Back in the saddle...

Wow, the last month or so has flown by. I got a little too pre-occupied to post. Work has ramped up in the R&D in the kitchen, I created some really cool plates for our Canadian, Mexican and Middle Eastern locations. I unveiled them to the franchisees at the Wynn casino in Las Vegas last week; good reception. Tuesday night 75 of us went out to eat at Daniel Boulud's Brasserie, it was the best executed catered dinner I have eaten. I peeked in the kitchen and said hello to executive chef Wess who was really hospitable.

The best meal last week was at Alain Ducasse's Mix. This sits atop THE Hotel at Mandalay and has an awesome view of the strip 60+ stories high. I did three course's with the kitchen responding to special requests (we mixed and matched some plate set-ups and protiens.) The foie gras was great and I had it paired with a glass of Sauternes; an over-done classic but still one of my top 3 favorite things to eat on the planet. The side of fresh morrells was the best thing I had eaten in a month, they were FRESH. I had a macadamia and pistachio crusted halibut for an entree, little extras like parmesan foam made it special.

Prior to Vegas I also had a chance to get to Napa Valley twice more in the last month in a half. Ate at old favorites; Bouchon, Tre Vigne and of course a burger at Taylor's Refresher. Had some wine and snacks at Go Fish one evening, a short walk from the old El Bonita where I normally stay. A real treat on the last trip was getting turned on to Bistro Jeanty; this is a great place to eat for foodies. They serve French classics like pig's trotters, veal kidney's and...wait for it...roasted bone marrow-yay! My apologies to Keller but I will walk on by Bouchon from now on to Bistro Jeanty. We did make the obligatory late night stop at Anna's Cantina for a draft PBR and to throw a couple of dollars in the cieling too (you'll know if you go.)

It seems all this time at home for the first half of the year left some travel to make up for in the back half. So it is back in the saddle, or economy plus exit row if I can help it, and out of the country I go. Alex and I find it a bit harder to be apart when I am at home for so long but it makes us appreciate our time together that much more. So it means I write this post from Toronto but it also means some quiet evenings alone in a hotel room to catch up on some apologetics studies and blog posts. More thoughts soon, stay tuned...