Kristin's blog

I love Mexican food, and I love to try new off the wall Mexican food places. I classify Senor Fresh as "Off the wall" because of their eclectic variety and spins on Mexican cuisine. For instance, the pesto chicken burrito. It contains pesto (natch), snow peas (yeah...snow peas!), chicken and some other goodness wrapped in a pesto tortilla. It is such a strange combo but it works impeccably well!

Everything I have tried there has been excellent. Unfortunately, they charge for chips but, their portions are certainly large enough that the chips really aren't necessary anyway, and I can imagine it keeps their overhead lower which is a must renting any building downtown!

I believe it is the owner that usually helps me, he is super friendly and always comes over and asks how the food is. I like that, it shows he cares.

After the HORRIBLE dining experience I had at La Morenita on Coffee road a couple weeks ago, it is nice to know that good service and quality food does still exist in this town.

So if you're looking for something different, I truly suggest Senor Fresh!

Wow. let me tell you about the absolute WORST dining experience of my life!

I have eaten at La Morenita in the past, as I have lived in Modesto my whole life. The food is pretty good, and the service was okay as far as I can remember.

But last week, my friends and I...about 14 of us and a few of their children, went there for one of our friends birthdays. She (the birthday girl) had made reservations earlier in the morning for 6:30 that evening. When I arrived, most of our party was already seated. After about 45 minutes of waiting, and seeing our server only one time, she finally came to take our order, Mind you, we didn't even order appetizers.

She was pleasant...at first.

After about another hour, we were all wondering where our food was. It was a busy night, no doubt due to it being graduation time for lots of area schools but, there was no excuse for the series of events that took place after we started questioning the length of our wait.

First, let me say that 9 of the 14 people at our table were either servers in the restaurant industry themselves or management or former management for a restaurant (myself included). So, we all sympathize with servers and the hard work, and good jobs they do...when they do good jobs that is...and I darn well tip 20% plus when it calls for it.

The first thing our server said to us (with instant bad attitude) was, well as you can see you're not my only table. In other words, the hour we waited for our food that still hadn't arrived didn't matter because we weren't her priority. No apology or a "It will be right out" etc..

That was the last time we even saw her (Until our final complaint at the end of the night). About 15 minutes later food finally started coming out.........one......bowl.....one....plate.....one piece at a time. All delivered by one petite young girl. All we could do was say "seriously? you are the only one delivering food to our table of 14 people?" I mean, we felt really bad for her. Our server didn't bring us one single thing, she had someone else do it!

By the third complaint, she flat out told us to NEVER come back!!

She never bothered with an apology, just excuse, after excuse, after excuse and rude comments.

After that comment from her, my Friends husband (also a server) made them call the owner at home.

We left NO TIPS and got 20% off out total.

I really left a lot out of the experience in this review but, let it be known, I have never witnessed such blatant BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE in my life at a restaurant, and I managed a restaurant for 8 years, so I know what GOOD customer service is.

La Morenita doesn't have it anymore, and they lost 14 customers (plus everyone we tell) in one night!

I'd give them one star for their Mango margaritas. That is all they have going for them anymore.

if you didn't already know, the International House of pancakes is on fire. The fire started after 9 a.m. this morning, and is still being battled...currently 11:34 a.m.

I can't help but wonder if the pancakes made it out safely. I'm told the humans did.

The news is out, and so is Doogie, Yes, Neil patrick harris has come out. The doctor I pictured as I practiced making out to my pillow when I was a kid is gay. Was his White Castle prformance nothing more than a roos? He would prefer to do his cocaine on the roof of a camry with a naked man rather than a woman?

I have no chance with him now do I?
I am crushed.

Okay, so this is already old news and all but I have been very busy. (Sorry Rube)...

A Review:

The Stanislaus County Fair hosted concert headliner Huey Lewis and the News last week. The concert which featured opening act Paul Thorn, was attended by people of all walks of life. Although I am not familiar with Mr. Thorn, I did recognize a couple songs he played. I wasn't completely unimpressed with Thorn in fact I am always impressed by senior citezens who can still boogie down with a guitar and a mic. I also became keenly aware of the lady several rows ahead of us flailing her arms about and stumbling numerous times. Was she really that entranced by Thorn or had she had one too many alcoholic beverages? We may never know.My fiance Ryan on the other hand, lost interest in Thorn immediately and exited twice for beer. We also played a round of tic-tac-toe on my reporters notebook. We were after all there for Huey.
The 56-year-old Lewis (Real name Hugh Cregg III) entered the stage looking smallish. Perhaps it was our seats in the very back row that had something to do with it or perhaps he is simply shrinking with age. I ran up to the front row and planted myself on the cement divider for my debut as mega concert photog. I have to admit crouching just a few feet directly under Lewis who sang right to my camera several times, was kinda cool and he looked much bigger close up. The crowd was wild! Middle aged women everywhere seem to adore his slick looks, his style and trademark black glasses while people my age love and appreciate his association with the amazing Back To The Future trilogy. Whatever the reason people were there to see the show, they didn't leave without smiles.
Once I was back in the nosebleed section of the arena, I was able to sit back and really enjoy the show.
He played everything I expected him to. "Heart and Soul", "Heart of Rock N' Roll", "Doin' It All For My Baby" and of course my favorite, "I Wanna New Drug" . Actually, just give me a vile of Huey Lewis and i think I'd be set! He can still put on an amazing show. I mean, he's just a year younger than my dad and I see no similarity in the energy department.
Finally toward the end of the show he announced, "You know, I contemplated not showing up because I'm losing my voice." Funny, I would never have known had he not said that. The crowd didn't seem to notice either. After saying goodbye the crowd flipped out. As most good concerts go, everyone wants an encore. Everyone started chanting H-U-E-Y, H-U-E-Y! It was getting to the point where I didn't think he was coming back, which I'm sure if his throat hurt as bad as he said it did, he didn't want to. Several minutes later, he came back anyway.
"I had an amazing epiphany," said Lewis. "Not only can I not sing, but I can't talk!" Raspy voice or not he belted out "Back In Time", the power ballad of Back To The Future. Finally he ended the show with "Do You Beleive In Love" and it was over.

Over all I give the show an 8 out of 10...or two thumbs up...or 5 stars.

Kristin :)

I woke up one year older yesterday. Now I can rent a car, which means I must be 25. My entourage numbering 14 and I dined at Galleto where I was able to put to good use the salsa skills I picked up earlier in the day during the media luncheon at the Stanislaus County Fair (missed you there Ruben, but Daniel is fun too). When the band played a spanish rendition of "happy Birthday", I was dragged onto the dancefloor in front of roughly 100 people and yes, I proceded to demonstrate my new skill...The Salsa! Okay, let's just say I would never have done it if I wasn't already three drinks into the night. It made for a great photo though!
My group soon dwindled to six and we headed across the street to Tresetti's for some more cocktails and of course shots (Kudo's to my friend Heidi for hanging as long as she did -- she's 4 1/2 months pregnant, no she didn't drink!)! I ran into my friend Scott who decided I wasn't drunk enough so, he bought me a shot and another...after several more tasty beverages which included the strongest Long Island Iced Tea I have ever consumed, I was three sheets to the wind--make that four!
Just then a walking street band entered the nearly vacant bar and asked if they could play us some songs. Now I say walking street band literally because, they are a band who walks downtown and plays at various bars. How interesting i thought, this would make a great story. I found the nearest pen and paper and proceded to interview their singer. Apparently massive quantities of alcohol have little effect on the reporter in me. I only wish you could see what I wrote-- let's just say I can barely read it. I will sum it up for you by writing exactly what is on the 3x5 sheet of paper :

I think the folling was one long quote "Various friends walk into a various place 3 or 4 singer song writers will yell out the keys" and then it says; street lamp tour. Thursday. another quote, "We all jam together at the Cow Track Bar(ie; a bar in Oakdale that Kristin puked in front of one time)and then I wrote 52 week club. 52week.com--Matt Smith and the back reads: "a conglomeration of people," said Smith.

So decipher that rubbish and I might have a 100 word article, but probably not. You've heard of drunk dialing? I'm coining the term "drunk reporting". I told them I was from Modesto Famous.com...I thought you would appreciate the publicity Rube!

Anyway, I had a fantastic birthday and yes...I puked in a gutter on the way home...Oakdale Road I think--It's all a blur...

--Kristin

Hello all! I have been a member of Modesto Famous well...since it started. I however, have yet to write a blog. Yes, periodically I respond to Ruben aka: Mojo's banter..(don't worry Rube, I love your banter!) but that's about it. So after receiving one of his eagerly anticipated telephone calls testerday I decided to introduce myself to the rest of you Modesto Famous lovers and tell you all why you have found the best local forum on the net!
Well to sum me up, I will be 25 tomorrow...(I feel old let me tell ya)! Time flies when you're living life. So, I met Ruben at MJC when we were on The Pirates Log together...several semesters later, I finally got my journalism AA and now I write for the Stanislaus County farm Bureau's weekly newspaper, The Stanislaus Farm News. Next year I hope to take my writing skills to the city by the bay for some extended education aka: my bachelors degree in journalism from SFSU. So that brings me to my next topic.The Stanislaus County fair.
Since I work for the Farm Bureau, I will be at the fair oh...like everyday! of course, my scope of articles is pretty much obligated to agriculture realted topics therefore, constricting my writing ceativity just a tad. So, I recruited myself to write a small review of the Huey Lewis concert for Modesto Famous this coming Monday so, that will be a welcome change from farm animals and vegetables!
Okay, now who's spouting banter? But hey, it's a blog right?
Look people, I just want to tell you all that Ruben is working his tail off to bring a voice to this community and I think he deserves a big round of applause--yes, you can clap now. The man has many life experiences to talk about and is one of the strongest, happiest and most intelligent people I know.

Modesto Famous can only grow from here, and hopefully if time allows, I will be a more frequent blogger!

Thanks for listening, Kristin ; )

Hello all! I have been a member of Modesto Famous well...since it started. I however, have yet to write a blog. Yes, periodically I respond to Ruben aka: Mojo's banter..(don't worry Rube, I love your banter!) but that's about it. So after receiving one of his eagerly anticipated telephone calls testerday I decided to introduce myself to the rest of you Modesto Famous lovers and tell you all why you have found the best local forum on the net!
Well to sum me up, I will be 25 tomorrow...(I feel old let me tell ya)! Time flies when you're living life. So, I met Ruben at MJC when we were on The Pirates Log together...several semesters later, I finally got my journalism AA and now I write for the Stanislaus County farm Bureau's weekly newspaper, The Stanislaus Farm News. Next year I hope to take my writing skills to the city by the bay for some extended education aka: my bachelors degree in journalism from SFSU. So that brings me to my next topic.The Stanislaus County fair.
Since I work for the Farm Bureau, I will be at the fair oh...like everyday! of course, my scope of articles is pretty much obligated to agriculture realted topics therefore, constricting my writing ceativity just a tad. So, I recruited myself to write a small review of the Huey Lewis concert for Modesto Famous this coming Monday so, that will be a welcome change from farm animals and vegetables!
Okay, now who's spouting banter? But hey, it's a blog right?
Look people, I just want to tell you all that Ruben is working his tail off to bring a voice to this community and I think he deserves a big round of applause--yes, you can clap now. The man has many life experiences to talk about and is one of the strongest, happiest and most intelligent people I know.

Modesto Famous can only grow from here, and hopefully if time allows, I will be a more frequent blogger!

Thanks for listening, Kristin ; )