Raoul Duke

I say take the ole boy (like me) to a strip club for some wings and beers. He should be rewarded and congratulated for making it to 85!!

Plenty of lavender here to attract bees. Tomoatos are 18" high now and lots of blossoms (a bit premature). Olive trees (Lucca) are loaded with blossoms as are the Arbequina's. The frost did in abot 60 new Arbequina trees that were in the ground 1 year. Fruit forming on nectarine, peach, apricot, plum, and cherry trees. Apples and pears have blossoms but no fruit yet. Artichoke plant is getting big but no chokes yet, so the farmers from Lompoc have been supplying some good eatin' thistles. Strawberries are turning red, but this recent cold weather front has slowed them. Rain this evening and supposed to continue on for a couple of days. Not serious moisture, just feels and smells good. The moisture will help my planting 100 more Lucca trees and 100 Arbequina. Greetings from Paso Robles.

I assume that you are cutting off the tips of the 'chokes before prep. Can you eat the entire leave from the baby 'chokes?

The Sycamore Inn in Cucamonga had been good for me in the past, having grown up near there. Very good steaks, comprehensive wine list with Cucamonga Valley Zins on the list and a nice setting. This is relatively (in SoCal terms) close to Claremont. Whatever you choose let the rest of us know.

Wait till he get's a load of the "organic spinach" , with free range pig droppings from Cali that the rest of the nation loved.

Yes they were known as Anahiem chiles at one time, also California chiles. We have Food 4 Less markets here in the central coast of Cali and in the summer a vendor comes up with fresh New Mexico chiles and roasts them in the parking lot at the Atascadero store. 99cents a pound roasted. Needless to say 10 bucks worth is a good start.

Bag Report! Brown paper bags w/handles in San Luis Obispo. These are a two- thirds the size of a regular supermarket bag. I have noticied that Costco studies their store locales and adjusts products according to the buyers, ie; veal scallopine at SLO and not in Santa Maria. Larger local wine selection in SLO due to the Paso Robles AVA being here as well. I have purchased some local wines at Costco cheaper than my member price at the winery. That's kind of bothersome.

Everyone seems to want that Dusi bros. fruit and some use a small %age of it. That's all the head pruned zin, isn't it? Whatever, the 05 is a superior product. I liked both the Opolo zins, but a little to much fruit and not enough spice for my liking, but pretty tasty. Robert Hall had a surprising zin, the first from them that I tasted. Gary Eberle is on the mark, too, but like I said my friends and I all like the Cujo. My neighbor produces some fruit, petite verdot, for Opolo. The oil has been produced for two years, the first two years, with low yields due to youth and weather. The 05 garnered a bronze at the LA County fair so I'm doing something right. Sold at We Olive as well, plus a lot to the Portland farmers market in Orygun.

Before we get into the olives, I gotta tell ya that Cujo is one of the best balanced Zin's I've had in a long time. 2-17 tasted 8 wineries, 2-24 re-tasted some and added another 3 tastings and still liked that Cujo. Both times with out of town visitors who also loved it enough to purchase for travel to N. Dakota and Orygun. Since I really don't know you this isn't a shameless plug, but I'll be back for more. The olives are 1200 trees, 400 Lucca on traditional planting 10' X 20' and 800 Arbequina trellised for high density planting at 18' 5'. The Lucca are a strain developed by UC Davis for Cali to resist frost and drought, similar to Frantoio. Good fruit flavor with heavy pepper on the palate. The Arbequina are the Spanish varietal with less spice and well developed fruit flavors. This year the frost took it's toll on my trees, the 2 y/o Arbequina got burnt bad as did a number of other growers trees. This comes after last year being the worst year for oil in Cali since the '40's. But it's farming.

I'm sittin' here in my office looking out at the rain that has finally started. A slight drizzle coming in from the S/SE, with some wind behind it. The California bike tour rolls into San Luis Obispo today along with the weather. Nice to get some moisture on the olive grove.

Opening March 9th Trader Joes in Templeton, Cali. This will be the 3rd TJ's within 45 minute driving time of my home. I'll buy for those of you who have to do without. Raoul

Call the narcs and tip them off to a large drug deal going down.

Nathan, wait a minute! What about the girl?

I'm using a 60" Viking range w/a Vent-A-Hood 4 fan system. To damn noisy when guests are in the kitchen and it's on. The roof mount surely is the way to go as suggested by Joe. I'm seriously considering a roof mount and gutting the fans from the hood.

What happened to "say is that a Big Kahuna Burger"?

surely you don't mean Twins??? ← Doink, yes I did! Say was that a Big Kahuna Burger? That's one tasty MF'er.

The secret to eggplant parmesean, is extra cheese. Hint: Our govenor in his glory days, and an actor who comes up short (in very few ways)!

Yes, but that's only because you'd already had to provide those to get in the country. Maybe that's why the restaurants are more relaxed - everyone's still queuing at the airport. ← I don't think this is the forum for political agenda's. It's about piss poor accomodations at eateries.

If your condo has a BBQ on the grounds, I might suggest picking up some Azeka ribs for the grill. Ono grinds.

Great advice Jim. I think everyone should use gallons of EVOO, for everything. This opinion counts, even if I'm a producer, doesn't it?

Shalmanese.... Correct here regarding the USDA guidelines for olive oil in the US. It's been since about 1948, when the grades were developed, that oils were not required to meet specific standards, ie; contents, acidity, peroxide, etc.... Exactly what is you get when you buy imported or domestic oil? Maybe cold pressed mechanically w/o heat or chemicals, maybe less than 1% oleic acid, maybe other oils included? Lots of maybe's and variables in EVOO. The California Olive Oil Council (COOC) is attempting to address these issues and does certify oils as EVOO after meeting described standards. Good sources for olive oil info are at www.cooc.com and www.theoliveoilsource.com

Check out the Bart system for getting from the airport to your hotel.

Crab at the Stinking Rose.

I've noticied a couple of friends starting to brew turkish coffee on a regular basis. New Ibriks seem to be showing up in a few stores as well. I can remember my Serbian uncle brewing this up along with a small still in the "back kitchen" for the other habit.

Shalmanese, you're right it won't kill you, but for 20 bucks I say toss it and get a fresh one.