Just returned from the March Housewares Show in Chicago - managed to leave on one of the few planes that were not on the cancelled list - over 700 flights didn't leave because of the snowstorm!
Back home - no snow here - just March sunshine - in the 60's - pretty ordinary El Paso weather.
This year is racing by - seems like I was just savoring January with all its goodies:
My buddy, Mari Angeles Gallardo pulled off another one of her fabulous affairs: the chefs from Biko Restaurant in Mexico City returned to cook up a storm for 100 lucky guests at Coronado Country Club. Biko is in the top 50 of the world's best restaurants on the Pelligrino list pleasing diners with their Basque inspired cooking.
Photo: l. to r.
Chef Gerard Bellver. Honorary Consul of Spain Mari Angeles Gallardo, Octogenarian food columnist Ruth Taber, Chef/Owner of Biko, Mikel Alonso and wife.
A great way to start January - but wait - there's more. After savoring the culinary feast, we were treated to a musical feast. Fantastic musician/comedians Igudesman and Joo came to El Paso to perform at the Pro Musica January Chamber Music Festival. Here's a photo showing Igudesman (violinist extraordinaire) on the left and Joo (pianist/composer/renaissance man) on the right. (Ruthy manages to get in all the photos!)
Think Mozart mixed with broad humor, embellished with Victor Borge, topped with Monty Python - and you begin to understand what kind of a feast we "savored." Look them up on You Tube for a sample taste!
Leaving El Paso after these feasts we flew to Sydney for a bit of their Summer Arts Festival - before boarding the Holland America Oosterdam for a cruise among South Pacific Islands.
Hadn't been on Holland America for a while - and we were very impressed with food, presentation and extremely high level of service. Of course the weather was glorious - (who needs the Caribbean - been there, done that) and the island visits prompted researching more about WWII - since so much of the action took place there. You can read about my trip in the blog I posted for Holland America Oosterdam's website.
All of sudden it was February! Nothing momentous or exciting - just racing by - and here we are in March. Where have all the days gone? Certainly an auspicious beginning for 2013 - how much better can it get?
Oh yes - the Housewares Show - love the colors - kitchens look like flower gardens. And it appears that we still are looking for the perfect cup of coffee made in a foolproof coffee maker - that doesn't break down, isn't difficult to clean and suits everyone's purse. So many new models displayed for making coffee; have to test a few of the new ones to see if they live up to their hype.
Slightly belated "Happy Healthy New Year" to all my friends.
Back home - no snow here - just March sunshine - in the 60's - pretty ordinary El Paso weather.
This year is racing by - seems like I was just savoring January with all its goodies:
My buddy, Mari Angeles Gallardo pulled off another one of her fabulous affairs: the chefs from Biko Restaurant in Mexico City returned to cook up a storm for 100 lucky guests at Coronado Country Club. Biko is in the top 50 of the world's best restaurants on the Pelligrino list pleasing diners with their Basque inspired cooking.
Chef Gerard Bellver. Honorary Consul of Spain Mari Angeles Gallardo, Octogenarian food columnist Ruth Taber, Chef/Owner of Biko, Mikel Alonso and wife.
Think Mozart mixed with broad humor, embellished with Victor Borge, topped with Monty Python - and you begin to understand what kind of a feast we "savored." Look them up on You Tube for a sample taste!
Leaving El Paso after these feasts we flew to Sydney for a bit of their Summer Arts Festival - before boarding the Holland America Oosterdam for a cruise among South Pacific Islands.
Hadn't been on Holland America for a while - and we were very impressed with food, presentation and extremely high level of service. Of course the weather was glorious - (who needs the Caribbean - been there, done that) and the island visits prompted researching more about WWII - since so much of the action took place there. You can read about my trip in the blog I posted for Holland America Oosterdam's website.
All of sudden it was February! Nothing momentous or exciting - just racing by - and here we are in March. Where have all the days gone? Certainly an auspicious beginning for 2013 - how much better can it get?
Oh yes - the Housewares Show - love the colors - kitchens look like flower gardens. And it appears that we still are looking for the perfect cup of coffee made in a foolproof coffee maker - that doesn't break down, isn't difficult to clean and suits everyone's purse. So many new models displayed for making coffee; have to test a few of the new ones to see if they live up to their hype.
Slightly belated "Happy Healthy New Year" to all my friends.
