On a trip to Italy some years ago I did include a tour of Pompeii where on one day in August 79 A.D. the city and its people disappeared following an eruption on nearby Mount Vesuvius.  I found it a memorable experience.
So when I learned that the California Science Center was holding an exhibition on Pompeii and the aftermath of the disaster seeing it was a must for this Writer.
The Exhibition opened in May and will continue through the rest of the year and is a most worthwhile experience for all ages.
Actually I learned more about Pompeii, its people and their way of life from this exhibition than I did from the tour taken on site years before.
There are exhibits  on foods produced and consumed, cooking utensils of the time,  dining habits, entertainment from Gladiators to Brothels. and public baths.   Fast food is not new, Pompeii had hundreds of street stalls and eateries to serve its 20,000 inhabitants.
There is one exhibit which simulates the events as they occurred on the day of the disaster with earthquakes, explosions and finally the covering of ash and debris
For more information about viewing Pompeii, The Exhibition at the California Science Center call 323 Science, on the web at www.californiasciencecenter.org.  

A restaurant must be outstanding to remain in business for a quarter century.  Which explains Yves' Restaurant & Wine Bar located in Anaheim Hills. We had lunch there a few days ago and wished we had discovered the restaurant years sooner.
We met with Proprietor Yves Massquefa and were impressed both with the man and his restaurant which offers a home like decor and ambiance designed for a relaxed, comfortable dining experience. 
To go with this ambiance there is a most interesting menu highlighted with Continental favorites.
We opened with French onion soup, then shared a delicious  Calamari Fritti with my dining partner and  enjoyed Nouille Roulet, a pasta plate that is a signature dish at the restaurant.
Yves' Restaurant & Wine Bar is located at 5753 A E. Santa Ana Canyon Road in Anaheim Hill, just off the 91 Freeway at Imperial Blvd.
The restaurant is open seven days a week, for lunch and dinner Monday thru Saturday, dinner only on Sunday.  There is live music Thursday thru Saturday.  Telephone 714 637-3733, web www.vyesbistro.com

Il Barone Ristorante in Newport Beach is a consistent five star restaurant showing an exquisite Italian cuisine.  Now another generation of the family has opened IL Barone Pizza e Pasta, a much more casual eatery located at 705 E. Balboa Blvd., one block from The Pavilion.
Jonathan Barone shows a carefully crafted variety of Italian favorites with seven pizzas and ten pasta dishes.
There are also house specials like calamari fritti and a Folcaccia \sandwich with tuna.
The desserts follow the family tradition with Cannoli Siciliani and Tartufo di Cioccolato con gelato as well as our favorite Tiramisu.
What impressed us the most with this new enterprise was the most modest prices.  If it were not so far away from where we live Jonathan would have a regular customer with this Writer who always loves a bargain when he sees one.

The past met the present when the Anaheim Packing House opened it doors once again, this time as a new entity for a collection of unusual dining and beverage shops.  The Packing House first opened in 1919 when Anaheim was the the collection point for miles of surrounding orange and lemon groves.  Here the farmers harvest was gathered and then shipped by railroad across the country.
Now restored, the building still maintains the ambiance of its former years but with the facilities that offer a contemporary gathering place for people of all ages
We attending the press opening last evening and were briefed about the restoration of the building and the long list of showplace eating and drinking places it will house.  Explaining how all this came about was Shaheen Sadeghi, President and CEO of  Lab, the firm responsible for the Packing House rebirth.
Some exciting sample plates were offered to show the wide variety of cuisines that will be available at the Packing House.  Adya showed us some interesting Indian street food    Some wonderful sushi was on our plate from Orange Tei which was the work of Shigetoshi Nakamura.
We chatted with Gretchen Shoemaker whose Georgie's will showcase a full menu of southern soul food.
Our bun sandwiches of beef and pork from The Kroft were so good that it hard to say no more.
In all there will be 28 food stalls featuring many different cuisines.
The Packing House is located 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., in historic downtown Anaheim.  Open daily.

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Santa Cruz Island aboard Island Packers Catamaran "Islander"  We chose the open upper deck which offered views in every direction.  The crew were polite and most knowledgeable and the Captain explained what we might see.
When we sighted a large pod of dolphins he slowed the ship so everyone could look and take photos.
And this was repeated when we sighted a group of whales and here we stayed some time as the whales surfaced, then dived and sprouts of misty water would show them again.
The trip from Ventura harbor to Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island is about 20 miles and takes one hour.  Many on the Islander were backpackers planning on spending some days on the Island.  We were among the day trippers.  We had about four and one half hours on the island before getting back to the pier at 3:45 p.m. for the return to Ventura.
There is a second landing place on Santa Cruz Island at Prisoner Cove and we plan to make a return visit, this time to see this other location.

We first met the Moreno family when they operated a restaurant in Port Hueneme.  Now we met Cathie Moreno once again as Proprietor of The Kitchen located in downtown Oxnard.
In three and one half years since opening, The Kitchen has achieved fame for its outstanding presentation of craft beers to match its American menu.
Currently there are twelve draught and one hundred bottled beers.  We admire the talents of those that come up with the brand names for some of these brews.  A few that caught our eye were Heretic, Mother Earth, Dogfish Head and Magic Hat.
Our tasting of three draught brews included Mission Blend, an ale, Hod City's Barking Squirrel, a malt and a stout named Peanut Butter.  Cathie passed around some wonderful appetizers with the tasting.
The Kitchen is located at 529 South A Street in Oxnard and open seven days a week from 11 a.m.  For more information call 805 355-8980, on the web at www.thekitchenona.com.

One of the highlights of our stay at Mandalay Beach Resort in Oxnard was our dinner prepared for us by Tim Hulbert, Executive Chef, at this showplace Embassy Suites hotel.
First to arrive were a selection of southwest themed appetizers including Chicken Quesadilla, Baja spring rolls, Latin styles chicken wings and tamale stuffed rolls.
Our starter was a memorable lobster bisque.  Our entree a New York strip steak with roasted potatoes.
Others at our table with entrees like Linguini Primavera with chicken or Simply Fish.  The fish in this dish changes with what is currently in season and fresh.
Oxnard is the center of a large agriculture region famous for its fresh vegetables and Chef Hulbert takes full advantage of this by using the freshest seasonal ingredients in his cooking.
Then we were able to preview a new dessert featured at the Coastal Bar & Grill.  This is a metal rack offering several different desserts in small sizes including Molten cake, Creme Brulee, Key Lime Pie,  Banana Split and rockside Brownies.
Also special for Mandalay guests is the complimentary breakfast buffet with a full menu including to order omelets.
Mandalay Beach Resort is located at 2101 Mandalay Beach Road in Oxnard.  For reservations call 805 984-2500.  On the web at www.embassymandalay.com.