Did you know….

The town of Santa Monica was launched by two entrepreneurs: Colonel Robert S. Baker, who made a fortune in mining equipment before taking up cattle and sheep ranching, and Senator John P. Jones of Nevada, owner of silver mines. They purchased land along the coast, hoping to develop a prosperous industrial port. An eloquent auctioneer initiated the sale of the first town lots for the new city on July 15, 1875 with evocative imagery:

… we will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder the Pacific Ocean draped with western sky of scarlet and gold; we will sell a bay filled with white winged ships; we will sell a southern horizon, rimmed with a choice of purple mountains carved in castles and turrets and domes; a frostless, bracing, warm yet languid air braided in and out with sunshine and odored with breath of flowers.

Although Baker and Jones built a wharf and railroad, their dream of a port city ultimately failed. Rather, the natural scenic and environmental assets extolled by the auctioneer set the new city in a new direction as a beach resort and an attractive place to live. (smconservancy.org)

Today’s Restaurant

Blue Daisy – Santa Monica, California

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes:

Baked egg meat sauce, Salmon Cake Scandia, Breakfast Combo, Coffee

 

Holiday weekends make great for loving memories with the family!

Whether it’s Christmas, Thanksgiving or even the grateful tribute day to our troops for Memorial Day.

What makes these weekends even better is when you combine a birthday celebration!

Let’s talk about my Labor Day/Birthday weekend extravaganza in Santa Monica,Ca at a new found love called Blue Daisy..

Continue reading “No if and’s or maybes..Please take me to Blue Daisy!!” →

Did you know….

Thai cuisine is a simple yet clever combination of Eastern and Western influences harmoniously combined into that je ne sais quoi. Sour, sweet, salty, bitter and spicy flavours work together to make each dish come alive. Thai food varies depending upon the area or region of Thailand the dish originates from. These regions include the north, northeast, south and central.

Historically, aquatic animals, plant and herbs were popular ingredients included in most meals. Large quantities of meat were mainly avoided, thanks in part to the Buddhist background, and instead strips of meat were flavoured with herbs and spices, or meat was cooked or roasted and then shredded.

Traditional Thai cookery involved stewing and baking, or grilling. However, the area that is now Thailand, Laos, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia and Vietnam were settled by the ancient Chinese an estimated 1,400 hundred years ago. With the migration of Chinese people into Southeast Asia, frying, stir-frying and deep-frying of food became more popular techniques, and to this day pad thai (fried noodles) and khao pad (fried rice) remain classic Thai dishes.(tasteofthailandfoodtours)

Today’s Restaurant

Sala Thai – Fremont, Ca

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

ROTI CANAI, CRISPY FISH WITH SWEET GARLIC SAUCE, BEEF EGGPLANT

When I need some spice and action in my life there is only type of dish that satisfies this racy temptation of mine…

Thai food!!

From the delicious coconut soup, to the outrageous flavor punching power each dish contains; Thai food is satisfying regardless of the time of year.

When I want to dine at the cream of the crop, I go to Sala Thai..

Let’s talk about it..

So I’m sitting at home and my spidey senses are tingling wanted some action on my tongue and in my belly.

My wife asks me, ” What do you want to eat tonight?”

Her: Burgers?

Me: Shaking my leg.. Nah..

Her: Fried Chicken

Me: Eyes slightly opened with a tad of excitement… Uhhh.. No..

Her: I know.. Thai Food!!

Me: Jumping out of my chair… Yes! Yeeees!! Let’s go!!

Throwing my jacket on immediately we both race to the car.

We jump in and pedal to the medal,we swerve side to side through lanes of traffic to get to Sala Thai.

We make it before the crowd shows up and miraculously get seated within 15 minutes.

We throw in our orders immediately and get the Tom Kha soup, which is a delicious soup made up of a Coconut base, spicy and sour soup with onion and mushroom.

We also order the Roti Canai, which is a flaky crusty thin sort of pancake with this amazing curry dip that will blow your socks off.

And not to forget the crab fried rice to shock the palette..

For the main courses we order the crispy fish with sweet garlic sauce and beef eggplant with bell pepper, and basil in black bean, and chili garlic sauce.

 Time to dive in!!

The Tom Kha soup and Roti arrive first…

We dive in to the Roti first while our soup is being poured into our bowls..

I stretch a piece of the Roti, rip then dip in the curry and into my mouth.

Kaplooooow!

Perfect light crunch with all kinds of succulent flavor from the curry.

Now the soup..

Thick but soothing coconut flavor punching me in the face! 

Combined with the suttleness of the chicken, ginger and lemon grass; it will make your day!

Now the main dishes arrive..

I can feel the drool growing like a balloon in my cheeks.

I grab some crab fried rice with a bit of the beef eggplant and a few piece of the garlic sauce fried fish on my plate. 

The fish is calling me. Let’s go!

Shaaaaabaaaang!

Instant crunch with super duper flavor in your palette. Officially the best fried fish I’ve had!

Next up I dive into the egg plant..

Firm but soft texture, heat searing within..

Kaploweeeee!

Massive flavor doing the running man on my tongue..Yum!

Back for more fish…

Boooooom!

More eggplant..

Baaaaaang!

A bite of the fried rice..

Pooooow!!

All together in my mouth…

Booom! Baaaang! Poooooow!

Nothing but live action eating! Good job Sala Thai!

Thanks for joining me on today’s adventure! I look forward to seeing you on the next run! Keep hope alive!

Eating is an enjoyable way of life. Live it..Learn it..Love it!

Trevis Dampier Sr.

References

tasteofthailandfoodtours.org (2017)
The History Of Thai Food Retrieved from http://www.tasteofthailandfoodtours.org/the-history-of-thai-food/

Did you know….

The roots of Rutherford—the historic grape growing center of the Napa Valley—actually stretch south of its central location in Napa Valley to Yountville, where George Yount settled in1838. Yount, an explorer and pioneer, was granted 11,814 acres by Mexican General Mariano G. Vallejo as repayment for a variety of services.

This land was called “Caymus Rancho,” and extended north from the western foothills of Mt. St. John to what is now the intersection of Zinfandel Lane and Silverado Trail.

Yount had three granddaughters. Elizabeth married young Thomas Rutherford in 1864. As a wedding present, the newlyweds received 1,040 acres at the northern end of Yount’s land grant.

While Yount is considered to be the first to plant wine grapes in Napa Valley, it was Thomas Rutherford who made a serious investment in grape production and winemaking. From 1850 to 1880, Rutherford established himself as a grower and producer of high-quality wines.(rutherforddust.org)

Today’s Restaurant

Rutherford Grill – Rutherford, Ca

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Iron Skillet Cornbread, Prime Rib, Burger, Trip-tip & Enchilada

Napa Valley.. Home of the grapes!!

Not just the world’s fantasy villa of grapes, but home to some of the finest dining around to pair up with those exquisite wines.

Last time I was out in Napa enjoying the view of a grape vineyard, while sipping on some aged Pinot Noir; we stopped in Rutherford,Ca and found the golden goose of restaurants.

Food so tasty it will make your head spin!

Let’s talk about it…

Continue reading “Oh my Word..I’m eating at Rutherford!” →

Did you know….

Soul Food is a term used for an ethnic cuisine, food traditionally prepared and eaten by African Americans of the Southern United States. Many of the various dishes and ingredients included in “soul food” are also regional meals and comprise a part of other Southern US cooking, as well. The style of cooking originated during American slavery. African slaves were given only the “leftover” and “undesirable” cuts of meat from their masters (while the white slave owners got the meatiest cuts of ham, roasts, etc.).

We also had only vegetables grown for ourselves. After slavery, many, being poor, could afford only off-cuts of meat, along with offal. Farming, hunting and fishing provided fresh vegetables, fish and wild game, such as possum, rabbit, squirrel and sometimes waterfowl. Africans living in America at the time (and since) more than made do with the food choices we had to work with.(aaregistry.org)

Today’s Restaurant

South City Kitchen – Atlanta, GA

Average Cost

$11-$30

Rating (1-10)

9

Recommended Dishes: 

Fried Green Tomatoes, Chicken & Waffles, Corn bread & Biscuits

Atlanta,GA is a beautiful area with southern hospitality, civil rights history and of course; great tasting food!

Great tasting food consisting of succulent fried chicken, greens, grits, rabbit, deer and much more…

As I’m here in Atlanta to attend a funeral for my dear Auntie..

We decided to make a move to one of the hot spots in Atlanta called South City Kitchen.

Let’s talk about it..

Continue reading “On a soul food mission..over at South City Kitchen!!” →

Did you know….

There are two main theories as to who invented the Reuben sandwich, both of which involve the name Reuben. One theory is that the sandwich was first made at a New York City restaurant called Reuben’s Delicatessen sometime around 1914. Another theory holds that the sandwich was made and named for a man named Reuben Kulakofsky, who frequently dined at the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska. (reference.com)

Today’s Restaurant

Refuge – Menlo Park, Ca

Average Cost

$10-$20

Rating (1-10)

10

Recommended Dishes: 

Any of the Pastrami sandwiches, haven’t tried anything else yet.

Next to bacon, I think beef is one of my favorite meats to eat. Succulent, tasty, a self created oil that just makes you foam at the mouth when you smell it.

There are so many ways to cook it..

You can fry it..

You can barbecue it..

You can boil it..

And surely you can smoke it.

One of my favorite types of beef is Pastrami.

It is a cut of beef that’s cured, which means it has been brined in a salt water solution; then it is rubbed with spices and smoked.

Every real deal restaurant has a specific way they go about creating this tasty delight. I know a place where you definitely will not be disappointed..

And that is over at Refuge.

Let’s talk about it…

Continue reading “Please don’t Intrude while I’m eating a Reuben at Refuge..” →