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Papaya & Banana Salad
As the warm days of summer are upon us, this Papaya & Banana Salad is the perfect ‘go-to’ dish to beat the heat. Inspired by our many lovely times on the Mayan Rivera along the Gulf of Mexico, a few wedges of lime add a perfectly refreshing zing to this nutrient-rich salad. It’s also quick and easy to prepare which makes it a real winner in my book!
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Guess Where I Am…? ?
The Druid Cemetery, Cuffey’s Cove, Mendocino, California. Honestly, it is unclear why there is a Druid cemetery in Mendocino, and the more locals I spoke to, the wilder the stories became…
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Restaurant Review – Zuzu Tapas & Wine Bar ? ?
Zuzu, located in Napa’s historic Old Town, has masterfully blended the culinary traditions of Spain and South America with the warmth of Mediterranean décor to create a true gem. The complex layering of flavor and spice in each dish was uniquely divine.
Our server Darlene was very knowledgeable and made some fantastic suggestions for our maiden voyage at the restaurant. Zuzu’s signature sangria was delightfully fresh and fruity. Given the ease with which the first glass went down, I had a great appreciation for the speedy arrival of our first plates!
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Le Voov! Derby Mint Julep ? ? ? ?
Every year on the first Saturday in May we throw our annual Kentucky Derby Party to celebrate a West Coast version of the Run For The Roses. We honor the many traditional aspects of this southern event, including an extravagant California version of the ladies Parade of Hats that would make the fellas in the San Francisco Castro scream, yip and holler with delight!
In keeping with tradition, we also have frosty mint juleps flowing promptly at 2 PM. However, as you may have suspected, my need to add a personal bit of Le Voov! originality, I put a little twist on the traditional julep….
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Guess Where I Am…? ?
This picture was taken at the Puerto Vallarta Zoo in Mismaloya, Mexico. Just prior to this photo being taken, the giraffe bent down and licked the sweat from the back of my ear!! Feeding a giraffe a carrot from my mouth was also a pretty thrilling experience!
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Guess Where I Am…? ?
Hotel Sofitel, Redwood City, California: Dale Chihuly’s Glass Chandelier. This amazing explosion of blue and green blown glass greets the eye in the lobby of the Sofitel hotel. I first became acquainted with Chihuly’s ethereal mastery of glass sculpture while visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium exhibition entitled “Jellies: Living Art” in 2002. Photography of his work is gorgeous, but viewing it with your own eyes is nothing short of pure magic!
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Guess Where I Am…? ?
Answer:
Rooftop of The California Academy Of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA.
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This was always my favorite place to go as a child. Newly remodeled in 2008, the natural science museum now features a living rooftop with over 1.7 million California native plants, which opens to allow natural ventilation throughout the building. If you get the opportunity for a visit, don’t forget to stop by the alligator pit and say ‘hello’ to Claude, the albino American gator.
Adult admission is $35 and family memberships are available for $250/year. http://www.calacademy.org/ -
Guess Where I Am…? ?
San Francisco Bay, California. The photo of the Stämpfli Express was taken by one of my talented masters rowing teammates Karen Gheno last December. I’m in the #7 seat from the bow (back/left side) of the boat!
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Guess Where I Am…? ?
Answer: ‘Bunny Foo Foo‘ is located at Hall Wines, California, USA, right off highway 29 in St. Helena, CA. This 35ft. (10.6M) tall rabbit was constructed with 3.3 metric tons of stainless steal by Lawrence Argent. (Completed in 2014.) Happy Spring/Easter to all! ?
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Guess Where I Am…? ?
Harley’s Goat Farm, Pescadero, CA. This sweet little goat is only 1-day old. She smelled just like a newborn baby and her soft ‘naaying’ melted my heart. Owner of the farm Dee Harley is praised internationally for her amazing, award winning goat cheese. Stop by the shop to taste them all! Yummy!!!! *Please check back with Le Voov! for a full post about Harley’s Goat Farm… 🙂
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French Wild Berry Pie ?
March 14th is Pi Day, an annual international celebration designated to honor the mathematical constant of Pi (Greek letter “π”), as well as Albert Einstein’s birthday. As many of you know, Pi is a never-ending number (3.14159) that that can be calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point.
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Savory Wild Mushroom Soup ? ? ?
I developed this recipe after enjoying a non-cream based mushroom soup at a local restaurant recently. By eliminating the cream, the deep, earthy tones of the various mushrooms are easily detected on the palate. I also decided to use potato to thicken the broth, rather than wheat flour in an effort to make this a gluten free recipe, so our friends with wheat allergies may enjoy this rich, savory soup.
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Dungeness Crab Season 2016!
Nothing screams autumn on the west coast like fresh, succulent Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister). Bay Area crab-lovers eagerly await the opening of the season every November. Unfortunately, this year, the state Department of Public Health has issued restrictions due to a toxin known as domoic acid, which can cause everything from mild gastrointestinal illness to death in severe cases.
Sadly, humans are not the only ones affected by this neurotoxin. Hundreds of marine mammals and birds have been sickened and died due to the unusually high levels of the toxic acid occurring off the coast this year.
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Le Voov! Fruit: Royal Riviera Pears ? ? ?
Each year, for as long as I can remember, our dear friends *Kathy and John have sent us a lovely box of Royal Riviera pears from Harry & David in Oregon. If you have never experienced this amazingly sweet and juicy pear, it is truly one to savor. (Please see my About page for details regarding *The Sisters)
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