Black Cat is a new restaurant in Boulder and my fine dining club went there last week to check it out. The décor is very unusual with remnants of chandeliers forming two rows of crystal down the length. The tables near the wall each have love seats, which made for a delightful, nearly Romanesque experience. Short linen curtains separate the tables but hang limp and wrinkled. I am not sure they add much to the overall ambiance. The walls are painted black with paneling on one side. We were there on a very chilly night, but the room did not exude any added warmth or charm, which would have made us inclined to linger longer than we did.
Black Cat is failing in some critical ways. The first example happened when we first arrived. We had to hang up our own coats on a coat rack hemmed in by debris. I had to struggle getting a hanger and fitting it on the rack that was already crowded with staff clothing. The host looked on with impatience while I struggled. The next missed opportunity was the speed of the service. It seemed to take forever to get our appetizers even though there were only two other occupied tables. They also forgot one of our glasses of wine and we had to flag someone down to get it. On a positive note, our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about the preparations of everything offered and was enthusiastic about the food.
The table ordered the lamb, veal, and duck as entrees with salads and the scallop appetizer as starters. The salad was good but the scallops were a bit disappointing. Everyone liked their entrees but agreed that they were all so similar in the style of their sauces that there really was not enough of a difference between them. It would be hard to go and explore the menu further. The one interesting thing to note was the pureed celery root that came with the duck. No one at the table had had that before. It was mild but interesting.
Dessert was a major disappointment in my mind. We ordered the white chocolate fondue and the apple spice cake. The later was a very dry micro-muffin with a sauce. The fondue was fine but mild. I confess I like heavy chocolate desserts that scream decadence or unique preparations that leave you begging for more. These were just ok.
I also have to rant a bit about the oh so common issue with over charging for lattes in our area restaurants. Six dollars for a small cup of latte when regular coffee, even French pressed coffee, is half that seems absurd to me. It is just a little added milk. Still it does seem to be the trend. One of these days I will find the perfect after dinner latte.
The group agreed that Black Cat had much to work on but that it had potential. Diners want the entire experience and the bane of many a restaurateur can be a poorly trained staff. The menu changes frequently, so it is worth checking out if you are in the area, but don’t go in with high expectations.
Sabtu, 01 Desember 2007
Sabtu, 24 November 2007
Discover your Inner Julie Andrews on Mt. Bierstadt
Trail Length: 7 miles round trip
Elevation: 11,669-14,060 ft
Elevation gain: 2,850 ft
Difficulty: Strenuous
Critters: Big Horn Sheep, peak baggers galore
Left to right, Mt. Evans (14,264 ft) and Mt. Bierstadt (14,060 ft) as seen from the Square Top trail. This photo is mine. The rest in this post are courtesy of Lynn Johnson.
Mt. Bierstadt is one of Colorado's 53 14ers. Technically it is one of the easiest and the views of lush Guanella Pass make it doubly appealing. There was a time when slogging across the willow infested valley before beginning the climb used to be a soggy mess. Now, with the addition of a boardwalk, this part of the hike is a walk in the park.
Things get serious after the willows when the trail climbs up to a broad shoulder. The views from this place make it a worthy destination in itself for those interested in a shorter hike. It still has some elevation gain to provide sufficient bragging rights and a wide area for picnicking and people watching. You can hold up Olympic score cards measuring lung capacity as folks crest over the shoulder. You'll see everything from small children to trail runners using Beirstadt to train for the Leadville 100. When no one is looking, do your best Julie Andrews imitation and twirl around. At high altitude motion sickness takes on a whole new meaning.
Big Horn Sheep on the road
The more able bodied will want to continue up the trail which rises steeply into the distance. It is rocky but the use of poles quickly adds needed stability. Stop as often as necessary and tell everyone you need a view break. Turn around, face down trail, suck wind, and admire the increasingly expansive views of Guanella Pass. I found that I was able to zip up the trail with no quad burn whatsoever but that the inevitable effects of high altitude did have me breathing heavily. Perhaps I should have slowed down a bit because near the upper ridge the trail started getting a bit blurry. We wouldn't want it to be TOO easy, now would we.
Looking down on the shoulder
Hikers get a nice break on the upper ridge which is flat but full of scree. Take your time crossing. A twisted ankle at this point would make getting down a challenge. The final cone of scree is a jumble and hikers just find their way from rock to rock with little coherence.
Another view from higher up
We were lucky and the weather was beautiful. We stayed on the summit for over an hour just gawking at the rolling green hills below us. I have been chased off of Guanella so many times by lightening that I have developed a neurotic paranoia about the place but this day there was barely a wisp of a cloud. I still eyed them carefully because Guanella is notorious for brewing storms at explosive rates.
Lynn snacks before tackling the final skree pile.
From the summit, Mt. Evans feels like it is within spitting distance and you can see all the tourists who drove up to that summit. "Look Vern there are mountain climbers over there!" With more time and a car shuttle, you can cross the sawtooth that connects the two peaks and bag two in one day. I have several friends who have done this and say it is easier than it looks and well worth doing.
View from the summit looking west.
So, for those of you who have never climbed a 14er, give Mt. Bierstadt a try. It is an easy walk up but will require you to have gotten off the couch in the last year. Some scrambling is required in the scree field so bring your gloves as well. Do it like I did and take the day off of work to avoid the crowds and meditate on why we love living in Colorado.
Elevation: 11,669-14,060 ft
Elevation gain: 2,850 ft
Difficulty: Strenuous
Critters: Big Horn Sheep, peak baggers galore
Mt. Bierstadt is one of Colorado's 53 14ers. Technically it is one of the easiest and the views of lush Guanella Pass make it doubly appealing. There was a time when slogging across the willow infested valley before beginning the climb used to be a soggy mess. Now, with the addition of a boardwalk, this part of the hike is a walk in the park.
Things get serious after the willows when the trail climbs up to a broad shoulder. The views from this place make it a worthy destination in itself for those interested in a shorter hike. It still has some elevation gain to provide sufficient bragging rights and a wide area for picnicking and people watching. You can hold up Olympic score cards measuring lung capacity as folks crest over the shoulder. You'll see everything from small children to trail runners using Beirstadt to train for the Leadville 100. When no one is looking, do your best Julie Andrews imitation and twirl around. At high altitude motion sickness takes on a whole new meaning.
The more able bodied will want to continue up the trail which rises steeply into the distance. It is rocky but the use of poles quickly adds needed stability. Stop as often as necessary and tell everyone you need a view break. Turn around, face down trail, suck wind, and admire the increasingly expansive views of Guanella Pass. I found that I was able to zip up the trail with no quad burn whatsoever but that the inevitable effects of high altitude did have me breathing heavily. Perhaps I should have slowed down a bit because near the upper ridge the trail started getting a bit blurry. We wouldn't want it to be TOO easy, now would we.
Hikers get a nice break on the upper ridge which is flat but full of scree. Take your time crossing. A twisted ankle at this point would make getting down a challenge. The final cone of scree is a jumble and hikers just find their way from rock to rock with little coherence.
We were lucky and the weather was beautiful. We stayed on the summit for over an hour just gawking at the rolling green hills below us. I have been chased off of Guanella so many times by lightening that I have developed a neurotic paranoia about the place but this day there was barely a wisp of a cloud. I still eyed them carefully because Guanella is notorious for brewing storms at explosive rates.
From the summit, Mt. Evans feels like it is within spitting distance and you can see all the tourists who drove up to that summit. "Look Vern there are mountain climbers over there!" With more time and a car shuttle, you can cross the sawtooth that connects the two peaks and bag two in one day. I have several friends who have done this and say it is easier than it looks and well worth doing.
So, for those of you who have never climbed a 14er, give Mt. Bierstadt a try. It is an easy walk up but will require you to have gotten off the couch in the last year. Some scrambling is required in the scree field so bring your gloves as well. Do it like I did and take the day off of work to avoid the crowds and meditate on why we love living in Colorado.
Samba Room: The end to dining ennui
The Samba Room is conveniently located downtown in Larimer Square. Park under Writer's Square and walk up. We went before visiting the Demented Divas Show at Lannie's Clock Tower Cabaret. Something worth going to as well.I just love going to places that have drinks I can not pronounce. The Samba Room has Brazilian Capirinhas which is the national drink of Brazil. it is made with cachaca which is a distilled beverage made with sugar cane just like rum. I had mine with a little Bacardi Limon. It was both fun and potent. Limit your intake or you might find yourself waking up on a flight to Rio. Besides Capirinhas, there were the ubiquitous Mojitos, Martinis, and Tequila based infusions.
The room is modern and loud, so don't go for intimate conversation. Dress warmly as well. They had all the ceiling fans going plus the air conditioning even though it was quite nippy outside and every time the front door opened a blast of cold air would rush in. We did ask them to turn down the AC and they did but it took a while.
I started with the house cerviche which I order when ever I see it on the menu. While better in the summer of course, cerviche is still a treat and comes in so many different variations. This one came with mango, ahi tuna, and plantain chips. Ok, so I am a tacky American and missed the tortilla chips but other wise it was tasty and complimented the Capirinhas nicely.
My entree was the Argentinean Style Skirt Steak. It came with Chimichurii, which is a tangy Latin American marinade derived in the early 19th Century from Italian pesto. It is made with parsley, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, onion, olive oil and vinegar. How such common ingredients could taste so different I would like to know. Don't tell your Argentinean friends, but the sauce was originally created by an Irishman called "Jimmy McCurry" and the name of the sauce is the inevitable mispronunciation of his name. I can see why Jimmy left Ireland for Argentina however. Such a vibrant sauce would have been cause for excommunication in Ireland. The steak came with a side of fries which dipped nicely in the sauce.
I don't know about you, but I suffer from dining ennui this time of year when I see the same five entrees on every menu. You can eat only so many lamb chops, duck l'oranges, boring-chicken-somethings, and filets topped with who knows what. I want to go back to the Samba Room and try their marinated pork or various fish dishes.
Of course, if we have another winter like last year it won't require a bucket of Capirinhas to get me on a plane to Rio.
Jumat, 23 November 2007
Royal Arch: Boulder's Stair-Master
Distance: 3 miles round trip
Elevation: 5,680 to 6,950 ft
Elevation gain: 1,270 ft
Critters: Snack stealing ground squirrels
The last few rocky steps to Royal Arch
Come spring, we head to Boulder and all the trails that ascend along the flatirons. There is no better training than a steep trail. Royal Arch may be short, but it packs a punch. We typically make it to the arch in 50 minutes or less and gratefully suck wind while admiring the expansive views of the plains and nearby flatirons. You can't see the arch from the road, nor can you see it from NCAR although it seems very close when viewed from the rocks surrounding the arch.
The trail itself starts out at Chautauqua and ascends along a flat road to the official trailhead. The Royal Arch Trail quickly becomes a narrow and rocky as it switchbacks up the hillside deep in the shade of the rocks, pines, and thick riparian foliage. Most of the trail is large stone steps that are a challenge for short-legged folks and will make you wish you had spent more time on the StairMaster.
Three quarters of the way up is a false summit. There are impressive views of the plains here and a nice log to sit and rest on. The trail descends sharply for 150 ft or so before angling upwards again. After more steps, more logs, and more lactic acid build-up, one will finally see the arch. It is actually quite large, and the rocks on the other side provide raptor-like perches for the downing of trail munchies.
Try this trail to get you motivated for summer peak bagging and avoid weekends if possible. There is not much room at the top and CU co-eds can pack the trail on nice weekend days. We go after work when the days starting getting longer. Don't forget to bring hiking poles, which can provide stability on the return trip and help prevent quad burn out.
To get to the Royal Arch trailhead, one must first travel up Chautauqua Rd.
The first part of the trail is light dirt and rocks in a dark Ponderosa Pine forest
The trail quickly begins to climb up a series of rock steps
The flatirons are visible through the trees
View through the trees from the false summit looking at the rocks ahead
Standing on the false summit and looking down the sharp decent
At the bottom of the decent
Some of the tree damage from 2009
On the south side of the arch looking back through it
The view from the rock pile on the south side of the arch. The pink building on the hill is NCAR
An older picture from 2007 showing the view looking north through the arch itself
Elevation: 5,680 to 6,950 ft
Elevation gain: 1,270 ft
Critters: Snack stealing ground squirrels
The last few rocky steps to Royal ArchUpdated: June 2009 with more comprehensive pictures
Come spring, we head to Boulder and all the trails that ascend along the flatirons. There is no better training than a steep trail. Royal Arch may be short, but it packs a punch. We typically make it to the arch in 50 minutes or less and gratefully suck wind while admiring the expansive views of the plains and nearby flatirons. You can't see the arch from the road, nor can you see it from NCAR although it seems very close when viewed from the rocks surrounding the arch.
The trail itself starts out at Chautauqua and ascends along a flat road to the official trailhead. The Royal Arch Trail quickly becomes a narrow and rocky as it switchbacks up the hillside deep in the shade of the rocks, pines, and thick riparian foliage. Most of the trail is large stone steps that are a challenge for short-legged folks and will make you wish you had spent more time on the StairMaster.
Three quarters of the way up is a false summit. There are impressive views of the plains here and a nice log to sit and rest on. The trail descends sharply for 150 ft or so before angling upwards again. After more steps, more logs, and more lactic acid build-up, one will finally see the arch. It is actually quite large, and the rocks on the other side provide raptor-like perches for the downing of trail munchies.
Try this trail to get you motivated for summer peak bagging and avoid weekends if possible. There is not much room at the top and CU co-eds can pack the trail on nice weekend days. We go after work when the days starting getting longer. Don't forget to bring hiking poles, which can provide stability on the return trip and help prevent quad burn out.
To get to the Royal Arch trailhead, one must first travel up Chautauqua Rd.
The first part of the trail is light dirt and rocks in a dark Ponderosa Pine forest
The trail quickly begins to climb up a series of rock steps
The flatirons are visible through the trees
View through the trees from the false summit looking at the rocks ahead
Standing on the false summit and looking down the sharp decent
At the bottom of the decent
Some of the tree damage from 2009
On the south side of the arch looking back through it
The view from the rock pile on the south side of the arch. The pink building on the hill is NCAR
An older picture from 2007 showing the view looking north through the arch itselfMt. Tallac, South Lake Tahoe, CA
Trail Length: 9.6 miles RT
Elevation: 6,480-9,735 ft
Elevation gain: 3,255 ft
Difficulty: Strenuous
Critters: Bears!
Tallac Peak viewed from below
After a week in Reno for the annual Supercomputing conference, a friend and I took off for Lake Tahoe. I used to go there as a kid, but have not been back in over ten years. I was amazed by how blue the lake was.
We stopped into the local visitor's center and puffed out our chests. "We're from Colorado, what is the hardest hike you have around here?". The young man behind the counter gleefully told us about Mt. Tallac and seemed suitably impressed with our hiking ambitions. He said most tourists just wanted 1/2 mile nature walks. We were feeling holier than thou and motivated for the next day. By the time we would finish however, we would gain new respect for the Tahoe area and their "tiny peaks".
The Tallac trail starts upward immediately and winds through ponderosa pines and up and down ridges. There are three lakes to see along the way. Long Leaf lake is very long indeed and the trail climbs up along a high ridge looking down on the lake. You can see views of the casinos in the distance. The other two lakes are called Floating Island and Cathedral lakes. They are more like ponds, the first being filled with Mallards and the second being surrounded by a rocks and drift wood. Above Cathedral lake is a lovely rock terrace perfect for lounging and trail bar munching. You can see Cathedral Lake below and finally a stellar view of Tahoe itself.
After the shelf the trail climbs sharply up to the top of a ridge. The trail was steep and rocky, in fact infuriatingly rocky. The forest service laid down large and small gravel the entire length of the trail, so it was like walking on talus for 10 miles. My boots kept slipping and the sharp stones were irritating after a while.
Once on top of the ridge, the trail climbs behind the mountain and the view shift to glimpses of the continental divide for the Sierra Nevada Range. We could not tell which of the scree fields to our right was the summit. It turns out it was still quite a ways away and still a significant up. The views from the summit were spectacular as you can image. Tahoe is impressive in both size and color and the sweeping extent of the Sierras was beautiful to behold.
Without poles, the hike up was harder than I anticipated, particular on all the loose rock. I was also carrying two peoples worth of food, water, and clothing because my friend conveniently did not bring a pack. We had anticipated freezing temps given that this was Nov 17th and a front was due in. The weather held though and I hiked in my base layer most of the day. At the top we donned hats and soft shells to fight the wind but it was quite pleasant.
View from the summit
In November, one is always fighting the lack of daylight. We got started at 9:30 am and reached the top four hours later. It took us 3 hours to decent and we made it down just as it was getting dark, so our time on the top was miserably short. The lateness in the day did bring out the bears, however. I alas only saw a brown furry butt scurrying off into the chaparral. By then I did not care and just wanted to get down and off to our fine dinning event at Tahoe's Evan's Restaurant. A religious experience I will have to relate in a separate post.
Elevation: 6,480-9,735 ft
Elevation gain: 3,255 ft
Difficulty: Strenuous
Critters: Bears!
After a week in Reno for the annual Supercomputing conference, a friend and I took off for Lake Tahoe. I used to go there as a kid, but have not been back in over ten years. I was amazed by how blue the lake was.
We stopped into the local visitor's center and puffed out our chests. "We're from Colorado, what is the hardest hike you have around here?". The young man behind the counter gleefully told us about Mt. Tallac and seemed suitably impressed with our hiking ambitions. He said most tourists just wanted 1/2 mile nature walks. We were feeling holier than thou and motivated for the next day. By the time we would finish however, we would gain new respect for the Tahoe area and their "tiny peaks".
The Tallac trail starts upward immediately and winds through ponderosa pines and up and down ridges. There are three lakes to see along the way. Long Leaf lake is very long indeed and the trail climbs up along a high ridge looking down on the lake. You can see views of the casinos in the distance. The other two lakes are called Floating Island and Cathedral lakes. They are more like ponds, the first being filled with Mallards and the second being surrounded by a rocks and drift wood. Above Cathedral lake is a lovely rock terrace perfect for lounging and trail bar munching. You can see Cathedral Lake below and finally a stellar view of Tahoe itself.
After the shelf the trail climbs sharply up to the top of a ridge. The trail was steep and rocky, in fact infuriatingly rocky. The forest service laid down large and small gravel the entire length of the trail, so it was like walking on talus for 10 miles. My boots kept slipping and the sharp stones were irritating after a while.Once on top of the ridge, the trail climbs behind the mountain and the view shift to glimpses of the continental divide for the Sierra Nevada Range. We could not tell which of the scree fields to our right was the summit. It turns out it was still quite a ways away and still a significant up. The views from the summit were spectacular as you can image. Tahoe is impressive in both size and color and the sweeping extent of the Sierras was beautiful to behold.
Without poles, the hike up was harder than I anticipated, particular on all the loose rock. I was also carrying two peoples worth of food, water, and clothing because my friend conveniently did not bring a pack. We had anticipated freezing temps given that this was Nov 17th and a front was due in. The weather held though and I hiked in my base layer most of the day. At the top we donned hats and soft shells to fight the wind but it was quite pleasant.
In November, one is always fighting the lack of daylight. We got started at 9:30 am and reached the top four hours later. It took us 3 hours to decent and we made it down just as it was getting dark, so our time on the top was miserably short. The lateness in the day did bring out the bears, however. I alas only saw a brown furry butt scurrying off into the chaparral. By then I did not care and just wanted to get down and off to our fine dinning event at Tahoe's Evan's Restaurant. A religious experience I will have to relate in a separate post.
Flagstaff House: Its true, the view is what you pay for
My fine dining club was off to Ocean in Cherry Creek when one of our members, who works in Boulder, got sucked into a last minute meeting. We quickly switched our destination to the Flagstaff House. The irony of this choice is that last February we had reservations at the Flagstaff House but they closed on us because of a snow storm and we ended up at L'Atelier instead. Here we were at the Flagstaff house as our alternate choice.I had always been told that the window seats were the premium seats but our table was just inside and our view as better in my mind because it was more expansive. If you are used to big city dining the view will be nothing special but for Boulderites who are not used to city lights it is unique. I can't tell you much I enjoy dining in a room filled with men in ties. Sometimes I think Coloradans have forgotten that nice piece of formality.
I confess I almost danced on the table when I saw that the wine list was a thick as the Denver white pages. There were 10 pages of Scotch that had me foaming at the mouth. I am lucky if a restaurant has one Scotch from the western Scottish islands. The Flagstaff House had an entire page and even a Scotch flight from Islay which I gleefully ordered. What a treat.
Even before the amuse bush, there were two chef's treats. One as a fried banana wrapped in bacon and the other a cheese tart. Both were unique and tantalizing.
The table ordered the Rabbit loin appetizer. It came wrapped in pancetta with goat cheese and a garlic sauce. Promising but not as robust as I would have hoped. Our other appetizer was a prawn, head-on, with crab and salmon roe. This appetizer was even more disappointing. It had one prawn on it and a mousse like lump of potato. It was bland and hard to share.
For our entrees, the table ordered two of the filets, mine with a fois gra supplement, a New York strip and rack of lamb. My filet was over cooked. It is possible it was swapped with the other filet which was order more cooked than mine, but with the fois gra supplement I did not feel comfortable asking. If that is case and the filets were switched, then it was a novice line chef mistake that you would think a place like the Flagstaff house would be above. I did taste the NY strip and it was far more tender and moist in its port wine sauce. I would recommend that entree. The filet came on a bed of beans and ham that seemed out of place and did not compliment the meat. I did not try the lamb but was told it was quite excellent.
The sommelier was very pleasant and zeroed in with seconds on a bottle of Scherrer Russian River 2004 Pinot Noir $78 ($38-45 retail) that was excellent, smooth, fruity, and managed to compliment all our entrees.
Before I describe the service I need to relate to you my baseline for excellent service. I was dining at Kevin Taylor's one day and was pulling the crust off my bread so that I could eat it later. Completely unbeknownst to me, a server had whisked my bread away and replaced it with de-crusted bread. Now that is a server who pays attention! The service at the Flagstaff house was fine but it did not live up to that level. We did dawdle quite a bit but the staff was very patient and friendly but not distinctive.
Dessert was a rectangular box of chocolate filled with cream and berries. Certainly enough for four and a nice capstone to the evening.
All in all we had a lovely time. Good friends, good wine and decent but not exceptional food made it delightful indeed. I would need to try a few more entrees to really recommend the cuisine.
Kamis, 01 November 2007
Kamis, 25 Oktober 2007
Nine 75 North: Not your Mama's Meatloaf
I am a fine dining aficionado so this blog will contain restaurant reviews. I tend to rate restaurants based on their service, ambience, appetizer, entree, wine, dessert, and coffee. It is rare that a restaurant does well in all these categories and their score can be dependent upon selections. Nine 75 North is only one of two places in the last two years that managed to score a 100 in all these areas. The other was the Charles Court in the Broadmoore hotel in Colorado Springs but that is another review.
Nine 75 North is located in Westminster of all places. Westminster is not known for its dining options, so the discovery of this restaurant was a delightful surprise. It is a new building with a tan rock interior covered in oil paintings of rock stars. The booths are black and contain a unique lumbar support pillow that all restaurants should adopt immediately. The human body is not formed into a right angle even if our chiropractors and pilates instructions tell us it is possible. The other cool feature of the ambience was the curved glasses on the tables and the strawberry cucumber water in them. It is nice to see a restaurant that did not buy their glassware from an antiques road show reject auction. The bar is in the middle of the restaurant and there are windows running 280 degrees around the outside. Some contain distant views of the mountains, flatirons and accompanying sunset.
I ordered the chipotle lobster tacos for an appetizer. These were dollhouse miniature perfect tacos three to a plate with about two bites per taco. They sat on dollops of guacamole and were refreshingly fun to munch. Next came the meatloaf. Being more of a food snob, I can truthfully say I have ignored all mention of meatloaf on every menu I have ever seen but this time it caught my eye. It was billed as containing both ground sirloin and pork with crispy onions. I decided to step out of character and take a chance. I was not disappointed. The meat was not a pre-fab slab but had a random shape that was far more appealing. The mashed potatoes had a nice bite to them and the onions were not greasy. I rounded out the evening with the Nine 75 twinkie cake which despite its name was a moist pound cake layered with butter frosting and rolled then covered in a Grand Marnier whipped cream sitting on some drizzled carmel sauce. The coffee was illy coffee and it was great. I am not a coffee drinker so coffee that does not taste like coffee is right up my alley.
I am looking forward to going back to Nine 75 North to try the osso buco, baja tacos, or miso marinated black cod. Rather than list everything on their menu, visit their Web site. Check back because unlike mega chains, Nine 75 changes their menu periodically.
Nine 75 North is located in Westminster of all places. Westminster is not known for its dining options, so the discovery of this restaurant was a delightful surprise. It is a new building with a tan rock interior covered in oil paintings of rock stars. The booths are black and contain a unique lumbar support pillow that all restaurants should adopt immediately. The human body is not formed into a right angle even if our chiropractors and pilates instructions tell us it is possible. The other cool feature of the ambience was the curved glasses on the tables and the strawberry cucumber water in them. It is nice to see a restaurant that did not buy their glassware from an antiques road show reject auction. The bar is in the middle of the restaurant and there are windows running 280 degrees around the outside. Some contain distant views of the mountains, flatirons and accompanying sunset.
I ordered the chipotle lobster tacos for an appetizer. These were dollhouse miniature perfect tacos three to a plate with about two bites per taco. They sat on dollops of guacamole and were refreshingly fun to munch. Next came the meatloaf. Being more of a food snob, I can truthfully say I have ignored all mention of meatloaf on every menu I have ever seen but this time it caught my eye. It was billed as containing both ground sirloin and pork with crispy onions. I decided to step out of character and take a chance. I was not disappointed. The meat was not a pre-fab slab but had a random shape that was far more appealing. The mashed potatoes had a nice bite to them and the onions were not greasy. I rounded out the evening with the Nine 75 twinkie cake which despite its name was a moist pound cake layered with butter frosting and rolled then covered in a Grand Marnier whipped cream sitting on some drizzled carmel sauce. The coffee was illy coffee and it was great. I am not a coffee drinker so coffee that does not taste like coffee is right up my alley.
I am looking forward to going back to Nine 75 North to try the osso buco, baja tacos, or miso marinated black cod. Rather than list everything on their menu, visit their Web site. Check back because unlike mega chains, Nine 75 changes their menu periodically.
George Washington
Alexander Hamilton, a founder himself, one remarked that the thought of seeing George Washington naked was unimaginable, so even in his own day Washington was already a myth. Forget the cherry tree but accept the notion that Washington was born fully clothed, with powdered whig, and stoic gaze. Yes of course he was a man, presumably handsome and slave owning but I can't get beyond the life-sized cardboard cut out I almost bought for last years 4th of July party. Washington is frozen in time and although I try to envision him talking to his cabinet during the first Presidency or encouraging the troops at Valley Forge my mind cannot animate his god-like image. This does the man an injustice because if there was ever a profoundly great man it was Washington and the American soul could certainly use a boost of American greatness right about now. To highlight how low the United States has sunk in the mind of the world, note that while in France last month a local asked me where I was from and when I said I was an American he said he would pray for me! I think we have forgotten what it is that makes a great President. Let us remember for a moment our history and dream idealistically of a better future. During the era of the Founders, political office was meant to be a burden, a service, and only undertaken when personal interest was eliminated. Washington exemplifies this ideal. He resisted every office to which he was appointed and only after agonizing reflection, did he accept them. His voluntary, if not desperate, desire to leave the Presidency after two terms established the precedent that held until FDR and removed forever the very real threat that the United States would devolve into a monarchy. This is truly remarkable given the political environment of the day, but most of us forget that Washington actually gave up power twice. The first time was after the end of the Revolutionary War in which he symbolically handed over his commission to Congress and trotted dramatically home. This act alone prompted George III to remark that Washington was the greatest man who had ever lived. Certainly Napoleon was not so disinterested nor so virtuous.
Washington was no intellectual, a fact that embarrassed him his entire life, but the man knew how to make a decision even if it was politically unpopular. He was adamantly against political parties and perhaps naively assumed there was one direction for the country. He warned against getting embroiled in foreign wars and surrounded himself with great intellectuals. Uniquely perhaps, he actually listened to them.
Would listening to Washington, if such a feat were possible, bust my bubble of adoration? Would he stutter or drool or inappropriately grab a body part. Somehow I doubt it. Everyone who knew Washington was in awe of him. Awe is not a word I tend to use when think of our current crop of politicians. Thinking of George Washington brings to the forefront of my thoughts just how much we have lost since 1776.
Interested in learning more, try "His Excellency: George Washington" by Joseph J. Ellis or "Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different" by Gordon S. Wood
Kamis, 11 Oktober 2007
Selasa, 09 Oktober 2007
Eccles Pass
Distance: 9.5 miles RT
Elevation: 9,100 to 11,900 ft
Elevation gain: 2,800ft
Looking north from Eccles Pass
In July I won the lottery with a perfect "chamber of commerce" day in Summit County for a hike up to Eccles Pass. The trail was steep and very rocky right from the start and spends a good deal of time in the trees for the first three miles or so before opening up into wide meadow with peaks all around. The hills were green, the skies were blue and a light breeze blew in from the east. On days like this I pity the tourists who have to spend their vacation dollars to come here. Colorado is a wonderful place to live! Across the meadow, our destination was in view. It looked trivial to ascend to the pass, but after already completing significant elevation gain and distance get to this point, that last bit was steeper than it looked from below. Isn't that true for most things? The reward for that last up was well worth it however. The view over the pass toward the Gore Range is mythical in scope.
Looking up at Eccles Pass from meadow
The valley below is dotted with small tarns and one or two trails disappear into the distance enticing the hiker onward. It is possible to ascend to that valley from Silverthorne or do a shuttle route which could be very appealing. To the right of the valley I could see the route as it ascended through the trees, guarded on both sides by steep walls. The entrance framed the far slopes across from Silverthorne. Every tree on that distant hillside was dead from the bark beetle. The contrast was striking. Here was a pristine view and there, inscribed in Dante's prose, was the gate to a more hellish Colorado. I wonder how long it will take for every beautiful spot is consumed by the rust colored hues of death by Nature's unrelenting petulance? I stayed on the pass for an hour or so before commencing the grueling trek down. Why is it that the last two miles of a long hike seem so long? This is where a nice trail refuge with some refreshing snacks would have really boosted the spirits.
Elevation: 9,100 to 11,900 ft
Elevation gain: 2,800ft
In July I won the lottery with a perfect "chamber of commerce" day in Summit County for a hike up to Eccles Pass. The trail was steep and very rocky right from the start and spends a good deal of time in the trees for the first three miles or so before opening up into wide meadow with peaks all around. The hills were green, the skies were blue and a light breeze blew in from the east. On days like this I pity the tourists who have to spend their vacation dollars to come here. Colorado is a wonderful place to live! Across the meadow, our destination was in view. It looked trivial to ascend to the pass, but after already completing significant elevation gain and distance get to this point, that last bit was steeper than it looked from below. Isn't that true for most things? The reward for that last up was well worth it however. The view over the pass toward the Gore Range is mythical in scope.
The valley below is dotted with small tarns and one or two trails disappear into the distance enticing the hiker onward. It is possible to ascend to that valley from Silverthorne or do a shuttle route which could be very appealing. To the right of the valley I could see the route as it ascended through the trees, guarded on both sides by steep walls. The entrance framed the far slopes across from Silverthorne. Every tree on that distant hillside was dead from the bark beetle. The contrast was striking. Here was a pristine view and there, inscribed in Dante's prose, was the gate to a more hellish Colorado. I wonder how long it will take for every beautiful spot is consumed by the rust colored hues of death by Nature's unrelenting petulance? I stayed on the pass for an hour or so before commencing the grueling trek down. Why is it that the last two miles of a long hike seem so long? This is where a nice trail refuge with some refreshing snacks would have really boosted the spirits.
Sabtu, 06 Oktober 2007
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Jumat, 05 Oktober 2007
Malayalam Movie Karmayogi
Malayalam Movie Karmayogi
Renowned director,ad film maker V.K. Prakash is coming with a new malayalam film Karmayogi.In this movie Indrajith is in double role( father and son). Movie is based on Shakespeare’s famous drama Hamlet.
Kamis, 04 Oktober 2007
Minggu, 30 September 2007
Olga Kern Dazzles Denver
On Thursday, September 20th I attended the Colorado Symphony's opening night. I chose this night because Olga Kern, the first woman to win the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 30 years, was playing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on the Theme of Paganini (Opus 43). I sat in the left dress circle so I could watch her hands. The experience was surreal. While the following description may sound unflattering, it is meant to highlight how exceptional Olga is. I could only see Olga's left hand but since it zoomed around the keyboard so quickly, that is probably a good thing. I was aghast to observe that Olga's hand actually looked alien. I am talking alien abduction like alien. Her fingers are exceptionally long and have that ability to spread apart in a way that would require Vicodin in us mere mortals. The joints that connected her fingers to the rest of her hand must have been double jointed because they could arch in a way I did not think was anatomically possible. I keep looking at my own hand and back at hers and realized why I never took up piano. The sum total of these observations was a hand that looked twice as large as normal. It seemed to extend all the way to her forearm. I was mesmerized.
I confess that Rachmaninoff has not been my favorite composer but you have to admire his Rhapsody. It is so dramatic and contains some of the loveliest melodies in all of classical music. It is one of Olga's signature pieces, and she plays it with great emotion.
During intermission Olga signed CDs. She was very gracious if a bit otherworldly. I get the impression this was more cultural than innate shyness. Olga has the potential of being on of the true greats if she would only change her wardrobe. That calf hugging sequined red dress and stiletto heals were dazzling for sure but surely gave her insurance agent fits. I would not have been able to walk two feet in that get up let alone glide across a stage. I recommend she be wheeled out in a sequined wheel chair with those alien hands encased in cast until she is ready to play.
Any time Olga is in town, I recommend arranging to be abducted. The experience will be well worth it.
Check out this season’s sympony schedule.
Sabtu, 29 September 2007
Where are All the Trail Refuges?
Ok, so I am already diverging from Colorado hiking, but I have to confess that I am no longer a European hiking virgin. I just returned from a conference in France. On off days, I managed to get out and hike. Two miles up an incredibly scenic trail we came to our first refuge. I can't tell you how many times I would have killed for Starbucks with a view after some serious elevation gain. Here was a house complete with kitchen, umbrellas, picnic tables and beer! Beer every two miles? That could work! So if all of Europe is dotted with fantastic trails and refuge after refuge, why can't we adopt this in the US? Are we colonials just not civilized enough?
Would the State of Colorado attract more tourists if we provided pastries, sausages, and double espresso? Would someone out there in the blogosphere explain this to me!
Aspen Gauntlet on Kenosha Pass
I grew up in California and my mother and I would take an annual pilgrimage to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in search of any color. It was rare indeed. A single tree would have us all a tingle. A small grove would elicit a near epileptic seizure. We would return from these expeditions ready to cook squash on the backyard BBQ, convinced we were awash in Fall’s mantel. My father, who grew up near Boston, viewed these events with typical East Coast noblesse oblige. He would look at us over the brim of his book with a condescending “foolish mortals” gaze. We were indeed so naïve. While it is true that the East Coast has those vibrant reds and cascading hillsides, Colorado has snow-capped peaks reflected in still lakes dripping with reflected gold. Having to burn a few calories to see it is an added value in my mind. So, for this weekends leaf-popping expedition, a friend and I headed up highway 285 to Kenosha Pass. I have driven over this pass many times but confess have never stopped to cruise along the Colorado Trail that cuts across the road. We got an early 0730 start from the Denver Metro Area and were parked on the south side of the pass by 0915. While you can see the hillside of aspen from the road, what you cannot see is the sheer size of the Aspen trees in the nearest grove. This was Disneyland for leaf hounds. The trees towered overhead and swayed dangerously in the stiff 25mph breeze. The trail curved seductively here and there leading the walker onward. The path and air were strewn with leaves falling and fallen creating a golden ticker tape parade.
The Colorado trail continues south with sweeping views of South Park and the mountains beyond. We turned around after about two hours because it was beginning to rain. Upon return to the trailhead, we were greeted by 10,000 other peepers crowding into the parking lots and blocking the road. The take home point for this post is get and early start.
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