2023 Rose Parade Float Road Test #4, breakfast at Ocean Bo (El Monte)

You are reading mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog.  Cathy has the helm today while Kirk takes a break.

Link to 2023 Rose Parade Road Test #1

Link to 2023 Road Test #2

Link to 2023 Road Test #3

The last Saturday in September had The Mister and I wide awake and driving North on I-5 before 5 a.m..  There were several traffic problems mentioned on the radio and we cut back across the 78 to I-15 and took a different-than-usual route to Irwindale and Phoenix Decorating Company, arriving at about 7:15.  Floats were on the street and being tested for mechanics and maneuverability.

 The final float of the parade 'announces' the Rose Bowl football game which will start four hours after the Rose Parade ends  (on January 2, 2023, because there is never a Parade or Game on a Sunday).
Here is the same float on December 31 last year; it is not judged but always freshly decorated.
 The Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom float, "Protecting The Wild" was being tested.  You can see the tree in the back of the float 'collapses' to be able to fit down the Parade route. (See how other  floats collapse in the Road Test #3 post). 

 Here is the artist rendering of the Mutual of Omaha float.

 In the front is the

skeleton/rebar version of the Elks 2023 entry to the Parade.  It is backing into the barn, to the right (you can see the driver of this float, if you enlarge the photo-he is past the middle, to the far right).  You can also see the Wild Kingdom float (with the trees in position) and the Royal Court float behind this Elks float. (Royal Court float being decorated on December 31)

 The Trader Joe's 2023 entry is a multi-piece float.  
 The front appears to be a 'chopper' motorcycle.
 The attached second part of the float is a pirate ship; I see the ships wheel, collapsed sail, giant pelican, a banana and a collapsed palm tree.  It will be interesting to see the progress. 

On October 13, Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was announced as the Grand Marshal of the 2023 Rose Parade.  The theme of the parade, "Turning the Corner", epitomizes Gabby's remarkable recovery from traumatic injuries. 

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On to the food portion of this post.  I was not craving a 'traditional' breakfast.  Since The Mister is a navigator, I told him to type in "Dim Sum" on his phone and direct me.  Soon, we were in El Monte, parked, walked in and were able to get a table right away.
 The other entrance door lead to the steam trays and take out area of the restaurant. 
 Each table had a menu and a pen; we ordered.  Soon, everything was brought out to our table at the same time. 
 I was not the only person taking photos of food. 
 The salted chicken porridge ($6.89) was wonderful with a great chicken stock base; you can tell the porridge had been simmering a long time.  The chopped pieces of bone-in chicken were plentiful.
 Pork Shiu Mai ($4.29) were quite large, very well flavored (didn't need additional soy nor chili sauce). In addition to the chopped pork and shrimp, the filling had crispy water chestnuts, carrot and mushroom.  
 The Seafood Gow ($4.29) were particularly good.  The crisp, pan fried dumpling, filled with pieces of fish, shrimp and crab as well as (spinach?) greens; turned out to be our favorite bite of the morning.
 The shrimp rice rolls ($5.39) were each filled with two plump, large, flavorful shrimp.  The rice noodles and sauce complimented each bite in flavor and texture.
 The shrimp Har Gow ($4.29), steamed in tapioca flour wrappers.  Filled with very plump, large shrimp, this 'staple' of Dim Sum restaurants was a delightful treat. 
 The baked egg tart ($4.29) was a perfect ending to the meal.  The still warm and eggy custard inside the multi-layered Chinese puff pastry (less oily/more flour-y than traditional puff pastry) was just so perfect. 
 The tea, very fresh.

Ocean Bo 3944 Peck Road Suite 1, El Monte 91732 (626) 452-1818 Website
 For those of you wondering, we just drove right past Portos on the way home (!)

Comments

[kat]

dim sum looked delicious!

[Som Tommy]

The dim sum looks good

[Cathy]

So happy that it shows in the photos, Kat. It was an excellent meal.

We are thinking of going back, ST. It really was a memorable breakfast.

[Soo]

Mmm... Dim sum. Nice seeing the floats getting closer to completion.

[Cathy]

The Mister and I do enjoy driving and randomly discovering new places and this was the first time I specifically asked him to check for Dim Sum; so glad I did, Soo. Seeing other places along the way had us thinking about where to go for dinner after decorating floats in December. The floats still have to pass three road tests before decorating will begin, so October and November and even part of December will be busy with construction!