tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84884109126347104112024-03-12T16:40:22.103-07:0050 Shades of Delicious: 2 Chewsy for the Catwalk2 hungry and thirsty gals on a quest for exceptional cuisine and drinks...and we blog about it.Rohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02190725970093433967noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-45008611722540634262015-03-14T13:08:00.002-07:002015-03-14T13:08:29.318-07:00Galavanting in Southeast Asia: Vietnam Part Two: "Street Food Touring Vietnamese-Style"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ro and Lotus</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As mentioned in our last blog (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8488410912634710411#editor/target=post;postID=1062642837495545585;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=1;src=postname" target="_blank">Part One</a>) our bus broke down in a small town in Northern Vietnam. We were making the best of the experience by enjoying some lively Australian company at a local coffee shop, but beginning to stress because we had booked a food tour back in Hanoi and the time to drive back was going to be very tight. Finally our repaired van did come to pick us up. We arrived back in Hanoi about 5 minutes past our agreed upon pick-up time, which was pretty good considering the circumstances. We were super excited to try an international food tour a) because we own a <a href="http://www.taste206.com/">food tour</a> ourselves in Seattle and b) because this one was on a moped--vroom, vroom!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The manager of the </span><a href="http://hanoifoodtour.com/hanoi-tour-pakage/hanoi-old-quarter-street-food-tour/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Hanoi street food tour </a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and two young women with helmets were outside our hotel when we arrived ready to whisk us away. We paid the manager for the tour and never had to worry about paying for any of the food we ate again all night (and you'll soon read about just how much food that was)! Our two very friendly Vietnamese guides quickly introduced themselves as Amy and Lotus (guessing these were their English names). They carefully put the helmets on our heads, buckled the strap, helped us get on the back of the scooter and before we had time to do a Hail Mary we merged out into the chaotic traffic of Hanoi. Initially we had wanted to drive our own mopeds, but quickly realized if we wanted to live any longer, it was best that someone else drive. Hanoi's traffic rules seemed non-existent to us foreigners, but the longer we were in the country we observed it was a well-timed and practiced art of lane changes, honking and calculated risk. So off we went, wide-eyed and excited to begin this night of exploring Hanoi’s Old Quarter and a guided tasting of the city's best street food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What we quickly experienced was Vietnamese street food is quite different from what we Americans deem street food. New Yorkers have food carts scattered across the city offering a quick hot dog that’s been simmering for hours in a hot tub on wheels. Ballparks across the country have street vendors littering the streets outside our grand stadiums offering quick grab and go bites before you head inside to watch the game. In Seattle, where our food culture centers around what else— coffee shops, we duck in for a quick snack while we order up our morning latte to warm up before heading to work. Street food is common at fairs and festivals (oh <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.holderconcession.com/images/FunnelCake/Tastemaker%2520Funnel%2520Cake.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.holderconcession.com/foods_funnel_cakes.php&h=197&w=256&tbnid=Ee-HOhuawoNOzM:&zoom=1&tbnh=154&tbnw=199&usg=__z6jLsWxFqm-rcXzThJFOHttVlW8=&docid=g7PQjHr3mQSxzM&itg=1&ved=0CJEBEMo3&ei=jWAEVYGmHY20oQSEvoCQAg" target="_blank">funnel cakes</a> and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=fried+twinkies&es_sm=91&biw=1440&bih=709&tbm=isch&imgil=Fc6qehSQuywRCM%253A%253B_bugWmHBJZ8YvM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.momonplanetteen.com%25252Ftwinkie-deep-fried-recipe%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=Fc6qehSQuywRCM%253A%252C_bugWmHBJZ8YvM%252C_&usg=__jSOaNR-LwtLwnImaY4vSz-8DiX8%3D&ved=0CDEQyjc&ei=5WAEVYTWKsSxogSGk4CoCA#imgrc=Fc6qehSQuywRCM%253A%3B_bugWmHBJZ8YvM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.momonplanetteen.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F11%252Fdeep-fried-twinkie.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.momonplanetteen.com%252Ftwinkie-deep-fried-recipe%252F%3B320%3B284" target="_blank">deep-fried twinkies</a>), but the main vehicle for street food is literally a vehicle— the now common food truck. These trucks are all around our city offering cuisines as varied as you can dream up (we love <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marinationmobile" target="_blank">Marination's Big Blue</a> (fusion street food featured on our <a href="http://taste206.com/alki-beach-bikes-food-bites-tour/" target="_blank">Alki Tour</a>) and the <a href="http://www.tatsdeli.com/" target="_blank">Tat's Deli </a>truck (Philly cheesesteak featured on our <a href="http://taste206.com/historical-pioneer-square-food-district-tour/" target="_blank">Pioneer Square Tour</a>). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vietnam’s version of street food varies greatly from the American. Instead of a bright, painted, rolling marketing billboard (aka food truck) rather in Vietnam you find street food in stalls, women with make-shift carts or carrying baskets fashioned together with whatever materials are available (sometimes as simple as a bamboo sticks). There are also traditional store-fronts, nothing special to look at, in fact you would probably pass the best places right by unless you had the inside track like we did with our two expert guides. What we were about to experience was that the food deemed street food also didn’t need to be fast or portable, in fact we were going to start our tour with a bowl of soup.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We stopped first at <a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/how-i-got-that-shot-pho-gia-truyen-canteen-hanoi" target="_blank">Phở Gia Truyen</a> (49 Bat Dan Street), which was not much to look at and would be one of those restaurants we would have passed right by as a tourist. Lotus quickly guided us to one of the handful of communal tables available while Amy went to get our bowls of phở (pronounced “fuh”). When the bowl of noodles arrived, Lotus gave us careful instructions on which of the condiments to add and exactly how much (her mission was us eating the perfect bowl of phở ). They both watched us intently from across the table, so eager to determine if we loved this bowl of noodle soup as much as they did. After a few slurps of the deepest, most flavorful broth either of us had ever tasted, we did crown this bowl of phở the best we’ve ever had. This of course pleased our guides immensely. We asked what the secret was and their answer was years of practice, having been in business for decades (our guides said their parents had been coming here their entire lives). The other secret, start the broth early in the morning and let it simmer for most of the day. Amy said that every phở traditionally has the same seven base ingredients, but it’s how you prepare it and balance the flavors that makes the special ones stand out. It was apropos that we began with phở as it’s believed to have originated in Hanoi.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXtjNmiqednbg2669ypKshqLtscgRHO_8o1ic422NZSYDdHrWk2-Ud88mamYLsLJwMl_kfl6N84qO-QUHariUCGmZ2a4_uRUKRLiloW8dSaxClurL1ic-s1UOSBl3cuiYdbv_gtuyA4Y/s1600/IMG_4825_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXtjNmiqednbg2669ypKshqLtscgRHO_8o1ic422NZSYDdHrWk2-Ud88mamYLsLJwMl_kfl6N84qO-QUHariUCGmZ2a4_uRUKRLiloW8dSaxClurL1ic-s1UOSBl3cuiYdbv_gtuyA4Y/s1600/IMG_4825_2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have a large Vietnamese community in Seattle (inclusive of Little Saigon in our International District) so we’ve had our fair share of phở normally for lunch and sometimes for dinner. We quickly learned at our first breakfast in Vietnam that phở is the breakfast of champions here and commonly eaten out on the street at little stands. In comparison to the phở we’ve tried back at home, this bowl definitely stood out because of the silky homemade noodles, but it really came down to the broth. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruocUbWFOBcqPYib3vIGbWnRKuUcgQwG-nBv5cnVvqGfI3wdL8TC0Tkn5obHQNqZACPEpNqnstjn9uc3ua6ywwapaTRTk4nDxol2VkiNEEAkVUIiRNpD5x_ngI1pe-04DJHrieiRaExo/s1600/01_Chicken_Broth_49oz_Can.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruocUbWFOBcqPYib3vIGbWnRKuUcgQwG-nBv5cnVvqGfI3wdL8TC0Tkn5obHQNqZACPEpNqnstjn9uc3ua6ywwapaTRTk4nDxol2VkiNEEAkVUIiRNpD5x_ngI1pe-04DJHrieiRaExo/s1600/01_Chicken_Broth_49oz_Can.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Broth to our generation has traditionally been that can of Swanson grandma gets out of the pantry for Thanksgiving cooking. However, more and more home chefs are discovering the secret to making their soups and other dishes more rich, is by making their own homemade broth (it’s much healthier too). Speaking of broth did you know this under-appreciated liquid gold is becoming extremely trendy in the United States? <a href="http://brodonyc.com/">Brodo</a> (Italian for broth) in New York City is leading the charge by marketing the health benefits of broth while appealing to our American on-the-go culture. They offer paper cups filled with piping-hot broth for the sipping, allowing customers to walk the streets of New York with their hands around some old-world warmth.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Our Hanoi Food Tour Guides: Amy and Lotus</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguheRsXluzup2dnFTeiIQ7orxU7iKIc89sISfT9fU7DEQCVaupzUP8Lnzu7_GT4b46tDy95SJyQ6vgek7wHTholuIDnJCJaXQfCn1vH0qvbNC-j7Z_A-4hgjNdKEwb4lspVOkKo1FdCBI/s1600/IMG_4833_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguheRsXluzup2dnFTeiIQ7orxU7iKIc89sISfT9fU7DEQCVaupzUP8Lnzu7_GT4b46tDy95SJyQ6vgek7wHTholuIDnJCJaXQfCn1vH0qvbNC-j7Z_A-4hgjNdKEwb4lspVOkKo1FdCBI/s1600/IMG_4833_2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We may never be able to replicate that authentic </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">phở </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> experience back in the states even though it can be found across the nation. There’s really no way to replicate the environment where you tasted that perfect bite. It's the entire sensory experience that adds to the flavor and gives the food that specific taste you can only find by eating it at the origin. Elements like the weather (in this case hot and muggy even at 6 pm in the evening), the sound of a foreign language being spoken around you, the smells of unfamiliar scents and seeing the hustle, commotion and sounds from the street. All of this combines into the taste and memory of the food. Despite knowing this, we still vowed to try to research some <a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Travels/Heaven-in-a-Bowl">recipes for Pho Bac</a> (traditional Northern Vietnamese phở) and try to have some of this wonderful soup for breakfast one weekend morning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we discussed phở with our guides they were quick to point out that there is a gaping divide between how it’s made in the North vs. how their counterparts in the South prepare this national dish. Lotus bluntly shared that her people, the Northerners, are lazy and don’t like to exercise so they keep their food light and healthy so they can get away with that laziness. Southerns are a little more indulgent and heavy-handed with their phở. She promised we would try both varieties so we could compare.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguheRsXluzup2dnFTeiIQ7orxU7iKIc89sISfT9fU7DEQCVaupzUP8Lnzu7_GT4b46tDy95SJyQ6vgek7wHTholuIDnJCJaXQfCn1vH0qvbNC-j7Z_A-4hgjNdKEwb4lspVOkKo1FdCBI/s1600/IMG_4833_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQJR8LxbStHCpYbkEXjHuTonQdKS7-D1BslCuoEjqq8DIZyeWieb0mNoODQRl27aAoKO0mRCDloFtThznE-yWvWUd1O-vztOpEyvGwt1tzPcYx064rQqlxH5UFKKOBp-SJxliDxg599o/s1600/IMG_4836_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiicrO5ScsSf0O6tO6PFKC6XDWD1NPgtrMAQK1lgenWZazLO8XCYe8NHx2VQELjSAWhQTOHF4iKst76V5Uf66AxVUmJk4JYGfz3wtxlRG8CeHCf67th50YR6rHggojYusKAQjDcAP1Q0/s1600/IMG_4835_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiicrO5ScsSf0O6tO6PFKC6XDWD1NPgtrMAQK1lgenWZazLO8XCYe8NHx2VQELjSAWhQTOHF4iKst76V5Uf66AxVUmJk4JYGfz3wtxlRG8CeHCf67th50YR6rHggojYusKAQjDcAP1Q0/s1600/IMG_4835_2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly, we knew we had to move along from this delicious stop. As delicious as phở is, it only scratches the surface of Vietnamese street food and this was just our first stop with many more to go. It became apparent we were going to have to pace ourselves as this was a food marathon, not a sprint.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LzqCoZ9_ny2yTWwKKEcH4uQhkWDWUw3ztasndZ7LVEnXpZkDUmGMQ2vgBUQoXIOII8EwHOJPRFifoq0RGlzXTLdaaZ6jMWEdCNA7BEUfyVFN_ejhmy7c_S2Sm66UusjQ6yvOmVLqzfk/s1600/IMG_4837_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LzqCoZ9_ny2yTWwKKEcH4uQhkWDWUw3ztasndZ7LVEnXpZkDUmGMQ2vgBUQoXIOII8EwHOJPRFifoq0RGlzXTLdaaZ6jMWEdCNA7BEUfyVFN_ejhmy7c_S2Sm66UusjQ6yvOmVLqzfk/s1600/IMG_4837_2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQJR8LxbStHCpYbkEXjHuTonQdKS7-D1BslCuoEjqq8DIZyeWieb0mNoODQRl27aAoKO0mRCDloFtThznE-yWvWUd1O-vztOpEyvGwt1tzPcYx064rQqlxH5UFKKOBp-SJxliDxg599o/s1600/IMG_4836_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQJR8LxbStHCpYbkEXjHuTonQdKS7-D1BslCuoEjqq8DIZyeWieb0mNoODQRl27aAoKO0mRCDloFtThznE-yWvWUd1O-vztOpEyvGwt1tzPcYx064rQqlxH5UFKKOBp-SJxliDxg599o/s1600/IMG_4836_2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next it was on to try another dish also said to originate in Hanoi, Bún chả, which is a grilled pork kebab (chả) served with rice noodles (bún), traditional herbs and dipping sauce. It is typically eaten for lunch, but was part of our night's extravaganza. The pork is grilled and then placed in a light broth that tasted both sweet and sour, which complemented the pork very well. The noodles, herbs and usual suspect condiments are to be placed in the broth as additions. We enjoyed this dish and it would have been one we would not have known to try on our own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next, it was onto Cafe Quang Minh (51 Dinh Tien Hoang). We found parking for the mopeds and then our guides quickly seated us at one of the small, teeny-tiny tables th</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">at might be found in a child’s room back in the states. Amy dashes off and brings us back a popular snack named nộm bò khô (green papaya salad). Don’t let the name fool you as it did us, it sounds so cool and refreshing, but is actually a very complex combination of flavors. The salad is sweet and spicy from the thin slices of beef soaked in a mixture of cane sugar, garlic, oil, ginger and chili, which is soaked overnight and then oven dried. Sour from the julienned green papaya pickled in vinegar. There’s a freshness from the herbs and crunch and saltiness from the peanuts. It’s all tied together with a dressing base of fish sauce, sugar, vinegar, chili, seasonings and soy sauce. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The Vietnamese are masters of finding a perfect balance of flavors in their cooking.</span><br />
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America is a sandwich loving nation and this was to be our next tasting. One of our favorite sandwiches is the somewhat ubiquitous Vietnamese bánh mì, which has popped up all over the United States. In Hanoi, these sandwiches are spelled "Banh My” and are usually consumed for breakfast. The baguette (the vehicle for this </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zziXpFjS3zSd8DRMWjDIGxbD7S2_c8jOlMV3updE2fRLgo1G4GvM__rtHX-sK-lR9puelxbK_oJcRvZoRdga6bEaya7x-szC7BhGLO0gMh1YXttDCos0jugiBHZb2Xj5s4LpNc0luUM/s1600/IMG_4842_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zziXpFjS3zSd8DRMWjDIGxbD7S2_c8jOlMV3updE2fRLgo1G4GvM__rtHX-sK-lR9puelxbK_oJcRvZoRdga6bEaya7x-szC7BhGLO0gMh1YXttDCos0jugiBHZb2Xj5s4LpNc0luUM/s1600/IMG_4842_2.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></span></div>
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delicious sandwich) was introduced during French occupation. The fillings however are very much Southeast Asian; pickled carrots and daikon, hot chili peppers and herbs. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAdDLSox4axWQGW48btpS2buPP_9zt_wiWYK03Nb3PTevnOO9b2MLsPvtm9I-s7XzvGvLMOgwAuf324yFSIeWDAt845wSYunDExRv9241cxggt6bMCQHFqKohNeQkk7vw6dUYk-4XRxo/s1600/IMG_4845_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAdDLSox4axWQGW48btpS2buPP_9zt_wiWYK03Nb3PTevnOO9b2MLsPvtm9I-s7XzvGvLMOgwAuf324yFSIeWDAt845wSYunDExRv9241cxggt6bMCQHFqKohNeQkk7vw6dUYk-4XRxo/s1600/IMG_4845_2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lotus ordered our monster combo sandwich called "the banh my that cam" from Banh My Pho (38 Dinh Liet). This was the mother of all sandwiches that dare to classify themselves as a Vietnamese banh my. It had pâté, egg, herbs, mayo and a very crunchy baguette. It's amazing how good simple, well prepared street food can taste! This Banh My was definitely a <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=My+Oh+My!" target="_blank">“My Oh My!"</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then gave our stomachs a break and did some touring around Hanoi, seeing signs and decorations starting to be put up to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year or <a href="http://www.vietnamonline.com/tet.html" target="_blank">Tết</a> , which is the most important celebration in the Vietnamese culture. We continued onto Thanh Nien Street, which runs right by the Ho Chi Minh Complex where Ho Chi Minh’s final resting place is. His embalmed body is on</span><br />
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public display (despite his request to be cremated). This practice seemed a little morbid to us, but is similar to other communist leaders like Lenin and Stalin. Our guides told us that the body is sent to Russia for a couple of months each year to be "properly maintained." We spoke a little about the country's politics and understood a little more about how the people feel with their current government leaders. But, never a good idea to linger too long talking about embalmed bodies and politics-- kind of an appetite killer. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdX-erbcwAtqxG3LQHlsKgKKPj39G6rt6zvNivQRTgRwLDf1inkO35PB0UZgb_g59yaUKtbncG-lF22QQAlkD-JGebleL8hBzl9vsvLx1ziJxErgrjThNrp_OX35jRtcD8JKaXhx4DXY/s1600/fTdTIhNfq8yZ4hRhuRgi4yG44QRGLEaM-s-240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdX-erbcwAtqxG3LQHlsKgKKPj39G6rt6zvNivQRTgRwLDf1inkO35PB0UZgb_g59yaUKtbncG-lF22QQAlkD-JGebleL8hBzl9vsvLx1ziJxErgrjThNrp_OX35jRtcD8JKaXhx4DXY/s1600/fTdTIhNfq8yZ4hRhuRgi4yG44QRGLEaM-s-240.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3qQd9PTuQZYej0EtcqGivFBsvCVB5r5dRLdGbMoj_ttP5MdarumbvcyVT3T-LodOpfPSPU3A_abmQXOT95tFu-Sdwgo5LKYdk7ukhui-oYirB-YOoRKTVj8n5osidJBz_wPGmZ3SF5c/s1600/IMG_4855_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3qQd9PTuQZYej0EtcqGivFBsvCVB5r5dRLdGbMoj_ttP5MdarumbvcyVT3T-LodOpfPSPU3A_abmQXOT95tFu-Sdwgo5LKYdk7ukhui-oYirB-YOoRKTVj8n5osidJBz_wPGmZ3SF5c/s1600/IMG_4855_2.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then made our way to West Lake, a fresh water lake in the middle of Hanoi. Amy confessed that she and Lotus love renting the duck shaped boats, paddling up behind swooning lovers and making kissing sounds behind them — what a couple of tricksters. We pulled the mopeds over alongside the lake to try one of the traditional snacks of this neighborhood, Bò bía, or as Lotus translated it for us, coconut cake. This is a made to order street dessert made from two thin honeycomb pancakes made with sesame seeds and coconut placed on top of the pancakes and then rolled up into a cone shape and handed over as a hand-held treat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then continued around Truc Bach Lake (Hanoi has several lakes within the city) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and passed what Amy called the wealthy neighborhood, where she dreams of someday owning an apartment on the lake. We wound our way past make-shift street fires being used like tiny little campfires to make even more street food. We ended up on Ngu Xa Street to try </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">phở</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> cuon, which is generally found only in Hanoi and specifically in this neighborhood. We noted that certain types of street food are specific to the city, certain neighborhoods and even down to the street level. Unlike traditional </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">phở, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">phở</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> cuon </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">does not contain broth. Also, traditional </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">phở </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ingredients are replaced with fried brief and rice noodles rolled into what resembles a spring roll and served with dipping sauce on the side. Again we found the offering pretty darn delicious!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVTLqx3ZvPXWusjctBmwsBdmw5eynzXCmWEou5e7dvNBIn980DQMtDU-jm3drSk2fKxeLtTvZImoZoCS1d7KxcR08jNarYCgrlTEMv8tzROt26Aj0pSkRdEghNf6qHmT56YcemIoQjAg/s1600/IMG_4869_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuO2KO1qq0Bq9kODRQPOpqal0GCwQ7mJLmkP-NhyIM-D5wcNyyLZh2QLNH7-iOPx47Om7_Ar3H2WcrEGVPfT3MwlEtYIPzdMU0hlcnaRGvMaKiO1dn6X_OQKKn6WD0V0ogI30mgbCCyTM/s1600/IMG_4870_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuO2KO1qq0Bq9kODRQPOpqal0GCwQ7mJLmkP-NhyIM-D5wcNyyLZh2QLNH7-iOPx47Om7_Ar3H2WcrEGVPfT3MwlEtYIPzdMU0hlcnaRGvMaKiO1dn6X_OQKKn6WD0V0ogI30mgbCCyTM/s1600/IMG_4870_2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVTLqx3ZvPXWusjctBmwsBdmw5eynzXCmWEou5e7dvNBIn980DQMtDU-jm3drSk2fKxeLtTvZImoZoCS1d7KxcR08jNarYCgrlTEMv8tzROt26Aj0pSkRdEghNf6qHmT56YcemIoQjAg/s1600/IMG_4869_2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still going…can you believe it? At the next stop (Quán Gốc Đa - 52 Ly Quoc Su) we had a plethora of snacks and by this time we were really struggling to even try another bite— where’s the white flag? Next for us to try were: bánh gối (pillow cakes or fried dumplings), Bánh rán (a deep-fried glutinous rice ball), Nem chua (fried fermented pork rolls). Our two guides had to help us to eat most of these items, which they were very willing to help with. All these snacks were washed down with local coconut juice.<br /><br />One more savory stop— our guides told us we had to try the South’s version of phở so we could compare and they were confident we would prefer the Northern variety. For this taste test, we</span><br />
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headed to Quán Bún Bò Nam Bộ (67 Hang Dien Street) to try another bowl of beef noodles. Bún Bò </span><br />
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Nam Bộ is also known as stirred beef vermicelli. The main difference we noted was the absence of broth, instead the noodles were coated in a fish based sauce. It was more like a salad vs. a soup. But, at this point we were so full we only had a bite or so and had to call it, since we had dessert and coffee left on the schedule. We'd have to do a true comparison another day.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j0PWtele2mesb6mu9yUROLVGy5skXwYKZJ4iDdrZl0Yc_NJHLQcAd0gdaIIeF85ReVTQATU-fOWbNnyl8Yk27gQoIq1fAGudN_O-zBKqHw4mvCi3lh5rycw4sr18jyyegJkiRqTzc5Q/s1600/IMG_4874_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j0PWtele2mesb6mu9yUROLVGy5skXwYKZJ4iDdrZl0Yc_NJHLQcAd0gdaIIeF85ReVTQATU-fOWbNnyl8Yk27gQoIq1fAGudN_O-zBKqHw4mvCi3lh5rycw4sr18jyyegJkiRqTzc5Q/s1600/IMG_4874_2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdi9egb5B8D1xwUDILdvLGFFnHxWRrpRnt1x4rMcGqnbbtnpRT079IzyuZBHhyXUbDEV4F4lyxmrBCxr9x1_O8oqEJQGWMHGNTcfxXR5TdwPyk-GyCX5BC3Zit0MDctTMdQrfKoT5xYbg/s1600/IMG_4872_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdi9egb5B8D1xwUDILdvLGFFnHxWRrpRnt1x4rMcGqnbbtnpRT079IzyuZBHhyXUbDEV4F4lyxmrBCxr9x1_O8oqEJQGWMHGNTcfxXR5TdwPyk-GyCX5BC3Zit0MDctTMdQrfKoT5xYbg/s1600/IMG_4872_2.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
We headed to Sua Chua Mit Hoang Anh (22B Ba Trieu</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">) for some frozen yogurt. We were given no choice, but to try the girls' own yogurt creation dubbed the “chop chop” because of all their additions to the yogurt and how they creatively use chopsticks to mix it all up. They had some of the tapioca used in bubble tea with</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> yogurt, fruit and caramel. How can you resist saying no to these two?<br /><br />Our last stop was to try a Hanoi speciality, egg coffee at Cafe Giang (39 Nguyen Huu Huan) and being Seattleites we were very curious what this might taste <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8B7UuoZ46nr0mlfFvUlL801P-U2SENquY9ob78n7NAnPPl9-gCEZmzxL1CDW7jQNwc7pNUT5vLm68o9E7D4DYKbRycH_oMfJ0hkIluFGSGYrkEYxXBRFG8jKZt1JI8uG3TERtftJs8E/s1600/IMG_4876_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8B7UuoZ46nr0mlfFvUlL801P-U2SENquY9ob78n7NAnPPl9-gCEZmzxL1CDW7jQNwc7pNUT5vLm68o9E7D4DYKbRycH_oMfJ0hkIluFGSGYrkEYxXBRFG8jKZt1JI8uG3TERtftJs8E/s1600/IMG_4876_2.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
like. We were glad we had our trusty guides as Cafe Giang is tucked away in a non-descript lane (a bit speak-easy-esk). This is one of Hanoi’s treasures. It was founded back in 1946 by Mr. Nguyen, whose family still runs the place. Amy told us that her grandparents and parents love this place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr. Nguyen has kept his egg coffee recipe almost the same as in the early days. The main ingredients are egg yolk as the name implies, Vietnamese coffee powder, sweetened condensed milk and butter (definitely not the lowest-calorie choice). This coffee was developed due to the scarcity of milk, so egg yolks were used as a replacement for the fat. The yolks are whisked into the other ingredients and then added to the brewed coffee. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It became apparent as we climbed the stairs to the 2nd level that this was a very popular place with the locals as there was standing room only. The girls somehow managed to find us a little table to sit at for our egg coffee tasting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we were chatting with the girls and sipping away we noticed a local man staring at us. Eventually he made his way over through the crowd and introduced himself as our hotel front desk agent. He asked if we were enjoying the coffee. We replied, we found it</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> very sweet, rich and decadent. What a fun</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> coincidence to meet him in a completely different part of the city, which proved the locals really do love this place. It was also a</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> very fitting way to end our dabble into the street foods of Hanoi.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMA_9MHL9ZOdbd9DS_W2eqtllw6RZ8BDujVaT50fPO6bFCUeS67EPDHtekVidVRHs1nPHU-iv0KbQ3ABkA3fYCqZxLmczQOF-6GvTk1SuBqJoRpcReTBdJeUv6BOZQClFUkf8hKJp1SgE/s1600/IMG_4879_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMA_9MHL9ZOdbd9DS_W2eqtllw6RZ8BDujVaT50fPO6bFCUeS67EPDHtekVidVRHs1nPHU-iv0KbQ3ABkA3fYCqZxLmczQOF-6GvTk1SuBqJoRpcReTBdJeUv6BOZQClFUkf8hKJp1SgE/s1600/IMG_4879_2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Vietnamese egg coffee</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By now, we were stick-a-fork in us done. What a whirl-wind tour of this ancient city (Hanoi celebrated it's millennium birthday a few years back). We really enjoyed our food tour and the time we spent with our fun guides Lotus and Amy. There's nothing like being taken to the best spots to eat in the city and learning about the culture and vibe by hanging out with the locals. We definitely came away with a love of Vietnamese street food, in fact we don't know why you would book an expensive fancy dinner here when the street food is so darn good!</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRdOBsfpXBSCKDRm7FN-zvUpUYGh50BGthvFuNBJZwV_YTMM9FBIGR0N-qVAHv2P6UyTjcPQ9l85ExcUqBYPQFbM4lq_qZjD6ZD4_XdFHgv6V4Xzy549bG8Bsdbe5jYC2YzIkKpMRMns/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRdOBsfpXBSCKDRm7FN-zvUpUYGh50BGthvFuNBJZwV_YTMM9FBIGR0N-qVAHv2P6UyTjcPQ9l85ExcUqBYPQFbM4lq_qZjD6ZD4_XdFHgv6V4Xzy549bG8Bsdbe5jYC2YzIkKpMRMns/s1600/images-2.jpeg" height="200" width="160" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our most excellent adventures continue and this time to Southeast Asia. Apologies for the pause
in posting blogs, but we were very busy starting up our new food tour business <a href="http://taste206.com/" target="_blank">Taste Seattle Food Tours</a>. Are we crazy? Of
course! But there was a method to our
madness—we both have a passion for food and sharing out beautiful city of
Seattle so a food tour was the perfect medium to do both. Plus, we figured we could take
time off during the winter season for our other passion traveling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGytA_rQyx9NSHF8PKBVxT17MhmYj1GHFamCXsp7PjMww0bDJjtOpI3O8MUswEhVmk6VIqGTPRBT5O7TafIPnjl0CZt12APNmje73NUwuKa9xt3WLyKnM8RWqDKx0d-d8we4fOscc-owE/s1600/images-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGytA_rQyx9NSHF8PKBVxT17MhmYj1GHFamCXsp7PjMww0bDJjtOpI3O8MUswEhVmk6VIqGTPRBT5O7TafIPnjl0CZt12APNmje73NUwuKa9xt3WLyKnM8RWqDKx0d-d8we4fOscc-owE/s1600/images-3.jpeg" height="200" width="131" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of travel—this year we each picked a place from our respective bucket
lists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Ro, being an island girl at
heart, she had always found Bali to be a place she hoped to visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We decided this would be a perfect place to get some sunshine in January. </span>Early in Flo’s childhood and after the
Vietnam War had ended she remembers having a young Vietnamese man who was
attending the local university visit her family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was trying to bring the rest of his family
to the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a child’s
mind, the seriousness of this situation was incomprehensible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead what was gleaned was there were other
countries and different cultures to be explored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It subconsciously planted the desire to go to
that absolutely foreign sounding country of Vietnam someday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We quickly realized when we started planning
our adventure that to return to Seattle from Bali was too far and we were going
to need to connect somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we
added in South Korea to the itinerary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Suddenly, we were writing our own Eat, Pray, Love script, with the
emphasis on the Eat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNvvwNyyuGpY8H7duGmUxeQHoGCXY2IRBn45v2r6LPGgCeTAtCus3FSevO2P565GVPnlQULmwpE_2IsLaCzeuRewwbqT1U-NRUL6NgnYbgF_WYKCTbJBeLkKmqHweUpoEqDBvmh5zo4Y/s1600/IMG_4732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNvvwNyyuGpY8H7duGmUxeQHoGCXY2IRBn45v2r6LPGgCeTAtCus3FSevO2P565GVPnlQULmwpE_2IsLaCzeuRewwbqT1U-NRUL6NgnYbgF_WYKCTbJBeLkKmqHweUpoEqDBvmh5zo4Y/s1600/IMG_4732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNvvwNyyuGpY8H7duGmUxeQHoGCXY2IRBn45v2r6LPGgCeTAtCus3FSevO2P565GVPnlQULmwpE_2IsLaCzeuRewwbqT1U-NRUL6NgnYbgF_WYKCTbJBeLkKmqHweUpoEqDBvmh5zo4Y/s1600/IMG_4732.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29u6RLzfC4mJXd2sMuwCuI1CNO3MHo3WUmrrrOdj3mhnvhauCEvwLdDYcKv3zy5I5jk92jYzmNBnMnTewOXDwuwC8_DWjPE-PFFi-UaXTtQwDJO2guF12gLGNWFogEu7uZq4GD5nC-4Q/s1600/20150114_171126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29u6RLzfC4mJXd2sMuwCuI1CNO3MHo3WUmrrrOdj3mhnvhauCEvwLdDYcKv3zy5I5jk92jYzmNBnMnTewOXDwuwC8_DWjPE-PFFi-UaXTtQwDJO2guF12gLGNWFogEu7uZq4GD5nC-4Q/s1600/20150114_171126.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The most difficult part of our great journey to Southeast
Asia was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>literally getting on the
plane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We consider ourselves seasoned
travelers, but made a critical rookie mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had booked a tour in Vietnam and relied on the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>booking travel service to advise us on any
special travel considerations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> However, imagine our disappointment in misplacing our trust, when w</span>e showed up to the airport the morning of our flight brimming with excitement to begin
our long anticipated adventure only to be told when we checked-in that we
couldn’t get on the airplane without a Vietnam Visa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next 48 hours were spent scrambling to
get an expedited visa and find seats on new flights without needing to mortgage
the farm to pay for fare differences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By some miracle, we returned to the airport two days later, vowing to
never rely on someone else again to tell us what is required to travel and with
renewed excitement and determination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Even more drama ensued halfway across the Pacific when there was an announcement over the PA asking for a doctor to help with a passenger's medical emergency. There were moments considering the possibility that we were going to need to turn around and head back to Seattle. However, we later learned that said passenger had indulged a little too heavily on the booze on board and had fallen on his way to the restroom. He was patched up with a make shift gauze turban around his head, making him look like a mummy, but crisis averted. </span>Julia Robert’s character in Eat, Pray, Love endured a terrible divorce
to begin that movie, luckily our obstacles paled in comparison, but still had
tinges of the same Hollywood drama.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Flash ahead almost 24 hours and after a layover in Tokyo, Japan
we finally arrived in Hanoi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a bit
more drama at the visa counter we were finally admitted into the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the warmest of welcomes, but after traveling for a full day, all we cared about at this point was finding a bed to sleep in. <o:p></o:p>One of the things we soon got very accustomed to (a real plus of booking a tour) was having a driver waiting for us just outside the
airport to whisk us away to our hotel.
We got a few key hours of sleep before our first venture out into the
country began the next morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbda1yxycuXE5qw4lslVU7S9QYyHwyS0ZcmOtKJLVkUBi6reCTqnVsoXLNVkLZLd6bnfndwRCI4IAZYwVwPE4KdvUcGW-zz4oI2jchnctga4vHIXM-63Q-Nv_a29do-wfUI1OEHrRo6jw/s1600/20150111_072902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbda1yxycuXE5qw4lslVU7S9QYyHwyS0ZcmOtKJLVkUBi6reCTqnVsoXLNVkLZLd6bnfndwRCI4IAZYwVwPE4KdvUcGW-zz4oI2jchnctga4vHIXM-63Q-Nv_a29do-wfUI1OEHrRo6jw/s1600/20150111_072902.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We experienced our first Vietnamese breakfast bright and early that first morning. It’s
where we first experienced starting the day off with a piping hot bowl of
noodles (Pho). It’s no surprise that
almost every culture has the equivalent of chicken noodle soup and Pho is
Vietnam’s equivalent of this comforting food.
Neither of us could remember ever starting the day with soup, which is a shame because it’s actually quite
lovely. As we peered out the dining room
window and looked across the busy street through the raindrops there were several locals sitting at
child-sized tables squatting on tiny chairs devouring similar bowls of
noodles. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4y86qVO5YlgWHAJHWF2UxGBTcuQIZjV0Yun4irx5rXDP5ELyEtFthiEraOoYsRfL2eBUp0oAD6zvgRx8Mi-oMWPkcjniQmNX6lRgiOHeUNWQhoSa7GdD4F7Mx4zGVau5iwBe0gNpqOzQ/s1600/dsc_4962-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4y86qVO5YlgWHAJHWF2UxGBTcuQIZjV0Yun4irx5rXDP5ELyEtFthiEraOoYsRfL2eBUp0oAD6zvgRx8Mi-oMWPkcjniQmNX6lRgiOHeUNWQhoSa7GdD4F7Mx4zGVau5iwBe0gNpqOzQ/s1600/dsc_4962-small.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We didn’t have much time to linger over breakfast as we were picked up by our tour guide and loaded onto a tourist bus. We began to get our first look at Hanoi city as the bus wound it’s way through the streets stopping at various hotels to pick up other tourists. There was a rhythm to the morning— locals eating street noodles for breakfast, women carrying their wares with a bamboo stick balancing on their shoulders, the iconic pointy hat also made from bamboo. From our perch on the bus, we got a quick snapshot of the city, which we would return to, but first we were starting our three-hour journey East to Ha Long Bay, an UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the <a href="http://blog.travelandleisureasia.com/destination/2012/08/06/ha-long-bay-7-wonders-of-nature-newest-addition/" target="_blank">Seven New Wonders of Nature</a>. </span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjwOPgCCt05QhuWEyGpJoNh_i89SBzpbyUzmopUhxGs23chTe8EFVDqllofXR_yDaRjsLdrnl5NhsJSS-4YrjEK9E0Bc5iur2J9pLpcSX2054y98PUmBfrZ9HQ3qGAmndyoLrqJY9wEI/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjwOPgCCt05QhuWEyGpJoNh_i89SBzpbyUzmopUhxGs23chTe8EFVDqllofXR_yDaRjsLdrnl5NhsJSS-4YrjEK9E0Bc5iur2J9pLpcSX2054y98PUmBfrZ9HQ3qGAmndyoLrqJY9wEI/s1600/images.jpeg" height="133" width="200" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CPu22S_7ilb1AAnEpkmLmXiamPsjf4jskzZKupS7Fx4BqKLPRBUByf-qWl_9QwLgcJ3zAa9VNtaB-5V5LyGy15gjWk7wFDZCh3FD_aVraEn4CsI9GpLNe-WH7-TM3PbVoaL9LoBY9rM/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CPu22S_7ilb1AAnEpkmLmXiamPsjf4jskzZKupS7Fx4BqKLPRBUByf-qWl_9QwLgcJ3zAa9VNtaB-5V5LyGy15gjWk7wFDZCh3FD_aVraEn4CsI9GpLNe-WH7-TM3PbVoaL9LoBY9rM/s1600/images-1.jpeg" height="200" width="133" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our journey took us over the Red River and into more rural providences seeing plenty of rice patties, a few monkeys and some water buffalo. On the journey, we heard stories of how poor most Vietnamese are, making less than $50 US per month. Also, how in the country outside the large cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, people hold onto tradition even when in stark contrast to modern knowledge and technology. Our guide Vinh, told us about an ancient tradition of Vietnamese women where they smoke a bamboo water pipe with guests to welcome them to their home. She said this tradition is why many older Vietnamese women have black teeth. To this day, they still believe this practice gives them health and calms the nerves, despite all of the scientific evidence on the danger of smoking. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt66k7gJGQgDxNEoMaXQAeI11Jx0WnhQgLBI5utwnjADNKo8mpVyIPqbqG1c2TW_3gnUxOj1hn6wgULgNluNL3rgP6Xx2gsN8eWxJUAwEegDTH7GWVam6MKum2F-u3whh0-vhG_isS1o/s1600/tevye71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt66k7gJGQgDxNEoMaXQAeI11Jx0WnhQgLBI5utwnjADNKo8mpVyIPqbqG1c2TW_3gnUxOj1hn6wgULgNluNL3rgP6Xx2gsN8eWxJUAwEegDTH7GWVam6MKum2F-u3whh0-vhG_isS1o/s1600/tevye71.jpg" height="105" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cue in music here from Fiddler on the Roof with Tevye singing:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tradition, tradition! Tradition!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Tradition, tradition! Tradition!</span></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyVLkI9MSn9l4TFnTGpQUYE4RmQqaLXaNo0O7O8qdLA371PBL7xTPCvY2T34nEEJIZSUUUIPDKuq9aG0f3VJceD57GvoTl65dPiVX_J1kA2FQ825U3vo7uYvDM4Jvwt2BUK-M1yBpwbQ/s1600/20150112_094329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyVLkI9MSn9l4TFnTGpQUYE4RmQqaLXaNo0O7O8qdLA371PBL7xTPCvY2T34nEEJIZSUUUIPDKuq9aG0f3VJceD57GvoTl65dPiVX_J1kA2FQ825U3vo7uYvDM4Jvwt2BUK-M1yBpwbQ/s1600/20150112_094329.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj1O_QVTQ_1GeSPxZpKMwHm9nXPaArM8rVeajZms0-V4tI__Y1rGLrMf2ZFXqtJLmVgTK2hNcf9x_7s-LEn8d2FtgXzPL3HelO0Yz1IQ9HHyf5DWn_NAKrObidgh8Eggkpzh0FjgD7Lg/s1600/20150111_130026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQj1O_QVTQ_1GeSPxZpKMwHm9nXPaArM8rVeajZms0-V4tI__Y1rGLrMf2ZFXqtJLmVgTK2hNcf9x_7s-LEn8d2FtgXzPL3HelO0Yz1IQ9HHyf5DWn_NAKrObidgh8Eggkpzh0FjgD7Lg/s1600/20150111_130026.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also began to hear about how this country has survived an almost continuous onslaught of invasions including the Chinese, Mongolians, French and Americans. This was the beginning of learning about the fierce determination the Vietnamese people seemingly embody in their genes to fight stronger foes. As we got closer to our destination our guide recounted a story of when Ha Long Bay was invaded by Chinese hundreds of years ago. The intelligent Vietnamese knew they could not out power their enemy, but they could out think them. At low tide they put sharp poles down into the floor of the bay, which became covered when the water returned. As the Chinese boats came into the bay, they were gouged and began to sink and the Chinese were forced to retreat. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNLxUpLqni1ZJggxHk0hEUNfnjoI4dtONZ-HWF6vCEhLKsKpwQBNVUtB-cI9eJMhtWjXpcKbSnUldh8Y_3JuSorvbZdIAchl0saJ7kLTtSqgA45j8YbaoZ58qwYTQb9EhPTqy9VdVmAM/s1600/20150112_094349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNLxUpLqni1ZJggxHk0hEUNfnjoI4dtONZ-HWF6vCEhLKsKpwQBNVUtB-cI9eJMhtWjXpcKbSnUldh8Y_3JuSorvbZdIAchl0saJ7kLTtSqgA45j8YbaoZ58qwYTQb9EhPTqy9VdVmAM/s1600/20150112_094349.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17L7eNWdx7E3HrPiMmY1T_q0maP_iv87EsXYile2urBDRQu_Sao4PLs_CnPD2BQRNerlgAR91sxCI1kCbkxVwFaiQZiSlF6gZ4OgPZVkZqrOlEvxMLZKDpOa9wdUJu3M9UCMku5xfOeE/s1600/20150112_094416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17L7eNWdx7E3HrPiMmY1T_q0maP_iv87EsXYile2urBDRQu_Sao4PLs_CnPD2BQRNerlgAR91sxCI1kCbkxVwFaiQZiSlF6gZ4OgPZVkZqrOlEvxMLZKDpOa9wdUJu3M9UCMku5xfOeE/s1600/20150112_094416.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Armed with some history and cultural information we finally arrived at the dock and were shuttled onto a day boat, which would take us to the <a href="http://www.vspiritcruises.com/" target="_blank">V’Spirit</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_(ship)" target="_blank">junk </a>(floating hotel boat) and once aboard we soon set sail into the bay. We were assigned cabins where we quickly dropped off our bags and returned to the dining room. The timing was impeccable as we sat down to lunch we suddenly saw the limestone <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karst" target="_blank">karsts</a> begin to emerge from the water. The junk sailed effortlessly by dozens of these limestone mountains and the bay quickly filled up with many other boats bringing with them more tourists. It was really like nothing we’ve ever seen before and very peaceful despite the number of boats. The only unfortunate thing was mother nature was not cooperating with sunny weather so we did forego some of the planned activities like kayaking, swimming and night fishing. However, we did get our Indiana Jones on and went cave exploring.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwh6j6x9jNsJ71C4bU1FBsNnqE7kg3Pl1KdUD2KYECegkqIWYDMSmurwsTDqYU745TSzr2VTQOrfqmK7yX4J2waOjsIfH3BRmy1wIGd9lgsqq3Hcfind92C03OP8a8IGu1xJM-e2zU4o/s1600/20150111_154124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwh6j6x9jNsJ71C4bU1FBsNnqE7kg3Pl1KdUD2KYECegkqIWYDMSmurwsTDqYU745TSzr2VTQOrfqmK7yX4J2waOjsIfH3BRmy1wIGd9lgsqq3Hcfind92C03OP8a8IGu1xJM-e2zU4o/s1600/20150111_154124.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi58VZKYwAb-M5klFnUJFHTID2Z_fF0kaX6AKm_gvOa7TPS4dolIQT9aVEY7hj-JYdrDq62HMX5IaP8ol62G9koypCpX6aEckW5w-uziHkbuXsDgQOJa6hUihdmMl-L-zrIou_ryx_Tg/s1600/20150111_152116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi58VZKYwAb-M5klFnUJFHTID2Z_fF0kaX6AKm_gvOa7TPS4dolIQT9aVEY7hj-JYdrDq62HMX5IaP8ol62G9koypCpX6aEckW5w-uziHkbuXsDgQOJa6hUihdmMl-L-zrIou_ryx_Tg/s1600/20150111_152116.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We took a day boat over to Bo Hon Island (one of the thousands of islands that makes up Ha Long Bay), donned our plastic raincoats and ascended the exactly fifty steps to the entrance of Sung Sot Cave. We stood at about 100 feet above sea level and were able to get a gorgeous bird’s eye view of the bay from here. We then took several steps down into the cave’s outer entrance and entered a room covered with stalactites and stalagmites. Our tour guide, Vinh, had us play the game you play with clouds, imagining different animals out of the stalactites. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3-7lTjIXvAHYu048iFTDbp7D6mFyUDAYhyH_ddQvQkv2RZ3TiECCI5Z6aSfD2KdL6X4Z9TlNB5Fb9OyEMR2TPZ4WQ7S3gXSFT82g6xxe7QzjqHH69FG8h3C2DCZQC_oVhmXc1KLJuRs/s1600/IMG_4785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3-7lTjIXvAHYu048iFTDbp7D6mFyUDAYhyH_ddQvQkv2RZ3TiECCI5Z6aSfD2KdL6X4Z9TlNB5Fb9OyEMR2TPZ4WQ7S3gXSFT82g6xxe7QzjqHH69FG8h3C2DCZQC_oVhmXc1KLJuRs/s1600/IMG_4785.jpg" height="200" width="161" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Upon returning to the junk we snuck in a pre-dinner nap as the jet lag was hitting us hard. We awoke to the PA system announcing dinner would be served in five minutes. We reluctantly left slumber and joined the rest of the passengers and crew on the upper deck. We enjoyed a lovely multi-course traditional Vietnamese dinner served family style. The chef even put on a show by flambéing shrimp. At our table was a man and his niece from Houston, Texas and a retired couple from Malaysia. Turns out the two people from Houston would be the only Americans we encountered on our entire trip. After dinner we divided up into teams and tried to solve an ancient Vietnamese puzzle game, competing for Vietnamese beer. We thought we had won at one point, only to find out that one of our pieces wasn’t right. We took our defeat in stride and decided to console ourselves by retiring somewhat early to our cabin, exhausted from the days adventures and immersing ourselves in a new culture. Needless to say we slept very well. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseYTRM_TxBeOCygrg1Nk0UdioiqEEHOuZFITChjh5255ZcA0hWnWxUUiM2QnKBXPac7FXyNim33giTmykQKiwv9Fu-qQZAzaVeEuTKJy0YbjQmXGA05Z3NN9TgFeJHOw9IxhHJOY0I7Y/s1600/IMG_4748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseYTRM_TxBeOCygrg1Nk0UdioiqEEHOuZFITChjh5255ZcA0hWnWxUUiM2QnKBXPac7FXyNim33giTmykQKiwv9Fu-qQZAzaVeEuTKJy0YbjQmXGA05Z3NN9TgFeJHOw9IxhHJOY0I7Y/s1600/IMG_4748.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhf61KDn6kLna_mUwiKsKqtpMvNFkjs2D8xprrbFqn2HZFsce4JesqRLSYR1UFBbzSuganwsgsHz7OOQkzYaYaq8NmYuAK8HSkEmyoGgf2V9RWWn5I0TssmSaiJVh-5qJNe_tgySiAH8/s1600/20150112_102228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzERfwqQfIUDYohXdtpZSHxdnaZTE_2jRezzi9-Z3-ak04bkXxioZrp2B5Es8vpVcFQR1ueBhYbxnarbw6fmCjM0xjSIcBs1r7eQVPMxZDTUt_DNgeNMb4Z80n3LNnK1gDO6ERQL5KL6k/s1600/20150112_095249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The six a.m. planned group exercise session came all too early and we did not make it to morning tai chi on the lido deck, but definitely did not miss breakfast as that was a announced again over the PA system and very difficult to sleep through. Even if we had wanted to sleep in late, this was not an option with this well-oiled machine-like operation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After breakfast we were given a few minutes to freshen up and then we were taken by day boat to another island called Soi Sim. We walked past the beach that had a few monkeys hanging out in the overhanging trees. We were warned ahead of time to hold onto anything we considered valuable as apparently this band of monkeys were known thieves. We decided to forego getting into the water because it was still pretty cool and instead hiked up the steep landscape to the top to get another great view of the bay. This was way more than yesterday’s fifty steps, but we were well rewarded by the beautiful scenery at the top. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseYTRM_TxBeOCygrg1Nk0UdioiqEEHOuZFITChjh5255ZcA0hWnWxUUiM2QnKBXPac7FXyNim33giTmykQKiwv9Fu-qQZAzaVeEuTKJy0YbjQmXGA05Z3NN9TgFeJHOw9IxhHJOY0I7Y/s1600/IMG_4748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-CbV5CZIW__iWNdjnXRirTcdDAX9ZuLl7K-uJeg9QZ_DDTi5BWKksYu7YBD0jyo8w4IwhWJw_KLEYS0zKJQ3gN7S5Lo9cIfA8GDx-1el1bVek9a32zRn9rvbHKGB-ZiUQjQVuykboEQ/s1600/20150112_102228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-CbV5CZIW__iWNdjnXRirTcdDAX9ZuLl7K-uJeg9QZ_DDTi5BWKksYu7YBD0jyo8w4IwhWJw_KLEYS0zKJQ3gN7S5Lo9cIfA8GDx-1el1bVek9a32zRn9rvbHKGB-ZiUQjQVuykboEQ/s1600/20150112_102228.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesktPItGZT9KGFkGUm-7rC2ygG-Vj50SyRkjeX0IfRJpkStz1xxg2Dx92z4yVhW7G6XRzKYKPwMii6zpaj1dlOCbpRw25_gHBpTwIk1-0WhpcBK8QUj-wdNAQnGwUYkDLrlfVE4fdHCA/s1600/20150112_095249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesktPItGZT9KGFkGUm-7rC2ygG-Vj50SyRkjeX0IfRJpkStz1xxg2Dx92z4yVhW7G6XRzKYKPwMii6zpaj1dlOCbpRw25_gHBpTwIk1-0WhpcBK8QUj-wdNAQnGwUYkDLrlfVE4fdHCA/s1600/20150112_095249.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once back on the junk we were treated to a cooking lesson including how to make Vietnamese spring rolls and decorations out of fruit. The chef then returned to the kitchen to cook us another lovely traditional meal. We then bid adieu to Ha Long Bay, loaded ourselves back onto the bus for what was supposed to be a 2 hour return to Hanoi. Cue foreboding music in the background....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzxNyO7WaaX_W8vRNtp2bCXMY7wULgRtQCI02i7fvOcTzbKHyd3Z8A927523eGjmY7B-fp54cF-UYpUUy7wobRYZzNVMdXDVq3A0amHi2s32vLQvkv9iW8huKqYOcvgIKz5jJhTl_pJc/s1600/IMG_4817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybHuaqheC0CrNWxzdmfoGYWjfpR_IGbo3AaeT6NgeqRi1-egm52ZgY5klZr77u9wFCcETEvUq1kg9rQ8cSow8ecnq0ZSlIcW76jjTEHnuikp-rk2feaQKT5741aY2NcX1gk5bOlew3Lw/s1600/20150112_131154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybHuaqheC0CrNWxzdmfoGYWjfpR_IGbo3AaeT6NgeqRi1-egm52ZgY5klZr77u9wFCcETEvUq1kg9rQ8cSow8ecnq0ZSlIcW76jjTEHnuikp-rk2feaQKT5741aY2NcX1gk5bOlew3Lw/s1600/20150112_131154.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybHuaqheC0CrNWxzdmfoGYWjfpR_IGbo3AaeT6NgeqRi1-egm52ZgY5klZr77u9wFCcETEvUq1kg9rQ8cSow8ecnq0ZSlIcW76jjTEHnuikp-rk2feaQKT5741aY2NcX1gk5bOlew3Lw/s1600/20150112_131154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our bus ended up breaking down on the way back to the city and we had to pull off in a small town to get it repaired. We waited around the garage for an hour until the bus was diagnosed as not a fast repair. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzxNyO7WaaX_W8vRNtp2bCXMY7wULgRtQCI02i7fvOcTzbKHyd3Z8A927523eGjmY7B-fp54cF-UYpUUy7wobRYZzNVMdXDVq3A0amHi2s32vLQvkv9iW8huKqYOcvgIKz5jJhTl_pJc/s1600/IMG_4817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzxNyO7WaaX_W8vRNtp2bCXMY7wULgRtQCI02i7fvOcTzbKHyd3Z8A927523eGjmY7B-fp54cF-UYpUUy7wobRYZzNVMdXDVq3A0amHi2s32vLQvkv9iW8huKqYOcvgIKz5jJhTl_pJc/s1600/IMG_4817.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We then ended up going to a local coffee shop to wait for a replacement bus to come and pick us up. We got to know a group of Australians from Darwin (Aussies tend to be the best people to get stranded with— highly entertaining). Some of them drank beer, while we tried traditional <a href="http://ineedcoffee.com/brew-vietnamese-coffee/" target="_blank">Vietnamese coffee</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">French colonists first introduced coffee to Vietnam in the late 19th century. This unique style of coffee using condensed milk was invented out of necessity because milk is hard to keep fresh in the heat so they began to substitute milk and cream for sweet condensed milk. It tastes really good, you just can't think about the calories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are going to get stranded in rural Vietnam, this would be the ideal scenario. However, we were anxious to get back to Hanoi for our scheduled night street food tour and began to sweat it out the longer it took for the replacement bus to arrive. Plus, the sugar and caffeine started to kick-in.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4E3LI31r-CgAmK834QjqDdScHMvbQzJTBJAI6WcDkMg11zO8AByS2UB8rHTqq1YWbr0QrTm6lRWggT3NmLep9qLHm1EK9VnpKElbWZSGFclVjxNgB-gCMZiI9T060NYwRdHuv5zouLKA/s1600/1174646_509194092503919_1980003034_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4E3LI31r-CgAmK834QjqDdScHMvbQzJTBJAI6WcDkMg11zO8AByS2UB8rHTqq1YWbr0QrTm6lRWggT3NmLep9qLHm1EK9VnpKElbWZSGFclVjxNgB-gCMZiI9T060NYwRdHuv5zouLKA/s320/1174646_509194092503919_1980003034_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month where you see <b><span style="color: #ea9999;">pink</span></b> everywhere, from NFL players sporting pink wristbands to pink ribbons on various products. This effort and campaign started twenty-five years ago and is headed up by the <a href="http://www.nbcam.org/" target="_blank">National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Organization</a>. <br /><br />Great strides have been made </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">over those twenty-five years</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to educate, prevent and treat women, but sadly science has yet been able to eradicate breast cancer. What's telling about this disease is that we can all probably name someone within our own circles that have been impacted. About 1 in 8 (12%) of women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Currently, there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States (this includes women still being treated and those who have completed treatment).* The key that is starting to turn the tide is <b>early</b> decection. The <a href="http://over those twenty-five years" target="_blank">NBCAM</a> offers low-cost screening options on their website to help provide the medical services needed for early detention and promotes all women over the age of 40 have an annual mammogram.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As foodies, we admire the companies willing to put a pink label on their products for October </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRy26WlRNK1GOhJ3VMHvHG_l0c1J84YoRuJzJoNHEbwzTUqPS1Nxtt106NyCFK_x_xLPieOpOM_FTOLPxO6fXH79EfQgZhrl_GZ_4fs5jjMoL-vSBGTiuEq91lrp15_lcG-Iymp_HdUR0/s1600/pinkribbon_sm1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRy26WlRNK1GOhJ3VMHvHG_l0c1J84YoRuJzJoNHEbwzTUqPS1Nxtt106NyCFK_x_xLPieOpOM_FTOLPxO6fXH79EfQgZhrl_GZ_4fs5jjMoL-vSBGTiuEq91lrp15_lcG-Iymp_HdUR0/s320/pinkribbon_sm1.jpg" width="271" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and donate a portion of their proceeds to this worthy cause. Having made a trip to our local grocery store yesterday, it was impressive how many companies are getting behind this campaign and can hopefully raise some very important funds to continue the research and education that have made a difference in the past decade.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2emlFRsMzpFKLZz9EI0ZByVnxVelg6PVeyP7YlStRtOTndSizD9CKqPGd2ZxK6_qZ6pQSfXdEbOvuXiY4YFrlNAMIwdmmA8HPewHdpgLoyPH9ujZMh5CAvRWVgHUxCfiuJCUJWivBqk/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2emlFRsMzpFKLZz9EI0ZByVnxVelg6PVeyP7YlStRtOTndSizD9CKqPGd2ZxK6_qZ6pQSfXdEbOvuXiY4YFrlNAMIwdmmA8HPewHdpgLoyPH9ujZMh5CAvRWVgHUxCfiuJCUJWivBqk/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although, it was confusing watching football with all the pink towels on Sunday because you couldn't tell when a referee was throwing a penalty flag or a player had inadvertently dropped a towel, it was worth the confusion to see the support of these big burly guys. It was even more incredible during one of the NFL's promotional spots to learn that a New Jersey woman, while watching the Jets game last October was reminded of the importance of breast exams. She made an appointment and was able to detect early enough for treatment that she had breast cancer. During October, the <a href="http://www.seahawks.com/news/articles/article-1/Seahawks-go-pink-for-breast-cancer-awareness/6f819166-a1b8-468f-93b6-7d37397edf09" target="_blank">Seattle Seahawks</a> are donating 10% of all pink ribbon merchandise to a local Bellevue non-profit, the <a href="http://pinkdaisyproject.com/" target="_blank">Pink Daisy Project</a>, which aims to support young women with their treatment journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We asked our friend Karri what she found helpful from her support team while she went through chemo and her treatment journey. She said chemo was difficult and new for her, but also for her friends and family. They were shocked to see Karri lose her hair, and the patient found herself becoming the caretaker to help them accept this new look and battle. Having the chemo treatments left her bald, feeling nauseated most of the time and caused her to gain weight. She really didn't feel like socializing even though a lot of her friends offered to come visit or sit and watch movies. What Karri really wanted however, was very limited visits and for short amounts of time. Like many, it was hard for her to turn people away and ask for what she really wanted or needed. What she found the most helpful and supportive was people cooking good, healthy food for her and her family and just bringing it by, staying for a few minutes to say hi, but not lingering. Even in times of sickness, it's amazing the comfort that nutritious food made and shared with love gives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly, while gathering information about this post and starting a draft, a former work colleague and friend was diagnosed with another type of the C word, leukemia. She and her partner are very strong people, but a diagnosis like this can test the strongest foundations. It's been incredible to watch their social network (work, personal, family and friends) team up to shower them with an outpouring of love and encouragement. This has seemed to go a very long way in keeping the patient optimistic and in touch with how many people are really cheering for her in the background. Jaime and Ferris have a long road ahead of them, but watching their unity in this tough time has inspired many of us around them. We are learning even little acts matter in this battle with cancer. Posting a message of hope to Facebook, sending a funny card, taking care of daily chores, giving rides to the hospital or even a small monetary donation to help with medical costs. Jaime's support team has set up a fundraising site <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/team-jaime/93422" target="_blank">Team Jaime</a> to help organize donations for her medical care that will include a bone marrow transplant. <br /><br />We had a couple of friends participate in the Susan G. Komen Three Day Walk to help raise money for further breast cancer research and education. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jennifer and her sister Tanya helped raise over $2,300. They were an inspired sister act determined to help this cause along, even though they are fortunate to not personally know that many people with the disease. They finished day one strong, #207 & #208 out of 1,100 walkers. The sixty miles however, took it's toll on Jennifer and her day three was cut short due to an infection from day two's blisters, which caused her leg to swell. To finish was the goal, but not really the point. Both sisters DID what they set out to do and that was to DO something to help fight this disease.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christina raised over $4,000 and walked in honor of her mother Edith who is a survivor. Christina was just seventeen when her mother told her she had been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Her mom had felt pain in her shoulder for months, but didn't think much of it until she found a lump and that's when she went to the doctor. This was Christina's first exposure to the disease and it couldn't have gotten any closer or more personal. Her mom has fought hard to still be here, and Christina realizes not everyone diagnosed with the disease wins this battle so she feels extremely grateful that her mom is here almost twenty years from the original diagnosis. Sadly though, Christina's life has been touched by too many people with a similar diagnosis. She really thought there would be a cure found by now. For all of these very personal reasons Christina chose to undertake walking 60 miles in three days. She mentioned how humbling it was to see people of all ages and predicaments (pregnant, undergoing chemo, etc.) participating in the walk to show their support. What she found amazing as well, was a group called the "walker stalkers." These were people not registered for the walk, but following the entire 60 miles to cheer and provide encouragement. There were people along the route that set up stands in their front yards with treats and water. Families had painted signs with words of encouragement and put them up along the walk route. Seeing these efforts gave Christina strength and determination as she walked because she knew these people were supporting the walk because their lives had been touched in one way by cancer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FloJo's mother also received a breast cancer diagnosis. You never forget the day, when the news is shared. The sickening, sinking, feeling that hits when the word cancer is uttered aloud. Luckily, it was detected early and removed. Her mom continues to get regular mammograms to ensure that it doesn't return and is proof that early detection saves lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You just don't know what small or big effort is going to make the difference in somebody's life that has just been diagnosed, is battling the disease, living in remission or has a loved one they are caring for. The point is to <b>DO</b>-- <b>do something</b> even if it seems small and insignificant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Lets never take our health, blessings and lives for granted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><b>Live Life With Flavor and Fun</b></span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">*"What are the key statistics about breast cancer?" American Cancer Society, Last revised: 10/1/2013. Article accessed: 10/3/2013. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2013/SeattleEvent2013?px=6855930&pg=personal&fr_id=1820">Christina's 3-Day Fundraising page</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2012/General?px=6985365&pg=personal&fr_id=1820&s_subsrc=bfgetwordout&s_src=boundlessfundraising">Carlson's Fundraising page</a> <br /><br />More Inspiring Stories from the <a href="http://blog.the3day.org/">3-Day Blog</a><br /><br />If you'd like to donate to the cause please visit the <a href="https://secure.info-komen.org/site/Donation2?df_id=12023&12023.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=1bygn9szk2.app322b">Susan G. Komen website</a>. </span></span><br />
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-39985931595707915442013-07-22T11:46:00.001-07:002013-07-22T12:05:14.905-07:00Amalfi Coast: Living & Driving the Good Life<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTdVE0-WtsgTEZhIF7D4DxUDCN9QewP7WZS6-H7GdYFHN7r4mcLTR3JZYc-onmw33IVQ2sE6X64FoeSH3YeyGDIrNOxJb0GTQII_lqtDSZqsyYLwi_tFkvZ147L37LwNy3bsd_hPeF2Y/s1600/P1080192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTdVE0-WtsgTEZhIF7D4DxUDCN9QewP7WZS6-H7GdYFHN7r4mcLTR3JZYc-onmw33IVQ2sE6X64FoeSH3YeyGDIrNOxJb0GTQII_lqtDSZqsyYLwi_tFkvZ147L37LwNy3bsd_hPeF2Y/s200/P1080192.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ro and the Fiat 500</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQCBXktR9nQxAAOPP-q5yfC4buYHzrCvEDe4j5xhQzv6RjkDWG7YK9GBc23LmHRNAYi-d0EYMSF1mGZy-0W5Dhx_oRacp-KMXt6VjZUUldqeuGhqfulMnQ1WsTts1iTkMjK8zX7AP4q0/s1600/images-22.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQCBXktR9nQxAAOPP-q5yfC4buYHzrCvEDe4j5xhQzv6RjkDWG7YK9GBc23LmHRNAYi-d0EYMSF1mGZy-0W5Dhx_oRacp-KMXt6VjZUUldqeuGhqfulMnQ1WsTts1iTkMjK8zX7AP4q0/s200/images-22.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had managed to avoid driving a car to this point in our Italian adventure, but that was about to change. The driving adventure started when we took a taxi to the Ciampino airport to pick up our rental car. We had planned to add a GPS to our rental, but the rental car agent quoted a price of $700 Euro to rent a GPS. Upon further inquiry, for some bizarre reason, his records showed we were going to be renting for approximately 70 plus days. Now wouldn’t that be fun? But, even the cost of a three day GPS rental and returning it to another location he did not recommend. "You can buy one much cheaper in Rome," he suggested (of course we had just come from there with no plans to return). So neadless to say we set off in our sexy Fiat 500 white on white edition (JLo style) and headed South. This has to be one of our biggest feats to date, actually navigating data and GPS free, old school style, in a foreign country. We have to believe many a marriage could have ended attempting this and <b>we definitely do not recommend it</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made it successfully to our first stop, the ancient preserved city of Pompeii, incredulously preserved under layers of ash for centuries. We found it enchanting, retracing the footsteps of this ancient civilization that dated to the first century A.D. We left the ancient city and continued our trip farther South to Salerno. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6WovhPoanKQtmMiWAy8c-WztMbqewcyXNnv2feKR1QLMd3ec-EW_cs7dNk_Sqgq16iv2zlbd_bpST3NBtGDpjStUT_wYSdsZ7b6txp8xMuYlY0nsRxlm6ZC5ZLyIXUt29fp5q-aEDv8/s1600/Ferrari-458-Spider-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6WovhPoanKQtmMiWAy8c-WztMbqewcyXNnv2feKR1QLMd3ec-EW_cs7dNk_Sqgq16iv2zlbd_bpST3NBtGDpjStUT_wYSdsZ7b6txp8xMuYlY0nsRxlm6ZC5ZLyIXUt29fp5q-aEDv8/s200/Ferrari-458-Spider-.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNr2Y1uNl-TQVrGpbVFHJ82zExfByq2isX5iZiRhW_d4HvaFQfto8HouxUvPx4WZKVrMfVNKVlEjDCmjy82p0x0-2iaUfeOBxiwqoZhFT-hMAzdfn2dXWpziqjUgKKMSQtcjcNBlVTOYI/s1600/220px-Bucket_list_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNr2Y1uNl-TQVrGpbVFHJ82zExfByq2isX5iZiRhW_d4HvaFQfto8HouxUvPx4WZKVrMfVNKVlEjDCmjy82p0x0-2iaUfeOBxiwqoZhFT-hMAzdfn2dXWpziqjUgKKMSQtcjcNBlVTOYI/s200/220px-Bucket_list_poster.jpg" width="135" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EjT1W5kr5-hbbTd7P0_IfZKHv1YZBeAmY15fnm16BiZmxc3CQNCDep062hlCB22IBkMqPQu-6i1-GD4hRhKojxsait6kQHRXLcS_zSU8UqvDTaRcJGP9EW3qdCZxCXrugSGPKgGVt6c/s1600/Amalfi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EjT1W5kr5-hbbTd7P0_IfZKHv1YZBeAmY15fnm16BiZmxc3CQNCDep062hlCB22IBkMqPQu-6i1-GD4hRhKojxsait6kQHRXLcS_zSU8UqvDTaRcJGP9EW3qdCZxCXrugSGPKgGVt6c/s200/Amalfi.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the items at the top of Flo-Jo's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bucket_List">bucket list</a> (you know all those things you swear you are going to do before you kick the bucket) was to drive the Amalfi Coast in a convertible Ferrari with her hair being blown gently by the warm Mediterranean trade winds. This drive is famous for villages literally carved into the side of steep cliffs overlooking gorgeous views of the deep blue sea. With those villages being just at the edge of cliffs it does not leave much extra room for a highway. There is a harrowing two-lane road that hugs the edge or the curvy mountain, but the reward for the traveler is you are on the edge of what has to be one of the most beautiful parts of the world.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfyHV7nP8XeFM5rGKjmCKNZPkGxlrUcdMD1P1DF5l_EEzW7U2XL-7DZ4OS8rgO0NNWtF1Jzx0ljm8iOP3lTRsXdrakKsHoZoAb9HU-Jt2fkL4ZjPoeXUGAt-gNVSeNldORH3edlMFtYY/s1600/images-21.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfyHV7nP8XeFM5rGKjmCKNZPkGxlrUcdMD1P1DF5l_EEzW7U2XL-7DZ4OS8rgO0NNWtF1Jzx0ljm8iOP3lTRsXdrakKsHoZoAb9HU-Jt2fkL4ZjPoeXUGAt-gNVSeNldORH3edlMFtYY/s200/images-21.jpeg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So substitute the Ferrari for a Fiat 500 and place a check-mark next to Amalfi Coast on the old bucket list. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We then put our own lives on the edge literally of risking life and death as we drove around the steep, 'don’t look over the edge,' cliffs of the Amalfi Coast. Immediately we knew this was going to be a challenge and were very thankful we had one of the smallest cars on the planet to navigate the less than generous lane space. We had several near head on collisions with drivers more interested in showing off their ability to drive fast on this famous corridor vs. actually staying on their side of the narrow two-lane cliff hugging road. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnB81xmCNfzPa0I5g-yN1Bp6FXuB0FN6bR4cIlQJGPnllEpTKXWsH6DplesAlewJOahEtGQaDYK8pHI5Gu0t335yv6KtpulS3w3yIP5vKx3I1_7lbOahZBKoRsxvyJcJjCUMxEJCJwGM/s1600/IMG_1322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnB81xmCNfzPa0I5g-yN1Bp6FXuB0FN6bR4cIlQJGPnllEpTKXWsH6DplesAlewJOahEtGQaDYK8pHI5Gu0t335yv6KtpulS3w3yIP5vKx3I1_7lbOahZBKoRsxvyJcJjCUMxEJCJwGM/s200/IMG_1322.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FloJo at the wheel</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9-d-EuDyPl2a08G0DYm9syBg_APbcH05cQxEIFkJMtvea6cGNJTw-3Gy5I0MP3-gML4Lt-3R0xp-KYGlIyodId5JPKGsHtWnzbwDRwXpvAug77dugR-yYpKNT455AfzzoCLcprSOrC4/s1600/IMG_1318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9-d-EuDyPl2a08G0DYm9syBg_APbcH05cQxEIFkJMtvea6cGNJTw-3Gy5I0MP3-gML4Lt-3R0xp-KYGlIyodId5JPKGsHtWnzbwDRwXpvAug77dugR-yYpKNT455AfzzoCLcprSOrC4/s320/IMG_1318.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were left wondering how the Italian engineers were able to build such a feat allowing just enough room to navigate. Come to find out these roads were built in the 1800s even before cars were invented. Probably the most incredlous feat we witnessed was how the local buses made it up and down the coast. Of course, they took up more than their own lane and forced us even closer to the cliff wall. We faced one head on coming around one of the tight corners and had to stop while the bus carefully used every available inch of space to make the hairpin corner.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BNv4CEGsf0QDE4EAOfl_sdoGTk0hiKhHF963tTWxgwZW9JJAxjeTJaA-k7IzdJ2-BiDz9gtU0v5AADwUDAcJdx_ZnEsLHiMfcEw9jZBcqI-rngV4sGPgyyJJId-EnRd6kRCEIgR7FpU/s1600/IMG_1319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BNv4CEGsf0QDE4EAOfl_sdoGTk0hiKhHF963tTWxgwZW9JJAxjeTJaA-k7IzdJ2-BiDz9gtU0v5AADwUDAcJdx_ZnEsLHiMfcEw9jZBcqI-rngV4sGPgyyJJId-EnRd6kRCEIgR7FpU/s320/IMG_1319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-DhCDIqxmJhRwvLOVSc63vcjKNZFQHJfvgGU4TK52wfomswtz-sEUQHuvuAeLOVz5B2gzz5Weua3xyOAFEFitOhGwK5lScC5od3gap0ot6yVVRxckWYwGzCDyXfnSg-8j0sZX1FUKG8/s1600/IMG_1320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-DhCDIqxmJhRwvLOVSc63vcjKNZFQHJfvgGU4TK52wfomswtz-sEUQHuvuAeLOVz5B2gzz5Weua3xyOAFEFitOhGwK5lScC5od3gap0ot6yVVRxckWYwGzCDyXfnSg-8j0sZX1FUKG8/s320/IMG_1320.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The online pictures and descriptions in guide books did not do the scenery justice. We ended up arriving as the sun was setting, which only amplified the colors bouncing off the cliffs and onto the blue water. There were not many places to pull off to take pictures so we took mental pictures that will stay in our heads for the rest of our lives. We neared <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrani,_Coast_of_Amalfi">Atrani</a>, the small town on the coast we would be staying at for the night, just as the sun had completely set and darkness was beginning shroud the scenery.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2brxs8WR78x7BvTlIpmZEKf96bMqZ0LM1BewTj-95hAhanVvXK9CT3lFCYXUtKoVojXO8A0XuOxtarkS6ADCynxyqtSydp4WuWzdn7LRtfLZYac7ITCg43E_Bqo1uPP0_PN2R3sAODR4/s1600/P1080050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2brxs8WR78x7BvTlIpmZEKf96bMqZ0LM1BewTj-95hAhanVvXK9CT3lFCYXUtKoVojXO8A0XuOxtarkS6ADCynxyqtSydp4WuWzdn7LRtfLZYac7ITCg43E_Bqo1uPP0_PN2R3sAODR4/s200/P1080050.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIE4eihhFFBUNkXwN5AsH246NbbeHmDljOS8XrsUHg0JztaND2yNSplSt22LqVcXdDRJjvtz0gKy_UENtKpVcAgTd_KB7yHlzvEzMmsIGpKqB6xAF__2OcQpbiQKzV156S5E4PeveDJY/s1600/IMG_1353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIE4eihhFFBUNkXwN5AsH246NbbeHmDljOS8XrsUHg0JztaND2yNSplSt22LqVcXdDRJjvtz0gKy_UENtKpVcAgTd_KB7yHlzvEzMmsIGpKqB6xAF__2OcQpbiQKzV156S5E4PeveDJY/s200/IMG_1353.jpg" width="185" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After we found the hotel (by asking locals where it was) and then by pure accident parking by the water in front of the hotel sign. Who needs a GPS when you have that kind of luck? We hiked like mountain goats up the steep steps to the hotel which was carved into the side of the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">coast. The rooms were all named after actresses and had modern art replicas of said actress in the room. The front desk had cubby holes with actual keys to each of the rooms and small pictures of the room's featured actor or actress. Perhaps by coincidence we got assigned the American actress, Julia Robert’s, namesake room overlooking the beach and the famous Amalfi Coast. She, like us, was enamored with Italian food in the movie Eat, Pray, Love.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdK9er2h99ZY84xsyFeBmseWjvTHraO8E8fBMUIB69p3v1_4r1KLykd4WX-0FkX4B0-Kqq7NTtecJ492lKK784tJ6spSv7Icc4OxaBmwOXae6Zbzm7havWgJHJZwRxP_v5WR37ckU-9_k/s1600/eat-pray-love-movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdK9er2h99ZY84xsyFeBmseWjvTHraO8E8fBMUIB69p3v1_4r1KLykd4WX-0FkX4B0-Kqq7NTtecJ492lKK784tJ6spSv7Icc4OxaBmwOXae6Zbzm7havWgJHJZwRxP_v5WR37ckU-9_k/s320/eat-pray-love-movie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Q7vmLMkmHl4H2TsaLGYSDtCeavghWZakozQixUhqVSD_KSW-p73ff3vDUD2IroC_UsnsHTfuEIQLkwycisPi9uxPJaJDrFGoJAiKRwKkvMfVFeHGk4eBdyhcX5CghFiNWvy4c991eu8/s1600/P1080072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Q7vmLMkmHl4H2TsaLGYSDtCeavghWZakozQixUhqVSD_KSW-p73ff3vDUD2IroC_UsnsHTfuEIQLkwycisPi9uxPJaJDrFGoJAiKRwKkvMfVFeHGk4eBdyhcX5CghFiNWvy4c991eu8/s320/P1080072.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After we settled into our room, we hiked back down the hill literally within a stones throw of the fishing boats. We knew we would be having a lot of fresh, delicious local fish for dinner. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje56H6YcC_jol6fci0v9rXCNDn4tmNgsOex-aPuu77RHvys9iR_lratl0Xuduqc7znJ5PklWIJ9JFDrCD1bvaKJ1ASSyZH4v5UXjy8wCjjyKbo3SVnj76xl97zkfRp2qj1v5ntJjEgGVU/s1600/Aperol+advertisement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje56H6YcC_jol6fci0v9rXCNDn4tmNgsOex-aPuu77RHvys9iR_lratl0Xuduqc7znJ5PklWIJ9JFDrCD1bvaKJ1ASSyZH4v5UXjy8wCjjyKbo3SVnj76xl97zkfRp2qj1v5ntJjEgGVU/s200/Aperol+advertisement.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLeqvZMkd_m6J00YU1Tnn-XbcIJVQErng1pj-AzWP-TBdePvP0I7HEYwcXwNwVQLc80A9726HIZFg3lpO-x5xAFUPPtkwyVs_tcXb140zo2igTWGn7XWCzYA8smrTC7kpGiMQ10vePg8/s1600/IMG_1332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLeqvZMkd_m6J00YU1Tnn-XbcIJVQErng1pj-AzWP-TBdePvP0I7HEYwcXwNwVQLc80A9726HIZFg3lpO-x5xAFUPPtkwyVs_tcXb140zo2igTWGn7XWCzYA8smrTC7kpGiMQ10vePg8/s320/IMG_1332.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The meal started off on the right foot when the waiter brought us a “welcome gift” of orange liquor we believe to be aperol. We were intriqued by the "taste every fish on the menu" option for 40 Euro, but took a more conservative and less glutinous approach. We began with a mixed salad of shrimp, cucumber, radichio and lemon. We dressed the salad ourselves with the Italian staple olive oil and vinegar. Simple, but delicious and we needed the green veggies, which had been very lacking in our travel diet. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ps9s7y6cJn8IVXpNckL9UZKCjITM1SNXv48YVNPOVnm8L5FPW9o577y0L9Dbw1meg-0t20LF0ZB1x9grT6Nx0wrJWi5tGDj3pKadM-gyDB5HQ2dkv6u88tUzJUYpLJjXUQgy17eHuO4/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ps9s7y6cJn8IVXpNckL9UZKCjITM1SNXv48YVNPOVnm8L5FPW9o577y0L9Dbw1meg-0t20LF0ZB1x9grT6Nx0wrJWi5tGDj3pKadM-gyDB5HQ2dkv6u88tUzJUYpLJjXUQgy17eHuO4/s320/IMG_1335.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKy0CCuQSWgyMoXsSj2kDdW6ZnCaK3UyX2DqOjQwUpHuEMJNVvUO7VZrbWPVB3S8kd_OhGYgfaIOHo7w04_20I5IBq5-Lupbvut1xxkzw_gD-Y219iY4ihmmx8ZFBT2gkYeM2K8v4Fpo/s1600/IMG_1336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKy0CCuQSWgyMoXsSj2kDdW6ZnCaK3UyX2DqOjQwUpHuEMJNVvUO7VZrbWPVB3S8kd_OhGYgfaIOHo7w04_20I5IBq5-Lupbvut1xxkzw_gD-Y219iY4ihmmx8ZFBT2gkYeM2K8v4Fpo/s320/IMG_1336.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next we moved on to the pasta course comprised of Italian parsley pasta and tomatoes with mixed seafood (mussels, clams and shrimp). The mussels were our favorite which paired nicely with the house white. The main course was a stunner, a whole local fish that was listed on the menu as, “the best local fish.” Seriously, how do you pass that up? Our cute Italian waiter put on a show table side de-boning the fish. He carefully removed the spine, the dorsal fin, the head and then the tail. He put all the bones onto FloJo’s plate and reconstructed the skeleton to look like it’s former fish self, telling her when he was finished with the reconstruction, this was her serving, while Ro got the real fish. Not fair! Luckily there was an extra plate hidden and we shared the real fish, which was, as advertised, the best local fish. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJp59o2J-ZoR5h0pibgud9u-BSE0Z4yfDwwXKgC5Qel-7_KGgBLDBIo995lhpv5q3Brkoany5sWV5N3tXkYPDpBYxEMcI6SKZnpRpUdc4W7nTAEEISGGVsDCje01N6wpT0grJQg9_9SfY/s1600/IMG_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJp59o2J-ZoR5h0pibgud9u-BSE0Z4yfDwwXKgC5Qel-7_KGgBLDBIo995lhpv5q3Brkoany5sWV5N3tXkYPDpBYxEMcI6SKZnpRpUdc4W7nTAEEISGGVsDCje01N6wpT0grJQg9_9SfY/s200/IMG_1339.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFORNirEAkEo7GYtgkQdeRQSngN1-WbM7fjSpnQaysmEUTOkdolgWnX0lXkq66bQkn4uuLenpU9Mho8hyphenhyphenYM-U4oY5_uiAM2t8SZ1KD4rzAnR06UJKInqHrdKgzm3R1d7-gX6W7xazqlc/s1600/IMG_1345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFORNirEAkEo7GYtgkQdeRQSngN1-WbM7fjSpnQaysmEUTOkdolgWnX0lXkq66bQkn4uuLenpU9Mho8hyphenhyphenYM-U4oY5_uiAM2t8SZ1KD4rzAnR06UJKInqHrdKgzm3R1d7-gX6W7xazqlc/s200/IMG_1345.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The evening ended on a high note, literally, with a visit to the restaurant by the local traveling band. Comprised of a clarinet, guitar, violin and FloJo’s favorite a tambourine player (there may be a career for her yet in music). They had an eclectic playlist stretching from LaBamba (a crowd favorite), but a little out of place in Italy to Volaré (a little more appropriate). We ate our molten lava chocolate cake, which reminded us both of the city we had just visited. Too bad Pompeiii had not been covered in chocolate instead of volcanic ash. We sipped our “good-bye present,” the best lemoncello we’ll probably ever have (although FloJo has plans to try to make a house version). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnydMrKI0c57eOCt1ZKibX2CNwIgZIGlx50W2OQ42hZFPQvPh8icamMo_GsA2-o20DdcBeNw0nmCvjn9SdKFhlsW9CEMIMEfHDOQ_kcskcj2saiA-mnjIjM3HeYB_B0fnfsSRV6LxfX5U/s1600/9_exterior-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnydMrKI0c57eOCt1ZKibX2CNwIgZIGlx50W2OQ42hZFPQvPh8icamMo_GsA2-o20DdcBeNw0nmCvjn9SdKFhlsW9CEMIMEfHDOQ_kcskcj2saiA-mnjIjM3HeYB_B0fnfsSRV6LxfX5U/s320/9_exterior-view.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy, full and content that we had witnessed an ancient civilization almost completely preserved for thousands of years, survived the harrowing drive down the Amalfi Coast and enjoyed a feast of amazing seafood a stones throw from the water. The real feather in our cap to end this day was we navigated with no digital assistance. The ancients would be proud!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live Life with Lemoncello, Fiats and Fun!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Ciao!</span><br />
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-13833606015392477082013-06-25T17:42:00.000-07:002013-06-25T17:42:30.513-07:00Ashes to Ashes: Preservation of Pompeii<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvN_hW37CvyOh4bl-gRYsg6k3xmDSB_3KyjWKQZjZal0yn9YNSlSYTfaDKLqkY8G8yLSnn4ee181GRdyEQvwmv6xrbOd09r5k6ONcAxSiMx1hMtQskM_fyLoQOEpI3ElvibTVk81P6sk/s1600/images-7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvN_hW37CvyOh4bl-gRYsg6k3xmDSB_3KyjWKQZjZal0yn9YNSlSYTfaDKLqkY8G8yLSnn4ee181GRdyEQvwmv6xrbOd09r5k6ONcAxSiMx1hMtQskM_fyLoQOEpI3ElvibTVk81P6sk/s1600/images-7.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the most interesting parts of our trip to Italy was our visit to the remains of the once vibrant Roman city of Pompeii. It felt as if we had entered a time vortex and were suddenly in an ancient city that had been preserved exactly as it was 2,000 years ago. It was our mission to explore the exotic remains of the city and its inhabitants over the next few hours. It felt like watching an episode of Land of the Lost as a kid.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3y99G-wFCnAR9aOs84qK1K4yFMGtdIGFwTjH8mPLZ3NHFXcWx8Ppv5cjV89rClSNEXvE2uc4DwQH_nF2hAfj_ThifBAZfUNi3bmBNNSqfpi2RW-luLjMf2jmaVamTV0KxTbt5kiWQGI/s1600/P1070966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3y99G-wFCnAR9aOs84qK1K4yFMGtdIGFwTjH8mPLZ3NHFXcWx8Ppv5cjV89rClSNEXvE2uc4DwQH_nF2hAfj_ThifBAZfUNi3bmBNNSqfpi2RW-luLjMf2jmaVamTV0KxTbt5kiWQGI/s320/P1070966.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Vesuvius looms behind the ruins of Pompeii</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKYlBWPcmoh7hhvZz_30GI4RfeFWI0p8JnlGhjVS9fot7lXX0u10x4JdCaceculPwj20Q-8J2iMTSU5RxXDndIrs0uHqEMHcOQ2tUpc1p5kgiwkRbuaZtFB6kTpWL_Wt8vnMJNQ7XnGE/s1600/Pompeii_the_last_day_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKYlBWPcmoh7hhvZz_30GI4RfeFWI0p8JnlGhjVS9fot7lXX0u10x4JdCaceculPwj20Q-8J2iMTSU5RxXDndIrs0uHqEMHcOQ2tUpc1p5kgiwkRbuaZtFB6kTpWL_Wt8vnMJNQ7XnGE/s320/Pompeii_the_last_day_1.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo: Artist's depiction of the eruption which <br />buried Pompeii (from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC">BBC</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeii:_The_Last_Day">Pompeii: The Last Day</a>).</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9z6T6n74DAXLDZWsFqCfv7dkjllcU8NMPaIOvxRAPkwj4rlmVwAJr0hc9SozNRDTaRmLHFfDjnXgOpvuJVZMh8xe_GAUb_lZxEtQ5buYUsVdO_9piJ15ZN68ACJJvLfNWDNQk3G7yVQ/s1600/P1070962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a fateful summer day in A.D. 79 Mount Vesuvius erupted catching the nearly 20,000 inhabitants of nearby Pompeii completely off guard. They had no idea they were living so close to a volcano as it had not erupted for over a 1,000 years. Some residents chose to quickly abandon their homes and flee to safety. Others made a less wise decision and chose to remain in the city. They unfortunately did not survive as the city was </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">buried in thirty feet of ash and rock. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The still active volcano, (last eruption was in 1944) eerily looms today in the background behind the once vibrant Roman city. The eruption, although a terrible disaster, also had a silver lining. It preserved the buildings, frescos painted on the walls, tools and even bodies frozen in time. Thus, giving the modern world a window into what ancient Roman life was like. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The buried city remained undiscovered in the ashen cloak until it was re-discovered in the 1600s. Excavations didn't begin until </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1748. Approximately a third of the city still remains buried despite the hundreds of years of excavation work.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowKP2jyVZ466xWcxpLVJsAkYMxZC4kBeyniagj7uq7uSZLUOAXB5BSdOxiV3qkrzNLdPKzTb90SmZZ1vGfODDCws1rX3WKzUKg0CzOlqwut3XI9wZ3fqFAKNlNtu3tJyxEryiXoTcclw/s1600/628x471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowKP2jyVZ466xWcxpLVJsAkYMxZC4kBeyniagj7uq7uSZLUOAXB5BSdOxiV3qkrzNLdPKzTb90SmZZ1vGfODDCws1rX3WKzUKg0CzOlqwut3XI9wZ3fqFAKNlNtu3tJyxEryiXoTcclw/s200/628x471.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. St Helens 1980 eruption<br />
Source: Seattle P.I.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Pompeii eruption is similar to a modern-day eruption, that of Mount St Helen's here in Washington state on May 18th, 1980. When this volcano erupted, it spewed ash hundreds of miles away. Several residents living close to the volcano (although they had been warned the volcano was going to erupt) chose not to leave their homes by the mountain and they eventually were killed by the eruption. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This eruption was the most deadly and economically destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the United States. Fifty-seven people were killed, 200 houses, 27 bridges, 15 miles (24 km) of railways and 185 miles (298 km) of highway were destroyed. </span><a href="http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/Publications/MSHPPF/MSH_past_present_future.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">[1]</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FloJo remembers her aunt Callie sending her family a mason jar full of that volcanic ash, which she took to show and tell at school. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9z6T6n74DAXLDZWsFqCfv7dkjllcU8NMPaIOvxRAPkwj4rlmVwAJr0hc9SozNRDTaRmLHFfDjnXgOpvuJVZMh8xe_GAUb_lZxEtQ5buYUsVdO_9piJ15ZN68ACJJvLfNWDNQk3G7yVQ/s1600/P1070962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9z6T6n74DAXLDZWsFqCfv7dkjllcU8NMPaIOvxRAPkwj4rlmVwAJr0hc9SozNRDTaRmLHFfDjnXgOpvuJVZMh8xe_GAUb_lZxEtQ5buYUsVdO_9piJ15ZN68ACJJvLfNWDNQk3G7yVQ/s320/P1070962.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gladiator training grounds</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in Pompeii, Italy, we had somehow managed to not get a map when we paid our admission fee. Luckily we had downloaded the Rick Steves audio <a href="http://www.ricksteves.com/news/audio-tours.htm" target="_blank">guide</a> before our visit. We used his audio to help us know where we were, what we were seeing with color commentary and where we should go next. <strong><u>TIP:</u></strong> learn from our mistake and make sure to get a map (the visual would help navigation through the city immensely). Also, the Rick Steves audio guide is free and we highly recommend downloading this ahead of your visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We entered through what used to be the gladiator training grounds and their barracks. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-YILuVKU2tKEVSyZlwm4qiTG6wF0MFuI5pyqTwgxJI0V0oESRLpbx39EGfQaqZzhcN6II9j_NgsFfPIIinOYrSCw5KEJqMDsfJ3e1FbrvKIIUg5CL9St1Ax_uI8rbCw1TSnyIjZNu3w/s1600/P1070961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-YILuVKU2tKEVSyZlwm4qiTG6wF0MFuI5pyqTwgxJI0V0oESRLpbx39EGfQaqZzhcN6II9j_NgsFfPIIinOYrSCw5KEJqMDsfJ3e1FbrvKIIUg5CL9St1Ax_uI8rbCw1TSnyIjZNu3w/s320/P1070961.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-YILuVKU2tKEVSyZlwm4qiTG6wF0MFuI5pyqTwgxJI0V0oESRLpbx39EGfQaqZzhcN6II9j_NgsFfPIIinOYrSCw5KEJqMDsfJ3e1FbrvKIIUg5CL9St1Ax_uI8rbCw1TSnyIjZNu3w/s1600/P1070961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacv_mLVRfqKB8eN6RVhwjqyAGp-TvFUCw6sLLSHfHv9xffxQAvUPAwUc7nV8M3d5wkzWSf7YgGM7Wz2aLo9Lotwqpjf6vE7wxPnfcsjxFI8G3seVN_XMlqnZKpAEj5roS1KM2AXHLSfU/s1600/P1070963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacv_mLVRfqKB8eN6RVhwjqyAGp-TvFUCw6sLLSHfHv9xffxQAvUPAwUc7nV8M3d5wkzWSf7YgGM7Wz2aLo9Lotwqpjf6vE7wxPnfcsjxFI8G3seVN_XMlqnZKpAEj5roS1KM2AXHLSfU/s400/P1070963.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started our exploration at the theatre. In true Roman form there were different pricing tiers. The white marble seats up close were the premium seats, there was a main section and like in our stadiums and theaters today, the cheap seats in the nosebleed section. The theatre was large enough to accommodate 5,000 guests.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xNmidIudo3ETtrp8WJXI_gXAvkh_qmjVlVZ7ShJLraJyi_7L5AMangZ3NhMeoyIfNLqlMRJR1omyisVIVtT5dNaPjZHCnaO91I3xSHCoSRBwnS2aTStv9D2LhfGLXCoq6W6VUbTUxZc/s1600/P1070973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xNmidIudo3ETtrp8WJXI_gXAvkh_qmjVlVZ7ShJLraJyi_7L5AMangZ3NhMeoyIfNLqlMRJR1omyisVIVtT5dNaPjZHCnaO91I3xSHCoSRBwnS2aTStv9D2LhfGLXCoq6W6VUbTUxZc/s400/P1070973.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We left the theatre and followed the city street that led to the main town square known as the Forum. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Forum was where the residents went to worship, do their shopping and socializing as well as where the government offices were located.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnRA4w38slXGNQpr7tqg4SShGx7tHy0QDFWD7FBE9fI4CbcvU5-1msh2r7uoOl10zm6RStjbL2E9WltMrJB0OTa3vA3h9zBxTPRtyTCFk5LhP6xXYVh5XNlZW6q2Y-9UPABkQH8yAjww/s1600/P1080018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnRA4w38slXGNQpr7tqg4SShGx7tHy0QDFWD7FBE9fI4CbcvU5-1msh2r7uoOl10zm6RStjbL2E9WltMrJB0OTa3vA3h9zBxTPRtyTCFk5LhP6xXYVh5XNlZW6q2Y-9UPABkQH8yAjww/s320/P1080018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRaK3x6VfHl5Q3eICIe8qkCF8AecIjbMzk-tonbGNzTsQykHZI6wyuG4y8iBm_5WfaInZvG8F78bV5W5VPT8TN7DfETtTiOjomS7lPs9A4YBJdaGoKGn21MBDmmMdbhMBNc4ZLFARFZ0/s1600/P1080049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRaK3x6VfHl5Q3eICIe8qkCF8AecIjbMzk-tonbGNzTsQykHZI6wyuG4y8iBm_5WfaInZvG8F78bV5W5VPT8TN7DfETtTiOjomS7lPs9A4YBJdaGoKGn21MBDmmMdbhMBNc4ZLFARFZ0/s320/P1080049.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The streets alone had a story and were fascinating to look at. We could see grooves created by chariot wheels that had worn them into the streets of Pompeii similar to what large semi-trucks do to our interstate highways today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The city work crews would flood the streets each day with sea water to keep the city clean (we have to give the Pompeiians credit for this). Some clever engineer built three stepping stones across the street so towns people could cross the street without getting their sandal clad feet wet. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsfN8H0yDtI5qv_Lw5pvxWrzUlBx8nV3VXExGuXnnvXGO-UC_u64LNiRtR9mMz6ChS-YO0YGJu0SJhVpw3eV8fsRMn8t4XhGZB4dAJXfEWuDWJm9KZBmiFWboDxrLxYJWweA2SAcFRb4/s1600/P1070980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsfN8H0yDtI5qv_Lw5pvxWrzUlBx8nV3VXExGuXnnvXGO-UC_u64LNiRtR9mMz6ChS-YO0YGJu0SJhVpw3eV8fsRMn8t4XhGZB4dAJXfEWuDWJm9KZBmiFWboDxrLxYJWweA2SAcFRb4/s320/P1070980.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGbA4Cfqj60-C-u4f3-xeZcKfRCiCp9vNPSxVWNv0ew_jnoTdW8dN-WanyTETUkAf96jrEMwAb3TjrC1pEuN_TL4ocjw7E3_m4F4Du7RNJxPwBQlxnjlRSqYMouMqX0j8FMMXon9jN3Y/s1600/P1070978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGbA4Cfqj60-C-u4f3-xeZcKfRCiCp9vNPSxVWNv0ew_jnoTdW8dN-WanyTETUkAf96jrEMwAb3TjrC1pEuN_TL4ocjw7E3_m4F4Du7RNJxPwBQlxnjlRSqYMouMqX0j8FMMXon9jN3Y/s320/P1070978.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remains of the Temple of Jupiter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprC2GAjqCG1SUTI_y-Ec3FkknwwD1NzFIs_oGxrVW9UGjNwkQVZ6iSPcShhAuGlMmEugXyk9SP3pM36P4ICDFrbojOONrMzJe0cBq71Ic0XeX247LaGj2nunXcWXWpJIlrH5-tmwCX9I/s1600/250px-Pompeii_Jupiter_Cyark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprC2GAjqCG1SUTI_y-Ec3FkknwwD1NzFIs_oGxrVW9UGjNwkQVZ6iSPcShhAuGlMmEugXyk9SP3pM36P4ICDFrbojOONrMzJe0cBq71Ic0XeX247LaGj2nunXcWXWpJIlrH5-tmwCX9I/s200/250px-Pompeii_Jupiter_Cyark.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bust of Jupiter</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Temple of Jupiter located on the North side of the Forum was the religious center of the city. The Temple of Jupiter has little remaining these days besides some ruined columns on top of a base with stairs leading up to it. There is also a small, white marble head which represents Jupiter. It was not uncommon for cities of Roman rule to build a temple honoring Jupiter, the most important God in ancient Rome.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zypBUIFsjK1dLvLQJQIK_fz-45qpzK5uYdaK6VQSfFuc3dRC8f1v_QCA3-wivuFMVgHsiNZoygRyJggIaL9mxccvxTQfcAjq2pGZ9gjqk8aYxMeNERS8hYKK9EZ59w2iJWs3HMVLP2Y/s1600/P1070982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zypBUIFsjK1dLvLQJQIK_fz-45qpzK5uYdaK6VQSfFuc3dRC8f1v_QCA3-wivuFMVgHsiNZoygRyJggIaL9mxccvxTQfcAjq2pGZ9gjqk8aYxMeNERS8hYKK9EZ59w2iJWs3HMVLP2Y/s200/P1070982.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple of Vaspian</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Temple of Vaspian has a white altar that remains and a raised pedestal behind it that probably would have housed a statue of the deity the temple was built for.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmlMq6eMUHCg16R_S523KkVRKT2ZOVTXsCU3m0Q7JGYN141RsGS3QhHQFFIMnPgrLSYwiTGo5_CRVgX6r0E4ylg4VYMFuwEQuPBPZV2f5VtAcA1qs-nKmGMOcTowRFg_exSB2G49cddo/s1600/P1070967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmlMq6eMUHCg16R_S523KkVRKT2ZOVTXsCU3m0Q7JGYN141RsGS3QhHQFFIMnPgrLSYwiTGo5_CRVgX6r0E4ylg4VYMFuwEQuPBPZV2f5VtAcA1qs-nKmGMOcTowRFg_exSB2G49cddo/s320/P1070967.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Curia</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Curia was Pompeii's city hall. It was built out of brick with a marble facade. As you face Vesuvius it's on the left side of the Forum. This is the building where elected representatives came to vote and conduct their political business. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcS4X4Sco06DzJeimfOwNKDoRD2_rtiljrb5HKKgAHOXYjvUv6y5oWqIc17zn94FYAWXth1wq0FDue3uYlgTSYW9bVx_ruJ6KoLVnDW81tFdBNskUazbWqRRFzt7vkKk82RE_SN8dGos/s1600/P1070970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcS4X4Sco06DzJeimfOwNKDoRD2_rtiljrb5HKKgAHOXYjvUv6y5oWqIc17zn94FYAWXth1wq0FDue3uYlgTSYW9bVx_ruJ6KoLVnDW81tFdBNskUazbWqRRFzt7vkKk82RE_SN8dGos/s320/P1070970.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The basilica, also on the left, was the city's courthouse. The word was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. By extension it was applied to Christian buildings of the same form and continues to be used in an architectural sense to describe those buildings with a central nave and aisles. It's outlined now by column stumps. There is still some remaining evidence that marble used to line the walls, indicating the importance of this building</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><a href="http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/Publications/MSHPPF/MSH_past_present_future.html" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall with preserved frescoes of Pompeiian life</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the right hand side of the Forum is the marketplace. This was the center of economic trading for the city. Archeologists have found clues to ancient Roman food, everyday tools and banking from remains found here. There are also a few fairly well preserved frescos on one wall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Housed within the marketplace, lest those visiting forget the 2,000 citizens that died being buried under the ash, there are two glass cases holding the casts of two of those that perished that day. Although very creepy to look at, it's also a preservation miracle. A modern archaeologist detected hollow spaces underfoot created when victims' bodies decomposed. The archaeologist had the ingenious idea to fill the spaces with plaster and was able to create these molds of several Pompeiians who were buried in the ash that fateful day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvDq3TF65oi7F9tS16FNIR9OaDTKwJ0Ks6Dx2qG32q1Cmuj-oUZ9_jqlVNxeNzd5_jc8Kd3EUYuPHgWkVs-8oJLYyQehN5TVOZvJ8dlSWIZaSgqYfY7RO9wguho1Vu5KvzlfVetwcf8Y/s1600/P1070993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvDq3TF65oi7F9tS16FNIR9OaDTKwJ0Ks6Dx2qG32q1Cmuj-oUZ9_jqlVNxeNzd5_jc8Kd3EUYuPHgWkVs-8oJLYyQehN5TVOZvJ8dlSWIZaSgqYfY7RO9wguho1Vu5KvzlfVetwcf8Y/s200/P1070993.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbXcI_QJir_ZN6KbGnr_cj1XKYREZH6epaJbNqBQZKK1k_9ls9lSBIFDjO5p3rsRMUYvMwiY3-WaSq1yW8U9u_b99kXUoV7xq9HvOq6z-XcqoN5fjHMP-FUZJWHTmBVaYqr65C_gqwtI/s1600/P1070992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbXcI_QJir_ZN6KbGnr_cj1XKYREZH6epaJbNqBQZKK1k_9ls9lSBIFDjO5p3rsRMUYvMwiY3-WaSq1yW8U9u_b99kXUoV7xq9HvOq6z-XcqoN5fjHMP-FUZJWHTmBVaYqr65C_gqwtI/s200/P1070992.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> After leaving the marketplace we headed to one of Pompeii's six public bath houses. Only the rich were able to afford privately built rooms with this function. These baths were divided into a men's and women's zone. Once we entered we could easily imagine what a Roman spa day was like. The rooms were surrounded with preserved art and tile on the walls. They took full advantage of the Roman </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">ingenuity and used a system of</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">aqueducts engineered to pump water into huge caldrons that were either hot, warm or cold. Massages were also given here along with a gymnasium for working out (had to keep those gladiators )</span><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 1.4em;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful frescoes preserved in the baths</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6icucGoXPVodFhu7iZb7BQJft7nouuUQ7jTWAUAWp1sGWLA11_fyz4-eX8r_x-kE-a-bhoQiZDOZTQ48C5FfeTNP1km14Tc1N0TUbCohN-aX-44r5HXpRnkYCpFOguviQTyq9CWHP0e4/s1600/P1080003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6icucGoXPVodFhu7iZb7BQJft7nouuUQ7jTWAUAWp1sGWLA11_fyz4-eX8r_x-kE-a-bhoQiZDOZTQ48C5FfeTNP1km14Tc1N0TUbCohN-aX-44r5HXpRnkYCpFOguviQTyq9CWHP0e4/s200/P1080003.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the bath tubs</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roman design that channeled water <br />
from condensation down the walls</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzdZ1RAimr5xXPJR4i6VMInjgx3v698dCKC_nG97d_8SGHUzlqllus-6TD4U87BkTm9pNnaF50w1_o0yRHMZXtkB8ZqQiaJGcdFeH7ZJFlfbYmNSkYCUtA_ugOtkpjCJQib9vwG8yiyw/s1600/P1080001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzdZ1RAimr5xXPJR4i6VMInjgx3v698dCKC_nG97d_8SGHUzlqllus-6TD4U87BkTm9pNnaF50w1_o0yRHMZXtkB8ZqQiaJGcdFeH7ZJFlfbYmNSkYCUtA_ugOtkpjCJQib9vwG8yiyw/s200/P1080001.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spa Benches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizp1Nff0YllP6hUEymh07T6uU332eCH_gXoqapaJSBVPdYk5ySE70pmw73PqfWO85_ehIKWGRYQoighIudjNC_Z4eZVxTlwo9rtnfQSAJOpZAyOcCkJ1VSZuZpI9H4wXLu5Ku1HD7V4tw/s1600/P1070991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizp1Nff0YllP6hUEymh07T6uU332eCH_gXoqapaJSBVPdYk5ySE70pmw73PqfWO85_ehIKWGRYQoighIudjNC_Z4eZVxTlwo9rtnfQSAJOpZAyOcCkJ1VSZuZpI9H4wXLu5Ku1HD7V4tw/s200/P1070991.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient skylight</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caldron where water was heated</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oDt6h9_-FYKhOd_p8goNuAXls6SXb6v1J87Rtu7oYG9ibTVQk-sYUcS4Wi_rk6rLPWyL9Y20r5wvOl0p-N_C00JjhJRYBVzymWxrqa_8IsxyLzOoVP45Z6uY8mW4OuD4PiS3D11GVtg/s1600/P1080012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oDt6h9_-FYKhOd_p8goNuAXls6SXb6v1J87Rtu7oYG9ibTVQk-sYUcS4Wi_rk6rLPWyL9Y20r5wvOl0p-N_C00JjhJRYBVzymWxrqa_8IsxyLzOoVP45Z6uY8mW4OuD4PiS3D11GVtg/s200/P1080012.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exiting the baths we crossed the street to what used to be Pompeii's version of McDonald's. Like today, many ancients preferred to dine out rather than cooking at home. Again, we had to admire the intelligence of these early business people knowing that once you hit the spa no one wants to go home and slave over a fire. What's left are long marble counters with holes in them that held pots full of their food products.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuSW4m4qiOPIzSsgd-U3_-pTM0KgSGdK8yJIfMbUKkGcE4LTgn3Yons8znDNAFudFhrkEDzi_t435B1QWWuAu9wQwPe3BUdifBHcOrZXb4zKTtcVk3GEJRTMzB_MFRExKPbVQWwVF-vk/s1600/P1080010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuSW4m4qiOPIzSsgd-U3_-pTM0KgSGdK8yJIfMbUKkGcE4LTgn3Yons8znDNAFudFhrkEDzi_t435B1QWWuAu9wQwPe3BUdifBHcOrZXb4zKTtcVk3GEJRTMzB_MFRExKPbVQWwVF-vk/s320/P1080010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stick with your day job Ro</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWa13jory2iPWh0RDz71a21WYqhcbym3_x_jgVCLM0jIm8OXA5WIGZU-MiG5ztgSHcblz92A7I5BQgbgmtGQVnJy45ga1MXlY4teztzQ7qMU-nb9Zx1jtcxiCr572lCHfngqPJV1ZsB2Y/s1600/P1080016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWa13jory2iPWh0RDz71a21WYqhcbym3_x_jgVCLM0jIm8OXA5WIGZU-MiG5ztgSHcblz92A7I5BQgbgmtGQVnJy45ga1MXlY4teztzQ7qMU-nb9Zx1jtcxiCr572lCHfngqPJV1ZsB2Y/s320/P1080016.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The House of the Tragic Poet is just a few steps away and gave us a giggle. The owners had created what may be one of the first documented "Beware of Dog" signs ever. The mosaic is placed squarely in the entryway and is a clear message to people passing by. Speaking of dogs there were several stray dogs wandering around the ruins. Like most strays they were thin and not very clean and appeared to live off the generosity of tourists. However, we learned that the tour guides of Pompeii actually have taken responsibility for the dog's care. They pool tip money to pay for proper food and care for these dogs. Very cool!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYMlxsik31rJlKOf2DP_cR2VNy_IY6FbaMZ1YHuM-E-yVzsSxYNtH2eKh5NzYGPEUyDt2DpA2LrNrCL-pg5ZLI3tJuUiw9KqRWzRKndtS4HHpJFHIqjE4svR_Gy__u0R8ylWjOvbto6E/s1600/P1080019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYMlxsik31rJlKOf2DP_cR2VNy_IY6FbaMZ1YHuM-E-yVzsSxYNtH2eKh5NzYGPEUyDt2DpA2LrNrCL-pg5ZLI3tJuUiw9KqRWzRKndtS4HHpJFHIqjE4svR_Gy__u0R8ylWjOvbto6E/s200/P1080019.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slightly downhill from the fast-food joint was this aqueduct arch which was part of the water delivery system for the city of Pompeii. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEAXSyJlWAoSPTkF0NxLnjpTE8F0YMqvoHLUYOk4MFLb4Z4r1jgZZU_EWTyZIhey-nXIdXarS1O7CdUE9pgghj5eOACn4uVq2K7kUL9jbCeE0QvQObEE2Gh7jKdSxL7Ajd2j5kERrDZY/s1600/P1080023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEAXSyJlWAoSPTkF0NxLnjpTE8F0YMqvoHLUYOk4MFLb4Z4r1jgZZU_EWTyZIhey-nXIdXarS1O7CdUE9pgghj5eOACn4uVq2K7kUL9jbCeE0QvQObEE2Gh7jKdSxL7Ajd2j5kERrDZY/s200/P1080023.JPG" width="188" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We continued downhill to see Pompeii's largest home, the House of the Faun. You know every town has one of these homes that the residents just love to take a stroll by and dream about someday owning something similar. The home has a small bronze statue known as the <i>Dancing Faun</i>. The home itself is believed to have had approximately 27,000 square feet (an entire city block) with about 40 rooms. There are beautiful floor mosaics inside the home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were more than 40 bakeries in the city. We stumbled upon several of them as we meandered through the the various neighborhoods. One was a bakery and mill with a brick oven that was pretty much the same as our modern day pizza ovens. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvZlAaTlU5zfPEwjioEb5YzZqxANP16KFchK9gP_nKZ7Dk-l9zosBefYWXZF-FbSg9LhpfgGUDxetMdGXv39KDiOkHKKUUg-Rwg66FkjTKoAUBwxGZWwO_6YjxH8878IMOM-nY8zAJxM/s1600/IMG_1297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvZlAaTlU5zfPEwjioEb5YzZqxANP16KFchK9gP_nKZ7Dk-l9zosBefYWXZF-FbSg9LhpfgGUDxetMdGXv39KDiOkHKKUUg-Rwg66FkjTKoAUBwxGZWwO_6YjxH8878IMOM-nY8zAJxM/s320/IMG_1297.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM58hw3pMy71Et8n0e-mz_ZyVw_z9qI1MFJW-l0nXpyKnK8ZeygcyAlAzI1hXgHx2ZVQcGUyDBWHCUVVW6HwvleubGgVivkotHija_CLYZWhvpKbBdDMhbB6BezCsMJAZ4MYzfXwkW3g/s1600/IMG_1299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTM58hw3pMy71Et8n0e-mz_ZyVw_z9qI1MFJW-l0nXpyKnK8ZeygcyAlAzI1hXgHx2ZVQcGUyDBWHCUVVW6HwvleubGgVivkotHija_CLYZWhvpKbBdDMhbB6BezCsMJAZ4MYzfXwkW3g/s200/IMG_1299.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We learned on Rick's audio commentary that the huge column stones were actually what they used to grind flour. The grain was put into the top and then mules or slaves would push wooden handles that were put in the holes in the side that turned the stones and ground the grain into flour. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the local bars</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRaK3x6VfHl5Q3eICIe8qkCF8AecIjbMzk-tonbGNzTsQykHZI6wyuG4y8iBm_5WfaInZvG8F78bV5W5VPT8TN7DfETtTiOjomS7lPs9A4YBJdaGoKGn21MBDmmMdbhMBNc4ZLFARFZ0/s1600/P1080049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRaK3x6VfHl5Q3eICIe8qkCF8AecIjbMzk-tonbGNzTsQykHZI6wyuG4y8iBm_5WfaInZvG8F78bV5W5VPT8TN7DfETtTiOjomS7lPs9A4YBJdaGoKGn21MBDmmMdbhMBNc4ZLFARFZ0/s200/P1080049.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Break!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ro standing excitedly in the exit from the brothel</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hardest thing to find and the business Ro was most intent on finding was one of the thirty brothels in Pompeii. We finally came upon it after squeezing through a modern chain link fence that said we were not supposed to go any farther. We had not come this far however, to be denied seeing the true epicenter of the city.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4HBLLmk_uYiBzcGQ-nVMuSxOpHpVzBi_3CjDVFC0RVxGLCeeEynBTya6mb6Jr8vYUW6rNmRtnYJ61JMTFRUWrQjUnJ1iNaPF-NLj_W_vsaSSqt-nm2tjlhDw1BJhyphenhyphen9Iu4H4_Ii46SGc/s1600/IMG_1307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4HBLLmk_uYiBzcGQ-nVMuSxOpHpVzBi_3CjDVFC0RVxGLCeeEynBTya6mb6Jr8vYUW6rNmRtnYJ61JMTFRUWrQjUnJ1iNaPF-NLj_W_vsaSSqt-nm2tjlhDw1BJhyphenhyphen9Iu4H4_Ii46SGc/s200/IMG_1307.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The brothel itself consisted of a few tiny rooms that had very hard and uncomfortable looking beds made of stone in them. Perhaps the intent was so the customers didn't get too comfortable. In the first pass, we missed the naughty frescoes that were preserved on the walls and ceilings of the brothel. But, upon the second pass through Ro caught site of one of them. One more example of not much changing between then and now.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The colorful walls of the brothel</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ_991dcCFSGdkt-P-DOd-nf9hYWflsCoBAbM4nLFg9-_xvlXZcQxVGT9dRmX0O43FsMQJhXAh0sRm9myyQW-9ZFkFh9RoHcWf1nmg6pNXU8GTWFk0skLXdaOhyphenhyphenHR0-t4ANz-4DVvdHk/s1600/P1070960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ_991dcCFSGdkt-P-DOd-nf9hYWflsCoBAbM4nLFg9-_xvlXZcQxVGT9dRmX0O43FsMQJhXAh0sRm9myyQW-9ZFkFh9RoHcWf1nmg6pNXU8GTWFk0skLXdaOhyphenhyphenHR0-t4ANz-4DVvdHk/s320/P1070960.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was amazing how we literally stepped back to 79 AD and could easily envision what life must have been like back then. Surprisingly, these ancient lives didn't seem that different from ours, minus modern technology. Our visit to Pompeii provided us with an intimate connection with these Pompeiians who died during the eruption. The day trip from Rome is one we highly recommend as it provides a poignant link from past to present.</span><br />
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Live life with flavor and fun!</h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /><br /><a href="http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/Publications/MSHPPF/MSH_past_present_future.html">[1]</a> Robert I., Topinka, Lyn and Swanson, Donald A. (1990). <a href="http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/Publications/MSHPPF/MSH_past_present_future.html">"Eruptions of Mount St. Helens: Past, Present, and Future"</a>. The Climactic Eruption of May 18, 1980. U.S. Geological Survey (Special Interest Publication). Retrieved December 5, 2010.(adapted public domain text)<br /><br /><a href="http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/Publications/MSHPPF/MSH_past_present_future.html">[2]</a> Wikipedia, Basilica, 1st paragraph, retrieved from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica">here.</a></span>Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-34954990886050012402013-06-19T19:38:00.000-07:002013-06-19T19:38:05.113-07:00Cat....strike that....Chef in the Hat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #444444; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last evening we took a last chance to dine at an iconic Seattle restaurant that is closing in the next week, Rover's a French restaurant with definite Northwestern notes that has been open for over twenty-six years (almost as old as Ro). Owner Thierry Rautureau is calling it quits in this chapter of his book, but we are confident this is not the end of the story. There are rumors he is going to open a new restaurant in the near future. He also owns the kid brother of Rover's-- Luc (named after Thierry's father) a more laid back French-American Bistro that is only steps away from its more mature sibling. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="The Chef In The Hat" class="border" height="212" src="http://thechefinthehat.com/images/photo-about.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); color: #333333; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Chef/Owner Thierry Rautureau with his famous fedora<span style="color: #444444; line-height: 28px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span>Photo courtesy of chefinthehat.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People like us, that are first-timers to his restaurant in the final days, are definite members of the last supper club. We aren't in the club alone, Thierry estimates at least 30 percent of people making reservations for the very last meal on June 23rd to be people coming to dine at the restaurant for the first time as reported in the Nosh Pitª</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Bravo.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 28px;">Chef Thierry is known as the Chef in the Hat because of his signature fedora. He has classic French training and credentials having been born in Northwestern France and started his passion for cooking in his teenage years cooking with his mother using fresh local ingredients. He came to Seattle with six years of traditional French cooking and technique training under his belt. He arrived in Seattle by way of Chicago and LA. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thierry gets out of the way of the beautiful raw Northwest ingredients like Salmon and Cherries and let's them speak for themselves accenting them with French technique as a woman adds a scarf to a beautiful outfit to make it that much better. The tasting menu is best described as beautiful and fancy as you'd expect from a Frenchman, but dialed back a bit using flavors native to the cuisine of the Pacific Northwest. Chef Thierry Rautureau is passionate (and has been for a long time even before it was cool) about sourcing ingredients that are local, sustainable, organic, and seasonal going back to how he learned to cook in his native countryside.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 28px;">We cheered on Chef Thierry as he battled on Top Chef Masters, one of our favorite shows. He didn't end up winning the competition, but represented Seattle very well and we think should have been named the most entertaining chef. He's also a James Beard winner of the Best Chef in the Pacific Northwest award. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJr3NQBHS4Ye9WphxZDLhDlPLi2scpzibJqoAfddjLuuWU70ipnZJM13S42UQbpSPKacAO5T4ZgjxKFNazFvOgWfBdukf54dsOEU1jx0lb8eC6W3M48gfTDvUi715J2tYPJtO_llZuJ8/s1600/Roversexterior2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJr3NQBHS4Ye9WphxZDLhDlPLi2scpzibJqoAfddjLuuWU70ipnZJM13S42UQbpSPKacAO5T4ZgjxKFNazFvOgWfBdukf54dsOEU1jx0lb8eC6W3M48gfTDvUi715J2tYPJtO_llZuJ8/s1600/Roversexterior2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 28px;">The restaurant is as low key as a formal French restaurant can be. Set in a beautiful old home with an amazing private courtyard in the heart of Madison Valley. We felt right at ease from the moment we arrived. The service was impeccable and we loved our waiter, who could get a job as a radio announcer for his next gig because of his soothing deep voice. If our eight course tasting menu didn't put us in a coma, the melodic voice of our waiter certainly did.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 28px;">Here's how the evening played out-- each course thoughtful and intentional with beautiful strokes of color and artistry. The French word chef-d'oeuvre sums it up best. This meal would have been fitting for anyone's last meal. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 28px;"><u>Menu Degustation</u></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 28px;">Amuse de bouche (French for amusing the mouth)~ trois fois</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A trio of duck & olive, chèvre and blue potato soup w/ herbed oil</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ahi Tuna Crudo, Sea Beans, Halibut Rillettes, Puffed Rice, Marinated Citrus<br />and the most amazing Lemon Curd</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A crisp and lush Sancerre from the Loire Valley</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Roasted Oregon Quail, Pickled Beet, <br />Confit Onion (yes there was duck fat involved),<br />Dijon Gastrique<br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">King Salmon, PeaVine-Olive Ragout, with Lemon Butter</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Surprise of the night:<br />We tried a new French region ~ Cotes de Bourg and it was lovely<br />Ro got hints of dark berries and chocolate</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Palate Cleanser~Grapefruit Granite</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Melt-in-your mouth Roasted Wagyu Beef, Black Lentils,<br />Asparagus, Mushrooms with a Thyme Demi<br />Surprise ingredient: A tender corn shoot (on the top)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The finale and piece de resistance<br />"A Symphony of Three Desserts"<br />It ain't over till the fat lady sings....<br />Lemon Souffle that we cut open and poured the velvety cream into<br />Brown Sugar Profiteroles, Diplomat Cream, Pecans, Salted Caramel<br />Dark Chocolate Pot de Creme, Washington Bing Cherry, Meringue</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5020Hak9xiJsLXeLv9xFZUkRwtzt6T2OXY-eqZSx-t-GS_nfolXD-AwdBS2H7P8wSQ869sjjQgGQooEWppIXX44l6Fg1kv0zCw8a7YSIj_zpELMtZ38ZxQL33uM1PqFS9uTbNrl22iYo/s1600/IMG_2618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5020Hak9xiJsLXeLv9xFZUkRwtzt6T2OXY-eqZSx-t-GS_nfolXD-AwdBS2H7P8wSQ869sjjQgGQooEWppIXX44l6Fg1kv0zCw8a7YSIj_zpELMtZ38ZxQL33uM1PqFS9uTbNrl22iYo/s320/IMG_2618.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5020Hak9xiJsLXeLv9xFZUkRwtzt6T2OXY-eqZSx-t-GS_nfolXD-AwdBS2H7P8wSQ869sjjQgGQooEWppIXX44l6Fg1kv0zCw8a7YSIj_zpELMtZ38ZxQL33uM1PqFS9uTbNrl22iYo/s1600/IMG_2618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ro is definitely enjoying the symphony! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And in case that wasn't enough the final, final act. Shortbread cookies and a raspberry</span> <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gel%C3%A9e#French">gelée</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why did we wait so long to visit this restaurant? Probably because we held onto a false belief we would encounter a stuffy, pretentious environment. What we experienced was the complete opposite a warm and approachable restaurant. Our waiter was extremely versed in French cuisine, but acted more as our humble guide on this degustation tour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's a lesson that we should have learned long ago reading the profound words of Dr. Zeuss. Don't judge until you try it. From the Cat in the Hat to the Chef in the Hat the lesson is the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3TTVLYpHkke5Gp_AtxpTO269_owLdF0CEfcmZKxKXGn-G7c0yG3JwlICKJrI7arcudOQgFbD-7B01NUtstLeDDopCUZI5A_pWsCRsgAa-1x4LKBpYFk-A8InMGAm-DO19W7uOL_750Q/s1600/com.oceanhouse.media-1.10-AD-Shot3._SL404_V170901764_.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3TTVLYpHkke5Gp_AtxpTO269_owLdF0CEfcmZKxKXGn-G7c0yG3JwlICKJrI7arcudOQgFbD-7B01NUtstLeDDopCUZI5A_pWsCRsgAa-1x4LKBpYFk-A8InMGAm-DO19W7uOL_750Q/s1600/com.oceanhouse.media-1.10-AD-Shot3._SL404_V170901764_.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I do not like<br />green eggs<br />and ham!<br /><br />I do not like them,<br />Sam-I-am.<br /><br />You do not like them.<br />SO you say.<br />Try them! Try them!<br />And you may.<br />Try them and you may I say.<br /><br />Sam!<br />If you will let me be,<br />I will try them.<br />You will see.<br /><br />Say!<br />I like green eggs and ham!<br />I do!! I like them, Sam-I-am!<br />And I would eat them in a boat!<br />And I would eat them with a goat...<br />And I will eat them in the rain.<br />And in the dark. And on a train.<br />And in a car. And in a tree.<br />They are so good so good you see!<br /><br />So I will eat them in a box.<br />And I will eat them with a fox.<br />And I will eat them in a house.<br />And I will eat them with a mouse.<br />And I will eat them here and there.<br />Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!<br /><br />I do so like<br />green eggs and ham!<br />Thank you!<br />Thank you,<br />Sam-I-am</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Au Revoir Rover's or in American-ease Or-E-Voor. You classed up the city and we are sorry to have met you so en retard. We will not make the same mistake, if indeed the rumors are true, and Thierry is closing this door only to move on to open a new restaurant adventure. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>Vivre avec la saveur et le plaisir!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">ª Kathryn Robinson, A Seattle Legend Bids Adieu Seattle Met Nosh Pit,http://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/nosh-pit/articles/a-seattle-legend-bids-adieu-june-2013 (June 2013)</span><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-15800062427138390422013-04-04T18:11:00.001-07:002013-04-04T18:11:44.553-07:00Almost Edible: America's Iconic TV Dinner <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimz0ShKUy0u72suEbTr39EATvcta4HCnb28BT3VxzApg1sEktvOXBMH2wI650s3eTd_RyrKTzOyK5fR0FpakANLGDh2i3UEG91eaE6bKevjiWlC0WBfB4BByIJNWlBAGVVWfZ2WL4fWGM/s1600/images-15.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimz0ShKUy0u72suEbTr39EATvcta4HCnb28BT3VxzApg1sEktvOXBMH2wI650s3eTd_RyrKTzOyK5fR0FpakANLGDh2i3UEG91eaE6bKevjiWlC0WBfB4BByIJNWlBAGVVWfZ2WL4fWGM/s1600/images-15.jpeg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19gjVF0Rsw1_jkeptJcWrqq5Al5HqwVrHzhJ02dErRPjWJSwRigkKqUrG704DKk9u30rv3h7_YzaYEQZxmrkFl9tVr448ZpYlBDfItUtTtkBt7Vc7vDWk4uBZk4ls1Fe_n5MWRo6BBY0/s1600/Love-Boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19gjVF0Rsw1_jkeptJcWrqq5Al5HqwVrHzhJ02dErRPjWJSwRigkKqUrG704DKk9u30rv3h7_YzaYEQZxmrkFl9tVr448ZpYlBDfItUtTtkBt7Vc7vDWk4uBZk4ls1Fe_n5MWRo6BBY0/s200/Love-Boat.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember those
classic American TV dinners?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ones
with the separated trays that you could pull out of the freezer and put in the
oven and or microwave and then plop down in front of the boob tube and watch
your favorite evening shows while eating your perfectly separated meat,
potatoes and vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> As kids, we used to think TV dinners were a special treat especially if we got to eat them off a TV dinner tray and watch our favorite shows. FloJo's favorites were the back to back Saturday night weekly episodes of Love Boat followed by Fantasy Island and Mr. Roarke. </span><i> "My dear guests, I am Mr. Roarke, your host. Welcome to Fantasy Island."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The earliest
documented beginnings for TV dinners was in the late 1940's when Albert and
Meyer Bernstein started packaging frozen dinners under the One-Eyed Eskimo
label divided into three compartments all on aluminum trays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The product took off enough that the company
expanded it's market, renamed itself the Quaker State Food company and within
five years had sold a quarter million of these dinners.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5vLBfxmmVk3vrAR0ilJYt-lV6rQNhZBF4bMprOFVfsfdzE4UpjsFRCzwkNnfSbO4gHTObGxS-Q9RkV1nk0VdECEYC3ZIRtab-BjAlumTWtSdef-zkR-POHy4g99RQgqfcvWFuqWqb0k/s1600/tvdinner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5vLBfxmmVk3vrAR0ilJYt-lV6rQNhZBF4bMprOFVfsfdzE4UpjsFRCzwkNnfSbO4gHTObGxS-Q9RkV1nk0VdECEYC3ZIRtab-BjAlumTWtSdef-zkR-POHy4g99RQgqfcvWFuqWqb0k/s400/tvdinner2.jpg" width="341" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this point,
competition from a well known brand, Swanson, emerged as they flooded the
marketplace with advertising for their product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Swanson</span> gets credit for the actual naming of the product as a "TV Dinner",
which has been propelled into American food history as an iconic mid-century
meal.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIq0g_Gu0yveAE-C8GWtsGG4gtdm6CP9naosjOzyoBLbKxokaom5NbXZEKystN5LWGkL3MVum-84IFUkCrwNwN4Buy2ob8YrTu9PTeQ-lsXAl2u4uvnM7CmEabIRMisEdKDaloIl256c/s1600/images-14.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIq0g_Gu0yveAE-C8GWtsGG4gtdm6CP9naosjOzyoBLbKxokaom5NbXZEKystN5LWGkL3MVum-84IFUkCrwNwN4Buy2ob8YrTu9PTeQ-lsXAl2u4uvnM7CmEabIRMisEdKDaloIl256c/s1600/images-14.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5vLBfxmmVk3vrAR0ilJYt-lV6rQNhZBF4bMprOFVfsfdzE4UpjsFRCzwkNnfSbO4gHTObGxS-Q9RkV1nk0VdECEYC3ZIRtab-BjAlumTWtSdef-zkR-POHy4g99RQgqfcvWFuqWqb0k/s1600/tvdinner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIq0g_Gu0yveAE-C8GWtsGG4gtdm6CP9naosjOzyoBLbKxokaom5NbXZEKystN5LWGkL3MVum-84IFUkCrwNwN4Buy2ob8YrTu9PTeQ-lsXAl2u4uvnM7CmEabIRMisEdKDaloIl256c/s1600/images-14.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The credit for who
actually invented the TV dinner is disputed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Until recently, the <a href="http://www.affi.org/">American Frozen Food Institute</a> (did you know this
even existed?) claimed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gerry Thomas, an executive with Swanson was the inventor. Gerry himself maintains he was the original inventor when the company found themselves with a surplus of turkeys. He claims to have invented the dinners as a way to bring Thanksgiving dinner to American households all year round (while using the surplus turkeys). Queue dark
foreboding music now, the controversy began when Betty Cronin, a bacteriologist
who was also working for the Swanson brothers, asserts that it was the Swanson
brothers themselves, Gilbert and Clarke Swanson, who came up with the concept
of the TV dinner. (Her job by the way was to figure out how all three ingredients
could cook evenly for the same amount of time-- and from our experience eating
frozen dinners this was not really ever solved). Then you've got the Bernstein's claim as the original inventor (although clearly they could not take credit for the naming of the product).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite who gets
credit and goes into the Frozen Food Hall of Fame (yes this really exists) as the inventor of the TV
dinner this term is now iconic in our culture and envelopes any pre-packaged
frozen dinner that you can buy at the grocery store and reheat either in your
oven or now the microwave.</span></div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G2oKzuzZdN0hwxR2J-B7NvkUJ9wN7lzAOlYS44o7Hv1r3ZquywH_bWyfPxrH-VnNt1IkKxnlU-FgcJ45USxWfDVzpfaV8kRXlvFzGj4IpiJAuJUZKj8MF_TLwmhpzL5T_-oLX1ljrYQ/s1600/images-16.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6G2oKzuzZdN0hwxR2J-B7NvkUJ9wN7lzAOlYS44o7Hv1r3ZquywH_bWyfPxrH-VnNt1IkKxnlU-FgcJ45USxWfDVzpfaV8kRXlvFzGj4IpiJAuJUZKj8MF_TLwmhpzL5T_-oLX1ljrYQ/s1600/images-16.jpeg" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Last night, we waxed
nostalgic and came up with our own modern version of the TV dinner.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">What triggered the thought to recreate this
iconic dinner?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Simple-- we had recently bought
some cubed steak and immediately that conjured one of the most popular</span><span style="color: #333333;"> TV dinners, an all-star really--Salisbury Steak.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">You
all remember those Hungry-Man Dinner commercials right?</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Elevating what is really hamburger to elite
steak status simply by smothering it in brown gravy.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">This is where advertising really sucked us in
as kids because we thought it was such a treat to be able to eat this mushy
patty swimming in salty, thin gravy surrounded by either corn or peas with a
pat of butter and then a mystery dessert that seemed like something sneaky Mom
was trying to pass off as dessert.</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WW-uL1lSSSsiw-3J5BQIjKDDIGZNVpR8keKF5VdlmGrEs3oSc_aEtqchPRcxRFYCtEUlan3HEyO3NaljlggCe77jIvULfn-jVT_No9NutVEKlvYS_t0nde5LxMFl6KrPNVOAADDWZP4/s1600/IMG952018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WW-uL1lSSSsiw-3J5BQIjKDDIGZNVpR8keKF5VdlmGrEs3oSc_aEtqchPRcxRFYCtEUlan3HEyO3NaljlggCe77jIvULfn-jVT_No9NutVEKlvYS_t0nde5LxMFl6KrPNVOAADDWZP4/s200/IMG952018.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The term Salisbury
Steak has been used since the turn of the 19th century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite this "steak" being around for so long, the last
time we've had it was back as kids eating those TV dinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our college student, Po (watch for him as a
guest blogger soon-- on the prowl for cheap eats) hadn't even heard of
Salisbury Steak before our TV dinner version.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now, there's some real education!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UppBAV5z8ml8KxeERm4BRfaxWed23m4muV_OJuuEJW0Ia5zanCgoq7tq7VceI17UmTaqDu3p9VYAvzWIx_DM6kWpuphkZQX5XP3dNMddU0vUNu2u5yB5l2E-jE8B2P7DqSbHfSUUh6U/s1600/images-17.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UppBAV5z8ml8KxeERm4BRfaxWed23m4muV_OJuuEJW0Ia5zanCgoq7tq7VceI17UmTaqDu3p9VYAvzWIx_DM6kWpuphkZQX5XP3dNMddU0vUNu2u5yB5l2E-jE8B2P7DqSbHfSUUh6U/s1600/images-17.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJsATkds7Rp_O54fNxqs4eD6WTP79Ao0cGCHJtzJPhoTwW98pPQr0HibHPw99VJMTBxXkrtOTXEV4cDoIZF5g_5vnrWOlba7Yf16TKz9e1kq-U9Ef4z2grXyOFfOFMHINsJ0IPOUyh-k/s1600/IMAG1993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJsATkds7Rp_O54fNxqs4eD6WTP79Ao0cGCHJtzJPhoTwW98pPQr0HibHPw99VJMTBxXkrtOTXEV4cDoIZF5g_5vnrWOlba7Yf16TKz9e1kq-U9Ef4z2grXyOFfOFMHINsJ0IPOUyh-k/s200/IMAG1993.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UppBAV5z8ml8KxeERm4BRfaxWed23m4muV_OJuuEJW0Ia5zanCgoq7tq7VceI17UmTaqDu3p9VYAvzWIx_DM6kWpuphkZQX5XP3dNMddU0vUNu2u5yB5l2E-jE8B2P7DqSbHfSUUh6U/s1600/images-17.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We ate it at the
kitchen table just like a true Fifties family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Actually, it was because<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we
didn't have any retro TV trays and we also have a new puppy (KO) that believes she
deserves to eat what we are eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe that's a new product idea-- doggy TV dinners that are separated
into compartments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kibble in one
compartment, soft food in another and some hard chewy thing as dessert after
the meal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Anyway-- we
digress.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Here's our modern version of
the Salisbury Steak TV dinner--</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ew1AcHsFbIuwnJgIkD0PUy6bLCJrnQdYh6yUnSng-hOKp8_-I_IVQ66A5joERQBoiF4vTUiOSTAt595pnqpAIT83PHO0fhgH6xXIUucdWkAF3diMBz8_1PMKVdalgWNSn-H1iPRXVsQ/s1600/IMAG2317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Ew1AcHsFbIuwnJgIkD0PUy6bLCJrnQdYh6yUnSng-hOKp8_-I_IVQ66A5joERQBoiF4vTUiOSTAt595pnqpAIT83PHO0fhgH6xXIUucdWkAF3diMBz8_1PMKVdalgWNSn-H1iPRXVsQ/s320/IMAG2317.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2XUZmsCauh0aFadog1heINnOwiDYvordbMQNEy26beo-zHFz0MVI6visXAYCSUBn8IMbGUu7rv0l63HOl9bBYcyjyhN4d6pNkK5DQXFSPy4PDRv7jHRp0oQhM8-U70t7mobEizyJFZU/s1600/IMAG2318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2XUZmsCauh0aFadog1heINnOwiDYvordbMQNEy26beo-zHFz0MVI6visXAYCSUBn8IMbGUu7rv0l63HOl9bBYcyjyhN4d6pNkK5DQXFSPy4PDRv7jHRp0oQhM8-U70t7mobEizyJFZU/s320/IMAG2318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Modern Salisbury Steak TV Dinner</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Makes 4 patties</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">For the Patties:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 cubed steaks
(approx 1 pound)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon garlic
powder</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon Lawry's
seasoning salt</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon Steak
seasoning</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon dry
mustard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4-5 shiitake mushrooms</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the Gravy:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 onion, finely
sliced</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups beef broth </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Tablespoons
ketchup</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 teaspoons
Worcestershire sauce (4 shakes)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon corn
starch (thickens the gravy and gives it a nice shine)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salt and Pepper to
taste</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the Mashed Potatoes:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 potatoes peeled
and boiled</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 c sour cream</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 garlic cloves</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup 2% milk</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cube of butter</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salt and pepper to
taste</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fresh Chives</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(for a kicked up
touch we used chives,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Himalayan pink
salt and fresh cracked peppercorns to top the potatoes)</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">For the Broccoli:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 broccoli stalk</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 pats of butter</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make the potatoes
first (they take the longest):</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 – Peel the
potatoes and dice into even pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Place in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a large pot of water and
bring to a boil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reduce heat<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to simmer until a fork can easily pierce the
potatoe</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 – Drain the
potatoes and allow to cool for a few minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We then use a ricer to mash the potatoes (it provides a nice soft
texture), but you can mash them with whatever instrument you have available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 – Heat the milk,
sour cream and garlic in a pot on low heat until warm and then add the potatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Season the potatoes with salt and pepper to
taste and mix all ingredients with a wooden spoon until blended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep on warm.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 – Place all four
patties on a grill and season one side with seasoning salt and garlic
powder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grill patties until browned,
about 2 minutes. Flip the patties, season this side with the dry mustard and
steak seasoning and continue grilling the patties until browned, about another
2 minutes.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 – Remove the
patties and set aside on a plate. Quickly grill the mushrooms (1-2 mins).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While grilling the
patties</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 – Bring a shallow
pan of water to a simmer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add washed
broccoli to the water and steam with a lid on for approx 4 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Color should be bright green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drain water and set broccoli aside.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7 –<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a cast iron skillet place 2 TBSPs of
butter in the pan and melt on medium heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Add the onions and saute until browned and soft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pour about 1-3/4 cup of beef broth into the
skillet – reserve a 1/4 cup of broth. Add the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce
and let simmer for a couple of minutes. Whisk the corn starch into the reserved
beef broth and then add to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a simmer.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add the patties and cook until warmed through,
a few minutes on each side.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8 – Plate the entire
meal on a white plate in a line and separated to resemble the
compartments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do make compartment
trays if you really want to go all out on this meal.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLdYQUu68d7UTqU417u7wr2AGYloCgWkODbRnJbmZYNQrIxdtaB2LBKskQx29XeSN9tiy7eDWAWcmcloooTfcY4KupVjPURXWR2G0pbMn06TpVyOm_1yS9y7So7llhUM-2rMnfJeYqoo/s1600/tv-dinner-plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLdYQUu68d7UTqU417u7wr2AGYloCgWkODbRnJbmZYNQrIxdtaB2LBKskQx29XeSN9tiy7eDWAWcmcloooTfcY4KupVjPURXWR2G0pbMn06TpVyOm_1yS9y7So7llhUM-2rMnfJeYqoo/s200/tv-dinner-plate.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a fun TV dinner plate from <a href="http://www.cb2.com/tv-dinner-plate/s533343?a=501&device=c&network=g&matchtype=">CB2</a> or a brighter version from <a href="http://www.chow.com/food-news/54783/winter-2008-gift-guide/2/">Chow.com</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9 – Serve and enjoy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live life with
flavor and fun!</span></div>
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<br />Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-72592491760003636872013-03-19T20:38:00.000-07:002013-04-02T09:37:35.891-07:00This Little Piggy--Cochon 555<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5P31QRxXYgaAqOCutrbdCe_3NDrweqGLlYDkVxW1Wp_fccZ6DqCj_ijyj3UFgIbN2z40uHdaS-9tafvMWbrzc2qZZd-wam-TNJct-y8U_kBLEMRP7TJgGZiwW0ubf2W8HRhUACOPldY/s1600/sea_header.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5P31QRxXYgaAqOCutrbdCe_3NDrweqGLlYDkVxW1Wp_fccZ6DqCj_ijyj3UFgIbN2z40uHdaS-9tafvMWbrzc2qZZd-wam-TNJct-y8U_kBLEMRP7TJgGZiwW0ubf2W8HRhUACOPldY/s320/sea_header.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSwu1H7MoCILv72Y6sCnL2rPpj7EuzaM1ctVkqj3WtQHUWdAiVn5oXSORG7rScjTfDDbS0JX1RiqN-1TMY22hXjiieSSY0Ap9Z1UZuXgHGVljuVyftorxZTnzWIOt1Q1D2RaQSuosgIo/s1600/ml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSwu1H7MoCILv72Y6sCnL2rPpj7EuzaM1ctVkqj3WtQHUWdAiVn5oXSORG7rScjTfDDbS0JX1RiqN-1TMY22hXjiieSSY0Ap9Z1UZuXgHGVljuVyftorxZTnzWIOt1Q1D2RaQSuosgIo/s1600/ml.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAzzJvedCR89WX5SZCjNs5_RJOW4oT_LmQvHuBjNQJJ6PZOtdDq9uO4lzB6Xe6cUFX64YpqYpCIvUE-oKbdYxiin83fqwtDSDYkkQmuppIcJkgdoRrieyHHbU9PaYMuF3QmKpp47ZHSw/s1600/IMAG2245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAzzJvedCR89WX5SZCjNs5_RJOW4oT_LmQvHuBjNQJJ6PZOtdDq9uO4lzB6Xe6cUFX64YpqYpCIvUE-oKbdYxiin83fqwtDSDYkkQmuppIcJkgdoRrieyHHbU9PaYMuF3QmKpp47ZHSw/s200/IMAG2245.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cochon is the French word for pig and or the sound a little piglet makes. <a href="http://amusecochon.com/tour.html">Cochon 555</a> is a story of pigs and 5's. This year marks the fifth anniversary of this traveling culinary circus (although our first to attend) which strives to promote the sustainable farming of heritage breed pigs. The event was held at the <a href="http://www.cedarbrooklodge.com/">Cedarbrook Lodge</a> which is an urban oasis hidden right by Seatac airport. It used to be owned by WaMu back in their heyday and used as a corporate conference center. Now, it is owned by the Wright family (owners of the Space Needle).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The competition pits chefs cooking five different heritage (more on that below) breeds of pigs with the goal to use the entire 200 pound pig snout to tail and everything in between to create their menus. The Seattle St. Patrick's day stop on the circus tour had bonus action though- a sixth chef was added along with Mark Bodinet from Cedarbrook Lodge's Copperleaf Restaurant who cooked another pig BBQ style for the chefs and their teams after the competition. <span style="line-height: 20px;">The chosen chefs this year were Jason Franey – Canlis, Johnathan Sundstrom – Lark, Jason Barwikowski – Woodsman Tavern, Joshua Henderson – Skillet, Rachel Yang / Seif Chirchi –Joule/Revel, and Shane Ryan – Matts in the Market.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">These chefs are given distinct breeds of heritage pigs. Old Spot from White Buffalo Ranch in Oregon (originating from England is a critically rare breed) was given to Jason Franey of Canlis. Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi (husband and wife duo from Joule/Revel) where given a Berkshire pig known for it's marbling from Washington based Florek Family Farm. Shane Ryan of Matt's in the Market also got a Berkshire but from a different farm, Mosaic Farms in Oregon. Joshua Henderson of Huxley Wallace Collective (better known Skillet fame) drew a beaut, the Farmer's Cross pig known for sweet meat and marbling. Tails and Trotters farm in Oregon uses local hazelnuts to feed these pigs and increase their flavor. Jonathan Sundstrum of Lark fame is a two time 555 winner and probably a favorite going into this competition. He got the beautiful (yes pigs can be beautiful) Hampshire another English breed from Jones Family Farm in Washington. These pigs have a superior fat to meat ratio. Last, but not least Jason Barwikowski an Oregon chef, was paired with McKinlay Vineyards in Oregon who provided an extremely rare breed, a Red Wattle pig named for its red color and the fleshy skin under its jowls. If you want to learn more about these hogs there's a great <a href="http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/voracious/2013/03/a_guide_to_the_pigs_featured_a.php?page=2">blog</a> written by Hanna Raskin on the featured swine in this year's event.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charles Smith: photo via Charles Smith Wines</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">To wash all that piggy down the pork feast was accompanied with wines from five small family-owned wineries including Elk Cove Vineyards, McCrea Cellars (where we love going to the home of the owners right here in West Seattle and attending the fun events Bob and Susan hold), Syncline, Buty Winery, and K Vintners (made by one of the most fun ex-rocker manager turned wine makers, <a href="http://www.charlessmithwines.com/">Charles Smith</a>, it's a shame he wasn't there) plus special tastings from Robert Kacher Selections. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVmlyLQRbGvWzi_1bfsVWZ3wFLr-6YUmq8l8cqcPl4Zrc-0XCcjLprzCpXsIKdXuBzQR2-JHuSiX299TsoUzThH32ILROYp4HGZ-36iHquoRfztHihpjRw-ZX90RYVVayi3aQmNaWqWw/s1600/IMG_0014-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVmlyLQRbGvWzi_1bfsVWZ3wFLr-6YUmq8l8cqcPl4Zrc-0XCcjLprzCpXsIKdXuBzQR2-JHuSiX299TsoUzThH32ILROYp4HGZ-36iHquoRfztHihpjRw-ZX90RYVVayi3aQmNaWqWw/s200/IMG_0014-1.JPG" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 20px;">This year five bourbons in addition to five family wineries and five chefs cooking five pigs was added to the line-up. Tastings of Templeton Rye, Breckenridge Bourbon, High West (a FloJo favorite--because its located in Park City, UT), Buffalo Trace and Four Roses in addition to the perfect manhattan bar showcasing Luxardo cherries. We thought the mason jar toppers given out at the perfect manhattan bar were a nice touch!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ro trying some oysters</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 20px;">Also new in 2013,</span><span style="line-height: 20px;"> the first annual "Punch Kings” cocktail contest featuring Breckenridge Bourbon and six local bartenders (Adam Fortuna a bartender from <a href="http://artusibar.com/about">Artusi</a> was the NW Punch King). We tried a Bourbon blackberry concoction from Brave Horse tavern that was very good (see recipe below). A new Tartare Bar and <a href="http://www.hamahamastore.com/">Hama Hama</a> sustainable oysters were also part of this year's festivities.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tartare Bar</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Twenty official judges and approximately four hundred guests cast their votes at the end of the pork eating frenzy to take home the King of the Swines trophy. The winner gets to compete with the other regional winners at the finale Grand Cochon event at the <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/classic">FOOD and WINE Classic</a> in Aspen on Sunday, June 16.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTgbEl2PCXM7sHvwSVfon7yICmIpDWLRcHbsOPT5n7k-cHT4GpuzKwA8uO9zUSxKviVmucP-ycoBsSg-gLjHgNIRYUjvyDUTJsJa34dsNczqerf-HyertMkqPiDTRcEX_2HJoqBA_uvc/s1600/IMAG2272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTgbEl2PCXM7sHvwSVfon7yICmIpDWLRcHbsOPT5n7k-cHT4GpuzKwA8uO9zUSxKviVmucP-ycoBsSg-gLjHgNIRYUjvyDUTJsJa34dsNczqerf-HyertMkqPiDTRcEX_2HJoqBA_uvc/s200/IMAG2272.jpg" width="112" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tracy Smaciarz's demo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of additional fun add-ons included a butcher demonstration from Tracy Smaciarz from Heritage Meats with a raffle to benefit the student volunteers from South Seattle Community College culinary program. The winners of the $15 a ticket raffle got to pick out their packages filled with choice cuts from the demonstration. We talked to one winner that picked a package filled with pork chops and pork belly. Now isn't that a great parting gift! There were also ice-cold brews sponsored by <a href="http://www.anchorbrewing.com/">Anchor Brewing</a> out of San Francisco and local <a href="http://www.pikebrewing.com/">Pike Brewing Company</a>, Fernet Branca digestifs, and an impressive cheese bar put out by <a href="http://www.delaurenti.com/">DeLaurenti Speciality Food and Wine</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1gZZkkDeXEf0bBgeCwSLqRkAU4ODJ1n8usrbKKWwCNzZTv0aioQ3sAjn61Uo5fwUluOzMK1nVP-oCqp4BpSCLxYkBcSqGKRqrwti99xnGfh0lfgTg7e0-7husLX24HHRCuFIU-uVIA4/s1600/IMG_0007-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1gZZkkDeXEf0bBgeCwSLqRkAU4ODJ1n8usrbKKWwCNzZTv0aioQ3sAjn61Uo5fwUluOzMK1nVP-oCqp4BpSCLxYkBcSqGKRqrwti99xnGfh0lfgTg7e0-7husLX24HHRCuFIU-uVIA4/s200/IMG_0007-1.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started out trying the offerings at Chef Shane Ryan's station (from Matt's in the Market). His menu included rice noodles with confit pork belly, smoked Vietnamese sausage, pork broth with headcheese and grilled riblets and fried pork wrapped in betel leaf. Neither of us had tried betel leaf before, it had a very bitter flavor that we felt overpowered the dish. It is supposed to stimulate the appetite so it's good that we started with it because we needed a healthy appetite this night.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-5RwhEuMU03g8EAjQq2WLF0Xby4SUYtepUbjuge8X27jh5AHXb2fTH9A9h6JYNmrOPNXqhs3BVuj3lpW4IP9wMxHweFCWrQFx5nQlR_dbdnloXBODlw79ixIV5Yi-KOY4u489GE2ZWY/s1600/IMAG2273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-5RwhEuMU03g8EAjQq2WLF0Xby4SUYtepUbjuge8X27jh5AHXb2fTH9A9h6JYNmrOPNXqhs3BVuj3lpW4IP9wMxHweFCWrQFx5nQlR_dbdnloXBODlw79ixIV5Yi-KOY4u489GE2ZWY/s320/IMAG2273.jpg" width="179" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rachel Yang aka "Gangster"</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKd07pBRsJhvia0M4mHBZ-uZRpF_BA-0MJGIROVaSqgNIte2ipfI8OrVYrBIlJjgGsIxyf4_Ab51JlPYJdCQWATm_zthsPAuBQeWOI-T8izs_fpTWCa7Up6NHOiG7D_PYissWNw2JRXkQ/s1600/IMAG2271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The battle of pork Asian flavors went to </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi from Joule and Revel who are in the running for the James Beard 2013 Best Chef Northwest award along with fellow chef Jason Franey of Canlis. Their menu included Squealing Noodle (pickled pork skin, green curry and prik), Red Hot Soup (pork shoulder, sausage, kimchi), a Kalbi bowl (Korean marinated rib, kimchi and sesame) and one of the best desserts of the night Pig a la mode (chocolate chip cookie made with pig </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">lard and peppercorn ice-cream). The Asian flavor portfolio was there, but we felt the amount of spice and heat really masked the flavor of the pork in many of these dishes.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbe2BFDthgHdFkZZGHgilzsiopEdFqcaQ9brgVrduwNphkGiCFeWHvF2S8ZKzg68Hyvk2rXwRo7LjueTQBK3dHV6-ankWt3a1mgTzcMLC_wG8qTviJIR_wlppFsmmpREOT-i64-V-_R4/s1600/IMAG2257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbe2BFDthgHdFkZZGHgilzsiopEdFqcaQ9brgVrduwNphkGiCFeWHvF2S8ZKzg68Hyvk2rXwRo7LjueTQBK3dHV6-ankWt3a1mgTzcMLC_wG8qTviJIR_wlppFsmmpREOT-i64-V-_R4/s320/IMAG2257.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jonathan Sundstrum of Lark, last years winner, served pork belly onigiri with grilled scallion aioli and lard poached pork loin with chorizo and Rockwell bean ragout (which was a fantastic bean soup). He may have had the people's choice dessert favorite, Chicharone "Nutter Butters" a peanut butter cookie sandwich.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiKYD65bnAp_nQLJTDvis0E_1RtKoh-PmSPKpSWZbubpSaiszvdyRG-hUJTuvVgzGCC-6Laze2owgLETh9SSQlhlBSrPD_MlpvpQxeCPp5mE0aY3sHHyLWXlwZcAgkFRJnpLKJArpeFc/s200/IMAG2276.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holy Mole</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf366EPOdwLYmMjueDIqMXyBjCEQpjOZsBz8iSagSL70PC00VG-XdxiGoBmCUUDSXk2GgrmJL5x-Ofq-Umzu3YbSaciGN1L0XPe8D52KQnbLj88KQtI-tml7gF1aBrLG9ZdULUxSKnxXw/s200/IMAG2274.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posole and Torta</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyZi7KDVUuB4H9Yli56tyAoMMadXEb28gsoKaxPJTQs-dC43QGv-F2x1ckK0AFPLOhkpsBDttWBzayFc4BZP_izrDsGcp4QZZKKNIx-JNwZ4KH7iVKYCTx_wPosSJc1SfsPYZ8YojpA0/s1600/IMAG2268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyZi7KDVUuB4H9Yli56tyAoMMadXEb28gsoKaxPJTQs-dC43QGv-F2x1ckK0AFPLOhkpsBDttWBzayFc4BZP_izrDsGcp4QZZKKNIx-JNwZ4KH7iVKYCTx_wPosSJc1SfsPYZ8YojpA0/s320/IMAG2268.jpg" width="179" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jason Barwikowski's team went with a more Mexican vibe and brought some bold flavors. Dishes included: Mole made from pork belly in red chile mole sauce; Tacos made with chorizo, pickled onions and a lard tortilla; Posole with smoked shoulder, hominy, cabbage and relish (that included the pig head and feet); Torta with pork loin al pastor (it looked similar to a slider) topped with pineapple, avocado and refried beans; Churros (chicharones, cinnamon, sugar with chocolate-tequila sauce).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pork leg gravlaks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcuWLfKw5nM0wBD-L3AMS-lpo_Yrsu83e7Iswg163cP0Mzx2T05YxZ1RiVIg6AMUMIQRn-xdwgWiPXoTchTLPaT3uSMFGpndqN4IYH79NSyGZkLiLAWcpunnPgNXbsApc39WJhupot68/s1600/IMAG2267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcuWLfKw5nM0wBD-L3AMS-lpo_Yrsu83e7Iswg163cP0Mzx2T05YxZ1RiVIg6AMUMIQRn-xdwgWiPXoTchTLPaT3uSMFGpndqN4IYH79NSyGZkLiLAWcpunnPgNXbsApc39WJhupot68/s320/IMAG2267.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua Henderson</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ro's favorite chef of the night was <span style="line-height: 20px;">Joshua Henderson of Huxley Wallace Collective who's menu included: Crispy-fried Pig Ears, chicharon and chickpeas with Aleppo chili and fenugreek salt, fresh coriander; NW Oyster Rockefeller with creamed stinging nettle and lardo crumbs (above judges only or we missed them) and two of the best dishes of the night Cappelletti filled with milk braised pork, testa brood, hazelnuts and sage. Our favorite bite of the night were the Pork Leg Gravlaks with pickled mustard seed gribiche; We also missed his dessert which was a crepinette with sultana mustard and pistachio.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tete de cochon and pork rinds</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">FloJo's vote and the actual winner of the evening was Jason Franey with a Canlis-esque line-up of pork delicacies. Pork Rinds made with sauerkraut powder; fleur de sel and shigoku oyster ailoi; Tete de Cochon (head cheese) with Dijon mustard gel; Pate en Croute with sauce gribiche, sauternes and pickeled radish; Chorizo sausage served on a honey roll with rouille and fermented Fresno chiles. The desserts were crazy in that you could totally taste the pork ingredients and somehow they worked. Pork pot de créme, with bacon brittle, cinnamon</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> and green apple espuma garnished with whipped cream and pork jerky shavings, which were promised to make the dish taste even better. There were also bonbons filled with smoked back fat and bourbon caramel.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pork pot de créme and bonbons</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the winner is....Jason Franey! The 2013 Northwest Prince of Pork.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the drive home in our pork coma state, we were left wondering if Cochon 555 was worth the heavy price of admission ($125 per person general admission and $200 VIP)? We liked the heavy weight Northwest Chefs that were cooking and the free flowing alcohol. We felt the effort was there on the food, beautiful and creative and definitely highlighted many parts of the heritage pigs they were given. However, putting food out for four hundred people is not easy and many of the dishes were not something we would seek out to eat again. We didn't enjoy the mad rush to try to make it to every chef's station and try their offerings. Not everything was put out at the same time so you were constantly left guessing if you had tried everything. It was extremely crowded and with a glass in one hand and a plate in the other it became a challenge trying to eat and drink in peace. With all the different stations there was a lot going on that it felt overwhelming, especially in a space that did not feel conducive to level of activity and its guests. It was standing room only and not a lot of options when it came to seating so you felt like a chef in that we were on our feet the whole time. The music was too loud all night long and made it very difficult to hold a conversation. Several times during the evening the lights were turned off to show a video presentation while many of the guest were still trying to eat or get to the next station. The registration process was clunky and not well thought out for the space and involved signing for an envelope of cash and handing that over to another worker to give you a wristband (which we never fully understood the sense in that). We will probably not return next year because we found more downside than up. But, we came we saw we ate pork!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Live life with pork, flavor and fun!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl0L6wXYY24Te0FmvHBQSWlFJZbMIn0OoynsGY9w_Z8bPiGY3LekeZ2ThP8YY0AjCcB87D-YwcYLIHrKFSAYqBIy8HWZJQulvpx3GaJCtNXbX_zNEq5WhM2l49o3t5nVcAbA2YGSMrOU/s1600/IMAG2255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl0L6wXYY24Te0FmvHBQSWlFJZbMIn0OoynsGY9w_Z8bPiGY3LekeZ2ThP8YY0AjCcB87D-YwcYLIHrKFSAYqBIy8HWZJQulvpx3GaJCtNXbX_zNEq5WhM2l49o3t5nVcAbA2YGSMrOU/s320/IMAG2255.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recipe for Mikey's Black Gold Punch</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brave Horse Tavern</span></div>
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<script type="text/javascript"><br />if(typeof(networkedblogs)=="undefined"){networkedblogs = {};networkedblogs.blogId=1302329;networkedblogs.shortName="50-shades-of-delicious";}<br /></script><script bid="1302329" getnetworkwidget="" http:="" nwidget.networkedblogs.com="" src="<a href=">http://nwidget.networkedblogs.com/getnetworkwidget?bid=1302329</a>" type="text/javascript"></script><br />Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-26377206315711433532013-03-18T16:10:00.002-07:002013-03-18T16:10:38.063-07:00Patty Cake, Patty Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB0s03zGG6oUTB3T2s2mMQ5UqSbquBZNjJc7vVV_XpMZHK7QABSkSkZfaWk62oWFbTpQdNzlcIYlIezzh4biqztqb-j2mjZWi6xZvNg5vGziab1RLZMEsSqtBSqI1cCby6gq_r4lQCko/s1600/images-10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSB0s03zGG6oUTB3T2s2mMQ5UqSbquBZNjJc7vVV_XpMZHK7QABSkSkZfaWk62oWFbTpQdNzlcIYlIezzh4biqztqb-j2mjZWi6xZvNg5vGziab1RLZMEsSqtBSqI1cCby6gq_r4lQCko/s1600/images-10.jpeg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOl9KCmR9GBYlKO3dNvjNHhsmMvLEGuzsGEzar4RxUuyPoTW-yCTo7FC0g7HBu5Hf4yeu3cwf9E4NRbDOOaiV70m9VsjKGkllhZxKMVBamIftadOZmZrePysfCcroIyVF6OXHxI3DDkSA/s1600/images-12.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOl9KCmR9GBYlKO3dNvjNHhsmMvLEGuzsGEzar4RxUuyPoTW-yCTo7FC0g7HBu5Hf4yeu3cwf9E4NRbDOOaiV70m9VsjKGkllhZxKMVBamIftadOZmZrePysfCcroIyVF6OXHxI3DDkSA/s200/images-12.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy St. Patrick's Day! We've been celebrating this Irish holiday all weekend. St. Pat was the most well known patron saint in Ireland and given credit for championing Christianity in Ireland. He was born in Roman England and lived in the fourth century. Not much is known about Pat, but legend has it that he taught Irishmen about the Holy Trinity by using a shamrock. Also, the original color associated with St. Patrick was blue, but it morphed into green over the years perhaps to match the shamrock.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">St. Patrick's Day is an official holiday in Ireland and an unofficial one everywhere else. Guinness beer coined a marketing campaign years back stating, "Everyone's Irish on March 17th." Indeed some interesting traditions have been created outside of Ireland for example drinking green beer, pinching someone if they don't wear green, a lot of merriment and raising of glasses and participating in parades. The city of Chicago even dyes the Chicago river green.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GEWzk8DQeRUwrhwzqTeW5hyphenhyphenjjtSPrn4Y0ZY5lp_MxiuJKzOzshJcLJFZcF-XqHNdfFIECROLJFYZVIhF1-Mj6dbQVbcQRHvBqN9Y8KXzflTo1swTEmIyT7fdcYgRk5sQA0hzHHT_4uM/s1600/guinness-beer-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-GEWzk8DQeRUwrhwzqTeW5hyphenhyphenjjtSPrn4Y0ZY5lp_MxiuJKzOzshJcLJFZcF-XqHNdfFIECROLJFYZVIhF1-Mj6dbQVbcQRHvBqN9Y8KXzflTo1swTEmIyT7fdcYgRk5sQA0hzHHT_4uM/s320/guinness-beer-blog.jpg" width="184" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tradition of drinking whiskey, as legend has it, comes from a time when St. Patrick visited an inn and the inn keeper was only filling patron's glasses half full with whiskey. St. Pat taught the inn keeper a lesson in generosity and the Irish whiskey has been flowing freely ever since. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guinness is a dark stout first produced in 1759 in Dublin Ireland, but not sold publicly for ten more years until 1769. It's tangy, creamy and smoothness is crafted like an English porter. A little known fact, although it's dark as night and seems like a very heavy beer, it's one of the lowest calorie beers out there (we don't count lite beers they are not even worth mentioning let alone drinking).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Americans the tradition of eating corned beef and cabbage came about from the first generation of Irish immigrants in search of the comforting tastes they remembered and were missing from home. For St. Paddy's day, this had traditionally been boiled bacon, but times were tough and most immigrants were poor. So they substituted bacon for the cheapest cut of meat available, which was beef brisket. New York City was a melting pot of cultures as it is today and the Irish used that to combine cooking methods and tastes to "spice" up the brisket. They copied the salt-curing technique from Eastern Europeans. The corn part of corned beef is not literally corn. Rather, it's the salt crystals used in the brining process that look similar to kernels of corn. The spices used for corned beef were largely derived from Jewish immigrants making pastrami using mustard, black pepper, coriander seed, allspice and clove. The pairing with cabbage was again an economics decision because cabbage was the cheapest vegetable available. Before this weekend, Ro's knowledge of corned beef was solely the variety that came from a can. She was about to be reformed!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofunu8Iz8lJUmdXNhMRzICkVN5cx0cvX_3kF4SNRx6F_OH3pYouJ0vmNS2ftnaZKa9NFXvlTudVNp7aOG_uZrwFA7sTM69WfMmltSQNK6TykorAeEFVoDcfd-HhDMvlQYm8kC0XArb00/s1600/full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofunu8Iz8lJUmdXNhMRzICkVN5cx0cvX_3kF4SNRx6F_OH3pYouJ0vmNS2ftnaZKa9NFXvlTudVNp7aOG_uZrwFA7sTM69WfMmltSQNK6TykorAeEFVoDcfd-HhDMvlQYm8kC0XArb00/s200/full.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next component, Irish soda bread doesn't have Coke in it at all, or any other soda pop. The "soda" comes from bicarbonate of soda- or as we Americans refer to it- baking soda. This leavening agent gives the simple bread its flavor. It is traditionally made round because it used to be baked over an open fire on an iron plate.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO3eiQVbVJG51OX1krNNSXJBKkEH3LfYVF-Ui7oxpccWFDPlFj9RpfWymfSkF_hKGmh1m_gFQbQn02sZv6guhGX9Gu8YZi8KSrlAKCaggbcWV4IXczVbZ5bGNpL6SV2CEy63OWWWFsHA/s1600/IMG_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO3eiQVbVJG51OX1krNNSXJBKkEH3LfYVF-Ui7oxpccWFDPlFj9RpfWymfSkF_hKGmh1m_gFQbQn02sZv6guhGX9Gu8YZi8KSrlAKCaggbcWV4IXczVbZ5bGNpL6SV2CEy63OWWWFsHA/s200/IMG_0052.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We celebrated by doing what the early Irish did to celebrate, yes by raising a few glasses, but also by having a feast of traditional simple Irish food. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started our feast on Friday night, inviting our friend Mindy "O'Toole" over for our twist on the traditional Irish-American St. Patty's dinner. She brought the Guinness and Harps for another fun drink, the black and tan, which combines both the light and dark beers, but separates them so you can see both colors. If you are ever in Ireland make sure not to order a black and tan. This drink is referred to as a half and half in Ireland to avoid the negative association with the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force, nicknamed the "Black and Tans."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's what we included in our Irish feeding frenzy:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">C to the Three: Corned Beef, Cabbage and Carrots w/ Whiskey-Orange Glaze</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mashed Potatoes (typically boiled potatoes are served, but we LOVE mashed)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheesy Irish Soda Bread Pudding</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black and Tans</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Irish Chocolate Coffee ice-cream w/ Irish coffee</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheesy Irish Mushroom and Asparagus Quiche- Saturday breakfast</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Corned beef hash- Sunday brunch</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first step was to get the beef cooked. This step will take approximately 3 hours depending on the size of the brisket. Being a cheaper cut of meat, the brisket needs the extra time to cook and get nice and tender.</span><br />
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Cx3: Corned Beef, Cabbage and Carrots with Irish Whiskey-Orange Glaze</div>
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<ul class="ingredientsList" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong>Whiskey-orange sauce:</strong></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 cup sweet orange marmalade</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 cup Jameson Irish whiskey</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 tablespoon <a href="http://marinationmobile.com/store">Nunya sauce</a> (if not available increase Dijon to 2 TBSP)</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 tablespoon <a href="http://lite987.com/grey-poupon/">Grey Poupon</a> Dijon mustard plus more for serving</li>
</ul>
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<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 2- to 2 1/4-pound piece lean corned beef</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 pound bag of carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 head of cabbage with the core removed and cut in half, quarters and quarters again</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3 TBSP butter</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Salt and Pepper</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nonstick oil spray</li>
</ul>
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Put corned beef brisket into a large pot and cover it completely with water. Add the packet of spices that comes with the brisket. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover pot with a lid. Allow brisket to cook for 50 minutes per pound.</div>
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When there is 30 minutes remaining on the cooking time preheat oven to 425°F. Coat large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. </div>
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Boil next 4 ingredients in saucepan until reduced, stirring often, about 5 minutes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRWb-e0ATSIEr5a4lwUuDV6JheXCUBcoUu1JFsF5X0N_NC47AF65sxQ_Z3rPIdE3FVUSBxpsQPjuWexEM5PZvIPSCsTT5V2ckWVxcn3JMGBd5QbwFfo6Fs4mMOzjFTPyWoLgHRnBTyLQ/s1600/IMAG2227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRWb-e0ATSIEr5a4lwUuDV6JheXCUBcoUu1JFsF5X0N_NC47AF65sxQ_Z3rPIdE3FVUSBxpsQPjuWexEM5PZvIPSCsTT5V2ckWVxcn3JMGBd5QbwFfo6Fs4mMOzjFTPyWoLgHRnBTyLQ/s320/IMAG2227.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijY9EbRs9RfZt_qY0gcGBEOpNeSfWXsYpc0GQBb9rfUuqL8PoTYUMOUy0K9gl61zDwiCZM-iXYnUpFskY6jW5wcxAnGDHPcJqiJIDw_vJo2CuQef8L38hxzQTzyp2A0lqN5NJfrpYu5gU/s1600/IMAG2225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijY9EbRs9RfZt_qY0gcGBEOpNeSfWXsYpc0GQBb9rfUuqL8PoTYUMOUy0K9gl61zDwiCZM-iXYnUpFskY6jW5wcxAnGDHPcJqiJIDw_vJo2CuQef8L38hxzQTzyp2A0lqN5NJfrpYu5gU/s200/IMAG2225.jpg" width="200" /></a>Remove corned beef from the pot and pat dry with paper towels. Place the corned beef on the baking sheet. Generously brush corned beef all over with glaze; place on one side of prepared sheet. Toss carrots and 1/4 cup glaze in large bowl to coat; place on the other side of sheet. Sprinkle carrots with salt and pepper. Roast until carrots are tender and beef has a crispy glazed coating, brushing occasionally with more glaze, about 35 minutes. </div>
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Meanwhile discard the water the beef was cooking in and refill with pot with clean water. Bring to a boil. Add the cabbage (cooking in batches as needed). Allow cabbage to cook for approximately 3 minutes or until tender. Remove cabbage from water add 3 TBSP butter and salt and pepper to cabbage. Keep warm.</div>
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When ready to serve transfer brisket and veggies to a family-style platter.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next comes the dessert because it needs time to freeze. Again, this sounds like a lot of work, but if you have an ice-cream maker this is pretty fast. If you don't want to go to the trouble of making your own, pick out a fun Irish ice-cream from your store's freezer section and top with Irish mint cookies. But, this recipe makes a delicious boozed up variety that you can't find in your store and it has a smooth finish like gelato.</span><br />
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<ul class="ingredientsList" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>Irish Chocolate Coffee Ice-Cream:</b></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4 beaten egg yolks</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3/4 cup sugar</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3/4 cup 2% milk</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3/4 cup half-and-half</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3 oz semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (1 oz for finishing)</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 TBSP Mocha Mint instant coffee crystals</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/4 cup Jameson Irish Whiskey</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Your favorite mint cookie (we prefer Oreos in our home)</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIPYdrobT2UO7TL7ggZhRxEc1jU7IzaXO8FpcXET6CZ6-DlDDIb7SkSNCh_XcleeYF31Co42C_bIAbvjRemNOKKuU6krls2zIMq2amp4YfiFKiAUz0TsIodLRmQ4Ho1UwH3RaN45OILE/s1600/IMAG2218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIPYdrobT2UO7TL7ggZhRxEc1jU7IzaXO8FpcXET6CZ6-DlDDIb7SkSNCh_XcleeYF31Co42C_bIAbvjRemNOKKuU6krls2zIMq2amp4YfiFKiAUz0TsIodLRmQ4Ho1UwH3RaN45OILE/s200/IMAG2218.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dJPhd88yv_mqv2KyHQPwOH55CjeaE3dMNQDYRgyGvXBgon0Gn6myh3ByNK0Pz2MFvZI8LLsDNcBiwVuPKr2YOdbqPJafeNriTe0BDv95jMKBKFj4iUhui-yOfxaHtNNBIUURVEwDs8Y/s1600/IMAG2220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dJPhd88yv_mqv2KyHQPwOH55CjeaE3dMNQDYRgyGvXBgon0Gn6myh3ByNK0Pz2MFvZI8LLsDNcBiwVuPKr2YOdbqPJafeNriTe0BDv95jMKBKFj4iUhui-yOfxaHtNNBIUURVEwDs8Y/s200/IMAG2220.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">In a heavy medium saucepan combine the egg yolks, sugar, milk, half-and-half, chocolate and coffee crystals. Cook and stir over med heat until mixture is slightly thickened and bubbly and then immediately remove from heat. Beat mixture to get some air into the mixture and making it smooth. Transfer the bowl with the mixture into a bigger bowl with ice to cool down the mixture. Once cool stir in the whiskey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Grande, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Then place the mixture into your ice-cream maker and churn until frozen. Place in the freeze until ready to serve. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Grande, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Once ready to serve, place two scoops in each bowl. Finely grate remaining chocolate over the ice-cream and top with a cookie. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Grande, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">We had Irish coffee along side the ice-cream. Make a pot of your favorite coffee, add sugar cubes to taste, 2 TBSP Jameson Whiskey and cream to taste. Delicious!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwhvxNknNobU3OAKh_uO4177IzEyF4UmfNcB7AWnyYAeUBJm_5dxDbQXYaauSoR-s4RV3v-fgIerQLRUPKlFI_YClsQwPDCnVPtJaN20K6ZrueSyL74jWYujLJI8oXmYc_F3ziDmy6Q4/s1600/IMAG2228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwhvxNknNobU3OAKh_uO4177IzEyF4UmfNcB7AWnyYAeUBJm_5dxDbQXYaauSoR-s4RV3v-fgIerQLRUPKlFI_YClsQwPDCnVPtJaN20K6ZrueSyL74jWYujLJI8oXmYc_F3ziDmy6Q4/s320/IMAG2228.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the Irish Soda Bread we had the option of slices of bread with butter, but all of us chose the other option, which was Cheesy Irish Soda Bread Pudding. They were light like a quiche with the rich cheesy goodness that added some luxury to the meal. The two part process seems long, but this is pretty easy to make as the soda bread does not need to rise.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Cheesy Irish Soda Bread Pudding</b></span><br />
<strong style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-align: left;">Irish soda bread:</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<ul class="ingredientsList" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3/4 teaspoon baking soda</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 teaspoon salt</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 cup half and half with 1 tsp lemon juice</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted</li>
</ul>
<br style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-align: left;" />
<strong style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-align: left;">Pudding:</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<ul class="ingredientsList" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4 ounces grated sharp Cheddar cheese (1 1/2 cups)</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4 large eggs</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 1/2 cups half and half milk</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Salt and pepper</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Nonstick oil spray</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></li>
</ul>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<strong>Make soda bread:</strong><br />
Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Put the half and half and lemon juice together in a bowl and allow to sit for 5 minutes.</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTDVYb9h6MyfK26G-TEEmpOW63XMJtmdnk0ydsvGSZtCm_U-54BHyWsCubL3-03v5040T0BjF1RW4qQ-0KB3my6FORL4QPpfqzsuRmdNJML0O2lsk7xsyp63Rs6a6KmH1cHG7cIRLpTw/s1600/IMAG2217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTDVYb9h6MyfK26G-TEEmpOW63XMJtmdnk0ydsvGSZtCm_U-54BHyWsCubL3-03v5040T0BjF1RW4qQ-0KB3my6FORL4QPpfqzsuRmdNJML0O2lsk7xsyp63Rs6a6KmH1cHG7cIRLpTw/s200/IMAG2217.jpg" width="200" /></a>Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add milk and butter. Stir just until dough is evenly moistened but still lumpy. Add a little additional flour if needed.</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi3GgKtpfQB91aNiikNKMKNYqaFu0Nig5s1XT-8fI8uPRvbRqtp5YqCqDupiKlKJj_GJ29G3xZn1939bhsHXuw2yV0-Y-UQaTDOqIwf7ub0WHR4g-CDUbYH2kIFjEFm1luBhiErBk7cM/s1600/IMAG2226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi3GgKtpfQB91aNiikNKMKNYqaFu0Nig5s1XT-8fI8uPRvbRqtp5YqCqDupiKlKJj_GJ29G3xZn1939bhsHXuw2yV0-Y-UQaTDOqIwf7ub0WHR4g-CDUbYH2kIFjEFm1luBhiErBk7cM/s200/IMAG2226.jpg" width="112" /></a>Transfer dough to a well–floured surface and turn dough to coat with flour. Gently knead with floured hands about 8 times to form a soft but slightly less sticky dough. It will still be sticky!</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Form into a domed 6–inch round and put on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cut a 1/2-inch-deep "X" across top of each loaf with a sharp knife. Dust 1 tablespoon of additional flour over loaf.</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Bake in middle of oven until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer loaf to a rack and cool completely.</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf56QM9ndtdTOz04eaYWqgwzC1JY4kWx1CLvPxeRRw21z_simB_oSPgkewtyzbFCuS3RTuuL1Q_q6aDOIDOD5wRqbj61agb_8CDzbCeLvpgyc_Pi2dnJ7EAuYXtGLNEqZU6MOPR4G6Dw8/s1600/IMAG2223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf56QM9ndtdTOz04eaYWqgwzC1JY4kWx1CLvPxeRRw21z_simB_oSPgkewtyzbFCuS3RTuuL1Q_q6aDOIDOD5wRqbj61agb_8CDzbCeLvpgyc_Pi2dnJ7EAuYXtGLNEqZU6MOPR4G6Dw8/s200/IMAG2223.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><br /></strong></div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<strong>Make puddings:</strong></div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<b>Needed Equipment 6-8 ramekins</b>Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Spray ramekins with cooking spray.</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Cut loaf in half and reserve remaining bread to be used for breakfast the next morning.</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Tear other half of loaf into bite size pieces. Divide bread among ramekins, placing in the bottom</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Whisk together eggs, milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in cheese and spoon over bread in ramekins or baking dish. Let stand 10 minutes.</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Put ramekins into another baking dish and add enough hot water to come halfway up sides of ramekins or dish.</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Bake until just set and a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.</div>
<div class="instruction" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
Allow ramekins to cool 20 minutes before serving.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We used Friday night's leftovers to make breakfast the next two mornings. The leftover bread pudding batter (or if you need more just make another batch of the pudding) can be used to make a cheesy quiche. Instead of putting the mixture into ramekins we used a pie dish. Tear the left over Irish soda bread and place in the bottom of the pie dish. Then whip up more of the egg and milk mixture if needed. We added sautéed asparagus and mushrooms to the mixture. Then fill the pie plate, pouring the liquid mixture over the bread crumbs. Place in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until a knife comes out cleanly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Sunday brunch we used the leftover corned beef to make hash. Pour 2 TBSP olive oil into a dutch oven pan. Add 1 package of hash browns and cook until almost brown. Add 1/2 a chopped onion and 1/2 cup chopped red pepper. Continue to fry and then add left over corned beef. Hash should be crispy and browned when done. Then fry an egg (or two) per person to place over the top of the hash. We served with slices of mango and banana and an English muffin (not Irish, but as close in geography as it gets).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bLvYWdy0AFX7ZqLz3h8xyeRSi0vRPHNo_2QXIti7jSWmgRAmIBxverZqaHbV0po4am-BQ3SFF65-gN6Gk06BbykhhxKAvZ6gmgsMyJKStrQZhUlKC_xJ6yEgrN4F3G_iULNjwdTIZ6E/s1600/IMAG2230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bLvYWdy0AFX7ZqLz3h8xyeRSi0vRPHNo_2QXIti7jSWmgRAmIBxverZqaHbV0po4am-BQ3SFF65-gN6Gk06BbykhhxKAvZ6gmgsMyJKStrQZhUlKC_xJ6yEgrN4F3G_iULNjwdTIZ6E/s320/IMAG2230.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a great time cooking our version of St. Patty's Day favorites and spending some quality time hanging out with friends and enjoying this festive weekend together. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bvk6PPbFRuC29tnhkS0NvlRdQL0WhdRGihTtNKBRP-WHbsXI8EN5qryYclKZAISHXeuQNmj52umP8Wmet3PuK5nsrWsBk9EJyVnOvmQDVQG_71kLUXtJzpF1-sm_FKDsMRaqMfUnOhs/s1600/IMAG2231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bvk6PPbFRuC29tnhkS0NvlRdQL0WhdRGihTtNKBRP-WHbsXI8EN5qryYclKZAISHXeuQNmj52umP8Wmet3PuK5nsrWsBk9EJyVnOvmQDVQG_71kLUXtJzpF1-sm_FKDsMRaqMfUnOhs/s320/IMAG2231.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ro, Koa, Mindy and Lucy<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>An Old Irish Blessing</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">May love and laughter light your days,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">and warm your heart and home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">May good and faithful friends be yours,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">wherever you may roam.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">May peace and plenty bless your world</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">with joy that long endures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">May all life's passing seasons</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">bring the best to you and yours!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #38761d; color: lime; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live life with flavor and fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sprinkles McSpud & Greenie O'Blaze</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Our <span style="background-color: #38761d;"><span style="color: lime;">Green</span></span> Play List:</u></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: #38761d; color: lime;">Green </span>Light- John Legend, Andre 3000</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Good Riddance- <span style="background-color: #38761d;"><span style="color: lime;">Green</span></span> Day</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: #38761d;"><span style="color: lime;">Green</span></span> Eyes- Coldplay</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Love and Happiness- Al <span style="background-color: #38761d; color: lime;">Green</span></span></li>
</ol>
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/hsU6_eSG4k4/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/hsU6_eSG4k4&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/hsU6_eSG4k4&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-79692146610218427332013-03-13T11:48:00.000-07:002013-03-21T10:36:29.562-07:00The Sicilian Experiment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZ8bH0h50ijB7dsULroPDjorpiM9L3B9XaT55GuuuufWBxrko-3KgrjMRZiuOl8Fq-rINON9p1xMYdbRlU8KN-WQNRdRYmLW-WylN_QQ7iTETKNkmvCq59DrGSlcA8vczHtmBcN6vOck/s1600/250px-Sicily_in_Italy_svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZ8bH0h50ijB7dsULroPDjorpiM9L3B9XaT55GuuuufWBxrko-3KgrjMRZiuOl8Fq-rINON9p1xMYdbRlU8KN-WQNRdRYmLW-WylN_QQ7iTETKNkmvCq59DrGSlcA8vczHtmBcN6vOck/s200/250px-Sicily_in_Italy_svg.png" width="159" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took a trip to Sicily this past summer and have recently been missing this island (the largest in the Mediterranean). It is officially a part of Italy, but could very well be its own country with the diversity of culture and cuisine. It reminded FloJo of her visit to Spain and Portugal and how different the cuisine and culture can be even though these countries are like two side-by-side states.<br /><br />Sicilian cuisine has it's foundation as Italian, but it is spiced and flavored by the rich and mixed history of this island having been invaded by the Arabs, Normans, Greeks and Spanish over the last few thousand years. The cuisine has literally incorporated influences from all of these invasions to form how inhabitants eat today. For example, the Spaniards introduced the island to foods like corn, turkey, cocoa from the New World. The Arabs brought citrus fruits and spices like saffron, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and cloves.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pasta alla Norma</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We saw eggplant featured in a lot of dishes including the Sicilian classic Pasta alla Norma, which hails from Catania on the East Coast of the island where we spent our last night in Sicily. Neither of us are eggplant fans (although we love the beautiful color) so we have yet to try this dish. Catania was settled by Greeks who made the short trip to colonize the island. They brought olives, beans and pistachios. We were initially surprised how often we saw pistachios used in Sicilian dishes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />For FloJo's birthday weekend we decided to undertake the Sicilian experiment. The goal of the experiment was simple, to find authentic and delicious Sicilian food in Seattle. Was this to be a mission impossible?</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6N3ChNGZuihrmur4Kq4oXvxq3bwTHf8IyUfmt_1mbg2Kb07DHMQ1G3mjVp4xW4vo6YAkKZmEEocmqv5SihCb1C-AUZbn41f8Rs1KZbXwBFzFDk2s93t6Mfgg_NtHK1miSoecCWMo2LE/s1600/homeimage.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6N3ChNGZuihrmur4Kq4oXvxq3bwTHf8IyUfmt_1mbg2Kb07DHMQ1G3mjVp4xW4vo6YAkKZmEEocmqv5SihCb1C-AUZbn41f8Rs1KZbXwBFzFDk2s93t6Mfgg_NtHK1miSoecCWMo2LE/s1600/homeimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6N3ChNGZuihrmur4Kq4oXvxq3bwTHf8IyUfmt_1mbg2Kb07DHMQ1G3mjVp4xW4vo6YAkKZmEEocmqv5SihCb1C-AUZbn41f8Rs1KZbXwBFzFDk2s93t6Mfgg_NtHK1miSoecCWMo2LE/s320/homeimage.jpg" unselectable="on" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first restaurant contender held a lot of promise, La Fontana Siciliana. Owner Mario Fuenzalida is Sicilian and from his restaurant's website we read that he honored the homeland by using fresh vegetables and ingredients on his menu. This always makes for an authentic experience and a quality end product so we were excited to give this place a try. </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtvuLoIU-oS4XpkP7xOipmvg4mUWph6IrZVuTBQuCPm_LD_Yut8wsiNmMuVlEqwrYgzDAAaVG6en3Wg1Js-T1cwNuEaBhfPYxZRMpY4Yf42x-qeZwp3FpdYYPmA94iGf9oXoDFGkw1oA/s1600/577692_386554354719337_1747657678_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtvuLoIU-oS4XpkP7xOipmvg4mUWph6IrZVuTBQuCPm_LD_Yut8wsiNmMuVlEqwrYgzDAAaVG6en3Wg1Js-T1cwNuEaBhfPYxZRMpY4Yf42x-qeZwp3FpdYYPmA94iGf9oXoDFGkw1oA/s320/577692_386554354719337_1747657678_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Belltown restaurant is hidden amongst an apartment complex on Blanchard street that we've passed by numerous times, but had no idea there was a restaurant just beyond the courtyard. Upon entering the restaurant we noticed it was very folksy and had a small trattoria feel to it. We sat at a very skinny table for two in the first of two dining rooms. The atmosphere was charming and had a very old world feel. Our hopes were raised a little higher believing we would be having an authentic Sicilian dining experience.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjZJdZU6o9dp2HauVHPCDDij2rRKWukvE_RifyCDDQGMYAhJACRu4caJi-hvodZRv4E6g_6OwFt5ZxDXZ_Yl7StKEFqYuKZBuqOHYhc2y1KHV7ZaFs6l_M9-whyDTJh8C_gJyG6T45xg/s1600/800px-Sicilian_Flag.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjZJdZU6o9dp2HauVHPCDDij2rRKWukvE_RifyCDDQGMYAhJACRu4caJi-hvodZRv4E6g_6OwFt5ZxDXZ_Yl7StKEFqYuKZBuqOHYhc2y1KHV7ZaFs6l_M9-whyDTJh8C_gJyG6T45xg/s200/800px-Sicilian_Flag.svg.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our waiter greeted us enthusiastically and brought us water in glasses that resembled milkshake glassware. We pointed out the Sicilian flag hanging in the restaurant as we had seen the three legged woman everywhere in Sicily. Our waiter admitted he was not Sicilian and demonstrated using his leg that he was from the part of Italy right before the foot. However he gave us a very good explanation of the meaning of the flag. The symbol we had been seeing all over Sicily and the center figure of the flag is known as the Trinacria, which was another name for the Kingdom of Sicily. The face was from greek mythology he explained and represented the head of Medusa surrounded by wheat ears that represented the importance of fertility and agriculture. The three bent legs represent the three corners of the island. He left us to reveiw the menu after our short lesson on the flag.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When he came back for our order he immediately asked if we wanted white or red wine and asked the varietals we normally like. He then very confidentally stated that he would bring us a bottle of wine (and not to worry it would not be the most expensive one). As he walked away, he answered over his shoulder that he guaranteed we would like or he would drink it. We played along, and although the offering he brought was decent, it was from central Italy and not Sicily and was more along the lines of a Pinot Noir vs. the Cab/Syrah we had told him we liked. But, we felt uncomfortable in this new relationship telling him that he had not hit the mark and decided to just enjoy it for what it was, at best an ok </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">table wine. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CaTJ_Nv7nMxv3priPeh5g-S2PWr_QdMjsbnmiCtzT0X5Ffm7L1rDdMfI7Ubl6YszlSrI_-8yGJ4zo_keBJHZCrFhGnLHqMCuoxBfph94HtRficPGxehFoRgjFOeIGUrN6yfnVStR0xQ/s1600/Waiter.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CaTJ_Nv7nMxv3priPeh5g-S2PWr_QdMjsbnmiCtzT0X5Ffm7L1rDdMfI7Ubl6YszlSrI_-8yGJ4zo_keBJHZCrFhGnLHqMCuoxBfph94HtRficPGxehFoRgjFOeIGUrN6yfnVStR0xQ/s1600/Waiter.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He then took our order, which included bruschetta (crusty bread with tomatoes) as an appetizer. However, instead of putting our order in, our overly charming waiter decided to go smooze with the table across from us for about ten minutes. We knew we were going for Sicilian food, we just didn't know that the dinner was going to be the 3-hour affair that was customary in that country. When he passed by again, he told us our order was just put in and our bruschetta would be coming pronto (this was about 30 minutes since our arrival). We devoured the bruschetta, not because it was exceptionally good (it was ok), but because we were starving by the time it arrived. Unfortunately the toasted bread with tomatoes was the best part of the meal. Both of our entrees were disappointments. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-klkQc6KLihs/URvZxJmoCqI/AAAAAAAAPT0/YquUk3ChIeU/s1600/IMAG2108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-klkQc6KLihs/URvZxJmoCqI/AAAAAAAAPT0/YquUk3ChIeU/s320/IMAG2108.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> FloJo had the Cannelloni di Pollo, tubes filled with chicken and ricotta cheese with tomato sauce on top. When it came out immediately we commented the cheese on top looked like it was still frozen. The plate was not very appetizing nor the dish. Unfortunately, it tasted like a frozen dinner that had not been microwaved on high long enough. For $18.95 the expectation was something of much higher quality and better taste. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NIGKllKnK5I/UR0X-kzigTI/AAAAAAAAPU0/FLBLcYqkS_8/s1600/IMAG2109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NIGKllKnK5I/UR0X-kzigTI/AAAAAAAAPU0/FLBLcYqkS_8/s320/IMAG2109.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ro's seafood medely was the daily special. Again, there was nothing special about it. It was comprised of spaghetti noodles with tiny bay scallops and mussels that had not been properly soaked and rinsed to get all the grit and dirt out. <strong><u>TIP:</u></strong> Soak mussles in water with1/4 cup flour for 30 mins and ta-da, all the dirt will be out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We passed on dessert as we didn't want to a) wait or b) be disappointed again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dinner was not cheap and we definitely felt like we overpaid for both the service received and the half-eaten food we ordered. Even with a Groupon discount we didn't feel like this experienment was worth the investment.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGZnXTTxyj9piWZ97gSCf4eL47an6jf91k2Iwoc-eB5s_S8xv_zdUledZnUW1cmsaSc6o26zMiZxds6ORCHOxuXggkvYLEFaD6-BpmxFyh-s8S4A8ACwU-gXjmtUz_A1ai4Kd9irG4Gs/s1600/Duck+Press.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGZnXTTxyj9piWZ97gSCf4eL47an6jf91k2Iwoc-eB5s_S8xv_zdUledZnUW1cmsaSc6o26zMiZxds6ORCHOxuXggkvYLEFaD6-BpmxFyh-s8S4A8ACwU-gXjmtUz_A1ai4Kd9irG4Gs/s320/Duck+Press.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One unexpected, but cool thing about the restaurant, although somewhat out of place, was a duck press sitting on their front counter. This machine is used to literally press duck parts, blood and marrow into a traditional French dish called Caneton à la presse. <strong>Warning:</strong> skip the rest of this paragraph if you are at all queezy. The dish was developed by the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_d%27Argent"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tour d'Argent</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> restaurant in France in the 19th century. The process begins by strangling the poor duck to retain the blood. It's partially roasted, limbs and breast are removed and then the liver is removed, ground-up and seasoned. The remaining parts of the duck (skin, bones, meat) are put into the machine and pressed down to get all the juice and blood out of the carcass. This extract is then combined with butter and cognac to create a sauce that is cooked with the breast. This is normally the first course and the broiled duck legs the second course. Our question is what is a French duck press doing in a Sicilian restaurant?<br /><br /> Overall, we had to say part one of the Sicilian experiment was a fail. But, we only had to look forward to the following night for part due (two).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGEn1VixemvAXlWQ-BrKP25T3V2vzRio8SemHrq-uRjX_iqZcKNAImfATJwLRnzfVtU8x8UfRobZLoOhOaLnis6eS-TyuZkkgyak0TngbCNT0ZSG3KJ7VtyIy1EtMs0c_C29RQEaTSI8/s1600/change+(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGEn1VixemvAXlWQ-BrKP25T3V2vzRio8SemHrq-uRjX_iqZcKNAImfATJwLRnzfVtU8x8UfRobZLoOhOaLnis6eS-TyuZkkgyak0TngbCNT0ZSG3KJ7VtyIy1EtMs0c_C29RQEaTSI8/s320/change+(2).jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agrodolce retains much the same look as 35th Street Bistro including the tree<br />
Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.seattlemet.com/producers/morgen-schuler">Morgen Schuler</a> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had been excited to try Agrodolce (which translated means bitter-sweet) ever since we learned that Maria Hines was visiting Sicily about a week after we returned. We followed her tweets and </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AgrodolceSeattle" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Facebook posts</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> watching to see where she visited and what kind of food and wine she was trying. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Agrodolce opened up where the 35th Street Bistro used to be in Fremont. It opened December 21st, the same day the Mayans predicted the world would end. Thank goodness that didn't happen so we had the opportunity to visit and explore the tastes of Sicily through Maria's senses.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TIi9fT-RqDt_7zaPz6ZAS2iH7NtQyRCUQrzKhrAhYp4xqq0330eiUnoy4phvTLFP1rat8ea1OgW8nCp3DeMgVX1oU8V4YRwOVr_k4MsH4lez94p1pqFCyvrQPyl5BfvKlc8RD5h8ivE/s1600/22798_224305931034196_1832009007_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TIi9fT-RqDt_7zaPz6ZAS2iH7NtQyRCUQrzKhrAhYp4xqq0330eiUnoy4phvTLFP1rat8ea1OgW8nCp3DeMgVX1oU8V4YRwOVr_k4MsH4lez94p1pqFCyvrQPyl5BfvKlc8RD5h8ivE/s1600/22798_224305931034196_1832009007_n.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of you probably know Maria from her first restaurant venture in Seattle, Tilth, which focuses on organic Northwest ingredients and was named to the New York Times top-ten new restaurants in 2008. She's battled on Food Network's Iron Chef and was on Bravo's Top Chef Masters Season Two. She's also a 2009 James Beard Best Pacific NW Chef winner.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-knmC3KrEB8I/URva_v34zUI/AAAAAAAAPUM/Ge5KCeUYyqQ/s1600/IMAG2116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-knmC3KrEB8I/URva_v34zUI/AAAAAAAAPUM/Ge5KCeUYyqQ/s320/IMAG2116.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So with all the street creds Maria comes with and the fact that she visited Sicily to help shape Agrodolce's menu we again were excited to try the Sicilian experiment part two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We really wanted to try the arancini with Skagit River beef (fried risotto balls we had stumbled upon for breakfast one morning in Palermo), but knew we had to pace ourselves. We would promise to come back and try the rice balls, however. We did have to try the house made focaccia with sea salt and olive oil. So simple, but so yummy and the bread arrived within five minutes of us ordering it. We snacked on that while indulging in some cocktails, it was a birthday celebration after all. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-458kZ4TaOC0/URvaebneBZI/AAAAAAAAPUE/s92HOEBVQyk/s1600/IMAG2115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-458kZ4TaOC0/URvaebneBZI/AAAAAAAAPUE/s92HOEBVQyk/s320/IMAG2115.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ro had the beautiful ugly made with gin, cynar, carpano antica and averna. It was definitely spirit forward, but well balanced. The term beautiful ugly is urban slang used for models that either have such odd or striking features they could either be considered beautiful or ugly. It just goes to prove the old saying, beauty is in the sight of the beholder. FloJo had the Carpri Sun made with sparkling wine, limencello (yum) and grapefruit. So much better than a juice box, but just as easy going down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Maria is one of the few chefs to have all of her restaurants certified organic by </span><a href="http://tilth.org/"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Oregon Tilth</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, which means that 95% of the food products she purchases must be certified organic or they make them in house with certified organic ingredients.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZSd-reLaIE/URvbZI0LvDI/AAAAAAAAPUU/rl9ADKV9g2g/s1600/IMAG2117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZSd-reLaIE/URvbZI0LvDI/AAAAAAAAPUU/rl9ADKV9g2g/s320/IMAG2117.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FloJo had the spaghetti with <a href="http://www.skagitriverranch.com/">Skagit River Ranch</a> sugo, hot pepper marinara sauce and a sprinkling of parsley. Skagit River Ranch only raises certified organic meat. The hand-made noodles were very good and it makes it taste better knowing how much labor went into making them. The sugo sauce had very deep, comforting flavor. Sugo all'amatriciana is a very traditional Italian pasta traditionally made with guanciale (pork cheek or unsmoked bacon), tomato sauce and pecorino cheese. This dish is originally from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazio">Lazio</a> region of Italy, but has spread throughout Italy so it would not be surprising to find it in Sicily.</span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P2U6YdOoOi4/URvcIrn8CDI/AAAAAAAAPUc/xmcV5hHsjzU/s1600/IMAG2118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P2U6YdOoOi4/URvcIrn8CDI/AAAAAAAAPUc/xmcV5hHsjzU/s320/IMAG2118.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ro went surfing and tried the shellfish tomato risotto (trying to redeem the hot mess that was her previous venture to the sea the night before). The rice was perfectly cooked al dente and the seafood from <a href="http://www.taylorshellfishfarms.com/">Taylor Shellfish Farms</a> (Penn Cove mussels, clams and prawns) was divine. The only complaint was we wanted more of the delicious seafood. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFS38sPpCKUwaWFUERjfBYDk40jFBDQj1x8pGXBEWNGrruCZFPglOyXyuYfNt81ikmHUYFA-nJq5cLr2YMl5wL_S86qVBe0HMvjDQ2jV0AZBc4EjcMSXwZ1vIXPHhFw3hyphenhyphen963VimF-Fk/s1600/change+(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFS38sPpCKUwaWFUERjfBYDk40jFBDQj1x8pGXBEWNGrruCZFPglOyXyuYfNt81ikmHUYFA-nJq5cLr2YMl5wL_S86qVBe0HMvjDQ2jV0AZBc4EjcMSXwZ1vIXPHhFw3hyphenhyphen963VimF-Fk/s320/change+(1).jpeg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is exactly where we sat<br />
Photo credit: <a href="http://www.seattlemet.com/producers/morgen-schuler">Morgen Schuler</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">At the end of the Sicilian experiment it really was no contest. On paper, you logically would have given the restaurant with Sicilian ownership the nod. But, at the end of the day, what is almost always true, quality ingredients used by a creative chef will always win out. It's a bonus to support a chef that is earth conscious and consistently demonstrates her support of local organic producers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Live life with flavor and fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">La Fontana Siciliana</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">120 Blanchard St</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">206-441-1045</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Neighborhood: Belltown</span><br />
<a href="http://www.lafontanasiciliana.com/"></a><a href="http://www.lafontanasiciliana.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">www.lafontanasiciliana.com</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hours of Operation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–10 p.m. Tues.–Fri. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">5–10 p.m. Sat.–Mon</span><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/1/2170/restaurant/Belltown/La-Fontana-Siciliana-Seattle"><img alt="La Fontana Siciliana on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/2170/biglink.gif" style="border: currentColor; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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Agrodolce</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">709 N 35th St</span><br />
<em><span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">206.547.9707</span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Neighborhood: Fremont</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.agrodolcerestaurant.net/">www.agrodolcerestaurant.net</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hours of Operation</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dinner: Sunday – Thursday 5pm-10pm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Friday and Saturday 5pm-11:30pm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lunch: Monday-Friday 11am-2:30pm </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Happy Hour Lounge Everyday 2:30pm-6pm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thursday – Saturday 10pm-11:30pm </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brunch:Saturday and Sunday 10am-2:30pm
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/1/1717924/restaurant/Fremont/Agrodolce-Seattle"><img alt="Agrodolce on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1717924/biglink.gif" style="border: currentColor; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a></span></span>Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-47151316452938604232013-03-11T16:42:00.000-07:002013-03-11T16:42:46.362-07:00Who Moved my Cheesesteak?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Betsy, our recent guest blogger, put the idea of melted cheese and thinly sliced grilled meat all wrapped up in delicious bun into our brains. So we had to find some local West Coast versions of the Philly cheesesteak to satisfy our cravings.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cNmecGnyxKZY4Ol1MeYCHX_1TyApYQ7HLMVaAYjaPFgpEmaitqc37o1lIlCoWf0S7u-PQ83O0CpkICG3COv7S1rtUk4Y1UY0T0KRmnTbNz35t-IamasQXZXt8j_14MB31FmPzKcuQn8/s1600/547021_402933069774214_28133075_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cNmecGnyxKZY4Ol1MeYCHX_1TyApYQ7HLMVaAYjaPFgpEmaitqc37o1lIlCoWf0S7u-PQ83O0CpkICG3COv7S1rtUk4Y1UY0T0KRmnTbNz35t-IamasQXZXt8j_14MB31FmPzKcuQn8/s320/547021_402933069774214_28133075_n-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGvDvw08QmCW2vYpmcn2-sxdmoulDtoiDcs6OZNWFayM3hn5YEI3l0mHfnQjEVi3PIcR1EWRgkeV87fp3tQHi-slbovQ2ojAz6YeIx7DS90CQZRSVUc0tbtiNCP5eSPFz0SMRVHxKPcI/s1600/318352_214441188623404_198320892_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGvDvw08QmCW2vYpmcn2-sxdmoulDtoiDcs6OZNWFayM3hn5YEI3l0mHfnQjEVi3PIcR1EWRgkeV87fp3tQHi-slbovQ2ojAz6YeIx7DS90CQZRSVUc0tbtiNCP5eSPFz0SMRVHxKPcI/s200/318352_214441188623404_198320892_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trailer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2mTgvGCM0QuL3plit9F6M90UXLnwuebJVDmI5xnBGYfUQkbfPL9VhbNd7p_Z2X6ITUCuxJemiA505bqrBkjfS1QTJMAu9Esgc5BWslvraSAcentfjhtiT2uzSL7p9UAKZ9r-k7FOu9g/s1600/IMAG1417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2mTgvGCM0QuL3plit9F6M90UXLnwuebJVDmI5xnBGYfUQkbfPL9VhbNd7p_Z2X6ITUCuxJemiA505bqrBkjfS1QTJMAu9Esgc5BWslvraSAcentfjhtiT2uzSL7p9UAKZ9r-k7FOu9g/s200/IMAG1417.jpg" width="111" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Brick and Mortar</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started with our go-to place Philly Boys Cheesesteaks, which we've been going to since they were a bright, yellow trailer (roughly the color of the cheese whiz used to make the cheesesteaks). Now they've moved into a brick and mortar building right by where they were originally located with the trailer, which tells you business is good.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3EmQlfyUGtBMFQDJ99Y8YxcyHn2alrrD9vQ8Rjg6Ol5KRLWRRTmiR0w12EkjITjT8nLNENkBeN39Tt42k63Av22Cnq2TB04DZlcZZmnY04rtEEi4QqgT2hEhS80JXHrK4-vfWn9djvg/s1600/IMAG1418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3EmQlfyUGtBMFQDJ99Y8YxcyHn2alrrD9vQ8Rjg6Ol5KRLWRRTmiR0w12EkjITjT8nLNENkBeN39Tt42k63Av22Cnq2TB04DZlcZZmnY04rtEEi4QqgT2hEhS80JXHrK4-vfWn9djvg/s400/IMAG1418.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_PCVbR7k4CzvzR8aSAENEq8yV8Yx0C-M2iEAvEpzBelKZtyGgZRah0movlFTeLl7e0GhdAqe7rzByjKsGZgrSxKaZ3KXto9NBjOE662xSq4f8cMIctWzsWriK_hvRIQrW5PDTStbe1c/s1600/IMAG1415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_PCVbR7k4CzvzR8aSAENEq8yV8Yx0C-M2iEAvEpzBelKZtyGgZRah0movlFTeLl7e0GhdAqe7rzByjKsGZgrSxKaZ3KXto9NBjOE662xSq4f8cMIctWzsWriK_hvRIQrW5PDTStbe1c/s320/IMAG1415.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's so great about this place? Simple, they keep it simple-- crusty Italian bread, your choice of white cheese (Provolone) or "whiz" and thinly shaved, grilled meat. The bread is from <a href="http://www.nowcake.com/Breads">Borracchini's Bakery</a>, an Italian bakery serving Seattle since 1922. The meat's top round, it has onions mixed in and salt and pepper-- end of story. Sweet pickled and hot peppers are available on the side, but really why mess with the holy trinity when it's awesome in it's purest form? We normally go white, but occasionally FloJo gets plain crazy and has white cheese and whiz.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John Schofield ( a true Philly native) is the owner of A.C. Automotive which shares the other half of the building now with his cheesesteak business. John started his cheesesteak business back in March of 2011 along with partner Frank Bucci (the other Philly boy). The "Boys" met ironically at the school where their girls went to school. John has been making cheesesteaks since he was a teenager back in Philly and just believed there was a need to bring true cheesesteaks to Seattle.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Now you can also find the next generation in the business, John's son A.J. works at the counter serving up the piping hot sandwiches his father has taught him well how to make. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of downsides to Philly Boys 1) they are not open on the weekends, so you have to have an excuse to be in SODO during the work week to score one of these sandwiches 2) normally there are only two people working so during the lunch rush it could take 15-20 minutes to get your cooked to order sandwich 3) we tried the tortilla soup on one visit and it was not very good so stick to the cheesesteaks and you'll be fine.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8yDojmy2TiZeOqtv94oMulihsxdlpGpMPSz-x3r9GrAFlzmRId1y5djzy1jMqXfMkexBI-9UfpRjykaQaeRkHbRxg5yTaJVM-t6Mau-iClFcsb-giHxyARLIZtoh3t4MoVYMVz4A_Ys/s1600/IMAG1416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8yDojmy2TiZeOqtv94oMulihsxdlpGpMPSz-x3r9GrAFlzmRId1y5djzy1jMqXfMkexBI-9UfpRjykaQaeRkHbRxg5yTaJVM-t6Mau-iClFcsb-giHxyARLIZtoh3t4MoVYMVz4A_Ys/s640/IMAG1416.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On your next trip to Costco, make sure to skip their hotdogs and go for one of these cheesesteaks instead. It will set you back $8.50, but the pay-off is a happy tummy and you'll have the energy you need to power warehouse shop.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgresGWTwxrufN6ZXK1tRlgc9J8k9UGdWSSlw5kubjKaCFToVdQToUDZnSRAwMsb9KycGnAym6g2LaQb4bCDOfwzIl0OFRcXOOupyU4rigk9WCxA76VffsWaPdEL1vkKlerig7Nw9riNKw/s1600/223113_10151270633184575_1475959162_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgresGWTwxrufN6ZXK1tRlgc9J8k9UGdWSSlw5kubjKaCFToVdQToUDZnSRAwMsb9KycGnAym6g2LaQb4bCDOfwzIl0OFRcXOOupyU4rigk9WCxA76VffsWaPdEL1vkKlerig7Nw9riNKw/s320/223113_10151270633184575_1475959162_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The competition is blocks away from Ro's day job in Pioneer Square, Tat's Delicatessen. We've tried to go a couple of times during lunch, but it's either been extremely crowded or we haven't been able to find parking. Finally, we went after work for dinner and were able to find street parking! The stars aligned and we had to admit, Tat's is giving Philly Boys a run for the Cheesesteak King title.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE06z9BIuiPBB-neYESeS6k5JPVkB1hZMMBLL4aiHpxpQrz1riFIrJ3BFob3arm6a1j3KzOanlM_CH1piBl1fVDyRClWEYsd9N73IDb4d2vWeBipV6gAkDxDKXWPQDUXo61kOtZzZIDY/s1600/mikeandbrian.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE06z9BIuiPBB-neYESeS6k5JPVkB1hZMMBLL4aiHpxpQrz1riFIrJ3BFob3arm6a1j3KzOanlM_CH1piBl1fVDyRClWEYsd9N73IDb4d2vWeBipV6gAkDxDKXWPQDUXo61kOtZzZIDY/s1600/mikeandbrian.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike and Brian</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps because the owners are East Coast boys as well. Brian Tatman (where the "Tat's" name hails from) and Jason Simodejka attended Penn State together. Brian grew up in Philly and Jason in New Jersey and both moved to Seattle circa 1996 and quickly found the cheesesteak scene here lacking. One day over lunch, sick of their corporate jobs, they decided to go for it and open a deli. They opened the original Tat's on Occidental Ave. They have since moved to larger digs on Yesler Way, but remain loyal to the Pioneer Square neighborhood. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jason has since moved back East and a new co-owner, Mike Sichel, who's been part of the operation since the word go, has moved into his new ownership role.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0LmfTaiZo0Q1QdFuge3GWPDD8Rz3sSC1ITn3IszbQs2xJYzrlMImJVHW8RWDLEzjgst7Y0nGAncNiKIMLay5LZGb-PtjlwA0AKz94x8Ax-_QL3vQTttzzKJygcaa4zyl5YQ15kJ58xI/s1600/photo-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0LmfTaiZo0Q1QdFuge3GWPDD8Rz3sSC1ITn3IszbQs2xJYzrlMImJVHW8RWDLEzjgst7Y0nGAncNiKIMLay5LZGb-PtjlwA0AKz94x8Ax-_QL3vQTttzzKJygcaa4zyl5YQ15kJ58xI/s320/photo-14.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cheesesteak was piping hot when we got our to go order. The employees doing the grilling are hidden by a high counter, but they appear to grill to order. We chose the 8" which sold for $8.50, but there is also a footlong option for $12. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsxD7SuHEyNidMOc5iyXa3dzLc830bI4SEvICGa-gTaQ-S-1SO3E9XlflRMWCSG6QSekfG0z6e36zML_OdivJ9Z_wtywNHxdcXkduxDCnSqT1iZiAkA5KhheZQF1AOiVN5R__JPdTWME/s1600/photo-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsxD7SuHEyNidMOc5iyXa3dzLc830bI4SEvICGa-gTaQ-S-1SO3E9XlflRMWCSG6QSekfG0z6e36zML_OdivJ9Z_wtywNHxdcXkduxDCnSqT1iZiAkA5KhheZQF1AOiVN5R__JPdTWME/s320/photo-13.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Italian roll was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and the meat and onions well seasoned and moist. Tat's roast their meats in house. You can choose from Whiz, Provolone, Swiss, Cheddar, American, Pepper Jack or Mozzarella cheeses. We stuck with the traditional Provolone. Other options include: 'wit' onions, mushrooms, sweet, fried or hot peppers all at no charge. Extra meat, cheese or bacon can also be added for an additional charge. There are also chicken cheesesteaks, pizza steak or hoagie steak options, but we are traditionalists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The deli has both Seattle and Philly sports jerseys hanging side-by-side probably </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">indicative of the split </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">allegiance</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the owners now have when the Phillies or Eagles</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> come into town. The deli is in a prime location to feed hungry sports fans either pre-funking or after the game. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tat's menu is pretty extensive if you want to venture away from the cheesesteak and try something else. We have yet to do this, but we've heard the Tat'strami sub (pastrami sub topped with coleslaw and Russian dressing) is "tat-rific". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tat's has a online frequent guest <a href="http://getperka.com/">"Perka"</a>" app that rewards you for multiple sandwich purchases. They also stay open for dinner and serve beer and wine to wash those sandwiches down with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As far as the ultimate decision of which Seattle cheesesteak reigns supreme, we are a divided household. FloJo is giving it to Philly Boys while Ro is going with Tat's. We highly recommend either for an authentic Philly cheesesteak experience without spending the dough to fly there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We welcome any comments if you've found other cheesesteak contenders in the Seattle area you deem worthy of contending for the title.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live life with flavor, fun and plenty of cheese!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Philly Boys Cheesesteaks</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">3201 4th Ave S Seattle, WA 98134<br />(206) 414-7707<br />Neighborhood: SODO<br />Hours:<br />Mon 10 am - 4:30 am<br />Tue-Fri 9 am - 4:30 pm</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tat's Delicatessen</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">159 Yesler Way Seattle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">206-264-8287</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Neighborhood: Pioneer Square</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">www.tatsdeli.com</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hours 8-6 p.m. M-F</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">11-6 p.m. Sat (and 3 hours before Sounder's kick-offs on Sunday)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Lu" style="display: inline; vertical-align: top;"><span class="hS" dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/1/1585656/restaurant/Sodo/Philly-Boys-Cheesesteaks-Seattle"><img alt="Philly Boys Cheesesteaks on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1585656/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Lu" style="display: inline; vertical-align: top;"><span class="hS" dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/1/318/restaurant/Pioneer-Square/Tats-Delicatessen-Seattle"><img alt="Tat's Delicatessen on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/318/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a></span></span></dd><dd class="attr-BusinessHours" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, 'Lucida Grande', 'Bitstream Vera Sans', verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-47576528732394934682013-03-05T20:09:00.000-08:002013-09-24T15:45:36.698-07:00Cause I live and Breathe this Philadelphia Freedom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.38585602305829525">We've been busy with tax season and project deadlines so we've enlisted a good friend and guest contributor Betsy aka BoBro to explore the iconic Philly Cheesesteak sending her back to the source Philadelphia. Here are her impressions of that delicacy and some bonus food items--<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.38585602305829525"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">― Benjamin Franklin</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 17px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Famous Philly Cheesesteak</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, lets get the cheesesteaks out of the way. Philly cheesesteaks just happen to be one of my favorite fast food items so I was excited to try several Philly cheesesteaks actually IN Philly. Pat Olivieri and his brother are credited with inventing the Philly cheesesteak in the early 1930s but several people warned me against Pats King of Steaks so I didn’t go there. Instead I tried a highly rated neighborhood joint called Ishkabibbles and a street cart called straightforwardly Philly Cheese Steak. Both were dee-licious!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><b><img height="251" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/uG7d54Mfg8gNzfpsnpSSEr6hBOWQguVUx-24FA9rzfpbaKyD6b8ajCNtzL1zhPD6XNqCD17TPMrDi4SkREZNvkYwO846okDeHxzFJY6PN81d0-x7Dx5dVACA" width="434" /></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://philacheesesteak.com/">Ishkabibbles</a>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">337 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19147-1518 (215) 923-4337</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://philacheesesteak.com/" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ishkabibbles</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has the highest Yelp rating, was within walking distance from my hotel, and had a Zagat rating of 25 (very good to excellent) so it seemed like a good choice for my first Philly cheesesteak experience in Philly. My grandpa used to call me ishkabibble (pronounced Ish-ka-bibble) as a term of endearment, an odd word from a song popular in 1913, which also told me this restaurant was a good choice. Ishkabibbles is a neighborhood joint located in the </span><a href="http://www.southstreet.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=228&Itemid=35" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">South Street Headhouse District</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> amidst magic shops, art galleries, bookstores, and bakeries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After strolling past historic brownstones on a drizzly, early Philly evening, I took one of the about 10 seats at Ishkabibbles, a seat with a perfect view of the grill, and I ordered a cheesesteak with onions and provolone. Cheesesteaks traditionally are made with provolone cheese, American cheese, or </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheez_Whiz" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whiz</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Cheez Whiz). Other common ingredients are onions, peppers, mushrooms, mayo, hot sauce, and ketchup I prefer the simplicity of beef steak, onions, cheese, and a roll. Period.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><b><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/nkbCrgJGh3dkizdqrIAdjP39442wIedWfcNeh6eWg52SxHRk1wLV8JmxiG5jfLAsRjDnOlA3ubnr-oE5F6JihgqtzW1MBM56P57f2bE0rsjW8Y7POsqNt5Xs" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/nkbCrgJGh3dkizdqrIAdjP39442wIedWfcNeh6eWg52SxHRk1wLV8JmxiG5jfLAsRjDnOlA3ubnr-oE5F6JihgqtzW1MBM56P57f2bE0rsjW8Y7POsqNt5Xs" width="323" /></a></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I chit chatted with the regulars at the counter while listening to the ringing sound of two spatulas on the grill, the melodious song of the grillman chopping up my steak. The grillman added onions and provolone cheese to the meat and topped it off with a chewy white roll. After leaving it on the grill a minute or two to merge the flavors and warm the roll he flipped it all over and folded the melty, meaty deliciousness into the bun. I ordered the basket, which came with Ishkabibbles </span><a href="http://philacheesesteak.com/whyus.html" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">award winning fries</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I didn’t try the restaurants other claim to fame, their famous Gremlin drink made of half grape and half lemonade, but every other person in the restaurant had one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><b><img height="330" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/QyPS1DwZnagd4YUWIL7ZO_K8_tMyafrQ4gXtqktTKPYbZw2HuiilAjD4KBeYoqMGDUiNP33Inc1ZpBOR-Urvt74895tJRj-onezn4K20Rg2YXH1rkzPHrJwJ" width="588" /></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ishkabbibles had a no nonsense take on the standard cheesesteak and I liked the mild flavor of the provolone (versus the plastic-y, salty, fake flavor of Whiz). The cheese added a nice fatty tasting finish to each bite. I also liked the chewy roll requiring me to bite and then rip off each new bite. I give this restaurant two thumbs up (because I only have two thumbs).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><b><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zpQuHT96cZA2hQMFi1U7RshUX04UKv614PPebTFTX9qZR5v_HI8tKXec8lZnKnDCMQqYkMA029_f2jJBaCv6LfFcyOHOdZgEhuwl-tRLBbpgvsZscP0zZ4B-" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zpQuHT96cZA2hQMFi1U7RshUX04UKv614PPebTFTX9qZR5v_HI8tKXec8lZnKnDCMQqYkMA029_f2jJBaCv6LfFcyOHOdZgEhuwl-tRLBbpgvsZscP0zZ4B-" width="121" /></a></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philly Cheese Steak Cart, Corner of 5</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> & Market, Old Town, Philadelphia</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My next Philly cheesesteak came from a small food cart across the street from the Liberty Bell. The sign on the side of the cart said THE BEST FOOD IN TOWN but that text apparently taped over some previous sign text! I wondered what it might have said under there but decided I’d rather not know. I decided to give the food cart a try.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><b><img height="244" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/c30X6W4YqpRRF0yJGgV8Qwapj81fWqQfzeOicNxNzshzR7EFdVIzxzlyxVFb6b8ENHaZVYFZIHMsxUjpNELfKLm-DuGsAvPlak2WrtdBB5M0wbd6tx0y7EOe" width="434" /></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Philly Cheese Steak's sandwich was pretty consistent with my sandwich from the previous day but, came steaming out of the cart much quicker and with no clattering of spatulas on the grill. According to Wikipedia, most of the Philly cheesesteaks in Philly are served on rolls baked by the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoroso%27s_Baking_Company" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amorosos Baking Company</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and these fresh, chewy rolls really do make a delicious sandwich. If you don’t mind eating on the street then this street cart is a good choice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I unwrapped the steaming, meaty sandwich sitting on a park bench by the Liberty Bell and enjoyed my second Philly cheesesteak.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><b><img height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TOjTr50hUOZsm0b3KybllzdpRJAgSVKEipOEh1ss66TfpJb2DKvyaVmCWsH4bT39cVwGGSSdlzVQklJ1XBZvXPP5Kbg7DimkQ04QOiQvpmlipqvoU54GQTIi" width="141" /><img height="224" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2rKybSy8utg608xdGG2DgWzr54Ho9nB39GjqOGbEROfKjV463F23tVHggKa7rvhMKWev7X7VBFiCwoMUri7qeFvfKATMMydgsXUyuqe-YAMENvqfZr5snDbL" width="400" /></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guest blogger BoBro</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 17px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Woman Cannot Live Upon Cheesesteak Alone!</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">― George Washington</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I decided to take a midday meal at the oldest tavern in the U.S., City Tavern. It is nestled in the midst of the historic buildings managed by the U.S. Parks Service in Independence National Historic Park. Did you know that almost all of the historic buildings from <a href="http://www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm">Independence Hall</a> to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Bell">Liberty Bell</a> are free to the public? Amazing that anything is free these days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.citytavern.com/">City Tavern</a>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">138 South 2nd Street at Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was seated in the tavern section of City Tavern, an area that as a woman I would not have been allowed to enter in the 18</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> century when our founding fathers hung out here talking about revolution. City Tavern first opened its doors in 1773 and by 1774 members of the First Continental Congress used it as a gathering place. Thirteen years later they held their closing banquet there, after winning independence from that greedy tyrant, King George III of England,in the Revolutionary War. The tavern burned down in 1854 but was rebuilt as an exact replica upon the same foundation for the bicentennial celebration in 1976. In the 18</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> century the daily paper would have been read aloud in the tavern because many of the population could not read; the tavern also served as a merchant exchange and a central place where each person could receive his 6oz allowance of coffee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of the menu items at City Tavern were dishes that would have been served in the 18</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> century. This might have been a challenge for vegetarian/vegan patrons of the restaurant had it not been for Benjamin Franklin's love of tofu, a protein source that he introduced to America. I passed on the Fried Tofu and instead ordered the Colonial Turkey Pot Pie and a George Washington’s Tavern Porter (more about the beer later). The bartender shared with me that in case of a fight there is a gate that comes down in front of the bar that would separate the alcohol from the patrons; I promised not to fight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My beer arrived along with a City Tavern Bread Tray including Anadama bread, Sally Lunn bread, and Thomas Jefferson’s favorite sweet potato biscuits. The </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Lunn_bun" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sally Lunn bread</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was quite dry and the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anadama_bread" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anadama bread</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was just boring brown bread but the sweet potato biscuits were GLORIOUS. Slightly sweet and ginger-y with crunchy pecans, these biscuits were reportedly served at the First Continental Congress. The recipe may have been brought back from Paris by James Hemmings, Thomas Jefferson’s slave who he took to Paris to be trained as a French chef. Hemmings was also the brother of Sally Hemmings, Thomas Jefferson’s slave and mistress of over forty years who bore him four children.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My turkey pot pie arrived along with a side of egg noodles with a very dark gravy. The pot pie had a puff pastry crust on top of a filling that consisted mostly of a too-floury gravy with a few gristly pieces of turkey and some underdone peas. I fished around and pulled out a couple of good bites of turkey to eat along with some of the topping. The egg noodles were perfectly cooked but the gravy tasted like it may have come from a jar. The meal was not bad considering it hailed from colonial times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I checked in on </span><a href="https://foursquare.com/" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Foursquare</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> unlocking a free dessert. I ordered the apple cobbler with some cinnamon ice cream even though I was full and didn’t need any more food. It was FREE so I thought I'd at least have a taste. The apple cobbler seemed homemade with complete apple slices that appeared hand cut. The cobbler topping was made of brown sugar and oatmeal cooked to a wonderful crispiness. I enjoyed a couple of bites and then asked for the check. The cinnamon ice cream wasn’t noteworthy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><b><img height="244" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Hm0us0UTi-iBPMsVuDWQyr-Mh3o7aj5R9XlKlqKSiHfmyTu5T6mA5_vB1ISL1NnxThYMWIUJ-ejVsWs3FIyiBXh2wPXAYz1_Lf00G3aR_9QVUnTVISqPgtsa" width="434" /></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thomas Jefferson's Sweet Potato Biscuits</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(from </span><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cooking-live/thomas-jeffersons-sweet-potato-biscuits-recipe/index.html" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FoodNetwork.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time: 1.5 Hours</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yield: 2 Dozen Biscuits</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ingredients</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 cups all-purpose flour</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 cup packed light brown sugar</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 tablespoons baking powder</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 teaspoon salt</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 teaspoon ground ginger</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/2 teaspoon ground allspice</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 cup solid frozen vegetable shortening</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 cups roasted, mashed, and cooled sweet potatoes</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 cup heavy cream (plus more if needed)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Directions</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and allspice. Add the shortening and cut in with 2 knives or hands until crumbly. In another bowl combine sweet potatoes, cream and pecans. Make well in dry ingredients and add potato-cream mixture. Mix to combine. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out the dough to 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut out with a 2-inch floured biscuit cutter. Place biscuits 1-inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 5 minutes, then turn down temperature to 375 and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm or let cool on a wire rack until room temperature.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 17px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Give Me Liberty or Give Me Beer?</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beer, if drunk with moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit and promotes health.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">― Thomas Jefferson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I didnt describe my wonderful George Washington’s Tavern Porter I drank at City Tavern because I decided to go to the source, Yards Brewery, and do a more in depth tasting. I walked from my hotel to the Delaware river and followed it a few miles until I arrived at the Yards Brewery. I waved at New Jersey across the river from Philly and entered the brewery, sat down at the bar, and ordered a $12 sampler of Yards Brewery’s Ales of the Revolution.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><b><img height="334" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Wt3XqY66fzVDT5gwakMxid_n_tNr3DC7luvvtSAT9PPPM-ipJy7Qdr8yQMPC7O07pFcRT0SZKDmLkSwz_S4l8QxF_7PmgGlKYKzqcroClVHCLFqpufpmivnb" width="595" /></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The 6oz samples came in a wooden carrier and I got to taste:</span><br />
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale: bubbly, golden, hoppy, spirit forward (tee hee) ale with a dry finish. This puppy is 8% alcohol made from Thomas Jefferson own recipe where he used rye, honey, and wheat from his Virginia estate.</span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce Ale: This was Benjamin Franklin’s recipe using molasses and spruce since barley and hops were sometimes difficult to get in the New World. This ale had a unusual slightly herbal taste, fruity aroma, and a quick finish. 5% alcohol.</span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">George Washington’s Tavern Porter: this was the beer that influenced me to visit the brewery after tasting its delicious, rich, and nutty barley and molasses flavor at City Tavern. It's everything I love in a sweet porter and is 7% alcohol.</span></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love Stout: this beer doesn’t actually have anything to do with the American Revolution but, was my favorite. Brewed with oysters in the kettle, this dark, chocolately, malty nitrogenated stout kept its creamy head to the bottom of the glass. 5.5% alcohol.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I tried to drink these slowly and savor them. I think because I was taking tasting notes on the beers, the bartender started giving me samples of some of the other beers, several of which he hand pumped from an untapped keg. I sampled the Trubles de Yards, an unfinished, fruity Belgian ale that the bartender described as a tripel dubbel monster, whatever that means! I liked it but, its high alcohol content would have had me under the table very quickly so I didn’t order a glass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next beer I tried was the Brown Ale. I love Newcastle Brown Ale and this Yards Brewery Brown Ale had a similar sweetness and golden color but, it tasted hoppier and was more fragrant than a Newcastle. I liked it but I didn’t LOVE it. My true beer love was yet to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I’m sitting at the brewery bar many people start to come in. I end up sitting between a guy named Walt and a guy named Charlie, both of whom are friendly Philadelphians. Walt owns a bar in Manayunk, a neighborhood in the northwestern section of Philadelphia, on the banks of the Schuylkill River. He serves the Yards beers in his bar and has known the owner, Tom Kehoe, since he brewed his first delicious batches of beer in the 1990s. Walt made the wooden sampler holders that Yards used to served me my sampler and he introduced me to Tom who was enjoying a beer with some of his fans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><b><img height="304" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/AaaF6t_qbZyLroeOEh_UjddQYAF8W3ZAXeywngSZNW3ztY_ktR0z-PRcRS8Yj4J3GBehBKyPlcEQntejfbIodnLBBLlQDXfK65DsEiUW3hsHwOMzAVwb1XUV" width="542" /></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 17px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philly Comfort Food</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Thomas Jefferson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My last day in Philly and I wanted to visit my new buddy, Charlie (from the Yards Brewery), at his food truck in the Drexel/Penn University area. I also wanted to try the old-timey ice cream place, the Franklin Fountain. I don’t want to think about the caloric total of these two outings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.chewysphilly.com/">Chewy's Food Truck</a>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">35th & Market, Philadelphia </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I took the Metro to the middle of Philly to find Chewy’s Food Truck and Charlie’s big smile greeted me through the window. Chewy’s specializes in burgers, sandwiches, and fries so I ordered the Kimchi Burger and Spicy Crab Fries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a short wait for cooking to order, Charlie handed over a piping hot, gooey, mess of a burger (the best kind of burger!) on a fresh, sesame seed dotted bun. Philly really knows its bread: every bun, roll, or bread item was uniquely matched to the sandwich and was high quality and artisan. The burger was spicy and my nose was running in no time. The Spicy Crab Fries were drenched in delicious Old Bay seasoning which tasted great but was WAY too salty. Maybe Chewy’s should use the low sodium version of the seasoning instead because I love salt but these were too much for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.franklinfountain.com/"><b>Franklin Fountain</b></a>, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">116 Market St, Philadelphia </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My final culinary stop on this trip was the Franklin Fountain, an old-time soda fountain and ice cream emporium. The Franklin Fountain opened in 2004 in the original town of Philadelphia where the buildings are ancient (for American buildings...300+ years old) and there is Revolutionary War character oozing out all over the place. Named after Ben Franklin, the fountain serves creative ice cream concoctions such as the “The Lightening Rod” sundae (shots of espresso), “The Southern Sympathizer” (rum raisin), and “Japanese Thirst Killer” phosphate (almond, grape juice, and agostura bitters). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><b><img height="224" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8fpYcWwWi4hukaoPmqkl3D6PVd9E_NIfd0v6DK0FpzBg_H4md9grypQvkweqQuqjSQp24G2vV3zmNjS9TEDRbR_LVRWYlFKHmQlYIZXnz-nl1T-QqvDepOap" width="400" /></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m a chocolate/vanilla kind of girl so I ordered the Mt. Vesuvius: chunks of chocolate brownie and vanilla ice cream covered with homemade hot fudge and whipped cream with a dusting of malt powder on top. Experiencing a volcano has never been so chilly and delicious! At the table next to me was a young girl and her friend who scolded, “I’m judging you. Full on judgement right here!” as her friend enjoyed the ice cream. Me, I couldn’t give a flying brownie chunk about her judgement; I was enjoying myself too much!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This place even has vegan ice cream that is coconut based. Cash only and my sundae was a whopping $10+.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All in all, a most enjoyable, historical, and calorical trip to Philadelphia, PA, USA!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Guest Blogger, BoBro</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/21/253655/restaurant/Queen-Village-South-Street/Ishkabibbles-Eatery-Philadelphia"><img alt="Ishkabibbles Eatery on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/253655/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/21/251645/restaurant/Old-City-Society-Hill/City-Tavern-Philadelphia"><img alt="City Tavern on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/251645/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/21/1524406/restaurant/Northern-Liberties/Yards-Brewery-Philadelphia"><img alt="Yards Brewery on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1524406/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/21/1627275/restaurant/University-City/Chewys-Philadelphia"><img alt="Chewy's on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1627275/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/21/252789/restaurant/Old-City-Society-Hill/Franklin-Fountain-Philadelphia"><img alt="Franklin Fountain on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/252789/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.dwellable.com/a/4655/Pennsylvania/Greater-Philadelphia-Area/Philadelphia/Vacation-Rentals" style="border: none;"><img src="http://www.dwellable.com/dwellback/4655.jpg" style="border: none; height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 102px;" /><br />Philadelphia on Dwellable</a></div>
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-85285272827625632122013-02-17T15:34:00.001-08:002013-02-17T15:37:14.055-08:00Our List of Italy's Best and Worst<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This blog is all about the products we LOVED in Italy and on the flip side how Italian fashion went WRONG.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu-ZuKMNQF5J4YS4AVXLbzB_BAQo8yX9fmq8xf9ARJrlHIGbfw8sT_XE1nrhPJPw_8NTYes3MTCE0zVKovkP4CKHkMesl_mZPEjm-9VQYRtLBdNRcCpOrPV-EPP59pHnrYUmzEw1Ommc/s1600/The-favorite-beer-Duff-is-now-available-for-purchase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOu-ZuKMNQF5J4YS4AVXLbzB_BAQo8yX9fmq8xf9ARJrlHIGbfw8sT_XE1nrhPJPw_8NTYes3MTCE0zVKovkP4CKHkMesl_mZPEjm-9VQYRtLBdNRcCpOrPV-EPP59pHnrYUmzEw1Ommc/s200/The-favorite-beer-Duff-is-now-available-for-purchase.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZVH1PKv3HvdwCMA1KsRIywDfDsGfxzQMhgsh_OH_nRrstbiKKcA6huwprUj-P_V13UOZ5hrOyWzRrT1ZCHGTVHsU28j5bL2HlvfJkZrF0tJuu57W5VAMfC1o_Qov-6aCYpHxbKu8wE8/s1600/IMG_0953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZVH1PKv3HvdwCMA1KsRIywDfDsGfxzQMhgsh_OH_nRrstbiKKcA6huwprUj-P_V13UOZ5hrOyWzRrT1ZCHGTVHsU28j5bL2HlvfJkZrF0tJuu57W5VAMfC1o_Qov-6aCYpHxbKu8wE8/s200/IMG_0953.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Duff Beer which originally started as a fictional product on the T.V. series the Simpsons, but apparently has been produced (probably illegally) in real life in Italy!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2n_fywn0NLYZTbyrN5yKFpvuvsP589bhF1DjmgCOHkIYF_tchA_n9G_1XB-4ToPW8oOhT1l3mWeyBc1St5fl8lUlVGkogYieUFNUJLWAACNQhZLYEpjICM3FEqWhSRlrQIPB0Kp4rf1E/s1600/coca-cola-zero-james-bond-skyfall-bottles-cans-2-630x472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2n_fywn0NLYZTbyrN5yKFpvuvsP589bhF1DjmgCOHkIYF_tchA_n9G_1XB-4ToPW8oOhT1l3mWeyBc1St5fl8lUlVGkogYieUFNUJLWAACNQhZLYEpjICM3FEqWhSRlrQIPB0Kp4rf1E/s200/coca-cola-zero-james-bond-skyfall-bottles-cans-2-630x472.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9aOmxqgb408mzJYZ5vpPeO6LFPdiwXpx2oBLEG1vjP92f698e-tiqSO4qxmbabnyqFeYTC-6kRB0tcE2VD4Yha_uP2BChzsmcVN_l-XKasB4phM9Y487qrVTVkKA62Y9E8AagTQHf0Y/s1600/coca-cola-zero-james-bond-skyfall-bottles-cans-4-630x472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9aOmxqgb408mzJYZ5vpPeO6LFPdiwXpx2oBLEG1vjP92f698e-tiqSO4qxmbabnyqFeYTC-6kRB0tcE2VD4Yha_uP2BChzsmcVN_l-XKasB4phM9Y487qrVTVkKA62Y9E8AagTQHf0Y/s320/coca-cola-zero-james-bond-skyfall-bottles-cans-4-630x472.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TpBw9fGhsvAzzIZFceTVKm0Krgi5oFCzymZCNMDKiKgecyIRhwo28uzGYRniA_o31l-veZYHwJHfMWo4cicF2KcB5vAGy3p-X-mTlJ0jWkW46TRZ_mV96b7JCtqNa9AiGxCIYeS-__g/s1600/IMG_0999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9TpBw9fGhsvAzzIZFceTVKm0Krgi5oFCzymZCNMDKiKgecyIRhwo28uzGYRniA_o31l-veZYHwJHfMWo4cicF2KcB5vAGy3p-X-mTlJ0jWkW46TRZ_mV96b7JCtqNa9AiGxCIYeS-__g/s320/IMG_0999.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Lisa and Gabi with their can of Coca-Cola Zero</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2n_fywn0NLYZTbyrN5yKFpvuvsP589bhF1DjmgCOHkIYF_tchA_n9G_1XB-4ToPW8oOhT1l3mWeyBc1St5fl8lUlVGkogYieUFNUJLWAACNQhZLYEpjICM3FEqWhSRlrQIPB0Kp4rf1E/s1600/coca-cola-zero-james-bond-skyfall-bottles-cans-2-630x472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Coca-Cola Zero which is a great compromise for us because Ro loves Coca-Cola, but FloJo prefers to not drink her calories in soda. Zero was all over Italy, we just regret not picking up one of the <a href="http://www.skyfall-movie.com/site/">Skyfall</a> bottles or cans to add to Ro's James Bond collection.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4jAvdBa4vVuvPHbd7zqRYqSj6xTlfasT8Lfqb2aTdzApzKaROb2PT5QjMNaNunLix3F3fGOW7lGSQ4S-mVjrFrdNnWU_JILqt4yyW_xMLGB4sY1o_WugBxWtJp0YyqoI-ih2Y2BeLhA/s1600/600288_437652306283389_1691711019_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4jAvdBa4vVuvPHbd7zqRYqSj6xTlfasT8Lfqb2aTdzApzKaROb2PT5QjMNaNunLix3F3fGOW7lGSQ4S-mVjrFrdNnWU_JILqt4yyW_xMLGB4sY1o_WugBxWtJp0YyqoI-ih2Y2BeLhA/s320/600288_437652306283389_1691711019_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9_WsAfJ6JEkBa7kciXjoALCwUYf_b9XJC3KPWFyeWfW4m0Rgp-EsZlX1FBqZWOtK63kWqRFtYu3EiDskrbW_Rtlbf8MRMbCsaNRB2gF3_dTxoWiBfPP4FhdwsQvT5B5P6gv16V7LNWY/s1600/396091_457590084289611_657019516_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9_WsAfJ6JEkBa7kciXjoALCwUYf_b9XJC3KPWFyeWfW4m0Rgp-EsZlX1FBqZWOtK63kWqRFtYu3EiDskrbW_Rtlbf8MRMbCsaNRB2gF3_dTxoWiBfPP4FhdwsQvT5B5P6gv16V7LNWY/s200/396091_457590084289611_657019516_n.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nutellausa.com/">Nutella</a> aka the spread of love. FloJo first discovered this hazelnut chocolate spread while she was living in Spain while Ro traveled all the way to Paris to discover this little spread of heaven. Europeans tend to eat it much like we Americans eat peanut butter. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPWr1jEP96LtwJe5BDSRGWQWYgFi_bFiLsHDbdA0igVSHDNmhgY6efaZQKlLdmVEij9EV0IYYli2u5Ogl-Pa878gWgq1tWuhuyDep498DgPjXVee8q2nYcPcf3E-6lbBedZYtOMrlWa4/s1600/IMG_0967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPWr1jEP96LtwJe5BDSRGWQWYgFi_bFiLsHDbdA0igVSHDNmhgY6efaZQKlLdmVEij9EV0IYYli2u5Ogl-Pa878gWgq1tWuhuyDep498DgPjXVee8q2nYcPcf3E-6lbBedZYtOMrlWa4/s200/IMG_0967.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While walking in the streets of Venice we found the biggest tub of nutella we've ever seen. Too bad it wouldn't fit in our suitcase to bring back with us. Luckily, you can order this 5kg or approximately 11 pound jar from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ferrero-Nutella-Made-Italy-Giant/dp/B003NL9MPW">Amazon</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3dNb6TI4Sj35VzB5xdxvbmynL6X_Hobbri18YRw511IGvPu_oCzyyp2PcTZhAnWFYDyj8ZauOzhE4rboPbHBi0wO5cY3XvsdvxQ_iPt7OZxAvW5iRpVFIW-fUwXdNBmE5qydwuZeZA0/s1600/IMG_1050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3dNb6TI4Sj35VzB5xdxvbmynL6X_Hobbri18YRw511IGvPu_oCzyyp2PcTZhAnWFYDyj8ZauOzhE4rboPbHBi0wO5cY3XvsdvxQ_iPt7OZxAvW5iRpVFIW-fUwXdNBmE5qydwuZeZA0/s320/IMG_1050.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetpt0pwAUM8k2H_o3oNuxxvizHaMQTE5WPxTtWaa8W6KtAPBlxOZ2jwaDXr_UJ3blqIoCeDAdwU7Lo8yoAvemaOkqYiFCJvffnWOuLMQamVgscXOMOhiFrIJPPYADb5-t-t7lA-yYNS8/s1600/P1070938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetpt0pwAUM8k2H_o3oNuxxvizHaMQTE5WPxTtWaa8W6KtAPBlxOZ2jwaDXr_UJ3blqIoCeDAdwU7Lo8yoAvemaOkqYiFCJvffnWOuLMQamVgscXOMOhiFrIJPPYADb5-t-t7lA-yYNS8/s320/P1070938.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosciutto">Prosciutto</a> on every menu you encounter in Italy. Prosciutto roughly translated is Parma (a city in Italy) Ham. It's a dry cured ham and you can see the legs of prosciutto in every market for sale. One of our favorite dishes was a simple one, prosciutto wrapped around ripe cantaloupe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What if the office water cooler was stocked with white wine? The winery we visited across from our Umbrian villa made that concept a reality. It's happy hour all day long!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We passed a cute little watch shop in Venice that really caught our eyes. We went in and both couldn't resist buying these fun interchangeable, colorful watches. Okay- they are a UK product technically, but we discovered them in Italy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oclock watches can be ordered on the internet at <a href="http://www.fullspotmarket.co.uk/">Fullspot Market UK</a>. They come in a sealed can kind of like SPAM.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVhHu5LSDtVAD6I9VQPUQ1QWB4kL8pMX205F66OWHRjp7axlRiFbr7nAeM1AjvZZYpsuhjpTVBATR4H79KHZyTyxL9kL8li8Siil2j94mj2fITI3UVYj2JrwbeV5Tx3zAzMjXNK61ocE/s1600/P1070494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVhHu5LSDtVAD6I9VQPUQ1QWB4kL8pMX205F66OWHRjp7axlRiFbr7nAeM1AjvZZYpsuhjpTVBATR4H79KHZyTyxL9kL8li8Siil2j94mj2fITI3UVYj2JrwbeV5Tx3zAzMjXNK61ocE/s320/P1070494.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZAYFUoubA3WAJdPCOJ7fE8ULlIU0ojhDxdxAKgFEFb8Px6KUhj1pVk-dZ9SKsTp88ixyN08wF4Pun0t47pu-v6Zpvbsvabm5x1wMcPb4BPG9NGTY-i2fFBZOd2iMM31A32XOOge-l2E/s1600/P1070512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZAYFUoubA3WAJdPCOJ7fE8ULlIU0ojhDxdxAKgFEFb8Px6KUhj1pVk-dZ9SKsTp88ixyN08wF4Pun0t47pu-v6Zpvbsvabm5x1wMcPb4BPG9NGTY-i2fFBZOd2iMM31A32XOOge-l2E/s320/P1070512.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Electric vehicles were well used and could be seen in every town we visited. These cute little cars are perfect for the constricted old European city streets while being a good environmental choice.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5S8KFbTqGtbs6qP-3YqhMUgzURvOKUIynOh-ec6il11MwPeqr2NfSb8ZvkwnbUYovPbO26mYd7ChMgpWFL-xRkrpkoknlOtCfPNYwzh0u5dr7KzrZ52EIfiLjZCaEUiVYJPiKrbM7XA/s1600/P1070801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5S8KFbTqGtbs6qP-3YqhMUgzURvOKUIynOh-ec6il11MwPeqr2NfSb8ZvkwnbUYovPbO26mYd7ChMgpWFL-xRkrpkoknlOtCfPNYwzh0u5dr7KzrZ52EIfiLjZCaEUiVYJPiKrbM7XA/s200/P1070801.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We learned to appreciate the modern convenience and invention of the GPS. Unfortunately we were without one for the entire trip, which made us appreciate it that much more!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapBhA2vFqzv9J00sJIe5PdQKV9d7i6pLetTH8h_MXIQkWw2PIH9uv3p4M-ONf1i_Hi0PDXyYfA8g4bPH5tBg0D3PNBZHQhnteFWNljs1Ekw55W048VmlRAt0jeB0s2-RMs1oX8Gzb0qw/s1600/P1070802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapBhA2vFqzv9J00sJIe5PdQKV9d7i6pLetTH8h_MXIQkWw2PIH9uv3p4M-ONf1i_Hi0PDXyYfA8g4bPH5tBg0D3PNBZHQhnteFWNljs1Ekw55W048VmlRAt0jeB0s2-RMs1oX8Gzb0qw/s320/P1070802.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beautiful sun dried tomatoes in every size and variety you could imagine. These were in every food market and would have been so fun to cook with had we had a kitchen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And who can beat Italian gelato? This delicious treat can be traced back to ancient Rome. Is there any doubt why the Italian version of soft-serve ice-cream has survived? We miss having one of these delicious treats each day. The only down side was having to make the difficult flavor decision from a case full of different colors and competing wonderfulness.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgBlb5O_vic5bae212esxuHutZadhNb_cJtxXeLDjn_vMxcda6OzfdvB-Mgw_snir1l6nflbQumGsgbYpJvQ3EzHRbaBpaX5CP9EoPQZ37KM2ugG6EVryG87kkj0BxSPxXF_0eT5rE04/s1600/P1080091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgBlb5O_vic5bae212esxuHutZadhNb_cJtxXeLDjn_vMxcda6OzfdvB-Mgw_snir1l6nflbQumGsgbYpJvQ3EzHRbaBpaX5CP9EoPQZ37KM2ugG6EVryG87kkj0BxSPxXF_0eT5rE04/s320/P1080091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Questionable Italian Fashion:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Italy is one of the most famous countries for their love of fashion. Shops are filled with clothes from the top Italian designers like Gucci, Armani, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Fendi and Benetton. There were fashion extremes with very well dressed locals. But, we thought it more fun to document the fashion faux-pas. To be fair, most of these were probably tourists!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdMQTrottP4k0Yz5sOFqIUt4mb20Gc2-L0MuHJFqrQTnNGTeeSz2Px53MxxX8itQKH760xGJYL3VjBjrThsvXnA6HHFOke-Z0TAwHcgPPagfXpGTRfs0850DpLarVNZjgEAbZSr4SAVA/s1600/IMG_1099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdMQTrottP4k0Yz5sOFqIUt4mb20Gc2-L0MuHJFqrQTnNGTeeSz2Px53MxxX8itQKH760xGJYL3VjBjrThsvXnA6HHFOke-Z0TAwHcgPPagfXpGTRfs0850DpLarVNZjgEAbZSr4SAVA/s320/IMG_1099.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matching t-shirts?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL14wO8qCrbVfHt0MoLXGPVpkiETa_dtLPRZtrg-0KZ21SGuSNcdSgZ8lV1oTmEaUQDnV808dXUu22XbWtVdZcv3AOGooZoFIu349qQn-WquIOpG8HGK0zEqMhSSR4QDg2RMXfIVkV_iA/s1600/IMG_1082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL14wO8qCrbVfHt0MoLXGPVpkiETa_dtLPRZtrg-0KZ21SGuSNcdSgZ8lV1oTmEaUQDnV808dXUu22XbWtVdZcv3AOGooZoFIu349qQn-WquIOpG8HGK0zEqMhSSR4QDg2RMXfIVkV_iA/s320/IMG_1082.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camo Couple</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3L6jyYIUaDKmPPMXaXckbC4NDtaa3KbAmHotixOfQHwiRmhRp845tRFsLLHGkPpY7EX5Hqqsk38wpTUBHYK9qbxw3ft78t2Tz8S_6Gi4zvxKL_H5Cih1OvKkKgYwg37R5fFq75T4_A7g/s1600/IMG_1118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3L6jyYIUaDKmPPMXaXckbC4NDtaa3KbAmHotixOfQHwiRmhRp845tRFsLLHGkPpY7EX5Hqqsk38wpTUBHYK9qbxw3ft78t2Tz8S_6Gi4zvxKL_H5Cih1OvKkKgYwg37R5fFq75T4_A7g/s320/IMG_1118.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bright canary pants</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZn_0Bmzz2oq5zY4hLrOveI__MEcpNSlZoFim13akf2zkghW_I4k-5G2Ta17X_m88nLX0VRhU3KYlmtm8w_xm4m18rMSiKNyZn469N9qkQAKEk4NPMk673b8idg56AcagF4bgnouiU4mg/s1600/IMG_1268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZn_0Bmzz2oq5zY4hLrOveI__MEcpNSlZoFim13akf2zkghW_I4k-5G2Ta17X_m88nLX0VRhU3KYlmtm8w_xm4m18rMSiKNyZn469N9qkQAKEk4NPMk673b8idg56AcagF4bgnouiU4mg/s320/IMG_1268.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fur vest in the summer?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXCixGuNTRwPHtbPWknmgy59ub2ydI-qAiFjzFyeMxZdKdvjdnK1_lpw8bQJm7cLbjybzUJ4c7doqIpDmV-Ft0vfrLd2zipQ8vbJkhwSfxiIGmB082Ma35hNOCSskVBUxyh0gTHmamCU/s1600/IMG_1272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXCixGuNTRwPHtbPWknmgy59ub2ydI-qAiFjzFyeMxZdKdvjdnK1_lpw8bQJm7cLbjybzUJ4c7doqIpDmV-Ft0vfrLd2zipQ8vbJkhwSfxiIGmB082Ma35hNOCSskVBUxyh0gTHmamCU/s320/IMG_1272.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink I think for the Spanish Steps</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyuSzCmHWjV5q9GdpoOgYGioRuD_mB5jKSm8dx35ScNPPQW_lboI-1t3tWPROMAcGfExqw1XSLR0kJf0fnOcEqbQ2ojOy1FtYIYrW_u7Z-w3k5diJUVJyYhv9XK35_YQPB8LFiE_W90o/s1600/IMG_1408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyuSzCmHWjV5q9GdpoOgYGioRuD_mB5jKSm8dx35ScNPPQW_lboI-1t3tWPROMAcGfExqw1XSLR0kJf0fnOcEqbQ2ojOy1FtYIYrW_u7Z-w3k5diJUVJyYhv9XK35_YQPB8LFiE_W90o/s320/IMG_1408.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matching safety vests for the boat ride to Capri.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3W87Vnv-cDN1dAiXSZGBGxRtm3jQrhnrpolPZym9uOmmmxLPncYvcCSwF94Nhvz1qEyLp1sPGQMPH8e0c84yyqUnFm0Oty7JIvsEGkDX5iLhk7igwglgRB-TS-vw7r8uHWIGl316cOXA/s1600/P1070764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3W87Vnv-cDN1dAiXSZGBGxRtm3jQrhnrpolPZym9uOmmmxLPncYvcCSwF94Nhvz1qEyLp1sPGQMPH8e0c84yyqUnFm0Oty7JIvsEGkDX5iLhk7igwglgRB-TS-vw7r8uHWIGl316cOXA/s400/P1070764.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vatican twinsies</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8hModaJgnb_q4YKCkVElofu9-3u9uG4dH3e5TBhF4R73m_3vE87YrOvPBoo66B6GZ-tE-UjBOl86DhaGqfGi4AezXjpqYGrkSUp7SOPbq9s5vJUgD0mVPpl5TMEIDcsdvjbIr-DwYWE/s1600/P1070649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8hModaJgnb_q4YKCkVElofu9-3u9uG4dH3e5TBhF4R73m_3vE87YrOvPBoo66B6GZ-tE-UjBOl86DhaGqfGi4AezXjpqYGrkSUp7SOPbq9s5vJUgD0mVPpl5TMEIDcsdvjbIr-DwYWE/s200/P1070649.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiop4a3XWcqWxubEQ4RloFeYYuLzaBRZ6bNl0BoJ-vaE_0Q9_2k2rQDPnbbHjEEZHj8JODwK7x7bPEiXA7YL_xW5BsNbGNzznl8q0xwQzOdITemz9IKOsFlY7ep3NbTuh3tIQ5fEQT1C0/s1600/P1070650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiop4a3XWcqWxubEQ4RloFeYYuLzaBRZ6bNl0BoJ-vaE_0Q9_2k2rQDPnbbHjEEZHj8JODwK7x7bPEiXA7YL_xW5BsNbGNzznl8q0xwQzOdITemz9IKOsFlY7ep3NbTuh3tIQ5fEQT1C0/s320/P1070650.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly Jolly red pants</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"> Live life with flavor and fun!</span></h3>
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-5308491706741093252013-01-22T17:21:00.000-08:002013-01-22T17:30:08.902-08:00A Night in Georgetown: The Corson Building<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EvSI8-NNQcYy43nKKUMEK7tu7zrvjNE6KlKpSuqjJ4dS27k6jj-ixksyE0mvQNT7vkUddg8WIeNS5cUP5MrPZLjJHK5SAEA7dOOc4c67DTXfo9dXl4jPP7nAN33jKU4tkYRdTPlSmvM/s1600/IMG952017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EvSI8-NNQcYy43nKKUMEK7tu7zrvjNE6KlKpSuqjJ4dS27k6jj-ixksyE0mvQNT7vkUddg8WIeNS5cUP5MrPZLjJHK5SAEA7dOOc4c67DTXfo9dXl4jPP7nAN33jKU4tkYRdTPlSmvM/s200/IMG952017.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Betsy Jangles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FG4Y7cBh0zzIw46Z6nLN1G4yBrhdecsv0FsvQ0BwIdWkRUkIhYLtM9AET-wt_jfiD_xjddIMq7j7PBBMftBdJRMvnPAEFUvXx3Qz3VHrDQPZ3ewR6TXtxB3mA-a-gbdq0P8C6CdYrN0/s1600/IMG952018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FG4Y7cBh0zzIw46Z6nLN1G4yBrhdecsv0FsvQ0BwIdWkRUkIhYLtM9AET-wt_jfiD_xjddIMq7j7PBBMftBdJRMvnPAEFUvXx3Qz3VHrDQPZ3ewR6TXtxB3mA-a-gbdq0P8C6CdYrN0/s200/IMG952018.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Godzilla vs. fire hydrant</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spent a weekend exploring the eclectic neighborhood of Georgetown just North of Boeing Field and South of Sodo (South of Downtown) Seattle. The neighborhood is made up of a lot of industrial buildings, funky shops, a flea market made up of <a href="http://www.georgetowntrailerpark.com/">trailers</a> and the <a href="http://www.georgetownbeer.com/">Georgetown Brewery</a>. A few of the treasures obtained from the flea market were a boxing Godzilla puppet and an accordion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We decided to cap off the adventure by having Sunday supper family style at the Corson Building. The restaurant is committed to organic processes and building and using community relationships and products. In fact, they've entered into a partnership with a Vashon Island Farm, <a href="http://www.oldchaserfarm.com/farm-larder.html">The Old Chaser Farm</a> , where they source some of their restaurant ingredients. The farm offers a weekly box full of products from the farm similar to <a href="http://www.fullcircle.com/#s.aeippfpzabaaa">Full Circle Farm</a>, but also includes items like preserves and recipes from the Corson Building. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Po and Ro ready for Sunday Supper at Corson Bldg.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We showed up at 6 p.m., which is the time it states on the website that the Sunday dinners begin. We were the second set of guests to arrive and were offered a champagne cocktail with a boozed-up cherry dropped in for good measure. The host welcomed us and informed us where we would sit once all the guests were present. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Where the cherries got happy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took a quick tour of the building, which is over a century old built by an Italian stonemason in 1910. The shell of the original home remains with the brick wall exposed and giant hanging lights above one of the communal tables showing the 2nd floor where the original family probably slept. The restaurant is small (20-25 seats) and has added on the kitchen space in the back, which our host told us is the most earthquake safe part of the building making us hopeful there would be no earthquake while we dined in the older part of the building. The house is now sandwiched between Corson street, a soccer field in the back and railroad tracks on the other side with planes flying over to land at nearby Boeing field. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictrawCwK5QOGfsK1HAQ7bhM6QMHUxd8JCnFAmrjXAhxM8Lkuswx0QSJIRndCqDQSj5LhwiYOPtoA0tiJrCvrCcQSTjoF9usHFCkdyNz9cE4ATRGeJC7AbXrarXGeu6BsLWNyD3bjJtT0/s1600/IMAG2052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictrawCwK5QOGfsK1HAQ7bhM6QMHUxd8JCnFAmrjXAhxM8Lkuswx0QSJIRndCqDQSj5LhwiYOPtoA0tiJrCvrCcQSTjoF9usHFCkdyNz9cE4ATRGeJC7AbXrarXGeu6BsLWNyD3bjJtT0/s200/IMAG2052.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgHCiDDrsu6fMznJ-y4idX3GTmg8F8BvHeMnoMBN7YzI_C0bg_7lzPULWGRyIWTEVATdTzVksqZ-YAPqq6ABFgagwPwHLgP38kqaQEaVdUjvTaBdIdpTcWuHgEAQ1G-rz_j-gIQfso8U/s1600/IMAG2044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgHCiDDrsu6fMznJ-y4idX3GTmg8F8BvHeMnoMBN7YzI_C0bg_7lzPULWGRyIWTEVATdTzVksqZ-YAPqq6ABFgagwPwHLgP38kqaQEaVdUjvTaBdIdpTcWuHgEAQ1G-rz_j-gIQfso8U/s320/IMAG2044.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
The interior was decorated with wine bottles, simple greenery, flowers on the table and bathed in candlelight (which made it difficult for Po trying to do his economics reading homework while we waited). We overheard one of our fellow diners commenting that the interior felt like she was in a restaurant in France. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGi7_VSqbdcWDiBwlCzmivpTcDbkRd1uQqmlLAlNaVh93kUUR7qHOTtJxMuSszIaGz-Xbxo2lffbIx0_NuqtJ0Kco2C4A3P_EE4IMd3_rRAvRchTQqp_tGrSmT6n3eh3jJfwREOu0YNk/s1600/IMAG2038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGi7_VSqbdcWDiBwlCzmivpTcDbkRd1uQqmlLAlNaVh93kUUR7qHOTtJxMuSszIaGz-Xbxo2lffbIx0_NuqtJ0Kco2C4A3P_EE4IMd3_rRAvRchTQqp_tGrSmT6n3eh3jJfwREOu0YNk/s320/IMAG2038.jpg" width="180" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were several service elements that were not spot on and detracted from the overall experience. The first was that we ended up waiting standing up in very cramped quarters waiting for all of the guests to arrive so we could be seated. Once we were seated, we couldn't hear what the waiter was saying because the background music was so loud. He eventually asked the other waiter to go turn down the volume. We couldn't hear what was being served, but luckily we had taken a picture of the menu so we could self-educate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first round of food came in rapid fire fashion. One platter was put down and the next came soon thereafter. The first platter contained trout and parsnip fritters with tartar sauce. Po is always hungry and we were concerned when he took only one of the small fritters. As a budding critic he said they tasted a little on the burned side. However, he did take another fritter when the platter made its way back. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW0lTIDyHUsECrQNI-b9v-dIq7TqjdFclWKBDGjj-xQ4Ggo6b3PfyUr5J8zbFt7gYYwp6hqNd2UNMHW1xoDklc8jZ_8O5VXDh8XeiBG1amMLu7ZySk0FOYsDScn-mAUBrTwuAMrYcIUA/s1600/chioggia-beets-0110-l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW0lTIDyHUsECrQNI-b9v-dIq7TqjdFclWKBDGjj-xQ4Ggo6b3PfyUr5J8zbFt7gYYwp6hqNd2UNMHW1xoDklc8jZ_8O5VXDh8XeiBG1amMLu7ZySk0FOYsDScn-mAUBrTwuAMrYcIUA/s200/chioggia-beets-0110-l.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chiogga Beet<br />
Photo: Courtesy of Sunset Magazine</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncxzpWoRHv9-lDKIbrIgBjPk5G1N3tTEQuRVeKgPApjOQ7axcP-D24xYeUi3-M-bUkK6mfBawtVd7BEq1pNPJJUes-TnM_B5dasjll8aZ9ev4XQn4ZZ0CaUP_iS8ArwyWadFhJ1X2lRI/s1600/IMAG2060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncxzpWoRHv9-lDKIbrIgBjPk5G1N3tTEQuRVeKgPApjOQ7axcP-D24xYeUi3-M-bUkK6mfBawtVd7BEq1pNPJJUes-TnM_B5dasjll8aZ9ev4XQn4ZZ0CaUP_iS8ArwyWadFhJ1X2lRI/s320/IMAG2060.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next we were offered pork and ham rillettes to spread on homemade sourdough bread served alongside homemade pickles. The star of this round of food was the gorgeous salad that had vibrant red and green colors. One of the people we were sitting by said it reminded her of a Christmas salad. The main green for the salad was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatsoi">tatsoi</a>. It's an Asian, dark green, shaped like a spoon with a taste similar to baby bok choi. The salad also had Treviso radicchio, which is generally a little more mild than the traditional Italian red lettuce. The salad had thinly sliced, raw chiogga beets, which have a beautiful white and red spiral pattern. The couple we were sitting by shared they had never had raw beets. Perhaps one of the reason they were left raw is the sprial turns pink when they are cooked. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Sturgeon<br />
Photo Courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pace of the food delivery then slowed down. We got a platter of smoked sturgeon served </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with cider braised celery root, creamed cardamons and leeks.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Most of us at the table had never tried sturgeon (even the mighty spear-fisher man and woman Po and Ro). Come to find out there are over twenty-six subspecies of sturgeon so it's hard to classify where this fish came from. There is a </span><a href="http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/AnimalDetails.aspx?enc=VsGX+Lst7QaBiH9FKEcntQ==" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">white sturgeon</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> indigenious to the Columbia River so perhaps that is where the one we had came from. Our new friends we were eating with had seen pictures of a sturgeon before and they told us we didn't want to know what they looked liked or we'd lose our appetites. The fish had a soft texture and was moist, but it didn't have a lot of flavor besides the light smoke.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a table of ten there were four bottles of wine open and were put on the table before we sat down. We were only told that the bottles were to share amongst the table and the cost was included with the meal. We started with the white on the table <a href="http://tikves.com.mk/en/rkaciteli-special-selection/">Tikves Rkaciteli</a>, which was from Macedonia. The wine was dry with a sweet fruit taste and paired really well with the first few courses. By the time we were ready for a glass of red all of the bottles had been finished off. We asked our waiter for another bottle indicating the table was out (again he didn't notice, but had to be asked). He said they didn't have that same bottle, but could bring something "along the same vine." He brought it over to the table opened it and then told us that it was not included in the meal and realized he should have told us that prior to opening the bottle. Wow, really? So we ended up sharing the bottle with our end of the table and had that amount added to our check. This could have been handled so much better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moving on to the next course, which was chicken two-ways. The first platter was chicken thighs with really amazing braised cabbage. As a compare and contrast the second platter was chicken breasts with potatoes and what we thought were parsnips, but checking the menu they were actually white carrots. It was an all white platter of food so not terribly pleasing to the eye, but both types of chicken tasted really good. Just as the white meat platter had made it's way more than half-way around the table the server came back to tell us that the chicken breasts were meant to be cut in half by guests. There was an ensuing panic amongst us diners at the end of the table, worried that by the time the platter made it to us there would not be enough for us to get to try it. Luckily, it worked out where every person at the table got to try the dish. This was another example of less than stellar service execution. If you are going to serve food family style it should already be portioned appropriately or there will be a hungry diner uprising.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dessert time consisted of a slice of olive oil cake with orange cream and marmalade on top. Although probably the prettiest dish of the night, it was incredibly dry and probably our least favorite dish overall. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm8rCYV43VhI1ev1Vb9cO361zaott97YbdoW4QMuEzDmf6ZuHKfUMpmTI67KGms1yMnlfwaBzbKLVJVi8m6DYfQUBSzbkxDwSBBcpFnUGQYS5RAYDzDdymLBuykwMi1gr1Ar3WkMewUs/s1600/IMAG2054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm8rCYV43VhI1ev1Vb9cO361zaott97YbdoW4QMuEzDmf6ZuHKfUMpmTI67KGms1yMnlfwaBzbKLVJVi8m6DYfQUBSzbkxDwSBBcpFnUGQYS5RAYDzDdymLBuykwMi1gr1Ar3WkMewUs/s200/IMAG2054.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A plus of the family style dinner was we got to share food with strangers. We had a lovely conversation with an Eastside couple whose kids had bought this meal for them because they were both celebrating birthdays this month. Come to find out their daughter had recently moved to Hawaii as a Naval officer. It can be fun to meet people you normally wouldn't interact with in your everyday circles and settings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One final service snafu ended our evening. Our check was brought to us and it was not correct. In fact, it was about $100 dollars more than it should have been. The server apologized that he given us another party's check, but the multiple mistakes really added up (no pun intended) over the evening. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLol7Bmup0L-z8ZEhmZRyulCM8D7rUb1hpMrJO8G8OJGCm_w-9mFQ5gEwgP2E3G70qD4AF1VbS3wclt5SZj6qFRaLcfUZvOqw1yi7kGWRGAX_4CKrW4xhRZ3OyYLpot0CF1l_BfUCOnFk/s1600/IMAG2037.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLol7Bmup0L-z8ZEhmZRyulCM8D7rUb1hpMrJO8G8OJGCm_w-9mFQ5gEwgP2E3G70qD4AF1VbS3wclt5SZj6qFRaLcfUZvOqw1yi7kGWRGAX_4CKrW4xhRZ3OyYLpot0CF1l_BfUCOnFk/s320/IMAG2037.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our advice if you want to check out the Corson Building is to come on Sunday compared to Saturday. The amount of courses on Sunday is filling and we can't imagine paying additional for more courses on Saturday. Arrive around 6:30 p.m. as the seats are assigned and you'll just end up standing if you arrive on time at 6 p.m. If you like red wine and don't want to pay extra, get your glass early on in the dinner or you'll end up having to buy additional out of your own pocket. Take note of the menu as you walk in so you'll be up on what to expect in case you are unable to hear as the food is brought to the table. Make sure as well to spend some additional time in the neighborhood checking out the shops and getting a feel for the history of this industrious hood. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> Reservations required, $60 per person, including wine. Reservations will be tentative until held with a credit card.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.georgetownhistory.com/History/Gallery/">Friends of Georgetown History</a> have some great info and photos of Georgetown around the time the Corson building was first built including a great photo of the Corson house. Check out their website and if you're really brave you can sign up to take one of their haunted history tours.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Live life with flavor and fun!</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/1/335812/restaurant/Georgetown/The-Corson-Building-Seattle"><img alt="The Corson Building on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/335812/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; padding: 0px; width: 130px;" /></a><br />
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<br />Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-22979894870675883282013-01-17T12:15:00.000-08:002013-09-24T15:49:25.070-07:00A Divine Dining Renee Erickson Trilogy <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6etTrSXfW9-LnX78wMWWX5CNKGdo2nsbNyxN5B7Y_cq4iGC65TTO7bkFnP3PAcKuetz3PhGmFrtzRsbWlQC9rM_mI7TBHW_dVA2rHCWVCWWPZolyDLZNa1zGJ6lmArw5KEAZLbSg8N8U/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6etTrSXfW9-LnX78wMWWX5CNKGdo2nsbNyxN5B7Y_cq4iGC65TTO7bkFnP3PAcKuetz3PhGmFrtzRsbWlQC9rM_mI7TBHW_dVA2rHCWVCWWPZolyDLZNa1zGJ6lmArw5KEAZLbSg8N8U/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6etTrSXfW9-LnX78wMWWX5CNKGdo2nsbNyxN5B7Y_cq4iGC65TTO7bkFnP3PAcKuetz3PhGmFrtzRsbWlQC9rM_mI7TBHW_dVA2rHCWVCWWPZolyDLZNa1zGJ6lmArw5KEAZLbSg8N8U/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trilogies bring to mind epic movies for us. Movies that start great enough to deserve two more follow on movies. Action adventure classics like Mission Impossible, the Matrix, Indiana Jones, Terminator, Spider-Man, Die Hard, the Bourne Trilogy and the Godfather (which we are watching now because somehow Ro has gone her whole life without watching one of them). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The funny ones like Austin Powers, Naked Gun, Pirates of the Caribbean, Toy Story and Back to the Future. Not to be forgotten, the scary entries like the Hannibal Lector series, Scream and Alien. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then there are the special cases where the original movie spawns a dual trilogy. Take the Star Wars trilogy for example, which spawned the prequel trilogy. Likewise, the ever popular Lord of the Rings trilogy has recently released the Hobbit which will have to wait and see how many additional movies come hereafter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We enjoy movie trilogies, but if we find a good restaurant, there's nothing better than when the owner strikes out with new restaurants. One of our favorite Seattle restaurant trilogies is by co-owner/chef Renee Erickson where she just completed opening up her newest restaurant the Whale Wins. However, just like with most movies we think the original is still the best (we admit we are biased critics because we've been huge Boat Street Café fans for years). We recently visited each of the restaurants to taste and experience each of these restaurants with their distinct character differences, but also to appreciate the similar plots they all share with a common thread being woven throughout each tying them together.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJENOVkGmCTfDOQMDjJR3QNFSQ7Tr2i9oohljiQ7clROGIQwKdQLV1RpA-RHywmR1yXEPqUk4EwxaNh4ansyvxQq0QV9sbByUC8tjUZHkKnz9HA9Lv_SLVHd-oQhii0t2XLG2lClGSEM4/s1600/seattle_the_walrus_and_the_carpenter_chef_renee_erickson_abfv_2011-2011.jpg_693_471_0_80_1_50_50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJENOVkGmCTfDOQMDjJR3QNFSQ7Tr2i9oohljiQ7clROGIQwKdQLV1RpA-RHywmR1yXEPqUk4EwxaNh4ansyvxQq0QV9sbByUC8tjUZHkKnz9HA9Lv_SLVHd-oQhii0t2XLG2lClGSEM4/s1600/seattle_the_walrus_and_the_carpenter_chef_renee_erickson_abfv_2011-2011.jpg_693_471_0_80_1_50_50.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Renee Erickson<br />
Photo Courtesy: Boat Street Café</td></tr>
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzMttYtQjiONRYiI7kGoojNXhYkd2Qwmxh7P8TQJFEilsTnV-kDy9ZQd254TOofmPrXsrcaSZJRvr0Nt61BG2OmcaPeW6wWSt5wWj0tiX7R_3zjIgBXQE360MARB5Hy6tB__iyLGttbE/s1600/normandy_sky_copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzMttYtQjiONRYiI7kGoojNXhYkd2Qwmxh7P8TQJFEilsTnV-kDy9ZQd254TOofmPrXsrcaSZJRvr0Nt61BG2OmcaPeW6wWSt5wWj0tiX7R_3zjIgBXQE360MARB5Hy6tB__iyLGttbE/s200/normandy_sky_copy.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These restaurants are indeed the brainchildren of Renee, never one to stay still. She studied art at the University of Washington and worked at Boat Street (under different ownership at the time) while she went to school. She spent some time in Europe learning about her two loves, food and art. Upon her return, she decided to purchase Boat Street Café and make it her own. Renee has traveled extensively in France and the decor of Boat Street reflects that of a small intimate Parisian café. The white-washed rafters, eclectic chairs and marble bar at the front of the restaurant eek with French country charm. Ro and FloJo have spent several lunch-hours escaping to France via this little café as it was just down the street from Ro's former accounting firm. It also has one our favorite Seattle summer happy hours where you can get a nice summer bottle of wine and delightful French appetizers all while eating out on the patio. Suddenly we escape the city of Seattle and are transported to a city café in Paris.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EJ1K1_QWE1jthRF53gqxz0Yndxy4pwsRkNhhnyQmvZdCYpw9tb6KYS_rbo5wU9W1cHXps1q4QEk5OHGr8s-VwH55FRxWtKBMgBjSxegc3bUR9ZsVpJuMCHPrj1pjCan_EUXEzT2w22s/s1600/seattle_boat_street_cafe_chef_renee_erickson_afb_2008-30.jpg_693_475_0_80_1_50_50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EJ1K1_QWE1jthRF53gqxz0Yndxy4pwsRkNhhnyQmvZdCYpw9tb6KYS_rbo5wU9W1cHXps1q4QEk5OHGr8s-VwH55FRxWtKBMgBjSxegc3bUR9ZsVpJuMCHPrj1pjCan_EUXEzT2w22s/s320/seattle_boat_street_cafe_chef_renee_erickson_afb_2008-30.jpg_693_475_0_80_1_50_50.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> Photo: Antoinette Bruno</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The food is an interesting mix of French Proven<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">ç</i>al</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and local organic Northwestern. One of FloJo's favorite items on the menu is the Carlton Farms pork chop. The connection to this chop illustrates Renee's commitment to local purveyors and using the finest of their ingredients. This pork chop comes from Russell Flint's </span><a href="http://www.rainshadowmeats.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Rain Shadow Meats.</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Russell met Renee back when he was first learning butchery at Whole Foods Market. The two became friends and he followed her to her new restaurant and became Boat Street's Sous Chef. Renee had a big influence on Russell and encouraged him to take a chance when space became available in the Melrose Market to open his own butcher shop. Not only does it provide Fred Flintstone size chops for Boat Street's menu, but some of the best meat in town including house-made sausage.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oGAh511_HQwLMzBP5jz7BOihGS8VbJpCEqF4mpAq8Cv4nMPRJ5DXJwYbP0Pig_nxDsxvWM-3sX0Vb3JWcb_9RS_zhS9rvOSxixv9mckMpbHdJQi4gZw_sVkYc_U6GT8o973TtAa1bNE/s1600/IMAG1692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oGAh511_HQwLMzBP5jz7BOihGS8VbJpCEqF4mpAq8Cv4nMPRJ5DXJwYbP0Pig_nxDsxvWM-3sX0Vb3JWcb_9RS_zhS9rvOSxixv9mckMpbHdJQi4gZw_sVkYc_U6GT8o973TtAa1bNE/s320/IMAG1692.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who's excited for oysters?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HDJrgP8d8N69pk_BBEmNaw7duYowIo06wJehKhSLwgg5509noK3S0iQBn29tmtn_dt_d57emo4Vw9R3hbp5OoRD6BGT6u-YdWU2qBA0pGLngELPID930Fvfgmtpm8I0-L3QfXcfR5YU/s1600/IMAG1694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most recently we visited Boat Street Café on their 4th annual Normandy night. This was our first time attending this event and we were immediately excited to see the spread of oysters on the half shell, shucked and ready to be devoured by guests. Renee later told the group that they were Treasure Cove oysters with champagne mignonette from one of the local shellfish farmers she's discovered and made a connection with. They were plump, succulent and tasted like the ocean from which they came.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pepiere Sur Lie Muscadet paired perfectly with the oysters</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MuJLtv3qx65lh-UBpsIPavS-D6vBOlP0VSBsiupT_30IExX6XhQDn2003xv8QZsdpKN5ALE45tHFnSrkHlQNj77mBul37CB2Vu5KKWKMVK8lzyA272LvN3ayAAYuJvu9nbssFddlfds/s1600/IMAG1691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MuJLtv3qx65lh-UBpsIPavS-D6vBOlP0VSBsiupT_30IExX6XhQDn2003xv8QZsdpKN5ALE45tHFnSrkHlQNj77mBul37CB2Vu5KKWKMVK8lzyA272LvN3ayAAYuJvu9nbssFddlfds/s200/IMAG1691.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFE793wHHX0I7TpkaqOS56Y38a0hkNNxzOWU863oYCe-4TGMP_dI3NB0NQiujR_Cu60a6qSVA5EwrdsPbUD982tgQ23G-auFDt0zHQ_AAo8yaojmM5YMRLosnK-gy9kgslRI_zaT8L7I/s1600/IMAG1693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFE793wHHX0I7TpkaqOS56Y38a0hkNNxzOWU863oYCe-4TGMP_dI3NB0NQiujR_Cu60a6qSVA5EwrdsPbUD982tgQ23G-auFDt0zHQ_AAo8yaojmM5YMRLosnK-gy9kgslRI_zaT8L7I/s200/IMAG1693.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MuJLtv3qx65lh-UBpsIPavS-D6vBOlP0VSBsiupT_30IExX6XhQDn2003xv8QZsdpKN5ALE45tHFnSrkHlQNj77mBul37CB2Vu5KKWKMVK8lzyA272LvN3ayAAYuJvu9nbssFddlfds/s1600/IMAG1691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a cold November night and guests were enjoying the oysters and conversation as they huddled around the fire pit trying to stay warm. We were reluctant to go inside despite the cold, not wanting to part with the delicious oyster bar. We compromised, and took a plate of the shellfish with us to our table so as to not miss the next course of this Normandy dinner.</span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXjbS7_MUEn2eZvDTX2U-eR5ENtvxm5GyaMcW5tfP1k_tmNumitVIPSn9JOjkDThcZ6QHY_K8-n2vHgvPY4csSNH2bImlY2q4OrtrsLtP80n-pu5OdpLptOZsYqz8wh4pIoSLQ2tphmQ/s1600/IMAG1699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnXjbS7_MUEn2eZvDTX2U-eR5ENtvxm5GyaMcW5tfP1k_tmNumitVIPSn9JOjkDThcZ6QHY_K8-n2vHgvPY4csSNH2bImlY2q4OrtrsLtP80n-pu5OdpLptOZsYqz8wh4pIoSLQ2tphmQ/s200/IMAG1699.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The café is intimate and there was assigned family style seating. We got seated by some people (later to find out their names were Allen and Claudette) and we quickly started chatting with them and they joked that they were not going to let us out again the rest of the evening so we were not going to be able to drink very much. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBrW3Y8XM0Y4apdq51kKBD0_7YULPC7R6z9My9smuMIDUqW_YHTE81U6BUZ-JXa7bBTDRbkNR0WF8Pn5VT9Ym9qX3KY__hgMDp0sX6QZJ2-65gNavw-SYVROSz_oNsbBw2Jv1J7Ocd8g/s1600/IMAG1706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBrW3Y8XM0Y4apdq51kKBD0_7YULPC7R6z9My9smuMIDUqW_YHTE81U6BUZ-JXa7bBTDRbkNR0WF8Pn5VT9Ym9qX3KY__hgMDp0sX6QZJ2-65gNavw-SYVROSz_oNsbBw2Jv1J7Ocd8g/s320/IMAG1706.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Renee Erickson explaining the Normandy dinner menu</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Renee stood up and introduced the menu and how it was inspired by a recent trip she took to France. She described how that annual trip serves as her inspiration and she comes back and finds products locally that allow her to translate what she experiences in Europe into something wonderful sourced right here in the Northwest. She also learns about and tries different French wines and pairs those wonderfully with the dishes. She also talked about her newest restaurant baby, the Whale Wins and how she had been getting it set-up for opening. </span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKZvuZ5DlfYjQuwTUgTtGaYxgaZwdRNva0__HrURiE6iSUPhcjTVR8SRm8RnR2SmaKhfKAR0BsLzHM-0hjHpRkaJw1fhAJ88aSNOaTc9evmgwlc_n2zJpei8cTr7KPSGaJpT2iDOSJFM/s1600/IMAG1701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKZvuZ5DlfYjQuwTUgTtGaYxgaZwdRNva0__HrURiE6iSUPhcjTVR8SRm8RnR2SmaKhfKAR0BsLzHM-0hjHpRkaJw1fhAJ88aSNOaTc9evmgwlc_n2zJpei8cTr7KPSGaJpT2iDOSJFM/s200/IMAG1701.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The inside courses started out with the richest and most succulent mussel and scallop combination. The scallops were seared perfectly on the outside. The seafood paired perfectly with a rich, creamy sauce that had a hint of dijon and cider. Perfectly paired with a light 2010 Beaujolais where most would try to match this course with a white wine. We loved the pairing. </span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXWIAYBJITpM8Z_crqK9JprEAR-h5hgF3FnvGHPVUPflnVKTYecSCePZDhooO_g5sg2WjFeApPuLQoVjt7n9I1UOvqmFSJkGPAyXEkg3Fy6hO_guPLg56rn7JzvyGpURl8aZODFwknOM/s1600/IMAG1707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXWIAYBJITpM8Z_crqK9JprEAR-h5hgF3FnvGHPVUPflnVKTYecSCePZDhooO_g5sg2WjFeApPuLQoVjt7n9I1UOvqmFSJkGPAyXEkg3Fy6hO_guPLg56rn7JzvyGpURl8aZODFwknOM/s200/IMAG1707.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The entree was tender braised pork shoulder served along side roasted root veggies (parsnips and carrots) in brown butter with Willowood Farms (Coupeville, WA)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> cabbage braised with cider, onions and <a href="http://tonnemaker.com/" target="_blank">Tonnemaker Farms</a> apples. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best server in the city, Shannon, was working that night and it was fun to see her. She's so attentive, knows the menu and wine list like the back of her hand and always has her hair tucked up in a super cool scarf wrap. She kept the 2009 Domaine Gauby Cotes de Roussillon Villages Les Calcinaires Rouge flowing. This wine is from a vineyard in France focused on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_wine">biodynamic</a> viticulture. The wine was well balanced with elegant fruit showing through. </span><br />
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Next we had a really bright celeriac salad with poached rabbit. The dressing was a walnut oil vinaigrette paired with a 2010 German Scheurebe Half Trocken.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMq1GUTgJUkAE_m8bcQ3_1r6uWv0CxZO_ud1GndX-NCm_AngzUMhJFbmDZwCybuV-yI8TA23KKp5MyUcIb97jrpFADsTfSL_95vXLiXuqzUwrqkdoorY1nWdSNIzjcPSoBzNWJuOgojcQ/s1600/IMAG1708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMq1GUTgJUkAE_m8bcQ3_1r6uWv0CxZO_ud1GndX-NCm_AngzUMhJFbmDZwCybuV-yI8TA23KKp5MyUcIb97jrpFADsTfSL_95vXLiXuqzUwrqkdoorY1nWdSNIzjcPSoBzNWJuOgojcQ/s200/IMAG1708.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Dessert was supposed to be poached pears with shortbread, but there was a bit of a mishap and the pears were overcooked. We appreciated Renee's honesty and that she didn't try to serve something that was not up to par. Instead, we ended the meal with shortbread cookies and Dinah's cheese from <a href="http://www.kurtwoodfarms.com/" target="_blank">Kurtwood Farms</a>, Vashon Island. It was a buttery creamy cheese with a similar style to Camembert. A very delightful meal from start to finish. We ended by getting a photo with Renee and our new friends we sat by that night, Claudette and Allen.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having fun shucking oysters</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1hkdLieHrG2ARSMoiAz8tc4O7ST8G0LT3y1eo9tGw2T9qC9TwH5M-YmjUhMDQCoRV7kkWjlOR00RLUWeeuKsqFNl2mkoaYOOYGlDqeLn6FxkEOgWfYez02pBpMOBsw0q7VxQfTuxzBM/s1600/IMAG1709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1hkdLieHrG2ARSMoiAz8tc4O7ST8G0LT3y1eo9tGw2T9qC9TwH5M-YmjUhMDQCoRV7kkWjlOR00RLUWeeuKsqFNl2mkoaYOOYGlDqeLn6FxkEOgWfYez02pBpMOBsw0q7VxQfTuxzBM/s320/IMAG1709.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ro, Renee, FloJo and our new friends Claudette and Allen</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEC31FdIFwntrzmq9HT2P8gYeHNGErN_dGBET2bcJJ_TdtKdjJ03Lw7o7MlFlSeR466ZcjAyEkYsT1c-UUCu7C5L9uvjLVsafYS4-gjdLIzefkldVQxOWPctvywrSJ9J7zxn345cLkuk/s1600/IMAG1775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEC31FdIFwntrzmq9HT2P8gYeHNGErN_dGBET2bcJJ_TdtKdjJ03Lw7o7MlFlSeR466ZcjAyEkYsT1c-UUCu7C5L9uvjLVsafYS4-gjdLIzefkldVQxOWPctvywrSJ9J7zxn345cLkuk/s320/IMAG1775.jpg" width="180" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJ34tqX14WXUUcfXTqWYPxdt1_9DHiNu6JUESWIMYBHWzCLOovytQaJzG4fxRE6AayKQAPPv8ktuKIj3ufGk-Yvoc311R9rlLAStaeOSlbXajkSOqKKX51j38utHyiYzhNbI0d2KReFs/s1600/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJ34tqX14WXUUcfXTqWYPxdt1_9DHiNu6JUESWIMYBHWzCLOovytQaJzG4fxRE6AayKQAPPv8ktuKIj3ufGk-Yvoc311R9rlLAStaeOSlbXajkSOqKKX51j38utHyiYzhNbI0d2KReFs/s1600/logo.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our next adventure took us to Fremont and Renee's newest restaurant the Whale Wins in converted warehouse space. The restaurant shares the space with another restaurant <a href="http://www.joulerestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Joule</a> (right across the hall, which recently relocated from Wallingford). The Whale centers around a huge wood-fired oven where most of the dishes emerge from. Like Boat Street, there are plenty of bottles of French wine on display and the cuisine is inspired by Renee's travel experience in Southern France and England. The space has very high ceilings and for a whimsical touch there are light fixtures above one of the dining spaces spelling "HELLO" in both directions. It was inspired by Renee's good friend who is an artist, Jeffry Mitchell, who's signature greeting is "hello, hello." We also saw little whales, whether framed or scupltered, scattered amongst the decor of the restaurant.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL65Q91e41bUWKEy4h4fS9DUnI46gC7wCnYklcTX1uEXEERPdKcK1YW-HSOepyTbMJ-fQJxFlv-MAKHuXCPZMpgc2nDPe31vzGFjPyrbP8GIcnLOUFpqfvfuR5cthPVwdvMRJAe2Jq3A/s320/IMAG1771.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why, HELLO there!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FXQlkXOkfwQFtks4d0f8Ty1jPLiLDHNKx8F1OBMM1Mom175dlygeV42m6wsnsCkZ9S0Cs-EccoNKol9y6F7QvEXGUc6I9cVJXNGCz3d8QyFSp4yrTbObdREmsDmurOYuh-tOv8JoBu8/s1600/IMAG1785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FXQlkXOkfwQFtks4d0f8Ty1jPLiLDHNKx8F1OBMM1Mom175dlygeV42m6wsnsCkZ9S0Cs-EccoNKol9y6F7QvEXGUc6I9cVJXNGCz3d8QyFSp4yrTbObdREmsDmurOYuh-tOv8JoBu8/s320/IMAG1785.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red shrimp roe</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BsgIAPmbbP39lnlzjShLsfVe9bbM2Yorz9xKXRztsaA1RXw8hhgO5DGrSRInlQaCRKhM0w-gv4bEa1ohoTU-gxYC_aY9RbRzw1qV277XxIsEGJkx3z3Ed5Y1zp759ptoxgu5jKQ8Hao/s1600/IMAG1776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BsgIAPmbbP39lnlzjShLsfVe9bbM2Yorz9xKXRztsaA1RXw8hhgO5DGrSRInlQaCRKhM0w-gv4bEa1ohoTU-gxYC_aY9RbRzw1qV277XxIsEGJkx3z3Ed5Y1zp759ptoxgu5jKQ8Hao/s200/IMAG1776.jpg" width="111" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJzRjC29BO7ecNpeKCzypy6ugU0b7wccEBt9BbAgqo56UWX6X8tSrEBR4JO1zcpaIY3-HyHqQ026ht-CF_uLKH1c-J3EZhO47auatZbHuWVajTxJ1d5RXo0lczKV8kZ6fmm2D5yUT9jk/s1600/IMAG1783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJzRjC29BO7ecNpeKCzypy6ugU0b7wccEBt9BbAgqo56UWX6X8tSrEBR4JO1zcpaIY3-HyHqQ026ht-CF_uLKH1c-J3EZhO47auatZbHuWVajTxJ1d5RXo0lczKV8kZ6fmm2D5yUT9jk/s320/IMAG1783.jpg" width="179" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The restaurant doesn't take reservations so get there early or expect to wait. We waited for about 20 minutes and were ready to eat as soon as we got seated at the bar. We started with a couple of glasses of champagne to celebrate the recent approval of marriage equality here in Washington. We chose Alaskan spot prawns as our appetizer as these are pretty rare to find on menus. These prawns came out of the oven covered in anchovy, garlic and butter. Our cute waiter had warned us that these would be messy because you had to take them out of their shells. What we weren't warned about was the bright red roe attached to the underbelly of the prawns. We asked our waiter about it and he explained that the roe appears only certain times of the year and can be purchased this way. He told us also that conversely rock prawns have blue roe, which was an interesting piece of trivia. It gave Ro chicken skin just by looking at it. Let's just say Ro was not enamored with this roe. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were trepidatious to put the roe in our mouths, but finally got the courage up, rationalizing that caviar can be a prized commodity. The texture was a bit off-putting as if you were eating tiny bubbles that shot salty-briny liquid into your mouth. The taste was not terrible, but we decided this was a little too much mother nature on a plate. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS80XPiW5pVTvwUHfS9y2OsYPrBmJsFHulCHY_i_e2Y3QdA41ZhOXwxRCpXkDx_z7v9mMZX3V1OnEcp_2QKe3v1pkNscujWqeIK-bQCZyvgEsiql6O5c-SFnpBEtq6LHid_tlPlXIri8/s1600/IMAG1790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS80XPiW5pVTvwUHfS9y2OsYPrBmJsFHulCHY_i_e2Y3QdA41ZhOXwxRCpXkDx_z7v9mMZX3V1OnEcp_2QKe3v1pkNscujWqeIK-bQCZyvgEsiql6O5c-SFnpBEtq6LHid_tlPlXIri8/s320/IMAG1790.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sitting at the bar we had a great view of a shelf filled with barware. We loved the eclectic barware as we'd been on the hunt for some antique champagne coupes. We were impressed to find out that this collection was all antiques that Renee sourced and bought. They have to all be hand-washed, which I'm sure doesn't make the staff too thrilled. Hopefully these don't get broken because they are stunning pieces and such an elegant touch.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8au-nQKxgKvzSZmPnYK2CSpmOF05bGNwMuu6d8LbJl5svJDE8d0zgEmpn2NF4uoG4-Yz2h2-OqTcaCL9hBm5y0wfilw4TVDV3zzNmCwwcMVESpBzZZOi9az76nw-RbT6ZTJ5y3PMGWMY/s1600/IMAG1787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8au-nQKxgKvzSZmPnYK2CSpmOF05bGNwMuu6d8LbJl5svJDE8d0zgEmpn2NF4uoG4-Yz2h2-OqTcaCL9hBm5y0wfilw4TVDV3zzNmCwwcMVESpBzZZOi9az76nw-RbT6ZTJ5y3PMGWMY/s320/IMAG1787.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We moved on to another fun to eat dish, marrow bones with a pickled chanterelle salad and toasts. The serving knife to get the marrow out was pretty unique, like a long metal stick. The marrow took a bit of work to get out. We found that it didn't have much of a taste though for all that work. We were definitely working for our supper this night. When we finally did get a piece of the marrow, it was greasy and fatty, which is probably how it's supposed to taste, but not our favorite. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To pair with the rest of our meal we picked about the only non-French wine on the menu, a 2009 Corte alla Flora from Montepulciano (one of our favorite wine regions in Italy). We had just visited Umbria, but missed going to Montepulciano, but have enjoyed trying different bottles from this wine region when we see them on a menu.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi-hi2Qp9O9HxPt1NHVnvaKLHYxZOVOPOnEu0wFdUJPcZpI4n4rMWxzOwbziGhjLfiGtPwSmAQguFyGVyAYssmc37xM_gi1ykz0LtQ0Q5yqWKgOSScQhVaTZq3TQW1xIX3dCHw5SS5ss/s1600/IMAG1792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi-hi2Qp9O9HxPt1NHVnvaKLHYxZOVOPOnEu0wFdUJPcZpI4n4rMWxzOwbziGhjLfiGtPwSmAQguFyGVyAYssmc37xM_gi1ykz0LtQ0Q5yqWKgOSScQhVaTZq3TQW1xIX3dCHw5SS5ss/s320/IMAG1792.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMckvnUcI5R-aS1iu4B8tWyfwJIwNJEZ7OXygxmij3Ippu_5wNOBC-fgNl_9AuOTDDmaS_QG7oQI_PmVvMi2bcVIER8C-QZ_hgEIL3sFKbmfUkoxv8qBrAtdUUo5NJphn-YS3nfAKuoSs/s1600/IMAG1791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMckvnUcI5R-aS1iu4B8tWyfwJIwNJEZ7OXygxmij3Ippu_5wNOBC-fgNl_9AuOTDDmaS_QG7oQI_PmVvMi2bcVIER8C-QZ_hgEIL3sFKbmfUkoxv8qBrAtdUUo5NJphn-YS3nfAKuoSs/s320/IMAG1791.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We moved ahead to a whole braised Yakima river trout roasted with lemons and walnut sauce. We both think it's probably the best trout we've ever had. It was perfectly moist and flavorful, which we are guessing came from some type of brining. Ro ate the skin, which was crispy, but just a little too salty (possibly from the brine). The walnut sauce was tasty and had a texture that reminded us of hummus. We think it had garlic, lemon and olive oil in addition to the pureed walnuts. <span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFtEi97D180szEkciiOQp_fcEc0qnDcWe5IG9qgiF5RnkrDL2MGlqOAgNqXV9ATN3it6JtVreZyTZfHhO31GYrkJAeBDdN50ozFZv65udIJ9m50ToU658eZC_lgn9_S4n1uSKVF6k17o/s1600/IMAG1789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFtEi97D180szEkciiOQp_fcEc0qnDcWe5IG9qgiF5RnkrDL2MGlqOAgNqXV9ATN3it6JtVreZyTZfHhO31GYrkJAeBDdN50ozFZv65udIJ9m50ToU658eZC_lgn9_S4n1uSKVF6k17o/s320/IMAG1789.jpg" width="180" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2Wrc5O2zWcOv_A5644im9TktA_FSqZtkYTmTBafvovyjZQwcO7ORQ3NuledseBibVw0GwYIgeBTmQj6HUiahDcanlfljS2QLUCRFzMaMl-csYzwE7j_-prMtcRr8tqxFwft1se1_BTo/s1600/IMAG1788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up, we finished the meal on a high note. Ro's favorite dish of the evening was the Carlton Farms pork shoulder with </span><a href="http://www.orangepippin.com/apples/winesap" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Winesap</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> apples, onions and mustard. The mustard was a predominant flavor in the dish, but married nicely with the pork and apples. The meat was perfectly cooked and complimented by the wonderful sauce. A perfect winter dish to warm the soul.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1qq5ROFmbw3mWNIhuHWvze2rgoE4F5PJZpd4wRigD3L4TmqIItBw4CoX8BK5Bcfjszgvtic4QMgGNpm_0RlHQYtNhhqorjwJqGlB3RpzSw5_b0j6UnjPNShF13zDFw4YwCwMKew5_HY/s1600/IMAG1784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1qq5ROFmbw3mWNIhuHWvze2rgoE4F5PJZpd4wRigD3L4TmqIItBw4CoX8BK5Bcfjszgvtic4QMgGNpm_0RlHQYtNhhqorjwJqGlB3RpzSw5_b0j6UnjPNShF13zDFw4YwCwMKew5_HY/s320/IMAG1784.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot the whale?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of warming the soul, newly launched is the Whale Call Happy Hour. Whale Call begins at 3 PM (calling all you early to leave worker bees) and goes until 5 PM Wednesday through Sunday. It features $5 and $6 pours of Cotes de Gascogne and Rioja wines respectively. Also, $1 off appetizer snacks such as cheese, house-made pickles, charcuterie, tartines and draft beers. That sounds like everyone wins, not just the whale.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2V7vHrWNhTKHm_B64cfi_s7Nertme4_PKDMYSiwnIRgSnN_3Itz2wSF5S5fmjHITgKmoYuYACQzDnv4zoqcLq9OprO1y5388NgZJ33Y3d852WjLwAeQZr66fQq0nhOMOHM3cAPBbzAKM/s320/IMAG1772.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="180" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pickled goods for sale in front of salad prep counter with oven on the left</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LfnmDFupCYzbIZ6KLXw11uhHxX8YVClGYk1rA4ghels2y32P1_HamPiepfjU_xrn0TcdSJJvvqlPzRnRvMJcj9wRy_YMEihCew2kS7Xk1RSM9ZtZRINx1OCAvtmR5_mg5KVs7S6v2oc/s1600/IMAG2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LfnmDFupCYzbIZ6KLXw11uhHxX8YVClGYk1rA4ghels2y32P1_HamPiepfjU_xrn0TcdSJJvvqlPzRnRvMJcj9wRy_YMEihCew2kS7Xk1RSM9ZtZRINx1OCAvtmR5_mg5KVs7S6v2oc/s320/IMAG2014.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Host Joe and his famous <a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/travel/eating-in-and-around-seattle.html?_r=0" target="_blank">mustache</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWDfPXBbTGD5JnXFFBMUpiraAx0mQ272o1EfB1w-cAAwaULsCdZGzfRVgwfuF6I-hg8VCgyBLUSrvG_al07SFCCkMl9y6z8x1vq7hItiigIghYBEHRfZG2l63SAGOp7L0jXFRPa-YS8A/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWDfPXBbTGD5JnXFFBMUpiraAx0mQ272o1EfB1w-cAAwaULsCdZGzfRVgwfuF6I-hg8VCgyBLUSrvG_al07SFCCkMl9y6z8x1vq7hItiigIghYBEHRfZG2l63SAGOp7L0jXFRPa-YS8A/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8W1v7NMXt3-opEXavtUXrtoDMWS6Y2pCUoe2FqgJkfdfZoJR0xv93cR04wh5Wr6pG_J1kdCMRXTzGdmFzGnHyy4lllqUY0g5sPgKCcwCeye4cckUILcJ1hpEp42yN2xauMBD5ei2VIQM/s1600/IMAG2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8W1v7NMXt3-opEXavtUXrtoDMWS6Y2pCUoe2FqgJkfdfZoJR0xv93cR04wh5Wr6pG_J1kdCMRXTzGdmFzGnHyy4lllqUY0g5sPgKCcwCeye4cckUILcJ1hpEp42yN2xauMBD5ei2VIQM/s200/IMAG2002.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFC6wP7pcBZF3dE9sRB-RJ8_GBXwJS7kWcOCyl6rFjfmXcYXsygyut3_GqlFQ79nwnBcQ0Dic3Lr6DAsm3L18AvjTUiqRW4gLTGMUGq0IRDlXt7VQF9-CXgbgnciFnC5SiaYSSq6UW5qc/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFC6wP7pcBZF3dE9sRB-RJ8_GBXwJS7kWcOCyl6rFjfmXcYXsygyut3_GqlFQ79nwnBcQ0Dic3Lr6DAsm3L18AvjTUiqRW4gLTGMUGq0IRDlXt7VQF9-CXgbgnciFnC5SiaYSSq6UW5qc/s200/IMG_0006.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_1FbQGXRDFfsqcNimXpUAAGqLpMVFhCr_MxY4vtQ9gGYofXOjl9KfqINnd338QSISZsTtUwrm1wy6jmMiA5wTB5gEngKc4wcMPS0Tbu-FRO6bBnRKOZlPk8torXuSOlJY0yVRGJmZwI/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_1FbQGXRDFfsqcNimXpUAAGqLpMVFhCr_MxY4vtQ9gGYofXOjl9KfqINnd338QSISZsTtUwrm1wy6jmMiA5wTB5gEngKc4wcMPS0Tbu-FRO6bBnRKOZlPk8torXuSOlJY0yVRGJmZwI/s200/IMG_0005.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our last stop on this trilogy tour took us to the restored Kolstrand building in Ballard to check out the Walrus and the Carpenter. This is an oyster bar with the quirky feel of being a Ballard pub. Renee lives in Ballard so this restaurant is right in her own backyard. The French plot and touches are woven into this restaurant as well, along with the commitment to use the best locally sourced products. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has pub like tables along </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one wall with the other seating at the oyster bar itself. There are illustrations hanging around the restaurant by aforementioned, Jeffry Mitchell. In true Renee fashion, she honors relationships in her life by giving them opportunities and parts in her restaurants. Jeffry is a gifted artist, but is also a server at Boat Street Café. Jeffry has recently had his art at the Henry Art Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, Philadelphia Art Museum, Portland Art Museum and Fogg Art Museum (Harvard University). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only is Walrus decorated with cool art, it's often visited by foodie VIPs. Andrew Knowlton of Bon Appétite magazine honored the Walrus with his #3 spot of Best New Restaurants in America for 2011. Upon his visit to the Walrus and the Carpenter, Andrew focused his eating around the oysters and we adopted the same strategy starting with the showcased ingredient, it is an oyster bar by the way. We very easily could have filled up just on these beauties. However, we did want to taste some of the small plates on the menu as well. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAPyu76fadHqCq5SD8281Dt-Tq0_uFhrzwg7W3oPyg7yUcB29QPKkb1ggKye-c2xBqc0Et6ZAhrtmFm0MQ6251qV0t7A0GXjfXFJtlgtFrcJxmResj48E0MHg-t36oThKkzlEFV1Mr5k/s1600/IMG_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAPyu76fadHqCq5SD8281Dt-Tq0_uFhrzwg7W3oPyg7yUcB29QPKkb1ggKye-c2xBqc0Et6ZAhrtmFm0MQ6251qV0t7A0GXjfXFJtlgtFrcJxmResj48E0MHg-t36oThKkzlEFV1Mr5k/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wL_WIC9uAblytwg6ZyyrRE8EwT3yGpMqQ1Gyti54-B3yyt5HCVJo0F4qv9RbZUHd2nXZL_28wZY1XbcANOcyTKgTnJSgZQjeCvZJnWO_ww8EsHkW-aivZSEqDMVeSfhFfiFlXuSS2T4/s1600/IMAG2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wL_WIC9uAblytwg6ZyyrRE8EwT3yGpMqQ1Gyti54-B3yyt5HCVJo0F4qv9RbZUHd2nXZL_28wZY1XbcANOcyTKgTnJSgZQjeCvZJnWO_ww8EsHkW-aivZSEqDMVeSfhFfiFlXuSS2T4/s320/IMAG2008.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTV3b0Mz-vCM2BW6Xa7M4a9qdIU1apwP0UbaQ_Zv2pgvJ-UehaeWLsiLIjBDW19LpJ8JPMvDS2OFUF6W76k32i418spY82_JRBC43NfIItOxUwr4j4RLeDLzFiseONr6Rb8oF5m9kl0pk/s1600/IMAG2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTV3b0Mz-vCM2BW6Xa7M4a9qdIU1apwP0UbaQ_Zv2pgvJ-UehaeWLsiLIjBDW19LpJ8JPMvDS2OFUF6W76k32i418spY82_JRBC43NfIItOxUwr4j4RLeDLzFiseONr6Rb8oF5m9kl0pk/s200/IMAG2012.jpg" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We began the adventure with a tasting plate of each of the nine oysters on the menu. We began to taste from the least briny to the most (placed clock-wise that way on the platter). We decided to do a 1-5 scoring scale so that by the end of trying all nine we knew our favorites. The only issue with our system was the first one we tried, the Olympia from Hammersly Inlet, WA was amazing. We couldn't give it 5 to start because that would leave us no wiggle room if by chance the following oysters were even better. But, it got a strong 4. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our waitress Sarah let us </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">know later that those oysters despite being small pack a punch of flavor. She said a lot of guests are disappointed with the under appreciated Olympias because they are smaller in size. But that size takes five years of growth compared to the other oysters that reach their maturity in only about a year. We made it through the first round and decided to re-taste the top four so we could rank them accurately. Here are our winners:</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOqdiXoBtNEYxwddpgnrifymBsUcL09GojL0UYdGO5mLJpkFIQH_ryPIu-lm1uI2J8WYw3Pzt8SUJNCc1vsMCqK8bzJW2UroPFc81NZFaAK2mv5QnBky7Y0v-ngsr43ldGyyzyDDEMZ8/s1600/IMAG2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOqdiXoBtNEYxwddpgnrifymBsUcL09GojL0UYdGO5mLJpkFIQH_ryPIu-lm1uI2J8WYw3Pzt8SUJNCc1vsMCqK8bzJW2UroPFc81NZFaAK2mv5QnBky7Y0v-ngsr43ldGyyzyDDEMZ8/s320/IMAG2009.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#1 The first one we tried the Olympia remained our favorite</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#2 Snow Creek from Discovery Bay, WA</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#3 (tie) Totten Virginica from Totten Inlet, WA</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#3 (tie) Treasure Cove from Case inlet, WA (same ones we had at Normady Night at Boat Street Café)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In regards to the wine pairing for the evening, we were about to go with a sure bet Sancerre. However, Sarah recommended a lovely Loire Valley white that paired very well with the shellfish. It was Francois- Chidaine, Montlouis Sur Loire, Les Choisilles, 2009 France. She said everything this wine maker produces is amazing. The vines are grown bio-dynamically on the southern side of the Loire Valley, The wine was sweeter than we expected with a very nice floral nose and smooth finish. It did accent the oysters perfectly.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Cn2ZtOzxOXHv9vpHG5pY3XvmQzzrQjFQ47iSDFz-UoGMxckHUqLqZHRMQgUNnQqlkdylcm3brI4W9bksrFBl7a1Smq68w65KG07N5xDKJZtjtrj7lM3mmWnxYepdIdmv3dP3ajoRR7I/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Cn2ZtOzxOXHv9vpHG5pY3XvmQzzrQjFQ47iSDFz-UoGMxckHUqLqZHRMQgUNnQqlkdylcm3brI4W9bksrFBl7a1Smq68w65KG07N5xDKJZtjtrj7lM3mmWnxYepdIdmv3dP3ajoRR7I/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steak tartare, fresh oysters and fried oysters</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOGSSyvKc6AYmWCia9qcBMdWyNyZNfpJTFN1yIAMC63zodPXvNBjpVYORHhRwp166Uy_KyPVV8t-kAKOhRmQKSYbWAVxwxcLCiUkfmQ96ZP5DyOAyZkoQPERE5LxptlJm8BUFczedR58/s1600/IMAG2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOGSSyvKc6AYmWCia9qcBMdWyNyZNfpJTFN1yIAMC63zodPXvNBjpVYORHhRwp166Uy_KyPVV8t-kAKOhRmQKSYbWAVxwxcLCiUkfmQ96ZP5DyOAyZkoQPERE5LxptlJm8BUFczedR58/s200/IMAG2013.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our small plates, we had a hard time deciding. The people sitting next to us had the fried brussel sprouts which smelled amazing. We decided to try the fried oysters with cilantro aioli to stick with the oyster theme. Our guts told us this seemed so wrong as the raw versions were so spectacular. We ended up liking the batter the oysters were fried in, but definitely preferred our oysters raw. Next we got bold and took on the steak tartare with a whole raw egg yolk on top. It's kind of a mind over mouth feat to look at what appears to be a pile of raw hamburger and put that in your mouth. But, we broke the egg, stirred up the meat and put some on the rye toast and took a brave bite. The meat was so tender and fresh and was delicious. If you are an adventurous eater this is a fun dish to try.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjam2lxGf93v-ItJaZxPuM2mYdZqTWvIQoJbr9yuixrMCpS_PGpnSAqOBY3GTT1WMu3ySuAvu7ca5jvJMiSFEwvE3cqoBP5kOAiei43x7guXtTJbeUcYOcugq0H0baeKcXIuFgKRkdXE_g/s1600/IMAG2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjam2lxGf93v-ItJaZxPuM2mYdZqTWvIQoJbr9yuixrMCpS_PGpnSAqOBY3GTT1WMu3ySuAvu7ca5jvJMiSFEwvE3cqoBP5kOAiei43x7guXtTJbeUcYOcugq0H0baeKcXIuFgKRkdXE_g/s200/IMAG2016.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Ro!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowHklZjJtL1gqKDlO2W-HUnCbDu9yEh7zhe0awqvZhVGw9Q7tk8Eamqz1IxCrfYpSarUjhI154iG_WLjVLHXxssOMTy72sZw_UoF7WdjWQRd3R91nNR4cqXoxqo-rkbu-tt7kjT_ILAw/s1600/IMAG2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowHklZjJtL1gqKDlO2W-HUnCbDu9yEh7zhe0awqvZhVGw9Q7tk8Eamqz1IxCrfYpSarUjhI154iG_WLjVLHXxssOMTy72sZw_UoF7WdjWQRd3R91nNR4cqXoxqo-rkbu-tt7kjT_ILAw/s200/IMAG2017.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday oyster shell</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were too full for dessert, but Ro got a birthday 'oyster' with a candle in it (we celebrated her birthday at the Walrus and the Carpenter). We had an amazing time here and enjoyed all the food we tried. Our only complaint is they don't take reservations. We were told the wait would be an hour and a half and ended up waiting for over an hour to get a seat. We can only imagine how hard it is to get in during the busy tourist season. Go early and during the off-season is our best advice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To recap we loved each of the different </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Renee Erickson </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">offerings. Our favorite is the original, Boat Street Café, as is often the case with movie trilogies (it's hard to beat the first).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJ0EepUK-BcKDJpRLsdC6xpD6jQLsUdbbh5fHHQXX4aiqFvbB3vaKSfsTHh6UdtiO1KGCDJ_pPUdl2HGMXPu-ptP4nN4Hza9hRY8wzvlsYL7HdxpJxVL_7GDOqleds02SVZta0bRqR0c/s1600/The_Narwahl_Seattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJ0EepUK-BcKDJpRLsdC6xpD6jQLsUdbbh5fHHQXX4aiqFvbB3vaKSfsTHh6UdtiO1KGCDJ_pPUdl2HGMXPu-ptP4nN4Hza9hRY8wzvlsYL7HdxpJxVL_7GDOqleds02SVZta0bRqR0c/s1600/The_Narwahl_Seattle.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of Eater Seattle</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Renee is not one to stop there. What's next for this budding restauranteur? <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/empire-builders-2012" target="_blank">Food and Wine</a> reports she's going to join the food truck revolution. Coming soon to a Seattle neighborhood near you Narwhal. The concept is a 1960s milk truck that will be featuring oysters, oyster po'boys and fish salads. Perhaps, the first of a new breed of restaurants and the beginning of another trilogy. Whatever this inspired chef and skilled business woman decides to do, we are fans and will most definitely be eating there!</span><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/1/4053/restaurant/Queen-Anne/Boat-Street-Cafe-Seattle"><img alt="Boat Street Cafe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/4053/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/1/1526048/restaurant/Ballard/The-Walrus-and-the-Carpenter-Seattle"><img alt="The Walrus and the Carpenter on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1526048/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/1/1696037/restaurant/Wallingford/The-Whale-Wins-Seattle"><img alt="The Whale Wins on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1696037/minilogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 15px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.boatstreetcafe.com/" target="_blank">Boat Street Café</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3131 Western Ave.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seattle, WA </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">98121</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">206-632-4602</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thewhalewins.com/index.html" target="_blank">The Whale Wins</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 13px;"><span style="color: #2b4656; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=3506+stone+way+n+seattle+wa&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x549015018fe518bf:0x10f8a6b5679106d0,3506+Stone+Way+N,+Seattle,+WA+98103&gl=us&ei=JKt1UK6bF4nVigK6yYDIAw&ved=0CCIQ8gEwAA" style="color: #2b4656; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_new">3506 Stone Way N </a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 13px;"><span style="color: #2b4656; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=3506+stone+way+n+seattle+wa&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x549015018fe518bf:0x10f8a6b5679106d0,3506+Stone+Way+N,+Seattle,+WA+98103&gl=us&ei=JKt1UK6bF4nVigK6yYDIAw&ved=0CCIQ8gEwAA" style="color: #2b4656; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_new">Seattle, WA 98103</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 13px;"><span id="bizPhone" itemprop="telephone" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px;">(206) 632-9425</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 13px;"><a href="mailto:info@thewhalewins.com" style="color: #2b4656; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">info<span style="margin: 0px;">@</span>thewhalewins.com</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; line-height: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://thewalrusbar.com/" target="_blank">The Walrus and the Carpenter</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">4743 Ballard Avenue NW<br />206-395-9227</span></div>
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-22082487857154157402013-01-08T19:51:00.000-08:002013-09-25T08:46:15.415-07:00A Very Fine Fiddle Indeed<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYrsJkk7S0_NY1B8KzEv4vXqBD_ik778f2ie0W8kNDwqmTmtTpOt-pyd29CHvYpHDh4Dqc903JQG3jLTm1wpP8YNaC5HQpc8EKlqNW59hbhMTgrt5mwk3EBqyx48JPEJ40tZ_M7iyP4s/s1600/IMAG2029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYrsJkk7S0_NY1B8KzEv4vXqBD_ik778f2ie0W8kNDwqmTmtTpOt-pyd29CHvYpHDh4Dqc903JQG3jLTm1wpP8YNaC5HQpc8EKlqNW59hbhMTgrt5mwk3EBqyx48JPEJ40tZ_M7iyP4s/s200/IMAG2029.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYatrkNo37GNITT3t4XETn-ccp_sNQUz86xj8-I6T9yiuGz8S-ukQxJRfE1AB4-KlmpUyUlCXcwwikuVVjGlPNFCr65UX5XZtBVv0q7GQ0JzXRvhtXLiAQHHGxUHOVfrCYtK4t89gSl8k/s1600/IMAG2031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYatrkNo37GNITT3t4XETn-ccp_sNQUz86xj8-I6T9yiuGz8S-ukQxJRfE1AB4-KlmpUyUlCXcwwikuVVjGlPNFCr65UX5XZtBVv0q7GQ0JzXRvhtXLiAQHHGxUHOVfrCYtK4t89gSl8k/s320/IMAG2031.jpg" width="180" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are always on the look-out for an awesome weekend brunch spot. This weekend we think we may have found our new favorite. Fiddlehead Fine Foods & Café is about as unpretentious as they come in a non-descript building. It may not be well known or easy to find, but the best thing about this place is everything you order off the short menu is A-MAZING!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went there for brunch to celebrate Ro's birthday hoping it would be good, but not having any expectations. We got there right at 9 a.m. when it opened and highly recommend this strategy as the small café fills up very quickly. We were the first in line and although the menu is pretty short, we had a hard time deciding what to order because everything sounded so good. Ro went with the banana pancakes (they lived up to the Jack Johnson song and more)! FloJo being a huge biscuits and gravy fan ordered Fiddlehead's version anxious to see how they tasted and hoping this was a good choice. What we would later realize, is that everything is a good choice, you really can't go wrong with anything on this menu.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vDeuqEN-CFFt_lVFb1h-CYPNB_sj7bTh4ku0lCISNWGhLxwWCfyhzG1tMuHe8oAn2xHyOfsAZ4o7y1DF66w4rbFHmqlUSKlkQDhcesUXcLMhL4_KptzzBFkj_e6owfgwwRnurP6CXs4/s1600/IMAG2030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vDeuqEN-CFFt_lVFb1h-CYPNB_sj7bTh4ku0lCISNWGhLxwWCfyhzG1tMuHe8oAn2xHyOfsAZ4o7y1DF66w4rbFHmqlUSKlkQDhcesUXcLMhL4_KptzzBFkj_e6owfgwwRnurP6CXs4/s200/IMAG2030.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkLsjRCUpJUPOni5XOv2OyVEBZcnGBX_kRMC8jAv-Pzvta9gZtnhHn4uuiOVYJnj7Ui_vMWAppf6mMU_Nb3XUjyISUbSrxEziJk6CGuMyMhyPfRzOi73rSC_ghwxwIMwAMSYlnPSlxpQ/s1600/IMAG2027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkLsjRCUpJUPOni5XOv2OyVEBZcnGBX_kRMC8jAv-Pzvta9gZtnhHn4uuiOVYJnj7Ui_vMWAppf6mMU_Nb3XUjyISUbSrxEziJk6CGuMyMhyPfRzOi73rSC_ghwxwIMwAMSYlnPSlxpQ/s200/IMAG2027.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fiddlehead has an expresso machine and makes their own <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chai" target="_blank">chai</a>. FloJo went for a chai latte and Ro had a vanilla latte. Both again, were excellent! The café also makes its own granola, which we plan to try on our next visit.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aRtciCSKaF-sposKrDu9oWTJrWS6c1C0m4a19Ih6FMNrGARdZuBFCWjphX2Y4l-xhSkt7za9u1XSSHPLMPXX43CvNFBX3o-PAz35gAB78PuLaLx3em9xv7uccjKuZgZ01kICwFRhYcc/s1600/IMAG2028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aRtciCSKaF-sposKrDu9oWTJrWS6c1C0m4a19Ih6FMNrGARdZuBFCWjphX2Y4l-xhSkt7za9u1XSSHPLMPXX43CvNFBX3o-PAz35gAB78PuLaLx3em9xv7uccjKuZgZ01kICwFRhYcc/s200/IMAG2028.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjcqzZ3qva_dUiSz5EJY9G7gQWBm2Duas6YeyiAR_K_VRPr9Xl2S7gQhWxApQiKAmPEtkOsL7lEL90aeL2uUcdsFDYjscL4W0iMx-iYSPe77t9VRdjgIj99VfGp5AMLFWk3Ql8PZHFlI/s1600/IMAG2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjcqzZ3qva_dUiSz5EJY9G7gQWBm2Duas6YeyiAR_K_VRPr9Xl2S7gQhWxApQiKAmPEtkOsL7lEL90aeL2uUcdsFDYjscL4W0iMx-iYSPe77t9VRdjgIj99VfGp5AMLFWk3Ql8PZHFlI/s200/IMAG2022.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The decor is really simple, but fun. Colored stools at the bar in the front where you order. Most of the furniture seems to be reclaimed. For example the table we sat at was an old window or door frame with cool vintage metal chairs. Water and utensils were put on a counter for guests to self-serve. We loved the simple, clean feel of this place. Easy going yet everything was brightly colored, clean and the quality of the food was superb.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The banana pancakes were light, fluffy and topped with mango, strawberries, macadamia nuts and what tasted like a mango syrup. The candied bacon on the side is salty and an excellent counter-balance to the sweet. A better pancake you'd be hard pressed to find.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FloJo having tasted many a biscuit and gravy in her brunch lifetime has not tasted one like this. It shot to the very top of her list almost immediately. The biscuits were huge and fluffy (ended up taking half of it home). The gravy had big chunks of sausage that stood out in the smooth, silky sauce. We've never seen green included (spinach) nor tomatoes in this dish before, but liked the healthy touch in a famously not so healthy breakfast dish.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Avj6zundqgV0rjFA3Fc3UYDlf6e4bZh59av4qWVYy5WJFaTK-Y5MLOKBaju8dl6XrwOBk3jLi9g73VwJtQ9oQhre4JT9VqxjYSbC2PzymDiAlOuTJVK1v5UDL0m4ajMOzq_IoeTpQjs/s1600/IMAG2026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Avj6zundqgV0rjFA3Fc3UYDlf6e4bZh59av4qWVYy5WJFaTK-Y5MLOKBaju8dl6XrwOBk3jLi9g73VwJtQ9oQhre4JT9VqxjYSbC2PzymDiAlOuTJVK1v5UDL0m4ajMOzq_IoeTpQjs/s320/IMAG2026.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although the menu is trim, there are still several other dishes for us to check out including the salmon potato cakes, BLT biscuit, cheesy grits and the pork hash. Here it's not about quantity, but quality. Besides brunch, they also serve a weekday lunch if you happen to be in the West Seattle Alaska Junction area. They have a bakery case filled with sweets and goodies baked in house as well.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tT9rMUgBh_eFuH_hlfJ3BcR436UEgkxBM465duaiYfSysGLWiAkPAnYRdKtGaycguVjFXWIv2vPD4p596cMxmbkaD2A5vSKB7LcrSHr_yZwHz57Hf3pP3s_oCvA9IDSeaMgSx9fTjnc/s1600/IMAG2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tT9rMUgBh_eFuH_hlfJ3BcR436UEgkxBM465duaiYfSysGLWiAkPAnYRdKtGaycguVjFXWIv2vPD4p596cMxmbkaD2A5vSKB7LcrSHr_yZwHz57Hf3pP3s_oCvA9IDSeaMgSx9fTjnc/s320/IMAG2024.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live Life with Flavor and Fun!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><u>Fiddlehead Fine Foods & Café</u></b><br />4310 SW Oregon St<br />(between S 44th Ave & S California Ave) <br />West Seattle, WA 98116<br />(206) 708-7891<br />Hours: Tue-Sun 9 am-2:30 pm</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Price Range: $$ ($10-$20/pp)</span><br />
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-13938862121707407182012-12-27T15:20:00.002-08:002013-01-09T16:16:46.055-08:00Authentic Italian Cooking: Manga, Manga!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovPbrG5Jkw1cWkfjPjMFRTv8BSk4JwPmst0JaOSOhouHXll5TJwWpESYaYlnPFT9PBkHLke0oNAX1Qo3q6J6RoyEvJohLVb_jhRhm9yqBfKNY43A2p38M2MzD6eQ3GMpW_t-BJ4lN6jU/s1600/P1070316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovPbrG5Jkw1cWkfjPjMFRTv8BSk4JwPmst0JaOSOhouHXll5TJwWpESYaYlnPFT9PBkHLke0oNAX1Qo3q6J6RoyEvJohLVb_jhRhm9yqBfKNY43A2p38M2MzD6eQ3GMpW_t-BJ4lN6jU/s200/P1070316.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We happened to be in Umbria during harvest season. Le Velette Wine Estate was our home for a week and happened to be in full swing harvest mode. We witnessed winery employees bringing in the grapes from the fields and starting the wine making process. It was pretty cool staying on the grounds of the estate while all this activity was happening. We could literally walk into our backyard and taste the grapes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The grounds of the estate were stunning and we had views from the main reception house out across the valley and of the town of Orvieto set atop the hill. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGLfoxUIn6bnM7PgmbyUzqQiX3LEXLsvKPQ7SekZx-ltUZ78aUE2EG3s6YVXJ9kgH4BByZxn5kB9QKWhZKKEjXrfFF-ikWQEyMwVAWVot77kehR78rQPAnh6_OYPRp2up6SSKVj8cw7E/s1600/P1070134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGLfoxUIn6bnM7PgmbyUzqQiX3LEXLsvKPQ7SekZx-ltUZ78aUE2EG3s6YVXJ9kgH4BByZxn5kB9QKWhZKKEjXrfFF-ikWQEyMwVAWVot77kehR78rQPAnh6_OYPRp2up6SSKVj8cw7E/s200/P1070134.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsvip_n7PxhAaIXQhSEe3Zgu3JDnrJxNaRPZZA4b9263vrYG81dOSpkECK0hcuQqdgm4Gi-_ON2KzGSKEiQEb5ogwh8JrVyoT5Ir7Ef_ixKcHqOIllCMHBHv5aXsxj7M7APTf523cbEk/s1600/P1070360_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsvip_n7PxhAaIXQhSEe3Zgu3JDnrJxNaRPZZA4b9263vrYG81dOSpkECK0hcuQqdgm4Gi-_ON2KzGSKEiQEb5ogwh8JrVyoT5Ir7Ef_ixKcHqOIllCMHBHv5aXsxj7M7APTf523cbEk/s200/P1070360_2.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZ5aIv02rlPm6AutojTUhe-Gij3Njp1PCiJgZb7yUYpN3i8wVJCFgSmtiHhAJE0iuxgA6e4DyGQx7NsxZ2cQ-EoGkqp24JTnyk3Ik1lz6Ge65jYhiSN6edjiC5SAxdeyeofFRQwXs_Qs/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZ5aIv02rlPm6AutojTUhe-Gij3Njp1PCiJgZb7yUYpN3i8wVJCFgSmtiHhAJE0iuxgA6e4DyGQx7NsxZ2cQ-EoGkqp24JTnyk3Ik1lz6Ge65jYhiSN6edjiC5SAxdeyeofFRQwXs_Qs/s200/IMG_1042.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzHUAEietrVvZ5w5y_kPmO0leH0SiIJQxJtUBlswL4CQzA8j7Z5Eo2oBLUiBFBCGo_L7aQZ9nAXUchFXeJM0RLv1AqIhYEnKVQi6A9d92KIQQpXdtQqo1JC33pKGgS2A-7-wbWGX0OIY/s1600/P1070365_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzHUAEietrVvZ5w5y_kPmO0leH0SiIJQxJtUBlswL4CQzA8j7Z5Eo2oBLUiBFBCGo_L7aQZ9nAXUchFXeJM0RLv1AqIhYEnKVQi6A9d92KIQQpXdtQqo1JC33pKGgS2A-7-wbWGX0OIY/s320/P1070365_2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxOjR5RSkJf0M4SAsMzkQFPW-EsG2gb9Vo63fTDnzulkkmhvyeM_4xvLyTHo0S9OjDoKqhRx7V1_aG9EnE8B8T-CATnFJ7qT5p9z1_529V3Vc0_NX1rZRkwDuKWzGU-eeSph1srApJbw/s1600/IMG_1145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj197KOe5_omzzKdOaPErrBeWGLQUvdjTbUwFrhAVsgAnVXOLg9Xqxb8G8DR4e3YiEj9IpuroGGGw6TYrN_pS3TzgSSylC236ML8iyT42uwQOMQp5xmrQRpOi3b9xpkTPRhBjjnzIkedNA/s1600/da.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj197KOe5_omzzKdOaPErrBeWGLQUvdjTbUwFrhAVsgAnVXOLg9Xqxb8G8DR4e3YiEj9IpuroGGGw6TYrN_pS3TzgSSylC236ML8iyT42uwQOMQp5xmrQRpOi3b9xpkTPRhBjjnzIkedNA/s200/da.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FloJo immediately fell in love with the winery dog who didn't really seem to have an assigned duty other than to entertain the winery guests. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNS6Sp_zgDPt4DJLzz4eyfblDabvbKtC94s6Udj2kdJdxxPVu4PlrTdvkjRH5kR64X6GBuNwjA8hgnqdVdk1_iyHSdKx7EyPido84zukGCibvkO30e-Bof6GbsQJgFSj-PkfPF-UwVjAM/s1600/P1070679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNS6Sp_zgDPt4DJLzz4eyfblDabvbKtC94s6Udj2kdJdxxPVu4PlrTdvkjRH5kR64X6GBuNwjA8hgnqdVdk1_iyHSdKx7EyPido84zukGCibvkO30e-Bof6GbsQJgFSj-PkfPF-UwVjAM/s320/P1070679.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was so loveable and had a bunch of puppy energy. FloJo was plotting how to get him home to America, however he was bigger than the suitcase. He was a miniature version of the Shaggy D.A. Maybe it was a lawyer, similar to Wilby Daniels, who had the same curse of turning into an English sheepdog. Perhaps trading in his law career for the grand life living his days on the Le Velette estate. We certainly had that same thought.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What was grand for us, and definitely one of the highlights of our stay in Umbria was having our very own Italian nonna (grandmother) cook us a few homemade authentic Italian meals. Meals does her an injustice please insert feasts in the previous sentence. Nonna and her daughter Elenora came into our villa for a couple of nights, completely taking over the kitchen and magically concocting in just a few small hours literally enough food for a small Italian army. Nora (the daughter) was our main way of communicating with this mother and daughter cooking team. Nora actually speaks five languages (French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and of course Italian). Her mother definitely spoke Italian and really good hand gesture/sign language.</span><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
FEAST #1</h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first night we were celebrating all the birthdays in the group with a special nod to our friend Betsy turning the big 5-0. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEygRSOoj5k6D1i32Mb6yyi0zj_v3vcTf150Bk5GO7VTQvmEXTtPTivbw1QoTmWCnPHcLTdKGNWw9aulQSq-qQzgHi5hWEONWWbkvKmShK-NROvs45BgDcFyxn93AW_PGT44CTCj2F6k/s1600/IMG_1225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEygRSOoj5k6D1i32Mb6yyi0zj_v3vcTf150Bk5GO7VTQvmEXTtPTivbw1QoTmWCnPHcLTdKGNWw9aulQSq-qQzgHi5hWEONWWbkvKmShK-NROvs45BgDcFyxn93AW_PGT44CTCj2F6k/s320/IMG_1225.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEygRSOoj5k6D1i32Mb6yyi0zj_v3vcTf150Bk5GO7VTQvmEXTtPTivbw1QoTmWCnPHcLTdKGNWw9aulQSq-qQzgHi5hWEONWWbkvKmShK-NROvs45BgDcFyxn93AW_PGT44CTCj2F6k/s1600/IMG_1225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were all anxiously awaiting the food to be ready as the amazing smells began to waft out of the kitchen. We thought we could eat a horse--not literally (which apparently still occurs in Italy), but we ended up struggling to make it through the later courses. But, we get ahead of ourselves. Our meal was just about to begin and we all anxiously gathered around the dining room table to try what authentic home-made Italian cooking tasted like.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim410aArvyhbSGY3zTXc6U7D_49P8X2urnSEeJmJEBEdAMThKFfoM_9kABgxYyTlq40WHHqcMqd_r_qUpjIi28vg6bkBnD4-KHszHm2HECcykA0NJk5IeEpO2C5I4gwPywHdBPgMJPCfM/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim410aArvyhbSGY3zTXc6U7D_49P8X2urnSEeJmJEBEdAMThKFfoM_9kABgxYyTlq40WHHqcMqd_r_qUpjIi28vg6bkBnD4-KHszHm2HECcykA0NJk5IeEpO2C5I4gwPywHdBPgMJPCfM/s320/IMG_1215.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruschetta</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim410aArvyhbSGY3zTXc6U7D_49P8X2urnSEeJmJEBEdAMThKFfoM_9kABgxYyTlq40WHHqcMqd_r_qUpjIi28vg6bkBnD4-KHszHm2HECcykA0NJk5IeEpO2C5I4gwPywHdBPgMJPCfM/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim410aArvyhbSGY3zTXc6U7D_49P8X2urnSEeJmJEBEdAMThKFfoM_9kABgxYyTlq40WHHqcMqd_r_qUpjIi28vg6bkBnD4-KHszHm2HECcykA0NJk5IeEpO2C5I4gwPywHdBPgMJPCfM/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started with probably the most traditional Italian appetizer bruschetta (l'antipasto, which literally translates to before the meal). The vibrant red tomatoes came from Nonna's own garden and tasted so fresh and flavorful than any other we had previously had on our trip. Such a simple dish, but it was extraordinary because of the exceptional ingredients. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A dish called torta rustica followed, which was a rich, spinach and cheese tort again packed with a lot of flavor. It would probably be considered the il contorno or side dish in a typical Italian menu. Nonna made it adorable with little hearts on top. Clearly demonstrating the love that our little Italian grandmother was putting into the meal.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNDHCDrwAJAiZJH4fjPvhxp5HKL14WLhnvX8bujY5w41zCUBP-Qjr10_4F-mH1bf0JJWNno6_Zj1yIAO-UnYW36kveS3ROaw3NefHt0U2aBqK8YG6NnnjmIqqZR1YhJRfzfuBM1UuE84/s320/IMG_1173.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torta rustica</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lasagne zucchine e fiori di zucca</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Il primo, or first course, typcially is a pasta dish. We had probably the best zucchini lasagna (lasagne zucchine e fiori di zucca) we've ever tasted. It was rich and delicious and again made with zucchini and pumpkin flowers from the chef's garden. We believe from what we could tell from Elenora's explaination that the zucchini and pumpkin flowers were key ingredients in the homemade pasta dough. It was truly a spectacular dish. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betsy getting a chicken leg</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roasted chicken and potatoes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rotollo di pollo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By now, we heard alarms, which happened to be our full meters going off. But, the main course, il secondo, was up next and we knew by now it could not be missed. This is typically the meat course and we were treated to rotollo di pollo or chicken roulades stuffed with vegetables. Just in case that wasn't enough another main course of arrosto di pollo or roasted chicken and potatoes. The chickens very recently been leading happy lives on Nonna's farm. Is it possible to get any more farm to table than that? Again, chicken and potatoes seems so simple (and Italian cooking can be) but, it was so flavorful and the potatoes were roasted to perfection crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KiB8QsK5mLmccb6DarzaGP3uvB2mPt3E-h6zFlv3U0ixuzSNbnMk7NWJms0_7r-pyvQLzJXTOjwj8Z7DD24BJvE2iANgQyQer4hJwB_uk3-f-qaEi6IRs8xSFIxAvS8typ40vFgYFH8/s1600/IMG_1182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KiB8QsK5mLmccb6DarzaGP3uvB2mPt3E-h6zFlv3U0ixuzSNbnMk7NWJms0_7r-pyvQLzJXTOjwj8Z7DD24BJvE2iANgQyQer4hJwB_uk3-f-qaEi6IRs8xSFIxAvS8typ40vFgYFH8/s200/IMG_1182.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNe8B87QjJ_hvvQ4rMAn1o4pOq2JC_p2SSpxgWqSGwB1rgwEKwASFq2Xl-IIq2NaJvwhyOfSx_hT6YMOt-__4dnZTaxF8oZO-QEef-uKbUTuX5sU1ibKXhzBKDFTa1t5VtDcQ0lFZMeJ4/s1600/IMG_1183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNe8B87QjJ_hvvQ4rMAn1o4pOq2JC_p2SSpxgWqSGwB1rgwEKwASFq2Xl-IIq2NaJvwhyOfSx_hT6YMOt-__4dnZTaxF8oZO-QEef-uKbUTuX5sU1ibKXhzBKDFTa1t5VtDcQ0lFZMeJ4/s200/IMG_1183.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just when we thought we were done (and we couldn't eat another bite) nonna brings roasted peppers and a green salad. Poor little salad, we all took a token few bites so as to not offend our Italian food fairy godmother, but we had zero room left. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIUm3ssdYPFF1LeznPy_tX2EkT6cnUIvBUrPIO3DqVJ4YfIkSUVd5uyGpwT__KhIG3wmcY-efW0p6O5PJCLwnXqvzerEmA1-pMvEQKOSZdtfCUN6pxTVE_t1mXhYGX8ckDJXpgYo1fLo/s1600/P1070402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIUm3ssdYPFF1LeznPy_tX2EkT6cnUIvBUrPIO3DqVJ4YfIkSUVd5uyGpwT__KhIG3wmcY-efW0p6O5PJCLwnXqvzerEmA1-pMvEQKOSZdtfCUN6pxTVE_t1mXhYGX8ckDJXpgYo1fLo/s200/P1070402.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KiB8QsK5mLmccb6DarzaGP3uvB2mPt3E-h6zFlv3U0ixuzSNbnMk7NWJms0_7r-pyvQLzJXTOjwj8Z7DD24BJvE2iANgQyQer4hJwB_uk3-f-qaEi6IRs8xSFIxAvS8typ40vFgYFH8/s1600/IMG_1182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the meal we shared several bottles of Le Velette's Gaudio wine. Cecilia (co-owner of the winery) brought this over and said she thought it would be a great pairing and birthday present because the meaning of the word gaudio in Italian is joy. Joy from past birthdays and wishing all the participants and birthday girls joy in the future.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2F9GX48AHI99mqUrT-mRCAyai00azfPZ0UQH9mZsFKiij7BJBaJQPco3G5BhVc6WPxy-rJd_xfLdSmGmMGNM01spWfX4Oa0fdqDGdSj7rkorQhF5ZILSVccwi5cGJzbF6PUVrKphBCVg/s1600/IMG_1185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2F9GX48AHI99mqUrT-mRCAyai00azfPZ0UQH9mZsFKiij7BJBaJQPco3G5BhVc6WPxy-rJd_xfLdSmGmMGNM01spWfX4Oa0fdqDGdSj7rkorQhF5ZILSVccwi5cGJzbF6PUVrKphBCVg/s200/IMG_1185.jpg" width="120" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkOqpXNTj5xP96X4MtZNyXR5dEAPrMFBHFfbVhb5fASYgJ95EnUv7JLoc3HL26K3FZh3xhgSi-s78C2Yf0Ha72UA7d-IX3IO8cxC4yEFxFSE3klJBmEaY6bBy3__VbGhOrb_EAXpjYGo/s1600/IMG_1186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkOqpXNTj5xP96X4MtZNyXR5dEAPrMFBHFfbVhb5fASYgJ95EnUv7JLoc3HL26K3FZh3xhgSi-s78C2Yf0Ha72UA7d-IX3IO8cxC4yEFxFSE3klJBmEaY6bBy3__VbGhOrb_EAXpjYGo/s200/IMG_1186.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After waiting for our Italian feast to digest we came back to the table for dessert. It was a specific cake Cecilia told us was a must have from the nearby town of Orvieto. The cake had a chocolate ganache frosting and was soft and spongy. We aren't quite sure what the flavors were, but by then we were in a food coma. We sang happy birthday and celebrated our last night of having the whole gang together as some travelers were heading out in the morning. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nonna ready to serve birthday cake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigj_lj8qP8JthBo3qrqW4Jiy5SX_003zedDQU8mH2EwDr012DsJjK_yUIrjV8aZf11HohmJibPBdRDnRN2RsTBYKXLUUDb2LE0xOCIowyIQB1hFQAV-A2BzZZVax3yTOoJLP92bf-hfxo/s1600/P1010222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigj_lj8qP8JthBo3qrqW4Jiy5SX_003zedDQU8mH2EwDr012DsJjK_yUIrjV8aZf11HohmJibPBdRDnRN2RsTBYKXLUUDb2LE0xOCIowyIQB1hFQAV-A2BzZZVax3yTOoJLP92bf-hfxo/s320/P1010222.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Movie night</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXop_SDyW040yr2oYlafV91tcKDnNm7XIqXDE_VGBWA8z3XTj5qs2Z3lOb4WEvEZiKjfYnyK64CkAteVRIQbHKBACFVzbXeQefkQ__FNlBTFE1rd0txwOx7Mn1WYHyJhF5dZt2nPliIg/s1600/IMG_1187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2F9GX48AHI99mqUrT-mRCAyai00azfPZ0UQH9mZsFKiij7BJBaJQPco3G5BhVc6WPxy-rJd_xfLdSmGmMGNM01spWfX4Oa0fdqDGdSj7rkorQhF5ZILSVccwi5cGJzbF6PUVrKphBCVg/s1600/IMG_1185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another perk of this night as part of the dinner fee (which was less than $40/pp) it also included dishwashing. So nonna and Nora did the dishes and then wished us good night. We were all so excited by meeting such wonderful people and being able to partake in this amazing feast and celebratory night, which was capped off by watching a movie of Betsy's fifty shades (or years) of life. </span><br />
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<h4 style="text-align: center;">
FEAST #2</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWTtZZUAgz_NsoAYNbc8aDhBntvDUZqaaDAvoZR0rKvYxgddM8I1kROgdFW41OtB3LKoC6A3OAyB_ubc8X9ceE3Jdx4fvqRulL5fhafdq8CG0hCbssAY8OoXm4RlTvHV9XLnfK36cA2M/s1600/IMG_1219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After our day trip to Montalcino (<a href="http://50shadesofdelicious.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-hills-are-alive-part-duexmontalcino.html">link to blog</a>) we cruised home and made it just in time for feast #2. Our guest chefs had already prepared the meal by the time we pulled into the villa driveway. Nora informed us that she had to leave mid-meal this night, so we were on our own with Nonna who did not speak but a few words of English. We weren't too worried as food can be an international language.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXw_dRW8159Fx5xcANUz6VUMF92vF1WmRpnB8dXrBZVYdV31S9kly1MBYtG_d1hKkqVRWxSVYwKRDmPzjGs1V5x6d0cFlduy3f7YRxvTZY2gWjbjt_lKTFK9mQZU3zNQl0eLsIKT1Ib4/s1600/IMG_1213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXw_dRW8159Fx5xcANUz6VUMF92vF1WmRpnB8dXrBZVYdV31S9kly1MBYtG_d1hKkqVRWxSVYwKRDmPzjGs1V5x6d0cFlduy3f7YRxvTZY2gWjbjt_lKTFK9mQZU3zNQl0eLsIKT1Ib4/s200/IMG_1213.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8O6lEJKgdw6G3J1HTvQ1BP77FeaV9k_YFuX6P9WhXOLA72EEjEuYFOVFSJLfSuLkyDgHP7XN7mO3DpmTm0S9e5dhsGy50mnqmnwm5EdaXkxbqzZIXGFshdpXlQN4wJrWLVY_Hl5MZOOU/s1600/IMG_1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8O6lEJKgdw6G3J1HTvQ1BP77FeaV9k_YFuX6P9WhXOLA72EEjEuYFOVFSJLfSuLkyDgHP7XN7mO3DpmTm0S9e5dhsGy50mnqmnwm5EdaXkxbqzZIXGFshdpXlQN4wJrWLVY_Hl5MZOOU/s200/IMG_1224.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Janine and Daisy had stopped over in Paris on their way to Umbria and surprised us all with a champagne toast of <a href="http://www.champagne-billecart.fr/SWF/index_uk.html">Billecart-Salmon</a> to start the evening. What a great surprise and start to the evening!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwKt1hujlzTLjVxCRQ-R_s7y4thvszQf-Jja2K9i1hiIUZPcJpQw991xRZGn-PvyG2kmxEKuCvv8wraTMASYxBecw10X2z-VsIKhp9nkRGwSL1Nmas-RylxHDm5M_-a7Nss_N9oGmLKE/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwKt1hujlzTLjVxCRQ-R_s7y4thvszQf-Jja2K9i1hiIUZPcJpQw991xRZGn-PvyG2kmxEKuCvv8wraTMASYxBecw10X2z-VsIKhp9nkRGwSL1Nmas-RylxHDm5M_-a7Nss_N9oGmLKE/s200/IMG_1218.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The primo course was Ravioli Burro e Salvia. Delicate homemade ravioli stuffed with spinach, ricotta cheese cooked in butter and sage. The homemade pasta was incredibly soft with the richness of the butter and sage. It certainly was a delightful way to start this second night's line-up. Although, we knew we had many courses left, it was hard to stop eating these little pillows of joy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWTtZZUAgz_NsoAYNbc8aDhBntvDUZqaaDAvoZR0rKvYxgddM8I1kROgdFW41OtB3LKoC6A3OAyB_ubc8X9ceE3Jdx4fvqRulL5fhafdq8CG0hCbssAY8OoXm4RlTvHV9XLnfK36cA2M/s1600/IMG_1219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWTtZZUAgz_NsoAYNbc8aDhBntvDUZqaaDAvoZR0rKvYxgddM8I1kROgdFW41OtB3LKoC6A3OAyB_ubc8X9ceE3Jdx4fvqRulL5fhafdq8CG0hCbssAY8OoXm4RlTvHV9XLnfK36cA2M/s320/IMG_1219.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ravioli Burro e Salvia</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAzTEmzMXYUWPMmgE2BfY6Yx7C5Tab9_gvW6vZHin-YRUzo-T-Gm3dDw7ElX2_tDWizdkZBRu8jPWlJOK6arBi7kZu-SoV3ioKtPwLVLGlcdy07e4CRyfOwxc2HSSIVNyuajf9LuWuKQ/s1600/IMG_1220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAzTEmzMXYUWPMmgE2BfY6Yx7C5Tab9_gvW6vZHin-YRUzo-T-Gm3dDw7ElX2_tDWizdkZBRu8jPWlJOK6arBi7kZu-SoV3ioKtPwLVLGlcdy07e4CRyfOwxc2HSSIVNyuajf9LuWuKQ/s320/IMG_1220.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAzTEmzMXYUWPMmgE2BfY6Yx7C5Tab9_gvW6vZHin-YRUzo-T-Gm3dDw7ElX2_tDWizdkZBRu8jPWlJOK6arBi7kZu-SoV3ioKtPwLVLGlcdy07e4CRyfOwxc2HSSIVNyuajf9LuWuKQ/s1600/IMG_1220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Il secondo course was up next and was a delightful turkey dish served with parmesan cheese and sage and cooked in olive oil. Simplistic again in nature, but so rich, decadent and comforting after a long day of traveling. Everything was served family style and it was a great experience passing this amazing food around the table.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this point, we were on our own trying to communicate with Nonna. She was not only the chef, but also our waitress. We started trying out different languages and come to find out she knew some Spanish so we communicated in Espanol. Nonna had worked in restaurants most of her life, but now cooked for travelers and or local events and of course her own family. She prefers using ingredients from her own farm and garden and they certainly made a big difference pumping up simple to incredible stature. We asked her if we could take her home to Seattle with us because now we were all hooked on her food and cute personality. We crafted a plan to use our frequent flyer miles to get her to America and then plan a pop-up Italian dinner where all the guest would be wearing white. Watch for that in 2013-- Nonna comes to America!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUruTDyujAkCQupl4MrcOXzuiWUNpjH-DUCZzXlPUmbLMqRcgdwz8h7HPvuATvQ-T7KDZbLqcnajsilVFD6w7I54ClxKV5AVn28C084zx32-03Qkmrmmg8p8DS7ilA5CQQdp0AfHLyq9A/s1600/IMG_1229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUruTDyujAkCQupl4MrcOXzuiWUNpjH-DUCZzXlPUmbLMqRcgdwz8h7HPvuATvQ-T7KDZbLqcnajsilVFD6w7I54ClxKV5AVn28C084zx32-03Qkmrmmg8p8DS7ilA5CQQdp0AfHLyq9A/s320/IMG_1229.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melanzane alla parmigiana with spinach</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPA9LBhi9IIyIL7MT6-oqiAaMndfQwSy2n-j_Eg_N6qtKNrRDfOnijNu-nICIFaBKo0Jgxp9V7-4GTdcgEWDDsyMV8lMFl7c0FilTpc96UJH0Efyo6YxEn8M-BKfW2ZUegPo2NvbwmXY/s1600/IMG_1222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPA9LBhi9IIyIL7MT6-oqiAaMndfQwSy2n-j_Eg_N6qtKNrRDfOnijNu-nICIFaBKo0Jgxp9V7-4GTdcgEWDDsyMV8lMFl7c0FilTpc96UJH0Efyo6YxEn8M-BKfW2ZUegPo2NvbwmXY/s200/IMG_1222.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvhzMuYKcOSwZpJohE2Mbw0G3ajahgGn7GVZhEw00HvkHCRgtgh6ArS5_FkeQgL-cUe_mfxPFr9FkQO4xxxvoNqPCxt7guZeorq11d4CaVD-1b1D-h9A8bOlsO-o22YpWohc9m-Dls4U/s1600/IMG_1228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvhzMuYKcOSwZpJohE2Mbw0G3ajahgGn7GVZhEw00HvkHCRgtgh6ArS5_FkeQgL-cUe_mfxPFr9FkQO4xxxvoNqPCxt7guZeorq11d4CaVD-1b1D-h9A8bOlsO-o22YpWohc9m-Dls4U/s200/IMG_1228.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The meal was not done however, and it continued on with the next course something similar to our eggplant parmigiana. Nonna called it melanzane alla parmigiana. We also had fresh spinach cooked in olive oil. We were all stuffed like a big, fat eggplant at this point. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDpZC8vPaCi8NWFoue3TG7Jl0n2DL65uuMhg6epW1LZzodwhfenZgXNXK4mbOy736DZDBctvUNe1duzMSxC6SKTkuz5hg2wbQSro8ALy6KBamJ_oMteAKpfrGeWCkz_igDAc1C73N_Ws/s1600/IMG_1236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDpZC8vPaCi8NWFoue3TG7Jl0n2DL65uuMhg6epW1LZzodwhfenZgXNXK4mbOy736DZDBctvUNe1duzMSxC6SKTkuz5hg2wbQSro8ALy6KBamJ_oMteAKpfrGeWCkz_igDAc1C73N_Ws/s200/IMG_1236.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, when the best thing of the entire evening was brought out and placed in front of us we knew we had to press on and eat. Homemade tiramisú was the exclamation point on this back-to-back two evening food extravaganza. The rich dessert had savoiardi cookies which means from Savoy in Italian. The cookies were created to mark the visit of the King of France to the Duchy of Savoy (which was a state of the Holy Roman empire located in the northern Italian peninsula). We know these cookies as ladyfingers, but they have various names in different countries (read more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladyfinger_(biscuit)">here).</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidm6_NXcfcY4b36ulmLtkooupYsx33_7aDbGsCwidMG6ccP_1oG7GP-lwi-UQ9nfbv40I4udTie41xZwHi0knqujdGHpgo_rwGA8658N64AZjFV6bz-_bz05BCLE_C0moFO10TD0epAgY/s1600/IMG_1237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidm6_NXcfcY4b36ulmLtkooupYsx33_7aDbGsCwidMG6ccP_1oG7GP-lwi-UQ9nfbv40I4udTie41xZwHi0knqujdGHpgo_rwGA8658N64AZjFV6bz-_bz05BCLE_C0moFO10TD0epAgY/s320/IMG_1237.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most delicious tiramisú</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPy3qOG344c2NpbsJdD35EjY587RHR8ELwTsd6GjDR4b4VpWTL9095Ux8985D_5S1TZAjfQ1E38-5C3MaxYe6n1sgfQhQABeJLvTVV5e6R-rZ4ahiFrz8w90OUSZYrF7aC7T3SRINDpI/s1600/IMG_1239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPy3qOG344c2NpbsJdD35EjY587RHR8ELwTsd6GjDR4b4VpWTL9095Ux8985D_5S1TZAjfQ1E38-5C3MaxYe6n1sgfQhQABeJLvTVV5e6R-rZ4ahiFrz8w90OUSZYrF7aC7T3SRINDpI/s200/IMG_1239.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dana learns what is in tiramisú</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUetS5zlFYoJEvbgFMIHXiLFwoT9YrW0MSOKQSTeUE2JsEA8VSgOcLNXE7yBoil5W6xXRC48xMltU58Bbaws8XBk9IOaODPIb1lIkIo_8dlwzsdjaPcz6fDzNGCxyTui4Q7r4x_4XICB8/s1600/IMG_1238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUetS5zlFYoJEvbgFMIHXiLFwoT9YrW0MSOKQSTeUE2JsEA8VSgOcLNXE7yBoil5W6xXRC48xMltU58Bbaws8XBk9IOaODPIb1lIkIo_8dlwzsdjaPcz6fDzNGCxyTui4Q7r4x_4XICB8/s200/IMG_1238.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">K-Ho</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our friend Dana took one bite and said, "Ewww this tastes like coffee." We all laughed and commented that espresso is normally a key ingredient in tiramisú. The dessert was amazing, but we couldn't eat very much of it because of how full we were. Our friend Kenna was smart and took a walk outside under the full moon to make room for some more of the delicious Italian dessert. Dessert was paired with a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino from our trip there earlier the same day. It was a great way to celebrate the amazing food, fun and friendship we had all experienced together this week in Umbria. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We thanked our little Italian grandmother for her hospitality and delicious cooking that truly came from the heart. We told her we'd be in touch to put plans in motion for our Italian flash mob dinner. The best part of this good-bye was after nonna had left the dining room and was on her way out. She suddenly shouted out in English as her parting words...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Barack Obama!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqToLdldSakihcSLl6mmUqaDvMu0qFRZoWywngnqqib4u_ZNweAVmFcfrkhxqsbL06UAkwYhdJnbnWCACUSm9OyrFrEsv7OCCodR6N_O_fVXOljqps2jaR_jgLgugvLFaVGce5zFz4j4/s1600/IMG_1227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqToLdldSakihcSLl6mmUqaDvMu0qFRZoWywngnqqib4u_ZNweAVmFcfrkhxqsbL06UAkwYhdJnbnWCACUSm9OyrFrEsv7OCCodR6N_O_fVXOljqps2jaR_jgLgugvLFaVGce5zFz4j4/s320/IMG_1227.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nonna out!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vivere la vita con gusto e divertimento!</span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUXXA8KDsRhLpCMgZW9OFYX814Do5Y3Y9CGD5hdU9dkZY-EcOEgsJ3U8MALWOGOiR7wmL_1A5qOqeXKKrA55_qCMY303q12puVujW-sqAB0RdkLdltvss3dTuyb4DuL-_bDH8UWpd2s8/s1600/P1070311_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUXXA8KDsRhLpCMgZW9OFYX814Do5Y3Y9CGD5hdU9dkZY-EcOEgsJ3U8MALWOGOiR7wmL_1A5qOqeXKKrA55_qCMY303q12puVujW-sqAB0RdkLdltvss3dTuyb4DuL-_bDH8UWpd2s8/s200/P1070311_2.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBibKBs7USTI4AVEa8bQ34jIZwhhdwyNwR0ca0V5DXwC32eGbfhPn9KHzRcYbm0skjEfOXz0Z1hOwbAnzKoLT4aiDq_702z8nWyoVj9nBFEAb_gw-BdRsEeueZD1VC8I2VkDamnH5z-I/s1600/IMG_1141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBibKBs7USTI4AVEa8bQ34jIZwhhdwyNwR0ca0V5DXwC32eGbfhPn9KHzRcYbm0skjEfOXz0Z1hOwbAnzKoLT4aiDq_702z8nWyoVj9nBFEAb_gw-BdRsEeueZD1VC8I2VkDamnH5z-I/s200/IMG_1141.jpg" width="150" /></a>Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-58774793591671788322012-12-16T11:47:00.001-08:002013-01-09T16:14:47.550-08:00The Hills are Alive Part Duex.....Montalcino<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QhwZU25BCWO0cgo-5lAzxMKCbh3B2gw7Ww8A7OUG5BbfuTtzlET0ZVN0ngyKwwAsVMJMXCMWG8bRImEmhQ5vvnMsNhyphenhyphenGH-8V5UguV2Bc8TCONkKZ4s3F_paBP1YtrHRGjIYB7RLdP44/s1600/IMG_1197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QhwZU25BCWO0cgo-5lAzxMKCbh3B2gw7Ww8A7OUG5BbfuTtzlET0ZVN0ngyKwwAsVMJMXCMWG8bRImEmhQ5vvnMsNhyphenhyphenGH-8V5UguV2Bc8TCONkKZ4s3F_paBP1YtrHRGjIYB7RLdP44/s320/IMG_1197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG9tLk5bd0FICR3Nsq-ePEIlgEFBisx9xIkQRtGDJldrcodjl8kn8K2QUte0v05KvNc0h4IEjzRh0pONrNaSdNsn9_7JLpqeBi6t0TRAdIMCi1kdRHoBLuxMAg4kX64_lyerEFeKt_8w/s1600/IMG_1192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG9tLk5bd0FICR3Nsq-ePEIlgEFBisx9xIkQRtGDJldrcodjl8kn8K2QUte0v05KvNc0h4IEjzRh0pONrNaSdNsn9_7JLpqeBi6t0TRAdIMCi1kdRHoBLuxMAg4kX64_lyerEFeKt_8w/s200/IMG_1192.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lining the northwest border of Umbria is Tuscany and on our last full day at the Villa de <a href="http://www.levelette.it/it/">Tenuta Le Velette</a> in Umbria we ventured North to the Tuscany region and the sun-kissed hilltown of Montalcino. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The town of Montalcino is set high at the top of one of the many regional hills surrounded by vineyards growing Sangiovese grapes. The town is famous for their Brunello di Montalcino wine made from a hybrid Sangiovese called Sangiovese Grosso grapes grown in this area. The warm, dry climate allows the grapes to ripen almost a week before other Tuscan wines. The wine has become so popular with the number of producers growing from eleven in the 1960s to more than two hundred today. The wine has been said to have single-handedly reversed Montelcino's economic downturn into an upswing. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7FvFQMDQB3aTf9_BjotbzwVBt40YPlD4lQbl4N_N6-hsRJSEWOqjRnOJYKvQQfJ5g6FaixOYdSAV_g8RE7k5XgIq3zn4Qj82xNO5uWkEbGmDl8K82J0SyqToc4aUZRdxCWC0p6rP-eQ/s1600/P1070714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7FvFQMDQB3aTf9_BjotbzwVBt40YPlD4lQbl4N_N6-hsRJSEWOqjRnOJYKvQQfJ5g6FaixOYdSAV_g8RE7k5XgIq3zn4Qj82xNO5uWkEbGmDl8K82J0SyqToc4aUZRdxCWC0p6rP-eQ/s200/P1070714.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQFwgxBw2OkDG-x8ezST3GKOFFCBry2eF1YLAy2GBMGNAd1Z-d-chqjP6SxgmkLUm4QcIKpnW4FhNPWzHv4wCGcYqUQ4Ypmrnr3CXOyCLqKQLXACF-LTxj9lLoAdDQanHjfzl_qzKBCk/s1600/P1070709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQFwgxBw2OkDG-x8ezST3GKOFFCBry2eF1YLAy2GBMGNAd1Z-d-chqjP6SxgmkLUm4QcIKpnW4FhNPWzHv4wCGcYqUQ4Ypmrnr3CXOyCLqKQLXACF-LTxj9lLoAdDQanHjfzl_qzKBCk/s200/P1070709.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUFo3oCnyuk4g4rEa7rduGYLsrKAjDzrSJQ8LbvcdLdYiqYsD8g9A0j8Q6X5MLKq5P8TPj94hWxGuwz93cTaDJ_Bgjd1iVuM1zSKKXim9RWnOnh8cxnbXxNhb3GYuxSc7kxe7_395Oes/s1600/P1070715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUFo3oCnyuk4g4rEa7rduGYLsrKAjDzrSJQ8LbvcdLdYiqYsD8g9A0j8Q6X5MLKq5P8TPj94hWxGuwz93cTaDJ_Bgjd1iVuM1zSKKXim9RWnOnh8cxnbXxNhb3GYuxSc7kxe7_395Oes/s200/P1070715.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">We arrived at Montelcino after an action-packed van ride (let's just say we went around a certain roundabout like it was a merry-go-round without exiting until those of us in the back row were more than a little car sick). Once we got our land legs again, we walked through the hilly town and stumbled upon a fortress. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like clockwork it was time to eat. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Luckily, inside the fortress walls was a convenient enoteca where we could grab something to eat and drink. How often can you say that you ate at a fortress? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHABVpMC96kA1hV5sgPSNfv9F3qf3l7GqZUBpengy-D0ZVFEivcwB9XSOioH9cOKKOTm9MLiz3ksu7WhfUIsM_feYXABFeQM5T8BvUC5UEcqoEpR-OdaFOf4X_wfBslv9Imj6Y39z-IE/s1600/P1070721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHABVpMC96kA1hV5sgPSNfv9F3qf3l7GqZUBpengy-D0ZVFEivcwB9XSOioH9cOKKOTm9MLiz3ksu7WhfUIsM_feYXABFeQM5T8BvUC5UEcqoEpR-OdaFOf4X_wfBslv9Imj6Y39z-IE/s320/P1070721.JPG" width="320" /></a><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fortress (La Fortezza) was built in 1361 at the highest point of the town. It is huge and almost perfectly preserved. It had tourists exploring the nooks, crannies and inner recesses of the surrounding walls. However, we were a group on a mission to eat and try some Brunellos so we b-lined it for the nearest table. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eareC1TVjyuWrDM54TEo_MsIwvTc1Hj1RBx8U4opEGPiiOmXX8tPRvqZtcxq4BDLk9pphTv5wAT8EvGi_yGENDppaXV-ZOMZ8vjRziHxp93OnfEGK75JkWAOcEXJ7AT5cx1FwM3V1wM/s1600/P1070720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eareC1TVjyuWrDM54TEo_MsIwvTc1Hj1RBx8U4opEGPiiOmXX8tPRvqZtcxq4BDLk9pphTv5wAT8EvGi_yGENDppaXV-ZOMZ8vjRziHxp93OnfEGK75JkWAOcEXJ7AT5cx1FwM3V1wM/s200/P1070720.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We self-seated, but our waiter suggested we move to a larger table, which we did as he fetched some menus. After perusing the menu, we decided to share <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/pasta-and-beans-pasta-e-fagioli-recipe/index.html">pasta e fagioli</a> (pasta and bean soup), which was hearty and we would describe it as an Italian peasant vegetable soup with rustic bread crumbs. We also got a cheese and charcuterie plate to be complimented with a tasting flight of two Brunellos and a Super Tuscan wine.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oWP8T4nhCmh3XUjRK4f_vU8hQU-EYGGhNoS6R9EMtJNoBhSjuKYULXOzEYPFRySWqVS8rCQ7S0Bs2LGojfNscmfbrWIMmnzejeHWquTagmdWha-T-8Dea5zM6WKwPrZYJywi-S244uA/s1600/P1070718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oWP8T4nhCmh3XUjRK4f_vU8hQU-EYGGhNoS6R9EMtJNoBhSjuKYULXOzEYPFRySWqVS8rCQ7S0Bs2LGojfNscmfbrWIMmnzejeHWquTagmdWha-T-8Dea5zM6WKwPrZYJywi-S244uA/s320/P1070718.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We share similar tastes in red wines. Generally speaking, our preferences are for dark, bold, deep, complex and fruity which we found brunellos lacked (although we had them described as such). Brunello is made from a clone of Sangiovese, the Sangiovese Grosso grape, which is called Brunello in the local dialect. <span style="color: #2c2c2c;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's flavor profile to us could easily be compared to a Pinot Noir with finite, delicate earthy notes with strong tannins. We didn't get a lot of the stone fruit profiles that we had read were common to the varietal.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAwEeuPp2XUmgMQ-XjMhGS2ApHoMKVg8jf7dv5sPiqtEum5gWB4JKgj9RD6AoovSLAjgz98pm8IV6mgM5OCo9iTqX5KnTBrSG6I7D0QnURQnCYhXfeT9j6zEF4BVrXBIzqOUTUExdpkw/s1600/P1070717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAwEeuPp2XUmgMQ-XjMhGS2ApHoMKVg8jf7dv5sPiqtEum5gWB4JKgj9RD6AoovSLAjgz98pm8IV6mgM5OCo9iTqX5KnTBrSG6I7D0QnURQnCYhXfeT9j6zEF4BVrXBIzqOUTUExdpkw/s200/P1070717.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2-uKWlJFLsFKBgrS5VXV0o9TQaFTg71peIBcpjMqZbsW3PntCCiLyzF-33JNkF54otEEz8QwYdPGIHAXAniiCbKcszllrQax15TpH8Iuz0utwYk5S-hvShcYCn6d6Nk4zUMeSIakclo/s1600/IMG_1209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2-uKWlJFLsFKBgrS5VXV0o9TQaFTg71peIBcpjMqZbsW3PntCCiLyzF-33JNkF54otEEz8QwYdPGIHAXAniiCbKcszllrQax15TpH8Iuz0utwYk5S-hvShcYCn6d6Nk4zUMeSIakclo/s320/IMG_1209.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although we were disappointed with Brunellos we tasted (and we may be the only wine lovers in the world that don't prefer them) we fell in love with the Super Tuscan we tried, Sassicaia. We knew it was delicious right away, but didn't know the history behind it until we got home. This wine pioneered the "Super Tuscan" varietal. The name Sassicaia comes from the Italian word sasso or stone in English. The wine is made by Tenuta San Guido and was originally produced in 1948 solely for family consumption. Finally, the family was persuaded to release it commercially in 1968 with the first vintage being sold in 1971. Only a few thousand bottles were made initially , but then a famous Italian critic dubbed it a "fairy-tale wine," siting the wine's complex bouquet and finesse. L</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ike any industry, once there's a good review, supply usually falls behind demand. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the small family winery quickly grew. In fact, in 1994 Sassicaia was given it's own <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denominazione_di_origine_controllata">DOC</a>, becoming the only wine from a single estate in Italy to enjoy this status.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlBe7FAdfXd6K3YteucsHKrqQraegE6I7Wfdy8om4j7Ei-XtxmsgZR2ck6tb2QUprAz7cl9LQ7_GL2KOdMcmuIC632PRSGV1FBiz5waysKDT3y4WeoqHmQIA_iPrwVgm1tJQ-TczOGlU/s1600/IMG_1194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlBe7FAdfXd6K3YteucsHKrqQraegE6I7Wfdy8om4j7Ei-XtxmsgZR2ck6tb2QUprAz7cl9LQ7_GL2KOdMcmuIC632PRSGV1FBiz5waysKDT3y4WeoqHmQIA_iPrwVgm1tJQ-TczOGlU/s320/IMG_1194.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After perusing the fortress gift shop, and buying a secret bottle of Brunello for the birthday celebration we were having that evening, we ventured into the town seeking a shop that was featured in Rick Steve's guidebook Enoteca di Piazza. It's claim to fame was having over 100 bottles available to taste using modern </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pressurized machines. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHI_osLiWaJDpqdN-Rr1hHlYMgIvRVoOI3NJ0tz5B9onidUyyRm1BjdlzXNoJK58bNOU62D4pGb8I2kWVDxwMdUvmAt28TDtVHU9mxaF3QQXQ8C79ROZbUhaigiIdbEy3DpCHT22qEoY/s1600/IMG_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHI_osLiWaJDpqdN-Rr1hHlYMgIvRVoOI3NJ0tz5B9onidUyyRm1BjdlzXNoJK58bNOU62D4pGb8I2kWVDxwMdUvmAt28TDtVHU9mxaF3QQXQ8C79ROZbUhaigiIdbEy3DpCHT22qEoY/s320/IMG_1193.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ro was the first to spot it. She was like a giddy school girl. We went in and learned that you start with a 50 euro pre-paid card. You use that card as you find a wine you'd like to try. Inserting the card and then pushing the corresponding button while holding the glass under the spout. The machine dispenses approximately a 1oz pour with prices varying anywhere from 1 euro to upwards of 20 euro for the rare wines.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47p5OZzXJ5fu-kszK9_AYxn0VYcosoxGNqZISy8aOHb63_d2d6k8aXkr3YLI7CyoWSVzNz3oCZV9Qs0jsQzSoQp8x2zoUze659dHchowO9f3XCq-tldSIsE-5i2MYz5UQDXmMK1dj8vI/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47p5OZzXJ5fu-kszK9_AYxn0VYcosoxGNqZISy8aOHb63_d2d6k8aXkr3YLI7CyoWSVzNz3oCZV9Qs0jsQzSoQp8x2zoUze659dHchowO9f3XCq-tldSIsE-5i2MYz5UQDXmMK1dj8vI/s200/IMG_1196.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHu6Ki7AgE7scuvO3d1vA5pxXldRzQwdA6guiw_g_C7MkQa1PPBrdZrDGDnh58UOh8HksyuAckjxrKrtzCMJnKxbny_liC_pk1cYdi3nyU7e7zXKFqi-TmFJjx1Bwwr7rciYWlzYK_Oc/s1600/IMG_1195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHu6Ki7AgE7scuvO3d1vA5pxXldRzQwdA6guiw_g_C7MkQa1PPBrdZrDGDnh58UOh8HksyuAckjxrKrtzCMJnKxbny_liC_pk1cYdi3nyU7e7zXKFqi-TmFJjx1Bwwr7rciYWlzYK_Oc/s320/IMG_1195.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were on a mission to find a Brunello that we liked. We found a few that were okay, but our tastes, once again, led us to the Tuscan blends. We were delighted to see our good friend Sassicaia "on tap," and felt obligated to re-test its merits. It did not disappoint.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFLW2ScYsJKNAZTsUNXO2kUCIA60nmJ7jGDzPlN07hiLJjHUJMmDvhHOqD9snyK3-Hjq6HSMnXPw8zh9hzq-6tl642My8p-Yp_I2ZmLq1XY_m69lL8W-6dvcu0wn7KqXMw6NICbThLJQ/s1600/IMG_1200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFLW2ScYsJKNAZTsUNXO2kUCIA60nmJ7jGDzPlN07hiLJjHUJMmDvhHOqD9snyK3-Hjq6HSMnXPw8zh9hzq-6tl642My8p-Yp_I2ZmLq1XY_m69lL8W-6dvcu0wn7KqXMw6NICbThLJQ/s320/IMG_1200.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were kids in an adult candy shop. Our friends meanwhile were indulging in leather shopping, gelato tasting and taking photos of the beautiful town and Tuscan countryside. Not a bad afternoon or day trip indeed. We definitely have plans to return to do more exploration of Tuscany & Umbria including a stop in Montepulciano.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Y_j-oud3d2zIlEugKWiphkBO0r-t-_hNGtw-J51hrJJshWeQn1sGKLpxc1cIu5lD-rrIT1VMz6GXBq4zTCHj-2SeCXsDAgi0HZA9vxu5pZplyOpmmR8Yf8nq-kDAkpKQQN5z0fUE3uY/s1600/IMG_1201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Y_j-oud3d2zIlEugKWiphkBO0r-t-_hNGtw-J51hrJJshWeQn1sGKLpxc1cIu5lD-rrIT1VMz6GXBq4zTCHj-2SeCXsDAgi0HZA9vxu5pZplyOpmmR8Yf8nq-kDAkpKQQN5z0fUE3uY/s200/IMG_1201.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Montalcino is a must on a Tuscan wine tour. The charming town has been in existence since the time of the ancient Etruscans and later Roman rule. Wine has been made here for milennia so they know a thing or two about wine. Records show that commercial wine trading has been going on since the 1400's. They also know a thing about location, location, location. Montalcino was directly on the ancient interstate (called the Via Francigena), which was the main way to travel between Florence, Rome and France. Because of the great location it was also often under siege, which is how it grew to have such a militaristic look including La Fortezza (which for the record was never conquered).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A last, we tore ourselves away from the wine store and made our way back to the van for our return journey to Umbria. We left with fond memories (our friends shipped back a case of local wine they discovered while tasting) of our quick little day trip North to Tuscany.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Live life with flavor and fun!</b></span></div>
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<br />Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-58526824902566407412012-12-12T14:05:00.002-08:002013-09-24T15:55:10.355-07:00Yummy Lummi: Chef Blaine Wetzel Boy Genius<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiMqUkoPsR4nWQ8VGQdDTIt2hP3A4KNXJpqwk1ejbjGnW_VNyUUiv-Po0OthdMh_IV89WCYQaYx5V2y3-CQ3O1-5gUSnIkdbJtCKqSxmni-Gfu-P0rmreWgvJUTstbwsvxnlg2Wd0OEw/s1600/Willows-Blaine-Wetzel-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiMqUkoPsR4nWQ8VGQdDTIt2hP3A4KNXJpqwk1ejbjGnW_VNyUUiv-Po0OthdMh_IV89WCYQaYx5V2y3-CQ3O1-5gUSnIkdbJtCKqSxmni-Gfu-P0rmreWgvJUTstbwsvxnlg2Wd0OEw/s400/Willows-Blaine-Wetzel-200x300.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of The Willows Inn</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What were you doing with your life at age 26? We recently met one of the most impressive young chefs who has created the most incredible dining experience at a small inn on little known Lummi Island (it rhymes with yummy), WA. Lummi (<a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2579+West+Shore+Drive%E2%80%A8Lummi+Island,+WA+98262&sll=48.889142,2.360516&sspn=0.007647,0.019269&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2579+W+Shore+Dr,+Lummi+Island,+Whatcom,+Washington+98262&ll=48.392738,-122.34375&spn=1.977013,4.932861&z=8" target="_blank">to see map click here</a>) is a very serene, quiet island almost untouched by tourists that visit the more famous San Juan islands. That under the radar status is quickly changing thanks to the boy wonder chef (aka Chef Blaine Wetzel). Blaine has taken up the Executive Chef helm at the Willows Inn. The New York Times put the Willows Inn on their 10 Restaurants Worth a Plane Ride list (for article click <a href="http://www.willows-inn.com/media/2012/02/New-York-Times-Jan-2011.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>). Just announced, The Willows Inn made Lonely Planet's <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/travel-tips-and-articles/77583">Top 10 US Travel Destinations for 2013.</a> And lucky for us, it's only a car and boat ride away. Besides putting a tiny island on the world culinary map (people travel from all over the globe to check this off their restaurant wish list) he already has Food and Wine's 2012 Best New Chef award under his belt and has been a James Beard semi-finalist twice in his young career. So what's the back-story to this kid's shot to stardom?</span><br />
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Blaine was born in the Pacific Northwest (Olympia, WA). While he was still in high school his parents visited and stayed at The Phoenician Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ. Blaine's parents made a video of their stay and he was so impressed with the video his parents shared that he called the chef of the hotel's restaurant (Mary Elaine's) and told him he wanted to work there. The chef told Blaine to call him when he finished school. Six months later, Blaine showed up in Scottsdale and the chef hired him on the spot and he started his official cooking career the next day. Chef Wetzel also attended Scottsdale Culinary school. His next career move took him to glitzy Las Vegas, NV where he cooked at Alex, a restaurant at the luxury Wynn hotel. He then made it back to the West Coast specifically L'Auberge in Carmel, CA.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PCT9_FgYvy4/UKHlEmt83CI/AAAAAAAAI4o/2OyFy72ZsNQ/s1600/IMAG1616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PCT9_FgYvy4/UKHlEmt83CI/AAAAAAAAI4o/2OyFy72ZsNQ/s320/IMAG1616.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xr-9RdIf3Cw/UKHlEvgln7I/AAAAAAAAI7M/se5CnzHiMAo/s1600/IMAG1642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xr-9RdIf3Cw/UKHlEvgln7I/AAAAAAAAI7M/se5CnzHiMAo/s1600/IMAG1642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then Blaine got the opportunity of a lifetime, a job as sous chef at the now hugely famous Noma in Copenhagen (ranked best new restaurant in the world for 2010). He studied under the chef-owner Rene Redzepi, who's résumé includes stints at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ElBulli">El Bulli</a> (FloJo so wanted to go here before it closed) and French Laundry (still on the bucket list for us both).</span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xr-9RdIf3Cw/UKHlEvgln7I/AAAAAAAAI7M/se5CnzHiMAo/s1600/IMAG1642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xr-9RdIf3Cw/UKHlEvgln7I/AAAAAAAAI7M/se5CnzHiMAo/s200/IMAG1642.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">There are noticeable similarities between Noma with its open kitchen in a converted farmhouse into a now restaurant. Little touches learned from his mentor have followed Chef Wetzel back to the United States. Cooking magic like smoke coming out of a hand carved boxes, show-stopping entrees and special touches. Chef Rene serves meat dishes with a leather-sheathed knife handmade in Lapland. Chef Wetzel similarly served venison with local obsidian bladed knives sourced from nearby Mt. Vernon from a place called Hideout Park. Noma's environment focuses on Scandinavian design and the dishes are foraged from the woods and beaches and served by the chefs. Chef Wetzel has transplanted that winning formula to the Northwest, foraging now from the Pacific Ocean and local beaches and farms. His artistic dishes using natural elements such as smooth stones to capture the beauty of local oysters are delivered by his sous chefs.</span></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egUv6ueEG5M/UKHlEkfwmHI/AAAAAAAAI40/h7KOaSAcD6Q/s1600/IMAG1621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egUv6ueEG5M/UKHlEkfwmHI/AAAAAAAAI40/h7KOaSAcD6Q/s1600/IMAG1621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egUv6ueEG5M/UKHlEkfwmHI/AAAAAAAAI40/h7KOaSAcD6Q/s320/IMAG1621.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pickled oysters</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Another mentor for Blaine is Langdon Cook author of "Fat of the Land." Langdon is a fellow blogger that writes about his foraging adventures. Blaine has a similar hunt and gather mentality going to the shores of the island to find interesting ingredients. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Many chefs have helped influence and inspire Blaine Wetzel's Farm to Table philosophy. Chefs such as René Redzepi, Daniel Patterson, Langdon Cook have all made their imprints on his cooking philosophy to use what is edible around you. Keep the tastes clean and simple yet have some fun with presentation. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of Chef Wetzel's foraging is done at the Inn's own Nettle's Farm located a hop, skip and jump from the inn. We requested to visit it on Sunday morning before departing, but it was closed to visitors that day. Normally guests are able to take a tour of the farm with a pre-arranged appointment. Guest also have the opportunity to join in on the fun when booking the Inn's <a href="http://www.willows-inn.com/events/fish-forage-and-farm/">fish-forage-and-farm</a> package offered on Tuesday and Wednesday night stays. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkzxNo1F8Azm1Q0oEzY-6uRMXUivjaRX9nTEbVUdp7BAvckbvlpvnnXwFv-Ja-t08WsEKHpulmvzErAlZVrCjc9vMb3-hK0B74zxNOkscpTZz61cH1sd8QVjcqEhdRroam4TAKFbDtbw/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkzxNo1F8Azm1Q0oEzY-6uRMXUivjaRX9nTEbVUdp7BAvckbvlpvnnXwFv-Ja-t08WsEKHpulmvzErAlZVrCjc9vMb3-hK0B74zxNOkscpTZz61cH1sd8QVjcqEhdRroam4TAKFbDtbw/s200/IMG_1828.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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The story continues that Blaine started itching to return to Washington to be closer to his family and a girlfriend he left behind. He saw an ad on Craigslist for the open executive chef at the Willows Inn. He applied and was hired without leaving Copenhagen and we are so glad he chose to come home to Washington.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcslDKOcR5s/UKHlEq1gpjI/AAAAAAAAIyk/wj5rteDL_4o/s1600/IMAG1624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hN5qb1B4Ggc/UKHlEk3p6NI/AAAAAAAAI9Q/yIha9Lp_lm0/s1600/IMAG1661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hN5qb1B4Ggc/UKHlEk3p6NI/AAAAAAAAI9Q/yIha9Lp_lm0/s200/IMAG1661.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcslDKOcR5s/UKHlEq1gpjI/AAAAAAAAIyk/wj5rteDL_4o/s1600/IMAG1624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcslDKOcR5s/UKHlEq1gpjI/AAAAAAAAIyk/wj5rteDL_4o/s320/IMAG1624.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blaine's excellent training was apparent right at the beginning of our dinner service. The Willows reasturant has several different rooms, but we considered ourselves at the best seat in the house in the bar with a perfect view of Chef Blaine. The best words we have to describe the experience are crisp, precise, orchestrated, harmonious, magical and entertaining. Blaine seemed liked the maestro of a skilled orchestra. We could see him marking up a chart throughout dinner service, which he later showed and explained his system to us. There are dots and symbols for almost everything indicating anything from a table receiving silverware to a guest leaving the table to visit the restroom. This orchestrated dinner did not miss a beat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our tasting menu began with a series of what Blaine called snacks on the menu or </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amuse-bouche" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">amuse-bouches</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. It was a great opening act to the amazing symphony of flavors perfectly harmonized and presented in beautiful packaging.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Snacks" for the evening included:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YBEyAijFG-0/UKHlEs_2s7I/AAAAAAAAIyk/xKJb-EtV4J8/s1600/IMAG1618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="111" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YBEyAijFG-0/UKHlEs_2s7I/AAAAAAAAIyk/xKJb-EtV4J8/s200/IMAG1618.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Crispy crepe with salmon roe</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uPM_anETgGk/UKHlEr4cu6I/AAAAAAAAI44/TBINO_2WYDU/s1600/IMAG1623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uPM_anETgGk/UKHlEr4cu6I/AAAAAAAAI44/TBINO_2WYDU/s200/IMAG1623.jpg" width="138" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Toasted kale</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g8KJoyr7lHw/UKHlEo-WfqI/AAAAAAAAI5U/IGo8xUeEjco/s1600/IMAG1626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g8KJoyr7lHw/UKHlEo-WfqI/AAAAAAAAI5U/IGo8xUeEjco/s320/IMAG1626.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Beet Root (Ro is now a beet fan)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ApvxDk9BIt8/UKHlEuBf8tI/AAAAAAAAIyk/GIGdHEM-l3Q/s1600/IMAG1637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ApvxDk9BIt8/UKHlEuBf8tI/AAAAAAAAIyk/GIGdHEM-l3Q/s320/IMAG1637.jpg" width="179" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hearth bread with pan drippings and A-MAZING butter</span></td></tr>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baked sunflower root</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crispy crepe with salmon roe</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pickled oyster with sorrel</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Toasted kale with truffles and rye</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salt baked beet root</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shiitake over fire</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hearth bread with pan drippings</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-txz4lZRiKM4/UKHlElB3OiI/AAAAAAAAI5Q/V9jx5x5PW-U/s1600/IMAG1625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="105" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-txz4lZRiKM4/UKHlElB3OiI/AAAAAAAAI5Q/V9jx5x5PW-U/s200/IMAG1625.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Shiitakes</span></td></tr>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crispy halibut skin with razor clams </span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Whole roasted celery</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our dinner we started with whole roasted celery root with horseradish and chestnuts paired with 2011 local Mt. Baker Vineyards Madeleine. Next we had smoked sockeye salmon caught off the shores of the island and smoked in the inn's smokehouse located on the property. Possibly the best salmon either of us have ever eaten. It was candied with a sweet glaze and just about as addicting as candy.</span><br />
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We were also served grilled onions with grapes and thyme, probably our least favorite dish, but we still had to admire that the chef would choose to highlight the unsung onion. Dungeness crab with kelp and brown butter came next paired with 2010 Ross Andrew 'Meadow' Pinot Blanc from the Columbia Gorge region.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mazing Smoked Salmon</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dungeness Crab</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main star of the show was aged venison with wild chanterelles and seeds which we ate with obsidian knives tied to an antler. We felt suddenly like cavewomen. We were surprised with the Pinot Noir pairing, which we would have thought to be too light to hold up to the venison. However, the notes of cherry paired perfectly and it was a nice surprise twist to the meal. The pairing was with a 2007 Boedecker 'Athena' from the Willamette Valley, Or.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aged venison with wild chanterelle mushrooms and seeds</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W4KlCva7VYg/UKHlEuotB0I/AAAAAAAAIyk/Nf-PW4MrEC8/s1600/IMAG1646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W4KlCva7VYg/UKHlEuotB0I/AAAAAAAAIyk/Nf-PW4MrEC8/s200/IMAG1646.jpg" width="112" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pears in embers</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f73Ts2mifFA/UKHlEicd99I/AAAAAAAAI7c/oRzOWFb3Rms/s1600/IMAG1650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f73Ts2mifFA/UKHlEicd99I/AAAAAAAAI7c/oRzOWFb3Rms/s320/IMAG1650.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The closing act featured nasturtiums (edible flowers) with buttermilk ice-cream. Paired with a 2007 Domaine Huet Vouuvray Pétíllant Brut from the Loire Valley France (seemingly the only item of the evening not sourced locally). Second dessert was pears cooked in embers with hazelnuts. Then, just to put the final knife in us, one last snack, a house-made caramel with flax seed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After our meal, we were able to wander into the kitchen and talk with chef Blaine. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">We asked Blaine what was next and he shared that he's focused on finishing the year at the inn (it closes down for a few months during the winter) and then enjoying his time-off. He plans to travel to Europe and do some snowboarding locally.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r9LMP4tVDac/UKHlEvjNdwI/AAAAAAAAI9U/SQ2w9ZX3FSU/s1600/IMAG1662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r9LMP4tVDac/UKHlEvjNdwI/AAAAAAAAI9U/SQ2w9ZX3FSU/s320/IMAG1662.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Luckily, we were guests at the Willows Inn that night and all we had to do was climb the stairs. Even better, in the morning all we had to do was come back down those stairs for breakfast in the dining room.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salmon quiche, home-made granola, celery root hash brown and bread all served with fresh apple cider</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL6DQFVfxSwZUkgBfhCvWc021BKaEtj-ZKIA9TDg3OE5V9V9vcRiv-NKMsrOsSYgH-O5MjxRboxF7gZdxbe1Xsj9TfpKS7Tc-gUVPuR792XXwvw8lQcJ3Jeh-HSJIDc7fyvPk5SQ3i1I/s1600/IMG_1824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL6DQFVfxSwZUkgBfhCvWc021BKaEtj-ZKIA9TDg3OE5V9V9vcRiv-NKMsrOsSYgH-O5MjxRboxF7gZdxbe1Xsj9TfpKS7Tc-gUVPuR792XXwvw8lQcJ3Jeh-HSJIDc7fyvPk5SQ3i1I/s200/IMG_1824.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bald Eagle & San Juan Islands</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZlQep8WU0hCpfeoK0rfRTMo-30rn3_pZKpBsHulTzTWSZ1UEup6Ys82jygDa5xHEV7OG3b4nQ1UAkQu7M_WrLajX2TdwoZjHI-KpKeFUmMdwjcet-xrXGPFWHeW7veO_PDuINugvkOA/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZlQep8WU0hCpfeoK0rfRTMo-30rn3_pZKpBsHulTzTWSZ1UEup6Ys82jygDa5xHEV7OG3b4nQ1UAkQu7M_WrLajX2TdwoZjHI-KpKeFUmMdwjcet-xrXGPFWHeW7veO_PDuINugvkOA/s200/IMG_1821.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Obviously, it was hard to say good-bye to this food wonderland. We spent some time in the hotel lobby delaying our departure a bit by reading, but check-out time came and we realized it was time to go. As we reluctantly left the inn, we glanced out at the beautiful ocean view in front of us where we could see several of the San Juan Islands off in the distance and then suddenly saw a majestic bald eagle circling the water prowling for its own breakfast. On our walk to the parking lot we saw the</span><span style="line-height: 21px;"> smokehouse that chef Wetzel described the night before where chefs smoke anything from salmon to venison to bacon. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Inn's smokehouse</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ro visiting one of the artist studios</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FaLfSRvjXQg/UMOHFQPvV_I/AAAAAAAAKac/GILL2-Tdf7g/s1600/IMAG1669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FaLfSRvjXQg/UMOHFQPvV_I/AAAAAAAAKac/GILL2-Tdf7g/s200/IMAG1669.jpg" width="112" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rc2SOaHSEz4/UKHlEn4haTI/AAAAAAAAI30/MIGcPilJhtI/s1600/IMAG1670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rc2SOaHSEz4/UKHlEn4haTI/AAAAAAAAI30/MIGcPilJhtI/s200/IMAG1670.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It just happened to be the Lummi Island Artist's Studio Tour the weekend we visited the island. Come to find out the island is home to many talented artisans. Prepared with our handy reference <a href="http://www.lummi-island.com/image-li/ArtistTour.pdf">map</a>, we stopped first at the studio (#8 on the map) of <a href="http://www.ria-harboe.com/">Ria Harboe</a> (check out her work by clicking her name)</span><span style="font-family: TT225t00; font-size: 15px;">.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> As it turns out, Ria used to be an employee of the Willows Inn so we were able to talk story (Hawaiian term) with her about how things have changed with the recent success of the restaurant and how islanders feel about it. It's definitely a mixed review with both positive and negative aspects. Ria's work was beautiful, and how could she not be inspired with the view of the Pacific ocean from her studio window. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the studios we stopped at was upstairs in a big red barn. We passed a rooster and a horse on our way to see Ingrid McGarry's work. The painting she was working on at the time was from a photo she took of Lummi's "unofficial mayor." Apparently this man meets all the island children everyday at the ferry as they return from the mainland.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdj6a9H8jJsqaqoa1i5og4zoP9B7MOgDMwpw4nLHpUVm9ViKpL0tPvRXhDjnj1y7vGFCMk9JbRn3V4FDfrzS5zY42j9y7LLzBbpKK6RJuuhITZlHTs1QsSSoFYM3fKdGetEI-hjKhgBE/s1600/IMG_1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdj6a9H8jJsqaqoa1i5og4zoP9B7MOgDMwpw4nLHpUVm9ViKpL0tPvRXhDjnj1y7vGFCMk9JbRn3V4FDfrzS5zY42j9y7LLzBbpKK6RJuuhITZlHTs1QsSSoFYM3fKdGetEI-hjKhgBE/s200/IMG_1834.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7lN8doRtcOs/UKHlEpq5AzI/AAAAAAAAI4I/PMQ9NwtL1VU/s1600/IMAG1685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7lN8doRtcOs/UKHlEpq5AzI/AAAAAAAAI4I/PMQ9NwtL1VU/s200/IMAG1685.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We made it to a majority of the stops on the artist's tour, but by then our breakfast had worn off and we needed to refuel. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For our final meal on the island we stopped at the Beach Store </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Café, which we quickly realized is the hangout for the Willow's Inn staff as we saw two tables full of chefs and servers from our meal the night before. We split an Italian meatball sandwich and a crab sandwich-- sort of a sandwich contest. The fresh crab sandwich won by a landslide. We sat by the window of the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">café which had a view of the Lummi ferry dock where we would soon be catching a ride back to the mainland. The Whatcom Chief (name of the ferry) holds maybe two dozen cars on its open-air deck (probably the smallest ferry known to man).</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QIF1zg6HI50/UMOHFTLRnCI/AAAAAAAAKac/FxQx-BmAv-8/s1600/IMAG1599.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QIF1zg6HI50/UMOHFTLRnCI/AAAAAAAAKac/FxQx-BmAv-8/s320/IMAG1599.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The non-food highlight of our trip to Lummi was a pre-island stop to meet Miss Ellie for the first time. Her parents Steph & Julie and brother Jake live in nearby Ferndale so we don't get to see and spend time with them as much as we would like. We took the opportunity to stop for a quick visit. Ellie is beautiful and was such a good baby during our visit. She did start to get tired and fussy (much like FloJo) so Steph showed us how they use a white noise app on her iPhone to simulate the sound of a vacuum, which is apparently what works for Ellie to relax. Our money's on this little one becoming a girl wonder in her own right--just wait for that blog in about twenty years.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ct-NwlRGEeg/UKHlEgtnw-I/AAAAAAAAI4k/-nHbn1vXx0w/s1600/IMAG1612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ct-NwlRGEeg/UKHlEgtnw-I/AAAAAAAAI4k/-nHbn1vXx0w/s320/IMAG1612.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9KUXWiLbM6I/UKHlEkFsSRI/AAAAAAAAI9g/sElxCv5ewgY/s1600/IMAG1608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9KUXWiLbM6I/UKHlEkFsSRI/AAAAAAAAI9g/sElxCv5ewgY/s200/IMAG1608.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="112" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our trip to Willows Inn and the incredible meal will remain special not just because of the event we were celebrating (one year together), but because of the care, attention and layering of generations of chefs coming together in this harmonious, enchanting and divinely orchestrated night. Perfection on a plate and for us Northwesterns even better that it's right in our own backyard!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live life with flavor and fun!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhgSylNxH8msyy6zV7Mk2thyT0drIHixBFXPjMvCb4NhfM79gbLOWSSQFHzetsidXP9cpsCk9QQp1lGPI-pCaiYJ4KBdmwwdHYgSKdt1DQAcc8ZzbazjvYSuizj-bRFKYl3eyBlIQP_M/s1600/IMG_1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhgSylNxH8msyy6zV7Mk2thyT0drIHixBFXPjMvCb4NhfM79gbLOWSSQFHzetsidXP9cpsCk9QQp1lGPI-pCaiYJ4KBdmwwdHYgSKdt1DQAcc8ZzbazjvYSuizj-bRFKYl3eyBlIQP_M/s200/IMG_1812.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;">Willows Inn</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2579 West Shore Dr. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lummi Island, WA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(360) 758-2620</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dinner 10/2012 was $150/pp excluding tax/tip</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Beach Store Café</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A more casual affair with great views of the Lummi Island ferry. The Willows Inn sous-chef is in charge here and expect to see many of the staff from the inn hanging out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Lunch on 10/2012 was $40</span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> excluding tax/tip</span></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2200 N. Nugent Rd.; 360-758-2233</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To follow the adventures of Chef Blaine check out the Farm to Table </span><a href="http://www.willows-inn.com/farm-to-table/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">blog</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blaine Wetzel Recipes:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/grilled-oysters-with-spiced-tequila-butter" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grilled Oysters with Spiced Tequila Butter</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://edibleseattle.com/recipes/beef-cheeks-with-grilled-scallion-puree.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beef Cheeks with Grilled Scallion Puree</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/88/1517291/restaurant/Bellingham/The-Willows-Inn-Lummi-Island"><img alt="The Willows Inn on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1517291/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; padding: 0px; width: 130px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.dwellable.com/a/2835/Washington-State/San-Juan-Islands/Lummi-Island/Vacation-Rentals" style="border: none;"><img src="http://www.dwellable.com/dwellback/2835.jpg" style="border: none; height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 102px;" /><br />Lummi Island on Dwellable</a></div>
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-55068870168960611282012-12-01T11:07:00.000-08:002013-01-09T16:11:43.644-08:00The Hills Are Alive...<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieek6CBnHr86DVc0e6ae4UY9ansFvcuSH3JXWHUmFoQC_YqDTeNCtX1FUZen1XHN3X45514uzjdZuGPCYJEvRVEdrYF-Gmb_WL8DL556RstxOxrYgH1jyt_Z9ny-TFILB6erfGyeyGpk/s1600/IMG_1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieek6CBnHr86DVc0e6ae4UY9ansFvcuSH3JXWHUmFoQC_YqDTeNCtX1FUZen1XHN3X45514uzjdZuGPCYJEvRVEdrYF-Gmb_WL8DL556RstxOxrYgH1jyt_Z9ny-TFILB6erfGyeyGpk/s320/IMG_1090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hills are alive....with flowing vino! Just kidding we know that isn't the lyrics, but wouldn't it be awesome?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwXiG77zxyQsZFYX7Al8qzTMT0Tovdnce3dTe0K8MGwrtd3ZSHRMjSW7yr9x5hrUF_pfKeWuVGWBJ0TDANtg78sTdoL_BboE6xw62ODqtXs_85BCyqQIPKgOa-0XIhmDB6dH906eM1uM/s1600/P1070577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwXiG77zxyQsZFYX7Al8qzTMT0Tovdnce3dTe0K8MGwrtd3ZSHRMjSW7yr9x5hrUF_pfKeWuVGWBJ0TDANtg78sTdoL_BboE6xw62ODqtXs_85BCyqQIPKgOa-0XIhmDB6dH906eM1uM/s200/P1070577.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As most of you know by now we stayed in Umbria, which if you look at a map of Italy, is the only region located within the "boot shaft" that is completely land locked. The area is mostly rural and abundantly blessed with beautiful landscapes and towns built on the tops of the surrounding hills. The closet hill town to us was Orvieto, which we visited a few days out of the week mostly because it was the closet place we could get wi-fi (we had to have a little data fix). You can read more about Umbria in our previous blog <a href="http://50shadesofdelicious.blogspot.com/2012/10/under-umbrian-moon.html">here</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Yg0PRt9sLNK5o2bKcmwyyNr1GmyhF0azCCxm_wKyxTj84kTn0B0Fgs_qD9hPeIDetieeAr3dwicPGodPQrbt4hIPi4qVxqArUNszR1hrNgZbUjIJ1aI86dYuYWPW2q4FUITT_JHr9no/s1600/P1070587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Yg0PRt9sLNK5o2bKcmwyyNr1GmyhF0azCCxm_wKyxTj84kTn0B0Fgs_qD9hPeIDetieeAr3dwicPGodPQrbt4hIPi4qVxqArUNszR1hrNgZbUjIJ1aI86dYuYWPW2q4FUITT_JHr9no/s200/P1070587.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pZzHrnyvTTxSZKOc_9CYKsmcV08U-o6ITCSb3tw67NhLxiJ_0vsVGXG8uj_Rdre8UJK82v946kisbuBezFr9Wj91hrP9JgiA1CgpziKivyDRwcxx3UWE8rxfrrJMSC8ZBWZMDn_yw2E/s1600/P1070586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pZzHrnyvTTxSZKOc_9CYKsmcV08U-o6ITCSb3tw67NhLxiJ_0vsVGXG8uj_Rdre8UJK82v946kisbuBezFr9Wj91hrP9JgiA1CgpziKivyDRwcxx3UWE8rxfrrJMSC8ZBWZMDn_yw2E/s320/P1070586.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How big is this hill town?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later in the week we were anxious to stretch our wings and go a little beyond our immediate little town and surroundings. We took the advice of our hostess Cecilia and a newlywed couple staying at the vineyard in a different cottage. They both highly recommended Civita di Bagnoregio a true town on top of a hill isolated because it has limited access by car. Rick Steves describes the town best, "please approach [Civita] with the same respect and sensitivity you would a dying relative, because - in a sense - that's Civita." Civita was once a thriving town founded by the Etruscans over twenty-five hundred years ago. However, the population has dwindled to just fifteen residents over the course of time due to unstable geological reasons and the town's inability to adjust to modern times (accessibility by automobile seeming the most glaring reason). </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The steep climb into town--anyone got a mountain goat?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2bOr4u7Qg_qc58hAxQr3zjlMoFt-W8mrjcxBeD_nwXC8m0blZuK7BleVqySOySFHvNy2nJI3u8Wj9sEmDKkwHdKd4z23jJ1JASJwxTKOskvnYvv6_N29ko0J5pZ-76eqLJpP3KUZqiI/s1600/P1070589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2bOr4u7Qg_qc58hAxQr3zjlMoFt-W8mrjcxBeD_nwXC8m0blZuK7BleVqySOySFHvNy2nJI3u8Wj9sEmDKkwHdKd4z23jJ1JASJwxTKOskvnYvv6_N29ko0J5pZ-76eqLJpP3KUZqiI/s200/P1070589.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabi and FloJo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may be a dying town, but it's a photographer</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'s Disneyland. As we approached the lookout point before making our descent to the footbridge, Civita protrudes out of the wide valley with rolling hills and desert like landscapes in the background. It was so picturesque. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7g5hAUCRsFg8y09jtj46JCp4N3q-UFjoRf9Fo1jYo4KaSt4MxxrNgUVigRMy2mDxRDltpE47O9pO_oviYtMCGxwlDx5pslEu8G8WI6VoYacX88OCzBgIdiUZT1DFwRUHZY8ZaAu7H8w/s1600/P1070588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7g5hAUCRsFg8y09jtj46JCp4N3q-UFjoRf9Fo1jYo4KaSt4MxxrNgUVigRMy2mDxRDltpE47O9pO_oviYtMCGxwlDx5pslEu8G8WI6VoYacX88OCzBgIdiUZT1DFwRUHZY8ZaAu7H8w/s320/P1070588.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ro and FloJo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, we didn't have the luxury of a funicular (as in Orvieto) to get us to the top of the hill town. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we made our descent from where we parked and approached the footbridge we contemplated whether to make the trek or head back the other direction where a few of our friends were camped around a table ordering drinks. From the lookout point where those friends decided to stop, the climb doesn't seem so bad. It doesn't seem daunting until the moment you arrive at the bottom of the approach and gaze up the hill toward Civita and realize the scale. Oh boy--why didn't we go to yoga more often before we left? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The moment of truth was before us.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We asked ourselves "how often are we here?" Done. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDjGwnW_rESXGSKESr7-HFKd-uT6zlHEy_Iyn8p27mPknjgl-alnzpwrMtj9NHqBdmO5-EQeq5Ud7Q5qHIOny2AkNz6ZclIJ1NleyqVlGLm_mJcrrRbhfEGFdvBgAFVXP33_ttSZbHKg/s1600/P1070604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDjGwnW_rESXGSKESr7-HFKd-uT6zlHEy_Iyn8p27mPknjgl-alnzpwrMtj9NHqBdmO5-EQeq5Ud7Q5qHIOny2AkNz6ZclIJ1NleyqVlGLm_mJcrrRbhfEGFdvBgAFVXP33_ttSZbHKg/s320/P1070604.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabi and Betsy post-climb</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMWxe0Sv78Up417hICD9gWIiuQaxoTPbCyrrcIIq1P-iaQfdQ2mHuTdrrV0eW4ylVwk3Xku4PrxMLiqE84-TaPNrPNADdblOZgL1vGhfMWWQqojIW6KRGXPL4oZ0cUV7PfvtSwqMWLGA/s1600/P1070602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMWxe0Sv78Up417hICD9gWIiuQaxoTPbCyrrcIIq1P-iaQfdQ2mHuTdrrV0eW4ylVwk3Xku4PrxMLiqE84-TaPNrPNADdblOZgL1vGhfMWWQqojIW6KRGXPL4oZ0cUV7PfvtSwqMWLGA/s200/P1070602.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5eJBmmPbO1i7fLh8cGNTyF-E4eaghiEdAabn2aAnSNrNEoN2QVDrBPNlWLKLi20FBhAycXRTghmMIihJtXHLotFm0n9Ovg4VVoroZBEuCLLjIpoizIQh9SqDr1IiWpI0_IR31QtTAko/s1600/P1070607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5eJBmmPbO1i7fLh8cGNTyF-E4eaghiEdAabn2aAnSNrNEoN2QVDrBPNlWLKLi20FBhAycXRTghmMIihJtXHLotFm0n9Ovg4VVoroZBEuCLLjIpoizIQh9SqDr1IiWpI0_IR31QtTAko/s200/P1070607.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we entered under the town's massive Romanesque arch, the decision to make the trip up the steep hill suddenly was worth it. It was if we had suddenly time traveled and were entering the 12th century. If there were residents here we would have expected them to be exchanging goods and services and bartering in the main square for their daily meals. Instead, we did find that the stores took euros. That may have been the one and only thing that has changed through the centuries. We could very easily picture ourselves in a much older time. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qYEbaUNe7HxVo60chr2PriGc7MgMHUBlIwv8yr9Bf-vb3ngkKhwCEl4pHwEVX4nQmkVfmvuU2Wq-vS8OAbQRUOhzQCfLSc2qdZNQHniV_xqScsZw0A3Lp6b1SbazeK-0LfxecjI1il4/s1600/P1070619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qYEbaUNe7HxVo60chr2PriGc7MgMHUBlIwv8yr9Bf-vb3ngkKhwCEl4pHwEVX4nQmkVfmvuU2Wq-vS8OAbQRUOhzQCfLSc2qdZNQHniV_xqScsZw0A3Lp6b1SbazeK-0LfxecjI1il4/s320/P1070619.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What should we order?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWnDhaRZGlY-RaH04ybmNXOx6Yd5sM8ih7rCogqDKiUCfyZ-xE_kuqb51lFFXL8qFiAL1mpKCNrn5JCJ4wcB9S_GPBd5mpMp6kCxOlhGW4S-Q-rjJfWHuc1YRGw-ddF3Xas2e8U0ubbg/s1600/IMG_1077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWnDhaRZGlY-RaH04ybmNXOx6Yd5sM8ih7rCogqDKiUCfyZ-xE_kuqb51lFFXL8qFiAL1mpKCNrn5JCJ4wcB9S_GPBd5mpMp6kCxOlhGW4S-Q-rjJfWHuc1YRGw-ddF3Xas2e8U0ubbg/s200/IMG_1077.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aperol Spritz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ttaYkvtyw7j-feRTI5mfx7G_ltl53dlaafqYyp4goNTD4gwiHhN_9vcx52t2I6Ok9ZsYcYiJKqpNcPD76TcT36P11vHGqxAA4Lz2Oesmf8v64APSteqhFbV-7LnpRDnZqhBqXceZAPQ/s1600/P1070615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ttaYkvtyw7j-feRTI5mfx7G_ltl53dlaafqYyp4goNTD4gwiHhN_9vcx52t2I6Ok9ZsYcYiJKqpNcPD76TcT36P11vHGqxAA4Lz2Oesmf8v64APSteqhFbV-7LnpRDnZqhBqXceZAPQ/s200/P1070615.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tagliatelle with beautiful mushrooms</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our tummies decided it was time for lunch so we ate at a little trattoria overlooking the only piazza in town, which also appeared to be the town's heartbeat. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHztyUrYnCTruISJJsqWV0L4Vsw_7NwywmgSogVeN0WmVwV0pspKUzoZjoCnnJa_sSOn8nj311_RDTwKQJ4ThBVmaL48gw8pvzFZQhDojP69Aknev9f11OeEBSCgU7Vx9Ez3IqJCLS00/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHztyUrYnCTruISJJsqWV0L4Vsw_7NwywmgSogVeN0WmVwV0pspKUzoZjoCnnJa_sSOn8nj311_RDTwKQJ4ThBVmaL48gw8pvzFZQhDojP69Aknev9f11OeEBSCgU7Vx9Ez3IqJCLS00/s200/IMG_1084.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good to the last drop!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANbLArjyEuKEM0Qn_qKPQfWmxEJygzKWvXVDimjQRye2a-f0BBygSWbtatkO1a8dv0jLGSmAnQADyOaVdrP9-wNVaKpQMHBoJRVDoTVTsQEBJpoJmU4nU6HF1VsoQthd57JtjNeu658Y/s1600/IMG_1075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANbLArjyEuKEM0Qn_qKPQfWmxEJygzKWvXVDimjQRye2a-f0BBygSWbtatkO1a8dv0jLGSmAnQADyOaVdrP9-wNVaKpQMHBoJRVDoTVTsQEBJpoJmU4nU6HF1VsoQthd57JtjNeu658Y/s200/IMG_1075.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We gathered around two tables on the side of the square. FloJo ordered an <a href="http://theitaliandishblog.com/imported-20090913150324/2010/3/21/aperol-spritz-cocktail.html">Aperol Spritz</a>, and thus the love affair began (which would be revisted throughout the rest of the trip around Italy). We shared a salad with the table, next a proscuitto sampler and mushroom tagliatelle as our entree. All washed down with a nice bottle of Grechetto, which is a local grape grown mostly in the Umbria region. As we sat for our "normal" two hour lunch, we enjoyed each other</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'s company and took in the sights of this "dying" town, which still seemed to have a steady heartbeat. It wasn't crowded at all and we watched people leisurely stroll by with their dogs who wanted to chase after the numerous stray cats that are permanent fixtures in this hill town (and the cat population alone should keep Civita inhabited for quite some time).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW5q0W2OIfpnRX5uHUayRwEyXcfGUlL2AOgLRo2eE9QKt_laNa0rMg_dg2DsRn6IX2Zs8VeztoNoH5YWehHNTsT56SPqaE0VFQ1-Ztr5VYsNSJNFKPznxfSZYpQUZ-dBcfPmbIViAqv4/s1600/P1070608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW5q0W2OIfpnRX5uHUayRwEyXcfGUlL2AOgLRo2eE9QKt_laNa0rMg_dg2DsRn6IX2Zs8VeztoNoH5YWehHNTsT56SPqaE0VFQ1-Ztr5VYsNSJNFKPznxfSZYpQUZ-dBcfPmbIViAqv4/s200/P1070608.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQi4-72x4m__sNOuj5QQw0scXIdrOzn6VdV_Dp0ySCr21N4AU-TK5VlFRS7crM5Pr44XJfd234JYyqaqw-lY3G9Z7N8rSxz-yQARq5XltgpQ_gi0oxpreS-hQdW5qUNRC3OIXUBr4qYI/s1600/P1070611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQi4-72x4m__sNOuj5QQw0scXIdrOzn6VdV_Dp0ySCr21N4AU-TK5VlFRS7crM5Pr44XJfd234JYyqaqw-lY3G9Z7N8rSxz-yQARq5XltgpQ_gi0oxpreS-hQdW5qUNRC3OIXUBr4qYI/s320/P1070611.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After filling our tummies, we explored more of this quaint little town. We visited the church, which was first an Etruscan temple and then a Roman temple before it was ever converted to a Roman Catholic church. It wasn't grand or flashy like the duomos we had previously seen in Orvieto and Florence. It was however, simple, rustic and a perfect fit for this tiny quaint hilltown. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we walked further into the labyrinth of streets, we stumbled across a bruschetteria with a huge sign declaring to all visitors that it had the Rick Steves stamp of travel approval. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwc-FQDCK_aWBbJ2-xGoD_z4pUzoWFI_fZaz7dt9Xb_exqs7Z4mpFM7BLJCG603A6-lid4Y_wm4PApxiL-ZmHivBQGWFlG_y6zs-4XSf0JEHLIVM4GoT87IPuvJCR-B6R-RTtOMJAvqA/s1600/P1070640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwc-FQDCK_aWBbJ2-xGoD_z4pUzoWFI_fZaz7dt9Xb_exqs7Z4mpFM7BLJCG603A6-lid4Y_wm4PApxiL-ZmHivBQGWFlG_y6zs-4XSf0JEHLIVM4GoT87IPuvJCR-B6R-RTtOMJAvqA/s200/P1070640.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old olive press</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We ventured inside to discover a collection of massive unused olive presses. The oldest olive press is about 1,500 years old. Bunches of olives are place on a carved out circular stone. A very heavy stone shaped like a wheel is placed on top of the olives used to crush the olives and is pushed by a donkey that is blindfolded in a circle (the donkey was not present the day we visited). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5fnsNzVZnSPDJMrUP4cJC2HN8AJ8MvmRwNhfbCYUbQl09-wB8uCoeoaNW13sRvwENCo1hp-LLNcmDl45jqwEoZBgstwrAEoKy_m2OLk-ANO-YlcWLM6DVKetlo0DTz591yGM9KBXZuQ/s1600/P1070623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5fnsNzVZnSPDJMrUP4cJC2HN8AJ8MvmRwNhfbCYUbQl09-wB8uCoeoaNW13sRvwENCo1hp-LLNcmDl45jqwEoZBgstwrAEoKy_m2OLk-ANO-YlcWLM6DVKetlo0DTz591yGM9KBXZuQ/s320/P1070623.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We concluded our visit by taking pictures of the breathtaking views of the valley below us and decided to help the local economy by purchasing a few items (including black truffles FloJo had been searching for) at a store we saw when we first walked through the archway. While in the store we came across a picture circa the 1960s, which showed a picture of the footbridge with a donkey on it carrying goods from the hill town (possibly olive oil). We're told the donkeys were replaced by Vespas just in recent years. The town that time has barely touched.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The picture was another reminder of how this hill town has survived the modern movement and kept its stories entact within the high walls that surround the town a top a hill. Those stories protected much as the inhabitants were from invaders centuries earlier. We felt lucky to have made the treck and to have made some memories of our own. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live life with flavor and fun!</span><br />
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Rohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02190725970093433967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-32608655190121550912012-11-25T09:47:00.000-08:002013-01-09T16:10:03.901-08:00Color us Thankful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6qYUmpgvYC7XO8_5GkE2IUqDQyGta3fetELKz1enRoK74H0oCEz0D_JtGGPwDpQiG2e_KX5D2940CA4rrpG-cQoBBdhH_IHbdRToyEP18E5MYjcpShHg3lPF8CvsW2fbWvmQ0E6z_Xs/s1600/HAPPY-TURKEY-DAY-FUNNY-PICTURE-NOT-A-TURKEY.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6qYUmpgvYC7XO8_5GkE2IUqDQyGta3fetELKz1enRoK74H0oCEz0D_JtGGPwDpQiG2e_KX5D2940CA4rrpG-cQoBBdhH_IHbdRToyEP18E5MYjcpShHg3lPF8CvsW2fbWvmQ0E6z_Xs/s1600/HAPPY-TURKEY-DAY-FUNNY-PICTURE-NOT-A-TURKEY.jpeg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past week was Thanksgiving and we hosted the first annual Friendsgiving. It was Ro's first ever year as a hostess. As the plans started being made for the event and the work of shopping, prepping and cleaning began she doubted the logic of why hosting was fun. Gone were her days of sleeping in on the holiday until 10 a.m., going to the store (day of) to buy some crackers and cheese and then driving to someone else's house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a total of ten friends and family gathered around our table this year. Ages spanning from seventy to teenager. Oh and there were two dogs (a Husky and Australian Shepard doodle, who actually did bark in an Australian accent). Both of the four legged guests mostly enjoyed hanging out in the kitchen waiting for any morsel to fall.</span><br />
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FloJo is a recovering perfectionist and enjoys preparing a menu full of traditional classics as well as new dishes never tried before. The challenge for next year has already been established-- modify the Italian Mother-in-Law dressing served this year to Hawaiian Mother-in-Law dressing for next year's menu.</span><br />
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This is a favorite holiday of the year, one that brings not only delicious food, but the people most dear to the table to celebrate all that is good together. Particularly this year, it hit home that it's not what's on the table that matters the most, but the people who are around it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02G1OrVDtB8BSBHNH4wIiSmhQwuZV94sEXNhCBpAzyILj-4ooUWEvw9OTcMwQVu_liucGRvtpoG4CEfq3c6CoVSpzK3OObNjdST0m5iuVKGv8drA_Y0fX84jLMltVqxYnx0OnvJZjKZs/s1600/IMAG1740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02G1OrVDtB8BSBHNH4wIiSmhQwuZV94sEXNhCBpAzyILj-4ooUWEvw9OTcMwQVu_liucGRvtpoG4CEfq3c6CoVSpzK3OObNjdST0m5iuVKGv8drA_Y0fX84jLMltVqxYnx0OnvJZjKZs/s320/IMAG1740.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our friends Carolyn and Kelly recently lost their dear Mother Mary. They each took turns sharing a very touching story that will be particularly memorable for years to come. </span><br />
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Carolyn's father was an American History teacher. One summer they all took a trip as a family to Washington D.C. and the Smithsonian Museum. At one of the exhibits they had learned that the pilgrims during their 2nd winter survived on only 5 kernels of corn a day as rationing had to be done to ensure there was enough food to make it through the very harsh winter. Mary had been so moved by that experience that she reminded the kids every Thanksgiving by reciting <a href="http://www.poofcat.com/thanks7.html" target="_blank">The Legend of The Five Kernels</a> at their Thanksgiving table. It was a such a sweet tribute to Mary and her tradition now lives on, not only with her children, but a new expanded family.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzv_JALfyyj0Kf0-Hh8xTydzvvhnAsZjzpOKA3hjUx1plXuDojiJ-sw2OMLyDZInD3R5WEZRdeeIYIzuG4ggksod7sDXiSKdHCcMtVUKnam8fzc3X4cshVOYTJpM9W056hjE2Nf0wat0/s1600/IMAG1722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzv_JALfyyj0Kf0-Hh8xTydzvvhnAsZjzpOKA3hjUx1plXuDojiJ-sw2OMLyDZInD3R5WEZRdeeIYIzuG4ggksod7sDXiSKdHCcMtVUKnam8fzc3X4cshVOYTJpM9W056hjE2Nf0wat0/s200/IMAG1722.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were very blessed to have a bountiful feast this year including a record, two turkeys this year. We had two turkeys mainly because the smoked turkey was an experiment and we weren't sure it was going to turn out. The back-up turkey was a Guinness-brined turkey. It was a pretty even split by the guests as to which their favorite was. We will get a Survey Monkey electronic poll in place for next year so we have more accurate results.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMrCdkXzHTH7ekFv1nJJXFe_mfjCQEb0xgEkXYLOgYsKK0n2-_swcgukMjLGcMaJH7YTtofvblK8gUCzV_3VFl9uFZC-BjjBJ1Tw9Z6ERbjDVxg8AFYtgxKY4k4TEQDmqphOLhK0aQe4/s1600/IMAG1723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMrCdkXzHTH7ekFv1nJJXFe_mfjCQEb0xgEkXYLOgYsKK0n2-_swcgukMjLGcMaJH7YTtofvblK8gUCzV_3VFl9uFZC-BjjBJ1Tw9Z6ERbjDVxg8AFYtgxKY4k4TEQDmqphOLhK0aQe4/s320/IMAG1723.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pinning the wings</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The process to smoke the turkey was fairly simple. Prep the turkey as you normally would (removing all the extra parts stored in the cavity and reserving for gravy or stock). Lighting the charcoal (which proved to be the most difficult feat of the whole adventure). We covered the bird with olive oil, salt and pepper and a BBQ seasoning. Put some butter and herbs under the skin of the breast and stuffed the cavity with rosemary and lemons. Turkey pins come in handy to pin the floppy wings to the body of the turkey.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2maq014XPlJXI2jGhgh_UBq2jXSbSH5Eor4ksN40NuaIQgJXudlXpg-8vhbKp6ObCgLFzfwE_mBAjEF3ANZ2gJn2Gt8kOFm6NG1kMnegt5J_viOHCcJ_VbDOy7SPBtsoWUF26Xo8BOlE/s1600/IMAG1720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2maq014XPlJXI2jGhgh_UBq2jXSbSH5Eor4ksN40NuaIQgJXudlXpg-8vhbKp6ObCgLFzfwE_mBAjEF3ANZ2gJn2Gt8kOFm6NG1kMnegt5J_viOHCcJ_VbDOy7SPBtsoWUF26Xo8BOlE/s200/IMAG1720.jpg" width="112" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9KL3uCPEdraA1ZHVAExpevVFUvuYQEVG65ulmnvaxseLd6Gd52YIudHbno8wUWu7nCL_Anx9elSeFxuWRc5n2MFMx_16aCGCZ3VykMOuauwAD9vvsWwtE5bIA8XDaMrPFjWjGpQMzbw/s1600/IMAG1717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9KL3uCPEdraA1ZHVAExpevVFUvuYQEVG65ulmnvaxseLd6Gd52YIudHbno8wUWu7nCL_Anx9elSeFxuWRc5n2MFMx_16aCGCZ3VykMOuauwAD9vvsWwtE5bIA8XDaMrPFjWjGpQMzbw/s200/IMAG1717.jpg" width="112" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the coals were hot, they were placed on the bottom tray of the smoker with some cherry wood, next a pan of water and finally the turkey rested on the top rack. Total cooking time (in the Seattle rain to boot) was approximately 8 hours. It's pretty low maintenance, but you do have to check on it about every hour to make sure the coals remain hot and occasionally add more charcoal or wood to the fire.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJ7Vz2D4NvQxezZ-OEeeXOvb_rhE0yxS7DXwZn3Bnu_FswIqeowhupRFfb2PH4-q1zNrZxgPKf70iASAv7iDlxrrpuV4y5prK-3Jp37ZxVHxBh14xa_btAmiC2e_T65YFSEuIX-KQdOE/s1600/IMAG1733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJ7Vz2D4NvQxezZ-OEeeXOvb_rhE0yxS7DXwZn3Bnu_FswIqeowhupRFfb2PH4-q1zNrZxgPKf70iASAv7iDlxrrpuV4y5prK-3Jp37ZxVHxBh14xa_btAmiC2e_T65YFSEuIX-KQdOE/s320/IMAG1733.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Both Ro and her nephew Po (so cute how they rhyme) were amazed how moist the smoked turkey was when it was finally done. It smelled like a campfire and had that rich smoky flavor, which is very distinctive. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4f7a_MKiGO608YbpMV6qHaMnj-u1bZMtw1r7S_tcbpzlBNTLUJOfqURdAPQmsGSxWl_c3hNtUWgIoMqoJhucRODjVDtE9_44Z20zxS-U5dDRM0vnkMKFUBFAUjMIl8P0_6okQx3S-Uo/s1600/IMAG1731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4f7a_MKiGO608YbpMV6qHaMnj-u1bZMtw1r7S_tcbpzlBNTLUJOfqURdAPQmsGSxWl_c3hNtUWgIoMqoJhucRODjVDtE9_44Z20zxS-U5dDRM0vnkMKFUBFAUjMIl8P0_6okQx3S-Uo/s320/IMAG1731.jpg" width="179" /></span></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Homemade turkey stock</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The nice thing about making a turkey the day before was being able to use the bones and carcass to boil with onions, celery, carrots, fennel, thyme and rosemary to make a very rich stock for the Thanksgiving gravy (this year made by our friend Betsy).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The brine</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0wmM3yO13E3kD88cmBWu7gfyaTDSWM4e2BBEYJabto6Ww-L7o5IvpqiQGDnbJeh1yZ6g9A2-eXKK5VwWDrDIfbdhw7KwxJ0IIzspryU3ZHPTyvnnyH6DJirb5cLdwkRtYKgxiVRXotM/s1600/IMAG1727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0wmM3yO13E3kD88cmBWu7gfyaTDSWM4e2BBEYJabto6Ww-L7o5IvpqiQGDnbJeh1yZ6g9A2-eXKK5VwWDrDIfbdhw7KwxJ0IIzspryU3ZHPTyvnnyH6DJirb5cLdwkRtYKgxiVRXotM/s200/IMAG1727.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turkey #2 also required some work the day before Thanksgiving. This turkey got to brine in a bath that consisted of salt, onions, bacon, mustard and coriander seeds, peppercorns and the star ingredient Guinness Beer. It soaked in that concoction overnight (we're still not sure how we found room in the refrigerator for it).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq5zH6fWg3aWCbAvzHtXsN14bVibYM854NDv5u8eZk112jCSFEXs93Vu4LjeOv-JUWAspHAibnKos78jLUwbllqVg7FoBSRU3KYbR9uv3DOe6LB5y2pm_76O5V5-fWsEzX4vVBEQ5DEQ/s1600/IMAG1738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq5zH6fWg3aWCbAvzHtXsN14bVibYM854NDv5u8eZk112jCSFEXs93Vu4LjeOv-JUWAspHAibnKos78jLUwbllqVg7FoBSRU3KYbR9uv3DOe6LB5y2pm_76O5V5-fWsEzX4vVBEQ5DEQ/s200/IMAG1738.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgoZOO-fSm8gP9WQxo6ultrfJQsfB06w86KLIIlZlVV7XJTCAyGsggfc1ClNLQbeIPWP-xF3AOtYP-Do_S-2T3lwdmcjOWNw6au33O32Pfi0oCE9qvlQn4AM56zMHIoTAsTGNNMfcszs/s1600/IMAG1737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgoZOO-fSm8gP9WQxo6ultrfJQsfB06w86KLIIlZlVV7XJTCAyGsggfc1ClNLQbeIPWP-xF3AOtYP-Do_S-2T3lwdmcjOWNw6au33O32Pfi0oCE9qvlQn4AM56zMHIoTAsTGNNMfcszs/s200/IMAG1737.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Thanksgiving day we had to keep the worker bees fed and energized. We ate a migas type breakfast served with black beans and cornbread Flojo made for the dressing. Then for lunch a healthy smoked turkey sandwich on multi-grain bread. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then it was on to the main meal of the day! Let's just say none of us were successful in following the Weight Watcher's guide to Thanksgiving, which is to make islands of each dish. Carolyn said it best, describing our plates as one continent vs. islands. It's Thanksgiving though-- and so fun to try so many different things in one meal. We were all happily stuffed after dinner and grateful to spend this evening together!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Pat, Betsy and Carolyn-- post feast chillaxin</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our 2012 Friendsgiving menu:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Appetizers: </u></b>Charcuterie Cones, Crudité with Green Goddess Dip and Pear Camembert Dip</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>1st Course:</u></b> Butternut squash soup garnished with sour cream, pepitas and thyme and <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/brussels-sprout-salad-with-pepitas-and-dates" target="_blank">Brussels Sprout Salad with Pepitas and Dates</a> (Betsy's favorite dish of the night) with Parker House rolls (Ro did a great job making these)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Main Course:</u></b> Smoked turkey, <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/roasted-beer-brined-turkey-with-onion-gravy-and-bacon" target="_blank">Roasted Guinness Brined Turkey</a>, mashed potatoes and gravy, <a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2012/11/italian-mother-in-law-dressing" target="_blank">Italian Mother-in-Law Dressing</a> (in honor of our recent trip to Italy), Cornbread Sausage Dressing, Corn Pudding (Pat), Roasted Carrots, Modern Green Bean Casserole and Cranberry-Orange Relish</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Desserts:</u></b> Apple Walnut Cake w/ Butter Sauce (Pat), Pumpkin Cream Pie, Pumpkin Pie (provided by Costco-- thanks for the tip Alix) and homemade Pumpkin Cinnamon ice-cream</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The food continent</span></td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Live life with flavor and fun!</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYP92hNlM0p5dKPFjazOdHkqu2YyQKjHixyce-dC2ldatzl8N7d8xr5UooLNsERl-tnRfQBu8BrllzOpEfcFlm3aL97F8xBLP5a-IRhkikGOnzAcZVuhlnmrah1miwNTdS2928zvD2j4/s1600/IMG_1052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYP92hNlM0p5dKPFjazOdHkqu2YyQKjHixyce-dC2ldatzl8N7d8xr5UooLNsERl-tnRfQBu8BrllzOpEfcFlm3aL97F8xBLP5a-IRhkikGOnzAcZVuhlnmrah1miwNTdS2928zvD2j4/s400/IMG_1052.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Po, Carolyn, Kelly, Ro, Dana, FloJo, Betsy, Pat, Kathy and David (FloJo's parents)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recipes made by Pat Bruce:</span></div>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>PAT'S CORN CASSEROLE</b></u> (Flojo's favorite dish of the night)
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can creamed corn
8 oz. sour cream
1 egg
1 Jiffy corn muffin mix
1 stick of butter (melt and use one to grease casserole dish)
Mix all together and bake uncovered 350 degrees. Be sure to use a deep enough dish as this rises quite a lot because of the muffin mix. </span></pre>
<pre style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>
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<pre style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px; white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>APPLE/WALNUT CAKE
</u></b>
1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
3 cups flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups peeled and diced apples
2 cups chopped walnuts. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs. Whip 5 minutes. Mix dry ingredients and add to batter. Add vanilla, apples and nuts. (I usually mix in the apples and nuts by hand, as the batter is really stiff.) Put in greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1-1/2 hours. Cool in pan 10-15 minutes.
<b><u>BUTTER SAUCE</u></b>
1 cup milk
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon water
Combine all in sauce pan. Stir constantly over medium heat until thickened. Refrigerate and warm before serving.</span></pre>
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-76114986168099303572012-11-18T20:27:00.000-08:002013-01-09T16:03:58.183-08:00Italian Cooking School: Move Over Giada<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cD-evdsl8hUhBsKs6ng8LHvE-ngO-FTbsaV2NckH5NH0AAkL8M_TWpbMCzzvbU4AtphIkPJB4E9K67EXkrZnp-_nXUyNnQ7jcPRq_WwkYTm_hgJr65DcOP1kcE0e4YaNgduOZBtCP-A/s1600/P1070392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cD-evdsl8hUhBsKs6ng8LHvE-ngO-FTbsaV2NckH5NH0AAkL8M_TWpbMCzzvbU4AtphIkPJB4E9K67EXkrZnp-_nXUyNnQ7jcPRq_WwkYTm_hgJr65DcOP1kcE0e4YaNgduOZBtCP-A/s320/P1070392.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cecilia-- the real deal!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the highlights of our stay in Umbria was a night of cooking school with our hostess/instructor Cecilia. We (the group of fourteen women who had traveled from the United States to spend a week in an Umbrian villa on the grounds of <a href="http://www.levelette.it/en/houses_holiday_orvieto_apartments_rent_umbria.htm">Le Velette</a> winery) all gathered around the kitchen table to absorb her cooking wisdom and try to learn how to make an authentic Italian dinner from scratch. The first dish we learned about roughly translates to turkey meatloaf. This wasn't your school lunch meatloaf. We would later confirm after eating the fruits of our cooking endeavors, this was the best meatloaf any of us had ever had.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVCpXRSsA1Q7MvBxV9X6KvpTcmKE9HDQUMJhZbpPxf3XP14cIxysOJthM3M4g-KxZyDzHYknBAPThltyauVXsfxvzGumvoheYarR_IR_rl-UrgjfXcdi3zAnarKwNCU_CDsrhRr_HW9A/s1600/P1070393.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVCpXRSsA1Q7MvBxV9X6KvpTcmKE9HDQUMJhZbpPxf3XP14cIxysOJthM3M4g-KxZyDzHYknBAPThltyauVXsfxvzGumvoheYarR_IR_rl-UrgjfXcdi3zAnarKwNCU_CDsrhRr_HW9A/s200/P1070393.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>Polpettone (Turkey Meatloaf)</b></u><br />The recipe was taught using grams and ratios. To quote Cecilia, our cooking instructor, "It's a more or less thing."</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00nDwITF_3kZATNczzELLlGuCvi-RGN-AGspDSZpIFRQUcJkQ4cg4OpV-Z6VV1ANBff-ZEF__fgs6sKw4Iqx40gEw8WwvKD2aq59xrXy6roZbVF7bG4scfFflSNXdAToH-GY5rM2rHvQ/s1600/P1000984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00nDwITF_3kZATNczzELLlGuCvi-RGN-AGspDSZpIFRQUcJkQ4cg4OpV-Z6VV1ANBff-ZEF__fgs6sKw4Iqx40gEw8WwvKD2aq59xrXy6roZbVF7bG4scfFflSNXdAToH-GY5rM2rHvQ/s200/P1000984.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betsy and Gabi</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2/3 turkey or 500 grams (approx 2 pounds)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 ricotta cheese or 300 grams (approx 1 pound)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 TBS of nutmeg or to taste (Cecilia was generous)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 eggs or the ratio of every 200 grams meat & cheese add an egg (or more if it's too solid)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese (Or for every 1000 kilos add 150 grams of shredded parmesan cheese). She used </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parmigiano-Reggiano" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parmigiano-Reggiano</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> don't use Romano (it's too salty)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salt- to taste the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is quite salty so don't over salt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup bread crumbs (for every 1,000 grams 150 grams)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups extra virgin olive oil (Le Velette makes their own)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 cups milk + more to add while cooking if necessary </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lb prosciutto thick slices</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directions:</b></span><br />
<ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00nDwITF_3kZATNczzELLlGuCvi-RGN-AGspDSZpIFRQUcJkQ4cg4OpV-Z6VV1ANBff-ZEF__fgs6sKw4Iqx40gEw8WwvKD2aq59xrXy6roZbVF7bG4scfFflSNXdAToH-GY5rM2rHvQ/s1600/P1000984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place the meat in a large mixing bowl. Drain the ricotta cheese and add it to the bowl with the meat. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next add the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to the bowl</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crack the eggs into the bowl</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add nutmeg and salt to taste</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix ingredients in bowl with hands until well blended (Cecilia recommends channeling someone you're really mad at to give you inspiration)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If mixture seems to solid, add another egg</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mold into loaves and wrap with 4-5 strips of proscuitto until loaf is completely wrapped up.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put 2-3 loafs into a large saucepan and completely cover with a mixture of 2/3 milk and 1/3 extra virgin olive oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poke a few holes in each loaf and then place on stovetop on medium-high heat</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cooking time will vary depending on how many loaves are in the pan and the amount of liquid, but it will be approximately an hour and a half. No need to stir the liquid as the olive oil will keep it from burning.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turn the loaves over at 45 minutes. If sauce has evaporated add more milk.</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76nySOcpsB9suZWek18NE4dYnXI-my5NxQFqKKPCBDRzZCujQulqS6nAteH1yyqQsdOWbACRP7Ym3lAtI7J1y0WwtJ3itnULo6xDvmSNIF5e5hUvWY-5MdA5wMibWfFCobPBWrbx4mm8/s200/P1000982.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Turkey meatloaves cooking in milk and olive oil</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loaves will be close to done when liquid thickens. At that point cover the pan and turn off the burner</span></li>
</ol>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0drNcRd2zkhpJclXzc2rTrixXDX9sTyMtvDxX-YuRj0lxivS4rsZJ-_Hl_-zKlK9hXQiCKwbCXq-N2267Xb_fjKKseT-JokKB4AdZGwYWrRdfssm7D05vM1GfrHiFZAO_kWGzFtlpqJ8/s1600/IMG_1055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0drNcRd2zkhpJclXzc2rTrixXDX9sTyMtvDxX-YuRj0lxivS4rsZJ-_Hl_-zKlK9hXQiCKwbCXq-N2267Xb_fjKKseT-JokKB4AdZGwYWrRdfssm7D05vM1GfrHiFZAO_kWGzFtlpqJ8/s200/IMG_1055.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.levelette.it/en/Wine-profile-21.htm?Id=10">Le Velette's Grechetto</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Notes:</u></b> <i>You can make more loaves than needed for the meal and freeze them uncooked. This recipe is easy to adjust and make more if you want to have some ready for another dinner. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>When ready to eat, remove from the freezer, cover with milk and olive oil and cook according to the above directions.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>You can substitute other meat types such as ground veal, chicken, pork or beef. Cecilia only recommends beef or turkey, those are her favorites for this recipe.</i></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-jl0CZFUb3BX5YRQV9mTV97vI83wW0exMpYxqYu3H08Gz25JNMKoKnrpMigw1QPg3_-cmCTAahew2TGZ-8JXuEhyHdqBZNrTt1IeQUvk6BmMxBPmG1G1Vjf42tfBJnMoEP8zaUpFU-Q/s1600/P1070404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-jl0CZFUb3BX5YRQV9mTV97vI83wW0exMpYxqYu3H08Gz25JNMKoKnrpMigw1QPg3_-cmCTAahew2TGZ-8JXuEhyHdqBZNrTt1IeQUvk6BmMxBPmG1G1Vjf42tfBJnMoEP8zaUpFU-Q/s320/P1070404.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76nySOcpsB9suZWek18NE4dYnXI-my5NxQFqKKPCBDRzZCujQulqS6nAteH1yyqQsdOWbACRP7Ym3lAtI7J1y0WwtJ3itnULo6xDvmSNIF5e5hUvWY-5MdA5wMibWfFCobPBWrbx4mm8/s1600/P1000982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-jl0CZFUb3BX5YRQV9mTV97vI83wW0exMpYxqYu3H08Gz25JNMKoKnrpMigw1QPg3_-cmCTAahew2TGZ-8JXuEhyHdqBZNrTt1IeQUvk6BmMxBPmG1G1Vjf42tfBJnMoEP8zaUpFU-Q/s1600/P1070404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NUiFSQKxvM0/UJQTo4TGmqI/AAAAAAAAHpA/4bwheLwVYnk/s1600/IMG_1053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KtnWdCpSleI/UJQTu6kBuhI/AAAAAAAAHpQ/tT8eLFBsITk/s1600/IMG_1056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-irh_ek5_ujY/UJQTyHbucJI/AAAAAAAAHpY/LpIVdESnYGo/s1600/IMG_1109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2TQ0PEut37c/UJQT1nQRN2I/AAAAAAAAHpo/uhMwI_6RmMA/s1600/IMG_1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1YNrOTuzLcY/UJQUOnKXhqI/AAAAAAAAHrI/mkVDWfHsAGk/s1600/P1010010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pesche all' Ameretto </span></u></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Baked Peach Italian Dessert</span><br />
<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;">Ingredients:</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7 big peaches, washed (1/2 per person)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7 eggs (or 1 egg for every peach), separate and just use yolks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 TBS sugar per egg</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Box of dry Amaretti cookies (crumble one cookie for each peach + additional if needed)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bottle of semi-sweet white wine (1/4 cup for every 7 peaches)</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwTxLz-1yjHFcgNaiNblvlLKLnVfhUK3A3hO3ndHUHyR1tIm-3JexNLmmZgQWG8MDotw_kroMlki_hjdihQiOMbwQ1i6ifDR9Z1IRQL7_Gd2nIAIL3F6fDFgNKmfGfhiEN2zz6_18jj0/s1600/P1000976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwTxLz-1yjHFcgNaiNblvlLKLnVfhUK3A3hO3ndHUHyR1tIm-3JexNLmmZgQWG8MDotw_kroMlki_hjdihQiOMbwQ1i6ifDR9Z1IRQL7_Gd2nIAIL3F6fDFgNKmfGfhiEN2zz6_18jj0/s320/P1000976.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directions:</b></span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Preheat oven to 375 degrees</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Wash and cut peaches in half. Remove and discard the pit</span></span></span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use a small measuring spoon to scrape out where the pit was being careful not to break the peach</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arrange the peaches cut side up in an oven- proof baking dish</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Separate </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eggs into whites and yolks. Use the whites for another recipe or discard. Keep the yolks in a bowl.</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add 1/2 TBS sugar for each egg to the bowl and whisk with "lots of energy."</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add approx. 1/4 cup semi-sweet wine for 7 peaches</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crumble one amaretti cookie per peach into the bowl and continue to whisk.</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adjust if necessary with a few extra cookies if the mixture needs to be thickened.</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next fill the peach holes evenly with the mixture.</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sprinkle each peach with sugar.</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drizzle semi-sweet white wine over each peach (generously) and on the bottom of the pan</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put dish of peaches uncovered into the preheated oven for 40-60 minutes (bigger peaches will take longer)</span></li>
<li style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><div style="text-align: right;">
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Remove from oven and serve hot</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></li>
</ol>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6t1Jw0vFL73WhyBbt4MZvx1-mt75C6tcvjG7aGxfG7CPN01v1uO98MnpF3XjoGrPFNWzh_nVvEhZy7lyVqxAcZLjZ5UJ_dxL9fUHwj-jm0zcrNgK2aARWAdxZ__AjvsX0Ypo3-U50F6E/s1600/P1000997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6t1Jw0vFL73WhyBbt4MZvx1-mt75C6tcvjG7aGxfG7CPN01v1uO98MnpF3XjoGrPFNWzh_nVvEhZy7lyVqxAcZLjZ5UJ_dxL9fUHwj-jm0zcrNgK2aARWAdxZ__AjvsX0Ypo3-U50F6E/s320/P1000997.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FloJo and Ro taking it all in in</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EkG1S7spMajb-vkzzwJPvjbl8HewCeF77Mx1MntRys0Ygbxa13bjJNSiFBi9GKkFg-mMOfbvTg7zWvSkhfEiUDwsGjgq6eAZhOjbIltrE9K-yjJfgT5OyMcCxoaEkz8fMgFRmqcU3vA/s1600/IMG_1057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EkG1S7spMajb-vkzzwJPvjbl8HewCeF77Mx1MntRys0Ygbxa13bjJNSiFBi9GKkFg-mMOfbvTg7zWvSkhfEiUDwsGjgq6eAZhOjbIltrE9K-yjJfgT5OyMcCxoaEkz8fMgFRmqcU3vA/s200/IMG_1057.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.levelette.it/en/Wine-profile-21.htm?Id=7"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Le Velette's Rasenna semi-sweet white</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Pasta con Capperi in Salsa Rossa </u></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pasta with Spicy Red Caper Sauce</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14 servings</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYjKlhRQD-k4KviU7y-BjGf7EnOvFcwE3TNf5TDFQEUba7C5ryA0n42O1Kc5gm8ddkAvqjWmCXfGXMZyhMrggh4in9saMT6qjK0Z3OegCVc8M8XdocXcPCMpb_FmxElCLS4h81ltY-jE/s1600/IMG_1748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYjKlhRQD-k4KviU7y-BjGf7EnOvFcwE3TNf5TDFQEUba7C5ryA0n42O1Kc5gm8ddkAvqjWmCXfGXMZyhMrggh4in9saMT6qjK0Z3OegCVc8M8XdocXcPCMpb_FmxElCLS4h81ltY-jE/s200/IMG_1748.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 cloves of garlic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Penne, ziti, rigatoni or any short pasta (better to grab and hold the pasta)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whole 6 oz jar of salted capers (rinsed and drained)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 dried peppercinos (small red Italian peppers)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 cans (14.5 oz) of diced tomatoes (undrained)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 bunch fresh Italian parsley (chopped)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup olive oil </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXppOxa38-b6b4JI3gSe_ApOHrSemckgMbTNu-TDYOcK3EmO8M54DjD2ieCowaEy42DQ-wi8LM-vKTvgnKjEnBLNT5pwpNwMWmJv2h5P1MSeXAaRrmMDVnarcExMDn9RvpsrQmtfkeD5U/s1600/P1070397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXppOxa38-b6b4JI3gSe_ApOHrSemckgMbTNu-TDYOcK3EmO8M54DjD2ieCowaEy42DQ-wi8LM-vKTvgnKjEnBLNT5pwpNwMWmJv2h5P1MSeXAaRrmMDVnarcExMDn9RvpsrQmtfkeD5U/s200/P1070397.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenna approves- thumbs up!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVo-TRTUlBo2aI3hI1ZvLZl0YFe9VlpmCgrfSDjMFIe-oQlHhcbRpZna0HrZ53YMkNLj7BRcYDY8yKmaQmLix1B4EWiwtSbdsG59mkxVRbkrGujIdz4pve428Rsz7KDmW_TNQx7eoCeSg/s1600/P1000988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVo-TRTUlBo2aI3hI1ZvLZl0YFe9VlpmCgrfSDjMFIe-oQlHhcbRpZna0HrZ53YMkNLj7BRcYDY8yKmaQmLix1B4EWiwtSbdsG59mkxVRbkrGujIdz4pve428Rsz7KDmW_TNQx7eoCeSg/s200/P1000988.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dana and Cindy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Directions:</b><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put entire jar of capers in a colander and rinse</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place capers on a cutting board and finely chop until each caper is broken</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mince 3 garlic cloves in with capers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put olive oil into a large pot and heat on high heat</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add capers and garlic to the oil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Break peppercinos in half (recommend putting gloves on and don't touch eyes after handling peppers)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Add peppers to the hot oil in the pan and stir the peppers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remove stems from the parsley and snip with scissors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add parsley to hot oil and peppers and stir. If needed add just a little bit more olive oil.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once parsley has cooked down add the four cans of diced tomatoes to the pan</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stir and then let simmer on med head for 20-25 minutes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While sauce is simmering put a large pot of water onto boil (do not add salt to the water)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package (minus 1 minute)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the pasta has cooked, drain it in a colander</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then add the pasta to the completed tomato sauce in a large pan (like a paella pan) so it can marinate for approx. 1 minute on medium heat</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do not serve this pasta with any cheese on top</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note: Never add additional salt because the capers already have enough salt in them</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Wine Pairing Suggestions of Cecilia:</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pasta: A nice Rosé to cut the acidity of the tomato sauce</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turkey Meatloaf: A semi-sweet white</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dessert: semi-sweet white</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzV8XoOZhmGP57Fdn2nxAUUgRzJMagizTh8aJBf6l9Ge5dEEqH-9dKXCdwR2yIVbsE1R5sq18fKDNzYsh5DVKYIY7RFdk3DGGdCiCdifQ1bez2t9rqWQMT9YpDmkfwcA_SDt9AeUsl1M/s1600/P1070406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzV8XoOZhmGP57Fdn2nxAUUgRzJMagizTh8aJBf6l9Ge5dEEqH-9dKXCdwR2yIVbsE1R5sq18fKDNzYsh5DVKYIY7RFdk3DGGdCiCdifQ1bez2t9rqWQMT9YpDmkfwcA_SDt9AeUsl1M/s200/P1070406.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaKB_E9U3sR9bJ69IVPwNYWk8rJXe45p4VNtkWSBxXS-RCN1Uf5hjeDVahu6yrVFTpqyLO8BuDvo5fsgrDKu8mfB4d2YoWdio0odgo2EUyNsapCVVI4WQNFNbbt1gc9Pp6h8VES6S1jE/s1600/P1070405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaKB_E9U3sR9bJ69IVPwNYWk8rJXe45p4VNtkWSBxXS-RCN1Uf5hjeDVahu6yrVFTpqyLO8BuDvo5fsgrDKu8mfB4d2YoWdio0odgo2EUyNsapCVVI4WQNFNbbt1gc9Pp6h8VES6S1jE/s200/P1070405.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, after the prep work, watching the food cook (for what seemed to be forever as the amazing smells wafted through the kitchen) and a few desperate attempts by the villa's adopted cat "gato" to come join us for dinner, we were at last, ready to eat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started with the pasta as the first course and the Monaldesco Rose was a surprising pairing for most of us, but as Cecilia explained, it matched the acidity in the tomato sauce. Next we ate the incredibly succulent turkey meatloaf with a rustic typical Orvietto white wine Grechetto. We made room for the baked peach and amaretto dessert which paired very well with Le Velette's Rasenna a semi-sweet white.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JGZa09Dmx2kpqIbvTsLsOQtlw44V8U8pkFm1ygYij2ycM6YHNOdBLHn64UzHNSijrKBdLSjXdA02yMJmw5aPx4LdDMfbeM42yKtlpFXVOsxk7GGiv3ttD6Yj1fEZPlscN9eOjlLPN-s/s1600/P1070407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JGZa09Dmx2kpqIbvTsLsOQtlw44V8U8pkFm1ygYij2ycM6YHNOdBLHn64UzHNSijrKBdLSjXdA02yMJmw5aPx4LdDMfbeM42yKtlpFXVOsxk7GGiv3ttD6Yj1fEZPlscN9eOjlLPN-s/s320/P1070407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5HzYoilYXJR8qfzw1G4qfkHfmz4H0EXDUti_g6quAgmOr_qkidVEZZNkhw0eiwFJZXVRPRWk2nYNGMD3sZ1UqdMK23XyNCQeqsjVYvM6pM7hWreqhcpLcxACb79SwwpjRIWTeBYHUHE/s1600/P1070400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5HzYoilYXJR8qfzw1G4qfkHfmz4H0EXDUti_g6quAgmOr_qkidVEZZNkhw0eiwFJZXVRPRWk2nYNGMD3sZ1UqdMK23XyNCQeqsjVYvM6pM7hWreqhcpLcxACb79SwwpjRIWTeBYHUHE/s200/P1070400.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2wGt-OwEJTCltd-TSQBQcUCGoTGChtqk-4B5PmIkqYDHUkSkMa8yFE_sa9gDt5xQyWgkzPw-CM5gB1Lpy4cda72-mRkQCKpq9P1uGwWNellq_nZF3BGueL88UTaTHaDm8P3ig0HborI/s1600/P1070398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2wGt-OwEJTCltd-TSQBQcUCGoTGChtqk-4B5PmIkqYDHUkSkMa8yFE_sa9gDt5xQyWgkzPw-CM5gB1Lpy4cda72-mRkQCKpq9P1uGwWNellq_nZF3BGueL88UTaTHaDm8P3ig0HborI/s200/P1070398.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before dinner was over we thanked Cecilia for her excellent teaching and more importantly for her patience with fourteen chatty and by the end of the evening very wild women. However, she left before things got really rowdy. We had a great time spending the evening with this entertaining woman who would give <a href="http://www.giadadelaurentiis.com/">Giada De Laurentiis</a> a run for her money if she ever came to America (Cecilia's Italian pronunciations are dead on). </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/lB5qmlY5P2c?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We presented Cecilia with a bottle of 2004 Miscela (Italian for blend) from one of our favorite WA wineries <a href="http://50shadesofdelicious.blogspot.com/2012/07/nota-bene-cellars-making-our-dreams.html">Nota Bene Cellar</a>. We hugged and sang a round of Simon and Garfunkel's Cecilia before saying ciao to our cooking maestro for the evening. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4TcZD_kovRrpwzENe0c0kQrzbvIYSa40khjNtsInOrbzzy5S1rLgpMWbV1axzOPy0fwb7bq1EDh__NfUM1mMBHTAfki2k6xA46YYZOHJh39MVadnXab4UFJ07bvZMDuZP_r4IL5dmsA/s1600/P1070409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4TcZD_kovRrpwzENe0c0kQrzbvIYSa40khjNtsInOrbzzy5S1rLgpMWbV1axzOPy0fwb7bq1EDh__NfUM1mMBHTAfki2k6xA46YYZOHJh39MVadnXab4UFJ07bvZMDuZP_r4IL5dmsA/s320/P1070409.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ro, Cecilia w/ the Note Bene wine and FloJo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57gltlpiaPcVuHSa6VDYt1Iw8TjxkgSKQeisquN7qSav2zxxeDnWCqbxjuLKTsKCrWHDxn_fyqGjoi8BMvlTXcLFOGzufJZ1hff63SyPKI5u9nDTc5RebwDuYnlOifkV13rbk0TPZQj4/s1600/IMG_1749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57gltlpiaPcVuHSa6VDYt1Iw8TjxkgSKQeisquN7qSav2zxxeDnWCqbxjuLKTsKCrWHDxn_fyqGjoi8BMvlTXcLFOGzufJZ1hff63SyPKI5u9nDTc5RebwDuYnlOifkV13rbk0TPZQj4/s200/IMG_1749.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ro, Karri, Tracie, Betsy and Dana</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb0o3aTvIQMrhy83o9f7MNy7Kh3J7Q66ZJWj9Qm8ORgIBDAUe9zTr1h_6u7nBnJTbLN4owvlmO_kGB0K4KFfMcLgU2xDx3cBR7Kjq9xfPhSYSXLL3RV12YllTi3ATGHBYuAUzOyWhi8o/s1600/IMG_1754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilb0o3aTvIQMrhy83o9f7MNy7Kh3J7Q66ZJWj9Qm8ORgIBDAUe9zTr1h_6u7nBnJTbLN4owvlmO_kGB0K4KFfMcLgU2xDx3cBR7Kjq9xfPhSYSXLL3RV12YllTi3ATGHBYuAUzOyWhi8o/s200/IMG_1754.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D and J</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a reunion dinner in Seattle the month after returning from Italy. Janine and Daisy played the role of hostsesses for the evening. They recreated the above recipes half a world away from where we were taught by Cecilia. It was fun having the same dishes again and knowing that Janine and Daisy had been listening during cooking school. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizjbSJxx7fGF1QsdXtIYu4xNcJYD834Axy8N9IMvScEK-k-9YQEKecD4q6CjSB3-mR8CdbKTH9QvPVn1xSXPh6ykQi77PDroGpdJxE383Y95LXy5mSXmL-YKVBNNr38Ij3aZTm1EjuYg/s1600/IMG_1755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizjbSJxx7fGF1QsdXtIYu4xNcJYD834Axy8N9IMvScEK-k-9YQEKecD4q6CjSB3-mR8CdbKTH9QvPVn1xSXPh6ykQi77PDroGpdJxE383Y95LXy5mSXmL-YKVBNNr38Ij3aZTm1EjuYg/s320/IMG_1755.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a great time reminiscing about our time in Italy, the upcoming election and catching up with on each other's lives. It's amazing how food can bring us together at one table to toast (as we learned in Italy always look the person you are chinking with in the eye or you'll bare children) to good friends and good times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To view a video of Cecilia's cooking school click this <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/l09h82plr37lgn9/Cecilia%27s%20Cooking%20Class.mov" target="_blank">link</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Live life with flavor and fun!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betsy and Ro</td></tr>
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-71644541209443947812012-11-09T10:59:00.000-08:002013-01-09T15:57:51.619-08:00Florence: the Birth of the Renaissance & Mary Poppins<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitebsakZLHcGYIpB4NXM9jMU_LVbPwsTQ4cTyXmC7jxlH-ndqJQY0A5oyZVqTe431zpW0P5aruNr_bbVen22djZhSGIbUAn4mYg86T-kgy7SbOZGGg6hMr0iAZVCU3DpxIugMkQ2sjuwk/s1600/Mary-Poppins-mv03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitebsakZLHcGYIpB4NXM9jMU_LVbPwsTQ4cTyXmC7jxlH-ndqJQY0A5oyZVqTe431zpW0P5aruNr_bbVen22djZhSGIbUAn4mYg86T-kgy7SbOZGGg6hMr0iAZVCU3DpxIugMkQ2sjuwk/s200/Mary-Poppins-mv03.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1vv3j3lEY6tMHNm_Y8_jeRjWOe0FwHgg1A7QNNfA1mMhi35mwnWI2zt61pg76aOZxMuk3q3xM6OMQty9bPDXQOgx0mS7LFQ4-iRqPBSkwi-BpmUvmQimUNCXpHbSxz-bvmxt38CG1f8/s1600/IMG_1059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1vv3j3lEY6tMHNm_Y8_jeRjWOe0FwHgg1A7QNNfA1mMhi35mwnWI2zt61pg76aOZxMuk3q3xM6OMQty9bPDXQOgx0mS7LFQ4-iRqPBSkwi-BpmUvmQimUNCXpHbSxz-bvmxt38CG1f8/s200/IMG_1059.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During our week in the lustrous hillsides of Umbria, we decided to leave it for a day trip to the bustling metropolis of Florence or Firenze. All 14 women woke up roughly at 6am, packed into the Van Dyke (nickname for our van rental) to catch a 7:30am train from Orvieto to Florence. This was FloJo's first time riding a train in Europe and she was so excited that she fell asleep right away.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFn3COjXBKJagyAkXRxOm5oJaWsX4GoGCGKCATf0JYljLc5w4O2E4preCHIpkCQZRIh-yQltsEbAWVnlp-VKTWVdpjh3cJJvWcdEtsvbVjNafHri01qWyStEnRKmepZo6mq1GIDYW444/s1600/P1010015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpFn3COjXBKJagyAkXRxOm5oJaWsX4GoGCGKCATf0JYljLc5w4O2E4preCHIpkCQZRIh-yQltsEbAWVnlp-VKTWVdpjh3cJJvWcdEtsvbVjNafHri01qWyStEnRKmepZo6mq1GIDYW444/s320/P1010015.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5R0DuniXSLyTO9OlBB7e30aHNLj4YHkJ052bfxEPVQ7vA3h8FE_BSe00ZKpI5gHhy-MN97_peIaVNauUYjVD7JXG8sOpKacO3oq40T618QD3fNtnUNpDrRB4_TQqCIh0y-OQq3yOjBc/s1600/P1070414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5R0DuniXSLyTO9OlBB7e30aHNLj4YHkJ052bfxEPVQ7vA3h8FE_BSe00ZKpI5gHhy-MN97_peIaVNauUYjVD7JXG8sOpKacO3oq40T618QD3fNtnUNpDrRB4_TQqCIh0y-OQq3yOjBc/s200/P1070414.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We disembarked at the Firenze train station after a 2 1/2 hour ride and met up with our tour guide for the day, Antonia. Prior to our meeting with Antonia, our hostess Cecilia (who is also a Rick Steve's tour guide) described her collegue as Mary Poppins and we think by the end of the trip most of us agreed with her type casting. She was an older British woman with her silver hair neatly pulled up in a bun on top of her head. She held an umbrella at the ready and a large satchel that may have had a floor lamp inside it. Overall, her demeanor was pleasant like most British ladies we are acquainted with (Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench and Julie Andrews herself) . However, you could tell that she could get fiesty when necessary as she shooed away beggars from asking us for money and said "arrivederci signora" in a stern Mary Poppins voice.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJohI2t1iTR7939zshoJh8LH5Mekk4sCKI5LPGJ3xH3aDXugtPk88NgZbzMq_RMiezb5riHfQaDF__lV8l81rn1gxASsHv1ghr7mwqpRm0jMz40cNLkQivgA58ajTBdRXqTbv1Dzdj_o/s1600/P1070412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJohI2t1iTR7939zshoJh8LH5Mekk4sCKI5LPGJ3xH3aDXugtPk88NgZbzMq_RMiezb5riHfQaDF__lV8l81rn1gxASsHv1ghr7mwqpRm0jMz40cNLkQivgA58ajTBdRXqTbv1Dzdj_o/s320/P1070412.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church of Santa Maria Novella</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB550QSjtUSOmg12y7USjNAfBx0MVTqKJvK-XwB60okLvA1QLCp9_1VGRjoThyphenhyphen0ta2z3WMY67vBJY4ToqLGTW-g7F1JksLkseo3hE4Rv99oYSmqCfOAPGpv5U-CBesnypduyndYVL6dO8/s1600/P1070550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB550QSjtUSOmg12y7USjNAfBx0MVTqKJvK-XwB60okLvA1QLCp9_1VGRjoThyphenhyphen0ta2z3WMY67vBJY4ToqLGTW-g7F1JksLkseo3hE4Rv99oYSmqCfOAPGpv5U-CBesnypduyndYVL6dO8/s200/P1070550.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She got us fitted for headphones and then we were off on our tour. First stop the Piazza Santa Maria Novella and the Church of Santa Maria Novella, which is situated just across the street from the main entrance to the train station. The lower half of the building is Gothic while the upper part is early Renaissance. This was not just another European church. We didn't go inside, but judging from the outside the inside would be just as beautiful.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEoMmrvUD0u9-App7A2SVNUZZrUs2HrdyUJoQbvhcxbIEOKs-Gzbw13np_tSpH5NE_O2NUv3BBx3Q_tys-nvwqlijcudJkMHSW3FCzKDMsH3CpFOw1ztZpwqo0LKL7bsfU0lA6_MxrUM/s1600/P1070455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEoMmrvUD0u9-App7A2SVNUZZrUs2HrdyUJoQbvhcxbIEOKs-Gzbw13np_tSpH5NE_O2NUv3BBx3Q_tys-nvwqlijcudJkMHSW3FCzKDMsH3CpFOw1ztZpwqo0LKL7bsfU0lA6_MxrUM/s200/P1070455.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oT7X4ZQnczqpwzwg6jsH-91hzD1YveB9blLxRWJG6hMepf7Kr_WJOYUolB9VJyEUulIEVk8W6ob6EUtuDl0j7g7P4_VQ3a94Jd5p03Ls2nGUQsMRXsXv9acOsxLSS1OIHqWGO0mMQaQ/s1600/P1070569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oT7X4ZQnczqpwzwg6jsH-91hzD1YveB9blLxRWJG6hMepf7Kr_WJOYUolB9VJyEUulIEVk8W6ob6EUtuDl0j7g7P4_VQ3a94Jd5p03Ls2nGUQsMRXsXv9acOsxLSS1OIHqWGO0mMQaQ/s200/P1070569.JPG" width="176" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bxDjpPWx55kYEVhrxU19pwT_X1O0XmEv8EgaOlci9lnQLOP3YqkeduOutaI7TqDlNutl0ld08bBeyAplWWV8HOwzqI78Ce-7esXFjRh_bikSE_vO4YupR0KUBR991_-GWP8GZICKNrA/s1600/P1070452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bxDjpPWx55kYEVhrxU19pwT_X1O0XmEv8EgaOlci9lnQLOP3YqkeduOutaI7TqDlNutl0ld08bBeyAplWWV8HOwzqI78Ce-7esXFjRh_bikSE_vO4YupR0KUBR991_-GWP8GZICKNrA/s320/P1070452.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtv7UguYXZtkodXhXBM8arBIBWEX5KGerRy27Wquc9NH9Y1fN_7pTocZmAq3VdbYTme7cb8GmqrPLjkrwWGs_j3N5lAUog1sGJA0O2kHBZeFEfxQ4sAKdsu27UQxiZh5ek3W_clePY-C4/s1600/P1070453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtv7UguYXZtkodXhXBM8arBIBWEX5KGerRy27Wquc9NH9Y1fN_7pTocZmAq3VdbYTme7cb8GmqrPLjkrwWGs_j3N5lAUog1sGJA0O2kHBZeFEfxQ4sAKdsu27UQxiZh5ek3W_clePY-C4/s200/P1070453.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We continued on our tour through the streets of Florence, careful not to get run over by crazy European drivers and came upon the magnificent Duomo or Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. It was stunning to look at just by it's sheer grandeur and the intricate details noticeable even at a distance. It's considered one of the largest churches in Italy and took about five hundred years to complete it. The facade of the Cathedral is a beautiful shade of green, white and pink marble. Each color is symbolic and stands for hope, faith and charity, respectively.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most fascinating part of the Cathedral is the dome. In the early 15th century, a competition was held to design the dome. Filippo Brunelleschi won the competition with his octagonal design made of concrete and brick and included an inner and outer shell held together by a ring and rib system. The design didn't require a support system, which proved to be a feat at the time and was the largest dome until it was superseded by the dome at St. Peter's Basilica in the early 17th century. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXavEH6WsZjzt-spl9dbkhQPV1LhGXK4e7XMTPMSPcDivp5gTBKwdlL4KIu_gp4DWCnfW7_clwFTYLAPqE3GuxO0H448JHl18IbXkmtskMM8vqbvH2GlHtls9hUnN8vyoS4CRKoaG0ees/s1600/P1070557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXavEH6WsZjzt-spl9dbkhQPV1LhGXK4e7XMTPMSPcDivp5gTBKwdlL4KIu_gp4DWCnfW7_clwFTYLAPqE3GuxO0H448JHl18IbXkmtskMM8vqbvH2GlHtls9hUnN8vyoS4CRKoaG0ees/s200/P1070557.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5S_eaLWdHCXKPUW7_w61pV4oCpPCAvWELNaFWJ2l406HtjKT2ZwNME3KyUSsO3-xnHOmHFoHivMdqRDwT9vORZoHJbhj-sModScQr368nk1S8DaW96FmAacBh13W-3Iwe8rQypHWq35I/s1600/P1070441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5S_eaLWdHCXKPUW7_w61pV4oCpPCAvWELNaFWJ2l406HtjKT2ZwNME3KyUSsO3-xnHOmHFoHivMdqRDwT9vORZoHJbhj-sModScQr368nk1S8DaW96FmAacBh13W-3Iwe8rQypHWq35I/s200/P1070441.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The inside of the dome was just as amazing. Giorgio Vasari was commissioned by the Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici to complete a fresco depicting the Last Judgment. After Vasari's death, Federico Zuccari finished the fresco. The fresco was eerie in the sense that it appeared as though the figures were real and hanging from the "ledge." What do you think?</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.2px;"> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eCRB2nixzfuSXlt1RnWqrRRdPYcPa5tZ60l-qQ9Smx9VAbjTyg50lSF2GUtMMGfWo4-2oGWw1PLjrm9Jn8WbyDp874JM6SnAKRfPDzt35Ab1ibVbMtQwT3cLqwKRACXswock9d59Wa4/s1600/P1070434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eCRB2nixzfuSXlt1RnWqrRRdPYcPa5tZ60l-qQ9Smx9VAbjTyg50lSF2GUtMMGfWo4-2oGWw1PLjrm9Jn8WbyDp874JM6SnAKRfPDzt35Ab1ibVbMtQwT3cLqwKRACXswock9d59Wa4/s200/P1070434.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0obXlhGqYvn0d1fVRJz9EO69iohC1UN4dLbM-vltCS9IipM9XZ3Wu4e547u76ooU0O_QRQWz6blLZfyGQu3tRp5ui9v4sRWVOIlGJvVEwwMQM01qyAN5wlihLL84tZCtflZM42PgF2fM/s1600/P1070432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0obXlhGqYvn0d1fVRJz9EO69iohC1UN4dLbM-vltCS9IipM9XZ3Wu4e547u76ooU0O_QRQWz6blLZfyGQu3tRp5ui9v4sRWVOIlGJvVEwwMQM01qyAN5wlihLL84tZCtflZM42PgF2fM/s200/P1070432.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just outside the entrance of the cathedral, we couldn't help but notice men in tights (sort of like Robin Hood) and dressed up in costumes from a much older time period. It appeared that they were shooting a movie of some sort. We wanted to get in on the action, but couldn't get away with it in our "modern" clothing. It didn't keep us from taking photos though.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJtjj0rSVnPYQHYWk9SBFZLNIf9YSxazVQBtqIwrBxks7A_euTAcVLmIuNIkrOfxyMOjYnJ-Zu8UG0bbQthvAY6htdh_W64Vnqg1LjuAku2EVevbAKkx2c8iRR9qIp2mZURPULhD8f1w/s1600/P1070464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJtjj0rSVnPYQHYWk9SBFZLNIf9YSxazVQBtqIwrBxks7A_euTAcVLmIuNIkrOfxyMOjYnJ-Zu8UG0bbQthvAY6htdh_W64Vnqg1LjuAku2EVevbAKkx2c8iRR9qIp2mZURPULhD8f1w/s320/P1070464.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUd7FTNWQ5eOU4eqwUHix3pxPdU5OQA9XOFF1Xw3dKE68YBpgvPFAD5S2JPTyc2a2ZfyoAOrxPvjFBITMT7knQjJNpERw0M1KgHTcligcwpTCq7wd2BCcZ3axWaT9rvE-ZjjrCq7iSqY/s1600/P1070460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUd7FTNWQ5eOU4eqwUHix3pxPdU5OQA9XOFF1Xw3dKE68YBpgvPFAD5S2JPTyc2a2ZfyoAOrxPvjFBITMT7knQjJNpERw0M1KgHTcligcwpTCq7wd2BCcZ3axWaT9rvE-ZjjrCq7iSqY/s200/P1070460.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the Cathedral, we got a little snack at Antonia's favorite gelato place <a href="http://www.nysun.com/new-york/popular-italian-gelato-chain-arrives-on-upper/53575/">Grom</a> and it proved to be a good choice. Grom is an Italian specialty gelato chain that now has its first store outside of Italy in NYC. One of their fans is Katie Couric who fell in love with the product while she was covering the olympics for the Today show.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCifLYdZwkn9vEW6E8Dr-fZsYej9nm1JPuY4ldgqQBaGQ0IEIPY1HRixcybPTMTsAak-iALy8DR8xKZEQVW1WRStPQsJ5SKkuH4fWkcbRgPuxeizJrLrDvWfbiCy6OoYJq2hau159royo/s1600/P1070478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCifLYdZwkn9vEW6E8Dr-fZsYej9nm1JPuY4ldgqQBaGQ0IEIPY1HRixcybPTMTsAak-iALy8DR8xKZEQVW1WRStPQsJ5SKkuH4fWkcbRgPuxeizJrLrDvWfbiCy6OoYJq2hau159royo/s200/P1070478.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we left the shop with our delicious gelatos in hand, we walked through the streets and past different shops ranging from clothing and leather goods to food markets.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UrTGh88WRWDGWb12_1CpJWVUYi6VWNlk7UTL-f6NA1zs6hLY2RduLG1WayhfAXoUC2CgXmV4aAIXQ8XSl99US1a87X9y52Pj4j2pJQAHu3hXyL129zxkN8RoVuumCYqU94uZVWraU24/s1600/P1070493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UrTGh88WRWDGWb12_1CpJWVUYi6VWNlk7UTL-f6NA1zs6hLY2RduLG1WayhfAXoUC2CgXmV4aAIXQ8XSl99US1a87X9y52Pj4j2pJQAHu3hXyL129zxkN8RoVuumCYqU94uZVWraU24/s200/P1070493.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDfspGrLf06wVQm2wCCFpSkP22kRyqz1i1_chqMju7tGIhDX-qm4OjGu3U2Z9FyqP4ZEuK-LXuxd-gIUhOqAbOVHAJH5pvuvdgIcNFpKiZocxc-es5NYgnfxEyWw-FVDD2h0JgFp91hw/s1600/P1070536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDfspGrLf06wVQm2wCCFpSkP22kRyqz1i1_chqMju7tGIhDX-qm4OjGu3U2Z9FyqP4ZEuK-LXuxd-gIUhOqAbOVHAJH5pvuvdgIcNFpKiZocxc-es5NYgnfxEyWw-FVDD2h0JgFp91hw/s200/P1070536.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City Hall</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNYAcWxIhLPR-hjMTHCKShMUQ56APXoQgJULTW8Jn7RLZrtBR171i2hBLu9uBk06uvc2NqfbM55fJ0eQniDczrwcxbwaYAHdekoj1TFBewmwpSu8VagoH9nolh9MmdR9AN74kdTpuuUI/s1600/P1070540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNYAcWxIhLPR-hjMTHCKShMUQ56APXoQgJULTW8Jn7RLZrtBR171i2hBLu9uBk06uvc2NqfbM55fJ0eQniDczrwcxbwaYAHdekoj1TFBewmwpSu8VagoH9nolh9MmdR9AN74kdTpuuUI/s200/P1070540.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEul6Jzmn-KeyIxklkwLtj8MmcYl_kvTRrZFeEp6bfSntEH8sW7pY5X1MWk3s60F1MymYuiOWMJpRbFYoGPlVCsaLD_uAueuaWmAphbqW3HrXzh-QIQv-QR-jhtjxSwY4CFERDJfhTtFI/s1600/P1070551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb90uZAsCHIhoMYLQm_TtyXoFeItKjkFBVkdTMnKHK0dP66sy0l3e4XMxDvlnm75dO6svd47QpRLH2FDel5bj4Wkic4gW-tjHHLN3yZqIYG9mr4NoREO64NJnkxjf8jWLiCaH46qgMpzY/s1600/P1070502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb90uZAsCHIhoMYLQm_TtyXoFeItKjkFBVkdTMnKHK0dP66sy0l3e4XMxDvlnm75dO6svd47QpRLH2FDel5bj4Wkic4gW-tjHHLN3yZqIYG9mr4NoREO64NJnkxjf8jWLiCaH46qgMpzY/s200/P1070502.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our destination was the Piazza della Signoria. Greeting us at the square was a bronze equestrian statute of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici. The Medici was a rich family who gained their wealth through banking and was a political dynasty in Florence from the late 14th century - 18th century. Just beyond the statue</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is the Palazzo Vecchio, which is the city hall of Florence and Loggia dei Lanzi, which shelters many notable statues, such as The Rape of Sabine Women and Perseus with the Head of Medusa. In between these two sites is the Uffizi Gallery, which we will visit later. Other notable statues that guard the Palazzo Vecchio is a replica of the David and the Fountain of Neptune, who coincidently faces the Tiber River as it makes its run to the ocean.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEul6Jzmn-KeyIxklkwLtj8MmcYl_kvTRrZFeEp6bfSntEH8sW7pY5X1MWk3s60F1MymYuiOWMJpRbFYoGPlVCsaLD_uAueuaWmAphbqW3HrXzh-QIQv-QR-jhtjxSwY4CFERDJfhTtFI/s1600/P1070551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEul6Jzmn-KeyIxklkwLtj8MmcYl_kvTRrZFeEp6bfSntEH8sW7pY5X1MWk3s60F1MymYuiOWMJpRbFYoGPlVCsaLD_uAueuaWmAphbqW3HrXzh-QIQv-QR-jhtjxSwY4CFERDJfhTtFI/s200/P1070551.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We continued on our tour next with a visit to the Accademia Gallery to pay homage to the David. So funny story - we planned to have mimosas on the train ride to Florence so we packed some small bottles of prosecco and OJ. But as mentioned above, FloJo slept for much of the duration, so we lugged our libations around and decided that Plan B would be to have them at lunch. Little did we know that the gallery doesn't allow glass into the museum, thus our bottles were confiscated at security. Luckily we could retrieve them upon exiting the gallery, but still we both thought that this visit to see David better be worth it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO3VzLXBrOGnfYrGH7VE_Rydlj6ImW-T0AVe4VULbHh4r4Ya3sbrcxYft1SAom5k6ACGF3lhkEp6IYWbgd2Mjek6uxX1mA-ZbEa5rI9q3d0p5ErPOM6V56JfIMl1Awjv3vXrKMydDgeI/s1600/P1070534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTO3VzLXBrOGnfYrGH7VE_Rydlj6ImW-T0AVe4VULbHh4r4Ya3sbrcxYft1SAom5k6ACGF3lhkEp6IYWbgd2Mjek6uxX1mA-ZbEa5rI9q3d0p5ErPOM6V56JfIMl1Awjv3vXrKMydDgeI/s320/P1070534.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replica of David in the Piazza della Signoria </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyQKd19zHFF-woMBr4Ka5f3DynfPfyznTvvEDYmJSZHHP7O-9-g7gU7o3-h4EoGfTgH7C7B5pop2m1heRBfdB8lblC9saf4Cnud9A4p12L8AIZB0lrRFoLaHUrxY85BpXQ2r4CFF5Vnw/s1600/200px-David_von_Michelangelo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyQKd19zHFF-woMBr4Ka5f3DynfPfyznTvvEDYmJSZHHP7O-9-g7gU7o3-h4EoGfTgH7C7B5pop2m1heRBfdB8lblC9saf4Cnud9A4p12L8AIZB0lrRFoLaHUrxY85BpXQ2r4CFF5Vnw/s320/200px-David_von_Michelangelo.jpg" width="167" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to the David. If you don't know the story, David is a legendary hero who reached critical acclaim after his defeat against the giant, Goliath. He is a historical representation of triumph over the odds, especially when the odds are stacked against you. FloJo had seen the David before and truth be told Ro didn't know what all the fuss was about. It wasn't until we turned the corner and saw the David in the distance did it start to sink in. First of all, he's ginormous standing at 17 ft. in all his glory cut and scuplted from one single piece of marble weighing in at a slender 6 tons. There is awe just in the mere presence this statue commands. Then you begin to look more closely at the detail carved into this stone and it becomes obvious this is an incredible piece of art.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We would agree that the David is a marvel with Michelangelo's attention to detail of the human anatomy. From the front it appears that he is standing at repose and almost in a peaceful and relaxed state. However, as we circumnavigated the David everything from his face, his posture and the bulging veins in his right hand indicated that he was getting ready to strike with his sling shot drapped over his left shoulder. It was truly incredible.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbqOo-6lJxoUQ_Y9GaNNjtRNGinkTMZxy-JDs70pIHt7C2z7AYJbsN8mn3MBL7OBJbzvedgwfILMFXEyAgblXO0mzBeGPpaAfvwcqGQm_ffJvj_qNsWSrQ7rkayQ-_ZpUaqA1eNZ_s8U/s1600/IMG_1064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbqOo-6lJxoUQ_Y9GaNNjtRNGinkTMZxy-JDs70pIHt7C2z7AYJbsN8mn3MBL7OBJbzvedgwfILMFXEyAgblXO0mzBeGPpaAfvwcqGQm_ffJvj_qNsWSrQ7rkayQ-_ZpUaqA1eNZ_s8U/s320/IMG_1064.jpg" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabi in her cute Florentine hat</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBbjUN0p9_hDwTNIUPx7P0FNmjcbkFYhLL5GbHFeS3Lu53PVGLKJzNsgvC5EiupjhmeS6mOLwozekspDMvAX8Uy0MaaHEZMysz4qHK8XmM9GEeP5bxZWtcpNwkA_xXgmbXQcjA23a-O8/s1600/IMG_1062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBbjUN0p9_hDwTNIUPx7P0FNmjcbkFYhLL5GbHFeS3Lu53PVGLKJzNsgvC5EiupjhmeS6mOLwozekspDMvAX8Uy0MaaHEZMysz4qHK8XmM9GEeP5bxZWtcpNwkA_xXgmbXQcjA23a-O8/s200/IMG_1062.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">After our short visit with the David, we walked back to the Piazza della Signoria and broke for lunch. We ate at the closet place we could find which turned out to be a cheap self-serve restaurant. We sat, drank our rescued prosecco, recouped and reflected on the day thus far while we ate our lunch from a tray. After lunch, we ventured to the nearest street market and did some walk by "window shopping." The vendors were mostly selling leather goods and touristy trinkets. We stopped at one vendor recommended by Antonia and we each bought an Italian scarf (we had to verify because the majority were made in-- you guessed it--China). We felt so European.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Z_HUYRxdZACk-vddG50qMRvJawbeavhiOtXwm-NBMVPLe944S0uTYdocD7p-Jhhxxllh3qVO4SGevaNJRlJNfdE6B6TDn81qidVQpoAYfZ7VMmqbHbHHKGhOkpfHZaOdEeyzfVPRJU/s1600/P1010061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-Z_HUYRxdZACk-vddG50qMRvJawbeavhiOtXwm-NBMVPLe944S0uTYdocD7p-Jhhxxllh3qVO4SGevaNJRlJNfdE6B6TDn81qidVQpoAYfZ7VMmqbHbHHKGhOkpfHZaOdEeyzfVPRJU/s320/P1010061.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who's miming who?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1346SChdOlYJxhfYvoNoYLBoPpKIMfvwiwybDl48Qc2k37MZVqmmcR9Yj4HmD8KWMSACKPP_hjmqx7zGH8H_Lsom_rDb1cO-8q8PhyphenhyphenhiUEb-5oFYwo1-YIo4Vx3C2fQdRSAgOUB_CFuI/s1600/P1070543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1346SChdOlYJxhfYvoNoYLBoPpKIMfvwiwybDl48Qc2k37MZVqmmcR9Yj4HmD8KWMSACKPP_hjmqx7zGH8H_Lsom_rDb1cO-8q8PhyphenhyphenhiUEb-5oFYwo1-YIo4Vx3C2fQdRSAgOUB_CFuI/s320/P1070543.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street painter recreating Michelangelo's Holy Family (we would later see in the Uffizi)</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3gs6cUTaj_6fTkoy_A3g8Z2HybI5CdvJp9kfgVyazr9dZewjl_MMgYVqR7Amm9tsdmjdbJH6XTn5ER8uNmBPHo8ioeO81sMmClCAbvNer1RvbTn0FPmAtni-yimJ0RVVlS6uikPGay0/s1600/P1070545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3gs6cUTaj_6fTkoy_A3g8Z2HybI5CdvJp9kfgVyazr9dZewjl_MMgYVqR7Amm9tsdmjdbJH6XTn5ER8uNmBPHo8ioeO81sMmClCAbvNer1RvbTn0FPmAtni-yimJ0RVVlS6uikPGay0/s200/P1070545.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dPHUXtebjw3Zlo5CQ-wO1A-kPcf_899Sle7ys8Pw3PHTag2pv1F_n5uQkUWlAoF9noYNLmEjbXHsSi0Tg7zn9mjv45LNa9ZPbCAmQ5ae6SVESmd3lfK-shvjNjVxwo0fO4Rvdrv4RFE/s1600/P1070546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dPHUXtebjw3Zlo5CQ-wO1A-kPcf_899Sle7ys8Pw3PHTag2pv1F_n5uQkUWlAoF9noYNLmEjbXHsSi0Tg7zn9mjv45LNa9ZPbCAmQ5ae6SVESmd3lfK-shvjNjVxwo0fO4Rvdrv4RFE/s200/P1070546.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Before we knew it, it was time to regroup and head to the Uffizi Gallery (known as Italy's greatest art gallery), which had once been used to store the Medici's art treasure. The art was accumulated over the centuries by the Medici and eventually gifted to the Florentine people by Anna Maria Lodovica, the last of the Medici. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcQ4JNByxRCMAplExEQJED0PcDEALrBIFOKTp8jR-Lkq-07XXZfXELfyLjlqa0P3St2q-WA99mHD4RkUCIqZ2sDZwb0njswRip_yCAq8OdT1oQKXiQbAIQGfmqwpuiXUSctOYBrENF-M/s1600/P1070559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcQ4JNByxRCMAplExEQJED0PcDEALrBIFOKTp8jR-Lkq-07XXZfXELfyLjlqa0P3St2q-WA99mHD4RkUCIqZ2sDZwb0njswRip_yCAq8OdT1oQKXiQbAIQGfmqwpuiXUSctOYBrENF-M/s200/P1070559.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8G8MTV_pc2dFJw6Xc7Xjx1OTBtydktrc_lPFJv2VFHlzJ_516hsyshgpc4qY4l5ITzxkP1YBdH7fp1PsFW48ezehnWKjsr1wpMD-mWsd_1rMKWV8DyrNoGhTUxVJPGeMf7FyHMNC9QA/s1600/P1070556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8G8MTV_pc2dFJw6Xc7Xjx1OTBtydktrc_lPFJv2VFHlzJ_516hsyshgpc4qY4l5ITzxkP1YBdH7fp1PsFW48ezehnWKjsr1wpMD-mWsd_1rMKWV8DyrNoGhTUxVJPGeMf7FyHMNC9QA/s200/P1070556.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPKfIU5xryG5plthNMTECzdzxM_wmW5tVQHPgOWCYAmx8_KwuvJNc3-JA6OmZfhzo7v7tsByuzEGIeYSZcYPWU4qkhIFDEbr_em8Lqu2hZTFSJNAnHON3mUodn4TPDuFGPanLVS5UcbA/s1600/P1070555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPKfIU5xryG5plthNMTECzdzxM_wmW5tVQHPgOWCYAmx8_KwuvJNc3-JA6OmZfhzo7v7tsByuzEGIeYSZcYPWU4qkhIFDEbr_em8Lqu2hZTFSJNAnHON3mUodn4TPDuFGPanLVS5UcbA/s200/P1070555.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">This was the last stop on our tour. By then we were hot, tired and our feet were screaming from walking all over Florence. There was a pretty big line we had to wait in. It was if Mary Poppins had fed us spoonfuls of sugar and we were crashing. We were a bit overwhelmed once we got into the Uffizi with the hallways and hallways of art that wrapped around two buildings like a giant "U." </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqWlSVXZEkHkYhyphenhyphenYNyBWaqUn8yPuSdjl1O37LltRP16mIBMkRsYztBPE8pomV8fnr1UT8vhrGweYBhKCJjHYYTOaWE9cqEaazHcWImg6v5eLjLq-KgOhtbSR88mhQvGcQ7x4MrcQ90_4/s1600/550px-Sandro_Botticelli_-_La_nascita_di_Venere_-_Google_Art_Project_-_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqWlSVXZEkHkYhyphenhyphenYNyBWaqUn8yPuSdjl1O37LltRP16mIBMkRsYztBPE8pomV8fnr1UT8vhrGweYBhKCJjHYYTOaWE9cqEaazHcWImg6v5eLjLq-KgOhtbSR88mhQvGcQ7x4MrcQ90_4/s200/550px-Sandro_Botticelli_-_La_nascita_di_Venere_-_Google_Art_Project_-_edited.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Birth of Venus (Botticelli)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGVSDWTfIHhzEedcp8DrUrYTaC18WdJfKM1E8dhfFAQGm7El0mO6PcNzXY2Xi-XqHQ7D38Bb15J0FlZlInaoPAhx1uPQnq-3v2FqgE0CwwQaDuLrN3M_KC_YZGPF3hMkYUbcIBrzbKZo/s1600/380px-Leonardo_Da_Vinci_-_Annunciazione.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGVSDWTfIHhzEedcp8DrUrYTaC18WdJfKM1E8dhfFAQGm7El0mO6PcNzXY2Xi-XqHQ7D38Bb15J0FlZlInaoPAhx1uPQnq-3v2FqgE0CwwQaDuLrN3M_KC_YZGPF3hMkYUbcIBrzbKZo/s200/380px-Leonardo_Da_Vinci_-_Annunciazione.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Annunciation (Da Vinci) c. 1475</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a4hKZrFlzU4gmpaQEumBFJ-3OxKfR2xze0T41qfiOe_zKhL1bpUwvmimKjQMjbuQb8LvEsi4VJeeoPLBVMtVz6UyMGCKBrgIJjoGR78Q4OvSeJfIq2pRRBuHOom4oQNmBdB2cSyV34Y/s1600/P1070553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a4hKZrFlzU4gmpaQEumBFJ-3OxKfR2xze0T41qfiOe_zKhL1bpUwvmimKjQMjbuQb8LvEsi4VJeeoPLBVMtVz6UyMGCKBrgIJjoGR78Q4OvSeJfIq2pRRBuHOom4oQNmBdB2cSyV34Y/s200/P1070553.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ponte Vecchio viewed from Uffizi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The art collection boasts early ancient Greek & Roman sculptures, Gothic, Early & High Renaissance and too many busts of Florentines to count. Antonia pointed out details like the new understanding of renaissance painters to use geometry and perspective to make images appear to have dimension for the first time in history. Dana later commented how comical it was that Antonia was so fascinated by this technique used by Leonardo da Vinci in his Annunciation painting to make an angel appear to be flying. Dana was questioning what was truly surreal in the painting--indeed. One of our favorite </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">pieces in the museum was Botticelli's The Birth of Venus (c1485).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ro, FloJo and Dana just finished the Uffizi tour</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Unfortunately, Antonia's pearls of wisdom were pretty much lost on this tired crowd. Most of us lacked the energy to truly appreciate what was before our glazed over eyes. Amazing artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Raphael were standing between us getting some food and drink and putting our barking feet up. Our attention was aroused however, when Dana got too close to a picture of a dwarf and set off an alarm. Was she casing the painting secretly wanting to take it home as a </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">souvenir?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrXuRvktKvYATFZkPODrJhDmXRic43rjgv82YsCuNpN2fW0ysqpvESDiuUZ1qJkQK1JCQzWf3lTjKXmeHKFDsrTU0iDrhnIoxhd67lUTULD4ICLJ7wShH-baECGHsnwGFtvrid_Xpx_s/s1600/P1070572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrXuRvktKvYATFZkPODrJhDmXRic43rjgv82YsCuNpN2fW0ysqpvESDiuUZ1qJkQK1JCQzWf3lTjKXmeHKFDsrTU0iDrhnIoxhd67lUTULD4ICLJ7wShH-baECGHsnwGFtvrid_Xpx_s/s200/P1070572.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Mary Elizabeth</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY-HUniIs2tscQDJwHnLwj5OIY1KH0bpebHIalJA-G8m58opfYs9neXRYtYXC8JjiqdPRpWMjPiEsPnkzFIayj8jCwxNxYKyD-Ubuc9RKaK_Wd0ariSuuTEpFeeM8FG-lKD1uCKp-Xcw/s1600/P1010093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlY-HUniIs2tscQDJwHnLwj5OIY1KH0bpebHIalJA-G8m58opfYs9neXRYtYXC8JjiqdPRpWMjPiEsPnkzFIayj8jCwxNxYKyD-Ubuc9RKaK_Wd0ariSuuTEpFeeM8FG-lKD1uCKp-Xcw/s200/P1010093.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">We were never so happy to see the train station. We all scurried around to gather some dinner to eat on the train. A sandwich, Coke and Mc Donald's fries never tasted so good. Besides FloJo almost getting kicked off the train for putting her feet on the seat, the ride back to Orvieto was uneventful and we all slept like babies once we were safely back in our beds dreaming of our adventures in Florence.</span><br />
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<b> Life life with flavor and fun!</b></div>
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Rohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02190725970093433967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-78196381936584938202012-10-23T21:38:00.000-07:002013-09-24T15:56:24.737-07:00The Debut of Marination ma kai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnBBCsF7lrg/UIWLJgwto6I/AAAAAAAAHR0/QSTGs4GbCJA/s1600/IMAG1545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnBBCsF7lrg/UIWLJgwto6I/AAAAAAAAHR0/QSTGs4GbCJA/s320/IMAG1545.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bW16vX01b0/UIWLJuLWisI/AAAAAAAAHT8/WWJdhkArTrA/s1600/IMAG1537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bW16vX01b0/UIWLJuLWisI/AAAAAAAAHT8/WWJdhkArTrA/s320/IMAG1537.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What have we been most anxious for all summer (other than our trip to Italy)? The highly anticipated debut of the newest Marination outpost in our backyard in West Seattle-- ma kai, which means along, near or beside the sea in Hawaiian.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new location, ma kai is aptly named, as it sits where the former Alki Fish and Chips was located at Alki's Seacrest Boathouse (owned by Seattle Parks and Rec) right on the edge of Puget Sound with a killer view of the Seattle skyline.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marination is co-owned by Kamala Saxton and Roz Edison. Their Big Blue food truck shot to national fame when their Korean spicy pork taco won the Good Morning America national food truck contest in 2009. We've been big fans for a long time as both of us love their Hawaiian-Korean fusion food. It gives us both that everyday aloha feeling. Ro even featured their food at her big Flirty Thirty birthday bash this past January.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it shouldn't be any surprise that the first place we chose to eat lunch upon returning from our Italian adventure was, you guessed it, ma kai and it did not disappoint. Not only did the new place keep some of the Marination classics such as SPAM and kalua sliders and kalbi beef tacos , but it added more fish dishes (appropriate considering the waterside location), a full bar, breakfast items and the kicker-- boozy shaved ice featuring <a href="http://www.huskydeli.com/icecream.html" target="_blank">Husky Deli Ice-Cream</a> (a local West Seattle favorite). This place is going to be packed in the summertime no doubt! You heard it here first.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New patio/deck with an incredible view!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spicy Kimchi fried rice w/ fried egg on top</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mac salad and SPAM slider</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After we staked out where we would be moving in with our sleeping bags to sleep permanently on the beautiful deck with the most incredible view, we couldn't help but say to each other this was going to be our new hang-out (FloJo is determined to become the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foursquare" target="_blank">Foursquare</a> mayor). We nestled into a table and hunkered down to conquer our tray of food. FloJo had her usual spicy kimchi fried rice with a fried egg on top and her favorite the Marination classic SPAM slider with a side of mac salad </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(take note islanders the SPAM is a nice addition to traditional mac salad)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. A funny footnote on the menu, ma kai boasts making their own Portuguese sausage in-house, but they clearly point out the SPAM still comes from Minnesota. Which begs the question is it really </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Portuguese</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> sausage if it's made in Seattle? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ro went new school trying the cod fish and chips. She was able to convince the server to let her try both of the new tartar sauces miso and kimchi. Kimchi is "the bomb" and should be your pick if they won't let you try both. The fish was very delicious, but the chips (although props for the hand-cut variety) were soggy and not very good. She's really excited to try the fish tacos, but they were not available yet (still in soft launch during our first visit). There are still a few coming soon items in addition to the fish tacos this includes kimchi sausage and eggs and pork katsu sandwiches.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roz (co-owner) and Robyn (Cicerone)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marination brown session ale</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new location has a full bar (where they booze up the shaved ice) and Washington State's first female Cicerone, Robyn Schumacher. Being a <a href="https://cicerone.org/" target="_blank">Cicerone</a> is a really grueling, grind it out kind of gig. She's the chief beer taster & has to keep current on what's hot out in the marketplace. Research includes visiting stores, breweries and local pubs. Tough job right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ma kai </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">features a few Hawaiian beers in bottle form. On tap they now have their own </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">namesake brown ale brewed by White Center's <a href="http://bigalbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Big Al Brewing</a>. They also have a rotating people's tap that is decided upon by you guessed it, the people. If you'd like to register to vote submit your vote on the <a href="http://marination-makai.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">ma kai blog</a>. For now, the people have chosen Georgetown Brewing's Lucille IPA. Our vote for a future people's choice is <a href="http://hawaiinuibrewing.com/" target="_blank">Hawai'i Nui Brewing</a>'s Sunset Amber Ale brewed in Hilo on the Big Island (Ro's homeland). It's awesome beer we came across while visiting Lanai, but not sure if they distribute to the mainland...yet. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNBAZq-ybylyxFcPWIWDc805RSa3KMj6lzqCYxsfvr-DSGxXDAH6gYbB-T_Az5Plbbbl9imv1UU_Zzj4T54T6qS02_zNh6sqa_IA5gfxHDZdD1LwBJ5Q3RvQYlX_X_DmiJbBFhbzUMR8/s1600/IMAG1563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNBAZq-ybylyxFcPWIWDc805RSa3KMj6lzqCYxsfvr-DSGxXDAH6gYbB-T_Az5Plbbbl9imv1UU_Zzj4T54T6qS02_zNh6sqa_IA5gfxHDZdD1LwBJ5Q3RvQYlX_X_DmiJbBFhbzUMR8/s320/IMAG1563.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is also wine and creative island inspired cocktails. We overheard a customer saying that Robyn makes up the best bloody mary he's ever tasted. Might be worth doing your own research to see if that claim can be confirmed.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portuguese $3.25 and SPAM musubi $2.50 with Hawaiian Sun</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We followed our lunch visit two days later to try the new breakfast menu. We struggled to decide what to order from the interesting choices that include: breakfast sliders, sunrise burrito, biscuits & Portuguese sausage and gravy, SPAM or Portuguese sausage musubi, aloha granola and yogurt, mini banana macadamia nut loaf, coconut muffins or kalua 'n' cabbage manapua and Hawaiian classic loco moco.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loco Moco $8.50</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise Burrito $6.50</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started with both varieties of musubi and coffee. Surprisingly out of the two we both liked the SPAM the most. The Sumatra coffee was from <a href="http://caffevita.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_4&products_id=127">Caffe Vita</a> (we love their organic and fair trade practices). Ro really liked the flavor, but it was a little too bold for FloJo (split decision). Ro went with the sunrise burrito that was made with Portuguese sausage, eggs, potatoes and kimchi to wake you up. FloJo was excited to try their version of the loco moco (you have to be a little loco to want a burger for breakfast). It was rice covered in kalua pork gravy with a burger and two fried eggs on top (very heart friendly huh)? The first bite of gravy and rice was overly salty (again, not helping the ole ticker). The rest of the ingredients were fine on their own, but the gravy seemed to have too much sodium.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scuba divers working up an appetite in Puget Sound</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were quite a few people taking advantage of the full bar at 10 a.m. There was a class of scuba divers that came in after their lesson and had a well deserved breakfast beer. We also saw a dog break free from his leash (he was previously tied up outside) and he made a mad dash into the restaurant in search of either his people or a musubi (we can't be sure which it was). Breakfast is served until 2 p.m. on the weekends so mosey in when you get up. The loco moco has hangover remedy written all over it.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqXbd9H7_7M/UIWLJn3Qe6I/AAAAAAAAHWU/aWOHFqw0Afg/s1600/IMAG1532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="86" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TqXbd9H7_7M/UIWLJn3Qe6I/AAAAAAAAHWU/aWOHFqw0Afg/s320/IMAG1532.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The prices are a bit high (a musubi in Hawaii is generally no more than $2). Our lunch and breakfast were both right around $30. Not outrageous, but also not cheap food either. We figure if you were to eat just down the street at Salty's you would spend at least double for the same view. That's one way to justify paying a little more to dine here. Oh, and we love that ma kai is incorporating local partners like Husky Deli, Big Al Brewing and Caffe Vita.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GOJZw_t6nQ4/UIWLJsRkKeI/AAAAAAAAHXE/ZRRoGm4pGjI/s1600/IMAG1544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GOJZw_t6nQ4/UIWLJsRkKeI/AAAAAAAAHXE/ZRRoGm4pGjI/s400/IMAG1544.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new hours for ma kai are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. till "late" on weekends. Since ma kai is in the same place where the water taxi docks, the new morning hours and breakfast items should be perfect for morning commuters to grab a bite on their way to work. We also think it would be a perfect place to tailgate prior to a Seahawk or Sounders game. Grab some grub and beer at ma kai, catch the water taxi to the game. Maybe even grab another beer on the return trip to celebrate the win! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our other thought is this would be an awesome wedding reception site (can't beat the view) and Marination does their own catering. SPAM I do! Here's the e-mail address to use if you decide to book your post Ref 74 wedding: eat@marinationmobile.com</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome to the hood ma kai we are sure we will be best friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live life with aloha, flavor and fun!</span><br />
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Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8488410912634710411.post-78363201111909956632012-10-21T10:13:00.000-07:002013-01-09T15:43:51.698-08:00Dining Out: Orvieto Monastery Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6Jg2nOA3k_k63UQ5LjVV8k_jqmI1Kj5BzFgU8ZIwrqOxxM5fIcz7LgLoeHYpAClVWeh6kulYwbpiaCzolXFJCfLicocD_YtRHaoU0fa2pXeDwGWyemWyJei7f4cI6Il67ngKGDVqnS4/s1600/P1070329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6Jg2nOA3k_k63UQ5LjVV8k_jqmI1Kj5BzFgU8ZIwrqOxxM5fIcz7LgLoeHYpAClVWeh6kulYwbpiaCzolXFJCfLicocD_YtRHaoU0fa2pXeDwGWyemWyJei7f4cI6Il67ngKGDVqnS4/s320/P1070329.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Orvieto is one of the most picturesque Umbrian hill-towns set high atop a sheer rock like a bride and groom atop a wedding cake. The town is located in the middle of Italy between Florence to the North and Rome to the South. While in Orvieto most of our dining was done at the villa. However, we did have a dining out food adventure worth mentioning.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkEGCjNys2qqDTH6exRSG9kJdH4dszjtuxR6HTkvgnQj7Qx6amwqUcmPy_yvK4SQ-NPMCUqhL8_9_JmCmWz4x4ClBCfZDRGUMq-QlPo4mpRlgg_yWsvfJAQZsZIv2f1_7kn4UVpUDz0w/s1600/P1070325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkEGCjNys2qqDTH6exRSG9kJdH4dszjtuxR6HTkvgnQj7Qx6amwqUcmPy_yvK4SQ-NPMCUqhL8_9_JmCmWz4x4ClBCfZDRGUMq-QlPo4mpRlgg_yWsvfJAQZsZIv2f1_7kn4UVpUDz0w/s200/P1070325.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22LPKtK0OEAe6mYKF5aX9B1o8LsNRL85DECkk-gUmiMxd0iHT5MXqrTWxQuHOseS6BLCCnYS25bfWcGZrCVSmUlbf-id8_4AM5JpiaOHJ3YTc2v-IUDaeK0GvWTY4sELYGkjPHjlZFCE/s1600/P1070322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22LPKtK0OEAe6mYKF5aX9B1o8LsNRL85DECkk-gUmiMxd0iHT5MXqrTWxQuHOseS6BLCCnYS25bfWcGZrCVSmUlbf-id8_4AM5JpiaOHJ3YTc2v-IUDaeK0GvWTY4sELYGkjPHjlZFCE/s200/P1070322.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we found it challenging to find food establishments the first few days of our stay in Umbria, it was hard to miss the looming 12th century Gothic "castle" that was converted into a hotel and restaurant called <a href="http://www.labadiahotel.it/" target="_blank">La Badia</a>. We later learned that this was not a castle, but instead a former monastery. Ecstatic to have found an open restaurant on Sunday, we anxiously booked a reservation for fourteen. Little did we know until later, (queue the dum...dum..dum background music) the language barrier came into play, and the receptionist misunderstood fourTEEN to be four.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcKE4u0pVtaqVeBBVjOzuqCHZLAN44Lpi-Tn599phr6tcNY_4iYff1UH65RhA7R5T-HOAM3rFfkspPI1alOxDj4O42Ox9eC1-qiIr_9CCE-j7ut8vCzBgFmAOS_NhK3GxLPvCcvAJ5sI/s1600/P1070330_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcKE4u0pVtaqVeBBVjOzuqCHZLAN44Lpi-Tn599phr6tcNY_4iYff1UH65RhA7R5T-HOAM3rFfkspPI1alOxDj4O42Ox9eC1-qiIr_9CCE-j7ut8vCzBgFmAOS_NhK3GxLPvCcvAJ5sI/s200/P1070330_2.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The hotel still uses old fashioned keys</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_M1yxDqGL37l_Qpnerhyphenhyphenm-5eKCNHTWWM3qWznXK30F0K_H98QZa2YKG8op-4nnfJO3goWjnk4hry_cqLj5ibFouKsbGADwAhDrautqN9FCYPC3ccgNLx0-0Trusi7Jn4YYMyXiwnJZg/s1600/P1070331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_M1yxDqGL37l_Qpnerhyphenhyphenm-5eKCNHTWWM3qWznXK30F0K_H98QZa2YKG8op-4nnfJO3goWjnk4hry_cqLj5ibFouKsbGADwAhDrautqN9FCYPC3ccgNLx0-0Trusi7Jn4YYMyXiwnJZg/s200/P1070331.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Ro trying out the bar seating</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we arrived for our reservation, and found that the error had been made, the staff tried very hard to quickly adjust and accommodate such a large group. While they were scrambling to set-up for the group we explored the enormous high-vaulted rooms.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">FloJo playing a few numbers for the hotel guests (where's the tip jar)?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a sweet bellman that saw us walking around and he started joking with us. He motioned for us to follow him so we did. He showed us what used to be the cafeteria for the monks (where they ate their lunch) and the preserved fresco of Christ that still remains. The room is now used for conferences and weddings.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's for dinner?</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaqjjlxD56HDkIVxGuVVv5EZdpKMrZouV0ZUNIBx0tQ8U5LM2vR-Z8Skw91faw3nBkhrGC26AwN46Ln7I75x2O34_Yff0NOnAKVsn-6fc1GU-Gn3ucipBS-P5cgRQMSAY_SEZkB_4PsM/s1600/P1070317_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihaqjjlxD56HDkIVxGuVVv5EZdpKMrZouV0ZUNIBx0tQ8U5LM2vR-Z8Skw91faw3nBkhrGC26AwN46Ln7I75x2O34_Yff0NOnAKVsn-6fc1GU-Gn3ucipBS-P5cgRQMSAY_SEZkB_4PsM/s200/P1070317_2.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After our self-exploration and adventures we decided to return to the group to see if we had been seated yet. It would still be a few additional moments until we were seated so we took pictures of the real working fireplace at one end of the dining room that featured heavy pots, a wrought-iron roasting spit and an old-world cooking smell as if the hunt of the day was being prepared for our dinner.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKf_i_N-cL8UC9JnlyFFCWkFIT-ksuddmR5llfSbpnUMuNj87J4YGwyfDIVgKK02Tp7harXib_bfgmsHBsxXTuDgGR61FGXsbH9yomZtWWfiynLsITo7JRMQY1OmMmYME7gHeu-qz7MQ/s1600/P1070345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKf_i_N-cL8UC9JnlyFFCWkFIT-ksuddmR5llfSbpnUMuNj87J4YGwyfDIVgKK02Tp7harXib_bfgmsHBsxXTuDgGR61FGXsbH9yomZtWWfiynLsITo7JRMQY1OmMmYME7gHeu-qz7MQ/s200/P1070345.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In contrast, when our very cute Italian waiter, Valerio, escorted us to our secluded room in the castle (whoops scratch that, monastery) we passed a very cool, modern side bar. Kim, does this qualify for <a href="http://vintagemodernblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">vintage modern</a> motif?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqfwrJA68MVNm80MQfDVE1HNjYSVaoxH7B6_96Uz03FMfbWcJgDF25nULHea3lsTgf4sisOQYEH87ix0uqdoB3hk_Yk1SAd9FKDQnK0CHYhk3T1xVU6cikNRoKjYqQR9cYfqZXCyiQRU/s1600/P1070343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqfwrJA68MVNm80MQfDVE1HNjYSVaoxH7B6_96Uz03FMfbWcJgDF25nULHea3lsTgf4sisOQYEH87ix0uqdoB3hk_Yk1SAd9FKDQnK0CHYhk3T1xVU6cikNRoKjYqQR9cYfqZXCyiQRU/s320/P1070343.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Betsy and Dana 1st course</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOFuZ1KuaU4rMhF00r2K-02xuSzcEPgcYOB0sFJitlh0Q54dDse1bHmINPpvk3PCQo95W8Ex1FmF5bTNRXUiwAfC_40uTze7SttRA02NcLUEtmOXHAIRo5x5qOU8Wn4hZDdM7jHkbN74/s1600/P1070351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOFuZ1KuaU4rMhF00r2K-02xuSzcEPgcYOB0sFJitlh0Q54dDse1bHmINPpvk3PCQo95W8Ex1FmF5bTNRXUiwAfC_40uTze7SttRA02NcLUEtmOXHAIRo5x5qOU8Wn4hZDdM7jHkbN74/s320/P1070351.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FloJo, Valerio and Ro</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lNAIdiuN66Q/UIGfimLCHjI/AAAAAAAAHIk/s6KJRSyBSqc/s1600/IMG_1004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrnyTKUx9DL-p3Sv-YfcQZFXB1nsEesb9pOAC8osvKFoHP0Ntkt_4Y0yz0ufd9X3_lM48v3jfbjPs-V-jNCj7mVQAWHOc4VTCoOMnV9Ze0iAR2cIuat5D8BKW7tO2eNqh9iq2oXgR124/s1600/IMG_1006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrnyTKUx9DL-p3Sv-YfcQZFXB1nsEesb9pOAC8osvKFoHP0Ntkt_4Y0yz0ufd9X3_lM48v3jfbjPs-V-jNCj7mVQAWHOc4VTCoOMnV9Ze0iAR2cIuat5D8BKW7tO2eNqh9iq2oXgR124/s320/IMG_1006.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We settled in for a typical Italian affair, a three hour meal. Valerio was adorable and we had a great time interacting with him. Inclusive of Betsy speaking with him in her best Italian (really English words spoken with an American-Italian accent). "Valerio, I've a ordered too-aaaa-much-aaaa." The poor guy was out numbered 14-2 (he had one little helper) and he really didn't stand a chance. Highlights of the food included anything that had truffles shaved on it (that's a no brainer unless you're Dana and allergic to mushrooms). Our favorite dish of the evening was lobster fettucine with black shaved truffles. Does it get any more decadent than that?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY2nTZljcPyoaipZ6AvsP5yJDWVva970YMXGJbfYKxoGzF8XBvQZcW9sMdnYEpfDsyyYlEWNHfPbIVpqYZxRpZXyh0ogiHvySi7tCFa5Aebp78NuHUXEADO9NZitJk8v3J6FNtQvdk4U/s1600/IMG_1004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY2nTZljcPyoaipZ6AvsP5yJDWVva970YMXGJbfYKxoGzF8XBvQZcW9sMdnYEpfDsyyYlEWNHfPbIVpqYZxRpZXyh0ogiHvySi7tCFa5Aebp78NuHUXEADO9NZitJk8v3J6FNtQvdk4U/s200/IMG_1004.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d4K38HlCnSKPfJg0yrJQ6gG_Y-Fh93z_yvJ6S8nboleDEZlvhzlcVrchfGqExbzjAHhrx_YhDK_db93VZL4kdgA5TVJ-H1hpaZfmSWixbedEKAevbtkIfyBR5iOkoG7gCclyLUu3nrM/s1600/P1000932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d4K38HlCnSKPfJg0yrJQ6gG_Y-Fh93z_yvJ6S8nboleDEZlvhzlcVrchfGqExbzjAHhrx_YhDK_db93VZL4kdgA5TVJ-H1hpaZfmSWixbedEKAevbtkIfyBR5iOkoG7gCclyLUu3nrM/s320/P1000932.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another highlight was Valerio's wine selections for us. He suggested we start with a <a href="http://www.falesco.it/" target="_blank">Falesco</a> Syrah that originates from a winery between Umbria and Lazio (it's the cool wine bottle pictured below with Ro photo bombing). We questioned Valerio's choice at first thinking it was going to be too robust to start with, but it wasn't (later we found out it's nicely blended with some Merlot). Valerio then suggested a Rubbio from Umbria, mostly made of Sangiovese the most prevalent grape in Italy. It was very good and we decided we will need to put <a href="http://www.italianicious.com.au/beverages/view/palazzone-vineyards" target="_blank">Palazone</a> on our wineries to visit for a future trip. To finish off the meal, he recommended <a href="http://www.agrariacarini.it/" target="_blank">Oscano</a>, a merlot from Perugia (of <a href="http://perugina.com/casa_del_cioccolato.php" target="_blank">Baci</a> chocolate fame) and coincidentally named after a castle there. Merlot is not usually a varietal we favor, but are finding we like it more and more. This merlot had a pleasant, rich, smooth and dark finish that paired nicely with our lamb to end our meal. It made the Syrah seem like a Pinot Noir. We applauded his picks and "trust me" attitude (and of course it helped that he was, as you Americans say, "easy on the eyes").</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Betsy and Dana by the end of dinner</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuiXPWCkItI9dTJ4quiwkZ_8MbfR-xG3qy5SntKuD5mHoWsI30ffKsGGHg121Ybm5ZIsqBXij6reR4pdyUhdKfyAy3fswPWyEg7l9Pck9BGJrPTE6aa_ctisB8lsrWX-SHZeYtp97zvs/s1600/P1000938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuiXPWCkItI9dTJ4quiwkZ_8MbfR-xG3qy5SntKuD5mHoWsI30ffKsGGHg121Ybm5ZIsqBXij6reR4pdyUhdKfyAy3fswPWyEg7l9Pck9BGJrPTE6aa_ctisB8lsrWX-SHZeYtp97zvs/s320/P1000938.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d4K38HlCnSKPfJg0yrJQ6gG_Y-Fh93z_yvJ6S8nboleDEZlvhzlcVrchfGqExbzjAHhrx_YhDK_db93VZL4kdgA5TVJ-H1hpaZfmSWixbedEKAevbtkIfyBR5iOkoG7gCclyLUu3nrM/s1600/P1000932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We decided to skip dessert, less it turn into a four hour dining event. Most of us had an entertaining evening at the monastery and how often can you really say that's where you had dinner? As an apology and peace offering for the haphazard service, Valerio sent us home with several bottles of the house red and white wines. More points for Valerio! He also shared with us in his most charming Italian way the story he had been teasing us with all night. Just as we were about to leave, he decided to tell the story and we captured it on YouTube for posterity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live life with flavor and fun!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group photo courtesy of Cindy Sebastian</td></tr>
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<br />Flojohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03518328177667390308noreply@blogger.com0Corso Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour, 58-89, 05018 Orvieto, Province of Terni, Italy42.7185068 12.110744636.895153300000004 2.0033226000000006 48.541860299999996 22.2181666