I found out a few hours ago that Patrick Swayze has Pancreatic Cancer.
I am not sure why this is having such a profound affect on me but it really is. I can’t imagine the world without his Dirty Dancing Body in it. Somehow it makes me feel old and like my time might be coming just around the corner. Its weird how someone so alive can be so gone so fast. Is that what I am reacting too? The fear that it can happen to me. I am sure we all know people that thought it would never happen to them – the big C word – that seems to be the way Cancer goes. Too sad I tell you. Who will baby dance with?
If you like wine I want to recommend that you check out the City Pages wine tasting at International Market Square. The event is really accessible and there is something for everyone. You get to taste all different kind of wines in a fun, unpretentious setting. I always find a cheap wine that I like there that I can get for under $10 that I would not be embarrassed to serve at a dinner party.
It was here that I discovered Big House Red. Its not fancy but its tasty and my favorite wine to drink on the deck at the cabin. I love that you can get this wine at almost any liquor store in America and it has a screw cap!
Ticket for the wine tasting are $28 in advance $35 at the door.
I had the opportunity last weekend to eat at The Strip Club, the new East end outpost by the folks that brought us Town Talk Diner. I must admit to being an St Paul girl. I live in St Paul and we frankly don’t have enough restaurant choices (which may be why I always end up at the Lexington) so I was really glad that the Strip Club came along. I made my reservation on a Tuesday for the next Saturday. I had been to the space before and new it was really small so reservations were a must. Upon arriving, a very nice man named Tim greeted us and told us the reservations were running a bit behind and asked us to be patient which we were for 40 minutes until we were seated. The vibe in the place was really fun, people at the bar were very accommodating and nice so waiting at the bar was fine. Tim checked in two or three times and I later found out Tim was the part owner so it made sense why he was hovering to make sure we were ok.
While at the bar I befriended my neighbors, two wonderful gentlemen named Mark and Dennis. We quickly struck up a conversation and I have to tell you, they eat the way I want to eat when I go to a restaurant but I am too chicken to do it. They sit down and order the cooks choice and let the cook fix up for them what is special for the evening. As each of their entrees and small plates came out they let me sample them – I sampled the Swedish meatballs on top of mashed potatoes with brown gravy – these looked good enough and tasted very warm and comforting. The other entrée was a fish that was really lovely on the plate.. The custard was good, there was a cherry layer that was yummy and crumbled biscotti on top. I would have to visit the dessert cart again to really give you a sense if they are hitting on all cylinders there. Bar drinks were thoughtful and generous. They make their own Limoncello and orange and grapefruit infused liquors. Mark and Dennis just kept asking the bar tender to get them the house specials as drinks were concerned and they were all made with these fabulous concoctions. I would definitely go that route on my next visit. Desert was a trifle that was elegantly prepared
At the Strip Club the thing to order are the small plates. Each are priced from 6-12 and they give you lots of little delicious bites. I loved the eggs. They were deviled eggs with spicy chili oil and they were really excellent. I also loved the grilled Caesar salad where the romaine was grilled along with the giant crouton they served along side. Grilling the lettuce gave the dressing a really smoky special flavor and the dressing that was drizzled over it was tart and garlicky and perfectly complimented the smoky lettuce and nutty Parmesan shreds – I loved this salad. Lastly we had an order of the walleye fritters. They were a pan friend walleye cake and the small plate came with three with a delicious homemade tart, briny sauce that was a fancy tarter sauce. The cakes were light, airy and perfectly cooked and we loved them so much we ordered another plate full. We also had fried oysters that were delicious. They were presented on a skewer, on a bed of mixed greens, with a sauce to drizzle over them. The presentation was really nice. Last came the NY strip steak that we ordered. I am sad to say the meat was tough, had a bit of gristle and was a bit tasteless. This would not have bugged me so much if the place were not billing itself as a meat joint. The way it works is you order your cut of meat and then you can order one of 6 sauces ala carte to go with the meat. Our server didn’t recommend any of the sauces or seem very excited about any of them. In hindsight it might have made the meat feel more special to have a sauce and I wished they would have pushed the sauced idea more as it’s a great concept and the restaurant could hang their hat on that – if that is they can get the cuts of meat right.
I loved the ambiance, the room, the neighborhood feel and all the small plates I tried. Ill give it another go round for the steak.
On my show this week we talked about a great article that I read in the New York Times. The general premise was that people who have been married or are in long term relationships (10 years or more) can get that “loving feeling” back and create that new relationship excitement by going on regular date nights once a week. I cheered and thought whhooo all right, we are already doing that – but here is the catch – instead of going to the same restaurants, the movies or hanging out with the same group of friends you have to mix it up. You both expand your horizons and do new activities together which ignites the dopamine receptors in your brain and gives you back that “kooky loving feeling” you had when you first met. There is actual scientific evidence to prove that this works
I brought the article home and showed my husband and his response was a little underwhelming. Generally, he is a creature of habit. He likes to go into our local tavern and have them say “Kurt, ala NORM ” and know what he is already going to be ordering. I am trying to spice it up however so instead of acting on my first idea which is, lets go to that great new Russian museum together, which I did spring on him and had him looking like a terrified rabbit about to be hit by a car – I thought I’d ask you LOLers.
What’s a great new idea for date night or the best date night idea you have experienced or had?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008, 05:08 PM CST
[General]
I got an e-mail from a listener today that is participating in the Breast Cancer 3-day. I am so glad that people feel compelled to get off their booties and participate in this and so many of the other great fundraising events. I really feel like I know so many people with Cancer right now and I believe every litle bit helps. I really feel like its just a matter of time before Ill feel the tell tale lump and then I too will be a member of the "cancer" club. This is the kind of club you dont really want to be in but once in you can't get out. I hope if I ever get past the club doors that I find the support and hope for a cure that I see so often in those around me fighting this disease.
I volunteered at a Pay It Forward For Breast cancer event last Friday. I was a "celebrity" dealer. Not sure how much celebrity I brought to the event but it was great fun and I got to hear about lots of peoples stories about Cancer and their loved ones that are surviving and also some who didnt and we tried to have a laugh in their honor.
Raise a glass tonight for all in the fight, past, present or future:)
