This ain't no Chef Mickey's

The Birthday Girl,Her Daughter,and Me

Wait a Minute Here.......Where are they taking us?? Where are the Rats??....Where are the Swearing Chefs??

And thus,the Adventure begins

Amuse Bouche,Oyster Rockefeller,Seared Wild Turbot with Toasted Capers and Meyer Lemon,Deviled Quail Egg Iranian Osetra Caviar,Root Vegetable Flan

paired with a Heidsieck Monapole "Blue Top" Brut Champagne NV

Walnut Oil Seared Duck with Hearts of Palm,Huckleberry Vinaigrette and Fourme D'Ambert Fondue

paired with a Lynmar Pinot Noir,Russian River 2004

Nantucket Scallops with Roasted Beets and Pomegrante Reduction

paired with a Caymus Conundrum,California 2005

Minnesota Elk Tenderloin with Braised Red Cabbage and Mustard Spatzle

paired with a Prior D'Scala Dei,Priorat 2003

Kurobuta Pork Tenderloin and Belly with Banana Squash Ragout

paired with a Carol Shelton Rocky Reserve Zinfandel,Dry Creek Vally 2004

Half Time Photo

Pan Roasted Foie Gras with Fuji Apples and Mostarda di Cremona

paired with a Royal Tokaji Azsu 5 Puttonyos,Mad Tokaj-Hegyalya 2003

So many solders,so little timeTasting of Japanese Wagyu Strip Loin and Australian "Kobe" Tenderloin with Oxtail Jus
paired with a Chateau d'Armailhac,Pauillac 2004
How many chefs does it take to run a mixer?? Is it done yet? Even in the kitchen they have Hidden Mickeys What in The Hell is this??.......I think I owned one once in a former life and mine had a couple hoses coming from it OK......so this is what a Percolator would look like if it was glass I guess All that just for a cup of Joe........

Next came a Comte Saint Antonion,Cabra Al Vino,St.Marcellin and 4 year aged Gouda

paired with a Quinta do Crasto Late Bottles Vintage Porto 2001.............AKA cheese and Wine but I must have missed taking a picture of it Wild Strawberry Sorbet,Mango-Yogurt panna cotta and Miniature Banana Gateau

paired with a Paolo Saracco Mascato D'Asti,Piedmont 2006 Tanzanian Chocolate Pyramid,Hawaiian Kona Chocolate Souffle and Peruvian Chocolate Ice Cream and Puff Pastry Of course this is Me,Chef Amy,Birthday Girl Alice and Sherri

And no......The king did not come with

I have to say that it was an experience of a life time,I'm glad that I was invited and now I can say Been there,Done,that,even ate in the Kitchen.

Sweet Sundays

As the description said

Indulge your sweet tooth as celebrity pastry chefs create cakes,pastries and all things sugary and scrumptious!.(continental breakfest is included)

This is something that they do every Sunday....hens the name I'm sure,and it was the first time I and we had every paid for any of the cooking demos.I was a little sceptical about it but thought it would be fun.........When I learned that I paid 65$ for a Buleberry Muffin,and Oatmeal Scone,I was even more sceptical.....
Well staring with the Continental Breakfest....I was thinking it would be rolls,donuts,fruit,coffee and juice.......Well they didn't have any rolls or donuts but they did have the fruit,coffee and juice.......along with very yummy bread......I tried the Chocolate Mango bread..........any bread with Chocolate gets a thumbs up with me...Oven browned potatoes with dices peppers and onions,Country ham and white chedder frittata,Wood smoked Bacon and Chicken Apple Sausage..........and as you're going back to your table they offer Martini & Rossi Prosecco.........if there could ever be a "Breakfest Wine" that's it.....and as they say at the Food and Wine Fest......Wine before 11,you're in Heven..........

So after that,then the Guest bakers talk and cook

If anyone remembers on the Food Network,Warren Brown was the host of Sugar Rush.....He also has a few shops in the Washington DC area.

The Blueberry Muffin was warm and filled with Blueberries,the Scone was yummy and was served with Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante........a sweet sparking wine........

but the best part was the Milk and............

Warren Brown and Mary Meyers from CakeLove.The picture says it all.........and yes.....I did join the Clean Plate Club

So Sad to see another year end

Once again we have seen another Food and Wine Fest come and go.........So many fine memories and a few blurry ones too.

I so enjoy just walking the Worldshowcase and noshing from Country to Country and trying different Libations from around the World..............Or waiting in line for the Seminars....which as some may remember from years in the past were always made to wait outside in the baking sun or poring rain.....but not this year....Though,the Wonders of Life building is so far away from the rest of the Fest.......being indoors and in the AC it was well worth the walk.

Tried a wine from 1973 at one of those.....the maker said there were 12 cases total that still were around and they brought 6 bottles with them to have us try.........for someone that 2003 is an old wine,something that was made when I was 5 is ancient

This year I did my first paid events.We did the South African Wine Adventure......Great fun and more wine then I can remember.......O yah,,,,the food was good too.

We did a food and wine pairing at the new Italian Restaurant too...........Great Wines and Wonderful Food.

Did it for the Bling

Well I'm sure by now you've seen the "Bling" that everyone got for finishing the Race....or I should say walk for me.......well I promised myself some Bling too if I finished.
Way back in April when I signed up I knew it would be a bit of a challenge....To think that when I started walking I could hardly make it a quarter mile.Then in May when I had the Stress Test...Well after that I felt that I would never walk again.....and I still think Tread Mills are an Evil Contraption of horror.I was down for 2 weeks after that.I couldn't even make a quarter mile when I started back up and even taking it slowly it was a challenge that I really didn't think I would ever make it to 4+ miles.....but I kept going.
As the Summer led on it got easier.I was able to,after a couple weeks bump it up to two miles a day and that was OK....I was still feeling it in the calf's when I was done with my walking but it wasn't the kind of pain that would "Kill me"...more like "No Pain no Gain".And that was what I would call my Regular Loop.
I then added the third mile on a couple days a week.That one was a little harder because before then I was doing loops around my complex and the farthest I ever was from home was a half mile.So that if for any reason I wanted to cut it short I could.....even if it meant cutting through a yard or two.......But with the 3 mile loop I would go out to the main road by the complex and the farthest I would get from home was a mile and a half......and yes....there were a few times I thought that either calling a cab or 911 was going to be needed but I still did it.....I laugh because I found that I was faster on the return then I was on the first mile and a half......and I can only think that on the return I was telling myself......"The Faster you get back,the faster you can sit on your Ass"
Now while all this was going on.In the June I stopped smoking...the First couple days were no picnic and in fact after 5 days I had one......almost killed me then and there.I had a couple when I went back to MN for my Grandmothers Funeral but those where more "When in Rome".......one more in Aug. when I was waiting for AAA to come jump start my car.....that one I only took two drags and snuffed it out.....I think one more drag and I would have pucked......but since then,not a single one and I hope at least for today to never have another one......I still take it one day at a time but every day it gets easier.
So by Mid August I was doing a 3 mile loop two or three days a week and was feeling great about my goal to do the 6.5K.Had a couple set backs though....I've learned that no mater what,even if it's just for a mile,to never take time off.....I took a week off because of work and the return back to walking was almost like starting over.
In Sept. I started adding the fourth and final mile to my goal...that one for the most part was OK...there were days when I just dreaded doing it but then there were also days that when I was done I felt that I could have kept going for a few more miles.I laughed at myself because when I did the 4 mile loop it would take me an hour and a half and I always said to myself as I started "So what would you like to do for an hour and a half.Well sit on my ass and eat Cheese Puffs but I guess I'll go for a walk instead"
I guess that's why I respect what Terry did...If it was me and when I went to sign up all that was left was the 13k I would have said screw that.There is no way in Hell I could have done that...even with more training.....Now next year is a different story.....I know I can do the 13 and look forward to the training for it......and maybe even the 10k that they have for the F&W Fest too
But I know by now you're thinking "Enough with the Monica Post" what's the Bling you got for doing the 6.5K


It's the 8GB and He's called Flamingo King II........so now to figure out what to get for doing the 13k next year :D

Pyrite and Prince Says??

Well I thought it was a party for Fools Gold and Prince Music............Boy was I ever wrong......

Darling Nikki??....No,just some Pirate Wench I took a picture of Mickey,Donald,The King.......and some guy who got in the picture

Dead Men Smell Like Snails

Guess the wait was a little longer then I thought

Jack and I and some guy.....I think he's a stalker since I seem to see him around when ever I'm in pictures

The King and his Keeper go to Minnesota

OK......So I get in late Thursday night.........of course Alamo has no compacts left so I'm stuck with a free upgrade to the full size......So I get in the car and head on my way....I'm starving so I'm headed to the White Castle on the way to my brothers.I get some sliders,onion chips and a diet coke......a pop,not a soda........after the late night snack I'm back in the car.......Still dinkin' with the seat,the radio,the mirrors....when sure enough....the lights flash and there is one of St. Paul's Finest behind me.He asked for the DL,Insurance and registration.I give him the DL,insurance and Tell him it's a rental...He said he knew that and I show him the paper work for that.......He asked how fast I was going...I tell him I'm not sure,30 maybe 35....He says 40 and it's a 30 mile an hour zone......He then tells me to slow down and have a good vacation.......Thank God for that one
The next morning I'm walking out the car and I see there is no plate on the front......I'm thinking,Well this in MN and I know they have plates on the front......where the F is the plate.....

Who would have thought......Fly all this way and I still can't get away from Florida Drivers

40 years and still smiling..........What makes the Happy Cobb so Freakin' Happy?? What??...the big ball of string is just down the road Almost there AKA The Fox Lake Resort and Marina You call this hot......I laugh at you Ha ha ha ha ha Look.....it's a Bear....no...it's a puma............wait.......it's George,my brothers Lab.....thank God I'm not a shoe or a squeekie toy

Mom and Dad call it home,we call it the cabin.....really,it's a Mansion on the hill

You can't really till but this tree is about 8 feet round and has been around about 200 years they say....... The swing is long gone but the rope and the memories are still there You had to do what?? Where??............don't forget to flush Such is the life......sitting on the dock just watching the water No tan lines on me Fish are Friends and Food What??....no Brine shrimp in the feeder for me??..Look.......I'm a hummingbird I'm king of the World.....or at least mom's Flower BoatWonder what's going in the smoker??........and where is that Turkey I was talking to earlier I wonder??We didn't need a campfire tonight though........and the AC was on too Look......I can see my old apartmentSkyline Drive

I don't need no stinking ocean to take a picture,give me a big ass lakeEveryone here Loves Fitgers Beer

Chillin' at the Lift Bridge in Duluth