Russo’s in Cuyahoga Falls – food
Posted: May 22, 2014 Filed under: akron, food, travel | Tags: crawfish, food, review, ruso's restautant, silver oak wine, steamed clams 16 CommentsWe weren’t expecting much when we walked in the door, but when I saw the owner in a picture with Julia Child and Emeril Lagasse I thought this might be a fine surprise.
With a combination of Italian Creole we had lots of choices. We started off with a little bubbly a half of Moet which was just right to start. Over the years, I’ve become more and more fond of a champagne or sparkling white before dinner.
bubbles to start – crisp and fresh, dry – not sweet
The Italian and Creole ( Louisiana Cajun style ) made the menu really worth looking over. We started with steamed clams and a pasta with crawfish. This was especially fun, as a boy I would go play down in the river and catch crawfish.. only to let them go. Now they were what’s for dinner.
Pasta a creamy Creole sauce and crawfish – like little bitesized shrimp
Then the clams arrived…. steamed in a white wine sauce that had us dipping our bread to get all the juice. These were outstanding.
so good we tried to get a second order, but we had got the last one!
We were torn for the wine, I was thinking a Chianti would be good, he even brought the bottle to the table, but at the last minute my sister blurted out “I want the cab, I visited that vinyard when I was in California.” Off went the waiter, back he came with a Silver Oak 2009 cab.
The perfect cab
It was a wonderful choice, dry with a clear finish – it perfectly complemented the spice of the food. Truly, one of the best cabs I have sampled. If you want a bottle for that special occasion – you could do far worse.
We decided to split one main course and an appetizer so we picked the crawfish claws – deep fried with a tangy dipping sauce. They are much like crab, with a clean, sweet flavor.
sweet and juicy – yumm
Then we split a pork chop with rice and collard greens. The collard greens had big flavorful chunks of barbequed brisket, that’s how to make your veggies stick to the ribs!
Port chop, collard greens, and rice and beans
With the main course we tried a side of Mac and cheese –
mac and cheese and bacon! Three times good ( my english translation of the French )
A great meal – the service was a little spotty, but who cares when the food is a home run!
winding down
Posted: May 17, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: fart machine, stress, team, work 15 CommentsWith the merger winding down, my team will soon disperse. We managed a thousand servers which supported over seven billion dollars in sales. These guys met every challenge, innovated, standardized and automated – truly rock stars. The stress was great and they never faltered.
The million dollar team
But we had fun too….
phhhhhffffttttt
secret treasure – the I & M canal
Posted: May 11, 2014 Filed under: Chicago, cycling, food, travel | Tags: bacon, birding, cycling, I &M canal, jo-doh's donuts, turtles 17 CommentsAbout 1840, knowing the plains rivers were to shallow and marshy to navigate with barges, Illinois decided to build a canal to link the heartland with the Missouri river. It was an epic task, and nearly driving the state bankrupt ( even than ) and it was dug by hand by immigrant labor. Within ten years of opening the canal Chicago went from 20,000 people to 100,000 people. The canal changed the Midwest.
Now, so long after it’s a water way with a bike path that follows where the mules and mule skinners ( men who drove them ) once trod.
We started at Willow Springs and our 25 mile ride each way traversed Lemont, Romeoville, Lockport, and Joliet. The trail is smooth and mostly paved and very lightly traveled. The scenery varies from water to woods to meadow to old industrial ruins. Birds were plentiful, we saw blue herons, a white egret, gold-finches, blue birds, a cormorant, hawks, geese, mallards and all the local varieties. Of course if my bike had a bumper-stiker it would be “I stop for turtles”
Turtles were out sunning all along the canal
The trail is lined with historical markers, and the cost in lives and effort to dig this canal through dirt and stone for 96 miles and the benefits it brought make a good tale. But then true tales invoke the most wonder.
100 miles of labor, view from one of the many bridges
The trail is isolated, but at the towns one can break away for some grub. Of course we found a hotdog place for lunch near Lockport ( a town who owes it’s existence to the canal )
It was “a manly feast” and I say that because while we ate everyone who stopped in was of the male persuasion! All the females must have stopped at the vegan place nearby.
Hot dogs in lockport – our other choice was a vegan place named “naked and raw” – but we had clothes today.
To navigate through the elevation change, the canal utilized locks. These locks were only 17 feet wide and the lock-keeper could operate them in 15 minutes. It must have been a sight to see with mules, boats and locks.
Just 17 feet wide, the locks limited the boat and cargo size
Here the canal parallels the Desplaines river.
How does this guy keep ruining the view ?
It was a super ride, and imagine my surprise upon arriving home to find Jan had provided a sweet roll from Jo-Doh donut shop, a sweet roll with maple frosting and crumbled bacon. Now that’s the way to end a ride.
Jo-Doh’s sweet roll with maple frosting and bacon
good thing 50 miles burns about 2500 calories
JB’s on the beach – food florida
Posted: May 4, 2014 Filed under: florida, food, travel 12 CommentsWe had to run down to Florida for a merger meeting. It was nice to be the junior guy, no decisions about price or place, and with six of us there was plenty of opportunity for appetizers and sharing.
We ended up at JB’s on the beach in Deerfield Beach – it sits right on the water and is bright and festive like so many sea shore restaurants.
The place is gorgeous and a wait for your table inevitable…
Seats right by the water
At the bar we started with Hendricks gin and tonic. This is a smooth delightful gin, with a zesty citrus hint it makes a good starter.
Hendricks gin and tonic – a tropical delight
Once the table was ready, I started with a nice glass of Chianti. I have found when in doubt, Chianti rarely disappoints. The Sangiovese grape which isn’t as famous as some others, has always been a favorite of mine for a wine that complements and doesn’t overpower the food.
Chianti rarely disappoints
Next we ordered appetizers, some to be shared by each. Everything looked great, but I was surprised that most of the seafood was not locally sourced. They were from places like Maine, South Africa and each was called out. I took it as a commitment to quality.
Oysters on the half shell, well I’ll try anything once or these more than once!
Oysters from Maine
My choice was the mussels, and they were rich and flavorful – and sopping up the sauce in the bread is a fine treat.
Mussels in a white wine tomato sauce
Then flat bread, which is really a tasty pizza which was loaded with toppings
Flat Bread which was great
About this time, I switched to a nice Californian Pinot Grigo to enjoy with my main course. The wine was light, refreshing and crisp and very nice. While I normally go with a big red with a steak, this worked well too. The main course was a filet mignon with roasted garlic chive mashed potatoes and asparagus. It came perfectly cooked, delicious. A bite of potato, a bite of asparagus, a bite of steak and a sip of wine – excellent!
Filet – roast garlic chive mashed potatoes and asparagus – yum!
After talking business and finishing our main course, someone suggested and aperitif of Liquor 43. This velvety smooth drink taste like vanilla. It is a perfect after dinner drink.
Liquor 43, if you enjoy vanilla, this might be your Ambrosia…
And what is quintesentially Florida? Of course a piece of key-lime pie. This is one of those things in Florida that if you have the chance, try it. A fresh one is a citrus delight – with subtle flavor and a creamy smooth texture. Just the right ending to an exceptional meal.
subtle with sweet and tart, never overpowering, a delicious end to a meal
Ditkas – food chicago
Posted: April 27, 2014 Filed under: Chicago, food, travel | Tags: chicagoland, creamed corn, dining, ditkas, food, restaurant, travel 11 CommentsIf you watch football you know of Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach. He has a namesake restaurant in Chicago and after losing a bet on my beloved Browns against the Bears we settled with lunch at the restaurant of “Da Coach.”
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the milieu was upscale with some memorabilia but it was tastefully presented, this place was about the food, comfort food with large portions.
We started with a glass of cab, the “Hall of Fame” red and it was quite good. The house brand is made out near Napa by Terlato wines.
A Ditka/Terlato cab drinks very nicely
We had our eye on the filet mignon sliders, but chose the pot roast nachos. They were great, the kind of snack that you just can’t leave unfinished. The delicate meat combined with the salty chips and a zesty but not too hot halipeno slices was just right.
The pot roast nachos were outstanding – but almost a full meal
The bread rolls were excellent, but not photogenic. For my entree I had a pork chop ( well done by request ) served with mashed sweet potatoes and apple chutney and cherry jus with a side of creamed corn. The chop was cooked perfectly, and I admit I gnawed a bit on the bone after the meat had been dispatched. The sauce was very good.
charred perfectly, with apple chutney
The creamed corn was not your traditional canned green-giant corn of my youth. This wasn’t sweet and had a hint of garlic but was smooth and rich to the taste. It was outstanding. My friend took the remaining corn home and they fed it to his very aged mother in law who had been off her feed. She finished every bite. I suppose that solidifies the cream corn as comfort food!
putting the c in comfort food
For dessert, just a little vanilla ice-cream with chocolate sauce. The perfect ending to an excellent meal.
the perfect finish
my story
Posted: April 23, 2014 Filed under: pearls of wisdom | Tags: my story 15 CommentsMy story is: Poetry assuages anger, talking turns aside violence, and love really does conquer hate.
Dad loves Megan,
Dad loves Shannon,
Bill Loves Jan
Bill Loves Nancy,
Bill Loves Paula,
Bill Loves Kelly.
celebrate – food
Posted: April 20, 2014 Filed under: food | Tags: champagne, chateau la nerthe, jaquesson champagne, wine 19 Commentsbefore Easter, we celebrated the birthday of our favorite oldest daughter
a bubbly to start and a red for dinner
We picked up the Chateau La Nerthe visiting France a year ago, it did not disappoint us. The champagne we picked up locally, it was wonderful.
Have a blessed Easter.
Chicagoland hodgepodge – cycling
Posted: April 14, 2014 Filed under: Chicago, cycling, travel | Tags: Chicago, chicagoland, cycling, gold coast, riding, superdog restaurant 21 CommentsAfter an almost endless winter, on the first good day we took the train downtown for a road trip.
We got down early enough so the traffic was light and the drivers are cycling tolerant but those little bike lanes make city cycling exciting! As the city wakes, the energy is incredible.
past all the crazy down-town riding to the fun
There are so many things to see – we rode past a rugby team practicing, then along the beach front “Gold Coast” just full of young people and dogs strolling, jogging, riding, fetching – every possible combination.
I saw a woman body builder riding, and secretly coveted her triceps and her small stomach 🙂 We lunched at Super-dog, a wonderful one of a kind hot-dog place Chicagoans so love – there we saw a group of Hispanic kids acting like Hells Angels on their souped up mopeds.
with a sign like this, you know it has to be good
We passed a cancer walk, and a bike race, and a run for charity and if you ride far enough, a temple.
the magnificent temple
We saw a model in a diaphronous gown posing in the wind at the waterfront – holding a yoga warrior pose while her gown danced in the wind. When we rode by and the photographer had to stop, she told us “Thanks that pose was killing me”
We passed a sculpture park, where we saw Adam and Eve and Martians – Skokie has a park that is full of modern sculpture making statements even I could comprehend.
Adam, Eve, and me. Sculpture parks satisfy that need to touch…
but the image that stay with me — a little girl, perhaps three or four standing in the woods before her mother playing her tiny violin. Chicago is unusual in all things. I needn’t have ridden 62 miles to discern that, but like the woman cranking her wheelchair bike over the hill – some journeys are worth the effort.
drafting
Posted: April 7, 2014 Filed under: cycling | Tags: coast, cylcing, draft, pull 10 CommentsDrafting is a joy of cycling. The front rider breaks the wind and the follower tucked in behind the leader’s wheel uses up to 30% less effort. Alternating two together can ride much faster than alone. A stronger rider can help a weaker rider.
When my oldest was younger we used to head out for twenty or twenty five miles and when she’d tire she’d tuck in behind me and we’d fly along. Cycling is like life, sometimes you pull, sometimes you draft, and sometimes you get a chance make progress while you coast.
Here’s a few of my favorite cycling movies:
Breaking Away: A 1979 film where a young Indiana boy who idolizes the Italian racing team comes of age.
Race Across the Sky: A great film about the people who ride the Leadville 100, a mountain bike race. Love him or hate him, Lance Armstrong rides it just after completing the Tour de France.
Ride the Divide: Think the Tour de France is hard, this 2,711 mile unsupported mountain bike race runs from Banff in Canada to the border of Mexico and full of snow, mountains and bears.
Greg Lemond wins Alpe d’Huez: An epic ride up the 21 switchbacks to the top of the Alpe d’Huez in the 1986 Tour de France is great footage if you can find it.
song birds and hope
Posted: April 1, 2014 Filed under: pearls of wisdom | Tags: cycling, hope after sorrow, spring 12 CommentsThe winter has been long here, long and bitterly cold. Today I went for a bike ride through the park nearby, where just a day or two ago the snow rendered it impassable.
The landscape was grim and brown, trampled down under the weight of the heavy winter. But as I rolled along the rutted path I heard singing. It was a red-winged black bird. Not so pretty, some might say a junk bird.
His song cheered me, told me that eventually spring comes. I suppose that’s the lesson of the spring – the song birds always return.
bwthoughts 