Udupi Palace - Artesia, CA

If they have Idli, I will always order it. I love these textured rice-saucers dunked in a steaming bowl of savory-sour sambar. The soup soaks into the soft grit, tomato-tang collaborating with the aftertaste-tang of fermented rice. 

There are too many temptations on this magnificent menu, but Masala Dosa seems like a must. Munch the mochi-crunch of the paper-thin pancake, best when coated with coconut chutney, or sambar, or both. Potato cubes are cooked to a soft mash and seasoned with more spices than I can ever discern. This mix is mild but rich, cumin and turmeric seem to stand out in my inexperienced taste. 

The Paneer Bhurji Dosa doubles as a breakfast burrito, the scrambled cheese finishing like eggs with aromatic onions. 

The Special Onion Rava Masala Dosa is super crispy, even more crunchy and light than the traditional dosa batter, a lattice-work of air bubbles from frying a combination of rice flour and cream of wheat. The onion and potato filling is similar to the dosa, but the shell has a texture and flavor-profile so different, it barely feels similar at all.  

Onions & Peas Uthapam is the perfect order for kids getting used to Indian food and adults who want a simply delicious dish. The onions and peas add both sweetness and savor to this fluffier, bottom-crunchy bread. Add sambar, and I dare say it's an Indian pizza. 

Do not eat here on days you need to be functional. The carb coma is so very real and so very worth it, but if you're working in any way, you will suffer severely. The food is all fresh and so undoubtedly and hopelessly delicious that you'll never stop eating until you can't cram another atom into your bulging belly. The worst part is that you don't even feel bad because despite being rich and flavorful, this food is surprisingly light, in a way that makes you rally enough to eat all the leftovers for your next meal, thus starting the cycle of coma and satiation all over again. Yes, it's all the way out in Artesia, but it's well worth the drive. Just try not to fall asleep in the car on your way home. 

Ry Poke Mart - Lomita

A Hawaiian poke place takes over the Sampa space. 

How does it measure up to the best pizza chef in Brazil? 

The Shoyu Tuna (not pictured) and Salmon Ponzu do not. Shoyu gets a little slimy, and the ponzu is a bit overwhelming. The salmon has a slightly fishy aftertaste, not helped by the acidity of the ponzu. 

My favorite so far is the spicy mayo-slathered Firecracker, and I love the Limu, which has a clean, mildly soy coating with the signature seaweed. They have both salmon and tuna options, and I usually opt for the tuna because it just goes better with the sauce. Sides include the standard seaweed salad, crab salad, pickled cucumber, etc. All are fine, just get your faves. 

There's an option for regular (previously frozen) or to upgrade to premium (never frozen) for a fee, though I'm not sure I see enough of a difference to pay. 

We're heartbroken at the loss of Sampa, but at least we have a high-caliber replacement. For poke in the South Bay, Ali'i has my vote and Jus' Poke has my heart. Ry is a close second, with the added benefit of being the best poke near work, but I do wish the sauces were a bit simpler. Sometimes there's so much stuff the base ingredient gets lost in the shuffle. Then again, the mixes are unique in a way that makes me crave their stuff specifically, so whatever they're doing, I think it's clearly working. 

Family Yosemite Trip - Day 3 - Yosemite Valley

My second trip to Yosemite, first real view of the valley. 

Tunnel View is iconic, almost as cool as the long middle-of-the-mountain tunnel that leads to it, a perfect preview of where we're about to go. 

The valley is wonderful, but the sun is hot, and the half-mile walk to Bridalveil Falls is all we do with the kids. 

Great photos and a view at the end, watching the water shift with the wind, blowing up and aside like...you guessed it, the sheer beauty of a veil. 

Another photo op at this tented rock, though the kids cared a lot more about the squirrels. 

It's a beautiful visit overall, a lovely lodge and a fantastic time with family. I think we'll be back very soon. 

Fish Camp General Store - Fish Camp, CA

My brother Chris is the strong silent type, but when he talks you better listen. Because he is sweet and smart and incredibly kind, but best of all he is witty. He is the best at uttering a single line that sums up an entire situation, and he does it again right here. 

" At places like this, the food is either incredible or really, really awful," or something along those lines. He's more articulate than I make him sound. 

It's a cabin-style, self-sufficient building, painted rustic red. The inside houses a few rows of staples and several shelves of ready-to-go's, items like candy, chips, and jerky. There's also a refrigerated section, best for a beverage, and we grab some ice cold beer. 

The deli counter is staffed by a smiling woman, slinging sandwiches and pizza made to order. This Turkey Sandwich is delicious, scalloped layers piled high on a fluffy roll, customized with banana peppers, mustard, and cheese. There would have been lettuce, but we skipped it in light of the cyclospora outbreak. 

The Pizza has sausage and mushroom, and it really hits the spot. Chewy crust, an impressively even distribution of toppings over a generous heaping of cheese. It's all made with care, and it comes through in the taste. 

At a place like this, the food is either incredible or really, really awful, and at this particular place the food is just fantastic.

Family Yosemite Trip - Day 2 - Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

Take a ride on the railroad if your kids are so inclined. The regular logger steam train will set you back $20 per child and $37 for each adult, but it's an hour of history in (gradual) motion as these heavy haulers are now repurposed for people. 

It chugs along at a crawl, taking you through the Sierra National Forest, a narrated one-hour trip with a brief break in between while they refill the water. 

Here's a view of the trees and a family that isn't mine. 

A lovely ride with the family and kids at a speed where those with motion sickness need not worry. Highly recommend for those with children who love trains. 

Jackalope's Bar & Grill - Tenaya Lodge - Fish Camp, CA

It's been a long drive so for the first night, it's room service in the room. 

It's all the same food from their one kid-friendly restaurant, bar and grill fare with a couple more dollars for the convenience. 

They do some pretty good burgers, like the Jackalope Burger, which has my favorite toppings; mushrooms and blue cheese. 

The Steakhouse Burger is fun as well - same patty topped with short rib and swiss, meat-on-meaty bliss.

The Spiral Noodles and Cheese from the kid's menu becomes a family favorite. It's a generous portion for any child, and my under-2 eats the entire thing every time. 

Lunch and dinner will do just fine, but avoid the breakfast buffet at all costs. A proper entree costs a little less, and the quality is so much better. The buffet eggs are so dry they taste like powder, and the only thing worth getting is the Belgian waffle because you make it yourself. 

Opt for a bowl of Steel-Cut Oatmeal if you're looking for something hot and simple. It's an even texture and comes with cinnamon, raisins, and brown sugar. 

The Lox & Bagel is a bigger plate with plenty of smoked salmon and my latest obsession; capers. Order an extra bagel and the salmon will serve two. 

Other items include a Philly Cheesesteak with beef that could be just a little less bland and dry. 

Pulled Pork Nachos are enough for two, no other orders needed, and are surprisingly delicious. The toppings cover the top layer of chips and drizzle down to the ones beneath, plenty of tender pulled pork and gooey queso to go around.

Jack's Buffalo Wings are best with basketball and beer. Plenty of flats and drums in a pound, and the sweet BBQ sauce is a good one. 

Casarecci Short Rib Pasta is a dinner entree and not one I would recommend. The ragu is watery and thin, not what I'd expect for something that's supposed to be slowly stewed.

The Mini Pizza is a kid-pleaser, 

but the Design-a-Cupcake is a disaster. The cupcakes fall apart when you pick them up so they are impossible to frost, and all you get is frosting and sprinkles so there's not much designing to be done. 

I liked it but I didn't love it, but no one loves the resort restaurant where they have to eat. Overall the food was at least fine, and the experience was quite positive overall. 

Family Yosemite Trip - Day 1 - Tenaya Lodge - Fish Camp, CA

Welcome to Tenaya Lodge. Tucked away in the fantastically-forested Fish Camp, I found the only resort I can stand to stay at. It's a nice one, luxury and comfort in a way that is not at all ostentatious. Check-in is inefficient as two receptionists serve a multiplex, so when an entire conference of people arrive all at once, they are wholly unprepared. The rooms aren't ready by check-in time, and half of them aren't assigned. But despite the obvious hiccups, the service you do get is good as the staff seem like they genuinely want to help. Bonus for the valets who got us our car in under five minutes every time. 

At least the reception area has chess while you wait. 

Our room is quite roomy and has a small balcony for watching birds and bats while we breathe in the warm mountain air. 

The one restaurant we can realistically eat at serves all-American fare. (More on that later). The ingredients are good, and they do prepare them properly. I wish they had more options, but this is par for the course when you're travelling with little kids. They do have other offerings, but the per-person rate of the barbecue "experience" doesn't price out when you have a kid who doesn't eat anything, and the pizza place is a long, sticky walk away. 

The pool situation is super, and every day we choose our own adventure between indoor and outdoor, both of which are heated. There's also a hot tub around every corner. 

The indoor pool plays movies in the evenings, and I must say, Lego Batman exceeded expectations. There's even a climbing wall and an archery range, and my favorite, the nightly roasting of marshmallows around the fire pit. The kiddos sure loved their first s'mores. 

Hiccups or not, we had a blast. This resort has a whole vibe, the kind where kids can kid and adults can adult, and everyone can coexist and co-mingle as they wish...right next to America's most beautiful national park.