Light/Breezes

Light/Breezes
SUNRISE AT DEATH VALLEY-Photo by Tom Cochrun

Monday, February 22, 2016

SEEING IT & SUPERB!


Barrels with a view
Paso Robles West Side 
February Color
Political Scraps
    Regardless of the politics, you've got to feel sorry for Jeb Bush. Those who know say he's a lot smarter, classier and more capable than his brother, but he just never caught on in this year of political anger and bombast. 
     As the improbable Trump parade continues Ohio's Kasich remains the adult in the crowd.  Cruz is an extremist. If you call him a nut case I won't disagree. Rubio is the hope for many, especially the less right wing or those wearing evangelical blinders. The knock on Rubio is John Kennedy and Barack Obama- another young man from the Senate who could benefit from more vintage time.  Others see his youth as a plus.  Kasich has been on the Hill, knows the way around legislation and Washington including the military and has been a governor. He's got a more pedigreed resume.
     Sanders tenacity and the abiding loyalty of his supporters can't make up for lack of super delegates and numbers, but seems bound to keep the Democratic race interesting in the immediate future.
     Clinton has a generation gap issue and trouble with likability. Her negative numbers could be harmful in the general election.
     Barack Obama should put forth a nominee to fill the Scalia  vacancy and the Senate Judiciary Committee and full Senate should consider the nomination. That is the Constitutional way. The Thurmond Rule being sited now is complete garbage. Strom Thurmond, a bigot and racist, used the tactic against Lyndon Johnson when the fellow Democrat nominated Jewish Abe Fortas, already on the Supreme Court, to be Chief Justice. It was a political tactic and has no value. The Constitution speaks for itself-as the late Justice Scalia would say.
     Mitch McConnell should check into a cryogenic tube or should be volunteered to be the first man on mars!
    
FOR FOODIES ONLY
    Chef Jose' Dahan of the late but remarkable Cafe et Voila now does special dinners including this grand evening at Sinor-LaVallee Winery in Avila Beach. 
   The evening started with a sparkling brut rose' from Alsace. 
 The appetizer: Ratatouille, seafood bisque, duck pate' with cornichon and shrimp in mustard sauce.
  Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
Salad: Baby wild arugula, orange, haricots verts, fennel and goat cheese in olive oil and citrus .
Entrees: Roasted rack of lamb with wild mushroom risotto and ratatouille Nicoise with garlic, herbs and Syrah reduction
  Sautéed sea bass with braised baby bok choy and fingerling persillees' topped with a creamy ginger drizzle. 
Desert trio: Citrus and Ginger creme brûlée, bread pudding with bourbon creme Anglaise, chocolate raspberry tart
  The Wines of the evening were all Jose's choice and were French-unusual in California Wine country-but we heard no complaints.




See you down the trail.

12 comments:

  1. Wow -- the mountains are so lovely and green again since our last trip your way!

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    1. Winter is our green season. You guys are going to love it out here. Nothing to shovel and rare are those steel gray skies that seem to camp all winter over the mid-west.

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  2. I always love that view over the rolling green mountains to the sea.

    Your meal sounds extravagant.

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    1. We thought of you and Judy, knowing that you would appreciate Jose's work.

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  3. Very nice dinner. Kasich, the "sensible moderate" just signed a bill in Ohio (apparently, he takes time off from the campaign trail to do his day job) stripping Planned parenthood of funding and signed another that takes away collective bargaining rights for unions. So yeah, compared to the others in the Republican race, I guess he is the "moderate". I read something the other day about American populism, by definition it's a call to action to solve common problems, in this country it's a call to action against common enemies. If that shooter in Michigan would have been a Muslim instead of some random white gun nut Trump would win going away. We are in deep trouble in this country, close to 80% of trump supporter in SC believe the South should have won the Civil War, Ted Cruz referred to the Confederate Battle Flag as "our" flag. Rubio is an empty suit, who will say anything for a vote. Good riddance to JEB!, the bastard never once visited his daughter when he was governor in Florida and she was in jail on drug charges, not one time.

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  4. Mais oui! Domaine Maby great find--

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    1. It was great with the meal. Jose' is (pronounced Josie) is French and knows his wine.

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  5. As N.Meridian said, great find. I had it when we were in the area where Châteauneuf-du-Pape is grown.

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    1. As I noted above, Jose' is French and is partial to good wine, regardless of region.
      We've been in the habit of trying to stay with Paso region wines only, so it was a break from the norm, but very good.

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  6. What the central coast needs is a good all-you-can-eat Georgia fried chicken restaurant, like Aunt Fannie's Cabin in Smyrna, GA. Accompanied by big bowls of beans (green, butter, lima) and lumpy mashed potatoes. Sweet iced tea. Hot pecan pie. Yeeee-haaa! I'm drownin' in saliva.

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  7. Not familiar with Aunt Fannie's Cabin, but in my college town there was a place called the Chicken Shack--R&B and Funk on Friday and Saturday nights and Fried Chicken every night. May not have been up to Aunt Fannies, but it was better than the Col.

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