Baba's Cafe

Spent the morning finishing packing and tying up yet more loose ends before departure. Randy had one last meeting at 2:30 so I had scheduled a pedicure for 2:00. Heaven. Pedicures are heaven. My color? OPI's "Barefoot in Barcelona." After which we grabbed lattes and hit the road to LAX. We're spending the night at the Hacienda which has stay-and-park for LAX. It's practically our home-away-from-home.

Dinner on the way was at Ali Baba's Mediterranean Cuisine Cafe in Newbury Park. I know it well since it's in the same strip mall as one of my favorite bead shops, Creative Castle. My friend Laurel and I make the trip down to Creative Castle about once a year or so for a beadwork class. We invariably get lunch take-out from Baba's Cafe. It's the standard fare: shawarmas and falafels and tabbouleh and such. Always good, although not quite up to the standard of Jaffa's Cafe in San Luis Obispo. The folks at Baba's are always kind and cheerful. Tonight Randy and I shared the Dinner For Two: chicken and beef shawarma, falafels, rice, salad and pitas. Good road food, familiar and comforting. Also VERY garlicky!! Yum!

Believe it or not, I miss cooking. I found myself one or twice or thrice this morning thinking, "Now, what shall I make for dinner?" Before remembering that I wouldn't be cooking for awhile. I had to settle for watching the assistant chef at Baba's cut carrots for a minute or two. Hey! I learned something! He cut them into very long diagonals, all evenly sized for even cooking, of course. Good knife skills, too.

If you have a Big Lots nearby, check the shelves for Starbuck's Chai Truffles. They are fabulous. Creamy, melty with that aromatic spice blend we love so well. Sort of reminds me of a good pumpkin pie baking.

Next time you hear from me, it will probably be from Madrid.