Posted in BonVivant, cali_lovin on 07/19/2006 07:51 pm by Queenkv
Good times at Cafe de la Paz. This Latin-American restaurant is one of my favorites in Berkeley. Nice servers, yummy food and delightful cocktails. When I lived in the Bay Area, we’ve lot’s of celebrations here, going away parties, graduation parties and any excuse for a big group of people to indulge in a huge plate of paella. We met-up with Betina, Hans and Nat during our last visit to Bear Territory.
A really cute fact about the kid: he’ll calm down and smile when Betina sings the Cal fight song. Too cute! He likes it when she get’s to “grrr-rah!”
His parents are both Cal grads….no pressure.
I am amazed and humbled by my friends. Betina and Hans have opened up their hearts to so many people and they keep giving. Someday, when we get around to having a family, I hope we could be like them - devoted to the kids and to having a good time with friends. I could see it’s hard work to find that balance, but they have shown me it’s possible. My latest tube addiction, Project Runway, kicked off its new season two weeks ago. One contestant is an architect-turned-designer. She has five kids. She said she always made an effort to look glam and good - because she knew it was too easy to slip into the role of the frumpy mom in sweats and a mini-van. From the clip I saw, when she tumbled around with her kids, she looks like a good mom. I’m always impressed with folks who keep their identities and are good parents. I’ve also season an episode of Super Nanny this week. It’s bloody birth control for anyone toying with the idea of being ready to be a parent. I can’t believe one woman allowed her child to punch her in the mouth! What the hell! That’s a good example of being a bad parent and losing your identity. I don’t want that to happen to me.
OK - back to the food. This is the seafood paella. Heaven! Fresh fish and shellfish…I love the smoky mussels. Savory rice to soap up the juices. It’s my first paella in, well, too long. We shared this dish and a couple of tapas. It was a hearty meal for four people. I haven’t been able to find a place in Kansas that serves paella. Damn shame. I’m grateful for the paella pan we got from our wedding gifts. I do have a poor woman’s version that involves salsa and canned mussels. It takes a while because I let the rice simmer in the broth to develop a thick texture. I know I should use brown rice, but I’m trying to be healthy about it. Still, paella from Cafe de la Paz - it’s great.
One last note on Berkeley. Good-bye to Sun Hong Kong. It became my favorite place for Chinese Food, after Taste of Taipei closed in the Durant Food Ghetto. Sigh. This place was open late and I loved going here after a movie…or to sober up after bar hopping down Shattuck. I remember the prawns and walnuts and the shrimp in black bean sauce. I’m always a sucker for dishes with black bean sauce. So sad about Sun Hong Kong.
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Posted in Kansas_Sunflowers on 07/19/2006 07:22 pm by Queenkv
On a college radio list-serve, one volunteer pointed out that President Bush can say “shit” on CNN - without being bleeped and the rest of college radio is screwed by the FCC if any DJ played a song with the word “hell” in it.
“Recently, President Bush signed a Bill that increased indecency fines from the maximum of $32,500 up to $325,000 PER INCIDENT.”
(from last month’s e-mail update to volunteers).
I don’t know if the word “hypocrite” or “irony” would work for this case. What do you think?
I think it fucking sucks. But if you missed that delightful episode - Jon Stewart has a nice way of summing it up.
