TFB celebrates my 30!

Fred's new toy

My boss Fred got a new toy. Well, he bought it 2.5 years ago but he finally got it today. Toby gets in for a ride.


















Seems kind of weird but you sit with your legs straight out. This car, using a Lotus body, is really low to the ground, runs silent, and hits 0-60 in just 4 seconds.
















The car is gorgeous.
































Car #63 off the lot! Lucky bastard. That's what he gets for selling his company.

Music For Animals - local band contest

One of the radio stations (live 97?) was holding music contest for local bands at Cafe Du Nord. The winner would get to do an opening set for the Not So Silent Night concert and the Killers.
















Nick & Jay





















Eli
















and Ryan. Alas, they did not win but I'm sure they came in a strong second. The other 3 bands didn't have nearly as strong of a performance than MFA and the eventual winners Dizzy Balloon.

Super Dinner

Stocked full of foods
















Lobsters in a box



They said putting the knife through the lobster's head was the most humane way to dispatch it but the tail tends to disagree. They also don't tell you about the bubbles that come out of the lobsters head. Or the fact that all the muscles fight back. 10 seconds in boiling water seems more humane, but after the first one, the next 4 went by pretty easily.





















Broke out the Brunello. >__< didn't get much for myself. I hope you people realized you drank a 40 euro bottle of wine! First course of Piave and Pecorino and 2 types of honey that went with the Brunello went unphotographed. =P I was a bit distracted at the moment.
















2nd course was a Lobster salad made from the claws. This is a recipe I borrowed from Iron Chef Sakai. Although I forgot my two alterations >__< This is lightly boiled lobster claws processed with mayonaise, chives, and radish. I forgot to add persimmon into that mix and it was going to be served on a bed of arugula. The garnish is daikon sprouts. Sakai uses rapeseed blossom for bitterness. No idea where I get that but daikon sprouts do the trick.
















3rd course, Lobster Bisque served with broiled Lobster tail pieces.
















Sage Roasted Whole Chicken served with (not pictured) Truffled and Cheesy mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, the mash potatoes were done way sooner than the chicken was (damn you internets!) so they really didn't get served together.
















And desert was a mango coconut pana cotta pudding served with raspberries and dried persimmon slices.

Last course was tea and crackers but it ended up just being tea. Due to time constraints, Risotto was cut from the menu.

Overall, the food turned out great but the cooking was hectic and crazy. I want my Brunello! Better go buy another bottle. Will post other pictures whenever Casey gets them to me.

more weekend adventures

Wanting to get out of the house, I went to the Mission District to checkout the Mission St. Baazar. I think it's an annual event?





















Who knew there was a replica Moorish Castle in SF?
















Somehow the interior does not match with the exterior. This used to be a military arms storage hangar/castle.
















The stuff people were selling were largely hand-made crafts. As such, they were are super expensive. =P All I wanted to shop for was a hand knitted hat but the only one was a hand knitted vicuna one going for $80. Bananas.





















I always wanted to check out this crazy church. I've always thought it was pretty ridiculous.





















The inside doesn't feel overly large but the ceiling does go up all the way which is kinda neat but also very ridiculous. I've always thought that if a church had money to build some ridiculous building, they could spend that money elsewhere helping someone? But then sometimes rich people just give churches money cause they want a nice church to go to so it's not really the churches fault is it?
















Apparently this is a church that believes in dragons.
















The real reason for stopping by was this Mexican cultural festival going on in the church plaza. It had mostly died down by the time I got there (saw it on my way to the castle).
















Right...
















tommorrow is the big dinner.

D'oh!

I got sideswiped by an old lady in her Lexus. Nothing serious so I didn't freak out.

More Violet

: P