The Scoop on Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream at Creamistry

"Life is like an ice cream cone, enjoy it before it melts away."
—Dennis Augustine

On a hot day like today, 81° here in Northern California (yesterday it was 94°, “we all scream for ice cream.”
Remember that poet getting on in years who said, “If I had it to do over again I would eat more ice cream…?
I’m with her, why wait and have regrets, unless of course you’re a diabetic, and even then there are choices.

One of the newer kids on the block in customized handcrafted fresh ice cream using Liquid Nitrogen is Creamistry. It’s a play on words: Chemistry and Creamery. The rapid freezing process (—321° Fahrenheit) provides the smoothest, richest and creamiest frozen delight. They call their servers “Creamologists.” Yes, I know it sounds like you're at your dermatologist's office. 

Part of the fun of liquid nitrogen ice cream shops, is watching your ice cream being made. When liquid nitrogen is mixed with your ice cream base, it makes the air around it very cold. This creates fumaroles of white fog that engulfs your Creamologist behind the counter top and plexiglass panel. It makes you feel like you are on the movie set of Star Trek. Beam me up Scotty! Cecile and I had fun watching and being part of a group of customers snapping photos with our cell phone cameras of this interesting phenomenon. It’s a great place to take your kids and grandkids. 

Once the fog clears, your freshly made ice cream is whisked away to the toppings bar where its adorned with your choice of toppings. They use all natural, organic ingredients and boast over 70 flavors and toppings. There are rich Vegan alternatives and Nitro shakes on the menu of choices.

We tried our first Creamstry delight in Palm Dessert. But there is one located in downtown Palo Alto with a national roll out under way as we speak.

Liquid nitgrogen has been around forever. As we learned in our science studies, Nitrogen is part of the Periodic Table bearing the symbol N and atomic number 7. I used it to freeze off warts in my clinic when I was a practicing podiatrist and many other surgeons use it to elminate cancerous cells. 

Besides making ice cream, liquid nitrogen which comes in pressurized tanks and vacuum flasks, has been used in the food and beverage service industry to displace oxygen from the package of let’s say your favorite potato chips, before it is sealed. It’s the presence of moisture that deteriorates the food quality.

The Culinary Institute of America instituted a major in culinary science. As part of obtaining their degree, students learn how to use liquid nitrogen as a coolant to not only make a smoother batch of ice cream, but to freeze strawberries in liquid nitrogen and then smash them to produce strawberry dust that could be sprinkled over a dessert. It is also used in the kitchen to flash-freeze herbs or alcohol. Bartenders use it to supercool your glass giving it a sophisticated dramatic-looking vapor.

Brunch and Bonding Time with my son Jason at the Bell Tower Cafe'

This charming Saratoga neighborhood eatery near downtown is housed in a converted historic church that dates back to 1896.
And, in spite of its religious heritage you don’t have to pray that the food you are about to be served is good. It “is” good. The white egg Persian Omelette with four organic eggs, basil, tomatoes and feta cheese is one of my favorites. Jason had the California Omelette.
The Cafe’ sports three patios with optional fresh-air dining that is peaceful and serene and welcomes and accomodates dogs. They are only open for breakfast and American-style lunch, including an assortment of tasty desserts showcased in their bakery display case. The Cafe’ is known for quick and friendly service and the freshest of ingredients.
I couldn’t resist ringing one of the 9 antique bells on the iron stand in the quaint reception nook as patrons waited for their names to be called.
While pausing half way through our meal, I saw a sign on the wall which read, “The Fondest Memories are made Gathered around the Table,” and, all I can think of was how nice it was to have my son back in the Bay Area.

The Baby Boomer, The Millennial, & J. Crew's CEO:

Cecile and I had a party to go to in honor of Michelle and Kyle. “Dress casual,” she said. Music to my ears, I thought. After all, my favorite wardrobe these days is Lululemon yoga wear. Don’t knock it, until you try it, guys. It’s like wearing PJs all day.
I compromized. I put on a blue Lululemon shirt, a pair of blue jeans and a grey J Crew Outfitter pullover sweater with a half zip that my fashion conscious son Jason had given me for Christmas last year. There was an unseasonable chill in the air at the pre-dinner backyard cocktail party at the Metrulas family home, and I praised myself for selecting the right choice of clothing to wear.

Suddenly, I noticed our young friend, Noel motion with his fingers to his chest and then then pointing to my chest. I realized this was men’s speak for, “Dude we are wearing the same sweater.” I’m sure this has happend to almost everyone at one time or another, when you suddenly realize that someone is wearing the exact same oufit as you. 
As fate would have it, we were seated across from each other. A Millennial and an aging “Baby Boomer,” with over 30 years between us, sitting there like two book ends. Noel’s fiancee, Kacy, a psychiatry resident at Stanford said, “You look like twins,” as she smiled micheviously. In the end, Noel and I were pretty cool about it, laughing about it in fact, as we partied on. After all, we didn’t have to worry about the late Joan RIvers of the Fashion Police getting on our case for confusing the public. 

After a few days went by, I got this brainstorm to email J. Crew Chairman and CEO Millard “Mickey” Drexler. Really, no lie! In fact, I discovered that he had extended an invitation to J. Crew customers to give him feedback on the companies e-commerce site. So I did. I told him about the party, how Noel and I were dressed alike in our J Crew sweaters. The one observation I had made about their website was that it markets to a much younger crowd, and one market they were overlooking was more mature dudes like myself.

He promptly wrote back: “Hi Dennis, hope everthing is well—thanks so much for your email—totally agree with your comments and we’re actually working on showing more people of different ages...who do in fact wear our clothes or ‘should be wearing our clothes'…Have a great weekend!" Best, Mickey. 

Whoops, I need to go. Noel and I have a photoshoot with GQ:-)

Couples Wedding Shower Honoring Our daughter Michelle & her Husband to Be—Kyle Lewis

The Setting: Home of Kyle’s cousin Lynn and husband Pete Metrulas who graciously hosted the event at their home. A lot of love went into the planning and execution of this party. They went beyond the call of duty.
With the help of Kyle's mom, Kim, stepdad AL and others, They transformed the inside of their historical home dating back to the 1800s into a cozy banquet room for family and friends to celebrate the made-for-each other couple. Cocktails were served in the back yard below which Steven’s Creek literally runs through the back of the homes in the neighborhood. The sound of the rushing water added to the ambience of what turned out to be a fun evening of great food, games like Name That Tune, and gift opening by the future newlyweds. 
Dearest Michelle and Kyle. May you continue to be a gift and a blessing to each other. We can’t wait for the big event in Napa when you officially take your marital vows. We Love You.

Dining at Cafe' Figaro with Jason and Michelle at a Price we Couldn't Refuse

Located on Broadway in downtown Burlingame, this four star rated restaurant serves authentic homemade Italian cuisine. It has a warm and cozy neighborhood feel resembling the ones I frequent when visiting family in New Jersey.

The word Figaro always intrigued me as a kid. It is best known as the name of Mister Geppeto and Pinocchio’s pet cat and refers to a cartoon mouse who incessantly teases the cat by singing “Figaro,” inside the wall. In fact to some, the word Figaro repeated over and over again, means you are “pretending” to sing opera-like I did when I was a kid: “figaro, figaro, fiiiigaaaroh!"

To opera buffs, Figaro is the name of an adroit, scheming, intriguing Spanish barber who appears in in eighteenth-century operas like “The Marriage of Figaro,” by Mozart and the “Barbers of Sevile," by Rossini.

By arrangements with Travelzoo, Cafe’ Figaro gave us a deal we couldn’t refuse. Dinner for four was priced at $115, or 50% off their regular price. If interested the offer is good thru September 2017. It included a glass of wine each; two shared appetizers up to $18.95; 4 entrees up to $34.95 each and two shared desserts up to $16.95.

We began our meal with crusty bread with herb infused balsamic and olive oil dipping sauce; Mussels steamed in garlic, wine, fresh tomato and basil; and the Antipasto Misto. For our main course we enjoyed Spaghetti alla Bolognese; Chicken Parmesan, Gamberi alla Mediterranea, and the fresh fish of day. Last but not least we enjoyed two shared desserts: Flourless decadent chocolate cake and Bread Pudding with maple brandy sauce and creme anglaise.

The waiters were delightful and engaging, the service was impeccable and the food was deliciously good. John Walters said: The only thing I like better than talking about food is eating.” Or as my late beloved Sicilian mother used to say before every meal: Buon Appetito!

Beggars & Panhandlers: To Give or Not to Give to, that is the Question?

As I've grown older I give mindfully and more often, leading with my heart rather than the judgmental mind, knowing that it's a 50/50 proposition whether the person I encounter has a genuine or legitimate need. That being said, I understand why people are hesitant to give.

We've all seen the soggy side of a cardboard sign with the scrawled message that reads,” Hungry and Homeless, Anything Helps,” or "Kindness is Karma, please help!" There's even a phrase for it, “Flying a sign.” The message is often creative, poignant, heart-rending, inspirational, and sometimes downright funny enough to part you from your money. It is done quickly, silently and without transgressing any local statutes against agressive
panhandling. The intent is to make us feel guilty and uncomfortable, reminding us,“ But for the grace of God go I.”

When Cecile and I were in SF recently, we came across two such people. The first one was a young woman and her well groomed cat that was entertaining pedestrians by doing a downward facing cat yoga pose—on the fly, balancing itself on it's owner's head and shoulder. Since we were both walking briskly in opposite directions, I hadn’t noticed she was clutching a tightly rolled-up wad of cash in her left hand until after I saw the photo.
The other was a strung out crack addict with all her front teeth missing sitting in the doorway of an abandoned buildling with an innocent dog sleeping on her nap. I didn’t take her photo as it seemed too exploitive, but this one pulled on our heartstrings so we gave her some cash.

For some people who encounter this situation it creates sympathy for the homeless and for others a total lack of empathy. The ACLU has advocated for the rights of sign-flyers across the country. Their argument is that “we the public,” can choose to give to the beggars and pandhandlers or not. On a good day they can make a daily wage of $30-$40 a day, not exactly a windfall, but enough to get by.

But windfalls are possible. A few years ago a reporter for the New York Post wrote about a guy in the second photo who called himself Noah (aka Joseph Ramos, 64 at the time)—because he set up a miniature Noah’s Ark on the upper East Side of NYC to draw in patrons. He invited them to take photos. He had two cats, two dogs, and three guinea pigs and was raking in $40-$50 an hour. Yes, an hour—this is no typo! After having been addicted to alcohol and crack cocaine for 16 years, he claimed to have found God. ASPCA spokesmen said agents invesitgating complaints by some passersbye found no evidence of cruelty or abuse and after inspecting the pets, deemed them to be healthy.

Most panhandlers or beggars like Noah clearly have issues: a history of drugs and alcohol abuse and/or mental illness. Some are just scam artists who don’t want to work a 9 to 5 job.
You can’t always tell who is trully needy, so what does one do?

Last February Pope Francis was asked by a reporter for the Catholic News Service if giving money to beggars was proper since they may spend it on alcohol or drugs. His response was that we should ask ourselves what we “do on the sly?” What happiness do we “seek in secret.” The Holy Father added: “giving to someone in need, “is always right,” and should be done with respect and compassion. In the end, everyone must work out this moral dilemma for themselves. 
credits: 
1-Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service, February 28, 2017
2-NY Post Metro section by Kate Briquelet June 10, 2012

We Found Our Favorite HeARTS ❤️❤️ in San Francisco & Showy Flowers Too

After Cecile returned a dress at Nordstrom's and we had lunch at the Cafe Bistro, we strolled in and around Union Square. We saw the ever present cable cars, colorful flowers like the showy Yellow Trumpet Vine. We also saw the Heart Sculpture exhibit in Union Square Park, including Tony Bennet's America's "Greatest City By The Bay." HEARTS in SF is an annual public art installation that began in 2004 by the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation. The choice of hearts was inspired by the Tony Bennet* song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Each year these sculptures are painted by different artists at various locations around the city including Union Square. They are then auctioned off at the end of the year. As of 2013, Ten million dollars had been raised for the foundation. The one with the Asian motif was our favorite. We feel so blessed to be only 60 miles away from one of the most colorful cities in the world.

*Postscript: Born Antonio Dominick Benedetto, Tony Bennett is a national treasure. He is not only one of the great legends in Jazz and popular music who served his country during the Second World War, but is an accomplished artist. A man of great humility, he admits to having made "mistakes," in his life. He lives joyously in the present and is revered by a younger generation of performers. Cecile and I had the pleasure of seeing him perform in New York after his book: Life Is a Gift: The Zen of Bennet was published in 2012. We have an autographed copy.

Celebrating our 40th Wedding Anniversary at the Plumed Horse Restaurant

Last evening we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary at The Plumed Horse, on Big Basin Way, nestled in the Santa Cruz foothills in Saratoga, CA that has been in existence since 1952. When Cecile and I were younger we used to take our son Jason and daughter Michelle to this well known dining establishment to celebrate special family events. Around 2007 a group of new owners injected ten million dollars worth of renovations. Since that time it has transformed itself into a Michelin star rated restaurant for its attentive staff, elegant contemporary decor, outsized three story wine cellar with glass floor, arched barrel ceiling with shimmering Venetian plaster, and impressive sumptuous California-inspired cuisine. They have an IPAD wine list, Chihuly-like fiberoptic chandeliers that change colors and the ambiance, and comfortable seating. Patrons get a glimpse of the white-coated cooks bustling about the modern kitchen framed in by doors inset with glass. There is even a chef’s table of eight where diners can view them in action as if you were on the TV set of Top Chef.

Joining us in the celebration were Jason, Michelle, her fiance’ Kyle, his mom Kim and stepdad AL who have become dear friends. When I retired many years ago we pretty much gave up on fancy restaurants except for very special occasions, mostly due to the strict dress code back in the day that including a jacket and tie. Those restrictions have since been lifted and smart casual is now in vogue. 

As it turns out, the very capable and affable waiter assigned to our table was Joseph Karakas, the son of a former Matre Di of the Plumed Horse, Mark Karakas who used to serve us before he moved on to run the Mountain Winery and then partnering with a friend on other ventures.
All good things must come to an end, and after three hours of gastronomic bliss, decadent desserts including a banana and cream anniversary cake from the popular Icing on the Cake bakery, compliments of Kim and Al, we all hugged and said our goodbyes. As we were about to make our exit from this storybook setting, a couple at a nearby table got our attention and congratulated Cecile and I on reaching our 40th year milestone. They told us they were celebrating 7 years of marriage, and the couple next to them said they were celebrating 11 years. “Hmmm 7 and 11,” I thought. What are their odds? They looked happy, hopeful and after meeting us, perhaps inspired about the prospects of a long and happy marriage. We wished them well and left the Plumed Horse contented as we approach the final stretch.

Happy 40th Anniversary to my Beloved Cecile-A Modern Day Love Story!

Every married couple has a story to tell about how they first met. In 1972 I was employed at a local supermarket while attending medical school in Chicago and an elder teacher who came in for groceries encouraged me to attend a student party. Cecile and her sister Sherry attended the same party accompanied by blind dates. After a full day of classes, five hours of weighing produce and mopping the floors until 9 PM, this was the “last” place I wanted to be—until I met my future bride. My first impression of Cecile was that I had met someone very special. We spoke of our love for Italy and relived the old world charm of the towns we had visited, the people, my Sicilian relatives, the open air cafes, the pasta and of course the Italian gelato. We held each others gaze the entire evening as if we were the only ones in the room. We agreed to meet for dinner one evening and over time a warm and deep relationship developed between us. She was there for me when I had nothing but a burning ambition to become a successful doctor. Her love and faith in our relationship had been strong enough to leave her job as a teacher and close family ties in Chicago to join me in moving to California in 1975. Two years later we were married. They say marriage is a point of no return, but if I could turn the back the clock, I would still choose to love and marry her in a heartbeat. After 45 years of being together and 40 years of marriage, I am happy to say I love her more than ever and am grateful to still have her by my side.

Cecile, I know we will never forget the day our 300 pound safe was stolen from our last place of residence. As you know three of the many prized possesions that were taken were our 18 karat gold wedding bands and a Tanzanite ring I brought back for you during my travels to East Africa. It was quite a loss but we still had each other, our wonderful children Jason and Michelle and our little Maltese-Lily.

And, as far as losses go, Rumi, the great 13th century mystic once said, “Anything you lose comes back around in another form.” With this in mind, I bought you a new Tanzanite ring to commemorate our 40th anniversary and the renewal of our wedding vows. With this ring I thee wed.❤️

Postscript: Tanzanite is a rare gem discovered by a Masai tribesman deep in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

P.S. Dearest Jason and Michelle, thanks so much for the beautiful photo of your mom and me that was taken in 1974 by a friend that you had stylized, enlarged and framed. It would have otherwise been lost in the family archives. We love you.

Visiting A Serene Vietnamese Monk Under House Arrest at his Temple In Ho Chi Minh City

Anthony Bourdain of the CNN hit travelogue series, “Parts Unknown” said, “going to Vietnam the first time was life-changing for sure; maybe because it was all so new and different to my life before and the world I grew up in. The food, culture, landscape and smell; they’re all inseparable.” I share Bourdain’s view. Vietnam is an extraordinary place to visit and it’s people welcoming. But there is a dark underbelly that few travelers are aware of—the continuous persecution and oppression of certain monks.

When I went to Vietnam in 2004 with my son Jason, I visited the Venerable Thich Vien Dinh, the brother of a real estate broker named Truman, with whom I once had some real estate business dealings. Truman left Vietnam in 1984. His brother, whom he hasn’t seen in 32 years is the Superior Buddhist monk of two temples. One, in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), and, the other—a large 800 year old temple in Binh Dinh province in the countryside surrounded by farmland in the middle of Vietnam. During the Buddhist “Renaissance” movement in the 1920s, it was one of the most important training centers for monks and nuns.

When I visited him in his temple in Saigon as seen in the photo, he was under house arrest, but you wouldn’t know it by his calm and serene demeanor. His only crime was that he belonged to the United Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) and not the Vietnam Buddhist Church (VBC) under control of the Communist Party. I later learned that I was being watched; followed back to my Hotel; and copies of the photos I sent back to Dinh were confiscated. They also asked him how much money I donated to the Temple. While there I was introduced to Truman’s sister who he also hasn’t seen for 32 years. She cooked for the 40 monks who resided there including a secret mole spying on behalf of government officials.

Now, 13 years later on the Festival of Tet (Vietnamese New Year), Truman informed me that his brother is still under house arrest by the government but is permitted to live in his countryside temple, where he is very happy and peaceful. Through peaceful resistance and sheer political will, he is still leader of the United Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV).

A Peaceful Sanctuary in and Unlikely Place

We arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday at 5:30 PM and checked into the MGM Grand to celebrate my birthday which officially is August 26. 

We took a walk toward Caesar's Palace. I wasn’t quite ready yet for the frenetic pace Vegas is known for. We ate a light dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and afterwards my wife Cecile suggested we go to Serendipity 3 for their famous Frozen Hot Chocolate dessert we first encountered many years ago at Serendipity’s in NYC. It is such a coveted guilty pleasure that even the late Jackie Kennedy asked the creator for the recipe for a White House function.
But it is here where the story takes an unexpected twist. While Cecile was placing our order I turned around and spotted a Brahma Shrine tucked away in an unlikely place, between the Roman Plaza and Serendipity 3. It is a replica of the Brahman Shrine at the Erawan Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, similar to those I had seen during my many travels & meditation retreats in Southeast Asia. In fact this extraordinary four sided shrine was actually created in Thailand and installed under the supervision of Buddhist monks. The shrine is “renowned throughout the Far East to people of all faiths as a place of prayer.”

As I lit the incense stick to make an offering at the altar of the shrine, the pleasant scent brought me to a peaceful meditative state and suddenly all the noise of the Las Vegas strip vanished. 

Like Life, a Waterfall is Always on the Move and There is Always an Uneven Flow to it

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Powerful rain storms continued to wallop Northern California this week, increasing water storage levels in our reservoirs not seen in many years, and forcing dam operators to release water to reduce flood risk. There were flash flood warnings in low lying areas and power outages two nights in a row in the gated community where we live.

Awhile back, some of you who live locally took my advice to visit the Vasona Dam Spillway when the cascading waterfalls surged 10 feet high. Yesterday, the surge was over 20 feet height and 30 feet wide. Before I realized it, a vaporous veil of mist overtook me. I was drenched from head to toe—and loving it. The roar of the turbulent waters was so great I could feel its powerful vibration. Like life, a waterfall is always on the move and there is always an uneven flow to it. I met a Vietnamese immigrant who barely spoke English but we had no problem communicating, agreeing to take each others photo while celebrating this graceful moment in time and space with a fellow human being.

Today, at long last, the sun came out. I took our niece Annabel, a University of Michigan senior student, visiting us from Ann Arbor, MI to 8 AM yoga class. Afterward, sharing the experience of the waterfall with her. The fury and intensity of the surge had eased, but was more accessible, less perilous and still amazing to witness.