Tableau Vivante

And Tableau Vivante looked upon the porch and said, “Let there be tomatoes.” And upon finding a variety that would cope well with intense afternoon sun, there were thus laid down tomatoes. And Tableau Vivante looked upon the patio, noticed the tomatoes, and declared, “You can’t have tomatoes without BASIL!” And lo, the patio made basil. A lot of it. But one can never have too much basil. So Tableau Vivante watered the basil, smited the cabbage worms that found it tasty, and declared it good. Oh so very very good.

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One of the reasons I’ve not been taking pictures at the markets was because I was missing my favorite lens. I had lent it to someone and finally got it back yesterday (woohoo!). In the meantime I had been trying to shoot with another wide angle, but it just wasn’t the same. I’ve been spoiled forever, it seems.

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Creme Fraiche that is. Those are mini egg salad sandwiches up there, but I can’t stand making my egg salad with mayo - tastes like egg on top of egg with oil to me. So I use creme fraiche or a light sour cream instead. That and some salt and dill make for a really tasty egg salad sandwich. Also pictured: some Trader Joe’s Puffed Potato Chips, blueberries, peaches, cucumbers, and orange bell peppers. Egg salad, while tasty, can stink up the box and thus the neighboring foods. The little side dishes were wrapped in saran as were the chips. Everything tastes as it should and is 100% California - even the creme fraiche.  I love my state.

Wow. Time really does fly. I look back on the past few weeks since I last posted and think to myself, dang, where you been, girl?! The answer is everywhere but here. Work is the main culprit. My life outside work is a close second. Did manage some wine tastings at some Malibu vineyards this past weekend (yes, they do exist). The markets are bursting with, well, almost everything. The camera has been left at home the past few trips because it’s been too hot for dilly dallying and…I’m lazy. For a partial penance, here are some grapes that will be Malibu wine in a few years time…

More postings to come!

Between Epcot’s Italy and Germany pavillions lies nestled a miniature European town planted like a bonsai forest, alive with dwarf species of all real, living trees.

It’s similar, but not quite as grand, as the scenery in a ride at Disneyland.  As native Southern Californians with season passes, my wife and I visit Storybook Village several times a year.  I’ve always wanted one.

We live in a townhome with no proper yard.  There’s a patio, but the planter space is limited.  A miniature garden, then, seemed like just the thing…

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Epcot stays open an hour later than the parks, making it just right to head on over to for eats after the amusements close.  With at least one restaurant in each of the World Showcase’s eleven country pavillions, the place is fertile ground for foodies of all stripes.

Having tasted at their booth earlier, I was interested in further exploring the cuisine of Morocco.  Lucky for me, my wife had booked us a reservation that night at the Restaurant Marrakesh.

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When last I’d left the Festival, I was working my way west along the Mediterranean, having gotten as far as the boot of Italy.  Upon my return to the region this ninth day of our trip, I trekked further still along that route all the way out to Epcot’s representative for the Iberian peninsula.

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Today’s lunch is nice and summery - black plums, cucumbers, blueberries, white nectarines (which are pure heaven…NOM), orange bell peppers, sesame studded onigiri, and a leftover mini teriyaki cheeseburger from last night’s psuedo dinner party. It was good eatin’ all around. Kind of kicking myself for not bringing a couple of the mini-chocolate muffins I made yesterday though - aching for some chocolate about now.