Carmel Budino wiht Salted Caramel Sauce_itsweetandsavory

Caramel Budino with Salted Caramel Sauce

A few weeks ago we met for our second book swap party. Thank you Deb for being the host, you do have the best place for this fun event. Here's my top 10 reasons why I like this particular party, and I hope Deb keeps it going:

1. I love to read. This event has my name all over it and I have way too many books.

2. However, now I have yet another reason for buying books instead of checking them out at the library. "Seriously SB, the girls will love this book."

3. A chance to catch-up with good friends during our busy lives.

4. Drink Champagne, not that I need an excuse for that.

5. It's a mid-week evening party, I love to break up the monotony of the week.

6. I've been introduced to new authors and subject matters I might not have picked up before.

7. Everyone makes or brings something delicious to eat.

8. Oh I've set the bar too high for myself, but it challenges me to bake something delicious and find a way to pull in the book theme.

9. Fun book themed crafty items always available.

10. Great friends, good books, delicious food, fun conversations...need I say anymore.

So this brings me to my dessert. This is a labor intensive dessert, I make it over two days, I was told and I agree I was an over-achiever on this one. But it's delicious and I love the mason jar theme. This time I printed out tags with some of my favorite characters from books I've read and have been swapped at this party. I've adapted the recipe from Bon Appetit's recipe here

This is a rich, textured (crunchy cookies), creamy layered dessert. The salted caramel is particularly decadent. Yes the calories are worth every spoonful and it's only an 8oz mason jar not even filled to the top.

I have made it hard for me to top myself, last time I made these

I think I'm drawn to the warm chocolate, caramel, peanut butter colors, I'll try to branch out next time, or not, really depends on the season and what makes sense. Enjoy!

Brussels Sprouts

So I told you about Brussel Sprouts being my new favorite food. Well I caught on to this craze at the height of their season (September - February). As most children of the 70's will attest, and I've heard my story more than once, our mom's boiled most vegetables, including Brussels Sprouts, to their mushy deaths. Sorry mom, but it had to be said.

So I've steered clear of this veg for a long time. But at Lukshon, we order them and I was hooked, I had to make them at home. Voila, Trader Joe's was selling them on the stalk. Never seen them like this before. NOTE: These would actually be great for a some enormous flower arrangement.

I was told, just try them first with olive oil, salt and pepper. So this is what I did. I cut them off the stalk, cut off hard ends, peeled off a few of the top layer leaves, cut them in half. Then mix with olive oil, pepper and salt to taste. I stuck them on a heated cookie sheet (I like to pre-heat my cookies sheets to get a nice crispiness on whatever I'm roasting.) Put them in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Watch them as ovens vary in heat. My favorite part is some of the leaves loosen off and you get these lovely crispy Brussels Sprout chips.

I'm such a bad veg eater, and even though SB doesn't like the smell in the house, I tell him: "Hey I'm eating vegetables and that's a good thing." At Lukshon they put some chili garlic vinaigrette and sesame seeds and it's delicious. Try them the out. As I don't see them fresh in stores, we're experimenting with the frozen ones at the moment. Enjoy!

Lukshon

You know how you find a place that excites you, and introduces you to new tastes and flavors that you add to your diet. Something that forever changes your perception of a food group. No? Well I have.

What is Lukshon? Lukshon is the creation of one of L.A.’s most celebrated chefs, Sang Yoon. It is a modern take on authentic South-East Asian Cuisine and its wonderfully diverse ingredients.

My co-worker and I ventured to this place at the Helms Bakery area, next to Room & Board and Father's Office. The food is amazing, exotic flavors full of spicy bits and tangy citrus. I really haven't eaten anything there I didn't like. First time we went we order about 6 things. The rices are so delicious. I've had the black rice with an egg, sunny side-up (AKA: heirloom black rice) and the other dish I love is the x.o. rice. N. loved the dandan noodles. First taste of that after he mixed all the goodness in the noodles and I seriously started sweating with the heat from the sichuan peppercorns. This is a tasty, but very spicy dish. Must have rice and water too cool down the temperature. The special appetizers or small plates are always a treat. Because I've had the roasted brussel sprouts here it is now one of my new favorite foods is and it's because of this place. Post coming soon on that.

They always follow-up with a beautiful, comped, dessert. First couple of times it was a refreshing spoonful of sorbet, then candied fruit jelly and the last time it was a tiny mango cake.

Oh and the tea's are beautiful and refreshing. I've yet to have any alcohol, since it's always a work day lunch. No liquid lunches for me these days. But I'd recommend this as a date place. Great location, zen modern decor. I'm going to get SB there soon enough.

Lukshon

3239 helms ave. culver city, california 90232

http://www.lukshon.com/

Pacific Standard Time

During the winter break from work I had a day to spend at LACMA.

I went to see the California Modernism exhibit, all part of the Pacific Standard Times exhibits happening in L.A. at the moment. Its a great display of furniture, graphics, toys, clothes, cars, and trailers that define California post WWII. I spent the whole day strolling thru the exhibit.

There are hundreds of thing I wanted or grew up around. Best of all was the Eames living room, which has been completely transported to the museum. "Its a mash up before there were mash-ups." - Ice Cube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRWatw_ZEQI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Enjoy.

Wino Wednesday

So an early day brought me home to chill out from the past few weeks of utter craziness. Holiday breaks always come just at my breaking point.
Braving the L.A. traffic home we made our way down the street for two pizzas from Hosteria de Picollo. One with heirloom tomatoes and olives, the other with sausage and olives. Both on homemade thin crust pizza dough.

Being that its Wino Wednesday I grabbed a bottle from our teeny tiny wine rack. Problem is SB and I can't remember where we purchased it. However that isn't stopping me from talking about it.

Vina Ecoyen Reserva Navarra
Product of Spain

My Tasting notes: Cherry and Vanilla, oak lingering flavor. Its not a heavy wine, very light Cherry taste.

Here is what the bottle says:
This Reserva, has been aged in American and French barriques for 24 months, before being bottled and held for a further 12 months prior to release. The resulting wine is crammed with red cherry and black fruit, mellowed by the creamy vanilla as a result of the oak aging. It still continues to mature well in bottle and will be at its best by the end of 2010. Perfect with hearty stews and casseroles.

Lemon Pistachio Cake

At Intelligentsia in Venice. Made by Cake Monkey. Delicious with my cappuccino this morning.

Love to see a busy Entertainment executive with passion for cakes make it a business, that's the origin of Cake Monkey. I think I need to turn my passions into something tangible.

Wurstkuche Venice

A month ago I was driving down Lincoln Blvd which is the main vein on the Westside that gets you from North to South. I saw this huge line of people outside a building that once was called Air Conditioned (Supper Dance Club). I've seen this place a million times, but never have gone in. It use to be a pretty seedy place many moons ago. But this day the building had a new facade. I quickly took down the name and Googled it on my iPhone. To my surprise this was the opening day of a ~~hot dog,~~ I mean exotic sausage place that had it's birth in downtown L.A. I know I'm a bit slow, but I never get downtown much these days. So I talked a few friends into going one Sunday afternoon.

When you first walk in the center, near the wood striped massive sliding doors, your not sure what to expect. It's pretty small upfront, a display case of every imaginable sausage and a draft beer counter all stainless steel with brick walls behind.

This is what you see when you first walk in. Exotic sausages of all kinds. Classics (Bratwurst, Hot Italian, Veggie) Gourmet (Mango & Jalapeno, Apricot & Ginger, Chicken Apple & Spices) and Exotic (Duck & Bacon with Jalapeno Peppers, Rabbit, Veal & Pork with White Wine, Alligator & Pork, Rattlesnake & Rabbit)

Draft beers range from Belgian, German, North America. Bottle beers include the same with one English Cider.

I had heard the space was cool so before I even ordered I snaked my way around the backside of the front people down a very dark hall into an amazing light room with textured brick walls, long warm wood beer tables, a sleek bar and cool lighting from the windows (it was afternoon) and inventive modern chandelier light bulbs.

I was in, so were my friends, we ran up front and quickly ordered. I just wanted a normal bratwurst, double fried Belgium fries and a Chimay beer. You get to pick two sausage toppings and two dipping sauces for the fries. I went basic, sauerkraut for the dog and curry ketchup and bacon bleu cheese for the fries. This place is cool, I can't wait to take SB back, they even have Veggie sausages so with beer, I know he'll be in. The space is awesome. I hear party coming to this place soon.

Bratwurst

Belgian Fires (Double dipped fries).

Mustards on the table.

Here's the menu Take a peek at this great place.

Venice location

623 Lincoln Blvd
Venice, CA 90291

Balloon Fiesta - Albuquerque

When I was a little girl living in Albuquerque I use to go to the balloon fiesta with my grandmother.
We would park on the side of the road and run in the dirt to meet the balloonist. Grandma had an autograph book she kept for years. After the balloons took off we would jump in her car and chase them to wherever they would land, which would be in the mesas, driving down dirt roads.

Grandma told me a story once of her running in the mesas to meet the balloonist and tripping over s lava rock, there are lots out there.
As she fell to her knees the balloonist looked down and grandma looked up and said, "will you marry me?" He laughed heartily. Gotta love a granny with a sense of humor.

I came back a few other times when I lived in California. Still there was dirt, and you could still park on the side if the road. However, there aren't as many mesas open with the building boom that happened here in the 90's.

Then back again a few years later and there was a balloon park with a museum. Now 40 years later, no dirt just beautiful grass and balloons of every size and shape. Finally SB gets to see it first hand.

We got up at 430am, drank coffee and made it down to the field before 530. They have it very organized and there were about 15 balloons already blowing up.
Since it was dark still they glowed in the early morning dark blue sky. I had never seen this part up close.
It was exciting. If you followed my tweets that morning you probably saw many of the pictures below, which included a Darth Vadar balloon with Storm Trooper crew, and yes I was humming the dark side theme of Star Wars.

I will have more to share from our real digital camera, SB got some awesome shots. He got really close, he was determined to get in the belly of the balloons, so much that they had to tell him to back away.

On the road again

It's that time of year where we hit the road to New Mexico. Here are a few images from our twelve hour journey.

Areaware iPhone Clock

I HEART my new iPhone clock. A great anniversary gift from SB. It's super cool, sleek and a great place to charge my iPhone. I'm still figuring out all the bells and whistles on this phone, it's a bit bright at night so I do turn it away from me and the alarm is, well, ALARMING. But despite that I love this new clock. You can buy it here. And check out all their other cool design ware.

Moving Furniture

For the past few weeks we've been packing our entire apartment that we've lived in for 16 years.
Wow do you accumulate a lot of STUFF. Seriously I had no idea, well I think I did, but was just in denial, at what a pack rat I've become. Not a hoarder, a pack rat. So I have turned off my sentimental meter and really gone to town, tossing, donating, selling, not even looking at stuff, but just getting rid of it.

We're having our carpet torn out and new faux hard wood flooring put in. Renting a U-Haul to store our stuff and begging good friends to help us move. In the process we're turning SB's office into an office/guest room. I'll have some before and after photos to show soon. Hopefully it will be a nice minimal transformation. I don't think we've thrown away nearly enough stuff, it's just overwhelming.

I think one should do this every few years to give yourself a reality check. It will certainly help you to think twice about buying that tchotchke or keeping that old Angelina Jolie Vanity Fair, really who needs it. On top of that life couldn't be busier for us with all our outside responsibilities and preparing to go to New Mexico to see family. When it rains it pours.

Figs & Honey

Figs & Honey who wouldn't like this combo. My co-worker Julia, not Childs, gave me this recipe from the NY Times so I tried it tonight. I bought the above figs from Trader Joes.

I put 2 Tbsp of butter in a cast iron skillet and tossed in a few fresh thyme leaves for flavor.

I sliced the figs in half and drizzled them with 3 Tbsp of Clover Honey.

Then I put them cut side down in the butter and thyme to caramelize for about 5 minutes. I then flipped them and let them simmer for 1 more minute. Afterwards I set the figs aside and simmered the butter and caramelized honey with a few tablespoons of water. Then for the best part, pour all the delicious honey and butter on the figs and drizzle them with creme fraiche. I sprinkled a few thyme leaves and then went to town, slurping up all the juices. I seriously wanted to lick the plate.

And the final product, with my Nikon above and on my couch with my iPhone below.

Wino Wednesday

So I'm a slacker...what can I say. I've tasted lots of wines lately and have a wonderful array of Wino Wednesday's to share. This particular wine was from, you guessed it, Trader Joes. I heard about this wine through a co-worker, who tasted it and said it was a nice Spanish Wine. When she went back to TJ's and bought another $3.99 bottle, the guy at the register asked her how she know about this wine. She said she tried it and liked it. Apparently this is one of those underground goodies and it's a pretty good wine being sold and TJ's for next to nothing.

Panilonco "Chief of Lions"
Carmenere
D O Colchagua Valley, Chille
2010 Reserve
Tasting Notes: Blackberries and smokey oak
Color: Deep purple, like a combination of crush blackberries and blueberries.
What I ate with this: Cheese, bread first time. Second time Spaghetti with homemade meatballs, salad and garlic bread. Was perfect combination.

For $3.99 this is a steal and was noted on an underground wine newsletter. Go now, while it lasts.

Peanut Butter Bars

So this last week was a whirlwind. Book swap party, 30th wedding anniversary party and children books party for a baby to come. Pheww. For the book swap party, which was given by "My Life At Playtime," I volunteered to make a dessert. While surfing Pinterest I found a gorgeous peanut butter bar and I was determined to make it for this party. For the recipe go here. Only comment on the recipe is that I would put the pan in the refrigerator right after you put the second layer of peanut butter on. It needs to harden a bit before you smear the last layer of chocolate.

Since this was a book swapping party I took one of my old college books that I wouldn't will on anyone, Plato's Last Days of Socrates. I cut up strips, wrapped them around the cold bars and tied them with twine. This made up for the fact that cutting these bars was a hot mess. These are decadent, very rich, I saw people cutting them in half, but well they came back for the other half too.

As for the books I chose, well I only wanted one and I took three, sorry SB, I couldn't help myself. I chose The Help, The Hunger, and Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. That last one has my name written all over it. I'll tell you how I feel about them once I get them read. I have SOoooo many books right now.

One last thing, I have to say I'm liking my iPhone photos better than my expensive camera, go figure.

Gjelina Take Away (GTA)

I haven't been addicted to a new place like this in forever....maybe ever.

It's a local place in Venice called Gjelina Take Away otherwise known as GTA.

It's an offshoot of Gjelina, which is right next door. Gjelina is the brain child of Travis Lett, to read more about him go here: LA Times article. Gjelina has gotten very popular, lots of press, Bon Appetit recently wrote it up too. On any given day, and night, there are a dozen people standing outside waiting up to an hour to get a table, inside or outside, patio is very nice, they do have communal tables as well. Once you get a seat you'll be super happy, great waiters, helpful staff all around, well except the hostesses. No fun having the hostess job and let's just say they aren't the friendliest gals.

But skip all that, go to GTA, right next door,

it opens up at 7am and this past weekend I went back three times.

Seriously I'm working my way through the menu, even making SB sample a few vittles.

So far my favorite has been the jamon on toast, aka ham on toast. They smear a bit of tomato on the toast and delicately lay a few nice layers of the best jamon on a crunchy piece of bread. Today I ate two of them in between sampling the mixed berry turnover.

Also delish is the salmon on crunchy toast with capers, peppers and a nice hard-boiled egg on top. Over the weekend we tried the egg breakfast sandwich, this was good, with Gruyere, bacon, kale, and tomatoes, very messy, the kale was nutritious but hard to bite in and the whole leaf came out at once, but worth a try.

The biscuits and jam make my friend C think of her grandmother's biscuit. Their smeared with butter and strawberry jam. No latte's here, but you can get a Cordona or Cortona, what is it with L.A. and our coffee names. It's basically a very small cup of double espresso with a bit of milk. I personally LOVE it, strong and just the right amount of cream. C thinks it needs more milk, so it's really your preference.

Next up, an evening trying out the pizza's. I love the ones next door and they have a wood-burning oven here too. A co-worker was a bit disappointed by the pizza's initially as they were undercooked in the middle, but that was a few weeks into their opening, so hopefully they've figured this out.

Drop by and hang out with all the hipster parents and their pets for a quick, Italian style breakfast. Makes me think of running into a cafe in the other Venice, Italy that is, to get a cappuccino in the early morning.

Gjelina Take Away (GTA)
1429 Abbot Kinney
Venice Beach, CA 90291

Happy 4 Year Blog Anniversary

On June 27th I've been a blogger for 4 years. Time got away from me to post that day, but I still love using this place as a creative outlet and sharing my travels and food adventures. I really thought this blog would be more about food, but when I took an edit of the site I realized I post more travel adventures then food. Which makes sense as travel logs are my favorite types of books to read.

Here's a few I keep going back too and recommend. And yes E I do read my books more then once and thus I do need a bookshelf (more to come on that later).

I follow David's blog and now on twitter....he is hilarious.

A great view on what it's really like to live in Paris.

Another book I re-read just about every summer. I want to buy a house is Tuscany in another life.

I've read most of Frances Mayes books all are very good: Bella Tuscany, A Year in the World: Journeys of A Passionate Traveller and recently read Every Day in Tuscany: Seasons of an Italian Life.

Recently I discovered Bill Bryson. I read A Walk in the Woods and laughed out loud so I just picked up the book above, Notes from a Small Island. And again, I lay in bed laughing out loud.

And finally Peter Mayle. I tried to read this book in my early twenties when I was just started my advertising career. I wasn't into it. Give myself a number of years later and I reread this book and loved it. Peter is an old ad guy moved to Provence and writes a witty tale. I've read just about everything he's wrote Encore Provence: New Adverntures in the South of France, Toujours Provence, French Lessons: Adventures iwth Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew and one of my favorites A Good Year, also love this movie with Russell Crow and Marion Clotilde.

I personally hope to find new fun reads and enjoy yet another year posting away and snapping pictures of interesting things I see and hear. Thanks to the very few followers for coming by to check up on the adventures.

San Francisco

Everyone knows NOBODY walks in L.A. But I recently traveled to two great U.S. Cities that everyone walks in. San Francisco and New York.

I rarely get to travel this much. What a great exception, London and Paris in March, and San Francisco and New York in June. Wow, four great cities all in the Spring, my favorite time of year.

San Francisco and NY were for business, so I didn't take my camera as I took "carry-on" luggage and my multiple electronic devices, oy vey (laptop, iPad and 2 iPhones - Business/Personal). Ridiculous.

(not me, but Anna, san bangs)

I went to some great restaurants in between walking to and from the office and the meeting facilities. When your out of town on business you get to try all kinds of interesting places.

So here's a sampling of where I went, all courtesy of my iPhone(s).

The Salt House
545 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-543-8900

Reservations are recommended, but we walked in and sat at a communal table with our client.
Food was fresh and delicious.

Asparagus soup.

Lobster cannelloni. Rich and amazing.

I dig the skull stamped milk jars maskings as water jugs.

Next day lead us up and down Nob Hill. Great exercise. I seriously had to stretch out my calve muscles the next day after this jaunt to the Swam Oyster Depot. I had a recommendation from a team member that this was the most amazing seafood that he ever ate. I was expecting white table clothes and candles, great wine and an overall dining experience. What I got was this....

Swan Oyster Depot
1517 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

No reservations required. We were fortunate enough to walk right in and take a seat at the counter. I believe my co-worker is a foodie thru and thru. This place had great fresh fish, nothing is cooked. Everyone came in ordering crab legs, fresh shrimp, mussels and clam chowder (which is cooked). I order my childhood favorite appetizer. Jumbo shrimp cocktail. It was the freshest shrimp I've ever eaten. I have to admit I must have given my Mom many a heart attack growing up. She'd occasionally treat us to a dinner out and when she'd get up to wash her hands the waitress would come up and ask me what I wanted. As SB knows I have Champagne taste on a Beer budget. So I'd order a Shrimp cocktail, Lobster you know the expensive stuff and she'd be left ordering a Salad. Money was tight, but I seemed to be obviously. I found out many years later when I traveled with my Dad to Cuba and he order Shrimp Cocktail, that this is where I got this fetish from.

They served this with big crusty bread and I ordered a glass of white wine. Was well worth the hilly walk. I've heard most people have to wait in line for up to 30 minutes to get in. This day we just hit it right.

Here's their story. Not fancy place, but you can't beat the friendly service, and it was authentic.

This place is as busy behind the counter as it is in front.

My next stop was a place I'd read about in Bon Appetit. In fact I tore that page out of the magazine and took it with me to SF. I found the closest place to where I was working and walk to Sons & Daughters.

Here's what the Bon Appetit review said:

New American Cuisine with a touch of molecular gastronomy is showcased here, with four courses going for a reasonable $54. Just up Nob Hill from Union Square shopping, the cozy room serves a fine squab breast with squab leg confit, squab pâté, pear, and hazelnuts.

Sons & Daughters

708 Bush Street

415- 391-8311

sonsanddaughterssf.com

Here's the menu. I did the tasting menu which was 4 course for $58. Does not include wine. Wine is an additional $42. Yikes. Everything I ordered was great except the dessert. I'm all about trying new stuff, but I should have gone with my gut. Instead I order the Candy Cap mushroom cake with Black truffle ice cream, porcini, cinnamon and carmel. It was way to black truffle, over powering. It needed more sweet and less dirt. Wasn't the best way to end the meal. I thought the service was really good here, but I've never had my silverware taken and replaced so many times. It seriously was crazy, waiters with cigar boxes of silverware sneaking in swiping old with new, even if I hadn't used it. This was for every course and quite disruptive to the conversation flow.

Decor was cool.

Interesting little courses that slid in and out between plates were delicate and tasty.

We did have a quick drink at a bar in the Tenderloin called Rye. I liked this place, had lots of character.

Rye
688 Geary St
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 474-4448

Next China Town.

I didn't take a picture of the restaurant only the walk to the place.

Great Chinese food at R&G. This is the second time I've been here during my San Francisco travels.

R & G Lounge

631 Kearny St
San Francisco, CA 94108-1810
(415) 982-7877

Now for all the random fun pictures while experimenting with my iPhone.

Random murals tucked into all the alleys.

Love that San Francisco appreciates Bansky enough to put some plexiglass over to protect.

Another Banksy.

From my hotel room.

Random building, but I was drawn to it. San Francisco is a great city to explore on foot. I thoroughly enjoyed the week. Be prepared though. It's cold up there especially when the sun goes down. Bring scarf and a rain coat.

Wino Wednesday

I know your saying finally or maybe your saying anything. But I'm back to my regularly scheduled or not posting.

This week I have a guest blogger. Dr. Subs straight from England with a nice European wine. Enjoy his lovely take on this ancient beverage.

Baron de Barbon
Rioja
Seleccion Especial
Cosecha 2009

What the bottle says: Baron de Barbon is made purely from Rioja's noble grape, Tempranillo, harvested by hand to ensure the highest quality. The fruit was traditionally vinified, then twenty percent aged in barrel (sic) for further complexity. It has a deep cherry-red colour, with aromas of ripe blackberries, strawberries, cloves and a hint of vanilla. The palate is smooth and rounded, with concentrated spicy black fruit flavours and a subtle touch of mocha on the finish.
First smell: blackcurrants, vanilla
Second smell: dark summer fruits, nutmeg
First taste: blackberries, cherries

Observations: a wonderfully deep plum coloured with a well constructed, rather forward nose of dark summer fruits, and more subtle notes of chocolate and vanilla. Crisp acidity with medium tannins and a beautifully balanced flavour with notes of strawberries and chocolate and a peppery finish with hints of fennel. A fruity wine, but balanced with a smooth creaminess, making it a lovely daily drinker. But would also benefit from being kept for 2-3 years and developing some more complexity.

After a difficult evening dissecting the aesthetic benefits of glulam columns and aluminium profile sheeting my comrade and I were in urgent need of some sort of refreshingly fermented beverage. After rummaging amongst the dusty bottles in the under stairs cupboard, we communed with Messr. Barbon and allowed his dark potion to deliver us as though on wings of eagles to the clouds of misty paradise high above the plains of sobriety. Banzai!

Thanks Dr. Subs, love this and can't wait to find this nector in the States.

Mecca - Theater of Dreams and Pride & Prejudice - Day 14

Ok so I am remiss about this last England post. And seeing as my favorite soccer team didn't win the Champions League this week I really feel bad about not getting this done and back to my regular schedule of postings, which I will resume next week.

What we did on our last couple of days is a combination of two things I love best, which is too much for a girl to handle. Our day started out with drizzling rain and a commute up north where it always rains. We visited Old Trafford in Manchester, this is the stadium that is home to one of the best teams in the world, Manchester United, and happens to be my favorite team.

This is the entrance to Old Trafford and a vision of the players tunnel leading to the pitch (field for us in North America). We didn't get to see a game, but you can take a most excellent tour of this stadium, which I call "Mecca." On our tour was the press room, players lounge, locker rooms, a chance to sit in the players seats, and walk through the tunnel to the pitch.

Here is all the hardware that Man Utd has won, including this years Premier League Trophy. And well the "35 years" was a dig at their city rivals (Manchester City) who hadn't won a trophy in 35 years, that is, until this year. Manchester City won the FA cup, so a month later this sign was removed.

Picture of me next to my favorite players jersey. The picture on the right is of the Munich tunnel, which commemorates a terrible time in Man Utd history, when 23 players and journalists died in Munich airplane crach on their way back from a European cup game.

Josh running thru the tunnel about to hit the pitch and make his first goal. Me and Karl as subs on the bench waiting for our chance to prove to Sir Alex we know what we're doing.

When we got to the pitch we weren't even allowed to touch a blade of grass on the pitch which looked like a fine green plushy carpet. After shopping in the Megastore, and buying a Wayne Rooney jersey for SB we made our way to my second favorite place.

We drove to Lyme Park which is where parts of Pride and Prejudice were filmed. This is another of the grand manor country estates and the location for Mr. Darcy's home, Pemberly.

As much as SB gives me grief about this story, Mr. Darcy and the 6 hour mini-series he was game to run up and down the stairs as Mr. Darcy.

It was quite cold this day and the house wasn't open. They only used the outside of this house for the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice, so I was fine with not going inside.

SB enjoyed this place as much as I did, he got lost in the gardens and took most of the pictures including the pond, bridge and garden shack behind the estate.

I love the stairway that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy walked to the fishing pond.

I would live in this garden shack, it's so enchanting and slightly bigger than my apartment/flat in L.A.

Can you imagine wondering thru this garden maze.

Garden urn from the upper lawn.

Not Mr. Darcy's diving pond, but equally lovely.

I just love the color and texture of this wall.

Now this is Mr. Darcy's diving pond, where every girl dreams of Colin Firth coming out of in a wet white dress shirt. SB asked me if I wanted him to dive in the pond. Seriously he can't fight the Mr. Darcy lure, and I pat myself on the back for subliminally indoctrinating him on this fantastic story. Job well-done.

After our tour we took a walk pass the lake and grabbed a tea and scone in the cafe. It was a very cold day and a long drive back to Tamworth where we partook of some great Indian food.

Our last day in England we did a little shopping and SB and I walked up and down the lane where K&A live. All together we spent 15 days in England and France. This was a memorable trip, but only because of the good time we had with all our good friends. We hope to visit again soon to this lovely country.

Burton on Trent - Day 13

Here's how my morning went: drank Earl Grey tea, rushed to Burton on Trent, got lost, took a Marston Brewery tour and drank beer all before 12noon. Nice breakfast right?

After watching a program in the U.S. about Dogfish Head Brewery, SB and I've wanted to brew our own beer. We've got a lot to learn and this tour helped. This is a massive brewery. You smell the Malt in the malt room and the yeast permeates the fermenting room, I started craving a hot loaf of bread slathered with butter during this part of the tour. SB was in heaven. He called the room above the nursery, it was like looking at all the newborn babies, only now it's barrels of beer. Go figure.

Final end product from the bottle-capping machine.

Country full of short people.

In England when they serve beer from the draft, they prime the pump before anything ever comes out, makes for a delicious beer.

Me and Sheila, she was a lovely tour guide.

After the tour they let us try a few pints of beer and everyone was able to take two bottles of beer home. I thought SB and Karl looked like the happiest men on the planet when they discovered that. All for 6£ = nearly $10. I tried the Oyster Stout and it tasted like it had some chocolate malt in it. When I went back to the malt room and was able to smell all the malt pellets and indeed it smelled chocolaty.