Citizen CANE: Logan's Candy

Keeping area dentists in business for the last eighty years, Logan's Candies (est. 1933) is definitely the sweetest part of downtown Ontario, CA.  Logan's is the destination for dipped chocolates, seasonal sweets, and old-timey candies of all sorts (allsorts included) all year long.  Although, the store really comes to life at Christmastime with those sticky-sweet stars of the season - CANDY CANES! 

Unlike dense, artificially-flavored, mass-produced, store-bought candy canes, Logan's candy canes are crisp, airy, delicate, delicious, and hand-pulled.  For years we've talked about attending the evening candy-cane-making demonstrations offered during the holidays, but this was our first trip to see the magic, mystery, and meaning behind Logan's special brand of candy canes.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT!!!

The wacky tacky adventure team didn't even wait for the demonstrations

or free samples; Jesse, Mary, and Emily dove right in sour gummy-peaches,

chocolate truffles, and almond clusters.  I seriously had to make like Mrs. 

Gloop and tell all these Augustuses to "save some room for later!"

Logan's has a signature stripe pattern on their canes that has not changed since day one.  It was a thrill to watch the masters at work and see a blob of molten, caramel-colored sugar transformed into 400 crooks of minty deliciousness!

 

This was my favorite part of the demonstration.
To create samples, a length of warm candy cane
is placed in a press, removed in a rope, and whipped
against the marble counter.  Voila, perfectly-
sized, pillow-shaped candy cane tasters!

Ever the holiday-enthusiast, Emily was inspired by the samples
to don her festive, if altogether-mismatched, candy cane antlers!

Emily wasn't the only one getting in on the act; we were allowed to bend a couple of canes that were hot off the press!

We made a "W" and a "T" for "wacky tacky."

The "W" also doubles as an "M" for "Mr. Tiny" - how very handy!

Owing their shape in no doubt to my crazy grill, my lips 

can only be described by one immortal word - "Rosebud."

A warm and wacky tacky, "Thanks" to the great folks at Logan's Candies for their delectable holiday tradition!  Please be sure to visit Logan's for all of your candy needs.  Their bending genius isn't limited to candy canes; they make Stars of David, clovers, Easter baskets, hearts, and more!

Do you fancy yourself a "Citizen Cane?"  Have you ever played a candy cane bender, if only for a day?  Is there a candy store specialty in your neighborhood without which you just can't imagine enjoying the holidays?  However you celebrate, we hope your holiday season is as sweet as Logan's beautiful candy canes!

Logan's Candies
125 W B St
Ontario, CA
(909)984-5410

www.loganscandies.com


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Chow Time: Ramon's Cactus Patch

Ramon's Cactus Patch is a family run restaurant that has been serving the people of Ontario and the surrounding environs for 75 years - that is a long time by any standard.  Given its age, one might expect time-honored recipes rich in flavor and authenticity.  That is not quite the case at Ramon's; it is more the kind of eatery where the garnish is iceberg and the queso, Velveeta.  I am not an authority on Mexican food and I certainly couldn't describe the culinary variances from state to state, but I must say that Ramon's seems more reflective of Depression-era practicality and economy rather than the genuine flavors of old Mexico.

The Cactus Patch

I know, that doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement, but stay with me.  The food may be more like the kind that my abuelita (of Swiss extraction by way of East Canton, Ohio) used to make, but that isn't to say that the food isn't tasty.  I particularly liked the chips and salsa.  We actually went to Ramon's based on the hearty testimonials of two friends, both of whom grew up in the area, and one of whom had parents eating there the very night we went.  I think nostalgia played a big part in their recommendation as the online reviews vary greatly and are particularly favorable when the source is a patron who was "raised on Ramon's."  As is the case with most wacky tacky eateries, the food is only a small portion of the appeal and from the looks of it, everything was coming up succulents at the Cactus Patch!

Ramon's Cactus Patch is housed in, of all the things, a house!!
 The homey appeal was definitely there and the staff was warm and inviting.

Originally opened in 1937 in downtown Ontario's Orange Hotel, Ramon's Cactus Patch found its current home in 1962.  We stepped through the front door and immediately I noticed that the interior was nothing but wall-to-wall wacky tacky works of art; Ramon's was already becoming a hit in my book!

But really...you had me at glitter ceiling!!!

Further evidence that RCP was once a residence is the
beautiful Living Room that is used for additional dining
space.  Don't you love the fireplace and the exposed
 beams?  That, plus a commercial kitchen...I'm ready to move in!

If you needed any more proof that RCP was a home, go wash your hands in the restroom.
It is still fully outfitted with a bathtub.  Just in case you were overcome with the mad desire
 to strip down and get clean, the management has covered the tub to keep you from
 embarrassing yourself in public.

I love that "Common decency" supercedes "State law."
I wish the people I work with would get decent!!!
 Fortunately, I'm not in the food service industry.

Now that our hands were clean, we could get down to the grubbin'.

Bob and the RCP menu.  He was so happy with the chicken taco he ordered,
 that I missed the opportunity to get a picture.  Apparently, the beef taco is
 a burger patty in a taco shell - I didn't find that out until after we had ordered!!!

Cheese Enchilada

Combo Burrito

Tostada

I really liked the dishes - not so much the food, as the actual serving pieces

RCP really did feel like going to grandma's for dinner.
It definitely had a timeless quality to it, which is reflected in this clock
 that read 1:50 and I know we were there at about 7:30!

In the end, I really liked Ramon's Cactus Patch.  I love places that have served a community for so long that they have become institutions and rich sources of nostalgia.  Again, the food was definitely not the best I've ever tasted, but it did a body good to sit in a home and enjoy the same hearty food that has been faithfully served to generations of happy families.  If you're ever in the area, you should stop in and grab a bite - especially if you've got a hankering for some Velveeta!

Ramon's Cactus Patch
647 W California St
Ontario, CA
(909)984-3130




Cheers & Buen Provecho!

Mr. Tiny

Signs of the Times: Carl's Acres of Trailers

Every once in a while, on one of our adventures, we see a sign on the side of the road that has us risking the health and well-being of every person on the road who has the misfortunate of driving in our general vicinity as we slam on the brakes and cut across three lanes of traffic just so we can take a photo.  This was the case on a recent jaunt to Ontario, CA.  Carl's Acres of Trailers has a nice sign, slightly reminiscent of Big Tex, and we couldn't help but capture Cowboy Carl as the late afternoon sun began to set over his acres of trailers.  I especially liked the little bonus Coleman sign allowing me to choose my adventure.  Recognizing that I had chosen Ontario, I realized that I need to revisit my definition of the word "adventure."

Carl's Acres of Trailers - Ontario, CA
Coleman Choose Your Adventure

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Chow Time: Vince's Spaghetti

Vince's Spaghetti - the Original (est. 1945)
(photo by Bea White)

Where have all of the spaghetti joints gone?  In a world (or region, at least) overrun with Italian restaurants, why is it so hard to find an inexpensive, hearty spaghetti dinner.  Maybe spaghetti is too pedestrian.  Maybe most people feel they can make better spaghetti at home.  Maybe spaghetti can't find a home in one of the three categories which contemporary Italian restaurants seem to fall: pizza delivery, mediocre chain restaurant and hoity-toity trattoria.  There is a time and a place for each of these but I'm-a  hungry for-a spaghetti right-a now-a!  At Vince's Spaghetti in Ontario, CA, the namesake dish is inexpensive and hearty and is being twirled at the rate of 15,000 miles a year.

Vince's opening day 1945
photo by (Bea White)

Vince's started as a sandwich stand in 1945.  Spaghetti wasn't even on the radar until it fortuitously became a menu item and subsequently became the star of the show.  You will not find lasagna, fettucine alfredo, chicken cacciatore or many of the other items that you are likely to find on a standard-issue Italian-American menu.  In fact, the menu options are limited to noodle choice: spaghetti or mostaccioli and choice of sauce: marinara or meat.  Most dinners come with soup, bread and a green salad.  When I say "green salad," I mean green; while it was just a bowl of lettuce, it was surprisingly satisfying.  Diners can still order the original french dip or meatball sandwich.  The biggest surprise on the menu was that every item could be ordered with a "bowl of cheese."  The least surprising thing was that "bowl of cheese" was not a creative menu name it was a bowl of shredded provolone cheese.  In performing a quick scan of the surrounding tables I noticed that every table opted for the bowl of cheese.  We even saw people sprinkle it with grated parmesan; leave it to American diners to cheese their cheese!

The menu
(photo by Bea White)

Missing thought bubble - "Oh, boy, oh boy, oh boy,
oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy...SPAGHETTI!"
(photo by Bea White)

(photo by Bea White)

The dining room screams 50's spaghetti or at least "ciao!"
(photos by Bea White)

(photos by Bea White)

Vince's Bella Notte
(photo by Bea White)

Don't go to Vince's looking for fine dining, premiere service, romantic lighting or pasta primavera.   In fact, don't go unless you want spaghetti.  It seems like this would go without saying, but Mary had a particularly difficult time deciding what to order.  Her indecision upset our waitress who looked (and acted) like she had been slinging spaghetti for at least 40 years.  Go to Vince's when you want a spaghetti dinner that sticks to your ribs!

(photo by Bea White)

I know the obvious choice of video would be the spaghetti scene from Lady and the Tramp, but my favorite spaghetti scene is from I Love Lucy.  No matter how many times I see this episode I still laugh.  Although it has been edited out of this clip, I can't explain the joy I get every time Lucy orders her spaghetti with extra meat sauce - what a woman!

She doesn't start eating spaghetti until about 6:14 but it is worth the wait!

The Original Vince's Spaghetti
1206 West Holt Blvd.
Ontario, CA
(909)986-7074

vincesspaghettirestaurant.com


Cheers & Buon Appetito!

Mr. Tiny