The Coffee House

[table1349]

This apparently is the night for mixed up meals out. Didn't get my sweet and sour chicken. The put me in a nice little quiet corner table. While I was sitting there the owner came up and sat down. I have known her for 40+ years. Her husband was a young college professor when I was in school and he and I happened to share a hospital room for 4 days having both had some surgery. We became good friends. He died young and his wife sold their restaurant near the college and kept the one on the other side of town. Since I hadn't ordered yet she didn't let me. Instead she said something to the waiter and we sat and talked. We ended up eating off menu family style. The only thing we had of our own was bowls of white rice. The rest was in bowls and plates we both ate from. I couldn't pronounce the names of what we ate, much less spell the names of them, but it was great food. It was really nice to get a chance to catch up since she has retired from running the place.

I had some of the best Mexican food ever in a similar situation. We went to lunch at a Mexican restaurant with a person who was contracting to us. We had probably eaten lunch there together probably 2 times a week for several weeks. Well the contractor was from FL and bilingual. And always talked Spanish to the restaurant owner. So one day we went in and the owner seated us and asked for our drinks. And started a conversation with the other guy. As I was looking at the menu the other guy goes hey Ben. You want to try something really good. I said sure I'm game. I have no idea what it was, but they brought out this mini spread of food. Definitely was not on the menu. The spices and different flavors were incredible.

Every time I went back after we were done using the contractor. I was a little disappointed. Just lets you know how much they bland things down for the general public.

Abso-freaking-loteley! I have 3 or 4 places that we can go and order off menus. The Chinese place I went to last night, a Japanese place that is amazing, a Mexican place that rocks all other Mexican food in town and the one that would be the death of me if I let it. I have made no secret that me heritage is mostly Scottish and Irish that but my stomach is Italian. A couple of years ago a guy and his wife moved here from New York City to get away from all the hustle and bustle. He was an Italian resteraunter and opened a little place here. Got to know him pretty well.

OMG! I haven't had food like that since I lived in Germany. Well that's not quite true. In college I was dating for a while a Sicilian girl who's family was old world. Three generations under one roof. Sunday meals went on for hours, but lord that food was good.

 

[Gary A.]

Buenas Dias Coffee Hosers. Gary is recovering from yesterday. Lots of yard work, cleaning and cooking for guests. It was ALL soooo damn good. The main course was Tri-Tip, cooked a la brisket and some very interesting chipotle sausages from grass fed cows. The stock was full of herbs and veggies from the garden. Mary Lou brought out a mango salsa and chips for starters, she also crafted a cucumber and tomato salad from the garden w/rice, (we have a new rice cooker which whips up an exceptionally light and tasty rice ... it even keeps it warm until served). And ... the piece de resistance was the flatbread. Slightly raised, a medium brown crust, very light to the taste, topped with three different cheeses, chopped marinated artichoke hearts, sliced Spanish Olives filled with pimento, peppers, tomatoes and herbs from the garden. The flatbread looked beautiful, tasted better and was a meal unto itself. (Gary mixes herbs into the dough and sows some them on top.) The finale was Gary's homemade ice cream and dessert vino. Nobody wanted coffee, as it was late, but a few people actually snacked on coffee beans ... just to taste Gary's roast. In totality, one of the better meals at the house of Gary.

 

[Gary A.]

@Jon: Thank you. Gary waited for the appropriate time to unleash the golden liquid contained in the bottle. After a warm summer's day of cleaning and cooking this was very refreshing, albeit different, but refreshing nonetheless. Gary shared the beer with his dinner guests and there were many different opinions.

 

[Gary A.]

Mary Lou and Gary are in our pajamas in the backyard. It is 78F with a nice breeze. We are under attack by Japanese Beetles. Last year they destroyed most of our grapes and apples and all of our roses. We have set up 'traps' of sliced oranges is strategic locations amongst the roses. The beetles congreate on the oranges, where we capture them.

Gary is sipping the last of his coffee. ... Gary just got all excited ... he thought he saw the Mother of All Beetles fly by ... but it was a Hummer, lol. Mary Lou is busy devising different mechanical means for capturing beetles.

 

[benhasajeep48 47]

Mary Lou and Gary are in our pajamas in the backyard. It is 78F with a nice breeze. We are under attack by Japanese Beetles. Last year they destroyed most of our grapes and apples and all of our roses. We have set up 'traps' of sliced oranges is strategic locations amongst the roses. The beetles congreate on the oranges, where we capture them.

Gary is sipping the last of his coffee. ... Gary just got all excited ... he thought he saw the Mother of All Beetles fly by ... but it was a Hummer, lol. Mary Lou is busy devising different mechanical means for capturing beetles.

Gary needs chickens!!!

 

[Gary A.]

Mary Lou and Gary are in our pajamas in the backyard. It is 78F with a nice breeze. We are under attack by Japanese Beetles. Last year they destroyed most of our grapes and apples and all of our roses. We have set up 'traps' of sliced oranges is strategic locations amongst the roses. The beetles congreate on the oranges, where we capture them.

Gary is sipping the last of his coffee. ... Gary just got all excited ... he thought he saw the Mother of All Beetles fly by ... but it was a Hummer, lol. Mary Lou is busy devising different mechanical means for capturing beetles.

Gary needs chickens!!!

Gary has desired a couple of chickens for years, but gets trumped by the boss. Why do you think Gary needs chickens?

 

[benhasajeep48 47]

Mary Lou and Gary are in our pajamas in the backyard. It is 78F with a nice breeze. We are under attack by Japanese Beetles. Last year they destroyed most of our grapes and apples and all of our roses. We have set up 'traps' of sliced oranges is strategic locations amongst the roses. The beetles congreate on the oranges, where we capture them.

Gary is sipping the last of his coffee. ... Gary just got all excited ... he thought he saw the Mother of All Beetles fly by ... but it was a Hummer, lol. Mary Lou is busy devising different mechanical means for capturing beetles.

Gary needs chickens!!!

Gary has desired a couple of chickens for years, but gets trumped by the boss. Why do you think Gary needs chickens?

They love Japanese Beetles!!!

 

[Frank F.]

@ Frank: You have the life.

pars pro toto

I am back from the farm

 

[Frank F.]

Mary Lou and Gary are in our pajamas in the backyard. It is 78F with a nice breeze. We are under attack by Japanese Beetles. Last year they destroyed most of our grapes and apples and all of our roses. We have set up 'traps' of sliced oranges is strategic locations amongst the roses. The beetles congreate on the oranges, where we capture them.

Gary is sipping the last of his coffee. ... Gary just got all excited ... he thought he saw the Mother of All Beetles fly by ... but it was a Hummer, lol. Mary Lou is busy devising different mechanical means for capturing beetles.

Gary needs chickens!!!

Gary has desired a couple of chickens for years, but gets trumped by the boss. Why do you think Gary needs chickens?

Before I answer that I smash some eggs over hard with spices

 

[Gary A.]

Mary Lou and Gary are in our pajamas in the backyard. It is 78F with a nice breeze. We are under attack by Japanese Beetles. Last year they destroyed most of our grapes and apples and all of our roses. We have set up 'traps' of sliced oranges is strategic locations amongst the roses. The beetles congreate on the oranges, where we capture them.

Gary is sipping the last of his coffee. ... Gary just got all excited ... he thought he saw the Mother of All Beetles fly by ... but it was a Hummer, lol. Mary Lou is busy devising different mechanical means for capturing beetles.

Gary needs chickens!!!

Gary has desired a couple of chickens for years, but gets trumped by the boss. Why do you think Gary needs chickens?

They love Japanese Beetles!!!

No way ... ? I've never heard that. Japanese Beetles have these hard armored shells and they fly and feed a few feet above ground. How do the chickens get the beetles?

 

[smoke665]

How do the chickens get the beetles?

Chicken stilts LOL

 

[benhasajeep48 47]

They will dig up the grubs first. But I have read some people set up some beetle traps that the beetles always fall out of. And chickens will be there to gobble them up. We have 4 bee hives. So, stopped using chemical bug killers. And we have not done chickens yet. I think next spring we will order chicks. As we get the beetles bad. Several sites I found about chickens and Japanese Beetles, says the beetles are like crack to the chickens.

Some animal digs up our yard when there is lots of the grubs. Was going to set up a trail cam to see what does it. But in the spring a very large area will look like we took a garden weasel to it.

We have a friend who designed a movable coop. That way they don't tear up a single space in the yard.

 

[Frank F.]

Mary Lou and Gary are in our pajamas in the backyard. It is 78F with a nice breeze. We are under attack by Japanese Beetles. Last year they destroyed most of our grapes and apples and all of our roses. We have set up 'traps' of sliced oranges is strategic locations amongst the roses. The beetles congreate on the oranges, where we capture them.

Gary is sipping the last of his coffee. ... Gary just got all excited ... he thought he saw the Mother of All Beetles fly by ... but it was a Hummer, lol. Mary Lou is busy devising different mechanical means for capturing beetles.

Gary needs chickens!!!

Gary has desired a couple of chickens for years, but gets trumped by the boss. Why do you think Gary needs chickens?

Before I answer that I smash some eggs over hard with spices

Gosh. What a midnight snack. Now wine? Or sleep? Did you see the horse?

 

[smoke665]

Hey I can vouch for the effect that pheromones have on insects. When we built our house the cypress siding was sprayed with a clear uv protection. Within hours red wasps started appearing. By the next day it looked like something in a sci-fi movie. The sky was literally red with wasps. Quick call to the paint Store revealed the product gave off a vapor that resembles a red wasp in heat apparently. Thankfully within 3 days it was gone and so were the wasps.

 

[Frank F.]

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