There’s something really special about Tom’s Town from the moment you walk inside. The atmosphere is of a glamorous and intimate speakeasy. The staff is personable and downright fun.
The place not only distills vodka, gin and bourbon but offers a fun bar area downstairs and restaurant and tasting room upstairs.
Two gentlemen, who have been friends since childhood, founded Tom’s Town in 2015. They named the place after the infamous Kansas City political boss of the 1920s and 1930s – Tom Pendergast who famously ignored every federal Prohibition law. When confronted about his disregard of federal laws, he responded that the people were thirsty. One of the founders, Steve, is actually related to the U.S. Attorney who prosecuted Pendergast. The other founder, David, is the grandson of a rival Prohibition-era bootlegger. Once could say that it was destiny that brought them to start Tom’s Town.
The building is a three-story building that dates back to the early 1900s and has been used as an automobile carriage, a candy factory and even a weekly newspaper. The current owners have done a beautiful job updating the building yet keeping the nostalgia feeling alive. Tom Pendergast led the “Goats” faction in Kansas City (as opposed to the “Rabbits”) so the decor includes a Goat head over the fireplace as well as goat-motif tee-shirts for sale.
It strikes me that it’s a very popular destination. We were there on a Tuesday night and the place was pleasantly full. I can only imagine how packed it is on a Friday or Saturday night. We booked our tour reservations online in advance – I highly recommend this. None of their spirits are sold outside of Missouri. So, you either buy there or order online and have items shipped. Plus, some limited edition items, such as the Garden Party gin are only available at either Town or local retailers or online pickup orders. We live in California so, naturally, we had to buy a bottle of the Garden Party Gin while there. It is great on its own, with a splash of soda or with a bit of lemonade.
Exterior Wall & Mural Downstairs Bar & Lounge Windows Peering Into the Distillery Soaking Up the Atmosphere Bar MenuTom’s Town Embraces HalloweenEnjoying the Halloween Decorations The Distillery On Our Distillery Tour The Distillery Tour Spirits Flight Tasting Spirits Flight Impressive Setup Enjoying Our Spirits Tasting In Front of the Famous GOAT
One of my favorite adventures during our recent visit to Missouri was our trip to Hannibal – home to both Mark Twain and the Unsinkable Molly Brown. I knew that Mark Twain, whose real name is Samuel Clemens, hailed from Hannibal. However, I have always associated Molly Brown with Denver Colorado. Margaret Tobin Brown was born in Hannibal and lived there until she was 18. She ended her days a very prosperous woman but she started her life in extreme poverty. By the age of thirteen, she had already dropped out of school to work as a tobacco leaf stripper at the local tobacco factory in Hannibal. Her childhood home is small and humble. It does have a great display of artifacts and newspaper articles related to her survival of the Titanic’s sinking. I especially enjoyed seeing the first, second and third class China dishes from the Titanic.
We started our morning at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home Museum where we bought tickets that included several buildings including Huckleberry Finn’s House, Becky Thatcher’s house and Grant’s pharmacy. Mark Twain’s real name was Samuel Clemens. In Twain’s day, it was fashionable for writers to take on a pen name. At one point, Clemens worked on steamships and Mark Twain was a nautical term for a safe river depth…literally two fathoms or 12 feet. In real life, Becky Thatcher was his lifelong friend Laura Hawkins. Huck Finn was based on his childhood friend Tom Blankenship.
While in Hannibal, we also took an hour-long cruise on the Mark Twain riverboat along the Mississippi. I read about it online and booked our tickets in advance. It was perfect for a quick overview of the Mississippi River and surrounding area. The crew was cheerful and the captain was really entertaining. The ship’s interior could have used a little freshening up in my opinion. We were fortunate enough to visit in the off season so the boat was not crowded. The only negative is that the Mississippi had a number of invasive silver and bighead carp floating dead on the surface. The extreme heat is causing low oxygen levels which, in turn, is killing the carp.
We then enjoyed a relaxing lunch in the local Irish pub followed by a quick trip to the local ice cream shop to try the local treat of huckleberry ice cream – delicious. It was in the mid 90s and very humid so the place was filled with people from one of two large cruise ships docked in Hannibal. According to one of the museum docents, Hannibal has a population of 18,000 but gets between 55,000 and 60,000 visitors per month. I can see why Hannibal is a popular destination. The town is a charming step back in time.
On the Way From Independence to Hannibal Mark Twain Interpretive Center Exhibit from the Mark Twain Boyhood Interpretive Center Exhibit from the Mark Twain Interpretive Center Mark Twain Interpretive Center Mark Twain Interpretive Center Model of a Town Sculpture Never Built The Real “Injun Joe”Signage Adjacent to Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home Huckleberry Finn’s HomePlaque for the Huck Finn HouseInterior of Huck Finn’s House Interior of Huck Finn’s HouseOutside Huck Finn’s House Overview Sign of the Museum & Its BuildingsTwain’s Boyhood HomeTwain’s Boyhood HomeCourtyard at Twain’s Boyhood HomeTwain’s Boyhood HomeTwain’s Boyhood HomeTwain’s Boyhood HomeExterior of the Becky Thatcher Building – Laura Hawkins in Real LifeBecky Thatcher’s HomeClothing of the EraThe Homes of Sawyer, Fin & Thatcher Grant’s Pharmacy Entrance to Grant’s Pharmacy Grant’s Pharmacy Downtown Hannibal This is the Safety Wall In the Event the Mississippi Floods Railroad Tracks in Hannibal One of the Large Cruise Ships That Stops In Hannibal Mississippi River The Mark Twain ShipThe Mississippi River The Mississippi River Onboard the Mark Twain The Lighthouse of Hannibal On Board the Mark TwainThe Mississippi River The Mississippi River Enjoying Our Mississippi River Cruise The Mississippi River The Mississippi River The Heritage Cruise Ship Along the Mississippi River The Mississippi River On Our Mississippi River Cruise The Top of the Mark Twain Riverboat The Mississippi ArtThe Mississippi River The Mississippi River The Mississippi River The Mississippi River The Mississippi River The Mississippi River The Mississippi River Huckleberry Ice Cream Becky’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor Becky’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor Becky’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor Fun Downtown Building PlaqueMolly Brown’s Childhood Home Molly Brown’s Childhood Home Molly Brown Molly Brown’s Childhood Home Molly Brown’s Childhood Home First-Class Passenger China on the Titanic Second-Class Passenger China on the Titanic Third-Class Passenger Dishes on the Titanic Molly Brown Newspaper Clipping Molly Brown’s List of Lost Items on the Titanic for the Insurance Company Stages of Deterioration of Molly Brown’s HomeIrish PubIrish Pub Menu Dead Carp in the Mississippi River Ticket from the Mark Twain Museum
Recently, my husband and I spent five days exploring Missouri. The historic sights were a lot of fun but so was the regional food.
A friend of ours, who previously lived in Kansas City, strongly recommended Winstead’s – a diner that goes back to 1940. Besides recommending the burgers, he told us that we had to try the cherry limeade drinks. Wow – what a fantastic beverage…especially on a very hot day. It is probably the best limeade I have enjoyed in a long time. The dollop of lime sherbet on top is a nice touch.
We had heard so much about Tom’s Town Distillery and our visit did not disappoint. We took the tour which includes the distillery flight tasting – vodka, gin and several bourbons. The place is located in the Crossroads section of Kansas City. It is the first legal distillery in the city since Prohibition. The downstairs area includes a beautiful lounge and bar where you can order an assortment of cocktails and fun food. The place has an exciting speakeasy feel. It is named after the infamous Tom Pendergast who ran Kansas City politics between 1925 and 1939. When asked about bypassing prohibition laws, he famously responded that the people are thirsty.
There are many terrific options for Kansas City BBQ. We chose Jack Stack’s at the Freight House. The restaurant dates back to 1957 and has 6 locations in the Kansas City area. The food was fantastic and plentiful. A local Uber driver insisted that we order the burnt beef tips, cheesy corn and beans with brisket. His recommendations were spot on. My brother-in-law ordered the lamb ribs and said that they were delicious. My husband loved his pork ribs, too.
The next day we spent the morning in the Market Place section of Kansas City. My brother-in-law recommended Pigwich for lunch. It was a great recommendation. My husband and I both ordered the BBQ Pork Brisket sandwiches. They were delicious and so different from any BBQ that I have had in the past. I couldn’t get over how reasonably priced the food was versus at the equivalent in our home state of California.
We spent two nights in Independence Missouri and discovered the Courthouse Exchange while walking around. What a great find! It is an old underground pub that has been in existence since 1899. The food was delicious and the cocktails, made using Polly’s Pop, were amazing. We even tried a local favorite item in Missouri – the fried mushrooms and they were really good.
Speaking of Polly’s Pop, what a delightful find. It was a family-owned business that started in Independence Missouri back in 1923. The brand was a favorite of Harry Truman. Unfortunately, the company went out of business in 1967. In 2016, a local company brought the soda back. It comes in a variety of flavors including strawberry – which my husband and I both loved. Don’t make the mistake we did and assume that you can buy Polly’s Pop at their store location in town. An employee quickly directed us to several options for purchasing Polly’s Pop. We chose Gilbert Whitney & Company – a fun kitchen equipment and gourmet food store located across the street from the County Courthouse.
The soda comes in classic glass bottles using 1940-era equipment that the owners restored. The soda is made with 100% cane sugar as well as locally-sourced flavors. In addition, Polly’s Pop makes a fantastic BBQ sauces called Polly-Q – including a Root Beer soda version. The store let us sample the BBQ sauce and I was hooked. I can’t wait to try it on some ribs.
While visiting Hannibal, we quickly learned that it’s all about huckleberries. We tried huckleberry ice cream at the local ice cream parlor called Becky’s Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor. It was delicious. I also bought a huckleberry chocolate bar at the Mark Twain house gift shop. It was very good – extra sweet from the huckleberries.
Our final food adventure was at the Kansas City International Airport where we tried the pulled brisket nachos at Meat Rushmore’s. The nachos were really tasty. The restaurant has multiple Meat Rushmore BBQ sauce bottles on its tables so that you can find the right one for you.
Finally, be sure to allow a few extra minutes at the airport for some shopping. The airport has an impressive store that sells a large variety of local BBQ sauces to take home – including the famous Gates sauces.
Cherry Limeade from Winstead’sA Single Winstead – the Dinner Serves Double and Triple Ones, TooWinstead’s Tater TotsDistiller’s Flight At Tom’s TownRibs & Burnt Beef Tips At Jack Stack’sPulled Pork & Burnt Beef Tips At Jack Stack’sBrisket Sandwich At PigwichCourthouse Exchange Boozy Root Beer FloatCourthouse Exchange’s Cherry Cream Soda CocktailCourthouse Exchange Fried Mushrooms Courthouse Exchange Mac ‘N’ Cheese with Pulled Pork & Green Onions Courthouse Exchange Chicken-Fried-Chicken Huckleberry Ice Cream in Hannibal MOFamous Polly’s Pop of Independence MOPulled Beef Brisket Nachos At the Kansas City International Airport – Meat Rushmore BBQLocal Chocolate from Hannibal The Pigwich At the City Market Section of Kansas City
If you have not already visited Independence Missouri, I highly recommend a quick trip. It is a charming little town. My husband and I recently spent most of a week exploring Kansas City Missouri and the surrounding areas. For us, visiting Bess and Harry Truman’s home in Independence was a trip highlight.
Tours are conducted by the National Park Service and are limited to 8 people. The combined tour of the Truman and Nolan houses (Nolan is across the street) is free. Even better – there are no plexiglass walls or velvet ropes. Visitors are allowed to walk throughout the downstairs area with a few key restrictions: no touching, no leaning and no photo taking. Hence, I have no interior photos of Bess and Harry’s beautiful home. According to our ranger, an early tourist actually stole the bar of soap at the kitchen sink as a souvenir. Hence, the rangers are very strict about the no-touching rule.
Green was their favorite color so there’s plenty of green – including the lower kitchen walls as well as the last car they purchased 6 months prior to Harry’s death. I should add that the ceiling and upper walls in the kitchen are covered in a red, white and blue check-patterned wallpaper chosen personally by Harry. It is definitely a tad intense.
They were both frugal people. Bess’s father committed suicide due to financial difficulties and Harry and his entire family struggled during the depression. Consequently, the kitchen stove, with a faulty igniter, has a box of matches on top of it. They refused to purchase a new stove. The kitchen linoleum has multiple large rips in it. Again, they opted to not replace the flooring.
The couple’s favorite room was a spacious screened-in porch and that is how our tour entered the home. Privacy became an issue for the couple upon their return to Independence post presidency. Consequently, an entire section of the porch screen is covered by grape vines.
The parameter of the home has a black wrought iron gate surrounding the home and yard that was installed in 1949. Prior to its installation, the Secret Service actually caught someone trying to rip off a board from the house as a souvenir. Another agent caught a woman digging up some of Bess Truman’s prized white tulips. When the agent confronted her, she told him that Bess would not mind.
Bess Truman’s First Lady portrait hangs in the living room. Apparently, it took eleven years for the White House personnel to notice it was missing. Lady Bird Johnson personally called to request that Bess return the portrait. Bess refused and the artist was commissioned to paint a copy for the White House. Another duplicate was then created for the President Truman Library & Museum.
During their post-presidency years, many world leaders and former U.S. Presidents visited them at the house on North Delaware Street – from Lyndon B Johnson and Jimmy Carter to Billy Graham.
Harry died in 1972 at the age of 88. He died in a nearby hospital. Bess outlived him by 10 years and died in the ground floor bedroom adjacent to the living room. She was 97. She was the longest living First Lady. They are both buried at the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum.
The much more modest Noland Home directly across the house was owned by Harry’s Aunt and Uncle and their two daughters. His two cousins, Nellie and Ethel, remained in the house their entire lives. The entire Noland family was very close with the Trumans. The tour starts at the Noland house and ends across the street at Bess and Harry’s home. On the other side of the Truman house, adjacent to the garage, sits two smaller homes. During the Trumans lifetime, Bess’s two brothers lived in them. One house is now office space for the Truman Home and the other is housing for the park rangers.
I hope you enjoy your visit as much as we did ours.
The Noland HomeInterior of the Noland HomeNoland Home Noland HomeGreat Truman Quote at the Noland Home Noland Home InteriorTruman QuoteNoland HomeThe Trumans on Their Wedding DayBess Truman’s First Lady Portrait Front Entrance at the Noland Home Noland HomeDisplay at the Noland Home Front Porch at the Noland Home 219 N Delaware Street Bess & Harry Truman’s House 219 N Delaware Street House Across the Street – Used by the Secret Service Bess & Harry’s Garage and Final Green CarClose-Up of the Garage Adjacent House Where Bess Truman’s Brother ResidedHome of Bess Truman’s Brother Home Where the Park Ranger Assigned to Bess & Harry’s House ResidesHarry Truman’s Childhood Home
The Harry S Truman Library & Museum has been on my bucket list for a long time. This is the year I finally made it to Independence Missouri to visit the library. It is one of the oldest federal presidential libraries; Truman broke ground for the library in 1955. The oldest one is Franklin D. Roosevelt’s library with Truman’s coming in as the second oldest and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s the third oldest.
The property was completely renovated to the tune of thirty million dollars in 2021. I heard several other visitors comment that it looks completely different since their last trip to the library. It is smaller than the Ronald Reagan library but impressive. The only disappointment was not being able to walk the grounds due to an extensive thirteen million dollar renovation involving the removal of plants, etc. Both Bess and Harry Truman are buried at the library and access to their graves is temporarily blocked.
The museum has added a number of interactive displays and gives visitors the opportunity to express their opinion regarding Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb. It also provides testimony from Japanese citizens who survived the bombings.
I especially enjoyed the display of Truman’s cars as well as his courtship of Bess Wallace. Truman only met with President Roosevelt twice during the first 83 days of his fourth term as president. The library shows a very moving film of FDR’s funeral and Truman’s interaction with Eleanor Roosevelt. Truman’s early days of presidency include film clips of him inspecting the bomb damage in Berlin post WWII as well as his meeting with world leaders at the Potsdam Conference.
Truman lived close to twenty years post-presidency and the museum does a great job at detailing his life back in Independence. The library has film footage of his daughter Margaret Truman’s wedding in Independence as well as of a then Senator John F. Kennedy visiting the library in 1959 while campaigning for the presidential election.
Hanging Out with Harry at the Front Entrance Front Entrance of the Truman Library Front Entrance Front Entrance Harry S Truman During WWIBess & Harry’s Wedding Bess Truman’s Wedding ShoesTruman As a Senator of MOGreat Eleanor Roosevelt Quote When Vice President Truman Became President Overnight, He Faced Numerous Challenges Post WWII Challenges Truman Tackled Civil Rights Truman Campaign Button Truman Campaign The Press Called the Election Results Incorrectly Post-Presidency and Back in Independence The Trumans Back in Independence MOThe Gardens Are Under Construction The Trumans Stayed at Blair House Until Eleanor Moved Out of the White House Post FDR’s Death One of Truman’s Favorite Florida Shirts Truman White House China Bess Truman Was Thrifty & Repeated Her Clothing Truman’s Oval Office Enjoying the Oval Office Oval Office Fireplace Truman’s DeskModel of Harry & Bess Truman House in Independence MOTruman Carriage from His YyTruman Automobile Another Truman AutomooPresidential Limousine Having Fun at the Library Downtown Independence Courthouse Downtown Independence Courthouse Side View of Courthouse Longtime Restaurant Across the Street from the Courthouse Restaurant Weekly Specials My Husband at the Courthouse Exchange Interior of the Courthouse Exchange Beverage Menu at the Courthouse Exchange Cocktails Made with the Local Soda PopCocktails Made with the Local Soda PopMissouri Popular Dish – Fried Mushrooms The Local Mac’n’Cheese with Pulled Pork Chicken-Fried Chicken Restaurant Interior Restaurant Stained Glass Window Front View of Courthouse Courthouse & Statue of Harry S Truman Courthouse Front View Statue Vlose-UpTruman’s First JobThe Famous Clinton’s Ice Cream Parlor Mural in Independence MOThe Nolan House The Truman House In Front of the Truman House on North Delaware – Independence MO
I have heard so much about Corner Pizza’s Killer Bee pizza. So, I knew I had to try it. My husband John, reluctantly, joined me for my latest food adventure. It ended up being a delicious food extravaganza. So, what is on a Killer Bee pizza? It consists of sauce, mozzarella, Gorgonzola, fresh rosemary, soppressata (an Italian dry-cured salami), pepperoni and chili honey. The combination of flavors really works! My husband and I felt we were in food nirvana. Plus, the crust is terrific – not too thick and with just right amount of chew.
This was our first time at Corner Pizza’s Oceanside location but it won’t be our last. The homemade cookies are worth consideration, too. We really enjoyed the chocolate chip and sea salt ones.
Exterior of Killer BeeInterior of Killer BeeInterior of Corner PizzaSo Love This SignBar AreaKiller BeeKiller Bee PieHot Honey Close-Up the Killer Bee PizzaHard Cider and BeerComplimentary WaterDelicious Homemade Cookies Cookie Close-Up – chocolate chips & Salt Crystals Box for Our Leftovers Smiling After A Fantastic Dining Experience
California is lucky to have two Presidential Libraries: the Reagan in Simi Valley and the Nixon in Yorba Linda.
I have visited the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum a number of times and have watched it change over the years. The library was originally started by a private foundation in 1990. It is located on land that was previously owned by the Nixon family for a failed citrus farm. The grounds still include Nixon’s childhood home, from 1912, built by Nixon’s father using a mail-order kit.
In 2007, the National Archives and Records Administration took over the collection. Nixon’s daughters Julie and Tricia are still active members of the board of directors. The biggest change in the library was the reinterpretation of Watergate. Other changes include the 2004 addition of the East Wing replica. Also, in 2006, the Army One helicopter arrived. This helicopter was flown during the Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford administrations. This is the same helicopter that transported the Nixons on their final flight from the White House lawn when Nixon resigned as President of the United States. Now is the time to see it. The helicopter is scheduled to depart the library for extensive restoration.
I have been to more than half of the presidential libraries and this one does a fantastic job at presenting interactive displays. The current permanent exhibit is a fair and honest interpretation of Nixon’s accomplishments and failures. Nixon is responsible for establishing the Environmental Protection Agency as well as Title IX which prohibits any sex-based discrimination in any education-based program or activity receiving federal funding. In addition, he ended the military draft effective 1973. His international work to establish a relationship with the People’s Republic of China after 25 years of no contact is extraordinary.
On the negative side, his campaign promise to dismantle the Vietnam War was painfully slow and frustrating. Nixon’s abuse of power and paranoia was legendary. The Watergate coverup of course, destroyed his presidency and reputation.
The current rotating exhibit celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States and includes President Dwight Eisenhower’s 4 stars, Louis Armstrong’s trumpet and the kitchen display that started Nixon’s famous “Kitchen Debate” with Khrushchev in 1959 when Nixon was the Vice President under Eisenhower.
In summary, the library does a wonderful job at maximizing indoor and outdoor space.
Inside the Lobby Front Entrance Fountain The Nixon Presidential Campaign Nixon Campaign Buttons Nixon’s Oval OfficeNixon’s Oval OfficePart of the Berlin WallWatergate DisplayAbuse of Power Display Map of Hidden Speakers in the Nixon White House Nixon Family Grocery Store in WhittierLieutenant Nixon Nixon’s Early Political LifeFun Photo Opportunity at the Nixon Library Novelty Nixon Shower HeadNixon Established the EPARose Garden at the Library The Nixon GravesNixon’s Original Childhood Home Where He Was Born Nixon’s Childhood Home Replica of the East Wing of the White House Front Exterior of Nixon’s Childhood Home 112-Year-Old Pepper Tree Adjacent to the Nixon Family Home California Bear Sculpture The Nixon Presidential Helicopter My Husband and Myself in Front of the Nixon-Era Helicopter Special Exhibit at the Library Eisenhower’s 4 StarsThe Actual Kitchen from Nixon’s Kitchen Debate Louis Armstrong’s Trumpet Plaque Outside Nixon’s Childhood Home
I first discovered the delicious treat known as the lobster roll years ago while attending college in Massachusetts. At the time, I had no idea of the controversy: cold or hot, celery or no celery and, of course mayonnaise or no mayonnaise. Many heated arguments have erupted over these questions. Depending upon what state you go to, for example Maine or Connecticut, determines your definition of a lobster roll.
Personally, I like mine Connecticut style which means butter, salt, pepper and lemon juice. I have tried the cold mayonnaise version and it is just not my thing. Also, to those who add celery – wrong! Lobster has a very delicate taste and I think that it interferes with the flavor of lobster versus complimenting it.
The lobster roll sandwich goes back to the 1920s but really gained popularity in the 1970s. I went to college in the 1980s and never heard of lobster rolls until I was in Massachusetts.
Locally, we go to Lobster West in Encinitas California for our sporadic fix. The place not only prepares the lobster perfectly but serves the sandwich on the perfect toasted roll with the right amount of melted butter! In addition, whenever I am in Massachusetts for one of my college reunions, I always make sure to enjoy a lobster roll.
I recently attended Gourmet Foods International’s San Diego Food Expo. I enjoyed every aspect of the experience…except, perhaps, that feeling of being so full by the end of the day.
The day started early in the morning with a series of classes:
French and American Hams for Charcuterie Boards
I loved learning about the history behind the Jambon-Beurre. It is the classic Parisian sandwich made with just three ingredients: baguette, ham and butter. What makes this simple sandwich so special is the quality of all three ingredients. French butter, in particular, is a lot more rich and creamy than the American version. The ham, Jambon de Paris, is a wet-cured and boiled ham that is not smoked. It is very tender and not salty. I must confess that while I was in Paris, I focused on two other classic French dishes – soupe a l’ oignon and croque-monsieur. That said, I can’t wait to go back to Paris for a Jambon-Beurre.
Next up, the president/owner of The Spotted Trotter out of Atlanta Georgia spoke about his background as a chef at French Laundry in Napa Valley and his desire for a greater purpose – to create fine American-made charcuterie meats. We sampled his Tasso Ham (a heavily spiced and pecan-smoked meat) and Culatello Prosciutto (made from the center of the pig leg and known as the king of prosciuttos). Both were immensely delicious and impressive.
California Cheeses
Highlights included meeting one of the three sisters who own Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese – a company that started out only making blue cheese. The company has expanded with other products and now makes several versions of Toma which the president described as an Italian cheese with a Dutch twist. I loved her suggestion of using the company’s TomaRashi (Toma flavored with Japanese chili flakes, ginger, orange peel, nori and nigella seeds) in tacos.
Cypress Grove Cheese brought its spectacular Humboldt fog cheese – a yummy goat cheese with a gooey layer under the rind and a layer of vegetable-based ash in the center. You really have to try it to appreciate it. This cheese looks like a work of art. In addition, the Cypress Grove representative brought their Dutch-made goat Gouda called Midnight Moon. This cheese is so smooth and sweet. I sell a lot of it in my store. I almost think it has a cult-like following. It is an expensive cheese but so worth it.
Cheese Pairings
In this class, we were given an assortment of cheeses, including Point Reyes Bay Blue, Vermont Creamery’s Hooper (creamy cheese shaped like a donut) and Marin French’s Breakfast Brie (a soft and rich Brie without a rind). The Bay Blue has a fudge-like texture with a more mellow and sweeter taste than their original blue cheese. It really complimented the Jose Andres dark chocolate. Also, I enjoyed the Breakfast Brie with the pepper jelly. My other favorite pairing was the Marin French breakfast cheese with sweet peppers.
The Convention Hall Booths
Walking around the convention hall was a food-coma experience. As a professional cheese monger, I am responsible for ordering everything from specialty cheeses to a variety of foods someone would want to pair with his or her cheese. That means I interested in jams, crackers, halva, dried fruit, specialty meats and so on.
The Ube Gouda caught my eye because of its vibrant color. The cheese maker gets this color by adding in Japanese Ube potato to the mix. Surprisingly, the cheese has a mild and slightly sweet flavor.
For those who love Jose Andres potato chips (they are delicious and consist of only 3 ingredients: potatoes, olive oil and salt),you will be happy to know that the company has a new flavor – curry. I tried it and loved it; it is not overpowering.
Marin French Cheese Company has a new Brie with a garlic-free version of everything-but-the-bagel seasoning and it’s wonderful!
Firehook was there with their classic gourmet cracker flavors (sea salt, rosemary sea salt, garlic & thyme and so on). The company produces the best organic Mediterranean-style cracker that has just a handful of ingredients and nothing artificial. Firehook has a new dill-flavored cracker and it is fantastic. If you have not tried Firehook, you need to. These crackers are insanely good.
Eventually, all good things come to an end and so my husband, a friend and I all waddled out of the convention hall and into our car. I left feeling completely full and inspired by all the new products I tasted.
Ube GoudaTasting Ube GoudaCreamy Maytag Blue Really Fresh-Tasting JamsGoat Cheeses from Cypress Farm Including the Dutch Sheep Gouda Lamb ChopperEnglish Cheeses from SomerdaleEnglish Cheddar with Pumpkin Spice Plate from My Cheese Pairing ClassGreat Resource for Those Interested in Learning More Fun Display at the ExpoCalifornia Cheeses for ClassHam Tasting Class Red Pepper Jelly from My Cheese Pairing ClassHumboldt Fog CheeseMixture of Olives & Red Peppers from My Cheese Pairing ClassJose Andres Chocolate with a Hint of Cinnamon
Every year, the Hotel Del Coronado puts up an impressive Christmas tree in the hotel’s main lobby. This year’s theme is the Wizard of Oz. In addition, to the tree in the lobby, the hotel set up multiple trees in the courtyard. Each of the smaller tree represents a character from the Wizard of Oz.
I have always loved visiting the Hotel Del Coronado. First, the hotel is an elegant Victorian hotel built in 1888. The hotel is painted white with a red roof and is known for its iconic large circular ballroom. Second, the surrounding town is beautiful. Coronado is a charming and elegant beach town with a small-town feel. The beach is the most beautiful beach in all of San Diego. Third, one of my favorite movies, Some Like It Hot, with Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon was filmed at the hotel in 1958. Billy Wilder directed the film and the Del Coronado filled in for a Floridian resort.
Finally, as a history buff, I love that the Prince of Wales, subsequently known as King Edward for a brief period of time, visited San Diego in 1920 and stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado. The hotel hosted an elaborate gala for the occasion. The Del Coronado still has the menu and some of the special China used for the dinner on display.
Normally, the hotel is extremely busy during the holiday season. However, due to heavy rain on New Year’s Day, the town of Coronado and the hotel were quiet. We were able to enjoy the Christmas decorations without anyone else around.
Main Lobby Christmas Tree with Wizard of Oz Theme Close-Up of Lobby Tree with TotoMain Lobby Main Lobby Elevator at Lobby Interior View of Front DoorsReception Desk Close-Up of Original Room Keys at Reception Desk Main Hallway Off the Lobby with Historic Photos Historic Framed Photos at the Hotel Stained-Glass Windows Near the Reception Desk Interior View of the Front DeskThere’s No Place Like Home TreeDorthy’s TreeCowardly Lion TreeTin Man TreeScarecrow TreeInterior Courtyard Back Exterior of Hotel Front Exterior Photo of Stained-Glass Window Exterior View of Front DoorsFront Entrance & Valet Parking Famous Dome Roof Famous Done RoofExample of Lobby Stained Glass Windows Built in 1888 – the Hotel Became an Historic Landmark in 1977Front Porch Downstairs Cafe & Market
