Dinner

Tonight for dinner I had cheese soup, escargot, bison chili, and a sausage in a pretzel roll.

Thank you, Food & Wine Festival! I look forward to hitting the other half of the world on another visit!

Inspiration

Cat sent me a text from Epcot yesterday asking which drink at Cava del Tequila I was partial to. I wrote her back and told her to go with the avocado margarita. I woke up this morning to her reply: "It was so yummy! From here on out I put half an avocado in all my adult beverages."

Of course, that got me thinking about what adult beverages could benefit from avocado. Here's the list I came up with:

* Cosmo-cado - vodka, cranberry, and avocado. The flavor might be ok, but I worry it would be mudslide brown.

* Pina-vocado - rum, pineapple, and avocado. I want to try that!

* Avo-colada - rum, coconut, and avocado. The jury is out.

* Avo-jito - rum, lime, mint, and avocado. Scott the mojito purist wouldn't appreciate this at all!

* Avocado slide - vodka, Kahlua, and avocado. *horf!* No thank you!

*Avocado daiquiri - rum, ice, and avocado. Why not?

Anyone else have a good drink idea? Or a terrible one?

Snapshots from the Day

Scott and I spent just enough time in Epcot today for me to get a raging sunburn (roughly two hours). During that time, we had margaritas, saw butterflies in various stages, saw a duck family braving its way across the sidewalk, and saw some flowers.

We also saw something unexpected (besides the ducks). As we were leaving the butterfly tent, I noticed 50ish goobers standing across a pond from us, staring in our general direction and clapping and taking pictures. I looked at Scott and asked what the heck they were looking at, half expecting to see a celebrity behind us. Just then, one of the people working in the area asked if we were going to watch the shuttle. Sure enough, we turned around just in time to see the flash of orange disappear into the top of a magnolia tree. Thirty seconds later, I was distracted by the ducklings. It was strange though, all of the people just stopped where they were to watch. Some even clapped. It was sort of a unifying moment.

Anyway, here are some pictures from our adventure. The first three are the life cycle of a butterfly, from caterpillar to breaking free and learning to fly, to full-fledged awesomeness. Then some ducks. Then the margaritas.

Something Real

So at the risk of sounding optimistic or hopeful, I think my interview went ok. The hiring manager said she'd definitely be calling my manager for a chat, and even though she's out of town today through Tuesday, she said she would let me know either way by the end of next week. I didn't ask how many people she had interviewed, but I know I was the last one. I can't imagine she would waste her time checking out my references if she already had her mind made up to hire someone else.

For now, I'm doing my best to not think about it. Scott and I have a few fun diversions planned this weekend, and we've got chores (and sleep) to catch up on. Tomorrow is my 10-year company anniversary, and to celebrate we are going to my favorite Afrindian restaurant for lunch, and then going to Epcot to have margaritas for dessert. I'm sure we won't stay long - I melt in 90-degree heat - but this is the last weekend of the Flower & Garden Festival and I'd like to get a few pictures.

Oh Mah Achin' Feet

I spent the day today at Epcot with my cousin Jenn (that's Jenn A, as opposed to Jenn K, who comes with her teenage friends and not her husband and cute kids) and the aforementioned husband and cute kids.

And ever since I left them, I haven't stopped telling Scott what a great day I had. Precocious kids are the most entertaining thing ever!

Of course, tomorrow I'm looking forward to sleeping in and not walking 3 miles in circles!

More Pictures

Here are some more pictures from our soggy afternoon in Epcot:






Like I said in the other entry, it was very rainy. Obviously, we made the best of it. :)

Monday Munchies

(reported on Tuesday)

read on for descriptions of the items above

Scott and I decided back in August to do one of the "Food & Wine Tasting" events during the Festival this year. We thought the one entitled "Sushi, Sake and Sashimi" would be fun, because we like sushi, but haven't really exposed ourselves to anything really weird. And neither of us really knows anything about sake.

The weather yesterday sucked. It poured on and off all afternoon, and we got caught twice in sideways rain. It would have been a great day to sit at home with the windows open and read books. Instead, we hiked all the way around the World Showcase in squishy socks.

It was TOTALLY worth it!

The meal progressed from traditional to modern (American) selections:

The first of the three courses was the sashimi - tuna with fresh wasabi (yeah fresh - like ground right off the root! yum!) served with shredded dikon and seaweed. This was paired with Kurosawa sake.

The second course (pictured above) contained an unexpected treat for Scott. From left to right, they were Wagyu Beef Aburi with Fresh Wasabi (rare - seared on top with a blow torch right before serving), Marinated Tuna, Shime Salmon, and Eel with Egg Omelet.

The Wagyu was by far the highlight of the meal. The sous chef ("Tony") walked around during this course showing a piece of Wagyu and a piece of American steak to show the difference in the marbling, and Scott wanted me to help him steal the meat and run out.

The other items were good, too. The tuna was marinated in soy, and was delicious. The salmon (topped with fresh ginger) was better than Scott or I expected it to be. And the eel was sweet with a strange texture. Of course, I had a little trouble getting my eel onto the chopsticks. By that point, I had finished my second serving of sake (the "Katana") and was having difficulty with my hand-eye coordination.

The final "modern" dish was Tempura California Roll with Volcano Sauce. It was tasty, though the tempura had cooled and gotten chewy. I took the volcano sauce - mayo with chili powder - in moderation, and then Scott used what was left on my plate on his last piece. The final sake "Okuno" tasted more like vodka than anything else, and actually intensified the chili flavor on my tongue. Ouch!

And so, we walked out of the event with an appreciation for sake. I still don't think it's something I'd keep on hand at home, but I really got how well it paired with the Japanese food. And we're both craving more Wagyu sushi. Food for thought: That one piece of meat, would probably retail for about $10. And I'm sure Scott would agree: worth every penny!

Seas

While at Epcot last week, we actually did do things other than eat. We rode Soarin' and Spaceship Earth, and hung out in the Living Seas where there were FOUR dolphins in the tank at once. Sadly, my camera just isn't that into taking pictures through 6" glass, and my dolphin pictures all sucked.

I had much better luck taking pictures of things in the smaller aquariums. Here's my rockin' cuttlefish photo and a giant clam (about to suck up that poor clown fish!):

Food & Wine Part Three

Don't skip ahead! Start with part one and part two!

Louisiana

Seafood Gumbo

Scott: 3.5

Jamie: 1 - *gag* tasted like rotten fish to me!

Crawfish Etouffée

Scott: 4

Jamie: 4 - I thought it would be too spicy, but I found it delightful.

Abita "Purple Haze" Beer

Scott: 3 - It was good, but no Sam Adams

Praline Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel Sauce

Scott: 2.5 - cloyingly sweet

Jamie: 2.5 - what he said...and way too many pecans

Free Mini Tabasco Bottles: Priceless!

Turkey

Manti with Yogurt Sauce

(Note: manti is a spicy beef ravioli)

Scott: 4 - sour to the point of being sweet

Jamie: 4 - would've been a 5 if it didn't look like a pile of vomit! I really enjoyed it!

Canada

Chateau des Charmes Riesling

Jamie: 4 - I got carded when I ordered this! The first wine I had at the Festival, I can't tell you a thing about it, but I remember that I liked it!

Cheddar Cheese Soup

Scott: 4.5

Jamie: 5 - A festival favorite every year, though the predominant flavor in the soup is bacon, not cheese!

Vidal Icewine

Jamie: 5

Scott: 5 - Thick, sweet, with a honey after-taste. "Scotty like dee expensive wine!"

And Last But Not Least...

Puerto Rico

(left) Mofongo

(beef with green plantains, pork cracklings, shrimp and something like salsa)

Scott: 2.5

Jamie: 2 - the salsa was a redeeming feature. Both of us could see how this could be tasty if made well and served fresh, but this wasn't.

(right) "Gypsy's Arm" Guava Jelly Roll

Scott: 5 - tasty! I don't usually like guava, and this was very sweet, but sweet in a good way.

Jamie: 5 - first thing I had on day #1, last thing I had on day #2.

Plantain and Beef Casserole

Scott: 4.5 (once we scraped some of the diced red peppers off the top)

Jamie: 5 - Scott wants to learn how to make this, and I'm going to let him!

Frozen Mojito

Scott: 5 - Even though it was a "slushie" it was very well balanced. They used Bacardi Limon, which I usually don't like, but in this case it worked!

Jamie: 4.5 - I was shocked that you could still taste the mint so well without any actual pieces of mint in the drink!

So that's our culinary world tour. We hope you are drooling on your keyboard right now.

...and I would like to leave you with two photos of Scott - a study of mojitos - taken at the start of day #1, and the end of day #2. That's how you know we were on vacation!!

Food & Wine Part Two

Have you read Part One? If not, start there!

Ireland

(left) Frozen Irish Coffee

Jamie: 5 - Yum! It's an alcoholic Frappuccino!

(middle) Boxty with Bacon Chips and Kerrygold Garlic & Fresh Herb Butter

Scott: 4

Jamie: 4.5 - picture corned beef and cabbage wrapped in a potato pancake with herb butter on top. Only, you know, there wasn't actually any corned beef.

(right) Guinness Draught

Scott: 4

Irish Cheese Selection: Cheddar, Dubliner, Ivernia with apple chutney and brown bread

Scott: 2.5

Jamie: 3 - There was nothing wrong with the
cheeses, but they all tasted the same and were served cold. The cheese booth put this plate to shame. And that bread... doesn't look brown to me!

Potato Leek Soup with Dubliner Cheese Stick

Scott: 4 - Very creamy, light with a leeky undertone. The cheese stick was light in texture but intense in flavor.

Jamie: 3 - I didn't find it nearly creamy enough.

Time for a photographic interlude from the "Pearville Fair" section. Nothing to eat here but whole pairs, but still a fun photo op!

Hops and Barley

a.k.a. "The Beer Booth"

a.k.a. The booth with the mile-long line

Sam Adams Cherry Wheat

Jamie: 3 - which for a beer is pretty darn good!

Scott: 5 - It's his favorite beer, and can currently be found in our fridge

Sam Adams 13th Annual Festival Lager

Jamie: 2.5 - I didn't like it, but the flavor was layered and complex

Scott: 3.5

San Francisco, USA

Seared Beef Medallion with Cheddar Cheese Polenta

Scott: 4 - The polenta was very creamy. Beef had a little too much rosemary on it.

New Zealand

Lamb Slider on a Brioche Roll

Scott: 3 -Liked the roll, meat cooked well, the gravy was "eh."

Jamie: 3.5 - Tasted like pot roast on bread. I wouldn't have known it was lamb.

Bay Scallops with Baby Greens and Cranberry Vinaigrette

Scott: 3

Jamie: 3

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Jamie: 4 - this was the first red I tasted on night #1, and I don't remember anything specific about the flavor, but I remember that it was delicious and really enhanced the mini pot roast sandwich!

Morocco

Grilled Beef and Hummus in a Pita Pocket

(note: that's the description in the festival guide, but there was definitely no hummus on there. instead, there was a salsa-like garnish)

Scott: 1 - It had been sitting at least an hour. The pita was soggy, hummus was missing, and the "hamburger" didn't have any flavor.

Mint Iced Tea

Scott: 4

Jamie: 5 - I love mint tea, and at this point of day #2, I needed something cold and refreshing. Hooray for countries without alcohol!

We're still not done! Part three will be here before you know it!

Food & Wine Part One

WARNING: This entry is *way* photo-heavy. But we all like pictures, right?

Scott and I spent this weekend working our way through the World Showcase like grazing livestock, eating all sorts of interesting foods - most really good, some colossally terrible. Here's our full Food & Wine Festival experience, in the order of the Festival Guide:

(and before you judge too harshly, please remember these pictures were taken over the span of two days and 3-4 meal periods and fed both of us)

With each photo is a description of the food/beverage and a rating on a scale of 1-5 from Scott and/or I.

(top left) From the Chile booth: Dulce de Leche (we also had the Empanada, which was delicious, but ate it before I could take the picture!)

Scott: 3

Jamie: 3

(middle) From the "Mouse Catch" booth: Trio of cheeses - Dorothea, Manchego, Asiago

Scott: 5

Jamie: 5 (none were too stinky for us, and the man at the booth gave a great spiel for each and told me what order to eat them in)

(top right) Marqués de Caceres Rioja.

Jamie: 4. Awesome pairing, and even Scott appreciated it, but we both agree that a port would've been better.

Argentina:

(left) Beef with Chimichurri Sauce

Scott: 3

Jamie: 3 - tastes like pesto to me!

(right) Beef and Corn Pie

Scott: 3

Jamie: 3

Spain:

Seared Tuna Loin with Spicy Red Pepper Coulis and Garlic-Herb Ciabatta

Scott: 2.5 - Tuna was good, not good enough to cover the red peppers

Jamie: 3

Bodegas...Rosé

Jamie: fruity, worked well with the red peppers. It's nothing I'd seek out again

Austria:

(left) Tafelspitz - beef brisket with horseradish sauce and red-skin potato

Scott: 3.5

Jamie: 4 - I had a bite of this on night #1 when I was super-full and went back of day #2 to try it again!

(below) Goulash with Bacon Dumpling

Scott: 3

Jamie: 3 - tasty beef stew, neither of us really cared for the texture of the dumpling

China:

(left) Pork Pot Stickers

Scott: 3.5

Jamie: 3.5 - Just like what you'd find at the local Chinese take-out

(right) Chicken Sha Cha

Scott: 2.5

Jamie: 1.5 - Something about this one made me gag. Didn't like the sauce, and didn't like the chicken. ick!

India:

Samosa with Tamarind Sauce

Scott: -1

Jamie: 1

Had I known it would be this awful, I would have taken a picture of Scott tasting it. The filling was too spicy, the curry was too overwhelming, and even the tamarind sauce (we have enjoyed tamarind in the past) tasted like it was laced with habanero peppers!

Australia

(next two photos)

Pepperberry Prawns on the Barbie with Sweet Potato Hash

Scott: 3.5 - Slightly peppery with a nice sweetness. The hash was good but peppery.

Yewllowglen "Pink" Sparkling Wine

Jamie: 3.5 - I liked it, even though it wasn't as pink as I thought it would be. This wine is sold in our local Publix, and was tasty enough that next time I'm in the mood for something sparkling I'll consider it.

Wattleseed Mousse

Jamie: 3 - The description included "coffee soaked lady fingers," so I was expecting something like tiramisu. It was good, but not as good as that. At least the seeds didn't get stuck in my teeth!

Chilled Barramundi Fish with a Fennel Slaw

Scott: 2

Jamie: 1 - Cold fish? None for me unless it's sushi!

Germany

Regensburger Sausage with Sauerkraut in a Pretzel Roll

Scott: 4 - Only complaint was the seasoning of the brat (too mild). The pretzel roll was moist and the sauerkraut was good too.

This brings us to the end of Part One. Stay tuned for beer, mojitos, "lamb sliders" and more!

Bite-Size Portions

Scott and have decided to have a weekend-o-gluttony at the Food & Wine Festival.

The good news? The portions are bite-sized. That's probably best for both of us!

More details, including photos more recent than 2005, on Wednesday. In the meantime, leave a message at the beep.

***BEEP***

TomTom

Nope... I haven't gotten a super-cool navigation system. I did, however, get to spend part of today with "Professor Tom," one of the few CHS '96 people I'm still in touch with. We started with brunch at Garden Grill. OK, catfish and flank steak isn't really brunch. But when it's the first meal you've eaten, and it's only 11 am, you still call it that!

Above is our traditional Jamie-Tom-Photo-of-the-Year (last year's photo can be seen here). After lunch, we walked the World Showcase. And believe it or not, I was actually able to get multiple photos this year.

At the very bottom are green-screen photos that Scott and I took at Innoventions and Spaceship Earth. They are comically bad, thus their inclusion here!

Enjoy!