We’re going with these guys - Oceanside Glasstile for kitchen backsplash, specifically a “Creme Brulee” iridescent mosaic. 100% recycled glass, yada-yada, hecho en mexico. Part of our mini kitchen remodel. We also went with Dawn for our faucet and sink, I guess these guys are out of China.
We should have the kitchen done by end of March. The time issue with kitchen remodeling isn’t in the actual construction, it’s choosing stuff, ordering it, and waiting for everything to come in. Realistically, it’s like 2 - 3 months just for planning and getting supplies. It’s going to take all of two weeks max to put everything in (wouldn’t be surprised if it only took one week).
Soup kick:
- Soondubu from My Tofu House on Geary in SF, or Pyung Chang on Telegraph
- Chicken soup from La Calaca Loca in Temescal
- Tom Yung Kung from Lotus Thai (we only do take out now, FYI)
- Seafood soup w/ handmade noodles from Shan Dong, downtown Oakland
Could use some more Oakland/Berkeley/SF recommendations maybe for Cioppino, clam chowder, etc.
Some notable soups I’m still hoping to find something comparable here: bouillabaisse in Marseille and French Onion soup in Montreal
Tucson, Arizona is an interesting City. I almost stopped by last year as there was a pow wow at the University of Arizona. That pow wow and the one hosted by Arizona State University in Tempe are both supposed to be pretty good.
Tucson is about 100 miles past (southeast) Phoenix. Phoenix is a nice place, a little hot and I missed the Hoop Dance competition again over at the Heard Museum this year (on February 9th). The second place winner this year, Brian Hammill, is from the Ho-Chunk tribe. At this rate with my training, I might be in the same tribe.
Tour of California is going on now. It started on Sunday at Stanford and will end in Pasadena. Stage 1 of the Tour is a bike ride I’ve done bits of before.
Would probably be cool to do some of these rides. I’ve downloaded the maps but linking to the ones on their site. Ones down below are in .pdf.
- Prologue Map Stanford University 2.1
- Stage 1 Sausalito to Santa Rosa; 97 miles
- Stage 2 Santa Rosa to Sacramento; 115 miles
- Stage 3 Modesto to San Jose; 103 miles
- Stage 4 Seaside to San Luis Obispo; 135 miles
- Stage 5 Solvang; 15 miles time trial
- Stage 6 Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita; 105 miles
- Stage 7 Santa Clarita to Pasadena; 93 miles
100 miles on a bike might seem like a lot but it’s really not that bad. You have to consider that the bikes these pros are riding are super light, fast, shock absorbing, and they’re riding as a group which makes them collectively crazy fast.
A good friend of mine hooked me up with some Royce chocolate from Japan today. It’s pretty good.
I’d go with Neuhaus belgian chocolates for Valentine’s Day. Marie Belle is really good/artsy too and Bay Area local chocolate is nice too, Michael Recchiuti and Charle’s Chocolates. I’m cool with being cheap, but not with chocolate.
Not sure what it is with Belgians and chocolates (and beer and waffles and french fries) but they’re really good.
