Sunday, June 19, - Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - At Foxwoods, and the beautiful Lake of Isles golf course for the Native American Classic

Ok, these are my wonderful, cute, totally stylin' golf shoes. I got so many compliments on them...and I don't even play golf. In fact when Nick proposed I join him for this weekend, I said, "I hate golf!" Well, in the end, I had a terrific time.

We awoke Monday morning to a stellar day. The shadow of the hotel lies over the forest as the mist rolls out in the background.

Let's hear it for the guys! Nick, Jerry, Eli and Charlie.

Our group gets ready to take off.

OK so I know how to drive a golf cart.

The clubhouse overlooks a lake. It has a natural rustic feel to it...seems the area was a scout camp in the old days.

Here's Mary...not only is she a really good golfer, she's also super nice, funny...and extremely patient. I rode in her cart and she explained everything to me!

Jerry is a great player. Nick is observing closely.

Hmmm...let me try out my putting skills...OK, so it didn't come anywhere near the hole... big deal.

It's so pretty! There's water everywhere... and islands and bridges.

I've never watched Nick play before, and I have to admit, he was good. Of course he didn't hesitate to point it out. Most said that it was only because he was desperate to impress me.

Here's Elie...he has a very distinctive swing!

Everyone's playing so well...and I really enjoy sitting in the golf cart taking the sun.

The casino rises in the distance...behind the big gambler...ummm, I mean the big golfer.

Everyone else was hot, but I was cold. I guess that's because they were moving and I was...just chillin'. Yeah, that must be it.

The 11th hole is great...you can't see it from here but the green is way down below on an island in the middle of the lake.

Here Mary and Nick on the green at the 11th.

After the tournament there was a cocktail party out on the deck.

I had such a good time. I think I'm going to try to learn this game...maybe.

When we got back to Foxwood's the butlers prepared us an extraordinary dinner...as usual.

The sashimi is always perfect.

Of course the deserts and chocolate confections are always wonderful. Often they have a gambling theme...

...and this was my favorite...a little chocolate golf cart.

There's lots of good shopping at Foxwoods, too. Nick promised to buy me this red Vespa.

That night we found Nick's clubs all cleaned up and ready for the trip home. I'm in the mirror taking this photo.

When Nick got back to the office, he was still thinking about golf. He had his clubs, but no ball, so he used the next best thing...a watermelon!

Saturday, June 11, 2005 - It was a beautiful day and we had a beautiful "al fresco" lunch. Thanks Adil!

Our friend Adil...who just happens to be a classically trained chef who's worked in top European kitchens and homes...came over and prepared a lunch of steak tartare, one of our French favorites. Some people think it's barbaric or unhealthy to eat raw meat garnished with raw egg yolk. Perhaps they're right, but we do it anyway.

Here Adil gathers together the many seasonings he'll use.

He then does a simple salad to accompany the rich, raw minced filet.

Here's a close up of Adil's simple, elegant platescape.

Just seasoned steak, salad and crusty toasted bread. What could be better?

...and this is what we drank. Perfect!

Tuesday, June 7, 2005 - A business lunch at Richter Golf

L to R: Bernice, Nick, Clotilde, Steve, Glenn.

Bernice and Clotilde were over from Paris, Glenn was in from the west coast. The weather was warm and beautiful.

Saturday, June 4th, 2005 - The month of June has started on a warm note.

We celebrated June's birthday at the Hilltop.

June and Halim were down from Boston for the weekend. It's always great to see them.

Here's June in a birthday tryptich: June with cake, June blowing out candle, June cutting cake.

Dad just hates having his picture taken...can you tell?

Later that night Cat, Jord and I went over to Silver Lake for the annual Italian Festa. Jordy drove...did a good job too, considering the fact that she's rather inexperienced and always terrified when behind the wheel.

...fair food - festa style.

This poster was in the school building. I found it cute...and educational.

Memorial Day Weekend - May 27 - 30, 2005

Here in the US, Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer. If not technically, at least, psychologically. For us this was the perfect time to film the second episode of our TV show. So, on Friday night, at round about 2:00am, we went to the Middle Eastern Bakery to film the "bread scene". That was an adventure in itself. Saturday and Sunday: preparation and filming... lots of work, but lots of fun too.

When we got to the bakery, the manaoush were already done. manaoush are pizza type things. The main topping ingredients are thyme and olive oil. They are delicious. Specially for breakfast.

Hey, it's about 2:00am. I had a long day...a long week...at work. I know I look really tired, but filming must go on.

A huge slab of dough is put into the dough cutting machine...

then a ball of raw pita dough is ejected onto a ramp. This happens over and over, and the balls of dough keep rolling down the ramp.

After being flattened through a roller and passing through a hot oven on a conveyor belt, the pitas emerge all steaming and puffy. The belt then takes them through the cooling process.

Here Cat samples some bread...fresh from the oven. Mmmmm.

On Saturday we made an audition tape for the Food Network's 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. Our cookie discovery: these Middle Eastern Ma'Moul cookies. Delish!

This is the old fashioned wooden mold we used to make the ma'moul.

We had to make a stop at OfficeMax for some filming supplies... Jordy captured this image of her very distinctive hand...on the OfficeMax copier.

and here's Jord...in front of our green, green lawn.