Every once in a great while a true food and wine lover will experience a match made in heaven.  A meal that pairs food and wine so perfectly that each enhances the other and a marriage is made.  A recent special occasion with cause for celebration lead to a meal just like this.  The location was the Saddle Peak Lodge nestled in the Malibu Canyon Mountains.  Only a 30 minute drive out of LA proper, you somehow feel like you’ve been transported to a rustic hunters lodge nestled in some remote area.  The Saddle Peak Lodge prides themselves on exemplary service and food.  Their in house Sommelier can be a lifesaver when trying to maneuver their extensive 17 page wine list with a range of wines from all over the world and also for every price point. 

After study the menu of the evening, which rotates often we couldn’t resist to try the Chef’s 8 course tasting menu.  This ensemble features a myriad of flavors, palate pleasers and what some would consider adventurous fare.  Saddle Peak Lodge is known for their specialized Game menu where you can try many things you wouldn’t expect, and which you will most definitely develop a love of.  The meal progressed as follows:


First course:
Albacore Sashimi with Hawaiian papaya, red onion, cilantro, avocado, orange-ginger puree; paired with a 2009 Grenache Rose from Curran Wines from Santa Yzez, California. 

This was a great way to start off the meal, as we were familiar with Curran wines, having previously held a wine club membership.  This particular vintage of Grenache Rose was the perfect accompaniment to a clean crisp food partner.  The wine was light, slightly citrus with a clean finish.  The citrus aspects played well with the papaya and orange-ginger puree.   (Alas, as this was the first course we jumped right in and devoured it before having a chance to photograph it!)


Second course:
Soft Shell Crab with jalapeno, lobster, gribiche; paired with a 2010 Zocker Grüner Veltliner from Paragon Vineyard in Edna Valley, California. 

This wine is of Austrian descent, which explains it’s dry but sweet tasting notes, with a mineral quality that held it’s own against the richness of the Soft Shell Crab.  The vibrancy of this wine is unique in that you get a lot of melon and citrus without the highly sweet characters you would associate with these flavors.




Third course:
Mushroom Agnolotti with truffled wild mushrooms and Parmesan; paired with a 2008 Pinot Noir from Sorter Vineyards in Carlton, Oregon. 

This was a nice surprise to see a wine from further north on the West coast.  Oregon has had some break one wines in the last few years, and this wine is a perfect example of why they are making a name for themselves.  A balance of both berries and pepper, this is a subtle wine that opens up as you drink it.  Not overpowering, it’s a gentle get that goes well with the delicacy of a pasta with a lighter composition.  A slightly acidic finish leaves you wanting another sip.

Fourth course:
Rabbit Roulade with bacon, mushrooms, apples, sage and huckleberries; paired with a 2000 Sangiovese from Vita Nova, of Stolpman Vineyards in Santa Ynez, California.

  The richness of the Rabbit wrapped in bacon and sage needed a wine that could balance the full and fatty flavors it brought to the plate.  This Sangiovese did just that, providing notes of cherry and earth in equal respects so that the flavors are all balanced within their own right.  It did need time to breath, and we felt that the wine grew better as we progressed into the plate. 

Fifth course:
Crispy Berkshire Pork Belly with carrot, daikon, cilantro and mint; paired with the black sheep ale of the evening, a Maudite Quebec Ale from Unibroue Brewery in Chambly, Canada.

 This course was possibly the most decadent of the evening due to the richness that only Pork Belly can achieve.  The Maudite Quebec Ale was a great accompaniment in the sense that it brought another range of flavors into the meal while letting the food and ale both hold a unique foothold in your mouth.  The Ale had a hoppy presence, with cloves and oranges.  The herbal component really worked nicely with that feeling of fatty goodness that Pork belly leaves on your tongue.  

Sixth course:
Seared Foie Gras with whiskey mangoes, macerated berries, brioche and an onion marmalade; paired with White dessert wine, a 2003 Muller-Thurgau Beerenauslese from the Bert Simon Estate in Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany.

Changing up the tastings, we switch to a dessert wine which typically would make an appearance towards the end of a meal, but this wine held tight to the truly rich hand known as Foie Gras.  The delicate nature of Foie Gras along with how nothing else melts away in your mouth while leaving behind such complex flavors calls for a wine with similar complexity.  This Muller-Thurgau presented strong points of honey, apricot and pear to create a lush layering in each sip. 

Seventh course:
New Zealand Elk Tenderloin with vanilla butternut squash, brandied cherries, cipollini onions and mushrooms; paired with a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from Carpe Diem in Napa Valley, California.

The final main course of the night was in Saddle Peak Lodge tradition, presenting one of their signature game meals - Elk.  The beauty of Elk is that although it does hold true to a game meat with stronger flavors than one would normally find with beef, it has a delicacy not expected from this genre of meat.  The Cabernet Sauvignon with soft tannins and fruit forward aromas makes this elegant pairing a perfect note to end on.  Every taste-bud fulfilled. 





Eight course:
Flourless Chocolate Cake with raspberry coulis, pistachio cookie and vanilla bean ice cream; paired with a Graham’s 10 Year Tawny Port.

The chocolate cake hit the sweet tooth nail on the head, while letting the previous 7 courses linger in your mind to the last bite.  The port, is traditional in that it brings the warm nuttiness and amber smokiness an avid port lover seeks out.




Overall a truly transcendent experience.  A true “event” where each new plate is an adventure and the art of savoring every morsel be appreciated.  I highly recommend at some point in your life, taking the time to disregard the dollar signs that can accompany a meal like this, and let yourself experience indulgence in one of the most primal senses.



~Nicole LaMonte-DeGolier


The breakdown:

http://www.saddlepeaklodge.com/

http://www.curranwines.com/


http://www.zockerwinery.com/home.php


http://www.sotervineyards.com/mineral-springs-ranch.aspx


http://www.stolpmanvineyards.com/


http://www.unibroue.com/en/unibroue/history/


http://www.rudiwiest.com/estates/estates_123.htm  (Bert Simon)



http://mmdusa.net/Carpe-Diem/Cabernet-Sauvignon/2007/tech-sheet



http://www.grahams-port.com/

In the last month of summer, the pre-harvest buzz of wine country has already begun.  With a few months of uncommonly cool weather, the Paso Robles wine makers have had to deal with a range of issues from fruit on the vine not growing properly, to rain causing mildew and other infections to run rampant among the vines.  Despite the weather challenges, everyone is moving full steam ahead with the hustle and bustle that the harvest in the near future will bring.

This was our first trip to the Paso Robles area, during a peak time.  We tend to go in the off months, as we like the sleepiness and silent country roads that can be found around the New Year.  What a contrast being there in summer, surrounded by a great deal more of tourism driven groups as well as the normal frenzied buzz that summer tends to bring with it.  Our destination for the weekend was to attend a Spaghetti Western, dinner and a movie wine tasting event at Oso Libre Winery.  This is the second annual Spaghetti Western, and what an event it was!  The Oso Libre collaborative of family and close friends/employees pulled out all the stops.  The evening was filled with fantastic food, lively music from a mariachi band (Mariachi Mexicanisimo) a screening of the Clint Eastwood favorite, “A Fist Full of Dollars” and last, but not least a sampling of great wines.

The first wine of the evening was the 2009 Volado, a 100% Viognier.  This crisp, clean wine is the perfect way to cool down at the end of a hot summer evening.  Its tropical fruit tones would pair nicely with a range of appetizers or a full on meal.  It was accompanied by Melon & Prosciutto, Brushcetta al Pommodoro and Chorizo stuffed Dates wrapped in Bacon; to name a few tasty morsels.  This is the kind of wine for any occasion; that works well with a wide range of flavors.  Its price point is reasonable for the versatility that it presents.

After the appetizers we moved on to some bolder red wines to go along with the heartier fare on the dinner menu.  Our next tasting was of the 2007 Rojo del Patrón; an Estate blend comprised of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Zinfandel.  This is a good step after having had lighter fare because although it is bold, it is also gentle and the tannins aren’t as overwhelming as a Syrah or Barbera, so there is a smooth finish.  It was a great companion to some of the main entrees, such as the Lasagna Bolognese made with Oso Libre Estate raised beef.

Finally, we finished off the meal with a full bodied red, the 2008 Carnal.  This GSM Rhone style blend is a complex melding of 51% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 21% Mourvédre, 5% Petite Sirah and Zinfandel 1%.  This marriage of so many varietals creates a full mouth feeling comprised of big cherry and spice tones.  Best paired with a meal that needs something to challenge it, such as a zesty spaghetti arrabiata or in the case of our meal, a wood fired BBQ chicken full of smokey goodness.  This wine can hold its own.

All in all, a magical evening was had between being outdoors under a full moon, sharing a good meal with like minded individuals that respect the labor of love that creating a wine entails; and a movie screen playing a classic of the silver screen.  Looks like Paso Robles is enchanting any time of year you can get there!

The details:

Oso Libre Winery

7383 Vineyard Drive

Paso Robles, California 93446

www.osolibre.com

Phone: 805-238-3378

E-mail: info@osolibre.com

Mariachi Mexicanisimo

Santa Maria, CA 93456

www.mariachi4u.com/usa/mexicanisimo.htm

Contact: Jose Guzman

Phone: 805.598.5161 

Email:  meximariachi@yahoo.com

Fact:  I am the QUEEN of getting side tracked…so it’s no surprise I haven’t blogged in awhile.

SO, I’m going to get back in the saddle again and try and recap what’s been going on lately….What’s new….

We went to Ireland with a few friends to explore the country and visit my Sister studying abroad there.  We saw SO many wonderful things, here’s a few favorites:

We also did a quick stop over in Scotland, which rocked; Haggis and all.

When we got back from our trip, in true Niki fashion; I had a little accident. I was the DD for Ted and some buddies for the LA Beerfest…but somehow ended up tripping in the parking garage and breaking 2 bones in my right foot.  I am now the lucky recipient of not one, but 2 (over the last 6 weeks) of two FABULOUS leopard print casts.  Hoping that in a few more weeks it will all be a thing of the past.

Cast or no cast, there was a surprise party to have!  Ted turned 35 back in February but I was back East dealing with some family issues so it didn’t get celebrated properly (Other than a great sushi dinner with Kunle & Michelle - Grazie!!!)  In the better late than never mindset, the surprise party went down 3 months late, but with much success.  Thanks to everyone that came out to celebrate the birthday boy.

That’s it for now, I’ll try to get back in the habit of reporting in!

So…..I said from the beginning that I may stray from the blogging at some point, and if you’re reading this you know it’s true since a month or two (or three!) have gone by since my last entry.  All I can say is that in true form, I jumped from one project to the next, and on and on, and unfortunately when I do that….sometimes things fall off my radar.  In my defense I THOUGHT about blogging recently, but with summer in full swing, it can be hard to sit down behind the computer and get going when all you can think about is being out and about enjoying the season’s delights.

So -what’s been going on?!  The garden is in full swing at this point and we’ve begun to reap the benefits of utilizing every inch of soil in the backyard.  There’s nothing like a BLT with tomatoes straight off the vine on a warm summer night (after having them for dinner last night, I could think of nothing more I’d like to eat for every meal for days!)  

The chickens have FINALLY moved from the garage to the backyard into their new chicken coop.  The chicken coop fiasco was also something that I meant to blog about, but due to the fact that it turned out to be a huge pain in the ass from start to finish, by the time I would come inside after assisting Ted with it, I didn’t even want to talk about it anymore.  Looooong story short, we tried to build the coop out of wood reclaimed from a neighbors fence, since we are always trying to repurpose things (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!) BUT - after many hours of Ted breaking down the fence and specking out a game plan, upon assembly the wood turned out to be a bit dry rotted and would not hold a screw…at this point the chickens had reached almost full size, and were becoming more aggravated by the minute being cooped (no pun intended) up in the dog crate in the garage.  So, then it became a search to purchase a coop.  We did find one locally that someone was selling on Craigslist, and it looked to be the silver lining but coordinating with the guy to see it ended up being more work than it should, and after an un-returned phone call (or two) we threw in the towel and bought one online.  It arrived shortly later in the week, and we jumped right in to assemble it.  We swear that it stated MADE IN THE USA…but it turns out that it really wasn’t (only the nesting box, the size of a bread box was!) Turns out that it was made in China, and the quality of the coop was lacking a bit as well as directions that might as well not have been included because all they did was cause more confusion.  A few hours of never ending expletives and 3 rounds of assembling/un-assembling the coop was complete.  The ladies have never been happier and we hope by next month to be enjoying our first fresh egg.

We’re counting down to our upcomming visit to the Western NY area and seeing all our friends and family that we haven’t seen in almost a year.  This has been a long stretch (The longest I’ve EVER been away from my family, even longer than when I lived in Italy!)  and I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone, catching up and meeting the newest additions to some of our favorite families.  I feel like I’ll be on a “baby tour” and can’t wait!!!!!!  Although I find baby withdrawal to be something as bad as a crack addict coming off a long bender :)

My dirty thirty is SWIFTLY approaching, and I’m wondering what this will bring for me.  The few grey hairs that have reared their ugly head are growing in like antennae, sticking right out of my head, and straight as can be!  IS this possible?  The girl with the corkscrew curls will have straight hair in her old age?!  Now that seems impossible…..so lots to look forward to there.

I’ll leave you with a few visuals of all that’s happened recently, and hopefully will have more to say sooner…than later!

We are now the proud owners of 3 baby chicks!  They are the White Rock breed for those of you who know a bit about chickens.  They are about 2 to 3 days old and couldn’t be cuter if they tried.  Little poofs of warm fuzziness…..with little repetitive peep peep peeps.  

This is the beginning…we have always tried to hold on in little ways to being somewhat sustainable…planting veggies in any inch of dirt we have,  Composting kitchen scraps, repurposing something that could be trash, into a treasure.  Now we’ve got chickens!!! 

These little sweet handfuls of love will in a short time be providing all of the eggs that we could possibly want.  They will be earthy and rich and perfect anyway you serve them up.  It’s amazing to know that these little gals will be laying eggs in a mere matter of months.  There’s a catch 22 to it…they are so little and precious right now that a part of me wants them to never change, but also knowing that they will be providing us with a bounty of eggs makes me want them to hurry up and get big fast!

Here they are in all their cuteness:

This past weekend we had a mini road trip adventure down to San Diego.  It’s only a few hours South of Los Angeles, but as anyone in Southern Cali knows, a few hours of traffic on the 5 lanes of traffic in each direction freeway is enough to make anyone yearn for a wide open country road that doesn’t even have the median line painted on it…

It was a great oppourtunity for us, my best friend Megan came in from her most recent travel assignment in Texas (She’s got an amazing job as a traveling Occupational Therapist) and we made the drive down with a few other friends to make a day of it.  Mostly everyone had met before, on more than one occasion so it was very laid back and relaxing.

We headed to the San Diego Zoo and right then and there I was really happy to be surrounded by all these amazing creatures that reside there.  It takes you back to being a kid and seeing an exotic animal for the first time.  They seem magical, fictitious and splendorous all at once.  Being that the San Diego Zoo is one of the most prestigious in the country, we really had a lot to see and take in.  After about 4 hours of hiking through “Africa” to the “Polar Caps”, we’d seen everything from the Polar Bears to my new favorite discovery the Secretary Bird!

Of all the things that we could have done while on a day trip to San Diego, I’m so glad that we went to the Zoo.  It was a great way to kind of go at our own pace, hang out and also enjoy these amazing animals in all of their glory….I think that if I could do anything, I’d magically have a Veterinarian’s degree and work with animals because seeing so many of these beautiful species that are so close to extinction just makes you want to do something about it…so I urge you to go to your local Zoo, reconnect to your childhood adventure and learn something new!

Guilty as charged….I haven’t been blogging.  I meant too, but it seemed like suddenly we were really busy for the last month.   I kept saying, I’ll get on tomorrow, I want to write about this, that or whatever.  Then somehow, a few weeks went by.  It’s hard when you get in a cycle of sorts, and then when you get off of it, it can be hard to get back into it, even if you truly want to. 

A lot has happened in a few weeks.  I got some great news from the Dr.  - HE said I won’t be needing to have a second surgery for now.  That was a huge relief since it’s hard to not know what the immediate future holds for you.  I’m an adventurer and not being able to make plans and get out and about what tough for those two months I was laid up.  There’s about a 50% chance I’ll have to deal with something in the future, but hey - I’ll take those odds gladly and me on my merry way.

Once I was able to get back out and about, I was a maniac!  I wanted to see everyone, do everything.  It was like the first day of Spring after a long Winter when you can’t wait to get outside and feel the sun on your face….and just stand there and bask in it.

I’m looking forward to the summer, and a visit back East to see friends and family.  We’ll be getting out chicks in a few weeks and will be venturing into the world of chicken owners.  Our garden is underway…it’s a great time to get back in the saddle soooo…… let the blogging commence!

I’ve been really excited these past few days…my sister Danielle is coming for a visit in about a week, and I really can’t remember the last time we had DAYS to hang out, catch up and just spend time together. 

It’s hard when there’s not only an 11 year age gap, but also 3,000 miles and change between us, to always be a part of each others day to day lives; but it’s opportunities like this that you have to grab a hold of and run with.  It’s where great memories are made, and those are priceless.

Now to figure out what to do….8 days seems like so much time, and also so little time!  I guess we’ll just take it one day at a time and see where the wind takes us.

Also, my best friend Megan who is a traveling Occupational Therapist who is currently in Texas will be in San Diego next month for a weekend, so that too is something I’m really looking forward too.  It’s only a few hours drive from LA, so the chance to hang out and spend some quality time together is really making me happy.

The biggest challenge for me is going to be being patient, because I’m a BIG instant gratification person, and I’ve got a few weeks to go till I see them both.  Just thinking about all the fun to be had is making me smile right now. 

Isn’t that an amazing feeling, when you love someone so much, and all you want to do is see them, squeeze them and laugh with them?

In the words of my great and wise Aunt Carol - you can’t trade people for palm trees! In a perfect world, we’d all live in the same great town, where there was always lots to do, and the time to do it in…one can dream…

It’s that time of year…the chill in the air starts to vanish …we open our windows and let in fresh air (or what we like to think of as fresh air in LA!) and best of all, like magic there seems to be growth all over the place.  A quick lap around the back yard today proved to be a great way to get my green thumb out of hibernation.  PLANTS - that’s right, I’m talking about plants!

Ted and I both come from families that have deep roots in the soil, both literally and metaphorically.  We have farming in our heritage, and also many memories spent in our respective grandparents gardens learning of all the wonders that mother nature has to share.  For me, the garden reminds me of my Grandma Minnie, she was a plant whisperer.  She spoke their sacred language and because of this her garden always flourished.  If there was an inch of soil, something was growing in it.  I never remember her garden ever looking like anything short of a photo shoot for some fabulous gardening magazine.  I can almost hear her talking to her plants, as she always did…little words of encouragement and love…grow big, be strong, you’re loved!  When she got older and moved out of her house and into an assisted living facility I felt as if a little part of her was missing (as I know she did too!)

 Luckily, I also married into a family with a plant whisperer - Mom D!  I often think of Ted’s Mom, Mom D as I like to call her, as the Queen of the Plants…it’s amazing….all she needs to do is whisper to a little seeding and overnight it seems to have grown into nothing short of a plant prodigy!  I remember the first time that I walked into his parents place, and an entire porch, I’m talking at lest 5 feet wide by 15 feet long, COMPLETELY filled with plants - on the floor, on stands, shelves and hanging from the ceiling!  It was the first time I ever felt like outside was inside, and it was lovely. 

I believe having these influences in our lives drives us to want to put our hands in the soil and see what we can do with it.  There’s nothing like a fresh tomato out of the garden…wash it with the hose and eat it while it’s still warm from the days sunshine…it’s nothing short of heaven!  Ted has a knack for figuring out great ways to make the most of our small yard here in LA, and I am constantly amazed at the end of a summer with what we’ve grown and the bounty that comes from our labor of love.

This years garden is off and running!  We luckily had a few plants (German Jim Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Japanese Eggplants, and Basil) cling on to life through our cooler months, and they have all started to regenerate with new growth!  Also, Ted reworked some of the garden area that didn’t make it through the winter with some new crops we’ve never grown before.  We are happy to report that the seedlings are finally peaking through the soil and hopefully soon we will have Carrots, Beets, Cilantro and English Peas.

The proofs in the puddin’:

German Jim Tomatoes

Row of Beets

The Lone English Pea in the Cilantro Patch

Beet Seedling

Today we got some great news - my Sister Danielle who hasn’t been out to Los Angeles since 2004 is coming out over Easter break for a visit!

Suddenly I find myself looking at the city I live in with a whole new perspective - what to do, what to see, where to go!  It’s funny how when you live somewhere you can take for granted some of the basics that as a visitor you yearn to see.  When I was growing up, Niagara Falls was only 20 minutes from my house…nothing special..I thought - till I moved away!  Then when I mention I’m from Buffalo, people usually mention either Niagara Falls or Chicken wings in the next syllable.  Now, I’m looking at Los Angeles the same way…the Hollywood Sign…old news…but maybe not!

My point being that I’m hoping that with my Sister’s upcoming visit I learn some new things about my home on the West coast.  It’s the perfect opportunity to explore my own back yard - and what an urban sprawl of a backyard that is!  We can go to the beach, the mountains and the desert all in one day is we want.  There are so many ethnically rich communities here, that we can feel like we’ve taken a trip around the world each day!

Oh the places we’ll go!

Ted and I got an unexpected surprise today!  As some of you know, we’ve tried over the last year or so to grow Shitake mushrooms at home.  We’ve had some turn out, and others…well they were a bust.  The last round of mushrooms to our disappointment were a failure, so we were waiting for the growing medium (what the mushrooms grow out of) to dry out so we could try again.

Today Ted went to take the mushroom container outside to gather up some of the rain water (you can’t use tap water because of the chlorine), since it’s raining and that’s not a common thing in Cali…and low and behold there was a HUGE Shitake mushroom that somehow had decided to show up weeks after we had given up on this batch.  It was so big that we were able to chop it up and serve it in some scrambled eggs for breakfast and all I can say is - DELISH!

There’s an earthiness to a mushroom that’s grown fresh…not packaged up and left in the fridge for weeks till it sells at the store.  But that can be said about soooo many foods.  That’s one thing I learned a lot about when I was living in Florence, Italy.  I took a cooking class there and my professors number one emphasis was if it’s fresh and in season use it, if not find something else that is! When I came back to the states I definitely has a new definition of what “Fresh” was!   I think it’s a great rule of thumb to keep in mind, not only for the obvious flavor aspect, but also because the carbon footprint that comes along with eating things that are out of season and that need to be shipped from all ends of the world can really be exasperating once you hear the statistics.  I can’t say that I’m a total localvore…I love a good banana and that just doesn’t grow in my backyard, but small positive steps are a move in the right direction, and if it all tastes as good as this mushroom - I say bring it on!

There is something to be said for a good friend.  What defines a good friend?  For me, it’s someone who truly cares about you.  Someone who tries to be a part of your life without expecting anything in return except for you to be there for them as well. It’s the exchanges that you have with that friend, there’s give and take…not just take.

I think it’s funny that as time goes on the definition of what a friend is can be redefined, but the core principles are there. These are the people that if the world was on fire, and you had a one way ticket outta there, that you would make sure were with you.

I think also, having moved so far away from most of our friends has proved another point - the distance doesn’t have to matter if that friend doesn’t let it.  I mean come on, with all the technology out there, I can know what my friends in Italy and England are doing just as well as I can my friends who live in the same zip code.  I find it amazing that sometimes the “outta sight, outta mind” practice comes into play, I think that’s a sad reason to lose touch.

This comes about as I’ve recently had the chance to reconnect with some childhood friends, and I am so thankful to have them back in my life.

Also, I had lost touch with a great friend from college and when he moved back to his home in another country he disappeared.  A few years went by, emails bounced back, and then he was gone.  BUT -I decided it wasn’t going to be without a fight!  I googled that friend’s name for months on end and one day something came up!  A name on a graduate schools class roster.  I emailed the professor explaining who I was, and what I was trying to do and then a few weeks went by and I figured it was a dead end…then VOILA - I got an email from my long lost friend!  It turns out that while he was doing Relief Missions to disaster stricken areas all over the world he has limited to no access to the internet…Yahoo canceled his email address after a period of inactivity and suddenly he didn’t have anyone’s email, phone number or address.  Imagine that! 

My point is don’t always give up on people…you never know what circumstances are standing between you and that person you care about.

We are country folk, living in the city.  Ted and I both yearn for fields of green, both in the plant and sustainable living sense.  Alas, living in the Valley of Los Angeles can seem like the farthest place from wide open spaces.  Despite this, we try in our own little ways to keep some things a little more down to earth.  Whether it’s planting beets, carrots, tomatoes or cilantro in any inch of dirt we can find in our minuscule yard, or composting every scrap possible from the kitchen, or even just recycling and reducing our waste down to a bag of garbage a week.  These are all things that make us feel a little less like the concrete jungle dwellers we are.  OK, I know what some of you are thinking…GRANOLA…but we like to think of ourselves as “High Tech Granola” for all intensive purposes.

 Our next step in the right direction is going to be: CHICKENS!

At first it was just talk of chickens…how cool it would be to have our own, to have those earthy fresh eggs for all our cooking purposes.  Then, some friends back East got more serious about it and started looking into what actually needs to take place in order to have the chickens.  There’s the issue of what breed to get, the chicken coop, zoning ordinances in your community and of course how many to get.  Ted’s done most of the research, but I’m a big supporter of the chicken movement.  Unless you’ve ever eaten a home laid egg, you have NO idea what I’m talking about..there’s a freshness that can’t be beat, and just a heartier flavor than your dozen found in a carton at the store. 

As more develops on the chicken front I’ll write again, but for now stay tuned for news on our feathered friends to come!

Let me say for the record that this is in no way, shape or form any kind of taunting to our friends and family back East in the frozen tundra we like to call home, aka: Western New York…but I think that it’s safe to say that we’ve kicked off the official grilling season out here on the West coast for the year…I know what you’re thinking - it’s warm there all year so is there even a grilling season?!

The answer is yes - although we may not have as clearly defined seasons as back East, there is a natural ebb and flow to our way of life out here and when it gets cooler we spend less time out in the backyard and near the grill.

Tonight we went over to our wonderful friends Kunle & Michelle’s house for the first time since they moved back to Los Angeles.  They have a place up in the Hollywood hills, so we found our way up the narrow twisting roads for an evening of amazing food, great wine and best of all wonderful friends.  (On a side note this was my first outing since my surgery so I was looking forward to getting out even more than normal!)

As soon as we got there I knew we were ready - Burgers the size of a baseball awaited along with all the fixings and that was it - GRILL TIME!

There’s something about that smell of the grill as it gets going, and the convening of conversation around it.  I think that this can be traced back to primal days - cavemen had fires and spits, we have grills and wine….you get the picture.

I guess the point I’m trying to get across is that for me there is a social aspect of the grill.  It means “come over”, “let’s eat”, “MEAT”! Tonight was just another example that all you really need is an open flame and friends to make an ordinary day an extraordinary night!

So, on that note - bring on the charcoal.

PS: Anyone on the East coast swearing obscenities at me right now, just know our grill is waiting for you…all you have to do is get here!

One of the hardest things about being out on the West coast sometimes is being out of the loop with friends and family both literally and figuratively… so much can happen on a day to day basis and when you get that bi-weekly or monthly call some things just slip through the cracks - I hate that!

Also, sometimes not being right there back at home means that those close to you don’t always call when they need an ear or shoulder to lean on…I just want those of you out there to know that I’m right here…still a pretty sturdy shoulder even if it is more tanned than it used to be :)

It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day hustle and bustle, and before you know it a month, a year, five years has gone by.  I’ve recently gotten back in touch with a few friends from my childhood and suddenly I said HOLY SHIT - that was 25 years ago?!?!  I think that also, the age I’m at is another one of those transitions.  (The big 30 hits later this year and yes more than one gray hair has made a brielf appearance on my head before meeting a violent end!)  More of our friends are married than not these days and the baby parade has been going on for the last few years…we’ve had the first of some friends split which marks an era…I think back about my childhood and when my parents split and realized it was about the age I’m at now….it just puts some things in perspective.

Then I think about some of my relatives and think of them as eternally in their 40’s when really some of them are in there mid to late 60’s…oh time you tricky little minx…you sure do know how to pull a fast one.

The point of this ditty is just to remind people to do things sooner than later, because truly it’s too easy for things to just fall at the wayside.  Make that call, write that letter, bake those cookies, visit that relative/friend/long lost cousin, shoot out a quick email….before that email address is no longer valid and well… you lose touch…