Base Camp - San Francisco

I drove from my Redondo Beach, CA home yesterday to "base camp" Millbrae, CA. My temp home until I get into the Culinary Academy's Dorm Room. It was a perfect driving day and I made it in 6 hours straight stopping only once for gas. I was greeted by my mom/aunt/godmother, my cousin, the superbly talented watercolor artist Guy, and my uncle John who always hides away a perfect bottle of red for these special visits.

"Mom" made lamb shanks in the slow cooker with plenty of osso bucco type sauce, a gremolata topping and nice lumpy semi mashed potatoes with parsley (garden grown) butter, salt and pepper which contained the sauce very well. It was falling off the bone GOOD. John served a Cabernet Savignon by Raymond Burr vineyards. It was a perfect pairing.

The weather is way cooler here than my place so it was nice to settle down from the long drive with a hearty meal since all I ate on the drive was an Ensure, a nectarine, an aisian pear, and a 1/4 of a club sandwich from the day before. I was real hungry when I got to the gas station so I bought M and M's with peanuts and a small bag of Ruffles with Sour Creme and Onion flavoring. Ugg. Burp.

Tomorrow I will head to the Academy via the BART to check out the dorm room demo and look for storage space for all my belongings somewhere near my mom's place in Millbrae.

I'll stay for a week then head back home for the final packing and moving. I should be here in Millbrae by the end of October and ready to hit school November 12th!

Getting closer! I'm getting more excited! Can't wait to play on the BIG GAS STOVES!! (read: big ass stoves) I've put up with freakin' electric for the past 24 years and I'm done with that!

Wow.... I'm amazed at myself. cool

Cooking with John Ashcroft!!

Offering you an
unappetizin piece of info
about the Former Attorney
General of the USofA.....

In his hand-written resignation letter, dated November 2, 2004 Chef Ashcroft stated: “The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved. (feeling safe now?)

Thereafter, in the wisdom of the Senate and the White House the Honorable Alberto Gonzales was named his successor. Gonzales recently resigned as well so he could take an active roll in evesdropping on his family.

If you haven't lost your appetite or the contents of your stomach by now you should immediately seek re-election.

Only in America.