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More Cuba, Dec 2011 – 121

Image by Ed Yourdon

You sure don’t see colors like this in New York City! How could anyone not take a picture of this array of buildings?

This is a second set of a couple hundred photos taken in Havana, Cuba in December 2011. The first set, which included what I felt were the best 100 photos of the 3500+ images, was uploaded earlier. You can find it here on Flickr.

Note: this photo was published in a Jan 26, 2012 Kate B. Harding blog titled "Rainbow."

***********************

As I suggested in my first set of Cuba photos on Flickr, the notion of traveling to Cuba is — at least for many Americans today — probably like that of traveling to North Korea. It’s off-limits, forbidden by the government — and frankly, why would anyone bother? But for someone like me, who spent his childhood in the Cold War era of the 1950s, and who went off to college just after Castro took power, and just before the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban missile crisis, the notion of traveling to Cuba has entirely different overtones.

And yet Cuba is only 90 miles away from Key West (as we were reminded so often in the 1960s), and its climate is presumably no different than a dozen of Caribbean islands I’ve visited over the years. Numerous friends have made quasi-legal trips to Cuba over the years, flying in from Canada or Mexico, and they’ve all returned with fabulous pictures and great stories of a vibrant, colorful country. So, when the folks at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops sent out a notice in November 2011, announcing a series of photo workshops in Havana, we couldn’t resist the temptation to sign up.

Getting into Cuba turned out to be trivial: an overnight stay in Miami, a 45-minute chartered flight operated by American Airlines, and customs/immigration formalities that turned out to be cursory or non-existent. By mid-afternoon, our group was checked into the Parque Central Hotel in downtown Havana — where the rooms were spacious, the service was friendly, the food was reasonably tasty, the rum was delicious, and the Internet was … well, slow and expensive.

We had been warned that that some of our American conveniences — like credit cards — would not be available, and we were prepared for a fairly spartan week. But no matter how prepared we might have been intellectually, it takes a while to adjust to a land with no Skype, no Blackberry service, no iPhone service, no phone-based Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. I was perfectly happy that there were no Burger Kings, no Pizza Huts, no Wendys, no Starbuck’s, and MacDonalds. There was Coke (classic), but no Diet Coke (or Coke Light). There were also no police sirens, no ambulance sirens, and no church bells. There were no iPods, and consequently no evidence of people plugged into their music via the thin white earplugs that Apple supplies with their devices. No iPads, no Kindles, no Nooks, no … well, you get the picture. (It’s also worth noting that, with U.S. tourists now beginning to enter the country in larger numbers, Cuba seems to be on the cusp of a "modern" invasion; if I come back here in a couple years, I fully expect to see Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets on every corner.)

But there were lots of friendly people in Havana, crowding the streets, peering out of windows and doorways, laughing and shouting and waving at friends and strangers alike. Everyone was well-dressed in clean clothes (the evidence of which could be seen in the endless lines of clothing hanging from laundry lines strung from wall to wall, everywhere); but there were no designer jeans, no fancy shoes, no heavy jewelry, and no sign of ostentatious clothing of any kind. Like some other developing countries, the people were sometimes a little too friendly — constantly offering a taxi ride, a pedicab ride, a small exchange of the "official" currency (convertible pesos, or "cuqs") for the "local" currency (pesos), a great meal or a great drink at a nearby restaurant or bar, a haircut, a manicure, or just a little … umm, well, friendship (offers for which ran the gamut of "señor" to "amigo" to "my friend"). On the street, you often felt you were in the land of the hustle; but if you smiled, shook your head, and politely said, "no," people generally smiled and back off.

As for the photography: well, I was in one of three different workshop groups, each of which had roughly a dozen participants. The three dozen individual photographers were well equipped with all of the latest Nikon and Canon gear, and they generally focused on a handful of subjects: buildings and architecture, ballet practice sessions, cockfights, boxing matches, rodeos, fishing villages, old cars, interiors of people’s homes, street scenes, and people. Lots of people. As in every other part of the world I’ve visited, the people were the most interesting. We saw young and old, men and women, boisterous children, grizzled elders, police officers, bus drivers, and people of almost every conceivable race.

The streets were clean, though not spotless; and the streets were jammed, with bicycles and motorbikes and pedi-cabs, taxis, buses, horse-and-carriages, pedestrians, dogs (lots of dogs, many sleeping peacefully in the middle of a sidewalk), and even a few people on roller skates. And, as anyone who has seen photos of Havana knows, there were lots and lots and LOTS of old cars. Plymouths, Pontiacs, Dodges, Buicks, and Chevys, along with the occasional Cadillac. A few were old and rusted, but most had been renovated, repaired, and repainted — often in garishly bright colors from every spectrum of the rainbow. Cherry pink, fire-engine red, Sunkist orange, lime green, turquoise and every shade of blue, orange, brown, and a lot more that I’ve probably forgotten. All of us in the photo workshop succumbed to the temptation to photograph the cars when we first arrived … but they were everywhere, every day, wherever we went, and eventually we all suffered from sensory overload. (For what it’s worth, one of our workshop colleagues had visited Cuba eight years ago, and told us that at the time, there were only old cars in sight; now roughly half of the cars are more-or-less modern Kia’s, Audis, Russian Ladas, and other "generic" compact cars.)

The one thing I wasn’t prepared for in Havana was the sense of decay: almost no modern buildings, no skyscrapers, and very little evidence of renovation. There were several monstrous, ugly, vintage-1950s buildings that oozed "Russia" from every pore. But the rest of the buildings date back to the 40s, the 30s, the 20s, or even the turn of the last century. Some were crumbling, some were just facades; some showed evidence of the kind of salt-water erosion that one sees near the ocean. But many simply looked old and decrepit, with peeling paint and broken stones, like the run-down buildings in whatever slum you’re familiar with in North America. One has a very strong sense of a city that was vibrant and beautiful all during the last half of the 19th century, and the first half of the 20th century — and then time stopped dead in its tracks.

Why that happened, and what’s being done about it, is something I didn’t have a chance to explore; there was a general reluctance to discuss politics in great detail. Some of Havana looks like the less-prosperous regions of other Caribbean towns; and some of it is presumably the direct and/or indirect result of a half-century of U.S. embargo. But some of it seems to be the result of the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, and the subsequent collapse of foreign aid that Cuba depended upon.

As for my own photos: I did not attend the ballet practice sessions, nor did I see the rodeo. I did see some interesting graffiti on a few walls, which I photographed; but for some reason, I missed almost all of the numerous political billboards and stylized paintings of Che Guevera on buildings and walls. What I focused on instead was the "street scenes" of people and buildings and cars, which will hopefully give you a sense of what the place is like.

Enjoy!

www.cirinosbarandgrill.com In Grass Valley and Nevada City..For more than 27 years, Cirino’s restaurants are renowned as two of the best restaurants in California and the Sierra foothills. Located in both Grass Valley and Nevada City, you will find an extensive menu sure to satisfy any appetite for excellent Mediterranean style cuisine. Both restaurants have full bars and feature hearty appetizers. The atmosphere is romantic Italian with Gold Country flare. Extensive wine list. Catering menu. Grass Valley (530) 477-6000 Nevada City (530) 265-2246. This video is owned by Sierra Gold Productions of Nevada County. No part may be duplicated or used in any form. GoldCountryTV is a division of SGP and broadcasts on cable in Placer and Nevada counties. We would like to produce a television or YouTube spot for your business. Call owner Heather Macdonald at (530) 269-0966.

Video Rating: 5 / 5

More Cuba, Dec 2011 – 064

Image by Ed Yourdon

More school-girls, apparently relaxing during their lunch break…

This is a second set of a couple hundred photos taken in Havana, Cuba in December 2011. The first set, which included what I felt were the best 100 photos of the 3500+ images, was uploaded earlier. You can find it here on Flickr.

***********************

As I suggested in my first set of Cuba photos on Flickr, the notion of traveling to Cuba is — at least for many Americans today — probably like that of traveling to North Korea. It’s off-limits, forbidden by the government — and frankly, why would anyone bother? But for someone like me, who spent his childhood in the Cold War era of the 1950s, and who went off to college just after Castro took power, and just before the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban missile crisis, the notion of traveling to Cuba has entirely different overtones.

And yet Cuba is only 90 miles away from Key West (as we were reminded so often in the 1960s), and its climate is presumably no different than a dozen of Caribbean islands I’ve visited over the years. Numerous friends have made quasi-legal trips to Cuba over the years, flying in from Canada or Mexico, and they’ve all returned with fabulous pictures and great stories of a vibrant, colorful country. So, when the folks at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops sent out a notice in November 2011, announcing a series of photo workshops in Havana, we couldn’t resist the temptation to sign up.

Getting into Cuba turned out to be trivial: an overnight stay in Miami, a 45-minute chartered flight operated by American Airlines, and customs/immigration formalities that turned out to be cursory or non-existent. By mid-afternoon, our group was checked into the Parque Central Hotel in downtown Havana — where the rooms were spacious, the service was friendly, the food was reasonably tasty, the rum was delicious, and the Internet was … well, slow and expensive.

We had been warned that that some of our American conveniences — like credit cards — would not be available, and we were prepared for a fairly spartan week. But no matter how prepared we might have been intellectually, it takes a while to adjust to a land with no Skype, no Blackberry service, no iPhone service, no phone-based Twitter, Facebook, or Google+. I was perfectly happy that there were no Burger Kings, no Pizza Huts, no Wendys, no Starbuck’s, and MacDonalds. There was Coke (classic), but no Diet Coke (or Coke Light). There were also no police sirens, no ambulance sirens, and no church bells. There were no iPods, and consequently no evidence of people plugged into their music via the thin white earplugs that Apple supplies with their devices. No iPads, no Kindles, no Nooks, no … well, you get the picture. (It’s also worth noting that, with U.S. tourists now beginning to enter the country in larger numbers, Cuba seems to be on the cusp of a "modern" invasion; if I come back here in a couple years, I fully expect to see Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets on every corner.)

But there were lots of friendly people in Havana, crowding the streets, peering out of windows and doorways, laughing and shouting and waving at friends and strangers alike. Everyone was well-dressed in clean clothes (the evidence of which could be seen in the endless lines of clothing hanging from laundry lines strung from wall to wall, everywhere); but there were no designer jeans, no fancy shoes, no heavy jewelry, and no sign of ostentatious clothing of any kind. Like some other developing countries, the people were sometimes a little too friendly — constantly offering a taxi ride, a pedicab ride, a small exchange of the "official" currency (convertible pesos, or "cuqs") for the "local" currency (pesos), a great meal or a great drink at a nearby restaurant or bar, a haircut, a manicure, or just a little … umm, well, friendship (offers for which ran the gamut of "señor" to "amigo" to "my friend"). On the street, you often felt you were in the land of the hustle; but if you smiled, shook your head, and politely said, "no," people generally smiled and back off.

As for the photography: well, I was in one of three different workshop groups, each of which had roughly a dozen participants. The three dozen individual photographers were well equipped with all of the latest Nikon and Canon gear, and they generally focused on a handful of subjects: buildings and architecture, ballet practice sessions, cockfights, boxing matches, rodeos, fishing villages, old cars, interiors of people’s homes, street scenes, and people. Lots of people. As in every other part of the world I’ve visited, the people were the most interesting. We saw young and old, men and women, boisterous children, grizzled elders, police officers, bus drivers, and people of almost every conceivable race.

The streets were clean, though not spotless; and the streets were jammed, with bicycles and motorbikes and pedi-cabs, taxis, buses, horse-and-carriages, pedestrians, dogs (lots of dogs, many sleeping peacefully in the middle of a sidewalk), and even a few people on roller skates. And, as anyone who has seen photos of Havana knows, there were lots and lots and LOTS of old cars. Plymouths, Pontiacs, Dodges, Buicks, and Chevys, along with the occasional Cadillac. A few were old and rusted, but most had been renovated, repaired, and repainted — often in garishly bright colors from every spectrum of the rainbow. Cherry pink, fire-engine red, Sunkist orange, lime green, turquoise and every shade of blue, orange, brown, and a lot more that I’ve probably forgotten. All of us in the photo workshop succumbed to the temptation to photograph the cars when we first arrived … but they were everywhere, every day, wherever we went, and eventually we all suffered from sensory overload. (For what it’s worth, one of our workshop colleagues had visited Cuba eight years ago, and told us that at the time, there were only old cars in sight; now roughly half of the cars are more-or-less modern Kia’s, Audis, Russian Ladas, and other "generic" compact cars.)

The one thing I wasn’t prepared for in Havana was the sense of decay: almost no modern buildings, no skyscrapers, and very little evidence of renovation. There were several monstrous, ugly, vintage-1950s buildings that oozed "Russia" from every pore. But the rest of the buildings date back to the 40s, the 30s, the 20s, or even the turn of the last century. Some were crumbling, some were just facades; some showed evidence of the kind of salt-water erosion that one sees near the ocean. But many simply looked old and decrepit, with peeling paint and broken stones, like the run-down buildings in whatever slum you’re familiar with in North America. One has a very strong sense of a city that was vibrant and beautiful all during the last half of the 19th century, and the first half of the 20th century — and then time stopped dead in its tracks.

Why that happened, and what’s being done about it, is something I didn’t have a chance to explore; there was a general reluctance to discuss politics in great detail. Some of Havana looks like the less-prosperous regions of other Caribbean towns; and some of it is presumably the direct and/or indirect result of a half-century of U.S. embargo. But some of it seems to be the result of the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, and the subsequent collapse of foreign aid that Cuba depended upon.

As for my own photos: I did not attend the ballet practice sessions, nor did I see the rodeo. I did see some interesting graffiti on a few walls, which I photographed; but for some reason, I missed almost all of the numerous political billboards and stylized paintings of Che Guevera on buildings and walls. What I focused on instead was the "street scenes" of people and buildings and cars, which will hopefully give you a sense of what the place is like.

Enjoy!

School of Fish Foundation Floating Dining Room

Image by Urban Mixer

Location: The Floating Dining Room will be moored on the north side of False Creek, just off the end of the False Creek Marina. C Restaurant is located a short distance away at 1600 Howe Street under the Granville Bridge.

On Saturday, July 24th, we joined SOFF Founder Shannon Ronalds for a very special evening floating and dining on False Creek in the world’s first dining room raft – The Plastic Dining Room – mounted on 1700 rescued plastic bottles.

There are still opportunities to eat in this unique dining room up until the end of September. Seating is limited to only 12 people per evening. The sustainable seafood dinners are created and prepared by Robert Clark, Executive Chef C Restaurant.

Scott Wakefield, accompanied by drummer Pat Judy, performs “My Bed,” another song from his latest CD, Vegetarian Nightmare. In the summer of 2009 Scott traveled to Door County to appear in Camp David’s Fishstock Summer Concert Series in Fish Creek, WI.

Video Rating: 5 / 5

School of Fish Foundation Floating Dining Room

Image by Urban Mixer

Location: The Floating Dining Room will be moored on the north side of False Creek, just off the end of the False Creek Marina. C Restaurant is located a short distance away at 1600 Howe Street under the Granville Bridge.

On Saturday, July 24th, we joined SOFF Founder Shannon Ronalds for a very special evening floating and dining on False Creek in the world’s first dining room raft – The Plastic Dining Room – mounted on 1700 rescued plastic bottles.

There are still opportunities to eat in this unique dining room up until the end of September. Seating is limited to only 12 people per evening. The sustainable seafood dinners are created and prepared by Robert Clark, Executive Chef C Restaurant.

Gulf Coast James Beard Dinner, New York City 2012

Image by Innisfree Hotels

On March 27, 2012 5 celebrity chefs from Pensacola Florida cooked cooked at the James Beard Foundation in New York City; including Dan Dunn H20 Cajun Asian Grill at the Hilton Hotel on Pensacola Beach and Pensacola Chefs Irv Miller of Jackson’s Steak House, Jim Shirley of the Fish House Gus Silivos of Nancy’s Haute Affairs and Frank Taylor of the Global Grill. Being invited is cook at the James Beard House is a once in a lifetime opportunity only offered to the best chefs in the country. This was the second time this eclectic collective of Gulf Coast cooks will strut their stuff in the Big Apple. h2orestaurantpensacolabeach.com/

Inside the FOOD & VINE segment on NEW YORK LINKZ on TEMPO, Catchcha Fyah samples NY Tracks Cafe’s seafood linguini. NY Tracks is located at 1556 Ralph Avenue (bet. Foster Ave & Farragut Rd), Brooklyn, NY 11236. For further info contact NEW YORK LINKZ: 917-535-6738 dreadlessras@gmail.com

Video Rating: 5 / 5

Gulf Coast James Beard Dinner, New York City 2012

Image by Innisfree Hotels

On March 27, 2012 5 celebrity chefs from Pensacola Florida cooked cooked at the James Beard Foundation in New York City; including Dan Dunn H20 Cajun Asian Grill at the Hilton Hotel on Pensacola Beach and Pensacola Chefs Irv Miller of Jackson’s Steak House, Jim Shirley of the Fish House Gus Silivos of Nancy’s Haute Affairs and Frank Taylor of the Global Grill. Being invited is cook at the James Beard House is a once in a lifetime opportunity only offered to the best chefs in the country. This was the second time this eclectic collective of Gulf Coast cooks will strut their stuff in the Big Apple. h2orestaurantpensacolabeach.com/

Gulf Coast James Beard Dinner, New York City 2012

Image by Innisfree Hotels

On March 27, 2012 5 celebrity chefs from Pensacola Florida cooked cooked at the James Beard Foundation in New York City; including Dan Dunn H20 Cajun Asian Grill at the Hilton Hotel on Pensacola Beach and Pensacola Chefs Irv Miller of Jackson’s Steak House, Jim Shirley of the Fish House Gus Silivos of Nancy’s Haute Affairs and Frank Taylor of the Global Grill. Being invited is cook at the James Beard House is a once in a lifetime opportunity only offered to the best chefs in the country. This was the second time this eclectic collective of Gulf Coast cooks will strut their stuff in the Big Apple. h2orestaurantpensacolabeach.com/

Alwaha, which means “the oasis,” is an award-winning Lebanese restaurant, located on Westbourne Grove in the Notting Hill/Bayswater area of London. Visit us on the web at www.alwaharestaurant.com . The restaurant is consistently rated as London’s best Lebanese restaurant, and one of the city’s ten best restaurants overall. Alwaha features a wide menu of hot and cold mezze starters and savory appetizers — including its acclaimed hummous — as well as Lebanese, Middle Eastern and Arabic specialties, grilled meats, poultry and fish, and a selection of pastries, sweets and desserts. Our video gives you a brief view of the restaurant, and some of our dishes, and a welcome from host and co-owner, renowned chef Mohammed Naeem Bader-Alden Antabli.

Video Rating: 3 / 5

Gulf Coast James Beard Dinner, New York City 2012

Image by Innisfree Hotels

On March 27, 2012 5 celebrity chefs from Pensacola Florida cooked cooked at the James Beard Foundation in New York City; including Dan Dunn H20 Cajun Asian Grill at the Hilton Hotel on Pensacola Beach and Pensacola Chefs Irv Miller of Jackson’s Steak House, Jim Shirley of the Fish House Gus Silivos of Nancy’s Haute Affairs and Frank Taylor of the Global Grill. Being invited is cook at the James Beard House is a once in a lifetime opportunity only offered to the best chefs in the country. This was the second time this eclectic collective of Gulf Coast cooks will strut their stuff in the Big Apple. h2orestaurantpensacolabeach.com/

Blinis with a selection of toppings, Baltic, London SE1

Image by Kake Pugh

Two freshly-cooked blinis, plus smoked salmon, salmon eggs, pickled herring, mushroom "caviar", and aubergine "caviar", £7.50. This was plenty for me along with some soup to start, but you can get a larger portion at £11 if you prefer.

Baltic on the Randomness Guide to London.

Superior food at very cheap price, look like a weird seamarket, just tell the waiter what you want and how to cook (choose from various way, asian and classic) unfortunately located in a dry-zone, eat lobster without a good white wine is unforgivable. My lunch: one Grilled lobster two jumbo prawns marinated with herbs two tiger prans butter & cheese one royal blue crab The place is very cheap, but clean with very kind personnel. Restaurant located in Shk Zayed Road, when you see a giant glowing lobster just stop the taxi.

Video Rating: 4 / 5

These two were waiting patiently behind the fish restaurant

Image by Eirik Newth

Brown Pelican

Image by failing_angel

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the Gordon River, Naples.

Taken at Tin City, Naples.

Tin City is an old cannery plant that has been converted to hold a series of boutiques, bars and restaurants. The cannery plant came about in the 1920s when the Seaboard Airline Railroad allowed fast transportation from the fishing ports to the customers.

At a British Fish And Chips Restaurant, (Filmed by The Rogue) TheLightning (With his pimp hat) opens a tin while eatin Lunch! Enjoy!

Video Rating: 3 / 5

Brown Pelican

Image by failing_angel

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in the Gordon River, Naples.

Taken at Tin City, Naples.

Tin City is an old cannery plant that has been converted to hold a series of boutiques, bars and restaurants. The cannery plant came about in the 1920s when the Seaboard Airline Railroad allowed fast transportation from the fishing ports to the customers.

This is showing how to make Ackee and Salt-fish Jamaica’s National Dish. Eaten with wholemeal flour dumplings.

Video Rating: 3 / 5

Gulf Coast James Beard Dinner, New York City 2012

Image by Innisfree Hotels

On March 27, 2012 5 celebrity chefs from Pensacola Florida cooked cooked at the James Beard Foundation in New York City; including Dan Dunn H20 Cajun Asian Grill at the Hilton Hotel on Pensacola Beach and Pensacola Chefs Irv Miller of Jackson’s Steak House, Jim Shirley of the Fish House Gus Silivos of Nancy’s Haute Affairs and Frank Taylor of the Global Grill. Being invited is cook at the James Beard House is a once in a lifetime opportunity only offered to the best chefs in the country. This was the second time this eclectic collective of Gulf Coast cooks will strut their stuff in the Big Apple. h2orestaurantpensacolabeach.com/

**PLEASE EXPAND THIS BOX FOR MORE INFO!** Thanks so much for watching everyone! Allison’s Channel: www.youtube.com Allison’s Vlog Channel: www.youtube.com Ingrid’s Channel: www.youtube.com Ingrid’s Vlog Channel: www.youtube.com WHERE ELSE TO FIND ME: My Blog: fleurdeforce.blogspot.com My Beauty Channel www.youtube.com Twitter: www.twitter.com Facebook: www.facebook.com Places seen in this video (in order of appearance!): Lombardi’s www.firstpizza.com Rice to Ritches www.ricetoriches.com Fatty Fish http Serendipity www.serendipity3.com Our Hotel: www.mondriansoho.com Disclaimer: None of us are being paid by any of the people or companies mentioned!

Gulf Coast James Beard Dinner, New York City 2012

Image by Innisfree Hotels

On March 27, 2012 5 celebrity chefs from Pensacola Florida cooked cooked at the James Beard Foundation in New York City; including Dan Dunn H20 Cajun Asian Grill at the Hilton Hotel on Pensacola Beach and Pensacola Chefs Irv Miller of Jackson’s Steak House, Jim Shirley of the Fish House Gus Silivos of Nancy’s Haute Affairs and Frank Taylor of the Global Grill. Being invited is cook at the James Beard House is a once in a lifetime opportunity only offered to the best chefs in the country. This was the second time this eclectic collective of Gulf Coast cooks will strut their stuff in the Big Apple. h2orestaurantpensacolabeach.com/

Alaskan Black Cod, BBQ Pork Belly & Squash Dumpling in a Matsutake Mushroom Broth

Image by Sifu Renka

Ginger red onion marmalade on a rich smoked cod fillet that shouldered a caramelized crust sat on a creamy squash ravioli surrounded by Matsutake mushrooms and aromatic broth. A pickled radish stick finished the course, it’s crisp texture and mildly tart flavours shone like a beacon against the sea of subtleties. Wonderful aromas but subtle flavours (save for that gorgeous sweet relish). The pasta was also well done – a tribute to Mills’ stint at the River Cafe (and also reminding us of the great pasta we had at Cibo Trattoria, another RC alumni) but filled with a neutral, although finely pureed squash. My dining companion noted that the addition of truffles would be key to this course, of which I felt the contrary, believing that that pungent aroma would displace the subtleties that were central to this course. I felt the over cooked sheet of pork belly superfluous – adding neither dimension and taking away from the enjoyment of the course (a fattier, BBQ cut would add depth to the broth), however the side of pine mushroom and rapini florets were a great add on option, and the crowning toothpick thin pickled radish stick excellent.

"The fragrand white Matsutake (pine mushrooms) in this dish grow wild in the Pacific Northwest. This fall, Chris picke his supply for the menu at his secret mushroom patch. He wouldn’t say exactly where this secret patch grows, but he did hint that it is north of Whistler."

Paired with the Sandhill "Small Lots" Voignier, British Columbia

Dr. La Puma prepares a fish stew with fresh mussels and halibut, rich in omega-3 fatty acids which help prevent heart disease. Halibut is considered a “wonder food” because it’s low in sodium and fat, and high in protein. Eating just two servings per week may help lower the risk of macular degeneration, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. Get the complete recipe here: www.chefmd.com

Video Rating: 4 / 5

Sushi for breakfast

Image by Ethan Hein

On the margin of the Fish Market are rows of tiny restaurants, really just counters with a half a dozen stools, where you can eat elbow-to-elbow with the fish guys. (It’s ninety-eight percent male at the fish market.) Their breakfast: various kinds of fish, mostly raw, sometimes cooked, some noodles, green tea, Kirin beer and cigarettes. The sushi is cheap and literally as fresh as it’s possible for sushi to get. You’re supposed to just eat with your hands. A pink slice of fatty tuna that merely hours earlier was part of a living animal in the ocean, dunked in soy sauce, eaten with your hands, washed down with beer at seven in the morning. I’m spoiled for fish forever.

The owner of this place spoke English and enthusiastically filled us in on basic Japanese vocabulary, diagrammed the various parts of the tuna, and did a hilarious rundown of the various Asian races straight out of a Dave Chapelle skit, except without irony. It was like being in the fifties. The guy was literally pushing the corners of his eyes up and down to different angles to illustrate Chinese vs Korean. He also advised us that the Chinese are all thieving pickpockets and are not to be trusted. Did I mention that this is an extremely homogenous society? Manic xenophobia lurks not far below the surface.

The Menu at the Bizzare Monte Carlo’s Dragon Noodle Com. & Sushi Bar

Image by joanna8555

The Menu at the Bizzare Monte Carlo’s Dragon Noodle Com. & Sushi Bar.

= = = = = = www.saturdaykitchenrecipesearch.co.uk = = = = = Seafood-fanatic Pascal grew up in a fishing village on the Brittany coast where his family have been restaurateurs for three generations.He trained in France and spent a decade working in numerous hotels and restaurants throughout Europe, including periods with Yves Mattagne and Jacques le Divellec at the two Michelin-starred Sea Grill in Brussels and two-star Le Divellec in Paris. He joined One-O-One, based in the Sheraton Hotel in Knightsbridge 10 years ago and has since built up a formidable reputation as a seafood destination. One-O-One was recently voted Sixth Best Restaurant in Great Britain in The Sunday Times’ Food List 2011. Seafood-fanatic Pascal grew up in a fishing village on the Brittany coast where his family have been restaurateurs for three generations.He trained in France and spent a decade working in numerous hotels and restaurants throughout Europe, including periods with Yves Mattagne and Jacques le Divellec at the two Michelin-starred Sea Grill in Brussels and two-star Le Divellec in Paris. He joined One-O-One, based in the Sheraton Hotel in Knightsbridge 10 years ago and has since built up a formidable reputation as a seafood destination. One-O-One was recently voted Sixth Best Restaurant in Great Britain in The Sunday Times’ Food List 2011. Evidence of Pascal’s passion for freshness of ingredients and innovation can be seen in his sustainable fish menu, featuring dishes sourced only from …

go fish menu

Image by David Ascher

Welcome to the Festival of World Cultures 2008 – Dun Laoghaire

Image by infomatique

Boasting one of the worlds finest harbours, Dún Laoghaire takes it’s name form the great King Laoire who in 480A.D. maintained a great "Dún" or stone fort in the centre of the town. The ancient fort was demolished in 1803 to make way for the building of a Martello tower which in turn was replaced in 1834 by the first suburban railway in the world. King Laoire’s large garrison ensured that the Romans would think twice about invading Ireland from British shores. Some say that Patrick the boy shepherd arrived at Dún Laoghaire as a slave, it was the same Patrick who returned in 432A.D. to face King Laoghaire and who subsequently destroyed his ancient Druid order. Traces of this order can still be found in Dún Laoghaire and the neighbouring village of Dalkey. Both towns are closely linked for it was the granite from Dalkey Hill that built Dún Laoghaire harbour in 1817.

The decision to build a harbour in what was until 1817 a small fishing village came about as entry into the River Liffey was becoming more and more difficult, with ships having to wait days before they could berth and off load their cargo. The amount of shipwrecks was also becoming unacceptable, literally hundreds per year being wrecked off the coast of Blackrock and Monkstown with thousand of lives lost, which eventually led to the setting up of the lifeboat station in 1803.

So it was in 1817 that the Earl of Whitworth laid the first foundation stone of the pier designed by John Renny. Designed to be a port of refuge away from the fierce Irish Sea where large ships could berth safely it would have worked had the Earl not insisted that the entrance to the harbour be widened to accommodate the Admiral’s fleet. This widening of the harbour also accommodated the silt from the surrounding shoreline which washed in and made it impossible for the larger ships to enter safely as planned. Despite this the Mailboat operated out of DúnLaoghaire successfully carrying cargo, passengers and of course, Mail.

This now thriving port prompted the building of a railway to link the southside of Dublin to the City. Churches, schools and shops had sprung up to accommodate the needs of the labourers and their families working on the construction of the harbour and then the railway, transforming the fishing village of Dún Laoghaire into a prosperous town that catered for the day trippers who would come from all over Dublin to enjoy the shopping and entertainment that the markets, the bandstand and the pavilion provided. Now nearing the 21st Century, Dún Laoghaire stills provides excellent shopping value and entertainment, with plenty of pubs, clubs and restaurants to choose from.

Today in Dún Laoghaire, people still enjoy a stroll along the "Prom", and then down the Pier. Stopping off at Teddy’s for a Ninety Nine on the way home. During your visit you can enjoy anything your heart desires. Dún Laoghaire has a Wide Range of Activities for everyone, old and young. With the Harbour the center piece of the town, you can be assured of a wide and varied selection of water sports and to choose from. Whether it’s speeding through the waves of Dublin Bay and dancing the night away until the wee hours of the morning, strolling through the hills, horse riding, fishing or just taking it easy, Dún Laoghaire has everything on offer. It is also the ideal place to base yourself if your planning a visit to Dublin, or the rest of Ireland. The Tourist Office is at the bottom of Marine Road, by the Harbour.

On July 29, 2009, a lady identified only by her first name (Gail) ordered some french fries at the Li’l Chick roadside restaurant at 2901 W Bay Street, Garden City, Georgia. She then complained that she didn’t like her fries and demanded a new order. According to store owner Joseph W. Weeds, Gail had eaten most of her fries at that point. Li’l Chick refused to conduct a fry exchange or issue a refund, at which point Gail called 911. The police officer who responded to the scene resolved the situation by giving Gail .00 out of his own pocket. Here is Gail’s 911 call. Check out my playlist of Fast Food 911 Calls: www.youtube.com —- Racist, sexist, xenophobic, and homophobic comments will be deleted. Comments about idiotic behavior are thoroughly encouraged.

Welcome to the Festival of World Cultures 2008 – Dun Laoghaire

Image by infomatique

Boasting one of the worlds finest harbours, Dún Laoghaire takes it’s name form the great King Laoire who in 480A.D. maintained a great "Dún" or stone fort in the centre of the town. The ancient fort was demolished in 1803 to make way for the building of a Martello tower which in turn was replaced in 1834 by the first suburban railway in the world. King Laoire’s large garrison ensured that the Romans would think twice about invading Ireland from British shores. Some say that Patrick the boy shepherd arrived at Dún Laoghaire as a slave, it was the same Patrick who returned in 432A.D. to face King Laoghaire and who subsequently destroyed his ancient Druid order. Traces of this order can still be found in Dún Laoghaire and the neighbouring village of Dalkey. Both towns are closely linked for it was the granite from Dalkey Hill that built Dún Laoghaire harbour in 1817.

The decision to build a harbour in what was until 1817 a small fishing village came about as entry into the River Liffey was becoming more and more difficult, with ships having to wait days before they could berth and off load their cargo. The amount of shipwrecks was also becoming unacceptable, literally hundreds per year being wrecked off the coast of Blackrock and Monkstown with thousand of lives lost, which eventually led to the setting up of the lifeboat station in 1803.

So it was in 1817 that the Earl of Whitworth laid the first foundation stone of the pier designed by John Renny. Designed to be a port of refuge away from the fierce Irish Sea where large ships could berth safely it would have worked had the Earl not insisted that the entrance to the harbour be widened to accommodate the Admiral’s fleet. This widening of the harbour also accommodated the silt from the surrounding shoreline which washed in and made it impossible for the larger ships to enter safely as planned. Despite this the Mailboat operated out of DúnLaoghaire successfully carrying cargo, passengers and of course, Mail.

This now thriving port prompted the building of a railway to link the southside of Dublin to the City. Churches, schools and shops had sprung up to accommodate the needs of the labourers and their families working on the construction of the harbour and then the railway, transforming the fishing village of Dún Laoghaire into a prosperous town that catered for the day trippers who would come from all over Dublin to enjoy the shopping and entertainment that the markets, the bandstand and the pavilion provided. Now nearing the 21st Century, Dún Laoghaire stills provides excellent shopping value and entertainment, with plenty of pubs, clubs and restaurants to choose from.

Today in Dún Laoghaire, people still enjoy a stroll along the "Prom", and then down the Pier. Stopping off at Teddy’s for a Ninety Nine on the way home. During your visit you can enjoy anything your heart desires. Dún Laoghaire has a Wide Range of Activities for everyone, old and young. With the Harbour the center piece of the town, you can be assured of a wide and varied selection of water sports and to choose from. Whether it’s speeding through the waves of Dublin Bay and dancing the night away until the wee hours of the morning, strolling through the hills, horse riding, fishing or just taking it easy, Dún Laoghaire has everything on offer. It is also the ideal place to base yourself if your planning a visit to Dublin, or the rest of Ireland. The Tourist Office is at the bottom of Marine Road, by the Harbour.