Bowl of Berries

I seem to be out of my element a lot these past few trips, but I suppose that is the point of traveling? I was so incredibly excited to be in Vegas as it is like none other place I have ever visited. I had been dreaming about the dinners and shows (literally- I had one about going to Mesa Grill- such a loser am I) and flying in I was able to see the new experience out the window.

Aside from all of the lights and building the surrounding area is very beautiful, with rocks and mountains all around, I definitely would like to explore the natural side of Nevada next time. Since we brought all carry on luggage we were able to breeze through the airport and grab a cab within minutes. Driving to the hotel was kinda surreal, the billboards are bigger, hotels massive- everything in excess- just as I had anticipated.

We stayed at Caeser’s Palace, in their newest tower, only about 3 months old. I was completely impressed. The room was spacious, clean and had purple and gold carpet- it was a sign! There was a large flat screen TV, massive king size bed with lovely white linens, the bathroom had a TV in the mirror and a huge shower with a rain showerhead. I loved that shower so much, I showered at least twice a day. Excessive, I know- I was just playing along. We dropped our luggage and walked downstairs to Mesa Grill which was steps away. I already knew what I wanted, after a month of reading Chowhound, I had most of the restaurants planned out and had an idea of what they served. For Mesa Grill, Bobby Flay adds a significant southwest flair to everything. The decor was cool and clean even though the entrance is just off the casino floor. We were seated near the back of the restaurant so smoke and noise was not a problem. We both ordered the signature margarita, which I loved- Scottie thought it had a weird “tang.” We split the blue corn pancake with barbequed duck, it was yummy and I inhaled over half of it. For my meal, I ordered the famous spicy chicken and sweet potato hash with poached eggs and chipotle hollandaise. Wow. Yum. Not only was the portion generous but the flavor was great. I LOVED the chipotle zing, and the sweet potato was a nice change from regular potatoes. Scottie got fish tacos, which I loved. The fish was perfectly grilled and came with a nice selection of condiments. Overall, I give it a B.

After lunch it was time to start exploring. We walked through the casino, through the forum shoppes, then hopped across the street to the older hotels and casinos. You could certainly tell their age but the tables has lower minimums so I could see the appeal. At the Mirage, I attempted to use the $1 token that has been sitting on my desk for a year and a half but alas, the slots only took bills- d’oh! So Scottie talked me into trying blackjack, seems simple enough, don’t go over 21. Well I couldn’t get the strategy of figuring out of the dealer would go over, and I lost $50 before my free drink came. I was done with blackjack. We walked around a bit more, stopping for drinks in Paris, and watching some roulette before heading back to clean up for dinner.

We decided to venture off strip for dinner, Scottie’s dad as well as some of my parent’s friends had raved about Firefly, a tapas bar so we figured we would try it. Someone said it wasn’t too far to walk so since it was nice outside we decided to ditch the cab and hoof it. Well, it was quite a hike, I think it was about 2 miles away, and with non-walking shoes our puppies were screaming when we finally got there. We were seated outside, which was ok except for the fact that we just walked 2 miles, but we promptly ordered a pitcher of white sangria so that helped cool us down. For dinner, we got dates stuffed with almonds and blue cheese and wrapped in bacon, ham and cheese croquettas, shrimp ceviche, spicy duck rolls, chicken and chorizo stuffed mushrooms; all of which were quite tasty and reasonably priced. This seemed to be a more “locals” place and a younger crowd, which I didn’t mind. The inside decor was way cool with dark colors and plush couches.

We grabbed a cab to go downtown and the Fremont Experience. This was very cool, a band was playing, lots of people were milling around and enjoying themselves. We grabbed a beer (so weird walking around with drinks!) and walked around the different old school hotels. We watched the infamous light show, which was ok- just a bunch of girls dancing around- cool concept though. The we went into Binion’s of all places so I could complete one of my 101 list items; to play roulette in Vegas.

I antied up and started placing chips on random corners, I was not confident enough to pick numbers so I went with the corners which would payout if one of the 4 numbers were hit. The number “31″ hit like 5 times in a row- that thing had to be rigged, so I always made sure that was a chip near it. Sure enough, I was winning, nothing major but it was fun to see the chips stack up. I had a blast until I started losing, the numbers got lower so I placed one final bet and when I lost that I cashed out, I only lost $12 which I attributed to the free drinks we got, so in my head we had just paid for a few drinks. Since it had been a long day, we turned in early since we had 2 full days ahead of us.

* My Rita impression

Day 2 would bring another day of exploring, after a slow start, we started with Breakfast at Payard just downstairs from our room. The pastries looked divine but I went with coffee and a Croque Madame, basically a fancy ham and cheese sandwich with bechamel sauce and a fried egg on top. Ugh. Yum. The bechamel was nicely broiled and crispy and the soft egg yolk made a perfect sauce. The side salad was a bit over dressed but I could appreciate the garlicy dressing. Scottie got eggs benedict over a croissant, a nice take on a classic. Overall, a nice breakfast and enough food to tie us over until dinner.

We walked a ton including the fashion show mall, and many many hotels. We stopped from drinks at one of the Wynn bars, very nice and Scottie ordered a cucumber-lavender mojito that was fantastic- must make that again. This was one of the favorite hotels we walked through, my other being the Venetian. The shoppes were nice, though they all kinda run together after a while. When I come back I will bring more money and less guilt We also went on the New York New York roller coaster tons of fun, its been years since I was one on. We went back to our room to clean up for dinner and headed back to the Venetian.

Tonight we tried D&B Ristorante, one of Mario Batali’s restaurants. I had high hopes for this place and was looking forward to the pasta that everyone raves about. Our waiter was younger and reeled off the specials for the night. I didn’t particularly want a 4 course menu; I wanted an appetizer, pasta and dessert. We were instructed that the menu was designed for an app, pasta and main course. Luckily our waiter wasn’t too terribly pushy about that and both of our pasta dishes were quite filling. After finally choosing a bottle of wine (I would stick with just a glass since most bottles were priced way over $100 each) we ordered the calamari which had a nice but salty butter sauce. I had heard Mario likes his stuff salty and they were correct. I didn’t mind it so much but I know some may. For my pasta dish I ordered beef cheek ravioli;s with black truffle and crushed duck liver. YUM. So yummy, quite rich and earthy. For some reason I wish there was a crunch from walnuts, would have created a nice balance. But overall a lovely pasta dish and I was completely satisfied with my 7 large raviolis. Scottie got the spaghettini with a red sauce and a pound a lobster. I thought the lobster was nicely cooked but Scottie thought the pasta and sauce was just “meh.” For dessert Scottie got the cannoli’s and I got a chocolate mouse type tart with a puff pastry type crust with a mix of stewed berries. It was nice, nothing outstanding. I will say my ravioli was outstanding but I am not sure I would revisit the restaurant again.

Because dinner went by rather quickly, we had some time to kill, so after walking around the casino, getting a glass of wine, I plopped down at the penny slots (yes, penny slots- don’t judge) and put my dollar in. I was entertained for a full 25 minutes. I got another glass of wine, watched some fanfare go through the floor announcing a new sushi restaurant, and won a few hundred pennies. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and thought it was the best single dollar spent After I lost my dollar we found the Blue Man Group Theatre. the theatre was much smaller then I expected, I guess I expected them all to see 15oo people but this one was smaller then Raleigh Memorial. regardless, the show was fantastic. It was fun and different and is hard to explain to someone that has not seen it before. I would certainly suggest it to anyone going to Vegas. The wine and lack of sleep were getting to me so I went to bed while Scottie won some money at the blackjack table, it was a win-win for all.

Saturday we woke up, turned on ESPN and the Pirates were playing NC State- how weird it was 9am, but then again I was 3 hours behind. So I got ready while watching the game on the TV in the bathroom. Yes, I so loved that bathroom. I get extremely nervous watching them play, so I opted to go ahead to breakfast. I chose Bouchon for breakfast this morning, it was rather hard to find in the Venetian so make sure to look at a map or you will never find it. There was a bit of a wait so we waited at the bar where we were (finally) served mimosas. Yum. We were seated with a table looking out over the terrace area, it would be cool to be outside but I was hungry and didn’t want to wait any longer. First, their coffee is OUTSTANDING! This stuff is thick, dark, robust, just what a cup should be. We started with an order of beignets which were mini donuts coated in cinnamon sugar. So delish, especially dipped in fresh strawberry jam and nutella. Then came some freshly baked baguettes with yummy butter and more jam. I ordered their famous french toast which is more like bread pudding layered with spiced apples.

The portion looked small but it was more then enough. I was in heaven. I ordered a side of bacon for some protein and got the whole side of a pig, plenty to share Scottie ordered the omelet which I think has spinach cheddar and bacon, he said it was good but nothing special. I cleaned my plate and dubbed it the best breakfast better. At least I had that going for me, upon the conclusion of breakfast we learned the Pirates lost in overtime- blasted!

We did more walking, shocker- this time we hit up Excaliber, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay. We took our time and grabbed a few drinks then realized the time and headed back to the room to clean up. Tonight would be our “baller” night, we got all dressed up (no pic unfortunately- though we looked HOT!) We booked it back to Mandalay Bay for dinner 64 floors up,at top of THEhotel, at MiX.

We were seated in the corner of the restaurant just as the sun was setting behind the mountains, the sky was pink and absolutely breathtaking. Across the restaurant we could see the sign for the hotel, wow, we were really high up there. I could look down and see the strip, all of the hustle and bustle and even found the In and Out Burger! But I turned my attention to dinner and our amazing waiter introduced himself, a middle aged gentleman who was so laid back but still attentive I felt totally relaxed, a nice change from the night before. I ordered drinks and perused the menu. I was so overwhelmed. I wanted one of each. We started with a shrimp cocktail which was unlike one I had ever had. On bottom of the bowl was a thick horseradish custard and a drizzling of spicy tomato sauce, topped with mixed greens and very large peeled shrimp. We were instructed to mix them all together to get the “perfect bite.” The custard was fantastic, not too spicy but a nice kick especially when mixed with the sauce. It was a nice sized appetizer, I practically licked the bowl. next came the bread basket with about 6 different breads, and fresh butter and house made peanut butter! Yes peanut butter- i didn’t see that coming but I loved it. We ordered a bottle of wine, which arrive just before dinner. We both ordered one of the nightly specials; Scottie the seafood special with seared scallops, calamari stuffed with lobster and nori dusted potatoes. So good! I went all out and ordered the beef tenderloin topped with foie gras and shaved black truffles with a black truffle sauce. I almost died. It was one of the best things I have ever tasted. I can’t even put it into words but I felt like I was truly eating luxuriously. I could not end my “birthday” meal without dessert, so we ordered the MiX candy bar, which had a scrips crust, almond mousse and a layer of chocolate.

“Happy Birthday” was beautifully scripted on the plate with a single lit candle, who needs cake when you have this! It was truly one of the best meals I have ever had, such a lucky girl I was!

As if that wasn’t enough we had tickets to see “KA” one of the Cirque de Soleil shows. This is a huge production with a built to suit theatre that hold about 1500 people. We grabbed a drink before finding our seats. The show was amazing. I can see why everyone raves about them because they truly are one of a kind. I wanted to stay 2 more nights to see all of the Cirque shows.

But alas, the fairy tale was almost over. After the show Scottie played a bit more blackjack and we retired for a few precious hours of sleep before our very early 6am flight.

I was extremely lucky to be able to have such a fantastic birthday weekend. I can see why everyone flocks there for even a brief time of excess.

My recycling guys are gonna think I am quite the drunk, or a helluva party hostess! I will take the latter Friday night was a huge success. My prep worked paid off as I got home later then I anticipated and people actually arrived on time- eek! So it was a rolling spread, with things coming out as I finished them but no one seemed to mind. The hit was the bacon wrapped dates, which are so stupidly easy I was embarrassed to tell people how I made them. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a single picture of anything, I was too busy cooking and trying to enjoy a bit of wine. I do remember seeing some flashes go off so someone has some pics.

As if I didn’t get enough Friday night, we had tickets to the Cary Wine festival which is always fun. The weather held out, no rain during the event. So I packed up a picnic basket with the yummiest sandwiches ever, the muffaletta.

Scottie bought some olive salad (I will try and make my own next time!) and we stacked some ciabatta with salami, sopprasetta, turkey, provolone and the olive salad. Not the most traditional with the turkey but I wanted to use it up. I cut them into large chunks, wrapped them tightly and threw them in the fridge for an hour or so. We picked up some desserts and chips and were off to the tasting.

Overall, a fantastic weekend, and next weekend BEER FEST! It’s been a year or so since I have made it to one, and I finally get to go! And even better, Mom and Dad are coming, oh boy- they have no idea what they are in for!

Bacon Wrapped Dates

20 large Medjool dates, cut in half, pit removed
40 almonds
1 lb. bacon, each cut into thirds

blue cheese crumbles

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Slit each date along one side and carefully remove the pit. Insert an almond into each slit. Wrap a piece of bacon around each stuffed date and secure with a toothpick. Place the dates on a baking sheet. (For advance preparation, make up to 1 day ahead through step 1, cover, and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before baking.)

2. Bake for about 5 minutes, or until the bacon on top is crisp. Using tongs, turn the dates and bake for another 5 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp. Transfer the dates to a double layer of paper towels to drain.

3. Sprinkle with bleu cheese crumbles.

As if I didn’t consume enough alcohol last weekend in Vegas I have quite the wine weekend planned starting tonight.  I am hosting a wine tasting for the Jaycees, I originally thought maybe 20 people would come well now I am up around 35!  Whew!  But I could not be more excited, I haven’t entertained in a while and this will be my first get together at my townhouse!  So I cooked for 4 hours last night getting ready and I have about 2 hours left to get everything ready but knowing the Jaycees, no one will be there right at 7pm

Here is my Spanish inspired menu:
-Cheese plate with salami, olives, spicy spanish almonds, cippolini onions, grapes, pears, grilled bread
-Bacon wrapped dates with blue cheese and red wine reduction
-Meatballs in sherry tomato sauce
-Potato and chorizo tortilla (like a fritatta) topped with salad greens
-Roasted eggplant and walnut dip with crackers
-Garlic shrimp-ceviche style
-Fig and Walnut cake

I may try and whip up an orange and fig preserve as I love having something sweet with cheese and crackers.  I will see what time allows.  I will hopefully have pics and recipes later.

Then I have just enough time to sober up for Cary’s Triangle Uncorked which I am super excited about because they are allowing food to be brought in this year.  So don’t ya know I am packing a picnic basket with cheese and crackers and meats and grapes to enjoy with all of the wines we are tasting.  I am hoping the weather holds out and the rains clears up during the afternoon, but if not, we have golf umbrellas!

No, not a real filling station, at least not anymore. I saw the announcement for this restaurant on one of the newspaper blogs I think and even though I had an extravagant early birthday dinner on Saturday night (post to come I promise- it will be a long one!) I still wanted to go out somewhere for my birthday. I am sure Scottie really appreciated that. Regardless, I chose a place that served a reasonably priced meal but was still not run of the mill. And who doesn’t love pizza on their birthday!?

It is located in Durham of 15-501 near the Q-Shack and Nana’s (google it for the exact address.) It has a super cool decor with the the windows fashioned after the old garage doors. Though it was a bit cool last night I wanted to sit outside and enjoy the last bit of the nice weather before it gets to cold to do so. I ordered a glass of chianti which came in a juice glass, which I loved. It fit in well with the laid back atmosphere. Scottie got a mixed drink and then switched to a milk stout. Scottie ordered our traditional calamari, while I got the iceberg wedge with bacon, eggs, and buttermilk bleu cheese dressing. Nothing out of the ordinary but it was still tasty. I enjoyed the crisp cornmeal type coating on the calamari and it was served with a fantastic lemon herb aioli.

We both ordered a pie, I got the anchovy with kalamata olives, caramelized onion, mozzarella and everyone’s favorite hairy fish. be reday for some water with this one. It is salty but that’s what you should expect ordered this type of pizza. The crust was thin and crispy but still a nice chew to it and lightly charred which I liked. Scottie got the white pizza with ricotta, spinach and artichokes (I think) which was equally yummy. Next time I want to try the meatball pizza which has duck in the meatballs- ugh heaven.

I had to try dessert, their selections are slim offering all sorbets and ice creams in different forms but I got a bowl of nutella swirl ice cream. It was with a pizelle, which is like a crispy wafer, almost like a waffle cone. It was a bit thicker then I prefer but was still yummy.

Overall, I really enjoyed this place. The service was on point and all were quite nice. As I mentioned the decor was awesome and I enjoyed sitting outside and watching all of the stupid drivers pass by. The pizza was fantastic and I enjoyed the various pies (chicken liver pizza anyone?) I will certainly be back when craving a nice Neapolitan pizza.

I had this for breakfast this morning. Why? It’s my birthday. Growing up, my Mom used to make a bagel topped with a birthday candle and bring it to my room in the morning to wake me up. When my sister and I lived together, she continued the tradition but used a tea candle on the bagel, too funny. This year I felt it was time for a new tradition and what better way to start your birthday then to enjoy a cupcake with your morning coffee.

I was freaking out about the age thing last night but after chatting with my parents I was reminded that it is just a number and doesn’t mean squat. So I woke up this morning and was thankful for the years I have had and look forward to the many years ahead of me. I am blessed with amazing people in my life. Sure things could be better, I could have my widely popular bakery and wine bar open but alas that must wait for the right time. Instead I give thanks for the things I have and look forward to the future.

PS- What great timing!  This month’s Sugar High Friday theme is cupcakes!

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes and Salted Caramel Frosting

Cupcakes

* 2 cups cake flour
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 2 teaspoons kosher salt
* 12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), at room temperature
* 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
* 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped, seeds reserved (or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract)
* 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
* 2 large eggs, at room temperature

* 3/4 cup whole milk, at room temperature
1. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Line 2 (12-well) muffin pans with paper liners. Alternatively, coat the wells with butter; set aside.

2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to aerate and break up any lumps; set aside.

3. Place butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed until very light in color, about 3 minutes. Add sugar and vanilla seeds (if you’re using vanilla extract instead, you’ll add it later), and continue beating until mixture is airy, about 3 minutes.

4. Scrape down the paddle and the sides of the bowl, turn the mixer to medium speed, and add egg whites one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5. Add milk (and vanilla extract, if you’re using it in place of seeds), and mix until combined (the mixture will look curdled, but it’s not). Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Reduce speed to low, add flour mixture, and mix until just combined, about 15 seconds.

6. Fill the muffin wells about halfway, and bake cupcakes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Set the pans on a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the pans and let cool completely before frosting.

Frosting

This can be made ahead, tightly covered, and refrigerated—it will last up to 7 days. Let it come to room temperature before using. One batch will frost 24 cupcakes.

* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
* 2 tablespoons water
* 1/4 cup heavy cream
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), at room temperature
* 1 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1 cup powdered sugar

1. Briefly stir together granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue cooking, without stirring, until mixture turns dark amber in color, about 6 to 7 minutes.

2. Remove from heat and slowly add in cream and vanilla, stirring with a wooden spoon until completely smooth. Set aside until cool to the touch, about 25 minutes.

3. Combine butter and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed until light in color and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low, add powdered sugar, and mix until completely incorporated.

4. Turn mixer off and scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add caramel. Beat frosting on medium-high speed until airy and thoroughly mixed, about 2 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until stiff, about 45 minutes, before using.

That’s right in 12 hours I will be halfway to Houston where I will then depart for Las Vegas.  I am heading there with Scottie as an early birthday present, how lucky am I!  I hope the luck continues!  I am not much of a gambler, probably because I convert the amount I am spending into the time I spend on my feet at the tea shop, but nonetheless I will be placing a few wagers.  But I am really there to eat!  Is it bad I am dreaming of a tamale and margarita from Mesa Grill?  Or a french pastry and cafe au lait from Payard?  Hell no!  That is my type of vacation!  We are also there to see shows, specifically Blue Man Group and Cirque de Soleil’s “Ka” which I hear is fabulous.  All of this crammed into 2 1/2 days, no I don’t plan to sleep at all…but it’s Vegas baby!  I plan to have a full report next week, stay tuned!

*Please excuse the camera phone picture

I have received numerous requests from friends and family as to the best way to cook halibut. Halibut is a really easy fish to work with and it’s mild flavor is perfect for those that are not fish fans. Scottie has a freezer full of fish from our Alaska trip so I try and cook either halibut or salmon once a week or so. My favorite way to cook halibut has been a coconut curry poached halibut, but with as much halibut as we have, I thought I needed to branch out.

This recipe was developed based on things I had in the pantry and fridge already, I was so proud of myself for using up my garden fresh roma tomatoes, and the random condiments in the fridge. Not only that, this is a super easy recipe that is also pretty healthy. I ofcourse didn’t measure anything so everything is approximate but you can adjust it to your taste.

I began by pre-heating the oven to 350 degrees. I then heated a skillet over medium high heat and coated the bottom with a couple teaspoons of olive oil. I dredged the fillets in flour and salt and pepper and laid them in the skillet to brown. The halibut fillets I was using were almost 2 inches thick and I didn’t want to burn the outside or dry out the fish so I sauteed the fillets until they had a nice brown coating on each side, then transferred them to a baking sheet to finish cooking in the oven.

I used the same skillet (add a touch more oil if it is dry) and sauteed about a half of an onion diced and some garlic. I then added about 6 diced roma tomatoes, 1/2 cup of chopped kalamata olives, a tablespoon or so of capers, and about 1/4 of white wine or chicken broth to create a nice sauce. Let is simmer a bit, salt and pepper to taste. I also added a bit of crushed red peppers to add some heat. I think I also added some anchovy paste just for kicks. Once the sauce has simmered about 10 minutes or so, your fish should be done. Remove the fish, check for doneness and get ready to plate.

Get your nice clean white plates and artistically place your fish over some nice basmati or jasmine rice and spoon the sauce over the top. I added a nice green salad and dinner was served. Scottie thought I used too many olives, but I think you can never have enough olives especially kalamatas Like I said, use what you like, use canned tomatoes if you don’t have fresh, add some lemon juice if you want, that’s the beauty of cooking for yourself.

I could just post this picture and be done with it, no other words are needed. This is the magnificent Mt. McKinley/Denali, the highest mountain in North America. Yeah, pretty sweet…but let me back up.

We left Aleyeska and drove to Denali, I want to say it was about a 5-6 hour drive. We had the whole day to take our time and explore around, but really there is not much to explore. Lots of small boroughs, the Milepost book would give little facts and tidbits for each little town that I would read off while we drove along. The day was kinda cloudy so we missed any possible opportunities to see the top of the mountain. We stopped for a few photo opps, stopped at the obscure Miller’s Market for some yummy ice cream, took pictures of the random Bat Mobile amongst a ton of fireworks stands, kinda bizarre.

We got to Denali and checked into the “cabin” which was one room with a bathroom. The room had like 3 beds, I can’t imagine 4 people sleeping in this tiny room but I guess you don’t come to Denali for 4 star lodging. We quickly left the scary cabin and drove to take a look around the park. For some reason I expected all of these huge signs and what not announcing the entrance of the park, but it was a simple sign that could easily be missed. We drove in and picked up our tickets for our tour the next day, then walked around the gift shop before deciding to find some dinner. Dinner choices are limited in Denali, pretty standard food such as burgers, pizza and lots of salmon We decided on a burger place with an awesome view overlooking the main street. We enjoyed some yummy Alaskan Ambers and ordered burgers. It was perfect weather compared to the rain we had been through the past few days. After dinner we roamed around the few shops, picking up some souvenirs. Since there wasn’t a TV in the “cabin” we sat in one of the huge cruise line hotels watching TV and people pass by. Alaska is a fun place to watch people as most are over the age of 62 and always in very large groups. We departed for the “cabin” since we would be up pretty early the next morning.

*I find this sign to be hilarious.

When we pulled out of the “cabin” driveway the next morning, I looked up and noticed there was not a cloud in the sky. I was so excited, the mountain would probably be in full view. Grabbed an overpriced americano and bagel and went out to find our tour bus. We noticed most of the buses were full when they arrived as they had already picked up people from their nearby hotels, I guess they don’t pick up from “cabins.” Since we were first in line we were able to get a decent seat together, albeit in the back of the bus- which would prove to be annoying later on in the day.

Our guide was really awesome; cheery, personable and quite knowledgeable. She would stop the bus along the way to point out animals and get a shot of them with her cool camera that would zoom in so everyone could see it and take pictures. About 30 minutes or so into the trip, we turned a corner and she instructed us to look left and sure enough there was the mountain in all of it’s glory. Only about 5% of the people that visit the park are able to see the top of the mountain as it is usually shrouded in clouds. For once, I was one of the lucky ones to see it. We later pulled over and filed out to take some amazing pictures. Within an hour, the cloud had come in and covered the mountain again, almost like it was never there. We were able to see just about all of the major animals that live within the park including bears, caribou, dahl sheep, ground squirrels and a moose. I could not believe our luck! It was a long tour, it lasted just about 8 hours but I was so glad we did the tour as opposed to doing it on our own. Once the tour ended we were dropped off at the transportation center and we raced to try and get to the last bus for the sled dog demonstration. I REALLY wanted to see the dogs and since it was free I was all for it. We made it just in time and were able to roam around and pet the dogs before the demonstration began. A little info was given as to the type of work they do in the winter and what not, then they harnessed up some of the dogs and let they show us how they run. It was really awesome to see. We walked around a bit more before heading to the bus, to take us to our car. We decided on pizza for our last dinner.

We ordered a large pizza with just about every topping available as well as a couple of Alaskan Ambers-shockers. We sat back and relaxed enjoying our last hours in Denali. We decided to try one of the other bars to have a birthday beer for Scottie since it was technically his birthday in east coast time. Since we had an even earlier wake up we retired for the night.

We decided to wake up and leave at 4am to ensure we had plenty of time to drive and get to Kenai to catch our plane. We also wanted to be able to stop in Talkeetna to check out the area, this is usually the starting point for all Denali climbs so we wanted to see what kind of place it was. I fell asleep for the first hour and woke up just as we pulled into Talkeetna. Since it was so early, nothing was open but it was a cute little place, would be a nice overnight stay in the future. The drive went by quickly as there was no one else on the road. We were in Aleyeska around breakfast so we decided to stop in the Cafe for some nourishment. It has been hyped up by people and we thought it was so-so. Scottie had some amazing sourdough pancakes in Kenai and I so wanted some, but these were kinda disappointing. We finished up and drove on, decided to stop at Portage Glacier. I think glaciers are way cool so anytime I can see one I’m game. There was a cute visitor center that we walked around and took goofy pictures in. Then we continued to drive all the way to Kenai. By that time we had hours to kill so what else was there to do…eat ofcourse! We stopped by Buckets, which Scottie’s family has raved about. It was a cool bar, very popular with the locals. Had a huge burger, lots of fries and ofcourse, Alaskan Amber. We bought some shirts for the fam and decided to make our way to the airport to try and get an earlier flight.

We said good bye to the Fusion and we were able to get on a slightly earlier flight to Anchorage. From there we checked in for the rest of our flights. While checking in there was a notice that the flight was overbooked and they were asking for people to take a later flight. I didn’t think twice about it until we got in the security line and thought about how the vouchers would be a great help in our future travel plans. Once we got through security we stopped by the bar for our final Alaskan Amber. This beer is REALLY good and hope to find it in Vegas After a beer or two I decided to ask about the later flight. I walked up to a very stressed counter clerk and he said he was in desperate need of people to take the later flight, I was seriously surrounded by some pissed off looking people. I put our names on the list and he informed me we would each receive a $250 voucher, meal vouchers to use in the airport as well as first class upgrades. A 7 hour flight in first class hell yes! The flight was only an hour later and was totally worth it. So it took a bit longer to see my Bella but the vouchers will be sweet when we book a trip to Napa next spring!

*View from the plane

Oh sweet mother of all things good, how I love the buffalo wings. Monday night at Lynnwood Grill is a favorite pastime but alas, work has kept me from participating. In comes Martha Stewart, of all people, with a buffalo chicken tender recipe that has been riding on my mind for some time. It was in a Good Food magazine that I found laying around the house- I do love that mag, I may need a subscription. </mental note>

Anywho, the recipe calls for pan frying of the tenders, well I was recently informed that Scottie had a deep fryer that I needed to try so we were going full grease on this recipe- yes my heart stopped their for a minute too. Friday after work seemed to be a perfect time, a 12 hour day means fried food! I had a package of chicken tenders, a fresh bottle of Frank’s, and some Naturally Fresh Bleu Cheese- we were ready for frying!

I dredged the tenders in flour and then a couple eggs, let them sit a minute then then fried them in the vat of bubbling, golden goodness for about 10 minutes until they were golden and done on the inside.

In a large glass bowl I melted a couple tablespoons of butter and added about 1/4-1/3 of a cup of Franks Hot Sauce (depending on your level of desired hotness) and mixed. As soon as the tenders were done frying I dropped them in the hot sauce and gave them a nice bath. Served them up on some beautiful Crate and Barrel plates with a side of creamy bleu cheese- classy, pure classy. I kept a few tenders naked and dunked them in some honey mustard, pure bliss, I could eat these daily. Seriously, imma just order the extra large fat pants now cause I can feel the grease going to the hips. But it so worth it. Life is too short for crap food. Fry yourself some tenders today.

Tropical Storm Hanna was nothing more then a rain storm and was gone by about lunchtime on Saturday. It was great sleeping weather and that paired with some early football games led to a much needed nap for me. I woke up hungry (what’s new!) and Scottie suggested we try the new soup place. I am a die hard Seinfeld fan and can make a reference at the drop of a hat. I am seriously considering the purchase of the boxed DVD set as an early birthday present. So when I heard that the original soup man, Al Yeganeh, started the Original Soup Man franchise and brought one to Raleigh I was beyond excited. I love soup and don’t mind eating it when it’s hot outside, it is just total comfort food.

The restaurant is nothing like the shows version, but I think that’s sort of the idea. There is a tongue-in-cheek sign near the soups that instructs customers to know what they want, order quickly and move to the right. The staff is quite friendly, even offering samples when I asked what was in the illusive mulligatawny they speak of on the show. Well that sample did it for me, it was so amazing and different. It was a curry based soup and had eggplant, golden raisins and pistachios among other ingredients. It sounds weird but it is REALLY good. Unlike anything I have ever had. If curry isn’t your thing, there were about a dozen other choices including tomato basil, mushroom and barley and two kind of bisque (seafood and Al’s world famous lobster.) Scottie got the lobster bisque which was very nice, lots of lobster and a beautiful creaminess that was not overwhelming. The prices are quite reasonable, with a bowl ranging from $7.95 for a vegetable soup to $11.95 for one of the bisques. This comes with your choice of bread or crackers, fresh fruit and I think a chocolate though I think that was forgotten on our trays, however she didn’t charge us for our drinks. If you want something to go with your soup, they have panini’s, salads, and smoothies all which looked delish. They have fresh squeezed lemonade and an assortment of fresh brewed flavored teas in addition to sodas. It was a nice lunch for $20.

I so wish they had a location near work as I would certainly hit it up once a week. But alas, I will have to support it on the weekends or for dinner. Check it out if you have one nearby!