With the 'Mummies of the World' exhibition Bowers Museum has done it again.  This Museum has a long tradition of exhibiting the world's greatest cultural art.  Its own collection includes art of China, New Guinea and the South Sea Islands.
Most of the mummies in the current exhibition were not buried with mummification as a purpose.  Rather they have been preserved by a unique set of natural circumstances.  Sometimes  it was a dry climate or a natural freeze-dry process took place.  The ones shown are from Europe, Asia and South America.
Previously we have written about Bowers exhibitions that included China's Terry Cotta warriors, Mummies of ancient Egypt and Secrets of the Silk Road.
The current Mummies exhibition will continue until October 2016.
Bowers Museum is located at 2002 North Main Street in Santa Ana just off Interstate 5.  It is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  On Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  For more information call 714 567-3600.  On the web at www.bowers.org.

We have long recognized that Wang Tcheng is one of the best Chinese restaurants in Anaheim and our dining experience last evening did nothing to change that opinion.
Adding to the excellent cuisine of Chef and Owner Lance Wang, which continues to show both Chinese classics and his own house specialties, the decor and ambiance is very special here.
This thanks to Penny, co-owner and wife of Chef Wang who brought her background as a fashion designer to make dining here a warm, relaxing and serene experience.
This is a large restaurant and often hosts large parties and gatherings and has rooms and divided areas to make these events truly private affairs.
Careful attention shows everywhere here.  The service staff is elegantly attired in orange shirts, black slacks with black tie to match and one is always greeted with a smile.
Unlike the typical Chinese restaurant there is an intimate bar and lounge away from the dining areas.
Chef Wang offers a very large menu.  We opened with Szechwan shrimp, clams with black bean sauce and sauteed sea cucumber.  Then a deep fried pork loin with eggplant in garlic sauce. Also  deep fried white chicken meat in a green onion, black pepper and jalapino sauce.  We always must have Lo Mein and here enjoyed it with veggies.
Wang Tcheng, with this kind of cuisine, has been delighting the folks of Anaheim since the day it opened eight years ago.
Wang Tcheng is located at 1199 N Euclid Street in Anaheim with free off street parking.  It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.  Banquet facilities are available and there is delivery for orders online at www.wangtchenhg.com.  Telephone 714 778-9988. 

The Palm Restaurant in downtown Los Angeles was the place where a press event announced the coming of Palmer & Co. to the West coast.
This high end Champagne producer joined the ranks of France's champagne producers decades ago but only entered the U.S. market last year on the East coast.
.We were greeted by Raymond Ringeval, Export Manager for Palmer and Bill Rumbolz, western division manager for Gonzalez Byass Famila de Vino USA.
Raymond explained that Palmer was founded by a group of established growers in Avize, France.  These growers owned vineyards in two of the most respected regions of Champagne--La Coe deSezanne and La Vallee with most of the vineyards designated as Premier and Grand crus.
We tasted four wines starting with Champagne Palmer Brut Reserve which has four years aging on lees.  We thought  it elegant and wondered what was to come since it was in the lowest price range at $50.  Next was Champagne Palmer Brut Rose Reserve.  Enjoying the high end, price wise, was Amazone de Palmer Tete de Cuvee and this wine was truly memorable.
The three grape varietals  used in Palmer champagnes, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier enjoy much aging in solera  before blending.
While we tasted four champagnes actually eight different cuvees will be available in the US.
The Palm Restaurant was the perfect place for this event and with the tasting of these champagnes we were able to match them with elegant appetizers and then a buffet of quality entrees that have given this restaurant much fame through the years.

Once again we attended the 'Bordeaux Under One Roof'' tasting now in its sixth year in Los Angeles. The quality of Bordeaux Chateau wines and high prices are often linked but this event is designed to demonstrate that this is not the case.
For at this event one hundred eleven wineries from both left and right bank of the Gironde River  showed affordable wines that ranged in price from $10 to $55. 
The event was well organized and took place at Hudson Loft in downtown Los Angeles conducted by the Bordeaux Wine Council.
For the media representative like this Writer with so many importers and wineries present it is only possible to single out a few for special attention.
We started by meeting Virginie Leveque, sales manager of Wine Book which represents six Chateau wineries all producing red wines.  All from different districts, Chateau Larrivaux from Haut-Medoc, Chateau La Bessane of  Margaux and Chateau Lafon-Rochet from Saint-Estephe to name a few.
Barton & Guestier wines have been an acquaintance of this writer for decades so we moved to that booth and chatted with Lara Sterling and tasted Chateau Magnol 2013 blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
We also met with Roberto Cardella who represents Golden State Wine Co. and tasted four excellent chateau wines all ranged between $10 and $20.
It proved to be a busy afternoon.
 

Our recent visit to the West Inn & Suites in Carlsbad appeared to be all about food.
En route there we stopped  at San Juan Capistrano and found Selma's Chicago Pizza.  Chicago Pizza was new to us.  We knew of New York pizza but the credit for pizza really belongs in Naples, Italy.
As it turned out Chicago Pizza is deep dish prepared and we were delighted with our order which came with Italian sausage added as a topping.
Selma's has a bar and many craft beers, all on tap.  The menu stays with Italian style sandwiches, wraps and salads.  Here breads and panini are house baked.  Also made in house are the meat balls from an old family recipe and the Italian sausage.
'Our service for one pizza' was a special of the day and ours was perfect for lunch.
Selma's is located at 31781 Camino Capistrano, one block from the train station in San Juan Capistrano.  Telephone 949 429-3599. Hours ll a.m. to 9 p.m. with a Happy Hour for drinks and appetizers 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday thru Friday.

The restaurants we write about always are a long way from where we live.  So when the chance came to visit a new place to eat just eight minutes from where we live our joy could hardly be contained.
Called Togo's Sandwiches it is part of Togo's Eateries which has locations in six western states. 
We met and had lunch at the new Togo's Chatsworth with Owner Tom Menik and Megan Olsen, Togo's regional marketing manager.
The day we were there the place was bustling with people ordering their favorite sandwich, wrap or salad.
Togo's has achieved fame for the freshness and quality of their sandwiches, especially their signature Pastrami and roast beef sandwiches which can be ordered hot or cold.
Soon our table was loaded with samples of what Togo Chatsworth has to offer  including the above and  favorites, the turkey & avocado sandwich and the bacon ranch chicken wrap.  Everything is made to order and there is a choice of four different breads for the sandwiches.
Located near a large commercial area Togo's also enjoys a large takeout clientele with ordered in advance box lunches and  catering for meetings and parties.
Togo's Chatsworth is located at 20790 Nordhoff Street in Chatsworth with plenty of off street parking.
It is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday thru Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m .  Food can be ordered in advance by calling 747 202-9257 or on the web at www.togo.com. Delivery is available in the local community.

On our way home from Carlsbad we stopped in Oceanside to check out the Oceanside Broiler located in the Marina.  We were well acquainted with the two award winning restaurants in Newport Beach under the same ownership.
The location has been a landmark for decades but the Broiler underwent a complete renovation and now offers a completely new decor and ambiance.
The outdoor patio dining area places you just yards from the water and a sparkling Marine view. Inside there is a casual cocktail lounge and several dining rooms.
At the restaurant we met General Manager Warren Hyde as well as the Sous Chef Thomas Mellen who prepared some of the specialties on the menu we enjoyed that day.
First there was the New England clam chowder and chicken lettuce wraps  followed by an Appetizer Platter with fried calamari, coconut shrimp and, our favorite, ahi poke.  Our entrees included swordfish and filet mignon.
This restaurant shows an unusually large menu for both lunch and dinner.  The seafood selections are many and steak is offered with many choices.
There is free off street parking and the views offered 24 hours a day.
Oceanside Broiler is located at 1325 Harbor Drive North in Oceanside open seven days a week for lunch 11:30  to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Telephone 760 722-3474, web www.oceanside-broiler.com.