Looks Like South America to Me

I won’t be selling this pancake on ebay.  It is not a religious experience but there are a ton of items out there claiming to see a lot of different images in food.  This one just looked like South America To me.  Pancakes in Columbus OH. The kids ate it.

Pareidolia = phenomenon when a random stimulus is perceived as significant”

Reverse Root Beer Float at Jeni's

Columbus Ohio
We got ice cream cones after supper at Jeni’s. Their salty caramel flavor is really good. There was a sign for a reverse root beer float.
Of course, I had to ask…. Cream soda and root beer ice cream. I had a scoop of root beer ice cream along with the salty caramel.  Next time I will try the float!
Jeni’s is delicious

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Bubble Blowing Champ, Model Railroad Men, Pickle the Mini-Dachshund, Sheep and a Storm at the State Fair

 

This is what the sky looked like as we made our way down the midway to the van.

Then the rain started. We’d been at the Ohio State Fair about two hours. The photos are not enhanced, that’s the color of the sky!

A deluge.  The view from the van shows the lightning. Shortly after four in the afternoon.  It got dark as night. When we got home, the power was out so we

went to eat dinner at House of Japan.  Thanks to the Kroger booth people at the fair for sheltering me and the kids while Erika ran and got the van and the nice State Trooper who guided us to the van as the wind blew and the rain fell.  No hail today, thank goodness.  We got pretty wet and it came up fast but all is well.

 

 

 

 

The first photo of the fair is a small combo at the entrance gate playing Life is a Cabaret.  They were good musicians and set the mood.

As we listened to the music we saw this gentleman approach the exit.

His name is John and he blew an eleven inch bubble to win the bubble gum machine and the trophy.  He was a good sport and allowed me to photograph him.

The nice woman with the mini-dachshund, Pickle ( 1 yr), let the children pet the sheep and Michael had fun feeding one.  Thanks Carrie.

William , originally from Wheeling, was one of the men running the Model Railroad display.

 

And that is Dave in the PETA shirt in the Sheep Pavilion.

I asked one of the men how they judge the sheep in the competition.  He said, they’re choosing the ones who will look best on the table.   Some of you know that two out of my three kids are veg, but the one said to me, “Ma, ask that man if you can photograph his shirt!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for graciously allowing me to post your photos on the blog today. It was good to talk with everyone we met.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, That’s Crabmeat on the Asparagus- La Cucina Flegrea

V and I went La Cucina Flegrea on Murray Avenue for a decade and then it closed.  We had missed going there for the Spaghetti Arugula and Rigatoni in Vodka Sauce.  J and I took a cooking class there, you might remember that post click here

Well, Chef Anna is back and she was glad to see us. Our first visit to the new place.  She opened last November but it was Laura’s wedding and all.  It was my friend R who told me about this new location.  Here is the website for the new one, complete with menu-La Cucina Flegrea to downtown’s Market Square.  We were celebrating V’s birthday.  Happy birthday V!

We started with the 5 Fagioli soup and then because we ordered the Baccalá with Sweet Onion and Shrimp Sauce, a Mozzarella Wagon with Fresh Tomato sauce came as an appetizer- 4 balls of mozzarella breaded and fried and accompanied by a delicious sauce. Here’s a shot of the Asparagus with all the lovely, succulent crab meat on it.

Dessert was Baba au Ruhm.  Whipped cream and raspberries, a rum sugar sauce. And a cup of hot tea.

It was a happy birthday dinner and we were glad to eat at La Cucina Flegrea again.  Everything was delicious.

La Cucina Special

La Cucina Flegrea in Market Square
The La Cucina FLegrea entrance is the Pumpkin colored awning

Where’s Noah in the Plateful of Paleo Supper?

The phone rang after six.  My eldest son was on business and saw a sign that said Pittsburgh 35 miles, so he cancelled his hotel reservation and drove to the city.  (So that is why his wife called earlier to see what I was doing)YIKES!  I was boiling a pot of water for some Spinach Ravioli but Mark is on the Paleolithic diet these days. No grain!  The tiredness I felt from a school day dissipated as I got in the car and drove the two miles to the Whole Foods Market where I bought some Grass Fed Beef, Organic Garnet Yams, (I had two zucchini at home and a jar of coconut oil which I hadn’t even tried yet) and got back home to fire up the broiler, pronto! Got out the cast iron skillet for the zucchini slices, chopped up some romaine I had already washed and drained. Pulled it together in no time at all. As I set the dining room table he said he would rather eat in the kitchen so we did.And there we were eating in the kitchen and the house came alive again.  We used his iPad and Face Time to talk with the kids before they went to bed and we had a happy time together.

VOILA- a quick Paleo approved meal- this is the son who baked the Carrot Cake, Paleo Style.

For dessert we had coconut milk frozen Mint Chip with No Sugar Added.

From the Paleo Food website gluten-free, grain-free, bean-free, potato-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. (they are eating some dairy still)

Ingredients used: meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, tree nuts, vegetables, roots, fruit, berries, mushrooms, herbs and spice seeds.
 
Oh yes,after dinner he showed me the you tube of Derek Redmond and his father from the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.  Tears rolling down my cheeks. Mark said he wants to be that kind of father.   And he also played me a couple of Seekers songs as he remembers my cassette tape of them singing Someday, One Day, 
Right now he is sleeping  in the room across the hall, to get up at 5 AM to get to somewhere in Ohio, early.  I feel fortunate.  

Elegant and Delicious: Spoon

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A classy restaurant we’ve driven by on a daily basis but never stopped to dine.

Celebrating 19 years- our unanniversary- a solid friendship and steadfast companionship, not sure where all that time has gone but there we were in East Liberty and we headed to SPOON.  

What we ate-   the service was excellent and even though we weren’t ordering up the Foie Gras or the Tasting Menu or a Magnum of Champagne, they treated us hospitably and did not make us feel out of place as we were “walk-ins” and didn’t have reservations which would be a good idea for future visits.

Breadbasket: warm cream cheese chive biscuits/baguette and warm muffins

garden vegetable baby mix green salad: Golden Harvest Farm baby mix greens, fresh garden vegetables, champagne vinaigrette

Spoon burger:  8 oz. Kobe beef, aged white cheddar cheese, parmesan + herb fries, challah bun

Too full for the desserts but they sounded wonderful.

 

Ray Ray’s Hog Pit – Clintonville, OH

In Laura and James’ neighborhood, I see a lot of people lined up at this food truck whenever it is open- Ray Ray’s Hog Pit in Clintonville.  I read that on Sunday they feature a special of grass fed beef brisket.  Laura and James are veg so we’ve eaten at the Whole World Natural Restaurant & Bakery across the street or at their home.  But one of these visits I am going to get in this line and see why everyone is willing to wait in the chill air, order up and eat! It must be really good.  In fact, I think one weekend I should make a tour of Columbus Food Trucks  Here is one review