Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Four Ladies Adventure into the Deep !

My daughter Courtney has been telling me for many month's now, about her friend Dylan's father's rustic restaurant,that's only open on Monday nights.Dylan's dad is one of Monterey Peninsula's best caterer's (A Moveable Feast) ,and his Red Tag Tea Party Roadhouse Restaurant is delectably delicious ! It is deep into the heart of Carmel Valley,California,about twenty-five miles from Highway One.
We had a reservation for 8:30, at the second seating of the night.Our journey took us by the light of a full moon, through miles and miles of windy roads, oak trees,and an occasional house scattered here and there..Thank God for the bright moon because it was DARK out there ,honey !
After our adventure into the middle of nowhere,we arrived at this funky restaurant that looked like it was around 100 years old,with a small general store attached to it.The place was lit up with white lights,there were cars parked all over the dirt parking area,and people coming outside who had just dined.Ah,light life,and we even heard music wafting out !
Inside,people sat at old tables that were covered with blue and white checkered table cloths,and a three person band played in the corner.There were about 7 chefs,I believe,bustling about in an open kitchen,as well as the busy wait staff. We opted to sit outside,behind the restaurant,at a wooden picnic table with benches,under the trees.Courtney and her friend Amelia gathered candles off of the other tables and lined them along the center of our table for extra ambience.
For a starter,we were presented with Joanie's Padrone and Fehr Peppers:Iron Grilled,Pink Salt,with Arbequina EVOO.(Many of their menu items listed the name of the person who created it,and the names of the items are slightly elaborate !) They were slightly sweet,and had a delicious smokey flavor.They also served us some warm homemade foccacia bread with rosemary flavored olive oil. We shared the Pear Salad,consisting of Search Ranch lettuces,parsnip chips,Point Reyes blue cheese,and Yuzu honey dressing.Amelia ordered the Tassajara beef tartare with Szalay Vineyard tarragon ice cream,to which we all had a taste.Mmmm,I liked that licoricey flavored ice cream !
Courtney ordered the Infamous Confit of Maigret of Duck with Mulbery/Plum Reduction. Lorraine ordered the Organic Berkshire Heluka Double Porkchop:Peach Confit, with Heller Plum Sauce.I ordered Pan Roasted Wild Monterey Bay King Salmon with Rosemary Aioli,and I believe that Amelia ordered the same.I loved the idea of flavoring the bread dipping oil as well as the aioli with rosemary.Yum !
We ordered three desserts:a lemon,cornmeal poundcake.chocolate mouse,and.....I forgot ! I'll have to ask Courtney what the third one was ! I HIGHLY RECCOMMEND the mouse !!! It was the best chocolate mouse I've ever had.....sooooo creamy !!! Also on the plate were two stripes of sea salt,one white and one black,and some olive oil on the other side.
After dinner,Dylan gave us a personal tour of the little general store......so cute. We then crawled or should I say,rolled, into the car for the hour long drive back to Santa Cruz,by the light of the silvery moon......ahhh,what a heavenly meal ! Ya know,I really reccommend this place,if you can ever figure out how on earth to get a reservation !!!
Oh I love eating divinely good food,and even more,I thank my best friend Jesus Christ for creating such wonderful food !!! He is soooo creative ! I believe there are over 3,000 kinds of apples in this world....thank you Jesus for not stopping after creating one apple ! God bless you my friends !

Friday, September 2, 2011

Honey Lemonade

This week turned into a very sad one for my family and me. Our Australian Shepherd,Chrissy,went to Heaven on Tuesday morning. Chrissy was white with red patches,and had gorgeous light blue eyes.She had had cancer for a few years,and I believe that because I had asked my friends to pray for her,God let her live three years longer than the usual twelve years that Aussies live. Chrissy just about drove us CRAZY,but we loved her anyway! She used to open the front door handle,and race around the neighborhood ,with our Cocker Spaniel,Billy,terrorizing the neighbor's dogs. Scaling a six foot fence was nooo problem for her. I would leave her at a kennel when I went out of town,and the paper I.D. collar that they put around her neck read "Escape Artist",because she opened doors there too and ran amuck ! One time I received a phone call from the local gelato man,who was about a mile from my house ! He said,"Your two dogs are here at my shop,having gelato with me !" Ha,we really got a chuckle out of that escapade....those dogs weren't dumb !

I could see that Chrissy was very weak on Monday night,and my daughter Courtney suggested that I sleep next to her.I stroked her and held her paw and told her,since she was very protective, we would be ok,that she could leave us. She breathed her last breath,raised her front leg in the air,and floated away to Heaven. We will really miss Chrissy.

Well,what do people say when you've been handed a bowl of lemons,but to make lemonade. My making lemonade will be to thank God for allowing us to have had Chrissy, to remember all the funny shenanagins with her, how she fiercely loved us,and how we loved her.

To make a glass of Honey Lemonade,mix together in a 16 oz.glass............

The juice of 1 lemon
2 T. honey
Stir these together until well blended.
Add 14-16 oz. water (I use spring water)
Stir. You can add any kind of berries,or mint leaves for extra flavoring, and a thin slice of lemon.

To make a pitcher of honey lemonade,multiply this recipe 4 times.

May God bless you....Au revoir !
Katy

P.S.
When my three daughters,the ABC girls (Courtney,Brittany,and Ashley),would come home from school,I enjoyed putting out a variety of healthy snacks,as well as honey lemonade. (I am three quarters Swedish,and I think I inherited the Swedish custom of putting out 5 or 7 snacks for guests.) Correct me Swedes if I have my numbers wrong !
This is a very welcome drink to give to your gardener,the traveling Vet,or any friend on a hot day !