustin 92780 (714) 730-2253 Website   We got to the Rose Palace as the sign-in area was being set up. Just inside, the Crew Chiefs were getting last minute instructions.  This barn would be busy soon.  The Lions Clubs International float: 'Celebrating 100 Years of Service' is magnificent! Shriners Hospital for Children, with the float titled 'Anything Is Possible' is so whimsical. The Odd fellows and Rebekahs float, 'Through The Ages' features a gazebo, wedding cake, diploma and mortarboard and a book with pictographs of prior events.    The Lutheran Laymans League has their 67th entry into a Rose Parade with the float 'Celebrate Jesus', observing the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
 The American Armenian Rose Float Association has a parade entry for the third year, 'Field of Dreams'.    The United Sikh Mission, with its float 'Together We Rise' is also in the Rose Parade for the third year. This float will be so beautiful! All that stuff in the foreground of that photo?   Construction in the barn.  It's the NHL float (which The Mister and I really had hoped to work on). 


 Then there is the Farmers Insurance float. It looks so ...'plain'...just like a large Recreational Vehicle (especially compared to the 2016 float (at bottom of this link). We were specifically asked to not photograph the secrets of this float while decorating, but the title of 'We Came, We Saw, We Covered' is a clue.  You'll love it when you see it!    So what did we do this day?  "Dry Decorating", or "Detail Decorating" is its own job.  Scissors and glue...  Beans, peas, poppyseeds, dry flower petals...more glue...In a cold barn for eight or so hours.  It was fun, but a long day. By the time we got down Colorado Boulevard, the sun was setting and we were hungry!The Original Tops, (Since 1952) is always a tasty stop (I wrote about breakfast here two years ago).  The meal was simple, a bowl of chili ($4.59) (made from scratch daily; no beans, a bit of heat and unique great taste), 1/4 lb burger ($3.79) charbroiled on that constantly used grill, imparting a delightful flavor on the toasted bun and simple toppings and a SMALL order of onion rings ($3.39) Thick cut onions in a light, seasoned batter.  We had leftovers and were so satisfied.

The Original Tops 3838 East Colorado Boulevard Pasadena, CA 91107 Open daily 6:30 a.m.-11:00p.m. Website

The Rose Parade is in January 2, 2017 (never on a Sunday)  Artist rendition of most of the 2017 Rose Parade floats

Comments

[Sandy]

I'm going to try Kolache Factory next time I'm at Cream Pan. BTW, Cream Pan is east of the 5, not the 15. I also look forward to watching the Tournament of Roses Parade on tv, thanks to your previews and teaser on the Farmers Insurance float!

[Cathy]

Thanks, Sandy..I thought I wrote "I-5" but didn't. Autocorrect did so much silliness with 'kolache' when I was rechecking, that I skipped seeing some errors. You'll like the Kolaches, a different type of pastry and so good. The parade should be great again this year.

[Caninecologne]

@Sandy and Cathy,
If you like roadside oddities, just one stripmall north of Cream Pan is a tiny church in a parking lot, The Little Tree Church. It was closed when we stopped by, but it is quite random seeing it there.

We like the savory kolaches. It's convenient being next to THH as well.

[nhbilly]

Nice to see behind the scene.

[Soo @ hungryones]

That's awesome you are decorating the floats in addition to photographing them!

[Cathy]

Tustin is such a fun city. So much to see, do and eat, cc. It would be great to live there.

It's fun to be a part of it all, Bill.

Oh, we've been decorating floats for decades, Soo. My first post about decorating was http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2006/12/rose_parade_pre.html
If I haven't always stressed that we help to decorate, it's been inadvertent.