Question of the Day

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?

Today’s question of the day was sent in by a reader – favorite dog park. I know Rancho Laguna park in Moraga is very popular with dog owners. What is your favorite dog park?

If you have an idea for a question of the day please email questions@beyondthecreek.com or tweet @btcreek

I recently listed to a podcast with the doctor and co-owner of True Food Kitchen, Andrew Weil, who mentioned that he likes to cook to relax. I like taking nature walks to relax. What things do you do to relax?

Photo by Flickr user comedynose

As I browsed the shelves at the soon to be shuttered Half Price Books in Concord over the weekend, I noticed some paperback science fiction novels from the 1950’s about rocket ships and martians that felt somehow nostalgic although it was a couple of decades before I was even born. When I was younger these would no doubt be my favorites although these days I prefer non-fiction. What is your favorite literary genre?

Photo by Flickr user cbs_fan

Recently a family from Orinda “heard a warning of an impending missile attack from North Korea blaring over their Nest security camera” according to this article from The Hill. It turns out their password was stolen from another site which was used to logon to their Nest account. (Tip: use 2FA and a password manager.) I use internet enabled security cameras because they bring peace of mind while I’m gone, but I do worry about hackers getting access. Do you use internet enabled security cameras?

Photo by Flickr user thebetterday4u

This week we learned that a new tech repair shop would be opening in downtown Walnut Creek. Considering how expensive Apple devices have become in recent years I’m not surprised. In the not so distant past, phone companies subsidized cell purchases in return for multi year contracts which made it more palatable and consistent to upgrade one’s phone every two years. Now, with phone prices passing $1,000 it’s becoming harder to justify upgrading.

How long do you plan on keeping your cell phone?

This week we learned that two long term restaurants closed or will be closing in downtown Walnut Creek, Pomegranate and Le Cheval. I’ve had quite a few meals at both these spots, including family events, getting together with friends etc. Although I hadn’t been there recently, I will miss the delicious gyros at Pomegranate in particular. Which restaurant that has closed do you miss the most?

A couple of years ago I noticed the popularity of Pokemon Go, with people wandering around staring at their phones. These days it seems like the game Fortnite is the latest craze. I know my son plays it but when I saw an SNL skit about a clueless father playing it with his son I didn’t quite understand. Until I started playing with him and my college friend and his son. It turns out it is really fun to be able to talk with each other while gaming. Even if I suck at it. When I first heard that Fortnite was a social network I thought that was crazy. Not anymore.

Do you play Fortnite?

With a new year inevitably comes a new crop of new year’s resolutions. I’m aiming to read more books this year. Right now I’m reading Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman, which I find fascinating. I also plan to finish up the Harry Potter series which my entire family has read. What are your new year’s resolutions?