Fun Guys Hunt Funghi

The lady and I had a great weekend in Carmel this past weekend. We went with our friends Jas, Jac, Ben and Lucia to do some mushroom hunting, hiking and wine tasting. Despite the inclimate weather, we managed to do all three . Check out the chanterelle bounty below. We ended up filling almost three of those baskets. Jac's found a bunch of candy cap mushrooms. I've had those in ice cream but our guide described a cookie recipe that sounded good. I digress...I learned chanterelle has a mycorrhiza relationship with oak trees. Honey hole = oak trees, a wood rats nest, bay trees and wet lowland areas. This 'shroom hunting is something I could get into. Apparently, the Spring after a fire is when it goes off. Morels mycorrhiza relationship is with pine trees. I bet in April and May after the snow melts, Northern California will be flush with Morels especially after the fires from last year.

My temporary South Carolina non-resident fishing license just expired so I guess it’s time to renew. I’m still not convinced there are any fish at the dock despite the hoopla and pictures. With the advent of Photoshop and the like it’s hard to trust anything but your own eyes.

I have found a great pizza dough recipe below that is a no brainer. With a good tomato sauce and fresh or shredded mozzarella and a dash of parmesan, this pizza makes a delicious, homemade Neapolitan which is really all I eat. I’ve tried making my own red sauce and that works fine, however, I must admit Boboli original pizza sauce is pretty damn good and quick. Against the ladies wishes, I try to use the least amount of cheese as possible. Once out of the oven, I top it with freshly dressed greens and sliced grilled chicken. My version of CPK’s tri-colore. Or, I top it with just rocket. Or drizzle with it truffle oil. Also, a Neapolitan makes for a good base for leftovers. My favorite concoction was a cut up bone in pork chop, sliced fennel and diced jalapeño.

In a large bowl, combine 1 ¾ cup unsifted, unbleached all-purpose flour, one ¼ ounce package quick-rising yeast, one teaspoon sugar, one teaspoon salt (sea salt is the best, but regular salt will do) and one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. To that, add ¾ cup very warm water (120 degrees F). Mix it all with fork or hands until soft dough forms. Add flour until the dough no longer sticks to your hand but be careful not to add too much flour. Shape the dough in a ball and place in an oiled bowl, turning so an oiled surface is up. Cover with dish towel and let rise in a warm place until double in size, about 30 mins. Spread it over a pizza sheet with holes. I've used a cookie sheet and the underside never gets crisp so I wouldn't recommend using that but in a pinch you could. Add your sauce and toppings and cook for 15 mins or so at 500 degrees F.

In Carmel Valley, I love Parsonages everyday drinking red Snosrap Cyrano Red. It’s a steal at $20. The Friday we get into Carmel, we usually have it at Café Rustica in the valley. A wine like that goes well with food and without. I wish more of this type of wine was available in California. Everyday drinking wines are a dime a dozen in Europe and it was fun sussing out $15-$20 wines that were absolutely delicious. These wines didn’t come from behemoths like Gallo or Blackstone but from small, family run vineyards who would usually have a good vintage. I’m surprised you are not able to find more of these types of wines in CA. I’m scratching my head at the dearth of wine bars in the city. I would expected there to be more of them seeing how it’s in the middle 15 distinct wine growing regions.

Also in Carmel Valley, I was real impressed with the 2007 Pinot Noir from Boekenoogen. The lady and I picked up a few bottles. From our generous tasting pours, I got a big wine with layers of fruits of the forest, strawberries and damp earth. Another year or two in the cellar and this bottle will be singing. I love Pinot’s from the St. Luica Highlands as they remind me of wines from Burgundy. This is the type of wine that my friend Colleen who is a Zinfandel slut would like. This vineyard is close to another one of my favorites vineyards Gary’s vineyards.

Spare a dime?

I’d love to see Vil Kilmer in another comedy. Movies like Real Genius and Top Secret are classic’s. I hope running for governor of New Mexico doesn't get in the way to the sequel of Real Genius.

Listening to Randy on Idol is like watching football with the J Hesster, aka Weiscamp. He lays it down with vernacular that is from the street yet insightful and relatively articulate. We cook, then we chillllll.

I recently had Folly River select oysters for the first time over the weekend as a part of a bachelor party celebration for my buddy Herr Lee. Those oysters were prolly the best bivalve experience I have ever had. It’s giving a plate full of fin-de-claire N. 12 with bubbly a run for its money. The scene resembled eight lions after a kill when Drew dumped the succulent steamers on the table. Ummm, Aquaman.

I see some Benski in Simon Cowell.

Nobody knows what is going on with the economy. Let’s just all agree to that and get on with it. It starts to concern me when States start mumbling they'll not be able to refund state income tax. It is just a question of time before banks become nationalized.

Yes, I watch Idol. You heard me. That is what a lady and TV have done to me. Mushy, mush. I don’t like the new format this year of bringing in the family though. Equally awkward, they never a pan to the ugly family member.

I’m tired of hearing older folks say this economic malaise is good for our generation. Listen, I’ve been off the tit since 20, working well before that and have good saving habits. Heck, many of my friends have been off the tit since 18. Funny, as the folks that say that belong to the generation that got us into this mess.

I love the fact that my sister is grooving to Beirut.

Eggcellent

No one writes a sad song that gets you thinking about shit like Ryan Adams except maybe Neil Young. Live at Massey Hall DVD sounds great but the weird grainy pans to a reel-to-reel on the chair I can do without. Someone grab me a tissue.

Plastics is so 20th century…vermiculture is the next big thing.

Why is anybody surprised with A-Rod’s admission? He is still a bitch but at least he’s honest. That is saying more than Raf or McGuire. Maybe Madonna talked some sense into him. I’m ready to get on with baseballs dark days. Just outside…..Jones 2-2!

Top Chef would beat the piss out of Hell’s Kitchen.

Like Anthony Bourdan, I’m also an egg slut. They’re a great way to start the day in their many forms. Poached is my favorite however. A hard boiled mid-day stops hunger in its tracks. Pickled eggs are tasty too. I like a sunny side up on my chili. One of the best pizza’s I’ve ever had was in a small town near Montpellier in the Languedoc area of France. It was called “Pizza Thon” – tuna and soft boiled egg on this amazing New York style pizza lathered with fresh tomato sauce. I washed it all down with luscious Bandol Rose. All was right with the world.

How did we manage before wheels found their way onto luggage?

Trav and Elle should spearhead Obama’s initiative around digitizing medical records after what they did in Abu Dhabi for the Sheik.

Where was Israel during the genocides since WWII - Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur?

Universal fact…all dudes fart when pissing at the urinal.

Ping Ping Pong

My buddy Tim says Lagunitas (lah-goo-KNEE-tuss) IPA is the mother’s milk. It beats Iron Springs (barely) and Marin Brewing Company. I would have to agree…not to sweet, rich hops, mild bitterness and clean finish. Classic California beer.

When I was living in Zurich, I came across this DJ by accident. GPal. I remember the record store proprietor pawning this off on me. He was going out of business and in broken English said “Life” was the best bargain in the store. I didn’t believe him but I bought it used for something like 12 Swiss Francs. The first five tracks are tight and reminds me of my time in Switzerland and all of the clubs. I worked as hard as I played.

This just came to me last night…a combination of Gilvar’s Swedish background (inhale….yah!) and jumping capability will more than likely produce this.

One of the best moments of XMAS was my youngest nephew coming up from the basement asking what a penth was and who Lou Holtz was. Seven to nine!

It is amazing to see my oldest nephew grow. Now almost 13, he is becoming strong, smart and sensitive. He has these huge hands that are not unlike suction cups. He catches everything I put up…football, baseball, nerf vortex, canned goods in grocery isle, etc. Props to my sis and brother-in-law and not just for his catching ability.

I wonder how much a song like this would cost nowadays? This was released just before the clamor of old vs. new school and East vs West coast. Purists would say this was probably new school. Anyway, I miss those beats and the fun in the mixing, hooks, loops and samples. The Cool Kids and People Under the Stairs are close to capturing this. I digress, hearing this song throws me back to the summer of 91 – Twin Hype, Bush-Lite in a can, the Honda Civic, waterskiing at Wagon Train, Marilyn, stick and spades with Born and Benski – yeah dope!

Soups On

When do you stop saying “Happy New Year”?

I love the smell of rain. Especially if it hasn’t rained in awhile because you get the infusion of soil/soot/dust with the moist air. What is even better is walking thru the pan handle of the Golden Gate Park and smelling the mixture of rain, eucalyptus, and soil. Divine!

Speaking of smells….does anything smell better than mirepoix and sautéed butter? Or with browning ground beef?

For a significant part of my early years, I was raised by a single mom and a sister. A farm girl with a healthy work ethic, my Mom was in printing sales and was away from home quite a bit. In fact, the road the family farm is on is called Rural Route 1 which is the name of my blog. Anyway, that absence was tempered by her cooking. She always ensured dinner was available for my sister and I. To this day, I can chince on breakfast or lunch but I need a hot meal for dinner. The pièce de résistance is when it’s served up by the little lady.

Whew, I finally digitized my music library in FLAC format. Damn, that took the better part of three months. I’m still adding the album art and correcting the metadata which feels like a full time job in and of itself. I’m using SqueezeCenter to pipe the music from my computer into my stereo. I’m then able to use Squeezebox Duet and manage the music that way. It sounds pretty good and great for parties. To my humble ears, nothing beats the sound from playing a good old fashion CD....Zepplin's, "How the West Was Won", makes my Dynaudio's dance.

Safety’s off

I can boogie to Hercules and Love Affair. Nice house/disco beats matched nicely to that falsetto voice of Antony.

As long a Siduri doesn’t lose the Van der Kamp vineyard, I along with Eddie Veder will be happy. So long Amber Ridge. Sniff, sniff. Drew and Mitch like a good Oregon pinot as much as anybody and should try their Chelalem Mountains on for size.

It has been a good year hunting for me. Pheasants, turkey, duck, goose, and feral pig. What started out as a mere interest (almost every male in Nebraska hunts or is close to it somehow and I did a little of it growing up) has started into a passion. Fishing has always been there for me but I have to say hunting is getting there as well. Thank you Michael Pollan. More on that later…

Ton Kiang on Geary is the best dim sum I’ve ever had. That is not saying much coming from me but this reverse banana thought t’was damn good. Next time, I want to bring my own and pair the meal with a nice Barolo. The almost two hour meal was a good segue into the ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) festival at Fort Mason last Sunday. Thanks Matty & Jenna.

I have the same good feeling about Mike Singletary as I do with Bo. I like the fact they put the team first in their approach to recruiting, coaching, staff, etc. Not unlike the Steelers. Diametrically different than the Cowboys.