Author: melisajohnson

President Bush Luncheon

Today is the day that all the hard work Cecil and his office have put in will pay off.  Mom and Dad left early this morning to fly down and pick up President Bush.  They have a very strict time table they have to follow all day, every move is carefully planned.  It makes you have to wonder when his life will go back to normal or if it ever will?

We are up and getting ready as up do for a lunch at 7 am…  we have to be there at 10 am and have to get through security both outside and inside the hotel before.

In such a small town I am so surprised that they were able to keep his visit a secret until about two days ago!  I imagine now there will be people outside looking to get in to see the former President.

by Categories: Kansas Leave a comment

Garden City

We had a good lunch at the hotel with a bit of the family- Mom, Dad, Cecil, Frances, Chrisy, Conner, Linkin, Erica, Dan, Robbie and Sarah.  
 After lunch on Sunday we went up to Cecil and France’s house for a bit.  I am not sure Richard had ever seen so many dolls!  

In the evening Chrisy and the boys came out to my parents house.  After quite a bit of convincing we  got Conner to go with my dad and Richard to check the cattle.  I don’t think Richard knew he was going to get to jump out of the car to chase a baby calf!  Conner was very concerned that dad and Richard were going to get hurt and that a cow was going to get into the car as they left the door open!   I have to say Mom and I stayed home and hung out with Linkin.  We may have missed the excitement, but it was much warmer in the house! 
by Categories: Kansas Leave a comment

Garden city

It was a bit chilly this morning and trying to rain, but we ventured out on a little walk. First we went up to my grandparents house. Not much has changed other than a new fence.

After that we walked to target for some Sunday morning shopping, which is rare as in cayman everything is closed on Sunday. 
We finished up with a cup of hot tea for the chilly walk back to the hotel. 
by Categories: Kansas Leave a comment

Late Birthday Dinner

Every year for my birthday we go to Eric Ripert’s Blue at the Ritz Carlton for the seven course tasting menu.  Of course we also have the wine parings to go along!

 A few pre-dinner nibbles.  I don’t remember exactly what they were, but they were amazing.  On the far left was tuna, in the center was salmon and on the right was really good at well, but I can’t remember what it was!

 

 A grilled octopus
This has to be one of my favorite foods ever!  Tuna-Foie Gras.  It is local tuna somehow cut paper thin on top of a toasted baguette with a thin layer of foie gras.  Finally finished off with chives.
This was paired with a glass of Chateau De Bligny, Brut, Champagne, France, NV

 

The second course was good, but not my favorite.  It was shrimp tartare, with avocado and a shrimp-ginger emulsion.
This was paired with Pazo De Senorans, Albarina, Rias Baixas, Galicia, Spain 2012

 

Next we had an amazing scallop, probably the best we have ever had.  The scallop was served with turnips, maitake mushrooms and an amazing smoked butter.
This was paired with a glass of Domaine Huet, “Le Mont”, Sec, Vouvray, Loire Valley, France, 2011
 Richard enjoying some time between courses
 The fourth course was a poached halibut with an amazing corn chowder. The halibut just melted in your mouth!
It was paired with a Sandhi, Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, California 2012
 We loved the wine glasses this wine was paired with!
 The 5th course was a pan seared striped bass with calamari, espelette pepper jam, sauce basquaise
This was paired with Chateau Loudenne, Medoc, Bordeaux, France, 2006.  This was one paring we didn’t actually get until we incorporated the pepper jelly, once we did that the pairing was perfect.
The last fish course was Monk fish and I have to say I didn’t like this course.  It was pan seared with fingerling potatoes, baby shi take and a red wine ginger jus.
It was paired with a Abbazia Di Novacella, Largein, Alto Adige, Italy, 2010
We had an extra little treat before the final course.  I chocolate brownie was in the bottom of this egg with a cream and topped with sea salt, shaved chocolate and a macadamia nut.
 We finished the night off with a Praline cake, peanuts and a mango sorbet.
This was paired with a Blandy’s 10 year Madeira, Portugal- which I really didn’t like.

 

 

Of course I got my to go treats that I enjoyed this morning with my tea!
by Categories: Cayman Leave a comment

Not so great time

While we had a great day in Miami and we were  happy to get a business class upgrade for free  from Miami to London, unfortunately that is where the fun ended.

We arrived in London on time, showered and had breakfast before heading into London. The major problem was I got sick in the plane after I woke up, so I was not feeling the best. Arrived at the hotel and dropped our bags.  It is actually only a block from the tube stop so really nice location. We had about 3 goals for the day and we failed miserably and got lost several times!
First in the agenda was the lulu store as they carry a different line than the U.S. Well it pretty much is the same. Stopped for lunch in a pub and I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with light sauce thinking it would be good for my stomach. It was ok on the stomach but had no taste!
Then onto look for my shoes the doctor recommended- Harrods was listed as a retailer. Unfortunately not anymore. They then told us of 2 other stores- one was miles away on the tube, the other by Marble Arch, so we headed to that one. We also made the great decision to walk, which is when Richard got cold… and it started to rain. Of course when you want a coffee shop you can never find one!  All day it was in the 50’s with a light mist, so wonderful weather!  Several hours later we finally find the store only to discover they are closed!  We then go to my favorite shop to gets some ink pens- they are closed for renovations. Finally Richard needed some face cream- the store no longer carries it…
Finally after all of that we decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel. Richard had a nice long bath and I took a nap before a light dinner and an early bed time.
Let’s hope the rest of the week goes better!
by Categories: London Leave a comment

Island life

I ran across this today and I have to say this is very true!

15 Odd Ways Island People Behave Elsewhere

When you first move to an island, there are so many things to adjust to. You learn what it’s like to live with a cistern, that the presence of roaches does not necessarily indicate a state of filth, and that you must patiently wait, wait a little bit longer, and then wait some more.
And then one day it happens without you even noticing – you become an island life champ. Island life gets into your blood, and if you’re like many of us, you’re forever changed. It’s not something you think about, it’s just something you are now. It’s just life.
That is, until one day, you take a trip off-island and BOOM. Just like that, you realize: Nope, I’m definitely not normal anymore. At least not normal in the realm of most people’s normal. You’re a new kind of normal. And all of a sudden, you find it really hard to try and integrate back into the old “normal” world.
Here are 15 Odd Ways We Islanders Behave Elsewhere, in no particular order:
–  1  –
You are consistently confused by proper toilet usage in both businesses and individual’s homes. Does your used TP go in the can or in the bowl? Should your yellow mellow?
–  2  –
You are always cold. Indoors… outdoors… it’s frickin’ freezin’ to you.
–  3  –
You overtip in ridiculous percentages because you are so bowled over by how amazing the customer service you’re receiving is. The waitress smiled at me AND refilled my water before I was dying of thirst, you think to yourself. Is 30% gratuity even enough for such royal treatment? 
–  4  –
Sadly, it’s been so long since you’ve been able to properly recycle, the rules are now overwhelming to you. Each time you must throw something away, you stand in front of the line of trash bins for way too long, puzzling over where you should toss your paper coffee cup with its plastic lid that still has some liquid in it.
–  5  –
You have an inability to keep your shoes on. #freethetoes
–  6  –
The sheer amount of people in a mall is enough to ignite a near anxiety attack.
Where the hell did they all come from?
–  7  –
No matter how many times your friends insist, you simply cannot shower with the water running, as the sound of free flowing water for so long stresses you out to your very core. Navy showers are the way of our people.
–  8  –
You are constantly exclaiming, “I can’t believe how cheap this is!!” Food, body lotion, basic services – everything seems to be on a half off sale compared to what you’ve been paying. Well, everything except liquor.
–  9  –
You walk around public places like the town’s mayor, greeting everyone you see with a “Good morning/day/night” salutation followed with an ernest “How are you today?” People look at you with suspicion, and you remind yourself to stop acting like a buffoon. But then minutes later, there you are again, standing in line at the bank, greeting everyone who walks in the door like a Holly Golightly psychopath.
–  10  –
You are obsessive about closing doors. When people stand in entryways, talking nonchalantly with the doors wide open, you usher people in or out, jutting your eyes about wildly like a red dot-fixated feline at all the invisible mosquitoes that are surely “getting inside”.
–  11  –
Your drinking habits have turned into what most people in most place consider alcoholic. You are more than a little annoyed by their judgmental stares. “What are you looking at? It’s already 9:30am and this is a screwdriver. Seriously, it’s not like it’s a martini. Everyone calm down – it’s juice.”
–  12  –
You are obnoxiously early for everything, always carrying reading material, and steeling yourself up for the long wait you anticipate ahead of you. When things consistently go along expediently, you’re surprised each time at your good fortune.
Where did all the lines go?
–  13  –
You behave like a 10 year old Hall Monitor, following people around and correcting their alarmingly wasteful power habits by turning off light switches, unplugging power strips before bed, and refusing to leave ceiling fans “on” in empty rooms. People become exasperated at you for preemptively leaving them in dark spaces.
–  14  –
Every place feels way too hermetically sealed for you. You keep feeling like you “can’t breathe” and end up wandering around parking lots, waiting for people to finish whatever they’re doing inside the building because of your urgent desire for fresh air.
–  15  –
You’re overstimulated by all the sights and activities and choices. Oh, the choices!You now deeply understand the affliction of Decision Fatigue. You need naps. Lots of naps.
by Categories: Cayman Leave a comment

Weeks prep work.

So I have got most of my prep work done for the week.  I fired up the big green egg and grilled some chicken yesterday.  Today I am going to cut up the chicken for Richard’s lunch and to make some paleo chicken salad.   While the chicken was on the grill I made some grain free banana muffins, cut up and roasted some sweet potatoes and cauliflower.  I also shredded some sweet potatoes and have them ready for my morning hash browns.  Just a few more items to get ready today and we will be ready to start the week! 
by Categories: Food Leave a comment

Lunch at Catch

We had an amazing lunch at Catch.  I was a little skeptical before we went, but I am already looking forward to going back. 

Michelle had the Home Smoked Duck Breast, Foie Gras Brulee, Sweet n Sour Figs, Arugula, which was amazing as she was kind enough to share some of the Foie Gras with me.  Richard had  some sliced local tuna, with a fried avocado, spiced unagi sauce, on wasabi greens.  It looked great, but before anyone could ask for a taste… it was gone!  I had the fresh catch ceviche which was Wahoo today.  All in all the first round was amazing.  

Next came the mains-  which were good, but probably not as great as the appetizers.  

It made for a great afternoon!     

by Categories: Cayman Leave a comment