Thanksgiving In LA

J and I have not spent Thanksgiving at home since 2006, so our last turkey meal was probably around then.  We generally like to take our overseas trip around this time of year because you have less of the American crowd, and you don't get the outrageous prices or site closures around Christmas time.  We spent Thanksgiving in Moorea in '07, Singapore in '08, and Cafayate in '09.  This year, however, we decided to postpone our trip 'til the end of the year because I didn't want anything to get in the way of my marathon training.  Yes, THE marathon that I ended up having to sit out thanks to my injured aging body.  So we were going to spend Thanksgiving at home this year, but then J got this position in CA, and here we are again, a turkey-less Thanksgiving (not that anyone's complaining as J doesn't like turkey, and I end up eating turkey leftovers for 2 weeks).
While T was toiling away in her kitchen helping her Italian friend prepare an American Thanksgiving meal, we spent Thanksgiving like 'Jews spend Christmas', as she put it, Chinese food and a movie.

A Taiwanese breakfast at Huge Tree Pastry located in Monterey Park.

Salty soy bean milk, a little bland.  J did not like it at all.

Gua Bao 掛包, which I've never heard of before but is actually quite tasty with fatty pork, cilantro, and preserved sour cabbage in between fluffy white 包子.

A peek inside...

Beef with preserved sour cabbage in 燒餅

燒餅油條.  The best 油條 I've had outside Taiwan.  J's verdict on Taiwanese breakfast: Nothing exciting.  I, unfortunately, have to agree that Cantonese breakfast is indeed tastier (this is what happens after 9 years of 'brainwashing').

After walking around in the neighborhood, we headed to Montebello to watch Megamind.  We both thought it was OK.  Nothing spectacular like The Incredibles.

Late lunch was at Sin Bala in Arcadia.  You know the place is good when there's constant flow of customers throughout the afternoon.

麻辣牛肉麵.  The BEST ever!

Their sausage with basil.  Finally something managed to impress J.

J's pork chop noodles.  One would think the pork chop would be in the noodles.  Puzzling...

Of course a Taiwanese meal would not be complete without 鹽疎雞.  These were better than the ones I had at 快可立 in northern CA.

As we were walking around the neighboring plaza we came across JJ Bakery.  There was a long line in the store, so we assumed it had to be good.  So far I haven't been impressed.

Watermelon rolls...cute.

While in the store I overheard a conversation.  A guy wanted 'Happy Thanksgiving' written on the cake he had ordered, but the staff quickly countered, "How about 'Happy Holidays'?" and the man obliged.  I'm thinking to myself, "Why?  Do you not know how to spell 'Thanksgiving'?"  I would have insisted that she write 'Happy Thanksgiving' and personally double check the spelling, just because...

The day was wrapped up with shaved ice at Class 302 in Rowland.

The decor inside was like a typical Taiwanese classroom with the wooden desks, chairs, and blackboard.  Brought back memories...

J and I shared a huge serving of shaved ice topped with strawberries and mango.  He saw something else he wanted to try (J has a bad habit of eating his food but checking out what everyone else is eating), so we're going back again tonight.