Fish and chips and a 512 Pecan Porter on the upstairs porch at Crickets. Perfect weather gave way to a perfect lunch, a little practice at the driving range, and now for some Rangers ALDS action. Happy Friday folks.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Friday Afternoon
Fish and chips and a 512 Pecan Porter on the upstairs porch at Crickets. Perfect weather gave way to a perfect lunch, a little practice at the driving range, and now for some Rangers ALDS action. Happy Friday folks.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Moneyball
This week started out pretty busy. With two presentations yesterday and an exam today, I felt a bit down to start the week. But now that I have those things behind me and a fat pastrami sandwich and cream of potato soup from Schmaltz's in my belly, I'm feeling much better.
So before I head off to the SLC for a tense game of racketball with Matthew, I wanted to talk a little bit about the film I saw this past weekend.
Moneyball is the story of Billy Beane's attempt to put together a playoff baseball team with a very short budget. It is based off Michael Lewis' book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. If you are unfamiliar with Michael Lewis, he is a great writer. This is the second film made based on his books, the other being The Blind Side. He has also written a couple financial books such as Liar's Poker (that I'm reading now) and The Big Short. His books are very well written and in Moneyball he managed to combine two of my favorite things, sports and business.
The film begins with a very well put together short narrative of the end of the 2001 ALDS in which The Yankees beat The A's. Oakland had put together one of their best seasons with big time players like Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon. Unfortunately after that season they became free agents and the loss subsequently was the catalyst to The A's loosing them. From there the story unfolds. The A's were a very low budget team and needed to find a way to compete with the teams with exponentially larger budgets. If you watch any TV then you've most likely seen a trailer for Moneyball and if you've seen the trailer then you know the story line. So I won't waste time explaining the entire plot.
Brad Pitt does an outstanding job, as he usually does in character roles, playing the A's GM Billy Beane. With a supporting cast of Jonah Hill, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and others, the acting is certainly not a hindrance on this film. A bit of information I was unaware of until the credits was that Aaron Sorkin aided in the writing of the screenplay. Anything Mr. Sorkin is involved with is usually a winner. Bennett Miller was the director of the film. If you've seen the film Capote then you know his work. An all around great effort was put in by the entire cast and crew to produce a very enjoyable film. It was especially exciting to see Moneyball with October upon us and The Rangers heading to the post season with their second straight AL West title. I would certainly recommend this movie to anyone, especially if you are a baseball fan. It gives a great look into the inner workings of a baseball team but also has some great characters that keep the movie interesting and even incorporates a little humor.
So there you go. I was watching College Football Live while writing this and I have got to say, God these Longhorn Network commercials are so horrible. Everyone has been asking me what my thoughts are on all this conference realignment tom-foolery. I considered posting my thoughts on this blog but I would just be adding another unimportant opinion to the internet that won't make a difference in what happens. But I will voice my opinion on how terrible the UT commercials are. If you want to make a network so that all your bandwagon Walmart fans can watch UT stuff and hope no one asks them if they actually went to the school, that's fine, but please find someone new to run your ad team. That'll do.
So before I head off to the SLC for a tense game of racketball with Matthew, I wanted to talk a little bit about the film I saw this past weekend.
Moneyball is the story of Billy Beane's attempt to put together a playoff baseball team with a very short budget. It is based off Michael Lewis' book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. If you are unfamiliar with Michael Lewis, he is a great writer. This is the second film made based on his books, the other being The Blind Side. He has also written a couple financial books such as Liar's Poker (that I'm reading now) and The Big Short. His books are very well written and in Moneyball he managed to combine two of my favorite things, sports and business.
The film begins with a very well put together short narrative of the end of the 2001 ALDS in which The Yankees beat The A's. Oakland had put together one of their best seasons with big time players like Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon. Unfortunately after that season they became free agents and the loss subsequently was the catalyst to The A's loosing them. From there the story unfolds. The A's were a very low budget team and needed to find a way to compete with the teams with exponentially larger budgets. If you watch any TV then you've most likely seen a trailer for Moneyball and if you've seen the trailer then you know the story line. So I won't waste time explaining the entire plot.
Brad Pitt does an outstanding job, as he usually does in character roles, playing the A's GM Billy Beane. With a supporting cast of Jonah Hill, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and others, the acting is certainly not a hindrance on this film. A bit of information I was unaware of until the credits was that Aaron Sorkin aided in the writing of the screenplay. Anything Mr. Sorkin is involved with is usually a winner. Bennett Miller was the director of the film. If you've seen the film Capote then you know his work. An all around great effort was put in by the entire cast and crew to produce a very enjoyable film. It was especially exciting to see Moneyball with October upon us and The Rangers heading to the post season with their second straight AL West title. I would certainly recommend this movie to anyone, especially if you are a baseball fan. It gives a great look into the inner workings of a baseball team but also has some great characters that keep the movie interesting and even incorporates a little humor.
So there you go. I was watching College Football Live while writing this and I have got to say, God these Longhorn Network commercials are so horrible. Everyone has been asking me what my thoughts are on all this conference realignment tom-foolery. I considered posting my thoughts on this blog but I would just be adding another unimportant opinion to the internet that won't make a difference in what happens. But I will voice my opinion on how terrible the UT commercials are. If you want to make a network so that all your bandwagon Walmart fans can watch UT stuff and hope no one asks them if they actually went to the school, that's fine, but please find someone new to run your ad team. That'll do.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Grey Skies and Crisp Mornings
Leaves have begun piling up where my front porch meets the drive way and tailgate season is in full swing. This can mean many things, one of which is the changing of the seasons. I love every season just about as equally as the other with a bit of a preference towards Fall, which in Texas goes straight through December and then turns to Winter for about a month. As much as I love each season, I especially love the grey period when the weather is changing and you know a new season is on the way. This is happening right now and this post is my greeting to the new season. Plus I feel like if I write about it, it will come even faster.
The leaves are starting to change and beginning to fall. Although we are still getting our fair share of upper 90 degree weather, the mornings and evenings are beginning to cool down and golf is becoming an option again. We finally got some rain, which was a welcomed sight. There are a few things that I like to do during this time to get ready for the months to come.
1. A coozie has been placed in the back pockets of my khakis and jeans as well as in the inner pocket of all my blazers and suit jackets. This is to ensure that I always have a jacket for my beverage at all tailgates, formal events, social gatherings and really just anytime I'm having a beverage. For those of you who are thinking, "this is ridiculous", well let me enlighten you; coozies are just a part of my culture. I'm not going to sit here and tell you it's because I'm a frat-star or a prepneck or a southern college student who feels the need to have a coozie on his person at all times because that's just what we do. If you know me, you just know these things. If your looking for a utilitarian excuse, I just don't like holding a frosted cold can or bottle in my hand when its 50 degrees outside.
2. Create a playlist to listen to in the truck. I personally like music that goes with the season. Some examples of music would be your more slow, somber country songs with lots of violin, of course stuff like Mumford & Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show and other bluegrass tunes are a perfect fit for colder seasons. You can never go wrong with some of Dave Matthews' slower stuff. Now, I'm not saying this is the only stuff I'll listen to, but I like to have a "go-to" colder weather playlist to cruise around to.
3. Food and beverage are a key aspect of the seasons, much like fashion, they change with the weather. The best example of this is this restaurant we are dinning at in NY for Thanksgiving http://www.parkavenyc.com/. They change the entire restaurant four times a year to match the season. Pretty sweet. Anyways, I've got the bar stocked with plenty of bourbons and scotches. I cut out most of the seafood and start munchin down red meat and poultry, potatoes, and root vegetables. Fall and Winter are my favorite times to cook. Fire up those ovens and deep fryers and clear out all last seasons game to make room for this years kill. You'll be seeing more on this later on.
4. One of the absolute best things about Fall and Winter is the cold weather. There is just something about that grey skied, visible breath morning that makes you want to toss on some khakis with a button down and sweater and dust off the L.L. Bean duck boots. I love to watch the progression of outfits on campus turn from fishing shirts, seer-sucker, polos, and top-siders to khakis, fleeces, wranglers and boots. Like I mentioned before I do live in Texas, and unlike the rest of the southern states, we don't get the cold weather as early. Unfortunately we are too far west and have to wait on that northeast cold to reach us. But once it gets here it is well welcomed. I've been staring at my duck boots and Baylor sweater vest for weeks and I'm ready for the morning when it is cold enough to sport them for a tailgate.
5. Have a lot of fire starters on hand. Everything about fire is Fall and Winter. And I'm not just talking about a backyard gathering around the fire-pit. I'm talking about everything good that fire provides. The Homecoming bon-fire (Baylor has one of the oldest homecomings in the country, it's a pretty big deal), the random gatherings in the backyard on a Wednesday night just because, the morning warmth when you get back from the deer blind that you've been freezing your ass off in all morning, the fuel to light up my cigar on the back porch on Christmas morning or the many other occasions I chose to celebrate living the good life, and I'm not afraid to admit that I do have a candle in my room, a Woodwick that is definitely a Fall scent. The bottom line is, fire.
These are just some of things I like to do in preparation for the new season. If you know me then you know all the things that I like to actually do during this time of year. For those of you who don't, I would think it'd be apparent from my writing that I like to hunt, tailgate, smoke cigars, drink bourbon and partake in much of the other Fall debauchery that fits my demographic. And for those of you who care to hear about any of that stuff, most of my blog will be comprised of all of the sort in the months to come. My hope is that once this post is published, the 90 degree days will end, the grey skies with roll in, and maybe by homecoming I'll be able to wear something with long sleeves.
Happy Fall to all. Don't mourn the Summer. Embrace the cold and grey.
The leaves are starting to change and beginning to fall. Although we are still getting our fair share of upper 90 degree weather, the mornings and evenings are beginning to cool down and golf is becoming an option again. We finally got some rain, which was a welcomed sight. There are a few things that I like to do during this time to get ready for the months to come.
1. A coozie has been placed in the back pockets of my khakis and jeans as well as in the inner pocket of all my blazers and suit jackets. This is to ensure that I always have a jacket for my beverage at all tailgates, formal events, social gatherings and really just anytime I'm having a beverage. For those of you who are thinking, "this is ridiculous", well let me enlighten you; coozies are just a part of my culture. I'm not going to sit here and tell you it's because I'm a frat-star or a prepneck or a southern college student who feels the need to have a coozie on his person at all times because that's just what we do. If you know me, you just know these things. If your looking for a utilitarian excuse, I just don't like holding a frosted cold can or bottle in my hand when its 50 degrees outside.
2. Create a playlist to listen to in the truck. I personally like music that goes with the season. Some examples of music would be your more slow, somber country songs with lots of violin, of course stuff like Mumford & Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show and other bluegrass tunes are a perfect fit for colder seasons. You can never go wrong with some of Dave Matthews' slower stuff. Now, I'm not saying this is the only stuff I'll listen to, but I like to have a "go-to" colder weather playlist to cruise around to.
3. Food and beverage are a key aspect of the seasons, much like fashion, they change with the weather. The best example of this is this restaurant we are dinning at in NY for Thanksgiving http://www.parkavenyc.com/. They change the entire restaurant four times a year to match the season. Pretty sweet. Anyways, I've got the bar stocked with plenty of bourbons and scotches. I cut out most of the seafood and start munchin down red meat and poultry, potatoes, and root vegetables. Fall and Winter are my favorite times to cook. Fire up those ovens and deep fryers and clear out all last seasons game to make room for this years kill. You'll be seeing more on this later on.
4. One of the absolute best things about Fall and Winter is the cold weather. There is just something about that grey skied, visible breath morning that makes you want to toss on some khakis with a button down and sweater and dust off the L.L. Bean duck boots. I love to watch the progression of outfits on campus turn from fishing shirts, seer-sucker, polos, and top-siders to khakis, fleeces, wranglers and boots. Like I mentioned before I do live in Texas, and unlike the rest of the southern states, we don't get the cold weather as early. Unfortunately we are too far west and have to wait on that northeast cold to reach us. But once it gets here it is well welcomed. I've been staring at my duck boots and Baylor sweater vest for weeks and I'm ready for the morning when it is cold enough to sport them for a tailgate.
5. Have a lot of fire starters on hand. Everything about fire is Fall and Winter. And I'm not just talking about a backyard gathering around the fire-pit. I'm talking about everything good that fire provides. The Homecoming bon-fire (Baylor has one of the oldest homecomings in the country, it's a pretty big deal), the random gatherings in the backyard on a Wednesday night just because, the morning warmth when you get back from the deer blind that you've been freezing your ass off in all morning, the fuel to light up my cigar on the back porch on Christmas morning or the many other occasions I chose to celebrate living the good life, and I'm not afraid to admit that I do have a candle in my room, a Woodwick that is definitely a Fall scent. The bottom line is, fire.
These are just some of things I like to do in preparation for the new season. If you know me then you know all the things that I like to actually do during this time of year. For those of you who don't, I would think it'd be apparent from my writing that I like to hunt, tailgate, smoke cigars, drink bourbon and partake in much of the other Fall debauchery that fits my demographic. And for those of you who care to hear about any of that stuff, most of my blog will be comprised of all of the sort in the months to come. My hope is that once this post is published, the 90 degree days will end, the grey skies with roll in, and maybe by homecoming I'll be able to wear something with long sleeves.
Happy Fall to all. Don't mourn the Summer. Embrace the cold and grey.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
A Weekend Ruined
There are often times when something is going on or being planned, a social event of sorts, in which I haven't the fondest interest in being a part of. And because I am a very individualistic type of individual, I don't feel the need to do something I don't want to do, in order to "fit in". Therefor, I find ways to get myself out of doing certain things. Usually this involves finding some kind of excuse. Now don't get me wrong, sometimes I do things to please others that I would, under normal circumstances, not be involved in. Although if you ask my girlfriend, she would say these occasions should be exponentially increased...The point I'm getting at is that when I don't want to do something, I find a way out of it. But sometimes, the flip side of that coin occurs and something you really are excited for is ruined by some unforeseen, unwanted event or circumstance. That very thing happened this weekend.
Here's the weekend breakdown that was planned and set on Thursday afternoon. Friday afternoon; head up to Dallas, hit Addison Oktoberfest for a little while, try not to make getting up early the next morning too excruciating. Saturday morning; up at 9:00, College Gameday and Champagne with those who ran the early morning 5K, Oktoberfest all day while keeping up with the games on my phone, rest from 5-6, Grapevine Grapefest from 7-whenever. Sunday morning; have lunch with the crew, cruise back to Waco listening to whichever noon game was on the radio. Solid plan if you ask me. Sure would have been.
Here's what actually happened. Friday morning; wake up around 10:30, head to class around 11:00, stomach begins to ache around 11:10, get out of class, slam Gut Pack from Vitek's around 12:30, doesn't help, get back home, stomach continues to hurt, Gut Pack leaves the body the same way it went in, we leave Waco around 4:00, more Gut Pack leaves the body around 4:30...and you see how this is going to pan out.
To try and refrain from including too many details, Jess took me to the minor emergency clinic around 8 for a sever case of food poisoning that we thought was appendicitis. So Friday night was ruined. I couldn't eat or drink Saturday but managed to wander around the festival and watch everyone enjoy themselves. We didn't go to Grapefest because everyone backed out and that was that.
I would have loved to have written about the beer and brats from Oktoberfest and the different wines and cheeses from Grapefest but unfortunately I didn't have any of either. So...
Here's the weekend breakdown that was planned and set on Thursday afternoon. Friday afternoon; head up to Dallas, hit Addison Oktoberfest for a little while, try not to make getting up early the next morning too excruciating. Saturday morning; up at 9:00, College Gameday and Champagne with those who ran the early morning 5K, Oktoberfest all day while keeping up with the games on my phone, rest from 5-6, Grapevine Grapefest from 7-whenever. Sunday morning; have lunch with the crew, cruise back to Waco listening to whichever noon game was on the radio. Solid plan if you ask me. Sure would have been.
Here's what actually happened. Friday morning; wake up around 10:30, head to class around 11:00, stomach begins to ache around 11:10, get out of class, slam Gut Pack from Vitek's around 12:30, doesn't help, get back home, stomach continues to hurt, Gut Pack leaves the body the same way it went in, we leave Waco around 4:00, more Gut Pack leaves the body around 4:30...and you see how this is going to pan out.
To try and refrain from including too many details, Jess took me to the minor emergency clinic around 8 for a sever case of food poisoning that we thought was appendicitis. So Friday night was ruined. I couldn't eat or drink Saturday but managed to wander around the festival and watch everyone enjoy themselves. We didn't go to Grapefest because everyone backed out and that was that.
I would have loved to have written about the beer and brats from Oktoberfest and the different wines and cheeses from Grapefest but unfortunately I didn't have any of either. So...
Monday, September 12, 2011
One More Thing
I love finding new sites, or anything for that matter, that when you look at them you think, "Man, this is for me"
Awhile back I found that in http://www.socialprimer.com/
Well I just recently stumbled upon this site. I guess it's a blog but it has a lot more going on than something like my blog. But it's done through Brooks Brother's which is my favorite haberdasher. Check it out. http://blog.brooksbrothers.com/
Awhile back I found that in http://www.socialprimer.com/
Well I just recently stumbled upon this site. I guess it's a blog but it has a lot more going on than something like my blog. But it's done through Brooks Brother's which is my favorite haberdasher. Check it out. http://blog.brooksbrothers.com/
Pretty Far Behind
Ok, so I'm way behind on posting. I promised a couple more things from our Key West trip, but that would be so irrelevant 4 weeks retired from the vacation.
To round it out we had a pretty sweet bar/restaurant crawl the final night and our fishing trip was both good and bad. The days that the inspirational author, who resided in Key West, wrote of at sea, are long gone. The 1000+ pound marlin that Hemingway so elegant, but simply wrote about in his books and captured on many of his own trips, are now few and far between. In the last year I've fished Key West and The North Drop in St. Thomas, both during the full moon phase and both of which have historically been the prime spots for blue marlin. Not even a bite, from a marlin that is. Both trips have provided interesting catches, a 70 pound wahoo in St. Thomas and a fun filled day of dolphin schoolies in Key West totaling around 30, plus a couple cuda and an amberjack. But that longing feeling of landing a massive blue is still prevalent every time I step onto a fishing boat.
Anyways. Since I last posted many things have transpired. Most notably Labor Day weekend. This was a joyous weekend filled with much debauchery and fun for all. My beautiful belle and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary in grand fashion. Friday night we attended, along with my father, the slaughtering of 100 year old rival TCU at The Case. Granted, the score does not indicate a slaughtering but that is due to our defense deciding to lay off the gas in the 4th quarter. But up until that point it was obvious who the better team was, and which coaching staff was far superior. The stadium was louder than I've ever experienced and it was truly one of the greatest college games I've witnessed.
Saturday Jessica and I had reservations at 135 Prime, a Waco steak house. I put together a quick bib-and-tucker; blue khakis, white oxford, pink and navy bow-tie, and seer-sucker blazer to celebrate the occasion and to bid farewell to the end of spring/summer clothing. Now, to whom this may concern, Diamondbacks is not the best steakhouse in town. Next time the parents come to visit and your father asks what time he should make the Diamondbacks reservation for, you say, "Why don't we try 135 Prime?" It is a little bit off the beaten path and away from our bubble, but is well worth the drastic risk of driving ten minutes down the road. Also for anyone visiting our great city, please do check it out.
The atmosphere of 135 Prime is a very nouveau riche "home on range" feeling. Dark, earthy colors and animal hides are juxtaposed to crystal chandeliers and framed pictures of early movie stars. We were sat immediately. We each started with a cocktail, Hendrick's gin and tonic for me and a cocktail made from Waco's very own blue corn whiskey and muddled fruits for my stunningly beautiful date. After our relaxation and menu perusing we placed our order. We decided on the Chateaubriand dinner for two. For those who don't know how this works, it is very similar to, dare I say it, what many of today's sodium rich chain restaurants are trying to do to draw in more customers. It is comprised of a salad for each (blue cheese wedge for me, Caesar salad for Jess), an 18 oz. center cut prime tenderloin cut table-side and served with a sauce Bearnaise and two sides (we elected the mac-and-cheese (typical, I know) and the sauteed spinach), and finally a dessert, all at a set price.
The meal was outstanding. Our salads were both very enjoyable. Just the right amount of blue cheese on my wedge accompanied by sweet and spicy raw red onion was the perfect start to the meal. Then came out the steak, which we paired nicely with a smoky Pinot Noir. I know, typically a cab is the way to go here but they were featuring this particular pinot and it just felt right, luckily for us it was perfect. Anyways, the beef was heavenly. Our waiter sliced it up table-side into about six pieces. The only problem with sharing the same side of beef with Jessica is that I like mine bloody as hell and she likes hers burnt to a crisp (Pulp Fiction reference, athankyou), so we met in the middle. Very juicy and flavored just right with a perfect crust. The mac-and-cheese was pretty basic, but that is coming from someone who is very sensitive about his mac-and-cheese. They did make the classic mistake of over salting the sauteed spinach. This was my only complaint of the meal and had this minor mistake not have been made, the entire experience would have been 10 out of 10. We finished with their seasonal creme brule (I'm always pleased to see seasonal menu items). It was a blueberry lemon creme brule and was divine. After dinner I enjoyed a cigar and a glass of Blanton's on the front porch and that, as they say, was that.
We spent the rest of that weekend relaxing. Jessica had kept me in the dark as to what she had got me for our anniversary and made me wait until Saturday. To my utter surprise I received an iPad 2, something I had just ever so recently become interested in. Needless to say I spent a good bit of free time on that during the weekend, especially with college football beginning and the need to get my line ups in for 3, yes 3, different fantasy football leagues. But I also grilled a good bit of venison on Sunday. You can't not grill on Labor Day weekend. Four venison burgers and a couple packages of link sausage filled that void.
So that was that weekend. I know I've been quite behind on postings and may have lost any casual readers, but between 16 hours of class, football season in full throttle, dove season just starting, fraternity rush, my new toy, the 3 books I'm currently casually reading (Liar's Poker, still working on Decision Points, and A Moveable Feast; all 3 great books) along with all my university reading, trying to keep up with the stock market and current affairs, as well as trying to get in my fair share of college life before graduation, I've been a little preoccupied. But dammit I love it! So, this is a nice little update and I hope to keep up with my blog better in the future.
Headin to Dallas this weekend for Addison Oktoberfest, so maybe something on that. Also the movie Moneyball is coming out soon and I'm very eager to see it, so look forward to a review on that in a couple weeks. And a couple of non-conference home games for the Bears, nothing really to shout about, should be easy wins, just waiting for that illusive final game against the farmers before they ship off. Sic Em!
To round it out we had a pretty sweet bar/restaurant crawl the final night and our fishing trip was both good and bad. The days that the inspirational author, who resided in Key West, wrote of at sea, are long gone. The 1000+ pound marlin that Hemingway so elegant, but simply wrote about in his books and captured on many of his own trips, are now few and far between. In the last year I've fished Key West and The North Drop in St. Thomas, both during the full moon phase and both of which have historically been the prime spots for blue marlin. Not even a bite, from a marlin that is. Both trips have provided interesting catches, a 70 pound wahoo in St. Thomas and a fun filled day of dolphin schoolies in Key West totaling around 30, plus a couple cuda and an amberjack. But that longing feeling of landing a massive blue is still prevalent every time I step onto a fishing boat.
Anyways. Since I last posted many things have transpired. Most notably Labor Day weekend. This was a joyous weekend filled with much debauchery and fun for all. My beautiful belle and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary in grand fashion. Friday night we attended, along with my father, the slaughtering of 100 year old rival TCU at The Case. Granted, the score does not indicate a slaughtering but that is due to our defense deciding to lay off the gas in the 4th quarter. But up until that point it was obvious who the better team was, and which coaching staff was far superior. The stadium was louder than I've ever experienced and it was truly one of the greatest college games I've witnessed.
Saturday Jessica and I had reservations at 135 Prime, a Waco steak house. I put together a quick bib-and-tucker; blue khakis, white oxford, pink and navy bow-tie, and seer-sucker blazer to celebrate the occasion and to bid farewell to the end of spring/summer clothing. Now, to whom this may concern, Diamondbacks is not the best steakhouse in town. Next time the parents come to visit and your father asks what time he should make the Diamondbacks reservation for, you say, "Why don't we try 135 Prime?" It is a little bit off the beaten path and away from our bubble, but is well worth the drastic risk of driving ten minutes down the road. Also for anyone visiting our great city, please do check it out.
The atmosphere of 135 Prime is a very nouveau riche "home on range" feeling. Dark, earthy colors and animal hides are juxtaposed to crystal chandeliers and framed pictures of early movie stars. We were sat immediately. We each started with a cocktail, Hendrick's gin and tonic for me and a cocktail made from Waco's very own blue corn whiskey and muddled fruits for my stunningly beautiful date. After our relaxation and menu perusing we placed our order. We decided on the Chateaubriand dinner for two. For those who don't know how this works, it is very similar to, dare I say it, what many of today's sodium rich chain restaurants are trying to do to draw in more customers. It is comprised of a salad for each (blue cheese wedge for me, Caesar salad for Jess), an 18 oz. center cut prime tenderloin cut table-side and served with a sauce Bearnaise and two sides (we elected the mac-and-cheese (typical, I know) and the sauteed spinach), and finally a dessert, all at a set price.
The meal was outstanding. Our salads were both very enjoyable. Just the right amount of blue cheese on my wedge accompanied by sweet and spicy raw red onion was the perfect start to the meal. Then came out the steak, which we paired nicely with a smoky Pinot Noir. I know, typically a cab is the way to go here but they were featuring this particular pinot and it just felt right, luckily for us it was perfect. Anyways, the beef was heavenly. Our waiter sliced it up table-side into about six pieces. The only problem with sharing the same side of beef with Jessica is that I like mine bloody as hell and she likes hers burnt to a crisp (Pulp Fiction reference, athankyou), so we met in the middle. Very juicy and flavored just right with a perfect crust. The mac-and-cheese was pretty basic, but that is coming from someone who is very sensitive about his mac-and-cheese. They did make the classic mistake of over salting the sauteed spinach. This was my only complaint of the meal and had this minor mistake not have been made, the entire experience would have been 10 out of 10. We finished with their seasonal creme brule (I'm always pleased to see seasonal menu items). It was a blueberry lemon creme brule and was divine. After dinner I enjoyed a cigar and a glass of Blanton's on the front porch and that, as they say, was that.
We spent the rest of that weekend relaxing. Jessica had kept me in the dark as to what she had got me for our anniversary and made me wait until Saturday. To my utter surprise I received an iPad 2, something I had just ever so recently become interested in. Needless to say I spent a good bit of free time on that during the weekend, especially with college football beginning and the need to get my line ups in for 3, yes 3, different fantasy football leagues. But I also grilled a good bit of venison on Sunday. You can't not grill on Labor Day weekend. Four venison burgers and a couple packages of link sausage filled that void.
So that was that weekend. I know I've been quite behind on postings and may have lost any casual readers, but between 16 hours of class, football season in full throttle, dove season just starting, fraternity rush, my new toy, the 3 books I'm currently casually reading (Liar's Poker, still working on Decision Points, and A Moveable Feast; all 3 great books) along with all my university reading, trying to keep up with the stock market and current affairs, as well as trying to get in my fair share of college life before graduation, I've been a little preoccupied. But dammit I love it! So, this is a nice little update and I hope to keep up with my blog better in the future.
Headin to Dallas this weekend for Addison Oktoberfest, so maybe something on that. Also the movie Moneyball is coming out soon and I'm very eager to see it, so look forward to a review on that in a couple weeks. And a couple of non-conference home games for the Bears, nothing really to shout about, should be easy wins, just waiting for that illusive final game against the farmers before they ship off. Sic Em!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)