Travel

California

Angela and I are just back from our first trunk shows of 2009.  Six and half days in the San Francisco and three in Los Angeles.  The weather was showery, but a green landscape was a relief to us.    It is amazing how rain paralyzes Californians.  Rain is seen as an opportunity to stay in bed and read, I think.  A few days in the Midwest would change that.  Our weather drama is ongoing and makes every day a new adventure in dressing and navigation.

December 2008

A look back at the previous few trips and what remains in my mind..The New York City list in front of me begins with Le Gigot and Pearl Oyster Bar.  That was the night I was to meet my friend Mel Dwork at Le Gigot and arrived early.  So what else to do but have a quick oyster appetizer at Pearl next door.  I did not tell him.  Dinner at Le Gigot was delicious and cozy.  On another day I went with my friend Linda Vance to MOMA at 8 a.m. — her invitation.  We saw Van Gogh and Miro.  I loved the early Miro paintings which I had not seen for many years.  (Nothing wrong with Van Gogh, of course). 

2008 review

Here i am on October 22 having written not a word this year.  I guess I have spoken too many.  Perhaps it is best to delay these posts until everything has digested and compressed a bit.

For one thing, it is becoming a problem to try as many new restaurants as in the past since i want to return to those that i love.

Time for a retroactive update on my food and travel adventures.

It is always a challenge to discover new spots and still get to all my favorites. So please forgive my repetitions. They will merely confirm that the old places are still good.In August we were in San Francisco. On the top of my pile of receipts is one from Zuni Café: “Mojito, Summer Ice (6), Caesar, Clams, Gruner Veltliner, Espresso Granita $69.77” is what it says. Summer Ice must have been oysters. I wish I were there tonight. I really think it is one of the perfect restaurants for unpretentiousness, fresh, tasty foods and steadiness. I did not get to Swan Oyster Depot since it is a lunch place and it is hard to work and eat lunch at the same time. Saturday at the Ferry Building market or the Alemany farmer’s market is a regular treat, though my friend Niloufer was in Bombay and couldn’t accompany me.

An update of recent culinary adventures is long overdue.

An update of recent culinary adventures is long overdue. Perhaps it is a good idea to wait a while before reporting, so that only the truly tasty experiences remain in my mind. I have some restaurant receipts on my desk to remind me of what transpired. From Washington DC there is a receipt for a dozen oysters eaten at the bar at Old Ebbitt Grill. They were delicious, while the Caesar salad and the calamari were more routine. I always forget to order the salad dressing on the side so it is not too soggy. There is also a receipt from a delicious meal at Zaytinya: kibbeh nayeh, lamb kebab, mushroom/butternut squash, scallops, Tanqueray gin martini, yogurt dessert.There have been 2 trips to New York with many good meals. I introduced my husband, Marc, to Tabla (downstairs Bread Bar). He was delighted.