I had the pleasure of sitting next to two British women, Mark's wife, Loretta, and her sister, Rebekah. I really enjoyable 4 hour dinner.

Mark's version of 'fish & chips" Appropriately wrapped in a London Times newspaper.

The couple that sat across from me were Dr. Payne and his wife. (what a name for a dentist)

Thursday, March 26, 2009
Mom turns 83 today. Feliz Cumpleanos!
To celebrate her birthday, I am attending a wine dinner tonight at a restaurant here in Fond du Lac, WI. The sad part is that this fine culinary establishment is going to close on Saturday. (that was a tear) Mark, the owner, web site is: http://www.fusionbymark.com

A 6-course English Wine Dinner is on the menu.
1st Course: Fresh Pea Soup with Mint & Sausage Rolls It was excellent. A really nice starter.

2nd Course: Orange Poached Pear & Stilton Melt with Endive and Radicchio (paired with Robertson Late Harvest Gewurztraminer) Shown in the picture above.

3rd Course: Carpaccio of Beef & Watercress Salad served with Horseradish Sauce and Yorkshire Pudding (paired with McManis Pinot Noir) Fantastic flavor of these beef slices.

4th Course: London “Thymes” Baked Whole Trout with Lemon Thyme Buerre Blanc & Crisp Potato Gaufretttes [a thin crisp fan-shaped French wafer](paired with Burgans Albarino) This course, shown above, came properly wrapped in the London Times. Wonderful Buerre.

5th Course: Apple-wood Bacon Wrapped Roast Rabbit with Mustard Tarragon Mashed Potatoes and Rosemary Dijon Demi Glace (paired with Guenoc Victorian Claret) Loved this dish.

6th Course: Fig & Fudge Pudding (paired with Warres Special Reserve Port) Really nice desert and lovely port, had several glasses.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Had the pleasure of eating at the local culinary school today. A taste of Tuscany! Very yum! My friend Mary joined me and together we attempted to sample everything on the menu. (we failed but with a smile on our faces) The school has 15-20 theme lunches each semester and opens thier restaurant to the public. Since they don't add any profit into their prices, the meals are extremely reasonable.
For starters we shared the Herbed Seafood Bruschetta with crabmeat, shrimp and herbs of course it was served on a baguette. (duh!) And the Formaggio con le pere which is cubed pears with pecorino cheese. (pause) I am sipping a fine glass of Double Dog Dare Chardonnay from Livermore/Ripon California. Sweet! Was delicious. I suggested, for color reasons, that they should have used sliced red grapes. (but what do I know!) lol
We skipped the Rice & Chestnut Soup and Trattoria Salad, in favor for leaving some room for the deserts. (in hindsight, that was a good decision)
For entrées, I had the Chicken Marsala, which was absolutely to die for. (sorry, I ended the sentence with a preposition, but it’s just a blog!) I am now looking for some new recipes for a rich marsala sauce to go with my pork tenderloin recipe. (I’m salivating just thinking about it) Another pause.
Mary had the Tuscan Style Grilled Tuna Steak with stuffed mushrooms. Also very good. By now we are past full, but the deserts are what we came for. (please excuse the grammar)
There was the big decision: was it going to be the Chocolate Sabayon Cake or the Italian Cream Cake? You are correct….both! Amazing! These young future chefs did a great job today at the expense of my belt. (pause) I was given one of the menus to take home and I will attempt to scan it and post it with this blog. Stay tuned for a really incredible 6 course wine dinner planned for Thursday evening at Fusion in Fond du Lac.
Enjoy!

What's the most feared item you can get in your mail? An IRS audit letter might be at the top of the list. I arrived 'home' safely and the next day was dedicated to the mountain of unopened mail that had poured in while I was basking in the Mexican sol.
The mail that arrived from WA state was the batch that held the IRS audit. It read, you have until March 25th to respond and you owe us $7000 and it will increase if you don't respond on time. GULP!
Ok, I can handle this challenge and began to dig into my files for my 2007 documents. I do my taxes using TAX CUT, and all the data was safely stored on my computer.....or so I thought. When I attempted to open the documents, I thought I heard a hideous laugh from my laptop.
"Unable to open" 2nd GULP.
Ok, I can handle this challenge. Let's see if my super backup hard drive was used properly, a year ago. I don't keep the drive connected to my computer, so I was wishing that I had the discipline to back up all my files. Whew! I did, and the files showed up.
I quickly found errors in the IRS summary for the first two items. The second 5 items were a bit more challenging and involved finding documents showing the cost basis for the sale of 70 different stocks/funds. That meant coming up with the purchase date, sale date, cost basis, sale price, and finally the profit/loss amounts. Then I had to separate the long term sales from the short term sales. Over 400 data points, and they needed to be entered into a new Schedule D form which typically has space allocated for 6 entries.
I found the forms on my tax program and began to print them out. NOT. Out of paper.
Ok, I can handle that challenge. Go buy some paper.
Meanwhile, with all the opened mail filling my office, I decided to make good use of time, and began to shred the unwanted mail. NOT. Shredder motor decided to give off a distinctive odor.....like a burnt offering.
Ok, I can handle that challenge. Go buy another shredder.
As I drove to my local distributor of office products, I realized that my favorite pub was in-line with my travels.
Ok, I can handle that challenge. At least I had the discipline to pick up the products, then stop for a pint of Sierra Nevada.
After working the numbers and filling in the requisite forms, I brought my liability down from $7000 to $104. Whew! I can live with that. Not to get the documents gathered, stapled and ready for the Monday morning Priority Express at the USPO.
7:30am the PO opened and I was at the door. Mission accomplished. NOT!
I was 6 blocks away, refilling my Green SUV with fuel, when I realized that the $104 check was in my pocket and not in the recently mailed package. GULP!
Ok, I can handle that challenge. I zipped back to the post office, and took my place in line which by now had lengthened considerably. I spotted the person who had handled the precious package and waited until he was available. Now do you think that it was possible to retrieve a Priority Package from a postal authority, have them open it, insert a small but critical check, reseal it and return it to it's place in the system?
Welcome to small-town America.......yes it was possible. He even laughed as I explained my 'challenge'. I decided to return, later that afternoon, to my favorite pub, and share 'the rest of the story' with the beverage administrators.

Martes, Marzo 17, 2009
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
Happy St. Patty’s Day to you all!
It’s all transition day or to put a song to it, “I’ve leaving on a jet plane!” Off to the aeropuerto, I am. Mi hermano stopped by this morning to see me off, or was it to make sure I really did leave. Lol After lugging 49.5 pounds of luggage to the ground floor, we decided to have one last coffee at Sandrita’s Café, around the corner from Macondo. Well the food looked so good, we added a delicious mixed berry scone and a banana whole wheat chocolate muffin to the incredible coffees. I must admit, Sandrita has wonderful muffins! (thanks for buying, Pedro) Now for the arduous hike to the bus. Ok, about a block and a half. The most recognizable green Compestello bus was waiting for me. It runs every half hour or whenever it wants to. After a short wait, I was on my way ‘home’. Now for 20 pesos, or about $1.30, you get the best bargain in Mexico, a ride to the aeropuerto. It was actually quite a pleasant 40 minute trip and it wasn’t crowded. I also met a friendly young couple from Australia who were on their round-about way around the world.
As I walked into the terminal, I kept thinking that this was way to easy…then I saw the enormous line for travelers heading to Minneapolis. Holy Crap! Except I was going to Chicago and on a different airline. I checked my watch, realizing that I don’t wear a watch, and began the process: the maze of cattle gates leading up to the ticket counter, the personal suitcase inspection, the production of documents and verification, the baggage check and receipt, and eventually the boarding pass. From start to finish: 90 seconds. You read that right: 90 seconds. Nobody in line. Now for the grueling wait to get through the final security inspection with the gates being the reward. 35 seconds. Sweet. If the first part of my day is a harbinger of the second part…..this is going to be a good day.
Now for a stroll through the numerous Duty Free, tequila, souvenir, and tobacco shops. Or perhaps a large aqua and a few chapters of my latest read…..hasta luego, mi amigos!
TRAVEL TIP: In Mexico, even though you have passed through security, don't buy any liquids i.e. bottled water. (unless you plan to drink it before boarding) They run you through a 2nd security check and confiscate all liquids. Exception is Duty Free products which are delivered to the boarding gate.
(long pause) The 4 hour flight was on time, and landed ahead of schedule in Chicago. I breezed through customs and immigration with an almost illegal ease and called my roommate, David. As I walked out the International glass doors, he pulled up in my vehicle. SWEET. The 3 hour ride home took 2.5 hours. It was the most painless day of travel, ever.

Lunes, Marzo, dieciséis, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
I was asked the other day, in light of the fact that I’m returning to WI tomorrow, Tuesday the 17th, whether I was sad and what I missed about ‘home’. I’ve been pondering that question for a couple days and decided to come up with my own personal list which I titled:

“The top 10 things when you know it’s time to return home from an extended stay in Mexico.”
10. You start taking pictures of the new road and not the beautiful sunsets.
9. You miss Johnsonville Bratwurst so bad, you have cravings that hurt.
8. You would pay anything for some fresh horseradish to go with #9
7. You begin to salivate over the thought of a cold Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
6. You’ve worn a hole in the bottom of your Croc’s and your 2nd pair of sandals also failed
5. You have no desire to have another shot of tequila.
4. You find yourself checking the coupons for Festival Foods
3. Your favorite Fond du Lac watering hole just filed for bankruptcy.
2. Your local tienda in Sayulita just finished their third addition to their casa.
1. You’re more excited about Options and expiration Friday than sitting on the beach

For that are wondering, the above road project began shortly after my arrival. The top picture was taken yesterday. Most of the cement was made and poured manually. Amazing to see how hard they work. (not that I would ever know)

Enjoy!

Martin, Leslie, and Ricardo discuss the latest hip-hop group from Canada, eh!

Sharon & Leslie share a mashed potatoe hug. "Mashed are we!" was there quote.

What a great view to catch a Sayulita sunset. Awesome!

Martin, Leslie, Pedro, and Sharon preparing for sunset.

Sábado, Marzo, Catorce, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Yesterday was Friday the 13th and it was a great day. It was a great day to celebrate a birthday. A 50th birthday to be exact. And celebrate we did. It might also have been a celebration that I was leaving in a few days. The location was Ricardo & Leslie’s (R&L) villa overlooking Sayulita Bay. For those with good memories, aka those under 50 years old, 2 months ago, the day after I arrived, R&L had their last house party. (let’s see, a party when I arrived and one when I am about to leave. Hummmm)
So can you have a birthday party without the birthday girl? The photos prove that you can. Of course we would have loved it if Cathy could have attended, but it just wasn’t meant to be.
The party of 8 originally included Alaskan Gail and Deirdre, Martin’s other & better half, but a nasty virus running rampart through the RV Park claimed both of them. Pete, Sharon, Ricardo, Leslie, Martin, and I were benefactors of last night’s celebration. The word potluck always conjures up vivid images from my past; growing up in a large ministers family. (the family was large, not the minister) The best food, in our minds, was the potluck dinners in the church basement, most often for a funeral, anniversary, birthday or wedding. Last night was no disappointment in the food or beverage departments for this birthday party.
Richardo had some wonderful grilled ribs and onions next to several of Pete’s delicious rib-eye steaks. Martin brought a delectable pasta dish that Deirdre had graciously made. I had put together a meat-based marinara on crostini drizzled with freshly grated parmesan. The girls mashed up some garlic potatoes and the feast began. The finishing la pièce de résistance was the 4kg carrot cake that I had ordered from Sandrita and trekked up the hill. (it’s about a mile walk uphill from my place to R&L) Sandrita, shown in the photo, owner of a local bakery and café, created a wonderful carrot cake for the occasion. It was to die for.
The view was, as always, fantastic especially with your feet dangling in the infinity pool.
Thanks again to our gracious hosts, R&L, for having us.
Enjoy.

The music from local talent filled the huge room.

The custom of cracking an egg filled with confetti continued, with Pedro and David.

Cherrie Olson (left) and Evelyn Boren pose for the photographer.

The line patiently waits for their turn at the buffet.

Awesome food is minutes away. Sandrita, the owner of a bakery & cafe in Sayulita, begins the feast.

Martes, Marzo, Diez, 2009
You know you’re getting old when you head to the beach to relax and read a book and quickly discover that you had forgotten your glasses so now you can’ t even read the book, which you also happened to forget. And sitting at the beach and trying to determine what to do next as bikini clad women go parading past you….you know you’re getting old. Lol
La Fiesta was the site of the fundraiser last night. Patty, a local Spanish teacher, was trying to raise funds to buy some computers for the local school(s).
For 300 pesos each, or about $20, we were treated to a variety of live music, and incredibly delicious and full of variety buffet, a nearly endless quantity of beverages, and a silent auction of unique items.
You also know that you’ve been coming to Sayulita for a while when you know quite a few of the people in attendance. Mike the bartender was a friend I met several years ago and his dad owns The Spaghetti Factory restaurant in town and he also happens to be married to Patty, the gal who was holding the fundraiser. Funny how that works!
Pete, Sharon and I sat a table with Hal & Marge who reside in Santa Fe, NM and are in the jewelry business. Hal works out a health club with friends that work at Los Alamos. One of them worked with one of my friends from that laboratory.
Met a new person, Cherrie, who is a good friend of Evelyn Boren, who is a well know local artist that has a studio in Sayulita and in Santa Fe.

I could go on, but I think you get the point….the longer you ‘live’ here, the more you realize that it is a home, even if it is a second home.

Lunes, Marzo Nueve, 2009
I’d like to say that it was a lazy start of the week this Monday (Lunes) morning. Ok, I will. It was a lazy start of the week this morning. With the clocks changing in the US and not in Mexico, it meant that the stock market opened up an hour earlier. (how can that be, you ask?) Mexico dozen’t change their clocks until the first week of April.
A few years ago, on that clock-changing Saturday night, my brother and I thought it would fun to tell a good friend of ours that Mexico turned their clocks back for daylight savings time. We both forgot about telling him until about a week later when we ran into him. He was telling us that he was a bit tired of the locals and how much time he had spent waiting for all his appointments for at least an hour the past week. Just about borderlines on ‘mean’, but we still can’t stop laughing when we think about it. And yes, he is down here in Sayulita this year, and didn’t trust us when we told him about the clock change.
Today’s pics are some random ones of yesterday and the nearly full moon.
Enjoy.

Marina Riviera Nayarit!

This is another side of Mexico that I rarely include in my blog, but since I now have some friends that have a slip in this brand new marina in La Cruz, I thought I would include some pics of my visit. MaryAnn & Richard, the owners of Macondo, where I reside in Sayulita, keep one of their sailboats in the marina. In addition, friends of Ricardo & Leslie, shown above, had friends staying there coincidently while we visited. Enjoy.

Huichol.
Two weeks ago Sunday, I had the pleasure of being invited to the town of LaCruz de Huanacaxtle, which is only a 20 minute ride south of Sayulita. The primary reason for the trip was to hear Zoe & Al perform, but also to check out the new marina in LaCruz.
Zoe & Al were playing at Tzikuri which is a Huichol Art Gallery besides a restaurant & café. So what are Huichal and where do they come from? (good question)
The Huichol claim that they originated in the State of San Luis Potosí but later migrated westward to the parts of Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas, and Durango in which the rugged Sierra of the Huichol is found. Once yearly, some Huichol journey back to San Luís, their ancestral homeland to perform "Mitote" Peyote ceremonies. The three main Huichol communities belong to the municipality of Mezquitic, Jalisco and are called San Sebastián Teponohuastlan (Wautüa in Huichol), Santa María Cuexcomatitlán (Tuapuri in Huichol) and San Andrés Cohamiata (Tatei Kié in Huichol). Other Huichol communities include Guadalupe Ocotán (in Nayarit), and Santa Catarina and Tuxpán de Bolaños in Jalisco. However only around 7,000 Wixáritari live in their homeland while some 13,000 have migrated to other places within Mexico, and other still live in Cora communities in the Mesa del Nayar The craftsmanship of the Huichol includes embroidery, beadwork, sombreros (hats), archery equipment, prayer arrows, and weaving, as well as "cuchuries", woven or embroidered bags.

Enjoy!

I received twice as many comments as I usually get on my Feb 18th blog entry regarding the dentist office here in Sayulita. One more photo to jog your memory of that service. Most people, that have not been to Mexico, cannot even imagine going to see a dentist located in an RV. A crown costs about $65 in Mexico. In CA, 3 years ago, I think I paid $800 before insurance kicked in a few hundred. A person has to wonder why such a difference. Did you know that many of the dentists in Mexico got their degrees in the US while studying next to your doctor, who I'm going to guess is from India or other similar areas. So the doctor studies at the same school but charges 1000% less. Hummm. Is it the fact that you're paying for the beautiful building in CA or WI or NC? Or is it the cost of health insurance premiums? Malpractice premiums? A billing staff just to make sure your insurance company pays for a portion?
Several friends have gotten some of the dental work done in the Mexican Dental Office featured above and all have praises for how gentle, professional, and inexpensive it was. For some, the greatly reduced costs (i.e. savings) have paid for their extended stay in Sayulita. So would I use a local doctor or dentist? Absolutely. Enjoy!

Just a few random photos from the other night when the sunset was extra special and the beach was filled with admirers and dancers. The two little Mexican boys are Miquel and his younger brother, Nelson. Their parents, Juan & Lisbeth , are the grounds keepers at the condos where Pete & Sharon are staying. Enjoy!

Domingo, Marzo Ocho, 2009
I just returned from a fantastic breakfast over at Alaskan Gails where she prepared her famous sourdough pancakes and served them con piña fresca, mango, papaya, zarzamoras, plátanos, y miel local.(local honey) ¡YUM!
Thanks to Ricardo & Leslie, who asked me to watch over their orange juice press and 10kg bag of oranges while they escaped to PV for a few days, I supplied the breakfast crowd with a liter of fresh juice. (jugo de naranja) Gail’s honored guests included Joe & Rita, Pete & Sharon, and Squeak, Gail’s cat. The photo shows me hard at work with the mechanical contraption. Enjoy!

Leslie is making a call to Canada to her daughter while standing on a metal sign for better reception. The blue flag signals "excelente" reception.

We don't need no stinkin' taxi!

From left to right: Pedro, Sharon, Juan Marcos, Ricardo, Leslie, Mary, Alaskan Gail.

To-die-for ribs. The ketsup was not needed or used. (really)

Alaskan Gail was wide-eyed when she received her molejete.

The hors d'oeuvres began with a baked brie encrusted with roasted macadamia nuts with a raspberry/grape sauce. Yum!

Viernes, Febrero, Sies, 2009
As I continue to traverse the globe to add to my blog, I am inspired by food, people, sunsets, language, and culture; sometimes all of the above come together at the same time.
Last night was one of those “all of the above” nights. The event centered on a dinner at one my favorite restaurants outside of Sayulita. Located in San Pancho, a small village about 4km North of Sayulita. The restaurant: La Ola Rica, which means The Rich Wave.
The food & company were, as always, incredible.
The fun began when the cast of 7 for this event met at Richardo & Leslie’s bungalow where we snacked on smoked marlin & Leslie’s fresh-made guacamole. It was hilarious to see Pedro, and I fold ourselves into the back of Ricardo’s Jimmy. “We don’t need no stinkin’ taxi!” Truly a lesson in cheap.
We arrived safely at our destination and made our pilgrimage to the beach to catch a San Pancho sunset. The clouds had another idea, so while the sunset wasn’t a 10, the waves crashing, cool ocean breezes, and the company made the pre-dinner activity priceless.
By 7pm we were seated and the most difficult part is the ordering decision. Everything on the menu is fantastic. My favorites are the huge coconut shrimp and their glazed ribs. Since these are also my brother’s favorites, it was a simple solution…..order both and share.
Enjoy!

Mi hermano, Pedro, Alaskan Gail, Mary-Something About, and Sharon eagerly awaited a Fish Taco feast. YUM!

Absolutely fantastico Baja style Fish & Shrimp Tacos.

The trio played "one ton of tomatoes. I need one ton of tomatoes....." And we sang along.

Alaskan Gail, Sharon, and Something About Mary are salsa dancing on the beach while seated.

Martes, tres Febrero, 2009
And now for a brief book update. When I last wrote, I was reading books #7 and #8 well on my way towards my goal of 9 books, in as many weeks. I am proud to say that I am deep into book #9. It is the story of Diego de la Vega and how he became the legendary Zorro. Written by Isabel Allende. It comes highly recommended to me, and now to you. Enjoy.

Last night was, I thought, a farewell dinner for Mary who was supposed to be returning to Wisconsin today. Learned later that she had delayed her flight till Friday, but we celebrated regardless at the infamous Sayulita Fish Taco. (not that we ever need a reason to celebrate in Mexico, but we now had one) It was fantastic! Below is a snippet from The Lonely Planet, and if you want more info, go to http://www.sayulitafishtaco.com/

Commonly know as the best fish tacos on the Pacific Coast. Sayulita Fish Taco is a must stop during your Sayulita vacation. And trust us, once you have been once, you will return again and again, and again…
The Baja style fish tacos are the staple of this restaurant and certainly a treat whether you join us for lunch or dinner. Once you have tasted the tacos, make sure not to miss the rest of the specialty menu filled with fresh seafood, and even a few meat dishes.
A large favorite is the shrimp taco, which can be served either Baja style, or with Sayulita fish tacos special pineapple and garlic sauce. Try one of each, but do not stop there, don't miss the fish and shrimp burritos, of course in Baja style or pineapple and garlic.
For those that have built up a huge appetite out in the water, the shoebox burrito will suit you perfectly. It really is the size of a shoebox.

So for under 350 pesos or about $22 USD, the 5 of ate heartily and had a beverage. Thanks Mary! Enjoy

From left to right we have Geoff, Deirdre, Stefen, Gail, & Shannon.

Mary and Laura discuss local politics while imbibing mas tequila.

Deirdre, Shannon, Juan Marcos, Mary, & Sharon strike a pose in my kitchen.

Steve and Richardo appear to discussing the latest episode of Days of our Lives. Note the food.

The Mendes trio: Deirdre, Martin, & daughter Shannon enliven any gathering.

Lunes, dos Febrero, 2009

Many of you know that I like to practice the culinary trade and here is a recipe that seemed to work quite well last Saturday evening.
1. Order cinco grande pizzas from the restaurant located a stone’s drop from me,
2. add 3 or 4 different kinds of tequila for a blind taste test,
3. several bottles of vino blanco y roho,
4. mas muy frio cervezas,
5. hand-crafted delicioso hors d’oeuvres,
6. a compilation of music dominated by a local street vender attempting to increase his sales by continually increasing the volume on his ‘thumpers’,
7. throw in twenty-some guests from all walks of life

…..and what do you get? A happy hour that turned into a 7 hours of festivities. The location was at my bungalow, called the Rooftop Bungalow, still at Macondo. I have negleted to include pics of my new bungalow, but perhaps later.
What a fantastic evening! The photos don’t begin to capture the frivolity that dominated the scene, but it’s all I have. Some photos have not been included to protect the guilty. So enjoy!