View from our Table

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean near the restaurant was very nice.

Pacific's Edge Restaurant

Our last night here was spent in Carmel for a nice anniversary dinner. Cheryl took pictures of the great food but I will blog the rest. I cannot be trusted to comment on gourmet things beyond beer and cupcakes.

Happy Wine Girl

Amazing what joining a wine club will do for your level of joy. We will now get 3 estate wines a quarter and get fifteen percent off anything else including reserve ones and anything with Gary's name on it.

Last Winery - Hahn

It was a little cheesy but they ended up having a Petit Shiraz that was mistakingly aged in oak for 2 and a half years. Sad that their best wine was made in error.

Paraido Winery

This one was one Cheryl was familiar with. It was a nice Pinot place but surprised me with a good Syrah that had some bite.

Paging Gary Pisoni

We drove around looking for Cheryl's favorite winemaker and did not even find a sign. Here is a picture of Cheryl looking for him on a map. Alas, he remained elusive.

Lettuce Picking

On our way to the next winery we saw these giant machines with a dozen people around it. When we got closer we figured out they were picking Romaine Lettuce. It looked like hard work.

Scheid Winery

Our first one today was 40 miles south of Salinas and they are a small local joint that has more fruitier-types than what I expected but it was cool to see this demonstration area of vines.

Sunset in Monterey

After dinner we headed over to the coast to take a picture of the sunset. A nice end to a day of fine wine and tortillas.

Convertible!

We never seem to get anything better than a Kia but the rental car gods smiled upon us for an upgrade. Notice the copious amounts of luggage in the back seat since the trunk is full of the cover.

Pessango Winery

The last one of the day was this little winery south of Salinas. As good as the wine was, their Port was amazing.

Redwoods are Cool

Nothing much to say about a huge tree except that it is pretty.

Bonny Doon Monkey Wine

My love of monkeys could not conquer that I tend to like the big, heavy, tanic wines. Cheryl finds it baffling that I like the types of wine I do with a beer pallete. I am a riddle wrapped in a bacon crusted enigma.

Testarossa Winery

Even though my knowledge of wine is about the same as nuclear power, this place was nice and had an old world cellar that made me think I was in a sophisticated joint.

Beer Festival Sundown

Even with my slight illness I have to say it was a nice festival and the fact it is on the ocean does not hurt either. It was nice to compare this one to the Decatur Beer Festival and figure out others to attend. I have a tremendous appreciation to the original old school festival in Germany and have decided that it is the best. I do think the big one in Denver would be good from a beer making view.

Lost in a Sea of Beer

We found a great vantage point to see the beer festival and get our drunk selves pictured in the process. The festival itself was good but I think some of the beer got skunked (spoiled) because it was a hot day here in San Francisco. Thus there was a period of time during the festival where I drank something weird that no free corndog or free pretzel could fix.

I muddled through and made it. I am a brave one....

Hurry Up & Wait

We got through the ID line and now we wait. Looks good but there are some rowdy fat guys in front of me.

Ewww!

Who drinks this? Does it make the Bud taste less like urine?

Trolley Ride

After 3 trips we finally rode the trolley like every idiot tourist. It was less cheesy than I thought but the damn Rice a Roni kept stalking us.

Chinese Protestors

They were obviously upset about the Olympics but they also had signs against CNN. I think they are against Larry King's suspenders.

Chicken Feet

This bizarre chicken graveyard was demeaning to both chickens and their loved ones. They were sold by the pound like some sort of poultry.

Finally Got My Cupcakes!

The bakery inside the market named Miette had a gingerbread one and a chocolate one and they were awesome!

Topiary Sales

In addition to food they had these which reminded me of the ones at Disney except for the morons throwing cigarette butts at them.

Ferry Building Farmer's Market

On Saturday mornings they do a giant market with prepared food and organics.

Oops!

I guess the angle of this photo is a little off. That is what happens when you are hooked on phonics.

Elusive Cupcake

Before lunch there was plenty o' cupcake but after lunch the cupcake fairy takes them all away and gives them to poor children waiting to be adopted by Angelina Jolie. I will seek my revenge tomorrow!

Patak Goodness

I will let Cheryl blog the food but the Slanted Door has a good selection of Belgian beers. Mmm..

Beer Fantasy Preview

These cases were just laying around and between the Fat Tire and Chimay, I am getting a handtruck and hauling ass. The Ferry Building better hire better security.

Ferry Building Goodness

The anticipation of the foodie heaven inside makes my mouth water. Mmm.....

Cheryl in the City

Nothing clever or mindblowing to say here but the views are amazing.

Hacky Tourist Photo

Now you know where we are, so there!

Toyota Wins

As you can see, the guy who rear ended me lost the fight. I did not add the cartoon stars like in the last picture because the BMW is in a coma.

Rush Hour Challenge

Here is the scenario: You have to make an 8:00 flight, drop off the dog at daycare on the way down, and get something to eat before the 5 hour flight. Sounds reasonable if you leave a little before 5:00 pm right? If you add the challenge of GA-400 traffic on a Thursday and then getting rear ended, you end up basically throwing the dog in the direction of the daycare. Because the doggy daycare is in the center of the ATL, we got to really test the GPS's ability to get us to the airport in 40 minutes (the trip normally takes at least an hour). We made it in one piece with about 2 minutes to spare. We did not get dinner on the 5 hour flight but Delta did provide us with a can of coke and a cookie. In other words, we are here, tired, and thankful our luggage made it.

Orlando Crown Club & Upgrade!

I think they have the nicest one here and it beats the immigrant vibe of the one in Miami. Florida is my good luck charm for upgrades too. At least I can have a rum and coke and do not have to sit with the dirt people.

Weird 7-.1.1

From the street it looks like a building but it has a gas station inside. Not that exciting to 90% of the world but it floats my boat!

O-Town

It is hard for me to believe that I have not had a project in Orlando until now. Since I have not lived here in thirteen years, I depend on my GPS to get me to new places like city hall. I enjoy the fancy non-mouse related architecture.

Me and Hillary

I got a picture of my favorite lady here at Reagan Airport. I avoided the sniper fire and was able to do a shot of whiskey with her. She is much hotter in person.

Firefly Dessert

The apple crisp was a nice way to end the meal. It did not have the level of guilt the "giant banana split" would have provided.

Charcuterie

Not as exciting as I thought it would be but still a nice meat plate.

Not My Entree But...

My tablemate ordered this yellowfin tuna BLT and it looked like amazingly~good. My rule is to never regret what you order but this looks awesome!

Matzo Ball!

A very good soup from a gentile source. If I had a bad cold or was preparing for my Bah Mitzvah, I would be good to go.

Eggs of Satan

These are a good non-southern example of the delicacy.

Poor Example of an IPA

I guess because it is from Fredneck, MD is the reason it tastes like goose piss.

Firefly

We are eating at a great place I remember coming to a few years ago. Hope it is still good.

Dupont Circle Fountain

After my naked guy incident I needed to walk off the sight of kielbasa. The fountain is beautiful even with the screaming homeless guy nearby.

Do Not Stay Here

After going back and forth from the lobby 4 times, security was going with me to open the room. We opened the room to find a naked German guy reading the paper on his bed. Needless to say I am going to read in a parka.

In DC

I just landed in DC and am headed to Dupont Circle. The weather here is nicer than the 45 degrees I left in Atlanta.

At Home With Dad

My first full week without having to travel is a treat for both of us. Pepper likes sleeping while I work and the special lunchtime ritual of watching the Price is Right teaches us the value of knowing the price of bleach.

Sunday Meat Party

The inaugural gathering of the monthly smoked meat extravaganza was a success and we will continue the carnivore madness. Many thanks to the founders and meat smokers - the Ingrams.

Alpaca Sighting

Driving back from Knoxville I saw him and he looked at me saying "Get me out of Tennessee!".