Wednesday, June 20, 2007

HOME ON THE RANGE: MISSION RESTAURANT DELIVERS; JUNE 19, 2007; ADULT JOKES; TRIVIA NIGHT: BACCHUS KIRK

An old friend, Dave, drove in from the leafy Peninsula suburb, San Mateo, and met me at Range, 842 Valencia Street (20th); www.rangesf.com;282-8283. City and country folk feel at home on the Range calling this Mission hot spot run by a husband and Wife team one of the best restaurants to open in many moons. Chef Phil West and his wife, Camerson, use local organic ingredients and this restaurant has moved to the top of every one's dining list. The interior is comfortable and stylish, the food is sensational, and the prices are a bargain. Range has a personal feel and much of the interior design was done by the couple using elements from the nearby Mission stores. Open-beamed ceilings and a pristine glassed-in kitchen complete the look. Crowds gather nightly cheek to jowl to enjoy cocktails at the bar and soak up the industrial chic vibe. Dave, dressed in a suit which made him look downright medieval among the casual, tattooed hipsters joined me at the leather corner booth but by 7pm the place was packed and conversation was difficult. It didn't matter: Dave is a man of few words.

Range's menu changes often but generally includes vegetarian options; creamy chicken liver mousse; coffee-rubbed pork shoulder; souffles. Here's what I would suggest:

Appetizers:
cremini mushroom soup with sour cream and chives (7)
little gem lettuce with blue cheese vinaigrette, radishes and toasted pecans (8.50)

Entrees:
atlantic cod with a stew of quinoa, corn and baby artichokes, herb vinaigrette (21)
slow cooked pork shoulder with braised peas and morel mushroom sauce (20)

Don't forget desserts which are some of the best in the city.

June lady peach cobber with raspberry ice cream (8)
coffee (3)

I shared a few Adult Jokes:

A man bumps into a woman in a hotel lobby and as he does, his elbow goes into her breast. They are both quite startled. The man turns to her and says, "Ma'am, if your heart is as soft as your breast, I know you'll forgive me." She replies, "if your penis is as hard as your elbow, I'm in room 221."

A couple has been married for 50 years. They were sitting at the breakfast table one morning when the wife says, "Just think, 50 years ago we were sitting here at this breakfast table together." "I know," the old man said. "We were probably sitting here naked as a jaybird 50 years ago." "Well," Granny snickered. "Let's relive some old times." Where upon, the two stripped to the buff and sat down at the table. "You know, honey, " the little old lady breathlessly replied. "My nipples are as hot for you today as they were 50 years ago." "I wouldn't be surprised," replied Gramps. "One's in your coffee and the other in in your oatmeal."


Bacchus Kirk: Trivia Night. Team Name: Dirty Laundry

1.What major Bay Area company hastily replaced its CEO? Name new CEO.
2.Boeing Company is producing the new new thing. Name it.
3.What are the top 2 countries are on U.S.'s Failed State's Index?
4.Name mayor of major U.S. who pulled out of the upcoming election campaign.
5.John D. Rockefeller made his fortune in which industry.
6.The Vatican came out with top 10 commandments in which area?
7.Who was elected President of Israel?
8.Who's the father of Angelina Jolie?
9.In England, what is the hobby of those called twitchers?
10.Name author recently knighted in England; name the book cited.
11.Who are the nation's 2 largest natural/organic retail companies.
12.Name Politically Correct M.C.; original TV channel he aired on.
13.Acronym DINK means what?
14.Which movie grossed most at the Box Office this weekend?
15.On alphabetical list of countries, name the last two beginning with "Z".

ANSWERS:
1. Yahoo. Jerry Yang.
2. Dreamliner 787.
3.Iraq and Sudan.
4.Mayor Bloomberg.
5.Oil.
6.Driving Rules.
7.Shimon Perez
8.Jon Voigt.
9.Birdwatchers.
10.Salmon Rushdie; Satanic Verses
11.Whole Foods; Wild Oats.
12.Bill Maher; Comedy Central.
13.DUAL INCOME NO KIDS.
14.Fantastic Four.
15. Zimbabwe; Zambia

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

BACCHUS KIRK: TRIVIA NIGHT: JUNE 12, 2007

"God Bless Albania" was the name of our team at the weekly Trivia Night at Bacchus Kirk. I recently returned from a spectacular 12-day road trip through the Heartland with Road Scholar, David Chrisoulis, of West Hartford, Connecticut, who graduated with honors, DRDR (Doctor of Driving Roads). We logged 2,100 miles on his Lincoln Continental from Omaha (or as Imus would say, OmaHO) to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. One of the most spectacular road trips of my life. I urge everyone to get out and T-R-A-V-E-L to see how other people live!

Test your wits with the best and the brightest! Answers supplied below!

1. Bob Barker recently retired from The Price is Right. Name his pet cause.
2. Name top 3 cellphone manufacturers.
3. Ronald Reagan to Gorbachov: "Tear down this Wall". How many years ago?
4. Name top 3 animated TV series according to Top10.com.
5. On what record label did Beatles sell records?
6. Name Stockholders' Statement allowing someone else to vote.
7. Besides Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., where are other U.S. Mints (4 cities)?
8. Sextuplets were born on same day in which 2 States?
9. Name top 3 grossing movies this past week.
10.Name State directly North of where Wright Brothers flew.
11.Name Apple Internet Browser that works on Windows.
12.What car is bestselling hybrid in U.S.?
13.What are top 4 most expensive rental markets in the U.S.?
14.Who is the co-producer of Ugly Betty TV series?
15.Who is Creator of Comic Strip Spiderman?
16.Name Space Shuttle currently on Space Station mission.

ANSWERS.

1. Spade Neutering of Animals
2. Nokia, Motorola, Samsung
3. 20 years ago today
4.South Park, The Simpsons, Family Guy
5.Apple
6.Proxy
7.Fort Knox, Denver, San Francisco, New York
8.Minnesota and Arizona
9.Oceans 13, Pirates of the Caribbean, Knocked Up
10.Virgina
11.Safari
12.Prius
13.New York, Boston, Honolulu, San Francisco
14.Selma Hayek
15.Stan Lee
16.Atlantis