Cover Girl? You Go Girl!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Biba Ristorante Italiano
I was surprised, shocked, and eventually blessed to be able to go to Biba for dinner for my birthday this year. It's such a landmark in these parts that it's a wonder I've never been. But this occasion changed all that.
Wanting to try EVERYTHING on the menu, we ordered one Antipasti and one Primi Piatti with intentions of splitting the dishes. Usually we do this with one plate, two forks, but not at Biba. They were sweet enough to serve the one order on two plates, and so on.
First up:
Bruschetta con Caprino e Pomodorini
Bruschetta with creamy goat cheese and marinated cherry tomatoes
Simple, uncomplicated elegance
La Pasta Ripiena del Giorno
Housemade stuffed pasta of the day
The stuffing for the day was eggplant. I could have eaten an entire plate and been happy.
Insalata di Barbabietole, Cipolle e Balsamico
Beet salad with sweet onion, pecorino cheese, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
I'm a sucker for beets, but rarely buy them for myself. This added to the "specialness" of this dish. Mmm, beets, cheese, onions, loveliness!
Lattuga Romana al Gorgonzola
Romaine salad with pine nuts in a creamy gorgonzola dressing
Just grass? Hardly. Bursting with flavor for my mister.
Bistecca Piemontese alla Griglia con Peperonata
Grilled New York steak, rubbed with peppercorns, served with grilled, marinated vegetables
I thought steak in an Italian place was a daring choice. And Biba didn't disappoint.
Wild Salmone con Prosciutto in Padella
Sauteed prosciutto wrapped salmon, served on a bed of yellow corn, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms
Yeah, read it and weep. It says "prosciutto wrapped salmon". Don't you wish you could eat that picture?
Gelato del Giorno
Housemade gelato of the day
Our server sold me on the amaretto chocolate gelato. Seriously, can I just die now?
Zabaglione con Frutti di Bosco
Zabaglione with mixed summer berries
Oh yeah, no dieing here. You'd miss out on the "Zabaglione", which was light and refreshing.
Biba Caggiano
The diva herself. She doesn't cook much any more but makes sure to be in the restaurant to "inspire" her staff, and watch out over her customers. It was a pleasure to meet her, eat her food, and share my birthday here.
Wanting to try EVERYTHING on the menu, we ordered one Antipasti and one Primi Piatti with intentions of splitting the dishes. Usually we do this with one plate, two forks, but not at Biba. They were sweet enough to serve the one order on two plates, and so on.
First up:
Bruschetta con Caprino e Pomodorini
Bruschetta with creamy goat cheese and marinated cherry tomatoes
Simple, uncomplicated elegance
La Pasta Ripiena del Giorno
Housemade stuffed pasta of the day
The stuffing for the day was eggplant. I could have eaten an entire plate and been happy.
Insalata di Barbabietole, Cipolle e Balsamico
Beet salad with sweet onion, pecorino cheese, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
I'm a sucker for beets, but rarely buy them for myself. This added to the "specialness" of this dish. Mmm, beets, cheese, onions, loveliness!
Lattuga Romana al Gorgonzola
Romaine salad with pine nuts in a creamy gorgonzola dressing
Just grass? Hardly. Bursting with flavor for my mister.
Bistecca Piemontese alla Griglia con Peperonata
Grilled New York steak, rubbed with peppercorns, served with grilled, marinated vegetables
I thought steak in an Italian place was a daring choice. And Biba didn't disappoint.
Wild Salmone con Prosciutto in Padella
Sauteed prosciutto wrapped salmon, served on a bed of yellow corn, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms
Yeah, read it and weep. It says "prosciutto wrapped salmon". Don't you wish you could eat that picture?
Gelato del Giorno
Housemade gelato of the day
Our server sold me on the amaretto chocolate gelato. Seriously, can I just die now?
Zabaglione con Frutti di Bosco
Zabaglione with mixed summer berries
Oh yeah, no dieing here. You'd miss out on the "Zabaglione", which was light and refreshing.
Biba Caggiano
The diva herself. She doesn't cook much any more but makes sure to be in the restaurant to "inspire" her staff, and watch out over her customers. It was a pleasure to meet her, eat her food, and share my birthday here.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
R.E.M.
I was shocked to hear the news today that R.E.M. was going their separate ways and breaking up. I understand that sometimes even the richest vein of creativity runs dry eventually. I'm thankful to them for a great run, 30+ years baby!
I'll admit, I still think of them as the 4-piece band below as I became disinterested in their work in the late 90s early 00s. But with their new disc, "Collapse", my interest as a fan became renewed and refreshed. Hmm, will have to take another listen at their back catalog.
One of my most prized bits from my R.E.M. collection is "This Film is On" on LASER DISC. Yeah, baby, I said laser disc -- picture to prove it. The content is roughly the "Out of Time" album but on film, with some proper videos and others that are mood pieces. I did always love it (and now can only play it on special occasions, like watching Dad's old slide shows).
As mentioned, their new disc is terrific. The critics and buyers were luke warm to the music, but I found it compelling, complex and enriching over multiple listenings. Check it out.
On a final note, here's one of the songs called "Country Feedback" from above laser disc (sorry for YouTube's commercials). While there have certainly been monster hits by R.E.M., moody brooding songs like this with Michael Stipe's haunting poetry is what will always endear me to this band.
Sad to see them go. Glad to have known them!
I'll admit, I still think of them as the 4-piece band below as I became disinterested in their work in the late 90s early 00s. But with their new disc, "Collapse", my interest as a fan became renewed and refreshed. Hmm, will have to take another listen at their back catalog.
One of my most prized bits from my R.E.M. collection is "This Film is On" on LASER DISC. Yeah, baby, I said laser disc -- picture to prove it. The content is roughly the "Out of Time" album but on film, with some proper videos and others that are mood pieces. I did always love it (and now can only play it on special occasions, like watching Dad's old slide shows).
As mentioned, their new disc is terrific. The critics and buyers were luke warm to the music, but I found it compelling, complex and enriching over multiple listenings. Check it out.
On a final note, here's one of the songs called "Country Feedback" from above laser disc (sorry for YouTube's commercials). While there have certainly been monster hits by R.E.M., moody brooding songs like this with Michael Stipe's haunting poetry is what will always endear me to this band.
Sad to see them go. Glad to have known them!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Octoberfest in München 2011
I remember it like it was last year. Wait, it WAS last year that I was in München for Oktoberfest.
Thanks to the folks at the San Francisco Chronicle for posting these great pics and more from this year's festival which is fully under way.
See all 50 pics in the Chronicle here.
As the old showbiz adage goes, "The Show Must Go On" and with the Oktoberfest it's no exception. Stupid rain.
Made me giggle -- boobies always do!
Thanks to the folks at the San Francisco Chronicle for posting these great pics and more from this year's festival which is fully under way.
See all 50 pics in the Chronicle here.
As the old showbiz adage goes, "The Show Must Go On" and with the Oktoberfest it's no exception. Stupid rain.
Made me giggle -- boobies always do!
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