Delicious Days! Saturday! March 27, 2010!

Got up early and Quincy and I had our morning constitutional around Lafayette Park. Crisp morning but would soon be a perfect weather day for me...65 degrees and why I love San Francisco. And yes, I do miss my former first lady. She reads this.

Hopped in the shower and blasted up my The Script radio station on Pandora on the Blackberry. I win American Idol every morning in the shower! Today was going to be flashy and dapper ... a bit Lily Pulitzer, really. Yellow, hot pink, sandals, navy blazer, very Palm Beach.

Because of the weather the market was busy early as I approached. Good sign. Good day it will be. And fun with unexpected guests from all over the world. As I have said, the table has become the United Nations table. Everyone comes from all over the world and we meet and talk and go in peace.

So after shopping and answering all the questions about how my allergies are doing... everyone knew about my absence last week! Good friends. Well, it wasn't much more than a minute after I sat down that Allison...of McQuade's Chutney stopped by for a little wine and fun. She was off to the Whiskey festival where her Whiskey Peach Chutney is being highlighted. I love my Allison. She's been over for dinner several times. And her Jay loves my meatloaf and smashed potatoes! I should make him some more.

So as Allison and I are catching up on the week, I get a tap on the shoulder. "I see you here every week! You make our day!", she said. "It is so fantastic what you do!," she added. I said thank you. It is the same sort of thing I did back at Michigan State for the football games in the back of my Rabbit. Now I'm older and in San Francisco and its done in a wine bar! Tailgaters! We never die!

Well, she was with her friends and friends from Germany. They asked to take pictures of me and the table. Oliver's camera looked like a cannon! Nicky's was subdued. We exchanged cards after a nice chat. Well, Allison looked at their email and it said "Deliciousdays.com" Allison flagged them back to the table. "I love your blog and I read it everyday!, Love it!" Well I think she was so excited. I pulled up the site on the Blackberry then, and it is a very cool site. Maybe the table will make it on....keep you all posted.

Mums called from Michigan to let me know she was going to spend my inheritance at the casino. Good for her! She wins.

Later, Rob, Suzanne, Sue and Kevin arrived and they took the table next to me since they had other friends coming down. A bit later, my agent Belinda and partner Peter stopped by as they were shopping for a big lasagna for later. I told them I had just read about a great asparagus, morel lasagna recipe in the new Bon Appetite. They read it and were thinking of making it.

Then my good buddies, Dr. David and Father Eric arrived as did Amy! Oh, did we catch up and talk politics for a couple hours! What a week and a historic one with health care passage and Tea Baggage violence. History.

The day went by fast. And when Jason pours red wine, it is time to go and it was 3:00 pm. Amy and I packed up and headed for a cab to share. She is such a nice lady!

I walked in the door and was greeted with big licks from Quincy! And we went to the park where he got to play with his girlfriend, big black Giselle and I chatted with Delia. Perfect, delicious day!

Dispatch! Wine Bar! San Francisco!

No Show! Saturday! March 20, 2010!

No show. We have had a horrible allergy season lately. (They say this every year.) All these yellow tiny buds all over, grass cutting, etc. wreck havoc on my system. My head and nose was stuffed, plugged up ears and scratchy water eyes. Miserable.

I stayed home with Quincy and ventured out a couple of times for walks.

Back in Michigan, I used to only get this in the spring. Seems like everyone that moves here who is not a native, gets these awful symptoms.

Hopefully, make it back next Saturday.

Pastel Madras Saturday! March 13, 2010!

After a week of on and off rain, Saturday morning was so beautiful in San Francisco! A dry period, thank God! And did it ever show in the crowds- early crowds like never seen before. This is what the farmers market people love. The wine bar was packed by 10am. Crazy. And yes, most wanted my three tiered "whatever he ordered." Sadly, they find out that they have to do that themselves.

Spring was in the air so it was time to bring the pastel madras blazer out. I only get to wear it this time of year. I have had this jacket since college and it still fits thanks to keeping my broad shoulders and smooth slim torso! I'm breaking' a sweat!

As you can see by the Ferry Building Clock Tower I arrived at 8:45am to a fantastic and crisp sunny morning. I did not know how the day would turn out. But, as usual, it was a great day.

I as started prepping my table before shopping, Allison stopped by to say hi. I went shopping for all the basics, salami, grilled chicken breast, egg salad, Acme bread, blue cheese dressing, Cheddar and blue cheese, grapes, tomatoes, olives, torta, and a roasted garlic spread I made the night before.

Set up the plates and Allison joined me for a bit. She had a Chutney stand at the Irish Festival at the Civic Center. So we chatted about the mice in my flat which she seems to think they like me but the feeling is not mutual. After she left Rob and Suzanne came by. He brought the dessert he had the day before at barPerbacco that was honey drizzled almonds with Red Hawk cheese. Fantastic!

Soon, Kevin was there, Father Eric, Dr. David, Richard. Then the usual people picture taking and explaining the table. Amy won't be at the table for the next few weeks.

The place was just packed all day. The economy could just be coming back based on this! Thank you Mr. President Obama!

Oscar Weekend!, Saturday! March 6, 2010

The rain tapered off and went south, but hopefully not on the Oscars.

I was up at 6:30am and Quincy was ready for his walk. He is funny in the morning sleeping next to me. I say ready for the park and he looks at me, yawns and stretches like it is work. When we get up he can not wait to mark everything his. And when he takes a dump he runs faster than a bullet. He is so happy.

I was up early and got to the Ferry Building early. I set the table and had to think. The owners jacked rent up to 75% and now Masterilli's is closed and my salami place is gone. So I have to go to Golden Gate Meat Market, and theirs is good, especially with their blue cheese dressings. What doesn't go with blue cheese?

So this morning, since I was early, I missed my torta, but I got bread from Della, cheese from Point Reyes, grapes from Capay, salami, blue cheese dressings and egg salad from Golden Gate Meat Market,

Lorraine had a new soda. I tasted it and I said it is "Sprite"! Interesting she said. It was Rosemary!

I got flowers and went back to set the table. After I settled down, Rob and Suzanne came by, just back from Mexico. Suzanne always looks like a million bucks! As does Rob. And thank God, he is ok. He had the bends in Mexico from diving.

Well it wasn't much later that a photographer on assignment from the French National Geographic stopped by to take pictures. if we looked good enough we will be in the May issue.

Dr. David and Father Eric went to Tahoe with and Tony and Paul. Kevin came by for a short visit as did Richard who was a little under the weather....too many high kicks in LA!

My friend Amy was stuck in LA doing a photo shoot for Oprah magazine.

Then out of nowhere I get a tap on shoulder....."You look like Truman Capote and would be perfect for my next film.:"

So let's see what happens.