Back In The Saddle Again

We are back. The cool beautiful weather, vacation is in our past. It was so awesome to be able to sit outside to eat, breakfast, lunch or dinner, without swatting at flies, mosquitoes or having to spit and hope the wind carried it back in your face to cool off. In one word the 10 days were, exhilirating! We were in awe of the cool days and even cooler nights in which we could sit down to eat and enjoy the pacific ocean, or the most gorgeous flowers. We went to a street fair in San Luis Obispo and ate strawberry crepes, tri-tip sandwiches. The farmers market down the streets were filled with artichokes 10 for $1.00,, strawberries, 3 baskets for $2.50, carrots so huge, I took a picture of them, and if I can figure out how to transfer my pics from my iphone, will post the picture of them. We had a ball. Tried quail eggs over a cream cheese sauce. Ate at Valentino’s in Santa Monica, the Palette, one of our favorite places in Glendale, Portos, a Cuban restaurant where you can buy the best chocolate coissants in the world. Went to Big Sur, Carmel, Pebble Beach (but didn’t get close to the golf course where all the biggies were playing. Went to Santa Barbara, Hurst Castle from a distance, Los Gatos where were went to church and heard Chip Ingraham. Each day brought us so many new memories that I cannot list them all……BUT…..I have to tell you about one of the most exciting things. I finally tasted black truffle mushrooms. At Valentio’s…we had Black Truffle Mushroom Risotto and honestly, it is one of the best tasting dishes I have had. The taste was like something so buttery and creamy and the mushroom was so delicate. What a treat. When we heard the story of how the mushroom is hunted, it really made me appreciate it even more. They are hunted once a year, by hogs. Yes, that’s right. The hog is able to smell it, even though it is underground. As soon as the hog begins to dig, the hunter takes over and begins to dig and there it is. So we were excited to have this tasty morsel in our memory book. It is good to be home, as long as I stay inside in air conditioning. Went to the store, so will get back in the grove of cooking. Am excited to have Sevy coming over on Wednesday night for his 6th birthday party dinner. We had a wonderful time and hope to go back, but until then, we will enjoy our family and friends which will help us forget about the heat and just enjoy the memories we make right here.