We're cancelling Christmas Dinner at our house. Nobody likes to cook anymore. We have a nice gas range, two microwaves and a convection oven. We also have a Weber grill for outdoor cooking. They collect dust--all of them (except the microwave units.) On Christmas we like to wing it, go out exploring to see what's open.
Details below are subject to change without notice.
CENTRAL COASTPALM SPRINGS AREA
LOS ANGELES AREA
SACRAMENTO AREA
SAN DIEGO AREA
SAN FRANCISCO AREA
Our family eating out on Christmas:
After we survey the situation we do some heavy compromising in our efforts to pick a place where everyone is happy (not an easy task!) One year we found a restaurant open in Redondo Beach, a Chart House overlooking the ocean, where the wait was over 90 minutes. Little did we know that we'd be seated just as the sun set over the Pacific. The wait staff was tired & taxed, but trying hard to keep the faith. To avoid long waits we did research the next Christmas and discovered an El Torito Mexican Restaurant was open. Tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, rice & beans, plus margaritas all around made for a stomach-pleasing meal to satisfy all. Another year we ate at Buca di Beppo--it was the first year they were open for Christmas. The meal was pretty good, especially since none of us had to do any work in preparing it. The worse Christmas meal I ever had was in JFK Airport on Christmas Day. I was flying standby to Zurich, Switzerland and didn't get on the flight two days straight. A snow storm came and that made matters worse. After purchasing a bowl of chili in the restaurant, I watched some lady causing a commotion, collapsing to the ground and saying she got food poisoning. I sat there wondering if I'd be next. Fortunately only heartburn kicked in--and I got on the flight the very next day!