Lots of Winery news

For those who follow my blog, you know I've become pretty good friends with Dan & Cris Willett who own Willett's Winery and Cellars in Manito. I try to promote their wines whenever and wherever I can. People ask where they can buy them, and the response has always been "At the winery in Manito". Yes, the drive to Manito isn't on the way to a lot of places. And yes, other local wineries sell their wines through distributors to local retail outlets. But the Willetts have another idea & that idea has come to life. Starting May 1, you can buy their wines at The Shoppes at Grand Prairie. The Willetts now occupy the space that once housed Vino 100 and The TinderBox so now you can try and buy their wines there!! However, you should still try to get to Manito. The late 1800's building that houses the winery is pretty awesome and to see the tanks, wine making equipment and the like is a neat experience.

If you need more of a reason to head to Manito and the winery, the next Wine & Dine is Saturday, June 20 at 6:30 PM where we pair 4 of Willett's Wines with 4 courses prepared by yours truly with entertainment by Joe Metzka. If that isn't enough, I'm even preparing one of the courses out in the dining room. The cost is $50 per person and you can contact the winery to make reservations here. The menu will be:

Caesar Salad: Baby Romaine Leaves, Garlic Croutons, Traditional Caesar Dressing prepared “Tableside” (2009 Willett’s Winery & Cellars Recipe Contest Challis Award Winner) served with Willett’s Winery & Cellar’s Seyval Blanc

Seafood Savannah: Crab, Shrimp, Scallops, Corn & Scallions in Chardonnel Cream Sauce Served in a Pastry Shell served with Willett’s Winery & Cellar’s Chardonnel

Bistecca Al Forno: Oven Roasted Ribeye topped with Rosemary-Roasted Garlic Infused Olive Oil, Tomatoes, Loccotelli Romano and Provolone Cheese with Grilled Vegetable Rotollo served with Willett’s Winery & Cellar’s Chambourcin

Vanilla & Amaretto Roulade with Strawberries Romanoff served with Willett’s Winery & Cellar’s Strawberry Breeze

See You Around The Table

Chef Kevin

Similar Items on Ebay.

Ok, I'm watching the following item on Ebay as it is the filter I use for my aquarium. I get this e-mail:

"Hi Kevin, Buy this item now, before someone else gets it!

MARINELAND MAGNUM 350 FILTER SLEEVES 12 PACK BULK AQUARIUM FILTERS
Buy It Now price: $19.95 End time: Apr-17-09 18:46:17 PDT
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Below this announcement are the"similar items" notification:

Similar Items on eBay

12 Trojan Magnum Large Size Condoms 1/2013 New $7.50 (1 Bid) Time Left:58m

A. How are they similar? B. I hope they are new.

It Is AFTER Lent

I normally do not post about work as I try to keep blogging and work separate. However, yesterday we must have been sponsoring "Bitchy People" day. WTF? You'd think that since Lent is over, people can have, meat, pizza, chocolate, etc. that they gave up for a month and the abstinence that has caused them sorrow, grief, etc. would be gone and they would be more well tempered. Maybe they gave up being rude for Lent and now are trying to make up for lost time.

Famous, Final Last Words....For now

NO, I'm not over the museum TAX yet. I still think the tax increase could be better spent. But, I do have questions:

First, to the 15304 of you who voted yes, if it is such a great idea, why didn't each of you just write a check out for $2700 and spare the rest of us? That would have kicked in the $40 Million-plus. Of course, there is the issue of $10-11 Million dollars that needs to be raised. Depending on how long that takes, how much will construction costs and supplies escalate? How will that cost be covered? Next, there seems to be this revelation . And last, if by the grace of a higher power or some other reason, this doesn't get built, what happens to the tax?

Random Questions in my Mind....

How many times have people stuck blazing hot pizza in their mouth only to have the cheese burn the hell out of the roof of their mouth? One would think they would learn.

A business is closed (or not yet open). Obviously, there are employees finishing up (or getting ready to open). Do people really think by beating longer and harder on the doors or windows is going to get them to re-open (or open earlier)? Do they open at the customers whim at their jobs?

Your pet does a poopy on your carpet. You stick their nose in it and give them a swat. What does that teach the pet? Not to stick its nose in its own shit (OK, I didn't think of this, but I'll relay it to the few people who read this blog).

You're sick. You are home, doped up and trying to sleep. Why do people insist on calling you to see how you are? "I don't know how I am. I just got woke up because the phone ringing!"

You are off to have a root canal or some other unpleasant medical experience. You find yourself driving 70 in a 45. Why are you in a hurry to experience discomfort? It isn't like the doctor or whomever is going to be on time anyway.

You have the day off. You have big plans to get things accomplish. However, you find yourself listening to old Buckingham-Nicks records and blogging.

Flashback...1973

I'm working in the basement this morning and look over at my old Dual 1257 turntable. Its hooked up, but doesn't see much use anymore (as does that horribly expensive - at the time- Nakamichi cassette deck). I go over, have no clue to what last album I listened to (which is unexcusably left on the platter) and hit the switches. 1973's Buckingham-Nicks before they joined Fleetwood Mac.

I sat, zoned out, listening to the first side through the haze of the less than stellar recording and the few cracks and pops. I thought to myself how pure this was...they just probably went into the studio, did their thing and it was done. Few re-takes, no electronical wizardry, no remixs, redubs, no oversampling, no digital tomfoolery.

The side ended, the arm came to the end of the album, lifted up, swung back over and rested on its stand. However, the old Dual didn't shut off!!! The album kept turning and turning. I want to think there is a message there beside the fact that I needed to unplug it to get it to stop.