How Baseball Has Changed

A few weeks ago I went to a high school baseball game in Los Angeles. My son David, among other things, is a baseball umpire. And he's good, so even though he's only been doing it a few years, he is already doing high school varsity and some college games. Anyway, I stopped by to watch him umpire one day, and to observe the parents in the stand. My, have things changed.

From 1977 until 1990 I watched my three boys play Little League and high school baseball. I figured out that I spent a minimum of 1,250 hours on the bleachers during this time. No wonder my shoulders are stooped. We had a wonderful time watching the kids. Ron was the head coach, and an excellent one at that. One season he had a team that went 20-0, only to lose in the city championship. The parents were for the most part, one big family. The kids played together outside of Little League, we had swim parties, pizza parties, and in general a really good time. Of course every parent was rooting for their own child, but there was no competitiveness leading to hard feelings. We were always a team. There were a few parents, usually fathers, who thought their child was the next Sandy Koufax and wanted to know why they weren't starting, but for the most part parents looked at Little League as an experience that would develop character and nuture friendships.

Fast forward to 2010. At the high school level which I recently observed, things have changed dramatically. Fathers are busy video taping their kids or clocking their pitching speed with a Juggs gun. The goal? A college scholarship, or if they are very talented, a major league contract. Parents are preparing their kids for the day when a college scout or major league scout will offer them a contract. With the cost of education, everyone is looking for a scholarship if they have any talent.

The fun of the game is gone. The young boys playing sports are so focused on perfomance and their future in the game, that many of them fail to have fun. It's no longer just a bunch of boys playing baseball. It's business. I for one am saddened by the change, but with so much money at stake parents are pushing their kids to get a piece of the pie. I just loved the old days when we'd sit and cheer for the team, drink our sodas, and go out and celebrate at the local pizza parlor after the game, win or lose. Those days are gone. It's all about each child's individual stats and whether he's got the goods to make a college team. Too bad.

Tommy V's Urban Kitchen: You're Going to Love It

On a recent summer weeknight, friends Jeff and Cookie joined me at Tommy V's Urban Kitchen in Bressi Ranch (Palomar Airport Road and El Fuerte). I was hoping, as I always do, when a new restaurant opens in North County, that this was going to be the one that I can go back to again and again and not be disappointed. Everything about my first visit tells me I have found that place.

I frequently complain that the restaurants in the area are what I call, "Plain Vanilla". The Italian restaurants are all the same items we've seen for 30 years and the chain restaurants are, well, chain restaurants. I am looking for ambience, innovation, freshness and good service. I got all of these at Tommy V's.

First, the restaurant itself is located in the new Bressi Ranch center, which I find so inviting. It's like a little village, with Trader Joe's and Stater Bros. right there, in addition to many casual eateries and local businesses moving in all the time to make it a full service shopping center. Tommy V's is gorgeous. Sleek, contemporary and spacious. It's a little noisy, but I liked it. There was an energy in the room. Attractive looking customers of all ages, and a busy bar area. I liked the fact that we wanted to order from the bar menu but did not have to sit in the bar. We sat at a low table looking out on the patio and had a nice dinner at a comfortable table.

The owner is Melissa Maggiore. She comes from a family of restauranteurs, from Arizona and California. She opened La Bruschetta in La Jolla and Zibbo Italian Bistro in Encinitas. The family also started a winery in Sicily and in 2002 introduced their Italian wine to the American market. Her goal at Tommy V's is to offer an eclectic menu showcasing New American and Contemporary Italian dishes. Pizza, pasta, burgers, seafood and appetizers are all represented on the menu. By North County standards, they're open late, 10pm during the week and 11pm on weekends. Check their website for happy hours, specials and full menus. www.tommyvsurbankitchen.com.

The bar menu is great for sharing. There were three of us for dinner so we decided to order 4 items and share everything. During happy hour (3:30-6:30) all bar menu items are $2 off. We ordered ahi poke with crispy wontons, Tommy's Filet Mignon bruschetta (grilled filet, blue cheese mayo, fresh tomato basil), seared salmon salad, and saganaki (Greek cheese flambeed tableside, flatbread). Every dish was exceptional. The most interesting dish was the cheese. It was a large square of thin cheese, maybe 6 inches by six inches, covered with brandy, then flambeed. The result was a fondue type tasting soft, gooey cheese with a hint of brandy. It was served with triangles of flatbread. This was delcious and something I would go back for. All the other dishes we ordered were excellent too. I cannot find anything to criticize. On my next visit I will try the Urban Board, a variety of artisan cheeses, cured meats, artichokes, country olives with flatbread. That's the most expensive thing on the menu at $15 less $2 if you go during happy hour.

Also on the bar menu are pancetta wrapped grilled prawns, crab cakes, shrimp cocktail, several pizza choices and steamed mussels. Drinks are also offered at a reduced price during happy hour.

I won't even begin to go through the regular menu, but it includes many of these items in addition to some more substantial main courses. I will go back again and try the dinner.

Service was exceptional. Our waiter knew the menu well and was comfortable taking the time to explain various items to us. Drinks were refilled without asking, and service was prompt.

Finally, a restaurant in North County that is everything I'm looking for in a dining experience. I can't wait to go back again. Tommy V's, you're doing a great job. Keep it up.

Open Sesame in Belmont Shore

Recently I spent a wonderful evening with my daughter- in- law Deborah. She was at a trade show in Long Beach for a few days, so I drove up to have dinner with her, then continued on to Los Angeles to visit my mom. Anyway, Deborah had never really been to Long Beach before, so I took her over to Belmont Shore on 2nd Street, the very trendy area of the city. I've been there many times over the past 15 years, as I have a friend that lived there and we watched 2nd Street grow and grow and grow. Today it is about 7 blocks of restaurants, bars, coffee houses and boutiques of all kinds. My friend Fran is there frequently to see her daughter and son- in- law, so I called her for a dinner recommendation. She gave me four choices. Deborah and I walked up and down the streets for about an hour, checking out all the eating possibilities, and ended up at one of Fran's favorites, Open Sesame w(www.opensasamegrill.com). Here's what I liked.

First, Open Sesame opened in 1999. It was started by Ali Kobeissi, a transplant from Beirut, Lebanon who came to Belmont Shore in 1988 and fell in love with the area. As a young child he would work in a spice factory on his vacations, where he learned to mix many exotic spices and developed a love for healthy, flavorful food. With that knowledge and his entrepreneurial spirit, he opened Open Sesame in 1999. He now has three restaurants.

The restaurant has both inside and outside seating. We chose outside as it was a beautiful summer evening, and we got to watch the walkers as they strolled by. But after eating, I went inside, and next time I will try the inside. It was small and somewhat crowded but had a wonderful feel to it, a little dark, with great smells emenating from the kitchen.

The food was as good as it smelled. They have lots of appetizers, entrees, salads, sandwiches, soups and special combo plates. We got two combo plates filled with falafel and pita, tabouli salad, hummus, both plain and spicy (very creamy), a garlic and puffy eggwhite dipping sauce, warm pita. Our other plate had chicken on a skewer(moist and flavorful), hummus, baba ghanniuj (egg plant, spices, tomatoes and onions) and rice. Everything was fresh, healthy and moderately priced.

Other dishes that they offer include labne plate (creamy kefir cheese dip, olive oil and mint and pita, vegetable kibbi (bulgar wheat, tomatoes and onion, herbs and spices and olive oil), fried cauliflower (with onion, tomato and pine nuts and a tahini dipping sauce). I can't wait to try that next time.

Belmont Shore is a great outing for those in San Diego looking for something fun and different. I think it's similar to Montana Ave in Santa Monica or Melrose in Los Angeles. Don't forget that Long Beach also has a great aquarium. So next time you're looking for something different to do on Sunday afternoon, drive on up to Belmont Shore (1 1/2 hour drive), take in the sights and have lunch or dinner at Open Sesame. You're gonna love it.

Cruise Ship Renovations in a Down Economy

I was recently lucky enough to experience the luxury of Crystal Cruises, and wondered how in this poor economy they were still able to offer the excellent service and ammenities they always have. Their philosophy is that they must in order to maintain their six star rating and keep ahead of the competition. The cruise industry is highly competitive, and at least a dozen cruise lines have spent upwards of $100 million recently in upgrades to their ships.

The Crystal Symphony just spent $25 million on a makeover after it had already spent $25 million a year earlier. The many new features to the 15 year old ship include a redesign of the penthouse (I'll never see that), Swaroski Crystal chandelliers, cashmere throws, new pool deck furniture, enormous jacuzzi at the main pool, sleek new decor in the Prego restaurant and a new Trident Lounge. President Greg Michel says that as the market shows evidence of stable recovery the company is likely to consider a new vessel order. When I travelled on the Crystal Serenity we were told it was the first full sailing in two years. That's very good news for the industry.

At the other end of the spectrum Carnival has been doing extensive renovation to keep its fleet fresh. The eight Fantasy-class ships have been renovated. The new amenities include a waterpark, redesigned pool and Serenity adults only area. Many of the ships have received new balconies on oceanview staterooms as well as open deck features, including a 300 foot long Twister water slide filled with exhilarating twists and turns. It sounds like the kids will love it.

Other cruise lines that have also completed renovations include Celebrity, Costa, Holland America, Oceania, Princess and Royal Caribbean. A good question to ask when booking a cruise is "When was the ship last renovated"? It can make a big difference. Cruising is one of the best travel bargains out there. Consider one for your next trip, and try to cruise on a recently renovated ship. It could make a big difference.

Thank you Lynda, for reminding me that July 29 is National Lasagna Day. Who knew? Go to Buca de Beppo for lunch, order one pasta dish, and get a free lasagna. What a deal. Thanks for letting me know, Lynda.

Twenty Seventh Visit To Taft

Now that I've had company on the drive to Taft for the last few weeks, I find the driving time going very quickly. Carole and I start talking, and before I know it, we're there. Unfortunately she will be going back to school in a few weeks so my driving companion will be gone. It sure has helped for a short while.

I have spoken of "time" before, and the many ways to count time, to mark off the calendar as we get closer to Ron's release date. But I have not said that I still feel living in the present is what it's all about. Living in either the past or the future does not work for me. Of course I think about the future, our future, but I cherish each moment every day.

I've never been one to wish my life away. There are those who are always wishing for something in the future and never enjoying the present. When we were kids we were wishing for Christmas or our birthday or for summer vacation and never enjoying each day. Of course I'd be lying if I said I wasn't wishing for this ordeal to be over, I am counting the days. But I am also concentrating on enjoying each day to the fullest. Some of my friends marvel at how busy I am. I have always been one who has a million things going at once. I like it that way. Now that I have less responsibility I actually have time to do more. I have only myself to take care of. My days are filled with working, writing, reading, bridge, yoga, exercise, mah jongg, golf, eating out and going to the beach. These are the things I love. Luckily I have some wonderful friends to enjoy these activites with.

Yoga and meditation (yes I can quiet my mind for these important practices) have taught me to calm my mind, focus on the present and be still. These are all very hard things to do, but the peace and tranquility from practicing mediation and yoga are immeasurable. No one knows what tomorrow might bring, so let's all enjoy every moment.

During my visit with Ron on Friday I practiced this very thing. I never once looked at the clock or thought about what time it was or what I had to do later in the day. We had lots to talk about. There's lots going on in our family and so little phone time. I can't wait for the day they get e-mail at Taft. How could it take so long? Only one answer, bureauracy.

Keeping busy helps time go faster. I enjoy each day, look forward to what's on the calendar for tomorrow, and before I know it another week has gone by. Ron's time is not moving quite so fast for him, and next week I'll tell you more about what he does daily to keep busy, especially during the summer when things are so slow and it's so hot there you can fry an egg on the pavement.

Regarding my trying to enjoy each moment, I just have to mention my drive home on Friday. Carole and I left at 12:45, moved along nicely until we got to Magic Mountain, where there was a big brush fire on the side of the road and a big delay. I dropped Carole off, picked up my mother and drove to San Diego thinking the diamond lane would move right along. We did not arrive home until 6:30. What a nightmare. I certainly wasn't enjoying the moment on the drive home. I was thinking of the future, in my bed in my house!

Salt...The Bistro

When I was last in Boulder, my son Phil and I had lunch at a new eatery called Salt. It's in an old historic building on the Pearl Street Mall. It looks like it's been there forever, which means they did a great job at taking a very old building and redoing the inside, giving it a great feeling. It was tasteful and contempory but did not feel "new." They have a beautiful long bar with gorgeous lighting, and an open kitchen. We sat near the front of the restaurant so we couldn't see the cooks at work, but I was very impressed with what came out of the kitchen.

The slogan of the restaurant is "salt, civilizing taste for over 6,000 years." When you first sit down the waiter brings you a little tray with two different types of exotic salts. We had a Himalayan pink salt and a French flaky salt. Both were declicious. The Salt's committment is to use Boulder County product whenever possible. They shop at the local Farmer's Market and use more than 10 local farms for beef, cheese, buffalo and produce. They feel that the closer their food source is, the fresher the food will be. Everything I ate for lunch that day was fresh, abundant and beautifully presented.

For lunch, small plates included house marinated olives and salted marcona almonds, warm flatbread (with rosemary, sea salt and olive oil), procisutto salad with field greens,pickled onion and balsamic, Haystack Mountain cheese plate (local farm) and crispy polenta and grilled D'Anjou pear. Great choices. The entrees included an ahi tuna and tangerine salad, chicken curry salad, beer battered Alaskan cod, grassfed burger with homemade fries (delicious), rotisserie sirloin steak, flatbread pizza with carmelized onions, tomatoes and pancetta (this was great) and a vegetable tasting (about 8 different veggies). Everything I tried was wonderful, and I left wanting to come back soon again. They have a wonderful dinner menu too, including meat, chicken and fish, most locally raised, in addition to some pasta and vegetarian choices.

The big bargain at Salt is their Social Hour (our happy hour), from 3-6 everyday. During that time they serve house made hummus and flatbread, mixed nuts, orecchiette bolognese, local roasted beets with fresh chevre, warm marinated olives, flatbread of the day, wood fired mussels with grilled bread, and local cheese plate. They have many more choices. All of these dishes are between $2-$4. When I go back it will be for an early dinner. I'll order three or four of these little appetizers and a nice glass of wine. If you you go to Denver or Boulder, try to check out Salt for a great meal.

A Trip to Tuscany Without Leaving Home

Cordiano Winery, nestled in the San Pasqual Valley in Escondido, is almost too good for me to want to share. But in the spirit of my blog and the hope that everyone who enjoys a beautiful setting and good food and wine can spend an evening there, I will tell you about this very special place.

Gerald and Rosa moved to San Diego in 1991 and opened their first of many Italian restaurants, Leonardo's in Rancho Bernardo. The business flourished, and more restaurants were opened, all the while Gerald never forgetting his first love, winemaking. Then in 2002, Gerald fulfilled his dream of opening his own winery, calling it Primo Amore. The Cordiano family continues to embody his passion and dedication for producing fine wine. It's a family affair, and their love for what they do is evident in the food, wine and the warm feeling you get in this magnificent setting.

Just 15 minutes off the I-15, after traveling down a dusty, windy road, you will come upon Cordiano Winery. It's important to call ahead and make a reservation if you plan to stay for dinner. Everything is made to order. We had several wonderful wines at good prices (i'm not a wine conossieur so I can't tell you what they were), delicious warm breadsticks with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, followed by a fresh green salad, and pizza, pizza, and more pizza. They have an outdoor pizza oven where Jerry (the owner) cooked up many types of pizza. I enjoyed the vegetarian pizza with an assortment of fresh veggies. Our hostess, Vivian, had made chocolate dipped strawberries, apricots and almond clusters for dessert.

It wasn't hard to imagine yourself spending an evening in Tuscany. Rolling hills sparsley dotted with homes and vineyards and a rustling wind to break the stillness, made think of Italy. Hawks flew overhead looking for their dinner. The sunset was spectacular. The five minutes just before sunset is one of the prettiest sights I've ever seen.

Cordiano Winery will do private parties at the winery or catering. For a special event they will cook anything you want, although their specialty is of course Italian. Chicken, lasagna, veal parmigiana, they'll do anything you request. They also have a wine club that you can join, where you get first call on new wines all year long. It's a great setting for a wedding or any large party, but I would stick to summer months only, as the nights get very chilly. There were 31 of us on this occasion, and I can tell you I look forward to a return visit very soon.

A New Tavern in Town

Encinitas seems to be the place for new restaurants lately. I can think of five or six that have opened in the past few months. A few months ago the Lumberyard Tavern and Grill opened in the Lumberyard. The address is 967 S. Coast Highway 760 479 1657. I have been there three times so far, once for breakfast, once for lunch and once for dinner. For what it is, a tavern/sports bar, it's very good.

Breakfast is downright cheap. I had dollar sized pancakes for $5.00. They were light and fluffy, and just perfect for the light eater. My friend Fran had two eggs, bacon and toast. Everything was cooked perfectly. The first time we went there we were the only patrons in the place. Today when we went back for lunch on a Sunday, it was jam packed. I'm glad to see that.

The lunch and dinner menu is really great. They have lots of great appetizers, like grilled artichokes, grilled shrimp in a spicy sauce (delicious), nachos and potstickers. I had a goat cheese and beet salad with walnuts, apples and raisins. It was delicious. It was dressed with a light vinegrette. Fran had the tri tip sandwich. Other items on the menu include pizzas, burgers, flat iron steak, veggie wraps, ahi tuna wrap, pulled pork sandwich and many other salad choices. The food is very good.

This is a great choice if someone in your party just HAS to watch a sporting event. Lots of TV's adorn the walls, so you can see one wherever you're sitting. It'as a nice, friendly atmosphere, so I'm rooting for them to do well. The servers are all superfriendly, but need to concentrate more on taking care of their customers. They were very busy the last time I was there so service may be better when they're not packed. Try this new restaurant for good food, served by friendly servers and a nice tavern atmosphere. Enjoy

Tender Greens is a Winner

I'd been dying to try Tender Greens in Liberty Station since I first heard about it six months ago. I just haven't had the opportunity to get there, but last week I was in Los Angeles and ate at one of the three locations there.

I was in LA to celebrate my mom's 87th birthday. I don't think she'd mind my telling her age. If I were that age and doing what she's doing I'd be bragging about it.

Anyway, we met my sister and neice at the West Hollywood location, at 5752 Santa Monica Blvd. It's a bright, contemporary restaurant with booths and tables and plenty of space. No crowding here. From the moment I walked in, saw the open kitchen with everything being prepared right in fron of you, I knew this was my kind of place.

The menu is posted on the wall. You select your food items, put your order in, then walk along the line, watching them make your food, finally paying at the end of the line. There's a grill that is always loaded with fresh vegetables, chicken, ahi tuna, flat iron steak an shrimp. Even after I ordered I was second guessing myself. "I should have had the Mediterranean salad, no, the chicken with mashed potatoes and grilled veggies looked awesome, I should have had that." What I did have was absolutely delicious. The tuna nicoise salad, with two huge pieces of seared ahi tuna on top of fresh greens, green beans, olives, potatoes and a quail egg. It was delicious. My mom had the Mediterranean salad with feta, peppers, olives onions and greens. Madeleine had a chicken sandwith on ciabatta with a side salad, and Alison had the barbequed chicken salad. We all loved our entrees. For dessert we all shared a red velvet cupcake, piled high with frosting. I refrained. I did have a diet cola called Virgil's diet cola, at 5 calories, the most refreshing soda I've ever had and I will have to go online to see where it was sold. Wonderful.

The grilled veggies, including fresh corn on the cob, zucchini, onions and eggplant were so tempting. You can pair the veggies with any grilled protein, like chicken or steak, add mashed potatoes, for a great comfort food meal.

I just loved everything about it. The fact that they buy all their produce locally is an added bonus. The fact that they are involved in the community and try to raise awareness about healthy eating is another plus. Finally, the fact that they have a great website listing the nutritional information and calories of every item is very important to me.

I have written in the past about the calorie content of salads in so many of our favorite restaturants. You will be happy to know that the salads at this restaurant are actually healthy and relatively low in calories. My large tuna nicoise salad was 540 calories.

I can't wait to go back and try something else at Tender Greens. You could go a dozen times and get something healthy and delicious every time. They're located in Liberty Station in San Diego. The website is www.tendergreensfood.com. Let me know if you like as much as I did.

Twenty Sixth Visit to Taft

I have been driving up to Taft for the past few weeks with the wife of a prisoner who has been incarcerated for 24 years. I have learned much from her about patience, understanding, acceptance and commitment. I think about the beautiful marriage she and her husband have, even though they've never lived together, and marvel at how they have done it. Her courage and commitment gives me strength to work on continuing to strengthen the bond between myself and Ron.

Each week when we visit there is a laundry list of topics and people to discuss. Children, grandchildren, mom and friends (old and new) are always up for discussion. We also talk alot about the two of us. How will our lives be different when Ron comes home? I, having never been alone before in my adult life, have certainly changed. Will I find his return to the house an intrusion? I don't think so. I do enjoy the quiet right now, but am anxiously looking forward to the day I hear him tapping away on the computer, or listening to a ball game. He too, will have changed. He has become more self sufficient during incarceration. He does his own laundry, cooks many meals for himself (sort of) and has learned to spend time alone. How the two of us will blend together remains to be seen. I do know that whatever it takes, we will work to make it successful.

I sometimes forget how important visitation is to Ron. I go about my daily life, talk to my friends and family daily, play bridge, golf, exercise and go out to eat. Ron's life is restrictive and routine, and Friday is the most important day of the week to him. His week starts on Saturday and ends on Friday with visiting day. I specifically try to stay totally engaged with him during the several hours we spend together. By this I mean I'm looking at him, holding his hand, even hugging him when I can. I want to really be present when we are together. Many people visit loved ones and spend the time eating, checking out who's in the room, or playing cards or scrabble. There's nothing wrong with any of these things, but I want be right there, in the moment, with him.

In meditation we talk about being in the moment. The moments I spend with Ron will never come again and we need to savor ever one. Last week there was a terrible tragedy by one inmate's family. A wife and daughter, along with other family members, were coming to Taft to visit the husband. There were six people in the car, two of them were not wearing seabelts. The driver lost control of the car, went into a ditch and rolled over, ejecting the two people who were unrestrained. One of them was killed and the other is in critical condition. The others were all hurt but pulled from the burning car by good samaritans. The wife was killed and the daughter is in critical condition. It got me thinking about being in the moment, enjoying to the fullest our time together. We never really know what tomorrow may bring.

More Cooking With Trader Joe's

Deana Gunn packed so much great information into less than an hour, as she talked to a group of foodies at the Encinitas Library a few weeks ago. Last week I told you about some of her favorite products and recipes. I have more to share, including how she got the idea for the book in the first place.

Deana is an MIT graduate with a Phd. from Northwestern. Not bad credentials, but you'd expect to see her working in aerospace or some other science. Well, she's young, and with a growing family she found she no longer had the time to prepare the fresh, healthy meals she had prepared in the past. She found that by using Trader Joe's products and augmenting them with fresh fruit, veggies and meat, she could produce meals that were better than made from scratch. One of her favorite items at TJ's is the the fresh pizza dough. She takes the dough and stretches out like a baguette, then fills it with pesto, olives and goat cheese, or any other combination you can think of, then pinches the dough together to keep the filling in, and cooks it. The result is a beautiful baguette, filled with delicious goodies. She brought a loaf for us to sample.

Another observation she made is that the products at TJ's are fresh. Nothing sits for weeks or even days. Turnover is fast, which leads to freshness. Nuts and eggs are two products she commented on. They sell so many of them that they're about as fresh as you can get without going to the farm. Did you know that fresh eggs, when hardboiled, are much harder to peel than eggs that have been sitting around for awhile? So if you're making egg salad, don't buy the eggs at TJ's as they will be hard to peel. Buy your eggs at one of those other supermarkets.

Now I will share a few more products that Deana told us about. TJ's mini croissants are fantastic. You buy a package of 8 for $3.99. Take them out as needed, let them sit overnight with a cloth covering them, then pop them in the oven in the morning for warm, flaky homemade croissants. They also come in chocolate. I have bought these, and they're not around long. I love them. She also said she saw the same product at Williams Sonoma for three times the price! Packaged quinoa is another favorite of hers. There are so many ways to fix quinoa, as a cold or hot salad, or use it as a thickening agent in chili or soup. TJ's also carries a homemade tasting pie crust that really tastes made from scratch. For salad dressing, one of Deana's favorites is the cilantro dressing in the refrigerated section. I haven't tried it yet. Finally, an item called Just Almonds looked interesting. It is a bag of ground up almonds, almost like a flour, that can be used in many ways. Pie crust and cookies come to mind, but I'm sure there are many other ways to use this product.

The last thing Deana did was demonstrate the making of a wonderful salad in about five minutes. She used the TJ's steamed lentils (usually lentils take hours to prepare), fresh cherry tomatoes (halved)and Italian parsley, chopped. She added a dressing made of one part lemon juice and two parts olive oil. The result was a quick and easy (and beautiful) salad for lunch or dinner.

It was a great evening and one that got me thinking of other ways to use the TJ products for greater efficieny and better taste. Her cookbook, "Cooking with all things Trader Joe's) has many delicious recipes, including black bean soup, chicken tortilla soup, chocolate bread pudding and apricot baked brie. Her book is available on Amazon.

A Cool Afternoon

Looking for something different and free to do on Saturday, July 17? Try going to Cedros (design street) between 12:30-5:00pm for lots of fun. Music, food, entertainment and lots of shopping will all make for a good time.

The weather should be perfect for an afternoon browsing the various shops on Cedros. The place will be bustling, live jazz will set the mood, and good food and drink will make everyone happy. I have been to Cedros in the early evening when they keep all the shops open, offer appetizers, drinks and music and I can tell you it's lots of fun for the whole family, including the dog. Before hitting Cedros, walk to Fletcher's Cove and watch the surfers do their thing. I was there today. The sun was shining and everyone was enjoying beautiful Solana Beach. Join the crowd on Saturday for a fun filled afternoon.

Scarves, Scarves, Scarves

I recently returned from a European cruise with my mom. One thing I always noticewhile traveling is fashion. This time, scarves are the "in" accessory, both men and women are wearing them. ALL women are wearing them, and they are often worn by trendy young men too.

I couldn't believe it. It didn't matter where we were, Lisbon, Barcelona, Monte Carlo or even small towns like Oporto, Portugal, every women was wearing a scarf. Darn, they had a demonstration on the ship on how to tie a scarf and I missed it! I struggle to get the scarf to look good but it's a great, easy fashion accessory.

I came home with several scarves. The least expensive one was 1 Euro ($1.25), the most expensive was about 7 Euros. I like the cheapest one best. With warm weather just around the corner I won't have much chance to show off my new scarves until fall, which should give me plenty of time to learn how to tie them.

When I travel I sometimes start looking for one particular item, and then even when I have found and bought that item, I continue looking for it. It's all I see everywhere I go. This just happened to me, with scarves and shoes. I had seen a cute pair of sandals in our first Portuguese town, and I seemed to continue to see them everywhere we went. I finally bought them after seeing them in dozens of stores at many different prices. I actually found my way back to the original store I had seen them at and bought them there. I'm very happy I did.

For someone who is not much of a shopper, I did pretty well on this trip. And, I even enjoyed it.! (all women I saw in Europe DID NOT look like the girls in these pictures)

Fine Dining in a Grocery Store?

My good friend Paula will often suggest a place or a topic for me to write about. Her latest suggestion is to let you in on her secret dining experience, one she really doesn't want too many people to know about, but she agreed to tell me about it. It's Bristol Farms Cafe in the UTC (La Jolla) Bristol Farms Market. Yes, wine tasting and fine food in a market cafe.

Every Thursday night, from 6-8pm the La Jolla Bristol Farms has a wine and food dinner. Several wines plus a three course meal for $22.96 per COUPLE. The actual menus are not listed on the website, but according to Paula and Mike who have eaten there several times, the food and wine is delicious, and the cafe itself, which is part of the market, is cute and casual. You must RSVP for this dinner to 858 558 4180. It's actually $11.50 per person for a three course meal plus several wine tastings. I don't think you can beat that anywhere.

Bristol Farms also has an awesome breakfast and lunch menu. Breakfast includes the regular choices, like waffles, eggs benedict, oatmeal or granola, all kinds of scrambles, omelettes, and a breakfast burrito. Lunch includes soups, wedge salad, cobb salad, chicken salad, chinese chicken salad, six kinds of burgers and about a dozen sandwich options. Almost everything is under $10. A breakfast special is offered everyday, and although I couldn't find it on the web site Paula has been there for the $3.99 breakfast special, which includes eggs, toast, potatoes and coffee. Watch out Denny's.

I look forward to a Thursday night in La Jolla soon. I've got to try this out. Hope to see you there.

Twenty Fifth Visit to Taft

I just got home from another visit with Ron. I was lucky enough to have someone else to drive with today, a new friend to help shorten the drive. Talking and sharing stories with someone new made the time fly by.

My visit with Ron was so rewarding. We feel such a deep committment to each other, and spending the intense time we do during visitation only makes us appreciate each other more.

I said a few weeks ago that there were changes coming to Taft, and that's a good thing. For one, Taft has a new warden. Not that there was anything wrong with the old warden. He was good, fair and well liked. But for some unknown reason they assigned Taft a new warden, one that everyone is happy with. The assistant warden is also a good, compassionate person that sees the inmates as people, not just numbers. Another change coming to Taft sometime this year, is e-mail. They're a little behind other prisons in this area, but they assure us that it will be here soon. That will make communication so much easier, faster and cheaper. There will be a two hour delay between the time an e-mail is sent and the time it is delivered.

Other things that we have to look forward towards the end of the year is November and December. During these months there is extra telephone time and extra, sometimes free visiting days. That is great for the holidays, and I look forward to it.

The other change that has taken place is that Ron has changed to a kosher diet. Only a few inmates receive a kosher diet. It is healthier for him, especially considering his diabetes, and he has already lost weight. It's available to all Jews at the camp, but not everyone takes advantage of it. Much improved.

Today was the first day with new guards in the visiting room. Every 90 days there is a changing of the guards. The inmates and the visitors both have to get to know each other. Last week the old guards all knew me by name and knew Ron by name too. Now we start again getting to know each other. Then, as soon as we know each other, they'll change the guards again. And so it goes.

We're past the 1/3 mark, and although I'm still counting months, Ron is counting weeks. He's so positive and energized right now. It's great to see. I talked to one of his friends today who told me he is a real leader. He shows new and younger inmates what is expected and is a great source of comfort to those going through difficult times. He's turned into a pretty good listener. Today was another great day for us both.

Libraries Change Lives

I had no idea how valuable our libraries are to our community until I moved to Carlsbad and started using the Dove Library regularly. I used to just go buy a book when I wanted to read one, but being an avid reader, that was getting very expensive. But the library offers so many other services, like book clubs, movie nights and a speakers program. In conjunction with National Library Week, Carlsbad has been reading Travels with Charley, by John Steinbeck. On April 24 we had an opportunity to listen to Thomas Steinbeck (John's son) talk about his father, the book and his own writing. Yes, he's an author too.

Dr. Susan Shelinglaw was on stage with Thomas Steinbeck, and interviewed and asked prepared questions from the audience. Susan is an authority on John Steinbeck from San Jose State and a friend of Thomas'. Thomas is 66 years old, was born in New York, but lives on the west coast. He didn't say exactly where, but I assume near Monterey. He was a journalist in Vietnam, worked for an ad agency, then became a writer. I haven't read any of his work but word has it he's a wonderful writer. If his storytelling and his sense of humor are any indication I would like to read his work.

Through a number of stories about his father and his family, Thomas gave us some insight into John Steinbeck, the writer. While Thomas was growing up, he always thought his father was unemployed. He would eat breakfast, then go to his room and spend the day there. It wasn't until he was away at prep school at age 16 that he read The Red Pony, and realized his dad was a famous author. That's a little hard to believe, but his point was that his dad never talked about his work or his writing, and shied away from big parties and celebrity. He was shy in front of those that knew he was famous, but outgoing among those who just knew him as John.

One question that was asked of Thomas was "How did your father balance writing and a family?' The answer was that he didn't. He was first and foremost a writer. That's all he ever wanted to be since he was a child. He had two children only because his wife wanted them. Now that really makes you feel wanted! Despite not wanting children he loved women and was married several times. His children did not grow up with a full time dad in the house, however Thomas has a lot of fond memories of his dad. John was always making his boys toys. He loved toys, would make them pea shooters and sling shots. He had a great sense of humor. He didn't tell them many stories, but they read books together. The first memorable book that Thomas remembers reading with the family was The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury. Thomas said that book changed his life.

Thomas feels that Travels With Charley was a way for John Steinbeck to say goodbye, resolve thngs that were on his mind, and say a final goodbye to America. He was dying of heart disease and knew this would be his last trip.

It was a great afternoon. Our librarys have so much more than books to offer, and I hope you'll check your local libray and see what they've got cooking. So many books, so little time.

What Happened to the Westwood Village of My Youth?

I've lived in or around Westwood Village for most of my 65 years. I grew up here in the 50's. A typical Saturday back then would be a walk into the village, lunch at Hamburger Hamlet or donuts at Stan's, then maybe a movie or bowling. All that for just a few dollars. Those days are gone, as are Hamburger Hamlet and the bowling alley. Westwood is still filled with college students and ethnic restaurants of all kinds, but things have changed. On my walk this morning to meet some friends at The Coffee Bean, the new Westwood hit me head on.

Westwood is dirty. There is trash in the gutters, homeless on the benches, and empty storefronts everywhere. Westwood Blvd. is about half empty. On the corner is a CVS, next door there's an empty store, then a little sandwich shop, next another empty storefront, and so it goes. I even noticed today that Chili's is gone. The businesses that are left are almost all food. Ethnic restaurants abound, many of them very good. There are lots of Mediterranean and other Middle Eastern restaurants, Asian restaurants, Italian, sandwich shops, ice cream and donuts. One of my favorites spots is Diddy Riese, a cookie and ice cream shop. Many varieties of cookies to choose from, then fill them with one of the many ice cream flavors, for a wonderful ice cream sandwich. They also offer Hawaiian shave ice. Delicious. They're lined up out the door for this place. Yes, Stans donuts is still there, but it's not what it used to be. Gone are the businesses I remember from my youth; Fedway, Hamburger Hamlet, Bullocks.

In the 50's and 60's Westwood was one of the greatest places to see a movie. The Fox and Bruin, two landmark theatres that are still around, were the sight of many Hollywood premiers. I can't tell you how many Saturdays I spent in the balcony. Other places I remember from years past that have survived for over 50 years are Oakleys Barbershop, Flax art supplies, Fat Burger, Helens Bicycle Shop and Bel Air Camera. They must be doing something right to have survived 60 years.

I think most of us who revisit towns from our childhood are disappointed. They're smaller than we remember or they've changed in ways we can't really put a finger on. I see clearly the changes that have come to Westwood and don't like it. It has lost that small, college town feeling, and has been replaced with a lot of empty stores, fast food resturants and a few markets and drug stores. I don't know how they're going to turn it around but I hope they do.

Local Ethnic Foods I Miss

If you're like me and moved to San Diego from a big multi cultural city like New York, Los Angeles or Chicago, you're probably missing the same thing I am. Good, neighborhood ethnic restaurants are few and far between in our area. I just came back from Los Angeles, and had a chance to go to a little Thai restaurant in Hollywood, the kind of place you would drive right by if a local didn't tell you how great it was.

The restaurant is called Bamboo House (www.bamboohousela.com) and borders on the areas known as Little Armenia and Little Thailand. Sunset and Normandie are the major cross streets. My sister lives in the neighborhood, and knowing that I love Thai food, she was anxious to introduce me to her newest find. I was not disappointed. First, their food is beautifully presented. Every plate has a hand carved vegetable ornamentation on it. My Tina Rolls had a sculpted carrot garnishing the plate. Tina rolls are steamed chicken breast rolled in thin skin with noodles and vegetables, served with a hoisin peanut sauce. I just loved it. So fresh and healthy. Other dishes I sampled were Fried Tofu with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. The extra firm tofu is cut into triangles, then deep fried and well drained. It was crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, just perfect. Other wonderful dishes were pineapple rice and cashews, which is so good and can be eaten as a main course. Pad thai noodles were delicious, as was the spicy salmon with onions, carrots, chili, mushrooms and basil leaves. Prices are moderate, most dishes in the $7-$10 range. If you're ever in the area, stop by for lunch or dinner.

This restaurant is on Hollywood Blvd, and within a 6 block radius there are probably 30 different Thai restaurants, and about the same number of Armenian restaurants. They're all family owned, they each seem to have a different speciality, maybe a grandma's secret recipe to entice customers. Also in the area are numerous ethnic bakeries, both Thai and Armenian. I've got lots of other places to visit in the future, including the bakeries, and Koreatown is only a few blocks away, so I'll have to try something there, too. San Diego, will we ever get this type of restaurant? If you know places like the one I just reviewed, please post it so others can enjoy.

Chefs Picnic Club 2010

Last night I went to see Love, Loss and What I Wore, at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. It is an intimate collection of stories written by Nora Ephron and her sister Delia. It is read by five actors. We saw Rhea Pearlman as the lead in this show that opened last year on Broadway, and I predict will be all over the country by next year. It is just a wonderful, fun evening for women, much like The Vagina Chronicles was a decade ago. The audience was wild about it. Even the eight men in the audience were amused.

In the program was an add for the chefs picnic club, and I thought many of you might find this of interest. Picnics and outdoor concerts go hand in hand, and we have many outdoor venues for music and theatre which are perfect for picnics. The 15 chefs involved in this club send out an e-mail every Monday with recipes and ideas for picnics. These are the hottest chefs in LA: Nancy Silverton, Joachim Splichal, Celestino Drago, and Thomas Keller just to name a few. All you do is go to the web site and sign up (free) and wait for weekly picnic and recipe ideas. So far I have gotten menus from Joachim Spichel (Patina) and Thomas Keller (Bouchon) They're full menus, but things you could bring for a picnic. I don't know if I'll make any of these recipes, but I definitely enjoy reading them and seeing what the top chefs are thinking about. Go to wherela.com/picnic and sign up. Give your summer concerts a good beginning with some new picnic ideas, and by all means, as soon as you see the above mentioned play in our area, get tickets.

Twenty Fourth Visit to Taft

I felt very peaceful as I drove down the long dusty road from Taft today. It's about a 25 minute ride on a 2-lane highway, and I usually zone out during this time. I have so much going through my head from our visit I usually can't focus on anything. But today I was smiling because of something that occurred during visitation that showed me how important networking is to the inmates at Taft.

We were about two hours into our visit. Ron, being the social butterfly that he is, had introduced me to some of his new friends, and reintroduced me to many I had met before. In walked a man I had not seen prior to today, and Ron waved to him and asked him to come over. He is new to Taft, arriving just last week, and this was his first day of visitation. His wife had made the long drive to come see him, and I could see they were both a little hesitant about the whole process. Ron warmly shook his hand, and then the new inmate introduced his wife to us. Ron assured his wife that he and a group of other inmates would take care of her husband. They would make sure he learned the ropes, had everything he needed, and would help him with anything, especially emotional support. They were both so appreciative.

Next, I saw the two of them go over to two other tables where Ron's friends were also having visitation. Again, these men told the wife and new inmate that they were there to help and support him in whatever he needed. As I saw her walk away from the last table, there were tears in her eyes. I pointed this out to Ron, and he knew right away that these were tears of joy. She was overcome with the support she knew her husband was getting from other inmates at Taft and she was no longer afraid for him. She was feeling great relief, knowing that this small group of men would make sure her husband was comfortably settled and give him any emotional support he needed.

I know all too well the feeling she had. I remember my first visit to Taft, not knowing what to expect, not knowing how Ron was doing or what he was doing. (after all I had almost no phone contact with him before I came for my first visit) It is so comforting to know that there are men there that actually care about each other. Unlike the outside world, these men have nothing but time on their hands and are able to spend hours talking to each other when necessary. They offer great strength to each other which gives strength and peace to the wives. Knowing that your husband is in a safe place with a few people that truly care, well, that makes me smile. I said I would write about changes this week, but that will have to wait until next time. Until then, happy 4th of July!!!

Who Was Dorothy Height?

A few weeks ago one of our great leaders in the struggle for equality and human rights for all people died, at the age of 98. I'm speaking of Dorothy Height. When you think about the civil rights movement, the first name that comes to mind is Martin Luther King, Jr. Don't forget Dorothy Height. She worked for more than half a century for equality for all, trying to bring her passionate commitment for a just society to all mankind.

Dorothy was born in 1912 in Richmond, Virginia, educated in public schools in Pennsylvania. She established herself early as an exceptional student and great orator. She attended NYU for her bachelors and masters degrees, then Columbia for her postgraduate work in Social Work.

In 1933 Height became a leader of the United Christian Youth Movement. It was during that period that her career as a civil rights advocate began to unfold as she worked to prevent lynching, desegrate the armed forces, reform the criminal justice system and fro free access to public accommodations.

1937 was the turning point in the life of Dorothy Height. She was serving as Assistant Executive Director of the Harlem YWCA when Mary McLeod Bethune, founder and president of the Nationsl Council of Negro Women, noticed young Height and hired her. The following year she was one of ten women invited to Hyde Park, NY to the home of Eleanor Roosevelt, to plan and prepare for the World Youth Conference.

For thirty three years Height served on the staff of the National Board of the YWCA. Throughout her illustrious career she helped train many women throughout the world to help improve the lives of all women. She received volumunious awards along the way, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004. She was truly a giant in the Civil Rights Movement and she will be missed.

Rethink Chula Vista

In our never ending search to bring something new and different to our Wanderers group each month, Fran and I headed off to Chula Vista. Yes, Chula Vista. Did you know that it was the lemon capitol of the world until around 1960? That's when Sunkist finally left the area. It has an interesting history, many historic buildings still standing, some beautiful Victorian homes, an extensive nature center that is part aquarium, part zoo, part nature trails. It also has some great Mexican food, bakeries, meat markets and Mexican delis.

Let me tell you about a wonderful hole in the wall restaurant, if you ever get down that way. It's call Vanessa's Deli (it used to be Vanessa's Water Store). 600 F St., corner of F and Broadway in Chula Vista. 619 585 8102. Originally it was a water store. People would come in and fill up their bottles with water. I never knew such stores existed, but Fran remembers seeing other stores like this many years ago. Anyway, it is now a Mexican deli selling healthy Mexican food you're going to love, rotisserie chicken, tortas (Mexican sandwiches), fruit salad extrodinaire, a large variety of fruit drinks, homemade soups and wonderful looking Mexican desserts.

Where do I start? I'm looking at a menu as I write this, but the only menu they had was in Spanish, so I'm struggling. We had 6 flautas, tortillas filled with shredded chicken rolled and fried, then covered with shredded lettuce and a white sauce. Absolutely delicious. The fruit salad (small size was not really very small and priced at $4.50) included mango, strawberries, papaya, watermelon, pineapple and banana. It can be topped with cottage cheese, or sweet cream and granola. It was fantastic. The tortas (sandwiches) looked fantastic. Carne asada and ham and cheese are just two of the many choices. All sandwiches are piled high with ingredients, including lettuce and tomato. Tamales, various tacos and burritos, carne asada nachos and tostadas are among their other offerings.

Did I mention they also do breakfast? They have an extensive breakfast menu which includes eggs done many different ways, breakfast burritos, omelettes, and bagels!

The deli is in a little strip center next to a laundramat, so don't expect much in the way of ambience. Just a few tables sprinkled around the room and a deli counter in the back. And oh, the friendliest workers. With no English menu we were stuggling, but they were so helpful. Just 30 minutes away from Del Mar, but we were in another world and loved it.