The Queen Mary-A Historical Legend By Pete Allman

The Queen Mary - A Historical Legend

by

Pete Allman

The RMS Queen Mary is the most famous ocean liner in the world. During its heyday, Clark Gable, Sir Winston Churchill, Bob Hope, Tony Curtis, Fred Astaire, Robert Montgomery, Loretta Young and Don Ameche were a few of the notables who enjoyed the elegance of the Queen Mary.

During World War 11, The Queen Mary carried over 800,000 troops to many destinations around the world, traveling to New York when it was decided in 1940 that she was no longer required for active service. It was then reinstated in 1947 to her normal routine in the North ,Atlantic. The occurred after 1500 men from John Browns shipyard traveled to South Hampton, U.K. and were  employed on renovating the ship, returning 10,000 pieces of furniture that had been in storage in New York, Australia, and the U.K. All the furnishings had to be brought back to England and returned to the ship.

The Queen Mary holds the record for transporting 16,683 troops at one time from New York to Scotland.
In May of 1967 Chairman of Cunard, Sir Basil Small wrote wrote,''It is a matter of great regret to the company and to me personally, as it will be to friends throughout the world, that these two ships The Queen Mary and The Queen Elizabeth, must shortly come to the end of their working lives.''

New Life for The Queen Mary

In 1967, the city of Long Beach was the successful bidder of the Queen Mary at a cost of $ 3,450,000. She made her last trip from South Hampton on October 31st.,1967, arriving in Long Beach on December 9th. After four years of dry-docking and conversion into a hotel and a series of restaurants, including tourist attractions, it would be ready for tourist around the world to see.

Recently I met Commodore Everette Hoard aboard The Queen Mary. Commodore Everette has lived his long life dream of hosting the public on the Queen Mary. He is without question a wealth of knowledge, as he's been at The Queen Mary for 33 years.
According to  Commodore Hoard there are 57 different species of wood paneling throughout the ship.
Many of the staterooms have the original woods combined with modern amenities.
This reporter enjoyed re living what it was like to stay aboard one of the staterooms and walk the beautiful teak decks of the grand ship.



Queen Mary Tours

There are many tours to enjoy aboard Queen Mary. The most memorable happened to be  Diana- A Royal Exhibition located on theSsun Deck.This exhibition has nearly 2000 items relating to Princess Diana. One of the highlights is the dress collection. Some of the dresses are woth as much as $250,000.In fact the auction which Cristies Auction house hels in New York at the time Princess Diana aution off her dress and gowns raised a totoal of 5 million dollars. It is truly a remarkable jesture for a Princess who was adored by the world. Today her sons have kept the tradition of helping the less fortunate by caring on their Mothers work.
There are other tours aboard the Queen Mary, some of which are Ghoast and Legends, The Glory Days and the Scorpion Submarine, a Russian submarine. The Queen Mary is located in Long Beach, California at 1126 Queens Highway. For more information call 877-872-6628

El Recon Criollo Celebrates Cuban Style By Pete Allman

The El Rincon Criollo Restaurant has served the community of Culver City for 45 years. Leo Hernandez, the owner has kept the family tradition, celebrating the lifestyle of Havana, Cuba, with colorful paintings and decorations which are uplifting and give patrons the feeling of being in Havana. The real treat here is the quality of cuisine and the friendly service.

Time for a journey to Havana ,Cuba.. Cuban and Spanish cuisine has a distinct flavor that's spicy, yet so flavorful. Of course, not all the dishes are spicy. In any event I suggest these dishes which my associate, Alex Ayzin, a business broker enjoyed.

Beginning with the appetizers [Aperitivos] the Yucca in garlic sauce is wonderful and the Ham Croquettes [Crouquetas De Jamon]  served with  crispy banana chips is also very tasty.
If your so inclined to enjoy soups, try the  Fish Soup [Sopas Del Dia], which consist of Halibut and ingredients imported from Havana ,Cuba. The Chicken Soup, Black Bean Soup, Seafood Soup and Beef and Vegetable Soup are also sure treats for the palate..

Main entrees for the evening were  Grilled Salmon, [Filete De Salmon] marinated in the chefs own sauce and the Cuban Style Roast Pork, [Lechon Asada]. This dish consisted of shredded pork with onions and sauces.

I must confess, the  beverages  at this establishment are wonderful. The majority are prepared fresh.
Mango, Papaya, Guava, Guanabana, Strawberry, Pineapple, Mamey, Coconut Banana and Chocolate have a great taste, I know, I tried a sample of each . Oh, I must not forget their deserts. The Flan and Cuban cake are to die for.


There's a vast selection of chicken, pork and beef entrees. I would highly recommend checking out the menu at www.bestcubanfood.com or call [310] 397-9295. The hours of operation are 11am-10pm daily.
Celebrity Scene News awards 4 stars for authentic Cuban cuisine and friendly service.

Jamaica Bay Inn's Beachhouse Restaurant-Smashingly Great By Pete Allman

Marina del Rey on Memorial Day is a sight to behold. Why, folks from all over Southern California enjoyed taking to the water, sailing and delighting in some great food choices.

The Beachouse, which is located inside the Jamaica Bay Inn has a scenic view of its beaches, with a nice warm summer breeze. On this occasion, my associate Alex Ayzin who is a business broker had a chance to talk to me about his buyers looking for businesses. Ah, but not without some cocktails and fabulous cuisine established by Exexcutive Chef Allyson Thurber.

First I would suggest Mothers Beach Mai-Tai. It's mixed with Rum, Peach Schnapps, Orange Juice, Cranberry and Pineapple. Alex Ayzin enjoyed the Beachside Margarita, prepared with Tequila, Triple Sec, Sweet and Sour and Lime Juice.. Wow, what a nice way to relax and take care of some business.

When it comes to food, my eyes are bigger then my stomach. I did however manage to devour all the goodies before the afternoon ended. The Sweet Potato Waffle Cut Fries were delicious and the Tempura Fish Tacos were excellent. You can always count on having a fresh selection of fish at the Beachside. Other selections included Bourbon BBQ Baby Back Ribs and Cheese Burger Sliders. The sliders consist of Truffle mayo, crispy bacon and white cheddar. The Ahi Tuna Tartare with marinated  sweet onion and wasabi tobiko with won ton chips were also just as delicious as the Cheese Burger Sliders.

With a little room for desert, there's always a nice selection of Key Lime of sorts. That's the way to end a business meeting and go for a stroll down to the beach.

The happy hour starts at 3:30pm until 7pm daily. Items on the Happy Hour menu are a mere $4.00 to $8.50, with well brand cocktails at $4.00 and specialty Cocktails at $6.00. House wines are $5.00 and the draft beers are $4.00.

The Beachside is located on 14160 Palawan Way in Marina del Rey. Stop by or call for your special event at [310] 439-3033. Tell them Pete Allman sent ya!

Casa Sanchez Mexican Restaurant-Elegant Cuisine and Fabulous Entertainment

By Pete Allman

Los Angeles probably has more Mexican restaurants than any city in the United States. However, Casa Sanchez is certainly the Gem if you will, of all the restaurants I’ve written about that specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine.

The success story of Casa Sanchez begins with its visionary Mr. Raul. Sanchez, who planned for years to provide a supper club with top Mariachi entertainment and a diverse selection of South of the Border cuisine. He did. just that, and used his family recipes which are handed down by generations. This establishment is a family operation, which is very passionate about their cuisine and entertainment.

Casa Sanchez has an elegant entrance, with wrought iron ornaments, beautiful reminant rugs and elegant appointed chairs and tables. The main dining room is complemented with original paintings throughout the dining area, some of which are well noted Mexican historical figures.

My guests for this evening were Tom Hallick, who formerly starred on The Young and Restless as Brad Garret and his wife Yin Jiang, a concert violinist with Andrea Bocelli.

Roberto Chavez, the general manager, a very congenial fellow, greeted us with various appetizers to begin our dining adventure. Scallop and shrimp Ceviche was the first to be served. It serves its purpose in wetting the palate with a citrus fruit base. An excellent choice.

The Sanchez Platter, our second appetizer, consisted of bacon wrapped shrimp, brochetas, calamari, breaded shrimp, quesadillas and chicken taquitos. There is also a vegetarian appetizer, the Quesadilla Vegetariana. All three were exceptional, prepared with roasted green bell pepper, corn, tomatoes, green onions and cilantro served in a tomato sauce. Ah, that was the start of a beautiful evening.

The main entrees served were the Chamorro de Puerco, which is prepared with a baked pork shank served in a bed of white rice. An excellent selection. However the signature dish everyone loves is the  Salmon al Tequila, prepared with grilled salmon with tequila, lime and sautéed shrimp, served with rice and vegetables. This dish has the salmon wrapped in a corn husk to retain the flavor.

Yin Jiang enjoyed the Sole Fish Fillet. The sole fish is stuffed with mushrooms, pico de gallo and cotija cheese in a bed of cilantro, habanero pesto sauce and  garnished with shrimp, complemented with rice and vegetables. Tom Hallick ordered the Rib Eye Steak Bone, which is prepared with a port wine and served with steamed vegetables and spicy chipotle mashed potatoes.

During our dining journey, their where three shows featuring Voces de Mexico. The quality of music here was superb, not to mention their lead singer, Melinda Salcido, who received a Grammy in January when she was performing with The Mariachi Divas.

This was a most enjoyable evening and as Tom Hallick states, "this is the best time I've had in years."  

The Voces de Mexico Mariachi are some of the best musicians I've heard.  The show in itself is production, featuring dancers and a full violin section, with a trumpet section and Spanish guitars.

Returning to our dining engagement, our farewell to the evening consisted with an after-dinner drink and some wonderful deserts. The Tres Leche cake, a very popular desert of Mexico is prepared with egg yokes, baking powder, evaporated milk, condensed milk, vaniila and sugar with maraschino cherries. The Flan is prepared with sugar, caramel, eggs, and some milk. Both these deserts are just right and not so rich like those heavy chocolate cakes. I must say however the Glazed churros were also very good.

During the evening of entertainment, I had the pleasure of introducing Voces de Mexico Mariachi, then having the audience show their appreciation for Melinda Salcido's superb performance of "At Last." As an added attraction, I introduced Tom Hallick, singing "My Way." It was a pleasant way to end our main dining experience.

Casa Sanchez is located on 4500 Centinela Avenue. Hours of operation are from 5-10 Monday-Wednesday, 5-midnight on Friday and Saturday and 4-11pm on Sunday. For anniversaries, or any particular occasion call 310-397-9999.

Celebrity Scene News awards 5 stars to Casa Sanchez for their authentic Mexican cuisine and a wonderful evening of entertainment. Tell them Pete Allman referred you.

How To Tell if A Restaurant Is Good By Pete Allman

Many restaurants appear to be hip and flashy. that however doesn't mean they have good cuisine or clean kitchens, not to mention the service. Most people read Yelp to see what the reviews are. Yelp is a good gauge to know if a restaurant is overpriced and what their cuisine is like.

Let's be specific here. By going on a web site, you can get a good idea about the caliber restaurant you want to visit. that doesn't mean the kitchen is clean, nor does it mean the chefs use the finest ingredients. The way to really tell what a true restaurant is, is by visiting the restaurant and checking out their bathrooms, ask to take a look at the kitchen and meet the chef to find out if he or she uses natural foods in the preperation of their cuisine.

Some of the best restaurants, as far as great tasting cuisine may be hole in the walls. The food however may be out of this world.

The essence of time dining, one must remember, is to look for excellent service, a friendly environment, cleanness and a chef who takes pride in serving top quality cuisine.

Spend the time to conduct your search for excellent restaurants and you'll thank yourself for a quality evening of delightful cuisine.

The Counter Adds Variety To Overpriced Burgers

Marina del Rey is noted for some excellent dining spots such as The Cast and Plow at the Ritz Carlton,  The Beachhouse at the Jamaica Bay Inn, The Del Rey and Killer Shrimp, to mention a few.

One place, The Counter, a chain of burger restaurants is also located in Marina del Rey at Ralph's Shopping Center.  It's always packed and they have a fairly nice happy hour. Unfortunately, their burgers are overpriced. When I looked at the menu, I noticed the prices were $17.00 for a half pound hamburger which was not Black Angus. I wanted something different so I ordered the Buffalo burger.

Sorry to say it was dry and certainly not worth $17.00.  Good golly, I could buy an entire meal for that price.

On the other hand, some people aren't concerned about paying too much for a hamburger. In this case there's other choices such as The Ahi Burger,Vegetarian, Turkey and the classic Hamburger.  Better yet, if you're inclined, I'm sure there are franchises available. For more information call 310-399-8383.

Celebrity Scene News awards The Counter 2 stars.

Fast Food Not Necessarily Bad

By Pete Allman

There's been a lot of talk about fast food not being healthy.

That's true in some cases, however here are some great ways to get a quick bite and stay healthy.

Del Taco for example prepares their pinto beans fresh everyday. You can order the beans with a wrap or a burrito.

Since there not refried, you don't have to worry about too much oil in the food or added ingredients. De l Taco also serves dollar menues which are pretty good. Turkey tacos for one are lower in fat content, along with their fish tacos.

Mac Donalds, I know they're the so called junk food of the century, just happens to have a dollar menu that can give you the protein you're looking for. Take the hamburger for instance, just eat the meat and discard the bread. This way you're not dealing with the carbs. The same goes for their fish sandwiches and so forth.

Hokido, another fast food chain has asian food that doesn't have any Msg. Try the vegetables with brown rice. Although there is some salt added to the food, you'll find this cuisine pretty healthy.