the oc

My friend and I met up with one of her friends for dinner at the California Pizza Kitchen in Santa Ana. I've been there before, but tonight we received the worst service. Our friend had put her name down, but we saw all these people getting seated before us. When we went to look at the list, we pointed out to the hostess that our friend's (mispelled) name had been crossed out. No apology, but she said we would be seated next. Then the assistant manager came to serve us. He didn't know what he was doing. He took our drink orders and, though we were ready to order at that time, said he would come back to take our orders. He took our order and brought us bread, but didn't bring us plates, even after we asked. We asked one server and she brought us the plates. We didn't get any refills on our drinks and when we asked for a big plate for which to split the salad, the manager gave us 4 bread plates. When the female server came with the bill, we told her about the poor service we received. She apologized and said it was the manager's first week there, but that she would tell the general manager. The assistant manager came out, apologized, and told us the bill was on him. That made things better :). It was a good night overall. I even learned about frisbee golf, a sport my friend has been playing on nice days in North Carolina. Looks like fun.

paso robles

My friends and I took a road trip up to central CA this past weekend. It was a short trip, but it felt like a vacation ... leaving work early, going out of town, relaxing and laughing with dear friends. We spent Saturday wine tasting and touring Justin Vineyards, Tablas Creek Vineyard, Linne Calodo Winery, Windward Vineyard, and Summerwood Winery. We also saw the olive press machinery and tasted olives, oils, and muffins at Willow Creek Olive Ranch. The rest of the time we dined, watched FoodTV, and sat in the jacuzzi outside our suite. Good friends ... good food ... good times.


Opakapaka (snapper) at Villa Creek


California omelette at the Paso Robles Inn Coffee Shop


The Isosceles room at Justin Vineyards & Winery


Pork chops with smashed fingerling potatoes, macadamia-apple relish with a Calvados veal reduction at Deborah's Room


Tablas Creek Vineyard


fountain in front of Red Cedar Vineyard


on the way home, we visited the James Dean memorial and this giant picture near his crash site

dipping chocolate

I spent the weekend in the bay area ... eating, sleeping, and playing games. My cousin and I made truffles. Here's how we did it.


melt the chocolate. the chocolate won't burn in a bain marie because the temperature of steam is less than the burning temperature of chocolate


fold in butter


mix with heated heavy cream


add some Baileys Irish Cream then refrigerate until the mixture is solid


shape the ganache and freeze it


dip in melted chocolate


once cool, place in decorative tin and enjoy