Mother Goose Parade El Cajon

Is East County becoming more foodie friendly?

“BISTRO PROVES A TASTY ADDITION TO EAST COUNTY,” declared an online news site in the area.

Never mind that the restaurant isn’t in East County. The fact that the farm-to-table eatery had relocated a block west of La Mesa was seen by many as a new day in East County dining.

Terra chef and owner Jeff Rossman said people often ask him why he moved, as if he’s now on the culinary edge of the world.

His answer comes down to economics, space and a belief that there’s a hunger for quality eateries outside the usual orbit of hipsters and the urbane. He said his brisk business so far is proving him right.

“It’s been a great decision,” he said.

East County is known for a lot of things — its rodeos, its Mother Goose parades, its mountainside hamlets and unpretentious burbs. Locals acknowledge that cutting-edge dining isn’t one of them.

It’s always been more Chili’s country than Mille Fleurs.

“Culturally, we’re looked upon as hicksville,” said Santee Mayor Randy Voepel. “A lot of diners can’t imagine we have a lot of culinary expertise.”

But there are also signs that the region no longer lives by baby back ribs alone.

Restaurateurs and other experts say a broader mix of eateries, the expansion of high-end dining at local Indian gaming parlors and the emergence of a more sophisticated palate are raising the region’s game.

“Slowly, things are changing,” said Jim Phillips, executive chef at Barona Resort & Casino.

Barona, like the Sycuan and Viejas casinos, has been classing up its menus. All-you-can-eat buffets — a staple of any gaming outfit — are still around, but now operate next to high-end steakhouses and other restaurants run by seasoned professionals such as Phillips.

Mother Goose Parade in El Cajon kicks off Thanksgiving week | San ...

Annual Mother Goose Parade.

It’s the biggest parade in San Diego County, and is the “largest of its type west of the Mississippi,” according to the parade’s official website.

Each year, the entertainment cocktail spills down the streets of El Cajon on the Sunday before Thanksgiving under the banner of a new theme geared towards children. This year, the theme was “Storybook Friends.”

The parade first marched in 1947 after Thomas Wigton Jr. and a cast of businessmen organized the event as a “gift from the business community to the ‘Children of East County,’” according to about.com. It has been an autumn-time tradition ever since.

The three-mile parade has been known to attract upwards of 400,000 spectators, but Mother Goose isn’t what she used to be, having downgraded its extravagance due to budgetary reasons.

Despite the poor weather, the parade still had plenty of onlookers hugging the streets to enjoy ample entertainment.

The mother

Mother

Mother, a story

To mother, an anthology of mother verse

Mother, a cradle to hold me