My Kind of Canvas

This is my idea of a perfect Saturday.

This preceded by a colossal pancake breakfast, of course.

Have a beautiful weekend.

x
        

Fun Food Friday

Ah, Friday...

Whether you separate your M&M's into groups based on color and let them wage battles against each other, or place orange slices over your eyes to give rise to citrus goggles, there is no finer day to play with your food than Friday.

A few tasty ways to serve up some fun.

Disclaimer: I accept zero responsibility for the fun and havoc that ensues

Pedal-driven snacktasties

dip and go nutty

Take a Sharpee to the dirty dozen and align your newly formed egg platoon

carve art into your fruitbits 

add a few drops of food coloring to your pasta 

Hang the clothes out to dry

Get out the cookie cutters for fun fruit shapes

Prepare a crabby, beachside snackfix

Enjoy a few Waka-Waka cookies

Fluffy, spun sugar is always a surefire choice 

Enjoy the teeniest sandwich

Eat an Eva egg (of Wall-E fame)

Whatever you do this fine day of days,

make certain it's filled with grins and laughter,

and remember you are never too old to play with your food.

Happy Friday

x

        

Irish Cheese and Brewtopia

Given little instruction other than to show up clothed in green and brandishing Irish themed food items, Queso Diegans from the county over gathered at the city's greatly awarded AleSmith Brewing Company for a March Cheese-up celebration.

The newly remodeled Tasting Room was the perfect setting for the scheduled Cheese and Beer tasting as Irish as a Paddy's Pig *

The tasty cheese samples kindly provided by our very own Venissimo Cheese,

and were indeed a sight to behold.

(Clockwise from top right: Tipperary Irish Cheddar, Sage Derby, Cashel Blue, Chimay).

Handmade cheeses, curds, and even a crème fraîche guacamole were in attendance along with new members and guests.

Homemade Irish Soda Bread and gorgeous veggies compliments of our lovely visitors and new friends from Slow Food Urban San Diego

Table settings were appropriately themed green.

Wes McCann's homemade brews on deck.

Queso Diegans enjoying the pre-meeting fare.

QD Officers presenting selected cheeses and brews including award-winning Alesmith brews on tap, a Dry Stout Porter created by President Chris Banker, and an Oatmeal Porter made by Member Brian Trout and Secretary Anna Kearns.

Of course, I seized the opportunity to wear my son's Jimmy Cap, tuft of red hair included.

Ah, beer and cheese are sure to please.

Perfect partners, and quite possibly a weighty threat to wine's supremacy as the cheese pairing beverage of choice.

The night's pairings included the following tasties:

Sage Derby with AleSmith X

The notes of citrus and pine from the refreshing extra pale ale were the perfect complement to the sagey and woodsy cheese.

Tipperary Irish Cheddar with Alesmith Nautical Nut Brown Ale

This ale's balanced sweet maltiness enhanced the deep, tangy cheddar with hints of fruit without adding bitterness.

Cahil Porter Cheddar with Banker's homemade Dry Stout Porter

Porter + Porter = Win Win

Chimay with AleSmith Grand Cru

Pairing Belgian styles was a smashing success. Those Trappist Monks sure have perfected the fruits of their labor!

Cashel Irish Blue with Trout and Kearn's homemade Oatmeal Stout

The stout's dark, roasty, with a touch malty sweetness was a perfect companion to the creamy, spicy blue.

Nobody goes hungry here!

For a complete list of the evening's pairings and for additional beer and cheese pairing tips visit:

http://quesodiego.org/

Green cheese and brown bottled ale love to allofyous!

* Irish as a Paddy's Pig - I'm not entirely certain what this means, but it sounds Irish enough, aye?

x

        

Craft Beer Madness Championship Round!

We're down to the wire ladies and gentlemen beer aficionados!

Yes, here in San Diego, California (aka paradise and The Napa Valley of Fine Brew),
the Craft Beer Madness Championship round is set for tonight at

The Range Kitchen and Cocktails!

I'll be on deck on the judges panel to watch your favorite local San Diego brews fight to the death for the honor of being your local favorite.

$20 flights for a go at all 8 of the final contenders, percentage of proceeds to fund to not one, but two meals with
Feeding America!  

Everybody Wins!

Don't miss the bracketed taste off finals at this evening's Southern Californian Beervana.

Taste off begins at 5:30pm

See you in the glass box!

x

        

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting

I saw the sun peek out from behind those gloomy 

cloudscapes this morning,

 rearing its head, bearing its soul,

ready to shine a beaming smile upon us.

Set a good intention for yourself today.

Make certain to follow through as you bask 

in the warm glow of the big star in the sky.

Or just catch your own sunshine

 x

         

Time for Craft Beer Madness!

Come out and watch your favorite San Diego craft brews fight to the death for the honor of being your local favorite!

Details here:

I'll be joining John Reis of Rocket From the Crypt fame (and owner of North Park's Bar Pink), and John Carder, CEO of MOGL, on the judge's panel for the Championship Round!

MOGL has kindly offered to buy a beer to anyone who signs up!

Taste off begins at 5:30!

You don't want to miss this brew ha-ha 

x
         

Picnic magnificent

What a day for a daydream

Friday Happies to you, and you.

x