Posts Tagged ‘California’

September 10, 2015

good food, good places.

I Thought I’d do something a little different, and give you all a new “taste,” of this blog(pun intended.

First on the platter is Rue 57 New York. with a deliciously rich atmosphere,and it’s fair share of celebrity sightings it’s no wonder this midtown Manhattan eatery is full of patrons.

Rue 57 offers everything from brunch to sushi, the service is attentive and timely. The presentation of the food is lovely, and more importantly everything is prepared perfectly at this French American Brasserie in the heart of the city. The kitchen, overseen by chef Rich Robson churns out dishes from eggs florentine or brioche french toast to duck ala orange, and bread pudding. There isn’t much you can’t get at this delectable dining spot.

#2)The Dor-Stop Restaurant, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

If you prefer quaint and homey to rich and fancy this place should be your second stop!

The Dor-Stop Restaurant in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania is a breakfast fan favorite.

The atmosphere is casual and feels more like your home town diner, even if your from out of town. Don’t discriminate it based on looks alone however. Famous for being featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, this place packs a punch for your tastebuds into it’s tiny booths. The coffee is warm and the rasberry french toast is sweet. Not to mention, the prices are reasonable and their breakfast selection is hard to beat.

In keeping with the home town vibe, if yours is in Poland then your sure to love this next place!

#3) Podhalanka in Chicago, has an old world with a circa 1956 Poland feel. It’s a Polish diner owned for a quarter of a century by a woman from Krakow,and located in the city’s old Polish Triangle. Yet another quaint place, serving up authentic home cooked Polish meals.

For a more coastal(and warm) atmosphere, let’s head to Half Moon Bay in California.

Here in this serene and beautiful space you’ll find Sam’s Chowder House.

#4) Sam’s Seafood Market and restaurant at Half Moon Bay, Palo Alto California.

You know a place is good when a television show( Good Morning America) on the opposite side of the country reports on their food. In this case it’s the best lobster rolls I and many others have possibly ever had. The internet is rife with recipes trying to duplicate it’s greatness. However, nothing is quite like the real thing. Not to mention the location and atmosphere, is well worth the drive to this seaside Seafood Market and restaurant on the Pacific Ocean. The views are glorious, the fare(in this case sea creatures) are fresh and the price is also reasonable.

Speaking of our fishy friends, get ready for some of the best sushi and it’s stateside!(go America,go)

#5) Totoro Sushi Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Not only does this artistic(former very hippie)town offer good shopping,and tasty drinks but great sushi too! They have a variety of rolls and they’re always fresh. A personal favorite of mine is the yam-yam roll(hello sweet potato goodness!) If your not a local, no need to worry as it’s easy to find, right off of State street and next to an Urban Outfitters(I did say shopping didn’t I?

If you like shopping, then you know about New York City. However, your probably unaware of a lesser known(and equally great) place that’s just a hop skip, or a zipcar away.

#6) The Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick New Jersey. This place boasts all of the swank(valet parking anyone) with none of the attitude. Not just the main entrees are delicious, but so is the bar. During happy hour(4:30-6:30) you can enjoy bar food such as mini croissant wrapped kobe beef hot dogs(so good!) with a delicious drink. Not bad at all for a swanky place such as this. Even though it’s off the beaten path from New York, don’t discount the possibilities New Jersey has to offer. As well as it’s lesser known delicious dining destinations.

Last but not least some yummy eats that are far from the East!

#7) Boudin Bakery and Cafe.

Ah San Fransisco,

Your hills,your iconic bridge,the flower children,and the salty air in your yeast!? Yup, the San Fransisco air does something a little bit special to it’s famous sour dough bread. Which is why you should try some while your there. Enter Boudin Bakery and Cafe. These can be found dotted around San Fransisco and serving up it’s tasty bread along with soups and sandwiches. Move over Panera, because here comes your laid back and hipper older sibling.

Cheers! live well and eat well,

August 30, 2015

keep walking

“Instruction does much, but encouragement does everything.” -unknown.

We all need encouragement to accomplish our dreams, pursue a goal, lose weight, or simply just to be assured that were doing okay. Throughout my recovery I have met many a cheshire cat(Alice in Wonderland) that helped to point the way and encourage me I was on the right path. In particular one of them happened to be a child. Since children are unencumbered by the burdens of adults and can see more clearly, I certainly took his words as wise. I found myself in the sanctuary of a church in Redding California(long story) it was Bethel Church to be exact. It was here amid music and a general strong sense of God in the room, that I was approached by two young children with an adult. They proceeded to kindly bring me out of my thoughts, and with the young boy holding a piece of paper in hand, began to explain that they were looking for me all morning. I was completely unaware that while I was carrying out my day, somewhere a child held some encouragement for me in his hands. Just a few weeks prior I had tried to walk on a treadmill and it went badly, because I found that I could not really do it. What ensued was a lot of discouragement, due to that perceived failure. However, when the little boy turned that piece of paper over, it was to change. I was told that in the morning during prayer, He received a picture and decided to draw it. They had been looking all morning to find the person whom it was for, and upon seeing me He found the pictures intended recipient. Now what could possibly be on this paper for me? a treadmill!

Screen Shot 2015-08-30 at 1.16.10 PM

On the back of this picture He wrote simply the word “legs,” in quotations and went on to explain what the picture meant. The treadmill brought with it the message to keep going, not to give up, and that I would be healed soon. Just when one could begin to feel forgotten, here was some divine intervention. I don’t believe in coincidences, so for me this clearly wasn’t one. With my mouth slightly ajar it became evident to me that there is always someone looking out for you. Sometimes it feels as though your the only one struggling, or that your alone. However, as evidenced by this picture your not forgotten and there is always hope. A new development in my recovery, is that I have been able to walk on the treadmill(same one I failed at before. The picture is now framed in front of it. This story is for everyone as a simple reminder that you are not alone nor forgotten. Wherever there is dark shine a light.

Cheers!

October 7, 2014

California and UFO’s

Aliens weren’t just in the sky but in my body as well.
Throughout my recovery process I have been striving to get back to “normal.”
Part of that included the removal of a dangerous filter that was inside a major vein.
As far as I was concerned it was a foreign object and it didn’t belong there. Thankfully one of the best and only Doctors that could remove it worked in California.Thus ensued a cross country flight to get surgery. Luckily it went perfect and I came out feeling a step closer to “normal.”While I may never be completely normal(ha-ha) at least I could check one more thing off the list.In between the whirlwind of surgeries,appointments, and therapy I somehow find in the gaps room to live.The bonus of surgery in California meant time in the gap to explore!

outside a tattoo shop in Haight Ashbury(below)

the Golden Gate!

Inside Stanford…

Before I had a massive stroke the gap was wide, because my time wasn’t filled by the circus that surrounds recovery. However the gap is beginning to widen again.The removal of the filter crossed off a couple of those circus performers,with less to do involving Doctors it’s a relief.Many of us take a wide gap for granted.Little did I know that having the freedom to do with my time as I pleased even work everyday was a choice and that was an absolute blessing.Now that my time has been severely compromised in comparison , what I do with my time becomes much more precious.As reality proves, time does have an end so make the time you do have matter.

-Cheers!