Vacations, what are they good for?

 Cycling, Food & Wine, Life, Philosophy, Vacations  No Responses »
Oct 172011
 

There used to be a time when I enjoyed going on vacation, but now not so much.

I don’t know if it’s simply because of all the little things I hate about traveling, i.e. packing and unpacking, checking into and out of hotels, airport hassles etc. or simply the fact I don’t need to travel anywhere.

I already live in an area which has everything most people dream of in a vacation. I sure don’t need to drive very far, or fly to all corners of the world, to get away (my justification for our latest trip to Solvang/Santa Inez). I can go to Disneyland for that, and still sleep in my own bed at the end of the day.

Sure it’s enlightening to experience new places, but I’ve seen most of the US, and I’ve been to France, Italy and England. I lived in Okinawa for 18 months, and vacationed in the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Fiji (twice), Tahiti, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. I’ve even been to New Zealand. I don’t need any more enlightening.

Plus, I’m not into culture. I’d just as soon watch a travelogue, or look at photos someone else has taken of the places I’ve never been. My real reason for going anywhere is to experience the food and wine of a region, but I can get all that right here in beautiful southern California, and in spades!

So why go through all the hassles of leaving home, worrying about how Morris and Chloe (our cats) are doing, or feeling down because I’m not out riding my bike?

The truth of the matter is I don’t. I just need to accept that realization.

I know hearing all that won’t please the travel industry very much, but why do I need to please them? [I never really considered them an industry anyways.] It should, however, keep the local restaurant’s happy, as I’ll be able to frequent them more often, as well as the wine industry, by keeping my wine cellar well stocked with lots of high quality wines.

 Posted by at 10:02 am

All wined out!

 Food & Wine, Vacations  1 Response »
Aug 092011
 

Our trip to the annual Aureole Wine Weekend in Vegas has ended, and we’re back home recovering. It’s hard to believe a weekend of [over] eating and [over] indulging in wine, could be so tiring, but by the time Sunday afternoon rolled around, I was pretty much exhausted. I even cancelled reservations we had at LeCirque for Sunday evening, opting instead for hamburgers at Hubert Keller’s Burger Bar. They are very good burgers!

I have to admit, I didn’t think it was possible for Kevin (Aureole GM) and William (Master Sommelier) to top last years event, but they did. This was even despite my initial reservations because of the theme, white burgundy’s and Spanish wines, but I have now come away with a new appreciation for both, especially the Spanish wines.

Of course these were not your usual Spanish wines, primarily focusing on the wines from the Priorat region of spain, i.e. Carinena (Carignan), Garnacha (Grenache), Syrah, Cabernet Savignon, and Merlot, with of course wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero.

Something which was different this year was many of the wines were supplied from Michael Mondavi’s Folio. The last 2 years wines were supplied from the Aureole cellar. I’m quite sure this helped to keep the cost down for Aureole, because I don’t know how Aureole can make a profit from this event considering the price they are charging.

But this event isn’t just about the wine. It’s also about the food, and Chef Vincent Pouessel out did himself again this year.


From the Veal Prime Rib with Sweatbreads, to the Mexican Ranchero Breakfast, Spanish Tapas for lunch, Paella on the Grill, Bouillabaisse (compliments of Christophe Tassan – Sommelier of MIX in Las Vegas), and of course the always to be remembered [Cheese and] Chocolate Fondue party (the last event) prepared by Megan Ramano, Aureole’s Executive Pastry Chef.

I can hardly wait for next year!

Been there, done that

 Cycling, Life, Politics, Restaurant Reviews, Vacations  1 Response »
Oct 092010
 

Well I got my dose of NE Ohio and Pittsburgh this past week, and the experience can pretty much be summed up by those 4 words.

I didn’t expect much from Newton Falls, but neither did I expect what I saw. The area is unbelievably depressed. Abandoned factories, store fronts and houses are everywhere, and what houses aren’t abandoned are unbelievably dilapidated.

It was truly depressing, to see a place I lived for 4 years, and where Edie grew up, deteriorate so much.

But I was even disappointed in Pittsburgh as well.

I had heard so much about how Pittsburgh had changed, and while there where a lot of improvements, especially in the downtown area, most of the city was either unchanged or depressed as well.

The streets are narrower than I remember, the houses smaller, the streets in worse condition than in LA, and riding a bike in this city can definitely be hazardous to your health. Plus all my favorite breakfast and deli haunts were replaced by Starbucks and Brueggers.

Even the famous Primanti Bros Restaurant that has been featured on many network TV shows was a disappointment. They say it’s been around since 1933, but I don’t remember it from my time living in Pittsburgh, and I think I know why. Anyone who thinks a sandwich topped with [tasteless] cabbage (they called it coleslaw) and [tasteless and soggy] french fries is any good, can be fooled into believing anything, and I’m not easily fooled. This place exists on the hype alone.

It was still good to get home to see what I wasn’t missing, and to get any thoughts of ever moving back out of my system.

It’s so good to be ‘home’ in Long Beach, CA, and back on the bike again. Pittsburgh doesn’t have anything on LA or Long Beach (except maybe for the Steelers, but I can still root for them from afar). I plan on being here for the duration, even if Meg Whitman gets elected governor.

If it’s not one thing, it’s…………

 General Health, Vacations  No Responses »
Oct 042010
 

3 days into our trip back to Ohio for Edie’s 40th high school reunion, everything seemed to be going fine.

All the reunion events were behind us, and the only thing left was the open house at Edie’s sister’s house Sunday to get through. I was even sort of enjoying myself. The weather wasn’t great, but we weren’t spending a lot of time outside either.

But then as I was just standing around talking with family, without warning, and for no apparent reason, my nose starts to bleed. Fortunately I realized what was happening (after Edie gasped), and I was able to get to the bathroom without making a mess, and stop it in a very short time.

Unbelievable! This is way too reminiscent of what happened just over a year ago, when I eventually had to have my nose cauterized because of spontaneous nose bleeds. The only difference this time is it’s my right nostril instead of my left.

Why does this keep happening? Nose bleeds aren’t listed as a symptom or manifestation of MCL.

Worst of all, it couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time, on vacation, 3,000 miles away from home. [Political rant deleted.]

And even if it doesn’t happen again the rest of the trip, what about the airplane ride home? Could that be problematic?

Fortunately there is a VA clinic in Warren, OH, and a medical center in Pittsburgh, where we’ll be on Wednesday and Thursday, but that won’t make this time any less stressful. I just know for the rest of the vacation, I’ll be dwelling on every feeling in my nose (real or imagined), and wondering if this is this going to be a repeat of last year.

[BIG SIGH]

A healthy dose of Vitamin D

 Food & Wine, Vacations  No Responses »
Jul 192010
 

Well, I would have to say there was near perfect weather in Santa Barbara this past weekend for the California Wine Festival. The skies were clear, and the temperatures ranged from the mid 60′s to low 70′s. It doesn’t get much better than that, and it’s the main reason we love southern [and central] CA so much.

Of course, I can always find something to complain about. It’s just this time, it won’t be the weather.

My biggest complaint was I didn’t ride my bike for 3 days, and watching all the other cyclists riding along the beach, heading out for what was likely a brisk morning ride into the foothills, made me envious.

Then there was the fact, the hotel we stayed in wasn’t what I had expected. It was nice [sorta], and the price was right, but it just didn’t have the class nor the ambiance of the Fess Parker Doubletree Resort, or even the Hotel Mar Monte, both of which were on either side of us.

Oh, but so what! We didn’t go there for the room, or the ocean view. We went there for the wine, and there was lots of it. Three days worth. Most of which was pretty good. We even came across two wineries I think deserve mention. The first one being Cynthus, and the other Tercero.  I particularly liked the concept of Tercero. There are 4 different wine makers (who also work at some pretty prestigious wineries), who produce their own version of wine from the same grapes. It was fun comparing the different styles. And Cynthus, I thought made a good Cabernet Sauvignon.

Another problem, was while the event was billed as the California Wine Festival, it was mainly wineries from the central coast participating, and most of the wines were of the Rhone varietal. Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing (and had I read the website a little more closely, I would have known that), as I do enjoy Rhone wines, and Edie and I do need to expand our horizons from just Pinot Noir’s. Plus there was the token participation from wineries around the state.

All in all a good time was had, and I did get my share of much needed Vitamin D. Especially on my head. I probably should have worn a hat.

June gloom never looked so good

 Vacations  2 Responses »
Jun 282010
 

At last, a day that went off without a hitch.

Arrived at the airport at 6 AM in plenty of time for our 7:35 AM flight, which even managed to leave on time. The best part was Delta had sent our bags ahead last evening, and they were waiting for us at baggage claim at LAX when we arrived.

No waiting or fighting everyone to grab our bags. Delta finally got it right this time.

It feels so good to be home! Especially since we were out of green tea.

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