by Terrance Mc Arthur

Put a pin in a map of Sanger on the intersection of Bethel and Jensen Avenues. Make it the center of a circle with a 1/4 mile radius. Inside that circle, you will find at least fourteen restaurants and places to eat. I have reviewed many of them in other Great Food Search articles. A few places are new, or ones I’ve missed in the past. Therefore, let me introduce…

Baskin Robbins—775 S. Bethel Ave. Ste. 104, Sanger—The 31-derful world of ice cream recently set up near the Sanger Walmart. There’s a sweet mural that features Sanger scenes. A Snickers Ice Cream Shake had a peanut-buttery tang. I ordered up a Banana Split with a scoop of Frosted Strawberry Toaster Treat (Strawberry syrup), Triple Mango (Caramel Topping), and Oreo ice cream (Hot Fudge). Added whipped cream, Maraschino Cherries, and chopped Walnuts. By the time I reached home, the cherries and toppings had a sliding contest. Ii looked messy, but OH! It was good. I shared it with my wife, and she now demands the Mango flavor.

Healthy Blendz—2570 Jensen Ave., Sanger—It used to be a medical testing lab, but it has become a dairy-free smoothie bar. Behind the counter, Salvador, the owner, a cross between fitness icon Jack La Lanne and a medieval alchemist, dispenses concoctions of fruit, aloe, and ice, along with nutritional information. My pomegranate potion perked up my morning. The shop also dispenses protein bowls and killer waffles. It’s a wonderland of healthy living. You never know what you’ll learn until you try it.

Mi Mundo de Sabores—2665 Jensen Ave., Sanger—Sharing a building with the new location of the testing lab, Mi Mundo de Sabores (which translates from the Spanish as “My World of Flavors”) has a wall-full of menu items, treats that have a world-culture leaning. From ice cream (scooped or rolled) to French crepes, Asian bubble tea to Mexican spicy corn, the list of possibilities is staggering. I had a carrot juice that was the liquid version of my mother’s carrot salad (sweet memories), and a Nutella Crepe with whipped cream, Strawberries and Cream, and Granola. That was something!

Round Table Pizza—775 S. Bethel Ave. Ste 108, Sanger—When Sanger’s Jamba Juice moved across town, people wondered what would take its place. Lo and behold, Round Table Pizza has taken up residence. It’s a small storefront, so the focus is on takeout, with only a few tables available. The Italian Garlic Supreme is loaded with colors and flavors. Pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, olives, green onions, and tomatoes (I have a tomatophobe in my family, so I went without them) vie for space on a puffy crust with a golly-gee garlic sauce. I added Garlic Twists on the side (and a Blue Cheese dipping sauce) That was good!

The Verdict—This little corner of Sanger is a food haven in a nutshell, but which of these eateries should I choose? For me, it came down to “Which one felt the most sinful?” My answer: Baskin Robbins. The Banana Split and the milkshake topped the guilty pleasure charts, and I don’t care who knows it!

Happy eating!

Check out more food articles and more of Terrance’s Great Food Search column in our Food Fun section. And check out a KRL staff profile this week on Terrance!

Terrance V. Mc Arthur worked for the Fresno County Public Library for three decades. He is retired, but not retiring. A storyteller, puppeteer, writer, actor, magician, basketmaker, and all-around interesting person, his goal is to make life more unusual for everyone he meets.