Tuesday, August 31, 2010
And The War Has Changed In Iraq
“It must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President,” Mr. Obama said of restoring the battered U.S. economy, in a prime-time address Tuesday to mark the official end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq.
The speech was a calculated political risk designed to prove to supporters and opponents alike that the President is making good on his promise to “responsibly end” the U.S. mission in Iraq and is moving on to what matters most to American voters – jobs.
“Ending this war is not only in Iraq’s interest – it’s in our own. The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people,” Mr. Obama said of the $800-billion (U.S.), seven-year-old war that bitterly split the nation under its initiator, George W. Bush, and claimed more than 4,400 U.S. troops. “Now, it is time to turn the page.”
Still, with about 120,000 U.S. soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan and few signs Mr. Obama’s troop surge there is meeting with the success that Mr. Bush’s 2007 version did in Iraq, the President remains almost as consumed by foreign affairs as was his predecessor.
-With Thanks to the Globe & Mail
Has It Been A Week?
Next up we decided to share a plate of the hush puppies with crab and then the fois gras plates arrived. Can you just jump to heaven and call it good? Decided to bring on the Quarto Mac & Cheese with crab and Lisa had a big grin on her face. Who knew. From there we hit the one bump of the night, their Scallops. Yes, they were huge and lovely, but just because we requested the Cilantro be held, the dish should not have come out flavorless. But live and learn.
We had been pacing ourselves and up next was the cheese course and for that I selected the Roquefort and the Appenberg. Two very different cheeses and yet so nice together. I'll add some more info on the cheeses tomorrow. Finally, it was time for dessert and for this we opted to try the chocolate and peanut butter tart. Quite lovely and also there was the Lemon tart I took home and she took the Maple home - how was it Lisa? So we had a most enjoyable experience and I know this is short, but hey, the details are here. Cheers!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
This is a Test...
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Ticker...
The above picture shows Michael attempting to pray. OK, that did not work so how can he possibly show his appreciation for all the things brought forth to him such as being granted the opportunity to luncheon with Snowbear on Friday at Mother's or perhaps to actually see Snowbear again on Saturday at coffee. He must show his thanks to the greater force than him and we are not talking passing gas!Yes, yes Michael, I meant Clotted...woops, I mean Ticker, talk to the greater spirit and be thankful for the guidance that is brought to you and the understanding and the feeling of compassion. OK, so we tried to go for too much. We'll break it down. But one must have tolerance. Be glad to be with fellow faeries and enjoying coffee and the lovely sun!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Florabunda! It's a Parade!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Too Much Happening - Taking Break!
Catch up more tomorrow...ta ta for now!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Two-fer Tuesday
I have mentioned Michael many times in my postings and well, he is a friend that is a rare gem to be sure. Michael and I met up at Breitenbush Hot Springs years ago, my God, dare I say at least a decade ago and have been fast friends since. We laugh and cry and share all our dirty laundry. He is a true friend through and through. Hell, he has to be for me to tolerate Cabo for a week...who else but him. Some time ask me about bubbles and oh maybe a firework! (If he is reading this he knows exactly what I am talking about!). The one thing about Michael is he loves to travel and has been to Paris if you did not know. Lord knows we all should and he never fails to remind us at every turn.So today on his facebook account he shares a picture that I just had to post here. This is a picture he took in Salzburg, Austria in 1998 and I have to agree with his comment = YUM! He mentioned it was going to become his screen saver. Perfect. What a wonderful picture of summer without all that icky sun and such. This is pure happiness.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Mind The Gap Monday
So I kept puttering away at the stuff in my apartment and repositioning things to make it all work better. I have this coffee mug from London and when the handle shattered I could not part with it, but it is now my pen holder. Thus, every time I look for a pen or scissors or some such, I just "Mind the Gap." Alas, there are more than pens in there including a festive fluffy pink feather pen from some movie promotion and a nearly used up one from the Doris Day Animal Rescue Foundation. There are two pencils, one from an off-Broadway show - Pageant and the other hails from Kennedy School in Portland. Each items spurs a wonderful memory.There are two knives. The light handled one is the one that Grandma Schilling used to cut the fish when she did smelt fries for me and Dad plus Uncle Merritt when he was alive. Oh they were good and small to be sure. Mom and siblings never joined us and not sure why? But what they missed was a bit of heaven. The other knife, just behind the light handled one and in front of the Kennedy School pencil was her fruit knife that she used for years and years. It was also a letter opener for many years. Oh the things that we hold on to over the years. So there you go!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Markie Does Have An Eagle Eye!
So What Could Be In The Boxes?
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Walking on sunshine
No Room at the Inn (or Freezer)
Well, that all changed yesterday when I stopped by Savory Moment and picked up an order of food. This is the place in Redmond, WA that does some good stuff and I discovered and then they had to close for a major remodel and well, finally they are back open and offered a screaming deal for repeat customers and well, that would be me! Yes, I found a few things to put in the freezer as I am trying to eat better and not out so much...Can you say stuffed! Why yes it is. So what did I add to the freezer? Glad you asked, I have copied from their website for your reading pleasure:
MAIN COURSES
Enchilada Chicken (2 orders) - Boneless, skinless chicken seasoned with a unique blend of southwest spices. Grilled and served with our homemade black olive enchilada sauce and pepper jack cheese. (dairy packed on the side)
Grilled Chicken Breast w/Bruschetta Sauce (1 order) - Grilled chicken breast is served with bruschetta sauce featuring fire roasted and cherry tomatoes with plenty of fresh basil and garlic. Serve with pasta or slice chicken and serve on grilled bread for a quick and elegant appetizer. No known allergens.
Grilled Chicken with Orange Balsamic Glaze (4 orders and got 4 orders free!) - Grilled chicken breasts glazed with a sauce blending the sweet and tangy flavors of orange preserves and balasmic vinegar. Fresh rosemary and a blend of spices will make this a new family favorite. No known allergens.
Individual Muffuletta Sandwich (2 orders) - Delicious ciabatta bread is spread with olive salad made of chopped kalamata and green olives, marinated vegetables, fresh garlic and a little olive oil and then layered with thinly sliced turkey, black forest ham, Italian salami and provolone cheese. Great served hot or at room temperature. Heat and Eat
SIDE DISHES
Macaroni & Cheese (2 orders) - We use three different kinds of cheese to create a creamy and flavorful balance and top the pasta with crunchy breadcrumbs. (You might want to tell your kids this is pasta and cheese if they think Mac & Cheese must be bright orange and out of a box). (Allergens: Dairy & Wheat) Heat and Eat
Sundried Tomato & Asiago Mashed Potatoes (1 order) - Creamy mashed potatoes studded with bits of tangy sundried tomatoes and Asiago, Parmesan and Romano cheese. (contains dairy)
Carrot Souffle (2 orders) - This sweet side dish is one of our most requested. A great way to get kids to eat their veggies - they'll think it is dessert. (Allergens: Dairy, Eggs)
Stir-Fry Vegetables (2 orders) - A great mix of broccoli florets, sugar snap peas, baby cob corn, green beans, water chestnuts, red peppers, carrots and mushrooms are tossed in a light sauce of sesame oil, low-sodium soy sauce sweet chili sauce. You quickly stir-fry at home on your stove top for best results.
DESSERTS
Milk Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (1 order) - An all time favorite, this cookie dough is made with large milk chocolate chips imported from France and butter. Each pound will make 12-16 cookies (unless you eat the dough). (Contains: Dairy, eggs, soy and wheat)
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (1 order) - An all time favorite, this cookie dough is made with large semi-sweet chocolate chips imported from France and sweet cream butter. Each pound will make 12-16 cookies (unless you eat the dough).
Super Size Lemon & Cream Shortcake (1 order) - Special, all natural, preserves gives this cake a burst of tangy flavor that your taste buds won't believe. lemon is nestled amongst three scrumptious layers of the best shortcake you have every tasted, decorated with dairy fresh whipping cream. (serves 4-6) (Allergens: Dairy, Egg, Soy, Wheat)
Tomorrow night I am hosting Sandy, Jodie and Rob for dinner. Menu is going to be the Orange Balsamic Glazed Chicken with Carrot Souffle Add in some Sushi Rice from downstairs and some salad and poof all done. Oh and the Lemon and Cream Cake will be dessert. Tonight I am having Enchilada Chicken with Green Beans. Good times!
Friday, August 20, 2010
1,000 Words Indeed
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Moose and Mounties, Ah Yes, It's Canada!
Recently our dear brothers & sisters to the north hosted the winter Olympic games and they were amazing. One of the hottest selling items was the mitts you see here. I am lucky enough to call a set mine. They were like $10 and everyone bought them to show their pride. It was real cool. Canadian Pride is all around and it is important to see and feel it.
So recently Helene sent a message to me about all the Canadians and shared the following, "Oh, dear. Moose, maple syrup, maple leaf, eh, hockey, curling. The pantheon of Canadiana. In the Closing Ceremony, there were huge inflatable Moose and Mounties.Oh, Mounties are part of the pantheon, too." It is all around and so I have to share, I love, love, love, everything Canadian except when the true Canadians (in British Columbia) get behind the wheel and drive. Then they are hell on wheels. It is just crazy. But when the national anthem is sung - "Oh Canada..." I get chills and then there is walking around Whistler during American Thanksgiving. Totally cool. So there you go just an observation of the pride a country can have. It does not take a major holiday or a special event. It can just be. Right on Canada. I am so looking forward to my next visit.
Facebook and Faeries
Cliff Brock was my journalism teacher in high school and I really like the guy. He had quite an influence on me and I lost touch with him. Well, he and his wife now live in Tupelo, MS and he taught at colleges in Russia and China and was a president of a collage. Looking forward to seeing him for the first time in decades and meeting his wife Mig in November when I stop by during my Fall-B-Que Tour '10.
Bea Rynning-Tønnesen (formerly Couchman) has been a life long friend visiting me in NYC when I turned 30 and we have written letters back and forth for years and then emails and now we Skype each other. She has two lovely daughters and I guess one of them took the picture above. She looks almost as good as my Mom does. God I hope I age as well as they have.
Now why were faeries added to the post headline? Well the summer Breitenbush Gathering is going on as I type this and it is one of those events that marked the end of summer for me and told me I had made it through once more. I am not there this summer and in some ways I do miss it. I am an elder of sorts among the faeries and I have this way about me where I speak from a "loving heart space" and talk bluntly sometimes having to tell poor young things information they might not want to hear but must. Like the accessories they have chosen are all wrong. Or it might be telling some newbie that their walk is all wrong, but fear not I always am there to provide guidance. Thus, I realize the need to return to a gathering at Breitenbush in order to provide much needed elder sharing or as some might call it a good bitch slap! Have a good day and blessings to all!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Just Because I Love Grand Hotel Lobbies
First impressions are crucial. We all know that from first dates, but it also holds true with hotels. Forget boring reception desks, these lavish lobbies go beyond the norm, aiming to impress from first sight.
Donned in a classic ivory façade, the elegant exterior of Hotel Ritz Madrid is just an appetizer to the beauty that waits beyond the threshold. Constructed when King Alfonso XII helmed Spain, the lobby's royal heritage is as crystal clear as the chandelier hanging overhead. The polished marble floors, grand staircase and Corinthian-style pillars give its entrance a truly spectacular feel.
A perfect blend of 18th century style and 21st century comfort, the Charleston Place Hotel is famous for its classic charm and southern hospitality which greet guests upon entering the grand hotel's lobby. A magnificent 12-foot, 3,000-piece hand-blown Venetian chandelier, weighing in at 2.5 tons, in the centerpiece of the lobby, with two Georgian open-arm staircases surrounding it. A strategically-designed domed ceiling means that the lobby's acoustics allow guests to carry on a conversation in a faint whisper, even from opposite staircases. This same thing can be done at St. Paul's in London. I also know for a fact it can be done in the Artic Dome Room here in Seattle. Oh the cocktail trivia I have collected over the years.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tuesday The President and Seattle
Today President Obama arrives and will be heading to Pioneer Square to a bakery for a round table chat and then on to the Westin Hotel for a fundraiser for Patty Murphy who is running for re-election. Then back to Boeing field and off he goes as he continues his whirlwind 5 day trip to visit and help raise funds for candidates. It is all part of the process that has been accepted for years by both parties. Yet this year it has suddenly become a "burden on the taxpayer" for this to happen. Please share with me a President of memory who has not done this very thing. To try and make the current seat holder suddenly wrong is pretty sad, but folks are doing their best. It is getting tired and old all too quickly. Rather, I look at how this man has come into office and has been working hard for 18 months to try and fix some of the problems that his predecessors could not do and he has been successful. For that I am quite proud of late.
There is just something about seeing him walk off the plane that makes me happy to be an American. And heck, I like that feeling from time to time. So while traffic will be a nightmare this afternoon, it is just for a day and in fact a few hours. Then he'll be gone and we will talk about for a couple of days. I have to tell you that the impact he will cause in this city does not even come close to what happens in New York City when the President visits it. It is GRIDLOCK! Nasty! But here, in Seattle, I-5 will have a rolling close and traffic might get held up a half hour or so and then all's good. We have room to move. And the temps are going to be in the mid-80's, a perfect summer day for a visit by the President of the United States.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Tasmanian Devil
I know it's not fair to compare anyone to a cartoon, but the Tasmanian Devil and you have so much in common. Not the surly disposition obviously, but you both whirl into a room, appear just long enough for us to get a glimpse, and then off you go spinning to the next event. (I believe your schedule keeps you circling the area so fast that you are part of the gravitational force that keeps us on this planet.)
The character appeared in only five shorts before Warner Bros. Animation closed down in 1964, but marketing and television appearances later propelled the character to new popularity in the 1990s. Go figure I am as memorable as this character...and yes, I am laughing away. Good Night!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
A Times Square Aura for Pop-Tarts
Now the Pop-Tarts brand is demanding some attention for itself, and it is doing so with a store on one of the world’s most attention-grabbing stages, Times Square. Its promoters are calling it Pop-Tarts World. Inside, one can find a cafe selling Pop-Tarts “sushi,” an hourly light show that simulates the look of frosting, a create-your-own-variety-pack vending machine.
“People say, ‘Well, what can you really do with a Pop-Tart?’ ” said Scott Schoessel, chief operating officer of the Gigunda Group, a firm working on the project that specializes in so-called experiential marketing, or in-person events and activities. “Our chef was has come up with amazing concoctions.”
Pop-Tarts is joining other food brands, like M&M’s and Hershey, with stores near Times Square, where the focus is often less about sales than marketing and visibility.
“It’s a confluence of business, commerce, entertainment and the density of traffic,” said Laura Pomerantz, principal at PBS Real Estate. “The foot traffic is staggering.” The lease on the 3,200-square-foot shop, on the south side of 42nd Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway, runs through January, at which point executives will decide whether a store all about toaster pastries makes long-term sense. The focal point of the store, which opens Tuesday, is the cafe. It will serve about 30 snacks and desserts.
The menu includes the Fluffer Butter, marshmallow spread sandwiched between two Pop-Tarts frosted fudge pastries; the Sticky Cinna Munchies, cinnamon rolls topped with cream-cheese icing and chunks of Pop-Tarts cinnamon-roll variety; and Ants on a Log?, which is celery, peanut butter and chunks of the Wild Grape version. And then there’s the Pop-Tarts Sushi, three kinds of Pop-Tarts minced and then wrapped in a fruit roll-up. “We did an internal tasting here at the building, and it was the winner,” said Etienne Patout, senior director at the Pop-Tarts brand, part of the Kellogg Company.
Visitors can also build their own Pop-Tarts, starting with a basic pastry and asking servers to add frosting, toppings (coconut, sprinkles) and drizzle (caramel, raspberry). They can take their pastries frozen, toasted, microwaved or uncooked, but there will be no self-serve. “The D.I.Y. thing, just because of handling food, is not something we’re going to offer,” Mr. Patout said.
There is also a Varietizer, a custom-built vending machine that carries about 23 of the regular Pop-Tart flavors (seasonal offerings, like pumpkin and gingerbread, are excluded for now). Customers use a touch screen to select six two-packs of the tarts for $12, assembling their own variety packs.
The store will put on a brief light show every hour. First, visitors will “get frosted,” Mr. Schoessel said, with a red light and a white light. That will be followed by brief pulses of light, “all different colors to mimic the sprinkles,” he said, “then another really bright light” to evoke wrapping the tarts in foil. Computer screens in a row at the side of the store provide access to PopTartsWorld.com, social media sites and Pop-Tarts video games, similar to Memory but with pastry icons. Consumers can also buy merchandise, and design their own shirt.
Kellogg’s said Pop-Tarts had been a strong performer in the most recent quarter, but its net sales were smaller than those of M&M’s and Hershey. In the last year, Kellogg’s sold $481 million worth of Pop-Tarts in mass United States stores (excluding Wal-Mart), according to market-research firm SymphonyIRI Group. Hershey sold $1.07 billion worth of candy, while M&M’s sold $753 million.
“Our long-term hope is to strengthen the bonding between the brand and the consumer, and that has great benefits for the brand,” Mr. Patout said. Pop-Tarts were introduced by Kellogg’s in 1964 to compete with a similar product from Post called Country Squares. The Kellogg’s version took off, in part because of its name, which reflected the growing Pop Art movement.
Just a presence in Times Square can help a company, said Richard Demb, a co-founder of Dale and Thomas Popcorn, which had a Times Square shop in the mid-2000s. “It was a way to project an image of growth and maturity,” said Mr. Demb, who left Dale and Thomas and is now co-founder of AbesMarket.com. “Rent is, obviously, more than it is in most other places, but there are opportunities in Times Square that you would not find anywhere else.”
Times Square is expensive real estate — between 44th and 46th streets, the rent is around $1,000 per square foot, said Ms. Pomerantz of PBS Real Estate, while it drops to $400 or so per square foot at 42nd street and south. “The billboards cost as much as the retail space,” said Faith Hope Consolo, chairwoman of the retail leasing and sales division at Prudential Douglas Elliman. “When Hershey’s first went into Times Square, they had a store that was about 150 feet, but they had a 100-foot sign. They wanted a billboard.”
There is no 100-foot sign, but Pop-Tarts is wrapping its 50-foot storefront in Pop-Tarts branding, and taking over the six-story billboard above the store. “It gives them a visibility that they can’t get anywhere else,” Ms. Consolo said. Many thanks to Stephanie Clifford of the NYTimes for this story and also a nod goes out to the NYDaily News for the picture.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Oh How We Love Our State Fair Food
Now, being a proud born-and-bred fair goer, I can assure you not everything hailing from the heartland is fried or fatty or life-shortening. It’s just novelty sandwiches are the thing right now, and Wisconsin, always atop the trends, is merely following suit. But what about those cheese curds?
Folks it is time to indulge in the Top 10:
Funnel Cakes
Deep-Fried Twinkies, Snickers & Coca-Cola
Corn Dogs w/ Mustard
Freshly Spun Cotton Candy
Chocolate covered watermelon on-a-stick
Alligator (breaded, deep fried and seasoned)
Buffalo burgers & Elk burgers
Fresh hand-twisted pretzels baked on site
Dippin Dots (super frozen pelletized ice cream confection)
Kettle korn style popcorn
Fabulous Surprises
I like doing surprises. Like giving things to people for no reason. Recently, Curtis has surprised me not once, but twice. Upon a return from Vancouver he gave me a set of 4 old fashion and 4 tall cocktail glasses that are a deep purple glass with white applied at the bottom that looks like snow. Thus, three of my favorite things = snow, the color purple plus glass as art! The other item was an amazing throw blanket he gave me yesterday that he got and it is from Korea I believe. It is cream colored on one side and purple on the other. It will come in handy this winter to be sure. Needless to say, I laughed as he gave this blanket to me on one of the hottest days of the year.
While in Houston I decided to surprise the ladies in the office with lunch on my final day. While the company had paid for lunch on Monday, I paid for Tuesday's and we all ate together. It was fun and the food came from a place called Teotihuacán Mexican Restaurant. Here, from it's website is a bit about Teotihuacán history:
Teotihuacán (Pronounced Te-o-tee-wa-can) was one of the most important religious sites in pre-Hispanic México and one of the greatest city of the Mesoamerican classic period. The name Teotihuacán was given by the Nahuatl-speaking Aztec centuries after the fall of the city.The term has been glossed as ‘birthplace of the gods,’ reflecting Nahua creation myths that took place in Teotihuacán. The metropolis covered 9 sq. mi., and is located about 25 miles north of modern-day Mexico City. The reconstructed Pyramid of the Sun stands at the center of the ruined city, rising more than 230 ft. above “La Calzada de los muertos” (The Avenue of the dead), which runs in front of it. At the end of the avenue is the smaller Pyramid of the Moon.
The Mexican Cuisine roots come from an Indian and Spanish mixture, the most evident sample of it are the “antojitos”. The Spaniards, who brought the beef, pork and chicken meat, the cream of milk and the cheese, liked very much the Mexican original food such as tortillas, beans, peppers, tomatoes, green tomatoes and aromatic herbs such as “epazote”, coriander (cilantro), and the “hoja santa”. The Mexican kitchen is very versatile. There are recipes and ingredients to excite all taste.Remember, just because you’ve had a “taco” or “enchilada” doesn’t mean you’ve experienced Mexican Food. It only means you’ve scratched the surface of this country’s traditional culinary delights.
I tried Chile Con Queso and it was not my cup of tea, but the rest were lovin' it. Had it with chips and it is best served warm. Many of the mixed platters are named after the owner's children and their offspring. I went with La Silvia which consisted of one cheese enchilada, one beef taco al carbón and one crispy chicken taco topped with lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. In full disclosure I think the 2nd item was the best of the three and there was also refried beans and rice. It was enough that I did not eat the rest of the day. The rest of the group had a variety of things from a Mexi-salad to nachos. A couple tried other mixed platters but I have slept since we dined and cannot remember all the details. It was fun and yet it only confirmed that Mexican is not my favorite especially when I had it twice in one week! Olé!
Kiss-In Saturday or V-J Day
On August 14th, 1945 hundreds of people gathered in the middle of Times Square with the ray of hope and excitement, with their eyes fixed on the Times Tower. Suddenly the words flashed on the news zipper: “OFFICIAL – TRUMAN ANNOUNCES JAPANESE SURRENDER.” At this Times Square busted into tears of joy and happiness.
Shortly after the announcement Alfred Eisenstaedt saw a sailor running along the street grabbing any and every girl in sight .Then suddenly, in a flash, he saw something white being grabbed. He turned around and captured the moment - the sailor kissed the nurse. This shot became a cultural icon overnight and 60 years after the fact, a world-famous kiss has been immortalized with a sculpture in New York's Times Square. Alfred Eisenstaedt was a German-American photographer and photojournalist. He is renowned for his ‘Out of the Blue’ photographs. He is best known for this photograph capturing the celebration of V-J Day. The photograph was originally published a week later in Life magazine.
August 14th, 1945 became a historical and memorable day for New York and from that day onwards every year New York celebrates this day as Kiss in Event in Times Square. Thousands of couples are invited every year from across the country on this event to renew this moment of joy and happiness.
This year, the Times Square Alliance is celebrating the kiss in Anniversary on Saturday August14th by inviting couples from all ages and from all walks of life for the smooch fest renewing the wonderful moment of hope and excitement. The Program will be sponsored by Maybelline. Doors are open from 10:00 am and the program starts at 11:00 a.m. The make-over of participant’s will be given by Maybelline’s professional artists making your lips ready for smooching. Professional photographers will be on-site to capture post-makeover shots of participants. This event will be organised at Military Island, at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Markie Is Quite the Host - Outback!
This is the convection oven complete with warming drawers below. I mean doesn't everyone have one on their back deck? Over to the right is a blue topped plastic storage bin holding charcoal. For what?
But of course the jumbo tron of side barrel smoker BBQ's of the deluxe variety. It has multiple "zones" to cook in. Seriously, the man does BBQ like nobodies business and was the singular inspiration for the upcoming Fall-B-Que Tour. You may see the Rib-eye's sitting there on the plate ready to hit the grill.
You may be wondering what is that scissor lift doing in his backyard? Well, it will soon be the new dining platform so that you can go up about 20' and have a bird's eye view of south Seattle and watch the planes a little closer as they take off and land at Sea-Tac. As hard as it is to consider, I do not plan on making a reservation at Markie's Sky Cafe!
No, I opt to stay on the ground and enjoy a beautiful table like the one you see. And indeed that is a mini TV that is smaller than the antenna for reception! But you know what, at least we can watch the news and enjoy an evening's breeze at the same time. In this picture you will note freshly baked onion rolls out of the oven to the left of the entertainment center and to the right is my new salad creation, a spin on Insalata Caprese by dumping basil and replacing with cucumber for a crunch that is quite enjoyable.
So I shall miss being there, but oh what wonderful times I have enjoyed many times over and hope to again. I did just jot off an email explaining why I was bowing out and in fact offered up my air conditioned apartment if they want to move the dinner here. We shall see. Cheers!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Sunflowers in the Summertime
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Lunching in Houston and a Postscript
How could you not love any place that serves their beverages in jars? This place reminds me of my childhood and every time I return, I get a sense of nostalgia. They are well known for their BBQ and chicken fried steaks. Today was my first go at the CFS and yes folks it is served on a pizza tray! I kid you not. On prior visits I have had the loaded potatoes and rib dinners plus awesome BBQ pulled pork. Fried Okra is screaming and I have to tell you the salad bar makes you feel like you have jumped back to the 60's and that is not really a bad thing.
So today we totally flipped and went for La Madeleine and the whole office joined in as we ordered via phone and picked up. I went for a favorite of mine and that is the Rosemary Chicken Caesar Salade. Also I added the Strawberries Romanoff that come with a brandy sour cream sauce. Can you just say HURT ME!
The rest of the office had soup, salads, one tried Tomato Basil Pesto Pasta Salade which is bowtie pasta with basil, Parmesan, spinach, pesto, green onions and sun-dried tomatoes in a garlic Caesar dressing. Lane had a Croque Monsieur that is a baked classic French ham sandwich with garlic cream sauce and Swiss. Another tried the Chicken Friand which is a puff pastry filled with chicken, mushrooms and béchamel sauce, topped with mushroom sauce. Is your mouth watering or what? I was able to get Elizabeth to go for Rosemary Rotisserie Chicken that is their signature dish of chicken with a rosemary herb blend and she got to try their mashed red skinned potatoes. Kayla brought up the rear with a Turkey Bistro Sandwich made with smoked turkey, crisp bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, melted provolone and sun-dried tomato pesto spread on a sun-dried tomato roll. It was a very good lunch.
So tonight I am enjoying some dogs from James Original Coney Island, a Houston institution dating to 1923. Nothing like kicking back, chilling out and enjoying some good dogs. But seriously, a moment that will live is the back of the utensil wrapper from Chuy's last night. Yes, look closely and you will see Protestant, Catholic and Jewish pre-dinner prayers. Yes folks, I am in Houston. It is right up there with the bible verse note cards on an Alaska First Class meal. Amen!
Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom
This is the first time that I have been to Chuy's where a meal was the focus. Every other time I have been to Chuy's in the past has always been for Happy Hour and the main focus has been drinking margarita's and eating chips and salsa. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
The atmosphere in this restaurant is very colorful, bright, and spacious. Inside, the restaurant is divided into a number of different rooms. One of the rooms is the bar area where they have numerous TV's along the walls showing various sports games. There is free chips and all kinds of fresh vegetable and bean dip served out of the back of a converted Chevy convertible at happy hour. You can eat well and cheaply in Houston! But we were seated in the hubcap room (yes, look up!). The pace of the evening was leisurely and no rush. They are there to let you have a fun night and not feel rushed.
It was hot outside but after a tall glass of water, quickly filled again, we settled in for a night of good food and a lot of conversation. The past several restaurant experiences seem to be going on epic in length as I have seen dinners sail past 2 hours and often hitting 3 hours, yet never seem that long!
When we was first seated in the restaurant, we were given a basket of tortilla chips and a bowl of green chili sauce and a bowl of salsa. The chips were very light and crispy, and are probably the best chips that I have eaten in a long time. For my main meal, I went with the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Enchiladas. This dish consisted of 2 chicken enchiladas refried beans and Mexican rice. The enchiladas were very tasty, and had a lot of white chicken meat inside of them.The green sauce that covered the enchilada sauce was very good, and a tiny bit spicy. Opted for the add-on taco and guacamole. Can you say YUM! Kayla opted for the Mexi-cobb salad and Chris went safe with Steak Fajita's. Margarita's were drink of choice for all.
Overall, it was a great experience capped off with an order of great Tres Leches and I would say Chuy's is one of the better TeX Mex restaurants in Houston.
Glad I had the chance to get here again. Tuesday I am treating the staff to lunch we will order in from a local favorite called La Madeleine, a French Country Cafe and oh their Rosemary Chicken is just awesome!
Oh yes, it is still hot and sticky and humid with heat index hitting 105, but hey, you still have to keep living...and oh I do!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday in Houston
About That Picture Frame
Now let's start heading back to the right as we have a stein from Expo '86 and a pin I got at a Blazer game back when people still referred to it as "Rip City" and a cocktail pin from Club 33, an exclusive restaurant at Disneyland. The chopstick comes from The Tonga Room which has sadly closed at The Fairmont hotel in San Francisco. An ice skate backs up to a Miss Piggy pin. Oh how I love her! And then we have an Eisenhower Dollar. Tiled a bit is a Rose Festival pin I got when I lived in Portland. There is a series of blocks with my initials of C W S. Another trio are the NYC subway tokens. Oh to remember those days! They no longer are used. Then the Brick pin is from when I bought a brick at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Yes, I am a sucker for a teddy bear. A couple more NY images brings us to the rebound point. The carved man came from Arkansas visit I did with Janet and friend Sue. Hi Mickey and a pin to honor the Bi-centennial. I hung the leprechaun for fun and the Texas pin was for the Sesquicentennial. An icon of lunch places in Portland is now long gone but oh how I loved Sweet Tibbie Dunbar's. A Mardi Gras coin passes off to Statue of Liberty sticker and I "heart" Oregon pin is over the "Hand's Across America" pin from 1985. Jumping over the picture there is an "artificial" rock and that is next to "Sam the Eagle" pin from 1984 Olympics. That ride no longer is at the park.
Below the pin is my boutonniere from Mike & Joyce's wedding over 25 years ago. To the left is a carved boot from Arkansas trip mentioned above and then to the right it a letter press T I really liked. Above that is a bubble gum machine because I liked it and then the pin is from the Oregon Bears, a gay men's group for guys who like other guys who are furry. Below that is a china figure of the Stature of Liberty and behind it is an icon, a phone book. They are fading all too fast. An armadillo is next and my class ring from high school is supporting it. OK, so the rainbow is just for color, but I do love that pig! 7-Up is a hoot that it leads you to the matchbook cover from Six Flags Over Texas and a Christmas wreath is above that and the plane represents all the trips I have taken over the years. Just under the wing is an old St. Christoper's medal.
Now dropping down we have a bit of an oops! It seems that a miniature of the Eiffel Tower has fallen and needs to be repositioned. I'll take care of that when I get home. To the left is a replica of a oil rig and it sits on the steer block. The bee was a pin on a birthday card that I liked it. Up next is "OREGON" in letter press. I was born and raised there and so there you go. Sitting on top of them is a little toy I found somewhere and just liked it of the police woman and little child. Over her shoulder is a baseball mitt to recognize the Portland Beavers. Then back down is a "Benson Bubbler" that can be seen on many corners in Portland that are four head water fountain. And Lumiere - if you have to ask, we have nothing to talk about! Moving along...remember that trip to Arkansas, yup, got the goat there too! Behind it is a pin I got down in NY's Chinatown and love it. The goose is there to fill space.
Just about done, if you can believe it and so let's start with the fish eraser. It is a nod to one hell of a party I hosted in NYC titled "Under the Sea" and it included Fish Jeopardy and I was the host Alex Troutbeck! We also had a performance by Mango Mama and the Pineapple Sisters. Oh my, it was a hell of a good time. And then there is a mini beer can of Lone Star Beer and another Texas favorite is Dr. Pepper. Did you know the original formula had prunes in it? A couple of pins commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Rose Festival in Portland and Hard Rock Cafe from London. The last two items is a pencil sharpener that is also a copy of the Reunion Hyatt Regency in Dallas and to the left is an Austrian Schilling that Mike made into a ring.
Now the white figure is a China completion doll and when I finish I have wished for I will fill in the other eye. On the far left is a match box from La Cage aux Folles, the first musical I saw on Broadway when I moved there in 1987. So there you go!
Amazing Restaurant #2 In a Week
After another round of martini's (I go with vodka while Michael opts for traditional gin) we have a bit of a pause before going on to the next round. That included the following three items. Whereas, with the salads that we shared, this phase we opted to each get an order of the Hushpuppies with Crab that were corn meal fritters with Dungeness crab ~ chilies ~ Served with bacon fat aioli. Can you just say YUM! Each order had 4 and that was lovely. At the time this was delivered so was an order of Quattro Mac Pasta ~ Nic’s Quattro cheese blend ~ Heavy cream and so nice and light yet oh so flavorful. I was totally blown by this dish. It is gonna be revisited. Michael needed to step away for a moment and while gone, we got the masterpiece of the evening: Foie which consisted of seared foie gras ~ bacon fat caramel ~ sweet corn polenta ~ gingered apricots. Seriously too good for words. Michael returned to share that the hall to the bathroom is lined with comments.Plus in addition to this great food we had moved to wine. Since it is summer, whites were leading the way and for me, Maison Louis Latour Viognier 2007 out of France and Michael decided on the St. Supréy Sauvignon Blanc 2008 out of California. While he stayed with that for the night I decided to go to Di Stefano Sauvignon Blanc 2007 out of Washington which was a peppery grapefruit that made it just lovely. The one thing we discovered that night was that while I did not taste any metalic flavor in the wine Michael did and that is why he opted to stick with what he had decided with. Again, there is no right or wrong, just go with what you like and enjoy. That is what makes food so much fun.
Our cheese plate arrived next with Idiazabal, Roquefort, Bleuet de Saleve, uTaravu and Weybridge. A lovely moment and yet we had one more course coming. A fresh cobbler of peaches and blackberries that was served with Madagascar vanilla ice cream and we both enjoyed coffee. It was a night that will not soon be forgotten.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Non-Stop to Heat Advisory!
But then, I cannot complain after getting 10,000 free miles from Alaska due to the recent email concerning their website and buying tickets being a person of size. Did I post about that? I had been on a flight last Christmas from Newark to Seattle. Sat next to Glenn Johnson, the VP for Finance. Nice guy. Well, he gave me his card and so I dropped him an email about the several issues and his reply was that he had passed on my email to the head of marketing as his title had changed. Oh yes it had. He is now President of Horizon Air, part of Alaska Air Group. Too funny.
So got car and headed for the hotel. A little challenging in the dark of night. Silly me, I thought we would arrive at 7:20pm as scheduled and even stop by the house at games night and say hello. Well, we landed at 8:38pm and it was HOT and MUGGY and I knew I was in hell. Finally got luggage by 9:40ish after a luggage carousel malfunction. Then on to National to get car and to the hotel.
Finally, a shining point in the evening was arriving at the hotel where Linda, at the front desk, presents 2 cold bottles of water and news that I had been upgraded to a suite at no additional charge on an upper floor. I am at the Four-Points by Sheraton. Love the free internet and parking. Oh, oh and the ice machine is like RIGHT across the hall.
So folks, tomorrow, I tackle my delayed restaurant review!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Not Quite a Restaurant Review...
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Blue Angels, Packages & Steaks on the Grill
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
A Dinner To Remember
Here I am gleeful in driving to the restaurant. Actually I am sitting in the parking lot at Wendy's over in Bellevue waiting for Michael and decided to entertain myself a bit. Don't you just love my Truman Capote Glasses. No they are so not gay at all! But oh do I love them. I have also referred to them as my Jackie O glasses. Seriously, found them at a vintage shop for like $5 and want MORE! They really cut the sun and fit my head. Go figure.