Labor Day Weekend

What a nice weekend! My daughter was dancing at the Scottish Games on Saturday so for the first time in 24 years I went to the games. We had a great time. Ellissa danced well and we got to find out some things about the Thompson name we didn't know before. There was a large living history/re-enactment area, which Elliott loved and seemed to be very popular with the attendees. There were all the athletic events, the totally unhealthy food, lots of men with long hair and beards wearing kilts. Yes there was a Renaissance Faire air about certain things and there was also a "Lord of the Rings" feeling with much of the living history area, adults playing dress up and feeding their unmet drama needs. We still enjoyed the day and I didn't do too bad on my diet. The only thing I ate that I shouldn't have was a softee ice cream cone. So I consider that a victory.
Since I've been a dealing with a bout of some kind of stomach flu, it has been a bit easier to stay on course. My initial goal was to do this for one month, and now that I'm close to acheiving that, I think we'll go a bit farther along and see what happens. All in all I feel good and like how the diet helps me health wise.
As we move into the fall, there is much uncertainty in the employment markets and hence in many people's lives. We take things one step at a time, do what we can and move forward in the best way possible. Helping those we can on the way. Having the friends I do, and loved ones who have shown me how much they care and how much they do "give an damn", has been a revelation to me. I'm grateful to them and hope that as we bring this year of uncertainty to a close, we'll enter 2010, with some momentum to be doing great things in our communities and in our lives.

Peace.

Walking and Eating and Walking Some More

I ended up taking a walk yesterday down to the Ferry Building, iphone plugged in, music blasting in my ears. The walk is approximately a mile each way from my office. Yesterday was such a warm day, that it seemed like everyone was out of the office. Tourists on vacation, people going out to lunch, or, like me just out for a lunchtime stroll. Ended up stopping at the Ferry Seafood place I like to go to. Had a crab tower of all things. Something I'm NOT supposed to eat because crab is no. 1 on my list of things that can activate gout in my foot. Fortunately, being in much better shape, and having a much better diet, the small amount I had didn't impact me. The tower was a layer of avacado, grapefruit and crab. Very refreshing and very tasty and a small portion, almost appetizer like, if I were having dinner. That's fine with me.
I stolled by Il Cane Rosso, the new venture from Daniel Patterson of Coi. It looks to be simple, frersh cooking, not cheap, but they were doing a brisk business. I'll have to give it a try.
I also picked up some living foods items on my way home last night. Living meaning that they arere prepared without cooking, sometimes using a dehydrator, but it's all been prepared without exposing the ingredients to a temperature of over 118 degrees. It's alright, not particularly flavorful, but I wanted to see what it tasted like. I've also purchased some living foods crackers made with flaxseed, sunflower seeds and tomato and basil, and they were much more flavorful, but still funky.
Upon arriving home, a nice fresh avocado, yummy!!!
Today is my last day in SF as I'm taking a work from home day tomorrow due to the closure of the Bay Bridge.
Here's hoping you have an awesome day,
Make sure to smile and let your love out!

Peace,

The Best of Times and the Worst of Times

In one day I experienced sublime joy and bitter disappointment. For lunch I walked up to Turtle Tower and had some of their famous Pho. It was absolutely delicious and the best Pho I have ever had. You didn't need to add anything to it! It was flavorful, delicate and yummy!
Walking back to my office I was so happy, a great meal consumed and ready for a nice afternoon. Then I stopped for dinner at a local vegan place on my way home, in oakland, that is the sister place of a favorite lunch stop here in SF. My dinner was a major disappontment, flavorless and just not very good, boring!! One dish was ok, the spicy curry chicken, but that was it. The 'chicken' is mock chicken made from tofu, but it can still work in many cases, but the dishes I ordered were lame at best.
Today is a new day and now in a new month, summer is over, kids are back in school and Indian Summer should be starting here, so buckle up!!
Going to the Scottish Games this weekend. My daughter is dancing in a Highland Folk Dancing thing, on Saturday and Sunday, so I'll be out there to see her dance and have some fun exploring my family heritage.
Today, I'm not sure what i'll do in regards to lunch, but it'll be something tasty.
Peace,

Thoughts on Eat Real

Well, I went to Eat Real yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Out of all the foods I tried, there were only two disappointments, and coincidentally, they were the two things I was most excited about trying.  So much for unrealistic expectations.

The crowds were great and very into what was being presented, which was wonderful to see.  So many times, when an event is held in Oakland, there's something "off" about it, but that curse was suspended for this event.

First dishes tried and I must say most disappointing were the Seoul On Wheels Korean Tacos.  The overwhelming flavor was the corn tortilla, which told me that the ingredients were bland!!!  Not something you'd want to have in Korean cooking.  There was a big line most of the day at the Seoul on Wheels truck so perhaps I just got a bad batch or something.  I wanted to really like it!

Next dishes we tried were Lobster Rolls and Clam Chowder from Sam's Chowder Truck.  Both were excellent.  My daughter particularly liked the Chowder.  We then tried barbeque from Shuga Catering Company.  The ribs were fall off the bone tasty and the potato salad and collard greens were tasty too!!!  We then tried the Creme Brulee Cart which my daughter liked more than I did.  I thought the brulee was too light and the crust too thin.  We also had pork from the Chop Shop which was juicy and tasty, served with two sauces!!  We then went to Joe's Street Eats and had two winning dishes, their BLAT roll which was very good and their corn on the cob which is slatered with lime aioli, chili flakes and parmesano reggiano.  The combination works great and was a real winning dish for the Thompson's.  The last dish we tried were the home made S'mores which were just ok, cold and the cookies tasted store bought.  This was the other dish I was so excited to have and was disappointing.

There was so much food that we didn't try, one because we were full but also because I was blowing out my diet and I had to be careful to not go too crazy.

In the new Market Hall, there were alot of interesting food purveyors, making pickles, and other unique products.  

All in all it was a fabulous day and fabulous experience.  Kudos to the organizers of the event.

Peace,

Sunday and it's time for Real Food

After spending a quiet day, consuming more and more fruits and vegetables, and spending an even quieter evening at home, today I'm off the Real Food Festival at Jack London Square in Oakland.  Will report back on what I saw, ate and thought.  I fully expect to blow off my diet today as it would be about impossible to eat anything and stay on it given the choices.  

Wish me luck!!

Peace,

Quiet and the Giants

Well another quiet night at home. Watching the Giants and rooting for a victory over the Rockies. Tim Lincecum is pitching tonight, so chances are as good as could be for the Giants.
Great way to start the weekend, peaceful, quiet and baseball!!
Peace,

Another Great Day

Spent most of the day down on the Peninsula yesterday doing marketing and meeting with architects/real estate people. Ended up having lunch at a pretty good Thai place in north sunnyvale that did a good vegan dish for me.
With all the great fruits available right now, i've been making smoothies in the morning with fresh melons and other fruits, very tasty.
Not sure what awaits this weekend, lots of free time, but whatever happens it'll be wonderful and magical nonetheless. I'm going to take a walk down to the Ferry Building for lunch today. Haven't been able to do that for a while.
Here's hoping you have a great weekend.
Peace,