Question of the Day

Photo by Flickr user jfingas

When I started this blog over seven years ago it was partly so I could come up with a reason to use the camera on my new iPhone 4S and I’ve been using Apple phones ever since, along with iPads since it’s convenient to stay within the Apple ecosystem. However, I know people who are adamantly against the closed Apple system and prefer Android instead. Do you use iPhone or Android phones?

With Mother’s Day approaching there are plenty of shops offering great gifts for moms and others to check out. Makers Market and Wish in Walnut Creek and Lemon in Danville and Lafayette come to mind. What is your favorite gift shop? What gift would you most like for Mother’s Day?

Photo by Flickr user mckaysavage

Recently there have been a lot of yoga studios relocating and opening this year in the area. What is your favorite yoga studio? Is it newish or has it been around a while?

A few years ago I wrote how frozen yogurt and juice bars were taking over and how something more interesting like a rice pudding shop should open. After a recent visit to NYC I found a new shop planning to open called JustFoodForDogs, “New York’s first dog kitchen” that will provide, “small-batch, preservative-free meals” using “human-grade food” according to this Dogster article.

With the high-end dog boutique rororiri opening recently in downtown Walnut Creek, can a dog kitchen make it around here?

Photo by Flickr user andrewmalone

The other day my kid asked for a peanut butter and pickle sandwich. Have you ever heard of such a combination? I love PB&J sandwiches and I suppose peanut butter goes well with almost anything, but pickles?! I do like pickles with a deli sandwich on occasion. Do you like pickles? Do you crave them? Sour or half-sour?

Photo by Flickr user nicasaurusrex

This week we learned that the eyeglasses retailer Warby Parker will be coming to downtown Walnut Creek. Considering how much cheaper they are compared to other places this is a welcome addition. I’ve worn glasses since college and my whole family wears glasses or contacts. Since I’m nearsighted I don’t use them up close but as I get older I’ll be switching to progressives soon. Do you wear glasses or contacts?

Photo by Flickr user hermis

This week we learned that Galpao Gaucho Steakhouse will be coming to downtown Walnut Creek and I thought, this will be great for those on a paleo diet. I try to limit my intake of highly processed foods as much as possible but don’t follow any diet in particular. Do you follow a specific diet?

I have never been on a cruise although I’ve been tempted on more than one occasion to pull the trigger imagining myself lounging around or participating in one of the numerous activities. I know people who love cruises. Yet I worry about crowds. I worry about noroviruses. I worry about the food. Have you ever been on a cruise? Do you recommend them?

Some cities have food safety ratings posted on restaurant windows indicating how safe they are. In Contra Costa sometimes I see conditional permits with problem areas (usually food temperature, hand washing) checked off. That doesn’t stop me from visiting unless it’s for vermin.

One reader sent in the above photo for China Palace in Walnut Creek that “was only one of 3 restaurants in Contra Costa County that won an award for their food safety based upon their health inspections. They are the only Chinese restaurant that won”.

Should Contra Costa post a letter or number score for restaurants? Do you read the yellow conditional permits when visiting a restaurant?

Photo by Flickr user limoz5412

Judging by the cereal aisle at the supermarket cereals surely must be the most popular breakfast of all time. It’s quick and easy but these days I recently added oatmeal to my weekday breakfast routine and am happy with how quick, delicious and apparently healthy it is. I pop it in the microwave for a minute, add some fruit and granola and am good to go. On weekends I’ll make waffles but French toast sure is tempting. What is your favorite breakfast?