Rosamunde Sausage Grill; 545 Haight Street, San Francisco (437-6851) has a Zagat rating of 25! They do one thing and they do it well at this spectacular lower Haight American sausage haunt, a stainless steel stand-up grill sans sit down space specializing in the best wurst in the city. What you get is fowl, cow, pig, including wild boar, any animal really with grilled onion, peppers, sauerkraut and chili on top -- all for just a few bucks. The friendly Fraulein even lets you take 'em next door to the Toronado pub to wash down with a beer. That's just what Peter and I did but we opted for the pomegranate cider. Peter noted "tip, you bastards" at the cash register of this European style pub with regulars hanging out in the middle of the afternoon, one reading Hunter S. Thompson, another chatting nearby on his cellphone. I would recommend the wild boar sausage but skip the sauerkraut which was flat and tasteless and go with the peppers and grilled onions. Price? a wopping $4.50. Pomegranate cider: 4.00.
JOKES OF THE WEEK:
You may remember the old Jewish Catskill comics of Vaudeville days, viz., Shecky Green, Red Buttons, Totie Fields, Milton Berle, Henny Youngman, etc. Don't you miss their humor? Not one single swear word in their comedy. Here are some examples:
There was a beautiful young woman knocking on my hotel room door all night! I finally let her out.
Where does a Jewish husband hide money from his wife? A: Under the vacuum cleaner.
A car hit an elderly Jewish man. The paramedic says, "Are you comfortable?". The man says, "I make a good living."
I just got back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport.
I've been in love with the same woman for 49 years. If my wife ever finds out, she'll kill me!
What are the 3 words a woman never wants to hear when she's making love? "Honey, I'm home."
Someone stole all my credit cards, but I won't be reporting it. The thief spends less than my wife did.
We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
My wife and I went back to the hotel where we spent our wedding night, only this time I stayed in the bathroom and cried.
She was at the beauty shop for 2 hours. That was only for the estimate. She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. The the mud fell off.
The doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn't pay his bill, so the doctor gave him another six months.
Why do Jewish divorces cost so much? They're worth it.
Why do Jewish men die before their wives? They want to.
The Harvard School of Medicine did a study of why Jewish woman like Chinese food so much. The study revealed that this is due to the fact the Won Ton spelled backwards is Not Now.
Why don't Jewish mother drink? A: Alcohol interferes with their suffering.
Q: What's the difference between a Rottweiler and a Jewish mother? A: Eventually, the Rottweiler lets go.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
PARK CHOW: A WINNER NEAR GOLDEN GATE PARK; COMEDY DAY IN GGP
Park Chow;1240 Ninth Ave (between Irving and Lincoln);415-665-9912. When you don't feel like cooking or paying big bucks, follow the lead of everyone from picky eight-year-olds to vegetarians and head to this very San Francisco-funky New American outfit in the Inner Sunset with a lively neighborhood feel and spot-on service. The diverse menu pleases all palates even my "no fins no feathers" dining companion, Peter, who ordered the classic spaghetti and meatballs, made with hamburger and fennel sausage. (large: 10; small: 7.50). I chose the fish of the day: Ono, a white fish grilled with mushrooms and arugula topping.(20+ as quoted). Save room for a homemade pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream and great coffee for dessert. I'd give this place a 10!
Peter's Joke of the Day:
For centuries, Hindi women have worn a dot on their foreheads. Most of us have naively thought this was connected with marriage or religion, but the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. has recently revealed the true story. When a Hindu woman gets married, she brings a dowry into the union. On her wedding night the husband scratches off the dot to see whether he has won a convenience store , a gas station, a donut shop or a motel in the U.S. If nothing is there, he must take a job in India answering telephones giving technical advice.
COMEDY DAY IN THE PARK: SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 : MY FAVORITE LINES FROM 30 COMEDIANS.
Jake Johanssen: Everything happens for a reason. If you don't know the reason, you better shut up. If you carry a flask, people will come up to you and say: Dude, you have a problem. Your answer? Dude, I've found a solution.
Robert Dushay: On getting married: I love the pitter patter of little feet...love Asian hookers.
Tom Ammiano: Folsom Street Fare this year is green: Beat me, bore me, biodegrade me.
On getting older: Now when I say I pulled an all-nighter, I mean I didn't get up once to pee.
Carrie Snow: I flew in from Los Angeles and I am one SHALLOW BITCH. She got kudos from the crowd by standing on her head during her 5 minute act. I am so limber from Yoga that I can kiss my own ass.
Will Durst: Bill Clinton, when he said he never had sexual relations with that woman, was pointing at Helen Thomas.
Kurt Weitzmann: I hate cops, but I live in a very bad neighborhood so I never see them.
John Hoogasian: New way to smuggle drugs: hide them in the bloodstream.
Joe Klostick: We are like the reality show for the rest of the planet. No one likes us anymore because of Bush.
Doug Ferrari: I'm ready to personally give George Bush a blow job so we can impeach him. We know that Condaleeza Rice is blowing him...because his dick fits between the little space in her teeth.
Peter's Joke of the Day:
For centuries, Hindi women have worn a dot on their foreheads. Most of us have naively thought this was connected with marriage or religion, but the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. has recently revealed the true story. When a Hindu woman gets married, she brings a dowry into the union. On her wedding night the husband scratches off the dot to see whether he has won a convenience store , a gas station, a donut shop or a motel in the U.S. If nothing is there, he must take a job in India answering telephones giving technical advice.
COMEDY DAY IN THE PARK: SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 : MY FAVORITE LINES FROM 30 COMEDIANS.
Jake Johanssen: Everything happens for a reason. If you don't know the reason, you better shut up. If you carry a flask, people will come up to you and say: Dude, you have a problem. Your answer? Dude, I've found a solution.
Robert Dushay: On getting married: I love the pitter patter of little feet...love Asian hookers.
Tom Ammiano: Folsom Street Fare this year is green: Beat me, bore me, biodegrade me.
On getting older: Now when I say I pulled an all-nighter, I mean I didn't get up once to pee.
Carrie Snow: I flew in from Los Angeles and I am one SHALLOW BITCH. She got kudos from the crowd by standing on her head during her 5 minute act. I am so limber from Yoga that I can kiss my own ass.
Will Durst: Bill Clinton, when he said he never had sexual relations with that woman, was pointing at Helen Thomas.
Kurt Weitzmann: I hate cops, but I live in a very bad neighborhood so I never see them.
John Hoogasian: New way to smuggle drugs: hide them in the bloodstream.
Joe Klostick: We are like the reality show for the rest of the planet. No one likes us anymore because of Bush.
Doug Ferrari: I'm ready to personally give George Bush a blow job so we can impeach him. We know that Condaleeza Rice is blowing him...because his dick fits between the little space in her teeth.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
BACCHUS KIRK; AUGUST 28, 2007
It was a superbad Tuesday night for trivia in San Francisco...match your wits with the best and the brightest. The answers will follow:
1.1,000 Splendid Suns has been on the NY Times best seller list for weeks. Name the author.
2.Who won 2006 Grammy best record; name the record.
3.Manager, MVP winning team of 1989 world series.
4.Who won the Academy Award for Best Picture, year 2000.
5.Greek god Ares was representative of what; name the Roman counterpart.
6.Name of airline, type of plane, location of Asian crash recently.
7.Name South American city, country where short runway caused a disaster.
8.Author of Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
9.Name 3 corporate failures which caused passage of SOX.
10.The Conn-Smythe is awarded for what?
11.Periodic symbol for mercury.
12.Which organization issues Pulitzer Prize; name 3 categories.
13.Which California County is largest in the country, geographically speaking.
14.Without counting utilities and railroads, how many property spaces are on Monopoly Board?
15.What Playboy model played role of Lisa the Tool Girl on Home Improvement.
ANSWERS:
1.Khaled Hosseini.
2.Dixie Chicks. Not Ready to Make Nice.
3.Oakland A's. Tony La Russa and Dave Stewart.
4.Gladiator.
5.God of War; Mars.
6.China Airlines; 737; Japan crash.
7.Sao Paulo, Brazil.
8.James Joyce.
9.Enron Worldcom, Tyco.
10.MVP- Hockey League; Stanley Cup Playoffs.
11.HG
12.Columbia University. Print Journalism, Literary Achievement, Musical Competition.
13.San Bernadina
14.22 Spaces
15.Pamela Anderson
1.1,000 Splendid Suns has been on the NY Times best seller list for weeks. Name the author.
2.Who won 2006 Grammy best record; name the record.
3.Manager, MVP winning team of 1989 world series.
4.Who won the Academy Award for Best Picture, year 2000.
5.Greek god Ares was representative of what; name the Roman counterpart.
6.Name of airline, type of plane, location of Asian crash recently.
7.Name South American city, country where short runway caused a disaster.
8.Author of Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
9.Name 3 corporate failures which caused passage of SOX.
10.The Conn-Smythe is awarded for what?
11.Periodic symbol for mercury.
12.Which organization issues Pulitzer Prize; name 3 categories.
13.Which California County is largest in the country, geographically speaking.
14.Without counting utilities and railroads, how many property spaces are on Monopoly Board?
15.What Playboy model played role of Lisa the Tool Girl on Home Improvement.
ANSWERS:
1.Khaled Hosseini.
2.Dixie Chicks. Not Ready to Make Nice.
3.Oakland A's. Tony La Russa and Dave Stewart.
4.Gladiator.
5.God of War; Mars.
6.China Airlines; 737; Japan crash.
7.Sao Paulo, Brazil.
8.James Joyce.
9.Enron Worldcom, Tyco.
10.MVP- Hockey League; Stanley Cup Playoffs.
11.HG
12.Columbia University. Print Journalism, Literary Achievement, Musical Competition.
13.San Bernadina
14.22 Spaces
15.Pamela Anderson
Sunday, August 26, 2007
PESCE: INTRIGUING SMALL PLATES FISH JOINT; HUMOR OF FRED ALLEN
Pesce; 2227 Polk Street (Green); 928-8025 is an intriguing, convivial place where the fish are still wiggling. The creative North Italian (Venetian) vittles made with organic ingredients is a Russian Hill neighborhood-er with scrumptious seafood served on small plates that aren't small in flavor. Affordable prices add to the appeal. I came here with my best friend Zontar, and we share thoughts on the pro's and cons of living in San Francisco. Someone said we were given l tongue and 2 ears so we should listen twice as much and I've been listening to a lot of people who are wild about the City-by-the-Bay. Weather, diversity of food, ethnic neighborhoods, cultural amenities top the list. Cons? Freedom not to associate with sports nuts (me). Can smell crab at Fisherman's Wharf but can't go swimming there (boo hoo). If you decide to eat at Pesce, here's what I would recommend:
Rucola: baby organic arugula, saved fennel, Parmesan and lemon. (6)
Oysters: today's selection of oysters on the half shell (A.Q.)
Linguine: Dungeness crab, garlic, white wine and chili flakes. (12)
Salmone: Sustainably raised Atlantic salmon, pesto and fregula sardo (13).
Desserts:Vanilla bean gelato, brownies, chocolate and whipped cream. (7).
HUMORIST RADIO VETERAN FRED ALLEN WAS FAMOUS FOR SAYING HOLLYWOOD IS A GREAT PLACE IF YOU ARE AN ORANGE:
An actor's success has the life expectancy of a small boy about to look into a gas tank with a lighted match.
Advertising is 85 percent confusion and 15 percent commission.
I have just returned from Boston.. It is the only thing to do if you find yourself up there.
A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.
During Samuel Johnson days we had big men enjoying small talk; today we have small guys enjoying big talk.
Hollywood is a place where people from Iowa mistake each other for movie stars.
You can take all of the sincerity in Hollywood, place it in the navel of a fruit fly, and still have room enough for 3 caraway seeds and a producer's heart.
If I could get my membership fee back, I'd resign from the human race.
I learned law so well, the day I graduated I sued the college, won the case, and got my tuition back.
Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.
Rucola: baby organic arugula, saved fennel, Parmesan and lemon. (6)
Oysters: today's selection of oysters on the half shell (A.Q.)
Linguine: Dungeness crab, garlic, white wine and chili flakes. (12)
Salmone: Sustainably raised Atlantic salmon, pesto and fregula sardo (13).
Desserts:Vanilla bean gelato, brownies, chocolate and whipped cream. (7).
HUMORIST RADIO VETERAN FRED ALLEN WAS FAMOUS FOR SAYING HOLLYWOOD IS A GREAT PLACE IF YOU ARE AN ORANGE:
An actor's success has the life expectancy of a small boy about to look into a gas tank with a lighted match.
Advertising is 85 percent confusion and 15 percent commission.
I have just returned from Boston.. It is the only thing to do if you find yourself up there.
A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.
During Samuel Johnson days we had big men enjoying small talk; today we have small guys enjoying big talk.
Hollywood is a place where people from Iowa mistake each other for movie stars.
You can take all of the sincerity in Hollywood, place it in the navel of a fruit fly, and still have room enough for 3 caraway seeds and a producer's heart.
If I could get my membership fee back, I'd resign from the human race.
I learned law so well, the day I graduated I sued the college, won the case, and got my tuition back.
Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
TON KIANG: DISAPPOINTING DIM SUM JOINT; BILL MAHER ON E-BIRTHDAY CARDS
Ton Kiang, 5821 Geary Blvd., (22nd Avenue);387-8273;www.tonkiang.net. It's located at the end of the earth and it's not worth the effort to get to this Outer Richmond Hakkan Chinese restaurant that's always mobbed with crazy long lines because the so-called reward is dim sum at its best. Or so the Marketing wiz kids would have us believe. The choices go beyond the ubiquitous dumplings. Is that a good thing? A good friend, Richard, and I celebrated my birthday early evening before the hordes arrived. I interrogated the English-speaking waiters about the ubiquitous MSG. I wondered if we were just a couple of dumb, stupid Caucasians seduced by white tablecloths, fine wine, etc. Yep, they were very proud of their "flavoring" salt it seems. If you don't go for the dim sum or fresh sea bass (recommended), DON"T try the following:
Sole fillets sauteed with snap peas in house chili sauce made with ginger, cottonseed oil, salt, msg. Second rate fish, tasted like it was warmed over and the listless waiter did not serve it at the same time as the chicken.(14.50)...
Ton Kiang steamed salt baked chicken (1/2). (10.50). Is this a joke? What is it? Steamed? Salt? Baked? This was a real disappointment. Not recommended.
White Rice. (2)
Beringer Wine (merlot) (8)
Humor of the Old Curmudgeon Bill Maher:
Sending someone a birthday e-card doesn't count. If you can't get your shit together enough to go to Sav-On and pick out an actual physical birthday card, don't bother. I'm not expecting Hallmark. I know you don't care enough to send the "very best," but just don't send the very worst, or else, when you die, I'll be forced to deliver an e-eulogy.
Kids, they're not easy. But there has to be some penalty for sex.
I don't dislike children. I just don't particularly want to hang around them a lot. Problem is, neither do their parents.
Oh, and did I mention we owe China a trillion dollars. We're not on a bridge to the 22nd century, we're on a bus to Atlantic City with a roll of quarters.
Ice dancing is not a sport. Take away the skates and sequins, it's just a public wife-beating. If you saw this happening in a trailer park, you'd call the cops.
New Rule: When Pres. George W. Bush meets an autistic teenager, they must wear name tags so we can tell them apart.
Dick Cheney said he felt terrible about shooting a 78-year-old man, but on the bright side, it did give him a bright idea about how to fix Social Security.
New Rule: Stop saying you're resigning because you want to spend more time with the family or return to the private sector, or because of your health. That's all code for "I'm about to be indicted.".
The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole.
If churches don't have to pay taxes, they also can't call the fire department when they catch fire. Sorry, Reverend, that's one of the services along with paying in. I'll use the fire department I pay for. You can pray for rain.
Sole fillets sauteed with snap peas in house chili sauce made with ginger, cottonseed oil, salt, msg. Second rate fish, tasted like it was warmed over and the listless waiter did not serve it at the same time as the chicken.(14.50)...
Ton Kiang steamed salt baked chicken (1/2). (10.50). Is this a joke? What is it? Steamed? Salt? Baked? This was a real disappointment. Not recommended.
White Rice. (2)
Beringer Wine (merlot) (8)
Humor of the Old Curmudgeon Bill Maher:
Sending someone a birthday e-card doesn't count. If you can't get your shit together enough to go to Sav-On and pick out an actual physical birthday card, don't bother. I'm not expecting Hallmark. I know you don't care enough to send the "very best," but just don't send the very worst, or else, when you die, I'll be forced to deliver an e-eulogy.
Kids, they're not easy. But there has to be some penalty for sex.
I don't dislike children. I just don't particularly want to hang around them a lot. Problem is, neither do their parents.
Oh, and did I mention we owe China a trillion dollars. We're not on a bridge to the 22nd century, we're on a bus to Atlantic City with a roll of quarters.
Ice dancing is not a sport. Take away the skates and sequins, it's just a public wife-beating. If you saw this happening in a trailer park, you'd call the cops.
New Rule: When Pres. George W. Bush meets an autistic teenager, they must wear name tags so we can tell them apart.
Dick Cheney said he felt terrible about shooting a 78-year-old man, but on the bright side, it did give him a bright idea about how to fix Social Security.
New Rule: Stop saying you're resigning because you want to spend more time with the family or return to the private sector, or because of your health. That's all code for "I'm about to be indicted.".
The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole.
If churches don't have to pay taxes, they also can't call the fire department when they catch fire. Sorry, Reverend, that's one of the services along with paying in. I'll use the fire department I pay for. You can pray for rain.
Friday, August 17, 2007
RISTORANTE UMBRIA: SOMA HOMEY JEWEL;RODNEY DANGERFIELD'S HUMOR
Ristorante Umbria; 198 Second Street (Howard);546-6985. www.ristoranteumbria.com Generous and tasty, traditional straight outta Umbria dishes make it worth the fight to get into this homey SOMA Italian jewel during the crowded lunch hour, especially if you score a curbside table, or if you're attending a performance at Yerba Buena Center. Owner Giulio who's so omnipresent he should be a politician was noticeably absent from the Friday pre-birthday lunch (my 29th) that it was a welcome relief! My dining mate, Peter, brought an unbloggable/politically incorrect joke which he made me promise not to blog but we did share some Rodney Dangerfield humor! I would recommend the following dishes:
Rigatoni Amatriciana: De Cecco rigatoni pasta sauteed with pancetta, white onion, fresh tomato and white wine. (12.00)
Pesce del giorno: Salmon grilled with lemon; green beans, potatoes (18.75/dinner) for lunch). One of the best salmon lunches in the city!
WE MISS RODNEY DANGERFIELD.
He said...
My wife only has sex with me for a purpose. Last night she used me to time an egg.
It's tough to stay married. My wife kisses the dog on the lips, yet she won't drink from my glass!
Last night my wife met me at the front door. She was wearing a sexy negligee. The only trouble was, she was coming home.
A girl phoned me and said, "Come on over. There's nobody home." I went over. Nobody was home!
A hooker once told me she had a headache.
I went to a massage parlor. It was self service.
If it weren't for pickpockets, I'd have no sex life at all.
I was making love to this girl and she started crying. I said, "Are you going to hate yourself in the morning?" She said, "No, I hate myself now."
I knew a girl so ugly that she was known as a two-bagger. That's when you put a bag over your head in case the bag over her head comes off.
I knew a girl so ugly, they use her in prisons to cure sex offenders.
My wife is such a bad cook, if we leave dental floss in the kitchen the roaches hang themselves.
The other day I came home early and a guy was jogging, naked. I asked him, "Why?" He said, Because you came home early."
My wife's such a bad cook, the dog begs for Alka-Seltzer.
I know I'm not sexy. When I put my underwear on I can hear the Fruit-of-the-Loom guys giggling.
My wife is such a bad cook, in my house we pray AFTER the meal.
My wife likes to talk on the phone during sex; she called me from Chicago last night.
My family was so poor that if I hadn't been born a boy, I wouldn't of had anything to play with.
I told my buddies that my wife cut our sex back to once a month. They said, "Don't feel so bad, she cut some of us off altogether."
Rigatoni Amatriciana: De Cecco rigatoni pasta sauteed with pancetta, white onion, fresh tomato and white wine. (12.00)
Pesce del giorno: Salmon grilled with lemon; green beans, potatoes (18.75/dinner) for lunch). One of the best salmon lunches in the city!
WE MISS RODNEY DANGERFIELD.
He said...
My wife only has sex with me for a purpose. Last night she used me to time an egg.
It's tough to stay married. My wife kisses the dog on the lips, yet she won't drink from my glass!
Last night my wife met me at the front door. She was wearing a sexy negligee. The only trouble was, she was coming home.
A girl phoned me and said, "Come on over. There's nobody home." I went over. Nobody was home!
A hooker once told me she had a headache.
I went to a massage parlor. It was self service.
If it weren't for pickpockets, I'd have no sex life at all.
I was making love to this girl and she started crying. I said, "Are you going to hate yourself in the morning?" She said, "No, I hate myself now."
I knew a girl so ugly that she was known as a two-bagger. That's when you put a bag over your head in case the bag over her head comes off.
I knew a girl so ugly, they use her in prisons to cure sex offenders.
My wife is such a bad cook, if we leave dental floss in the kitchen the roaches hang themselves.
The other day I came home early and a guy was jogging, naked. I asked him, "Why?" He said, Because you came home early."
My wife's such a bad cook, the dog begs for Alka-Seltzer.
I know I'm not sexy. When I put my underwear on I can hear the Fruit-of-the-Loom guys giggling.
My wife is such a bad cook, in my house we pray AFTER the meal.
My wife likes to talk on the phone during sex; she called me from Chicago last night.
My family was so poor that if I hadn't been born a boy, I wouldn't of had anything to play with.
I told my buddies that my wife cut our sex back to once a month. They said, "Don't feel so bad, she cut some of us off altogether."
Monday, August 13, 2007
KULETO'S: HAPPY, NOISY AL FORNO ITALIAN STANDBY; STEVEN MARTIN ON THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW
Kuleto's; Villa Florence Hotel; 221 Powell; 397-7720. This is a happy, noisy Union Square standby. This handsome trattoria/wine bar is a welcome port for tourists, theatergoers, tired shoppers at Macy's across the street. All delight in the dependable al forno Italian eats. An aging Troy Donahue look-alike, Kent, and I got a table in front of the exhibition-style kitchen, which is great to watch, especially if your perch is at the excellent bar among the buzzy crowd. Here's what I would recommend:
Baked eggplant filled with herbed ricotta, fresh mozzarella, spicy marinara (9.50)
Bloomsdale spinach, goat cheese, roasted peppers, mushrooms, pine nuts, sherry pancetta dressing (9.00)
Braised halibut cheeks, potatoes, pea sprouts, tomatoes, capers, white wine (26.00)
Roasted Sonoma duck, white polenta, rapini, honey grappa apricot conserva.
Steve Martin on David Letterman 8/8/07. He will publish a memoir in December on stand-up and showed a clip of him writing it. David: How are you? That's a very forward question. Any thoughts on turning 60? Upon turning 60, i realized all my long-term goals are not short-term. 80-year-old sophisticated woman who's had a lot of heart operations said, in a posh voice, WELL FINALLY, WE DO BECOME WISE BUT IT'S TOO LATE. Steve was hosting National Book Awards and was to give an award to Arthur Miller. He told this joke: I'D LIKE TO OPEN NIGHT WITH A RIDDLE. NAME A PLAYWRIGHT ON THIS LIST THAT DOES NOT BELONG: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, EDWARD ALBEE, TENNESSE WILLIAMS, ARTHUR MILLER, STEVE MARTIN. ANSWER: ARTHUR MILLER: NAME 1 PERSON WHO SLEPT WITH MARILYN MONROE.
Baked eggplant filled with herbed ricotta, fresh mozzarella, spicy marinara (9.50)
Bloomsdale spinach, goat cheese, roasted peppers, mushrooms, pine nuts, sherry pancetta dressing (9.00)
Braised halibut cheeks, potatoes, pea sprouts, tomatoes, capers, white wine (26.00)
Roasted Sonoma duck, white polenta, rapini, honey grappa apricot conserva.
Steve Martin on David Letterman 8/8/07. He will publish a memoir in December on stand-up and showed a clip of him writing it. David: How are you? That's a very forward question. Any thoughts on turning 60? Upon turning 60, i realized all my long-term goals are not short-term. 80-year-old sophisticated woman who's had a lot of heart operations said, in a posh voice, WELL FINALLY, WE DO BECOME WISE BUT IT'S TOO LATE. Steve was hosting National Book Awards and was to give an award to Arthur Miller. He told this joke: I'D LIKE TO OPEN NIGHT WITH A RIDDLE. NAME A PLAYWRIGHT ON THIS LIST THAT DOES NOT BELONG: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, EDWARD ALBEE, TENNESSE WILLIAMS, ARTHUR MILLER, STEVE MARTIN. ANSWER: ARTHUR MILLER: NAME 1 PERSON WHO SLEPT WITH MARILYN MONROE.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
ANDREW WEIL'S 12-POINT PROGRAM FOR HEALTHY AGING
1.Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. Olive oil, nuts, avocados. Avoid margarine, vegetable shortening, transfats, etc. Eat fish 3-5 times a week. If you don't like fish, take omega 3 fish oil supplements. The best salmon is wild. Try sockeye salmon; it's the least carnivorous, feeding on insects and algae. This accounts for its red color.
2.Use dietary supplements wisely. It's best to get your nutrients from food. Make sure you get enough vitamin C -1,000 units daily. Remember that sunscreen blocks Vitamin D absorption. It's good to go without sunscreen 15-30 minutes a daily to activate Vitamin D from the sun.
3.Use preventive medicine wisely -- screenings, tests, etc.
4.Regular physical exercise is 3-pronged: Aerobic is best if you speed walk and get the heart beat up to 60 percent of capacity. Vigorous walking takes no equipment and you can do it in a mall. (2) Weight training for strength. If you maintain muscle mass, obviously you burn more calories. (3) Flexibility/balance training. Remember that falls in old age are greatest cause of disability and even death.
5.Adequate rest and sleep. Napping is good. 20 minutes in the afternoon is delightful. As a side note, mild sleep deprivation elevates mood and combats depression.
6.Practice stress management. Stress is a toxin to memory and it is my educated guess that cortisol has negative effects on memory.
7.Exercise mind. Learn another language, musical instrument.
8.Maintain social and intellectual connectedness. Look to the Okinawans who have a low calorie diet, exercise a lot and do not consume a lot of sugar and fat like Americans. The old people there look radiant because the culture values aging.
9.Remain flexible and mind and body. Immerse yourself in the culture; don't isolate yourself as you age.
10.Focus on the benefits of aging gained through wisdom and experience.
11.Don't deny aging by going in for Botox or verbal deceits like "you're getting younger". No one is getting younger. Embrace process of aging.
12.Legacy. Think about what you have learned and want to pass on. What are the life experiences and how to pass on to younger generations. Maturity is when you become involved in the next generation.
2.Use dietary supplements wisely. It's best to get your nutrients from food. Make sure you get enough vitamin C -1,000 units daily. Remember that sunscreen blocks Vitamin D absorption. It's good to go without sunscreen 15-30 minutes a daily to activate Vitamin D from the sun.
3.Use preventive medicine wisely -- screenings, tests, etc.
4.Regular physical exercise is 3-pronged: Aerobic is best if you speed walk and get the heart beat up to 60 percent of capacity. Vigorous walking takes no equipment and you can do it in a mall. (2) Weight training for strength. If you maintain muscle mass, obviously you burn more calories. (3) Flexibility/balance training. Remember that falls in old age are greatest cause of disability and even death.
5.Adequate rest and sleep. Napping is good. 20 minutes in the afternoon is delightful. As a side note, mild sleep deprivation elevates mood and combats depression.
6.Practice stress management. Stress is a toxin to memory and it is my educated guess that cortisol has negative effects on memory.
7.Exercise mind. Learn another language, musical instrument.
8.Maintain social and intellectual connectedness. Look to the Okinawans who have a low calorie diet, exercise a lot and do not consume a lot of sugar and fat like Americans. The old people there look radiant because the culture values aging.
9.Remain flexible and mind and body. Immerse yourself in the culture; don't isolate yourself as you age.
10.Focus on the benefits of aging gained through wisdom and experience.
11.Don't deny aging by going in for Botox or verbal deceits like "you're getting younger". No one is getting younger. Embrace process of aging.
12.Legacy. Think about what you have learned and want to pass on. What are the life experiences and how to pass on to younger generations. Maturity is when you become involved in the next generation.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
BACCKUS KIRK; TRIVIA NIGHT; AUGUST 7, 2007
Trivia Night...I raced here after dinner with a new friend Kent at Kuleto's (future blog). Here goes. Answers to follow:
1.What State are the miners in? What caused the catastrophic event?
2.After New York, LA, Chicago, what are the 2 cities with largest population in U.S.?
3.Who was President during start of the Vietnam War?
4.Who was Al Gore's running mate?
5.Actress Charlize Theron hails from what country?
6.What are the 3 incredients in a black cow?
7.What is currently threatening the British cattle industry?
8.Blackstone recently went public. What type of Company is it?
9.Which male, female performer got most votes for MTV Music Awards?
10.Sitting Bull is from what Indian tribe?
11.Name 5 countries which have territory in the Arctic Circle.
12.Bank of America when first established was known as which Bank?
13.Which State is nicknamed Pelican State?
14.If you listed all countries of world in alphabetical order, what would 1st 3 countries be?
15.A journalist was shot and killed in Oakland. Name him and his paper.
ANSWERS:
1. Utah. Earthquake.
2. Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia.
3. Lydon Johnson
4. Joseph Lieberman
5. South Africa
6. Vanila Ice Cream, Root Beer, Chocolate Sauce
7. Foot and Mouth disease.
8. Private Equity firm.
9. Beyonce; Justin Timberlake
10.Sioux
11.Canada, Norway, Russia, USA, Denmark (also Greenland)
12.Bank of Italy
13.Louisiana
14.Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria
15.Chauncey Bailey; Oakland Post
1.What State are the miners in? What caused the catastrophic event?
2.After New York, LA, Chicago, what are the 2 cities with largest population in U.S.?
3.Who was President during start of the Vietnam War?
4.Who was Al Gore's running mate?
5.Actress Charlize Theron hails from what country?
6.What are the 3 incredients in a black cow?
7.What is currently threatening the British cattle industry?
8.Blackstone recently went public. What type of Company is it?
9.Which male, female performer got most votes for MTV Music Awards?
10.Sitting Bull is from what Indian tribe?
11.Name 5 countries which have territory in the Arctic Circle.
12.Bank of America when first established was known as which Bank?
13.Which State is nicknamed Pelican State?
14.If you listed all countries of world in alphabetical order, what would 1st 3 countries be?
15.A journalist was shot and killed in Oakland. Name him and his paper.
ANSWERS:
1. Utah. Earthquake.
2. Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia.
3. Lydon Johnson
4. Joseph Lieberman
5. South Africa
6. Vanila Ice Cream, Root Beer, Chocolate Sauce
7. Foot and Mouth disease.
8. Private Equity firm.
9. Beyonce; Justin Timberlake
10.Sioux
11.Canada, Norway, Russia, USA, Denmark (also Greenland)
12.Bank of Italy
13.Louisiana
14.Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria
15.Chauncey Bailey; Oakland Post
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
ANITA THOMPSON (HUNTER THOMPSON'S WIDOW): THE GONZO WAY; 8/6/07 THE BOOKSMITH, HAIGHT-ASHBURY, SAN FRANCISCO
Anita Thompson, author of The Gonzo Way: A Celebration of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (Fulcom, 2007). Booksmith 8/6/07. Everybody has their own Hunter Thompson story be it when they read one of his books or perhaps when they saw Hunter in person. I saw him at the Booksmith in the Haight-Ashbury in 1997 with actor Johnny Depp. Hundreds of fans formed a line around the block. Anita Thompson, his widow, has stories to tell about an American original who is part visionary, part revolutionary, part literary genius who was able to hold such a grip on our imaginations. The reason she wrote the book was geared to the response she received from thousands of young people who felt lost after Hunter died. She has 5 years of intense experience. One thing that worried her after Hunter's death was this misconception that Hunter's genius came from his lifestyle -- drinking Wild Turkey and taking a bottle of Dexedrine tablets must be the ticket to ride. If I took all these substances, the thinking went, I could write like Hunter. He discouraged people from acting like him. He was a big advocate of being an individual, of being yourself. Last book they collaborated on was Dr. Thompson's guide to physical fitness.
Anita read the chapter on Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride. Here is a portion of the Q and A.
Q:This may be a little painful for you but you were on the phone with Hunter when he shot himself. What were his last words - if you can tell us?
A: I was indeed on the phone when he did it and to some that seems like an act of cruelty but actually he was very loving and Hunter had been planning this for quite awhile as I know now. The discussion we had a year before that was about different sects of Buddhism. He was not a Buddhist by any means but one philosophy is that you decide when you're going to die. You think in your mind how you'd like to die, who you'd like to with die, etc. What you would like to wear, every decision is made from what shoes you put on that day to what you put into your body -- will that bring you closer or take you away from that? And we discussed that and he wanted me to be there with him and the circumstances were such that I was on the phone with him. His last words were very sweet. They weren't cruse -- just the opposite. It was in his mind an act of love.
Q: Do you feel that the public's mythologizing of Hunter's lifestyle is accurate?
A: Yes! He never encouraged it in anyone else. He did have a unique ability to -- he had a strange and unusual constitution both mentally and physically. Not only could he ingest more physical substances than other people but also he could absorb more information than other people I know. He read several newspapers and a stack of magazines every day. Some people called is a disorder but he constantly needed input. It was a flow of substances and food, too. It just kept coming.
Anita read the chapter on Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride. Here is a portion of the Q and A.
Q:This may be a little painful for you but you were on the phone with Hunter when he shot himself. What were his last words - if you can tell us?
A: I was indeed on the phone when he did it and to some that seems like an act of cruelty but actually he was very loving and Hunter had been planning this for quite awhile as I know now. The discussion we had a year before that was about different sects of Buddhism. He was not a Buddhist by any means but one philosophy is that you decide when you're going to die. You think in your mind how you'd like to die, who you'd like to with die, etc. What you would like to wear, every decision is made from what shoes you put on that day to what you put into your body -- will that bring you closer or take you away from that? And we discussed that and he wanted me to be there with him and the circumstances were such that I was on the phone with him. His last words were very sweet. They weren't cruse -- just the opposite. It was in his mind an act of love.
Q: Do you feel that the public's mythologizing of Hunter's lifestyle is accurate?
A: Yes! He never encouraged it in anyone else. He did have a unique ability to -- he had a strange and unusual constitution both mentally and physically. Not only could he ingest more physical substances than other people but also he could absorb more information than other people I know. He read several newspapers and a stack of magazines every day. Some people called is a disorder but he constantly needed input. It was a flow of substances and food, too. It just kept coming.
Friday, August 3, 2007
BRANDY HO'S:CHANGE FROM MUNDANE CHINESE;PETER'S JOKE OF THE WEEK
Brandy Ho's; 271 Columbus; (415) 788-7527.www.brandyhos.com. The first thing you notice upon entering is the large banner proclaiming ABSOLUTELY NO MSG. The restaurant doth protest too much, me thinks. Incendiary insiders insist this excellent Chinatown Human resource is numero uno for fairly priced flavor intensive chow from a menu designed for both the adventurous and the staid. You might want to specify mild or medium unless you have an asbestos mouth. The decor has the usual tacky ornamentation (plastic plants, flower pots separating the diners). Regulars prefer to sit at the bar and watch the wok folks at work.
Have an egg roll, Mr. Goldstone
Have a napkin, have a chopstick, have a chair!
Have a spare rib, Mr. Goldstone-
Any spare rib that I can spare, I'd be glad to share!
(Stephen Sondheim, Mr. Goldstone, I Love You, 1959).
This is definitely a go-to place for the financial district crowd. What with excellent book browsing at City Lights, sluicing, and cheery conversation and what-not, an afternoon can pass quite happily.
The restaurant does not pass out knives but they should if you opt for the calamari with black bean sauce and brown rice as I did. BIG MISTAKE! It was a very disappointing: rubbery, tasteless and the sauce not as fiery as I would have liked.(9.95). Regulars at the next table insist that you should avoid the smoked items and keep it simple! Diced boneless chicken with string beans marinated with ginger, garlic and hot bean sauce fits the bill. (8.50). Peter ordered the Lunch Bar Special (Hunan style spicy beef with mixed veggies). A real deal at just $6.95. Skip the desserts. Is there such a thing as Sugar Replacement Therapy? Yeah, it's called Chocolate. Best to bring your own. Make mine Godiva!
PETER'S JOKE OF THE WEEK:
Hi-Tech Restaurant.
A man walked into a very high-tech restaurant in a fancy hotel. As he waited to be seated, he noticed that the Maitre D' was a robot. The robot clicked to attention and said, "Sir, there is a one hour wait. And I am programmed to converse with you until a table is ready, if you please. Intrigued, the man said, "OK". The robot clicked a couple more times and then asked, "Sir, what is your IQ?" The man answered, "Oh, about 164." The robot then proceeded to discuss the theory of relativity, interstellar space travel, the latest medical breakthrough, etc. The man was most impressed. The next day he returned, but thought he would try a different tact.
The robot again asked, "What is your IQ, sir?" This time the man answered, "Oh, about 100". So the robot started discussing NASCAR racing, the latest basketball scores, and what to expect the Red Sox to do this weekend. The guy had to try it one more time. So the next day he returned.. Again the robot asked the question, "What is your IQ?" This time the man drawled out, "Uh...about 50." The robot clicked, then leaned close and very slowly asked,
"A-r-e y-o-u-r p-e-o-p-l-e
g-o-i-n-g t-o
n-o-m-i-n-a-t-e
H-i-l-l-a-r-y?"
Have an egg roll, Mr. Goldstone
Have a napkin, have a chopstick, have a chair!
Have a spare rib, Mr. Goldstone-
Any spare rib that I can spare, I'd be glad to share!
(Stephen Sondheim, Mr. Goldstone, I Love You, 1959).
This is definitely a go-to place for the financial district crowd. What with excellent book browsing at City Lights, sluicing, and cheery conversation and what-not, an afternoon can pass quite happily.
The restaurant does not pass out knives but they should if you opt for the calamari with black bean sauce and brown rice as I did. BIG MISTAKE! It was a very disappointing: rubbery, tasteless and the sauce not as fiery as I would have liked.(9.95). Regulars at the next table insist that you should avoid the smoked items and keep it simple! Diced boneless chicken with string beans marinated with ginger, garlic and hot bean sauce fits the bill. (8.50). Peter ordered the Lunch Bar Special (Hunan style spicy beef with mixed veggies). A real deal at just $6.95. Skip the desserts. Is there such a thing as Sugar Replacement Therapy? Yeah, it's called Chocolate. Best to bring your own. Make mine Godiva!
PETER'S JOKE OF THE WEEK:
Hi-Tech Restaurant.
A man walked into a very high-tech restaurant in a fancy hotel. As he waited to be seated, he noticed that the Maitre D' was a robot. The robot clicked to attention and said, "Sir, there is a one hour wait. And I am programmed to converse with you until a table is ready, if you please. Intrigued, the man said, "OK". The robot clicked a couple more times and then asked, "Sir, what is your IQ?" The man answered, "Oh, about 164." The robot then proceeded to discuss the theory of relativity, interstellar space travel, the latest medical breakthrough, etc. The man was most impressed. The next day he returned, but thought he would try a different tact.
The robot again asked, "What is your IQ, sir?" This time the man answered, "Oh, about 100". So the robot started discussing NASCAR racing, the latest basketball scores, and what to expect the Red Sox to do this weekend. The guy had to try it one more time. So the next day he returned.. Again the robot asked the question, "What is your IQ?" This time the man drawled out, "Uh...about 50." The robot clicked, then leaned close and very slowly asked,
"A-r-e y-o-u-r p-e-o-p-l-e
g-o-i-n-g t-o
n-o-m-i-n-a-t-e
H-i-l-l-a-r-y?"
Saturday, July 28, 2007
TAJINE: STAR REBORN FROM GRITTY TENDERLOIN TO POLK GULCH; JOKE OF THE WEEK
Tajine Restaurant; 1338 Polk Street; 440-1718; open 7 days 12 noon - 10:00 p.m. tajinerestaurant. com.
Do you remember Tajine as a tiny, cramped hole in the wall joint in the gritty part of the Tenderloin, a favorite destination of cab drivers? I'm happy to say that owner Mohammed Ghaleb's move to Polk Gulch has assured its popularity. Never tasted Moroccan cuisine? Now you can dine with friends under a row of beautiful Moroccan lanterns that provide a decorative element to a simple room. Start with a Fez favorite, Mozaic of Salad: a taste of zaalook, shalada, Taktouka and fresh beets. (7.95) Try the chicken bastilla filo dough filled with crumbly stuffing of minced chicken, ground almonds, scrambled egg topped with sugar dustng and a suspicion of cinnamon. (9.95) Sublime is the only word to describe the lamb tajine stewed prunes and roasted almonds in a delicious savory sauce. (12.95) The couscous unfortunately has succumbed to a sad simplication. My choice is the kufta tajine - ground meat balls sauteed in olive oil with red bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic & garnished with 2 eggs. (9.50). Delicious! Friends swear that the kabob plates are heavenly. Don't forget to end the meal with the traditional mint tea (3.25) and the homemade house dessert shepakia made of flour, almonds, sesame seeds, honey and orange blossom water (2.50). Such honest, heartfelt, generous cooking deserves highest honors. SF Weekly has declared it the best Moroccan Restaurant in San Francisco. I agree!
JOKE OF THE WEEK: Four guys in a club were arguing religion and politics (a no-no if people want to remain friends.) The Catholic argued his exclusive "inside-track" to salvation. The Protestant argued for personal redemption through the Bible. The Muslim cited Allah as his sole source of life and morality. All three turned to the fourth individual and asked him for his take on the discussion. "Sorry," he said, "I don't believe in all that religious mumbo-jumbo. I'm an atheist, Thank God!"
Do you remember Tajine as a tiny, cramped hole in the wall joint in the gritty part of the Tenderloin, a favorite destination of cab drivers? I'm happy to say that owner Mohammed Ghaleb's move to Polk Gulch has assured its popularity. Never tasted Moroccan cuisine? Now you can dine with friends under a row of beautiful Moroccan lanterns that provide a decorative element to a simple room. Start with a Fez favorite, Mozaic of Salad: a taste of zaalook, shalada, Taktouka and fresh beets. (7.95) Try the chicken bastilla filo dough filled with crumbly stuffing of minced chicken, ground almonds, scrambled egg topped with sugar dustng and a suspicion of cinnamon. (9.95) Sublime is the only word to describe the lamb tajine stewed prunes and roasted almonds in a delicious savory sauce. (12.95) The couscous unfortunately has succumbed to a sad simplication. My choice is the kufta tajine - ground meat balls sauteed in olive oil with red bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic & garnished with 2 eggs. (9.50). Delicious! Friends swear that the kabob plates are heavenly. Don't forget to end the meal with the traditional mint tea (3.25) and the homemade house dessert shepakia made of flour, almonds, sesame seeds, honey and orange blossom water (2.50). Such honest, heartfelt, generous cooking deserves highest honors. SF Weekly has declared it the best Moroccan Restaurant in San Francisco. I agree!
JOKE OF THE WEEK: Four guys in a club were arguing religion and politics (a no-no if people want to remain friends.) The Catholic argued his exclusive "inside-track" to salvation. The Protestant argued for personal redemption through the Bible. The Muslim cited Allah as his sole source of life and morality. All three turned to the fourth individual and asked him for his take on the discussion. "Sorry," he said, "I don't believe in all that religious mumbo-jumbo. I'm an atheist, Thank God!"
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
TRIVIA NIGHT: BACCHUS KIRK; July 24, 2007
QUESTIONS: (ANSWERS TO FOLLOW)
1.The recent NBA scandal. What does it involve?
2.What's the name of Jet Blue's loyalty program?
3.What country is isle of Zanzibar part of?
4.Name the two main guitarists of the Grateful Dead.
5.What is new odd feature of the Democratic debate.
6.Recent food scare: what is the health crisis?
7.What 2 movies had highest grosses at the box office?
8.Which 2 South American countries have no seacoast?
9.What ailment has technical name of dyspepsia?
10.Name official song of U.S. Navy.
11.Name the river which runs through Hades.
12.Who was just chosen to replace Bob Baker?
13.What year did Brady Bunch debut?
14.What is name of currency for Vietnam?
15.What country's capitol is Addis Ababa?
ANSWERS:
1.Gambling, betting, Tim Donahee.
2.True Blue.
3.Tanzania.
4.Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir.
5.Video Clips. UTUBE.
6.Botulism.
7.I Prounounce you Chuck and Larry; Transformers.
8.Paraguay; Bolivia.
9. Upset stomach; indigestion.
10.Anchors Away.
11.Styx.
12.Drew Carey.
13.1969.
14.Dong.
15.Ethiopia.
1.The recent NBA scandal. What does it involve?
2.What's the name of Jet Blue's loyalty program?
3.What country is isle of Zanzibar part of?
4.Name the two main guitarists of the Grateful Dead.
5.What is new odd feature of the Democratic debate.
6.Recent food scare: what is the health crisis?
7.What 2 movies had highest grosses at the box office?
8.Which 2 South American countries have no seacoast?
9.What ailment has technical name of dyspepsia?
10.Name official song of U.S. Navy.
11.Name the river which runs through Hades.
12.Who was just chosen to replace Bob Baker?
13.What year did Brady Bunch debut?
14.What is name of currency for Vietnam?
15.What country's capitol is Addis Ababa?
ANSWERS:
1.Gambling, betting, Tim Donahee.
2.True Blue.
3.Tanzania.
4.Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir.
5.Video Clips. UTUBE.
6.Botulism.
7.I Prounounce you Chuck and Larry; Transformers.
8.Paraguay; Bolivia.
9. Upset stomach; indigestion.
10.Anchors Away.
11.Styx.
12.Drew Carey.
13.1969.
14.Dong.
15.Ethiopia.
Monday, July 23, 2007
R and G LOUNGE: BEST SALT-AND-PEPPER CRAB; PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE
R and G Lounge; 631 Kearny Street (at Clay); 415-982-7877;www.rnglounge.com. This spiffy seafood house on the edge of Chinatown is hugely popular with the Downtown business crowd and is definitely hopping on a Saturday night. Recognized as a Chinatown cheapie, it is famous for its seafood (they've got two tanks ), especially finger lickin' good salt-and-pepper crab. It used to be that you'd have to check all other expectations for fine dining at the door but now there are tablecloths both upstairs and downstairs. The decor is no longer a pity. I came here after a showing of Werner Herzog's film, Rescue Dawn, at the Embarcadero, with my good friend, Zontar. Christian Bale ate ground worms for protein int he jungle. Zontar settled for the kungpao chicken (13). I chose the sauteed prawns with sweet peas (13). We shared a large bowl of white rice (2). Entrees were humongous and delicious. There was plenty left over for Sunday brunch. Zontar was sweet enough to take following quiz. It's a fun thing to do with your best friend!
PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE: (reprinted from Vanity Fair, August, 2007)
1.What is your idea of perfect happiness?
2.What is your greatest fear?
3.Which historical figure do you most identify with?
4.Which person do you most admire?
5.What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
6.What is the trait you most deplore in others?
7.What do you most value in your friends?
8.Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
9.What is your favorite journey.
10.What do you consider the most overrated virtue.
11.On what occasion do you lie?
12.What do you dislike most about your appearance?
13.What is your greatest regret?
14.What or who is the greatest love of your life?
15.When and where were you happiest?
16.If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
17.What do you consider your greatest achievement?
18.What is your most treasured possession?
19.What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
20.Where would you like to live?
21.What is your most marked characteristic?
22.What is your greatest extravagance?
23.What is the quality you most like in a man? woman?
24.Who are your favorite writers.
25.Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
26.Who are your heroes in real life?
27.What is your motto. This was asked of Helen Gurley Brown of Cosmopolitan & her answer: "Get up and do it if it needs to be done, even if you hate it!"
PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE: (reprinted from Vanity Fair, August, 2007)
1.What is your idea of perfect happiness?
2.What is your greatest fear?
3.Which historical figure do you most identify with?
4.Which person do you most admire?
5.What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
6.What is the trait you most deplore in others?
7.What do you most value in your friends?
8.Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
9.What is your favorite journey.
10.What do you consider the most overrated virtue.
11.On what occasion do you lie?
12.What do you dislike most about your appearance?
13.What is your greatest regret?
14.What or who is the greatest love of your life?
15.When and where were you happiest?
16.If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
17.What do you consider your greatest achievement?
18.What is your most treasured possession?
19.What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
20.Where would you like to live?
21.What is your most marked characteristic?
22.What is your greatest extravagance?
23.What is the quality you most like in a man? woman?
24.Who are your favorite writers.
25.Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
26.Who are your heroes in real life?
27.What is your motto. This was asked of Helen Gurley Brown of Cosmopolitan & her answer: "Get up and do it if it needs to be done, even if you hate it!"
TRIVIA NIGHT: BACCHUS KIRK
It was a crowded night at Bacchus Kirk. Here goes: (ANSWERS BELOW)
1.Name symbol that was stormed in Islamabad.
2.What city is home to the International War Crimes Tribunal?
3.Brazil is former colony of which country?
4.Who is Donald Trump thinking of as co-host of The Apprentice?
5.Disneyland opened up in Anaheim in what year?
6.Besides Jack Nicolson, name actor in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?
7.Name 2 top grossing box office movies.
8.If you turned in Osama Bin Laden, how much would you earn?
9.What object does a cooper make?
10.What type of wine plays central role in Sideways?
11.Which airport has code: PVD?
12.Give acronym for AIRBUS.
13.Who is author of Breakfast of Champtions, Cat's Cradle, Slapstick?
14. Who got out of rehab today. Name 2 follow-ups for her pledge of sobriety.
15.What are 2 shapes that make up traditional leather soccer ball.
ANSWERS:
1.Red Mosque.
2.The Hague, Netherlands.
3.Portugal.
4.Rosie O'Donnell.
5.1955
6.Danny Devito, Christopher Lloyd, Louise Fletcher.
7.Harry Potter, Transformers.
8.$50 Million.
9.Barrels.
10.Pinot Noir.
11.Providence.
12.EAD European Aeronautics Defense.
13.Kurt Vonnegut.
14.Lindsay Lohan. Wear ankle bracelet. Attend AA outpatient meetings.
15.Pentagon and Hexagon.
1.Name symbol that was stormed in Islamabad.
2.What city is home to the International War Crimes Tribunal?
3.Brazil is former colony of which country?
4.Who is Donald Trump thinking of as co-host of The Apprentice?
5.Disneyland opened up in Anaheim in what year?
6.Besides Jack Nicolson, name actor in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?
7.Name 2 top grossing box office movies.
8.If you turned in Osama Bin Laden, how much would you earn?
9.What object does a cooper make?
10.What type of wine plays central role in Sideways?
11.Which airport has code: PVD?
12.Give acronym for AIRBUS.
13.Who is author of Breakfast of Champtions, Cat's Cradle, Slapstick?
14. Who got out of rehab today. Name 2 follow-ups for her pledge of sobriety.
15.What are 2 shapes that make up traditional leather soccer ball.
ANSWERS:
1.Red Mosque.
2.The Hague, Netherlands.
3.Portugal.
4.Rosie O'Donnell.
5.1955
6.Danny Devito, Christopher Lloyd, Louise Fletcher.
7.Harry Potter, Transformers.
8.$50 Million.
9.Barrels.
10.Pinot Noir.
11.Providence.
12.EAD European Aeronautics Defense.
13.Kurt Vonnegut.
14.Lindsay Lohan. Wear ankle bracelet. Attend AA outpatient meetings.
15.Pentagon and Hexagon.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
MOOSE'S: GOOD VIBRATIONS AT JEWEL ON WASHINGTON SQUARE; JOKES OF THE DAY
Moose's; 1652 Stockton Street; 989-7800; www.mooses.com; San Francisco. Ed Moose's classy North Beach icon has moved forward under new ownership with its "feel good" vibe and newly crafted American fare. Droves commend Travis Flood and his staff for their attempt not to sell you food as art. The comfortable jazz-infused ambiance makes it a no-rush, sublime place to hobnob with politicos, sports celebs or SF society. Plus you can't beat the views of Washington Square Park and Russian Hill.
Jeffry, an ex-New Yorker, talented artist-carpenter and interior designer of homes in the SF Bay Area was in an upbeat mood the night before America's Birthday Party. He met me for espressos at the hustle-bustle happy hour bar scene prior to dinner. I perused the menu which noted: "To do a common thing, uncommonly well, brings success." (Henry John Heinz. I knew the restaurant has a passionate following. We nabbed a coveted window seat and hoped the meal would live up to Moose's reputation. I know a lot of fakery is committed in kitchens and I hoped there was nothing phony about the food here.
The menu changes seasonably. Here's what I would recommend:
White Crane Spring Ranch Summer Salad: ginger, carrots, radish, crunchy tidbits, apricots, verjus vinaigrette (13). The salad has a delicious crunch & the dressing was a perfect 10.
White Corn and Roasted Tomato Chowder; celery salad; crunchy baguette (9)
Fettuccine: Parmesan creme, chives (grilled chicken $8 supplemental) 14. Jeffrey is a cook, makes his own pasta and pronounced this one sublime.
Wild Halibut: pea tendrils, turnips, ginger, spiced almonds, fresh pea sauce. (27). This exceeded my expectations and was one of the best halibuts I'd eaten.
Jeffrey grew up with an Italian father and Jewish mother and went to Hebrew school. I told him this joke:
A man dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter meets him at the door and welcomes him in, shows him around. First we have the Catholics. They like to build churches, attend mass, take communion. So we let them do that. Further along, we have the Baptists. They like to preach the gospel, spread the holy word, so we let them do that. Further along, we have the Jews. They like to philosophize, argue, discuss ethics, morality, so we let them do that. They move further down the path, and come to a tall brick wall. "What's that? Why do you have a tall brick wall in heaven, the man asked. "Shh...It's the Mormons, and they think they are the only ones here.
Jokes from the Jewish Joke list:
Q: What is a Jewish menage-a-trois?
A: Two headaches and an erection.
Q: What did Adam and Eve have a perfect marriage?
A: He didn't have to hear about all the men she could have married, and she didn't have to hear about the way his mother cooked.
Q: How does a Jewish wife cheat on her husband?
A: She has a headache with the postman.
Q: What is a Jewish nymphomaniac?
A: A wife who does her hair and sleeps with her husband on the same day.
Q: What is the technical term for a divorced Jewish woman?
A: Plaintiff.
Q: Define "genius".
A: An average student with a Jewish mother.
Jewish proverb: A Jewish wife will forgive and forget, but she'll never forget what she forgave."
Jeffry, an ex-New Yorker, talented artist-carpenter and interior designer of homes in the SF Bay Area was in an upbeat mood the night before America's Birthday Party. He met me for espressos at the hustle-bustle happy hour bar scene prior to dinner. I perused the menu which noted: "To do a common thing, uncommonly well, brings success." (Henry John Heinz. I knew the restaurant has a passionate following. We nabbed a coveted window seat and hoped the meal would live up to Moose's reputation. I know a lot of fakery is committed in kitchens and I hoped there was nothing phony about the food here.
The menu changes seasonably. Here's what I would recommend:
White Crane Spring Ranch Summer Salad: ginger, carrots, radish, crunchy tidbits, apricots, verjus vinaigrette (13). The salad has a delicious crunch & the dressing was a perfect 10.
White Corn and Roasted Tomato Chowder; celery salad; crunchy baguette (9)
Fettuccine: Parmesan creme, chives (grilled chicken $8 supplemental) 14. Jeffrey is a cook, makes his own pasta and pronounced this one sublime.
Wild Halibut: pea tendrils, turnips, ginger, spiced almonds, fresh pea sauce. (27). This exceeded my expectations and was one of the best halibuts I'd eaten.
Jeffrey grew up with an Italian father and Jewish mother and went to Hebrew school. I told him this joke:
A man dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter meets him at the door and welcomes him in, shows him around. First we have the Catholics. They like to build churches, attend mass, take communion. So we let them do that. Further along, we have the Baptists. They like to preach the gospel, spread the holy word, so we let them do that. Further along, we have the Jews. They like to philosophize, argue, discuss ethics, morality, so we let them do that. They move further down the path, and come to a tall brick wall. "What's that? Why do you have a tall brick wall in heaven, the man asked. "Shh...It's the Mormons, and they think they are the only ones here.
Jokes from the Jewish Joke list:
Q: What is a Jewish menage-a-trois?
A: Two headaches and an erection.
Q: What did Adam and Eve have a perfect marriage?
A: He didn't have to hear about all the men she could have married, and she didn't have to hear about the way his mother cooked.
Q: How does a Jewish wife cheat on her husband?
A: She has a headache with the postman.
Q: What is a Jewish nymphomaniac?
A: A wife who does her hair and sleeps with her husband on the same day.
Q: What is the technical term for a divorced Jewish woman?
A: Plaintiff.
Q: Define "genius".
A: An average student with a Jewish mother.
Jewish proverb: A Jewish wife will forgive and forget, but she'll never forget what she forgave."
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
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
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
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
TRIVIA NIGHT AT BACCHUS KIRK: MAY 22, 2007
It was a warm night but many people played Trivia for cash prizes at Bacchus Kirk. Good luck with your current events/memory test!
1.Name the satellite radio station which was offline for awhile this past week.
2.Name famous ship that burned in England. Type of ship?
3.Joan of Arc famous for which war?
4.Which airports have these codes: EWR; IAD?
5.In 2004, the top 2 countries for Tourism in 2004?
6.Federated Department stores own which 2 large chains?
7.Name University founded by Jerry Falwell.
8.Full name of Spiderman's girlfriend.
9.What country is Pippi Longstocking from?
10.Name of Angelina's/Brad's natural born daughter?
11.Name of the Contractor repairing MacArthur Meltdown?
12.Who created the James Bond series; Name his successful children's book.
13.Capitol of State of Michigan.
14.Identify the City served by Orly Airport.
15.Second Largest Nation in square mileage?
1.Name the satellite radio station which was offline for awhile this past week.
2.Name famous ship that burned in England. Type of ship?
3.Joan of Arc famous for which war?
4.Which airports have these codes: EWR; IAD?
5.In 2004, the top 2 countries for Tourism in 2004?
6.Federated Department stores own which 2 large chains?
7.Name University founded by Jerry Falwell.
8.Full name of Spiderman's girlfriend.
9.What country is Pippi Longstocking from?
10.Name of Angelina's/Brad's natural born daughter?
11.Name of the Contractor repairing MacArthur Meltdown?
12.Who created the James Bond series; Name his successful children's book.
13.Capitol of State of Michigan.
14.Identify the City served by Orly Airport.
15.Second Largest Nation in square mileage?
Monday, May 21, 2007
ABSINTHE: MAKES HEART GROW FONDER; MARLENE DIETRICH'S ABC; MAY 20, 2007
Absinthe; 398 Hayes Street; (415) 551-1590. www.absinthe.com. This French brasserie in Hayes Valley is steeped in a retro Paris atmosphere. I felt as if I were transported to a movie set a la belle epoque, with its burgundy walls reminiscent of a bordello. I walked with my new friend, Paul, from the Herbst Theater after the American debut performance of Russian (Ukrainian) tenor, Vladimir Kuzmenko whose voice was in top form: powerful, disciplined, splendiferous. Verdi, Puccini, Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Donizetti never sounded better. He gave us an encore: O Sole Mia!
The Gallic-Med fare at Absinthe was less satisfying. As my dining companion, Paul, pointed out, you have got to be a little suspicious of a French bistro which has spaghetti on the menu. Paul is a "computer doctor" who has been dividing his time between Chicago and San Francisco for a decade. He loves the theater, as do I, and we made a date to see The Imaginary Invalid by Moliere in June at ACT.
We settled on the coq au vin. A bad choice. It was ordinary, and unfortunately left a bad taste in our mouths. Leftovers from the night before? I think so.
I love halibut but the kitchen had served its last portion at 7:00 p.m. on a Sunday night, which suggests haphazard planning in the kitchen.
Our waiter discoursed on the benefits of the digestive, Fernet Blanco, for several minutes. We tasted it in our coffee and green tea after the dessert of cantaloupe, strawberry, pineapple sorbet. Obviously, we saved the best to last.
Here's what I would recommend at Absinthe:
Oyster Shooter: Chef's choice of oyster and spicy Bloody Mary sauce: 4
French Onion Soup gratinee: 7.5
Grilled Asparagus: fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese: 8
Smoked Salmon: cucumber, fried capers, and Pernod cream: 13.75
Roasted California halibut: braised escarole and potatoes with garlic, parley, capers, and pecorino cheese: 25
Grilled California King Salmon: roasted red beet vinaigrette, grilled vegetables and fig anchoiade crostini: 25
Sorbet trio: strawberry, pineapple, cantaloupe 6.
Absinthe also does a Prix Fixe: 75. Includes caviar, oyster, grilled fish of the day, sorbet or vanilla creme brulee.
************************************************************************************
Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992): The motto that guided her professional life was "Demand and Supply". She added her favorite saying to the preface of Marlene Dietrich's ABC (1961):
The Possible we do immediately -
The Impossible may take a little longer.
What follows is a selection from her book reflecting her beliefs and emotional experience.
Absence "Makes the heart grow fonder". The French go further: Absence is to love what the wind is to fire. It blows out the small one and lights the big one.
Books: You do not love a book necessarily because it teaches you something. You love it because you find affirmation of your thoughts or sanctions your deeds.
Car: A car is a man's best toy.
Demand and Supply: My Credo. Give what is needed. "Let them eat cake" is too easy. By the same token: It nothing is needed, give nothing.
Eating: All real men love to eat. Any man who picks at his food, breaking off little pieces with his fork, pushing one aside, picking up another, pushing bits around the plate, etc., usually has something wrong with him And I don't mean with his stomach.
Fear: A fatal surrender.
Gallows Humor: Adopted from the German: Galgenhumor. Meaning: The ability to laugh at one's own fate when directly confronted with disaster. It might seem strange that such a word should originate with the Germans, who, as a nation, are not blessed with a sense of humor. My gallows humor was Hemingway's great joy. It was one of the reasons why he made me his friend.
Hippocratic Oath: Just read it and realize that BY OATH doctors must cover up for each other's mistakes.
The Gallic-Med fare at Absinthe was less satisfying. As my dining companion, Paul, pointed out, you have got to be a little suspicious of a French bistro which has spaghetti on the menu. Paul is a "computer doctor" who has been dividing his time between Chicago and San Francisco for a decade. He loves the theater, as do I, and we made a date to see The Imaginary Invalid by Moliere in June at ACT.
We settled on the coq au vin. A bad choice. It was ordinary, and unfortunately left a bad taste in our mouths. Leftovers from the night before? I think so.
I love halibut but the kitchen had served its last portion at 7:00 p.m. on a Sunday night, which suggests haphazard planning in the kitchen.
Our waiter discoursed on the benefits of the digestive, Fernet Blanco, for several minutes. We tasted it in our coffee and green tea after the dessert of cantaloupe, strawberry, pineapple sorbet. Obviously, we saved the best to last.
Here's what I would recommend at Absinthe:
Oyster Shooter: Chef's choice of oyster and spicy Bloody Mary sauce: 4
French Onion Soup gratinee: 7.5
Grilled Asparagus: fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese: 8
Smoked Salmon: cucumber, fried capers, and Pernod cream: 13.75
Roasted California halibut: braised escarole and potatoes with garlic, parley, capers, and pecorino cheese: 25
Grilled California King Salmon: roasted red beet vinaigrette, grilled vegetables and fig anchoiade crostini: 25
Sorbet trio: strawberry, pineapple, cantaloupe 6.
Absinthe also does a Prix Fixe: 75. Includes caviar, oyster, grilled fish of the day, sorbet or vanilla creme brulee.
************************************************************************************
Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992): The motto that guided her professional life was "Demand and Supply". She added her favorite saying to the preface of Marlene Dietrich's ABC (1961):
The Possible we do immediately -
The Impossible may take a little longer.
What follows is a selection from her book reflecting her beliefs and emotional experience.
Absence "Makes the heart grow fonder". The French go further: Absence is to love what the wind is to fire. It blows out the small one and lights the big one.
Books: You do not love a book necessarily because it teaches you something. You love it because you find affirmation of your thoughts or sanctions your deeds.
Car: A car is a man's best toy.
Demand and Supply: My Credo. Give what is needed. "Let them eat cake" is too easy. By the same token: It nothing is needed, give nothing.
Eating: All real men love to eat. Any man who picks at his food, breaking off little pieces with his fork, pushing one aside, picking up another, pushing bits around the plate, etc., usually has something wrong with him And I don't mean with his stomach.
Fear: A fatal surrender.
Gallows Humor: Adopted from the German: Galgenhumor. Meaning: The ability to laugh at one's own fate when directly confronted with disaster. It might seem strange that such a word should originate with the Germans, who, as a nation, are not blessed with a sense of humor. My gallows humor was Hemingway's great joy. It was one of the reasons why he made me his friend.
Hippocratic Oath: Just read it and realize that BY OATH doctors must cover up for each other's mistakes.
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