Dinner at Kings Fish House at Westfield Valley Fair with Friends: The Ultimate Seafood Experience

Dinner at Kings Fish House at Westfield Valley Fair with Friends: The Ultimate Seafood Experience

“Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”

—Anthony Bourdain

I was always taken by this provocative and irreverent quote by Bourdain, the late celebrity chef, author, and vagabond who explored international culture, cuisine, and the human condition. Though in principle I believe the body “is" the temple of the spirit from an Eastern and Western perspective, I simply saw Bourdain’s quote as a metaphor for enjoying food from different traditions.

This past weekend Cecile and I were invited to join our friends and our travel companions Nelson and Susan Bye for dinner at Kings Fish House at San Jose’s Westfield Valley Fair Mall’s newly renovated dining district, a first time for all of us. We were seated in a tented area at the front of the restaurant with heating lamps to ease the chill in the air. As usual and gratefully, Nelson brought a bottle of California Red Wine called Eight Years in the Desert (2019) from his private collection to enjoy with our meal.

Susan ordered a hand cut Lobster Crunchy Roll with crab salad, asparagus and cucumber with a bowl of New England Clam Chowder while Cecile enjoyed Wild Eastern Sea Scallops with a side of roasted Organic Carrots and deep-fried Brussel Sprouts, Mac ploy, and bacon lardon. Nelson and I enjoyed a Macadamia Nut Crusted Wild Alaskan Halibut with orange ginger butter sauce which included two side dishes. I had Sautéed Fresh Spinach and the Brussel Sprouts. The food did not disappoint.

For dessert, our waiter—without hesitation—recommended "Butter Cake!" I was skeptical at first. I never heard of butter cake. When it was brought to our table, it was a sight to behold. From the first bite we knew this buttery moist spongy cake with vanilla ice cream, berries and fresh whipped cream was going to satify our sweet tooth.

Postscript: King Fish House in San Jose is the first Northern California concept restaurant of the acclaimed Southern California-based restaurant chain that boasts having some of the freshest seafood that is sourced directly in-house form King’s Seafood Distribution. It offers a changing menu depending on what is in season. For those who don’t eat seafood they also offer pasta dishes, filet mignon, burgers and chicken. The chic main dining room that is across from Bloomingdale’s features two awesome 300-gallon saltwater tanks, stocked with live seafood from around the globe.

A Fabulous Dinner with Friends at the New Upscale & Casual Shepherd & Sims Restaurant

“You know what’s better than blabbering about food? Yep, eating it! And, this place was worth eating at and writing about."

This past weekend, our friends Bill and Sarah Rothenberg agreed to try a new restaurant for a change-of-pace and settled on Shepherd & Sims. I know what you’re thinking, the name sounds more like a law firm than a restaurant, but don’t let that dissuade you. It is dining at its finest. The new eatery, a creation of Jim and Angelique made its’ debut last September. The couple who also operate a number of other restaurants including the Table in San Jose, Vesper cocktail lounge in Campbell and Forthright in Campbell, took over the former location of Aviva’s Restaurant, next to the neighborhood Whole Foods in Los Gatos. They transformed it into a nicely appointed restaurant with two dining sections and a full service bar. The menu had been reported to reflect the food the couple likes to eat. Jim was quoted in the Mercury news last October as saying, “We want to enjoy life and we want people to enjoy life with us.” The Stumps partnered with chef de cuisine, Robert De La Mora, to create a menu containing California ingredients infused with flavors from Mexico. The ambiance was a blend of French bistro and familiar warmth of a classic New American neighborhood eatery.

We began our culinary adventure with cocktails and beer. Sarah and Cecile ordered a lemon drop and Bill and I enjoyed a nice cold 20 oz Ruekeller Helles lager draft beer from the Bruery in Orange County, CA. We liked it so much we shared another round. The $3.00 bread service included a dollop of ricotta cheese, and Seka Hills olive oil. We also shared and order of pork pate with golden raisins, cornichon pickles, mustard seeds, lemon verbena, chive and micro greens served with toasted rustic batard bread.

Cecile and I shared a pear salad with endive frisée, candied spiced pistachios, gorgonzola dulce with burnt honey vinaigrette. Bill had a Shepherd & Sims salad that included organic lettuces, arugula, red onion, fennel, heirloom tomatoes, avocado, potatoes with a zesty red wine vinaigrette. For our entrees Sarah enjoyed Olive oil poached Spanish octopus seared on the plancha [grill], marble potatoes, green Spanish Mojo-confit [duck], heirloom cherry tomatoes, marinated avocado, and smoked paprika oil.

Cecile ordered the gruyere cheese Parisian gnocchi with wild mushrooms, madeira, creamy grand padano sauce and kale. Bill and I feasted on a sumptuous Pork Chop with Koji (fermented rice) with roasted apple, apple relish and roasted parsnip. Though I don’t eat it often this was the best pork chop I have ever eaten.

We were satisfied enough with the food that was prepared with great care and attention that we opted out on dessert. I can’t wait to return to try some of their other dinner and luncheon offerings. If I had any negative critique, I would say it was difficult to carry on a conversation during the 7:30 seating due to the echoing chatter of all the patrons and would consider an earlier seating. Other than that it was an excellent dining experience.

Granddaughter Emmy's Hot Pot Birthday Dinner Party at the Chiens

The dinnner party began with drinks for the adults and playtime with Emmy, the birthday girl, and Lyla. Our granddaughters enjoyed the play structure swings, and sliding pond Al (Pops) and Kim (Lolly) had installed for them in their spacious back yard. Emmy was also enjoying crawling on the synthetic turf, playing with the stone rabbit family, and sitting and standing on the trampoline. A traditional Chinese Hot Pot set-up adorned the dinner table consisting of raw foods ready to be cooked in the hot flavorful broth. Raw ingredients such as brocoli, tofu, halibut, shrimp, scallops and beef were available for self-cooking. The cooked pieces are then dipped in dipping sauces soy or hot sauce for additional flavor. The broth which is brought to a boil is then left simmering for the duration of the meal. It was a fun, casual way to stretch out our time together. Though hot pot is considered a main course, Al also added Chinese-style vermicelli noodles also known as glass or cellophane noodles which are transparent in into the metal cooking pot.

Cecile and I brought fresh-baked cupcakes from Marvel Cake created by Maryam Menari for dessert, one of which was set aside to place one candle in it for the birthday girl. Since Emmy is not at the age to be able to blow out the candle, our daughter clapped her hands in front of the candle to extinguish the flame, a little trick she learned from her mom. We sang Happy Birthday to Emmy and afterwards, we sat around engaged in conversation while the girls engaged if free play. I don’t expect Emmy was entirely sure what was going on or what the fuss was all about, and will not remember her first birthday but when she is older she will be able to see all the photos and know we all lovingly gathered together to celebrate her first year on this planet.

Happy Birthday Emmeline (Emmy) Lewis. We love you.

Happy First Birthday to Our Granddaughter Emmy & A Poetic Offering in her Honor

“A baby’s smile is a dancing flower of twinkling stars.”

—Apollo M.

Experts say that a baby’s voluntary smile indicates a social activity to express warmth. During crazy times like these, you need to see a baby’s smile as a reminder that there is good in this world. The photos included in this post were mostly taken recently while babysitting

Emmy.

The exception was a photo and a short video clip I took of Emmy socializing—or shall I say engaging in parallel play—with a baby named Hana in the shallow side of a kids swimming pool at the Maui Marriott Resort on Kaanapali Beach this past December during our annual family vacation. Emmy was wearing a pink sunhat that Cecile and I bought her and Hana who was wearing a long-sleeved flower print top were splashing the water in front of them with their hands. They were smiling and staring at each other as if they had known each other from a previous time.

They were supervised of course. Hana’s dad was holding her arm on one side, while Nonnie Cecile was watching Emmy on the other side. Behind Emmy sat her protective big sister Lyla. According to her parents, a Persian couple who reside and teach college-level engineering in San Diego, Hana was named after the East side section of Maui known to be home of Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools), the Hotel Hana Resort and huge stretches of lush coastline, waterfalls, and vast rainforest. But the most amazing discovery was that Emma and Hana were not only one year olds but by the magic of coincidence happened to be born on the same day and the same year (February 27, 2022,). So, Cecile and I would like to extend our birthday wishes to Hana and greetings to her parents in San Diego. We look forward to celebrating Emmy’s Birthday with the rest of the family.

Dearest Emmy:

Your heart-melting smile is so divine

Everything you do makes our lives worthwhile

Your untouched innocence is so sweet

Your magical charms can’t be beat

Your eyes are blue as the sky above

That look at us with trusting love.

Your chubby cheeks and rosy lips

And dainty little finger tips

Every unfathomable word you say

Touches our lives in a heartfelt way.

Your actions are beyond being cute

They lift our spirts like a parachute

It’s hard to believe how time has flown,

You started so small, but how quickly you’ve grown.

From rolling to sitting and a quick little crawl.

To your first little steps and standing up in your crib,

You’ve conquered it all.

We wish you a very Happy First Birthday

Papa and Nonnie

A Delicious Tapas-Style Dinner with Friends at Newly Opened Teleferic Barcelona

“Small plates are called Tapas. They are plates for big hearts, love, and people who believe in inclusion and sharing kindness. In Spain, It isn’t just a style of eating, it’s a celebration of life!”

—Jose’ Andres, Chef, Humanitarian & Founder of World Central Kitchen

Our friends Bill and Sarah recommended this restaurant to celebrate a belated Valentine’s Day. I say belated because they were out of town visiting family during Valentine’s Day and Cecile and I had a new electrical main panel and a charging station installed in our garage for my new Tesla and Valentine’s Day was earliest they could schedule the work. Sarah made a reservation for outdoor seating and baby was it cold outside, even with the heat lamps. The young woman who seated us offered Sarah and Cecile a comfy blanket to ease the chill. Tapas are Spain’s traditional small plate snacks and has become popular all over the world including right here in California, most often accompanied by a drink. Cecile, Sarah and I had the restaurant’s signature homemade Sangria (actually I had two) and Bill had a Spanish beer.

We feasted on Ham Croquetas: Croquettes with Iberian ham, piquillo pepper sauce and aioli; Pan con Tomato: Spanish loaf, tomato dressing with chorizo butter; Roasted Chicken empanadas with spicy aioli; Spanish Meatballs with Canary Masala sauce and friend potatoes; and Secreto Iberia Paella: Acorn Fed Black Pig Fillet, pork belly and mushrooms. For dessert we indulged our sweet tooth with a Trio Selection of Teleferic’s most popular desserts: Arroz Tres Leches: Rice pudding with cream Catalana foam and jelly; Torrid: French toast, Catalan cream, banana and vanilla ice cream; Churros con Nutella: and Barcelona street fried dough with Nutella.

Teleferic Barcelona’s owner Xavi Padrosa along with his sister Maria Padrosa just opened their newest restaurant in the Old Town shopping center in Los Gatos, CA on January 12. It offers tapas, homemade sangria, paella and their authentic Spanish market and deli, El Merket is stocked with a large assortment wine, specialty imported Spanish products, and food to go. The modern open-spaced Mediterranean style decor creates a warm, eclectic ambiance. It has been reported that most of their employees are trained in their locations in Spain before they came to the United States. This was brilliant planning on their part considering how the pandemic shuttered many restaurants.

Postscript about the History of Tapas: Legend has it that it was first invented in the 13th century. While recovering from a sickness, King Alfonso X of Leon, Galicia & Castille was only able to drink and eat small quantities at a time. By so doing, he unwittingly created small plate eating, similar to tapas.

Apparently, after dining this way, he figured that always getting some food with every drink would help reduce the drunken behavior of peasants and so decreed that small snacks eating should be served with every drink, across the land. As peasants were poor and seemingly preferred to spend more money on alcohol, rather than buying food, this seemed like a reasonable solution.

Happy Valentine's Day to Cecile: My Partner for Life & Our Friends and Family Especially our Granddaughters

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”

—Oprah Winfrey

The limo breaking down is a metaphor for someone who sticks by you through thick and thin no matter what. My wife Cecile, embodies that

kind of love. She is my true soulmate defined by someone who does not judge you for your flaws or your jagged edges. A soulmate is someone who upon witnessing those things, chooses to stand by your side; always encouraging you to heal on your own time, in your own way, and if there was any doubt would always say, “We’re going to get through this together."

Valentine’s Day is one of those days when I realize anew how lucky I am that that Cecile and I found each other. It's not like I forget on the other days of the year, but at this special time, it becomes much clearer to me that being with her since the early 70s has been a blessing.

So to the most important woman in my life I want to add thanks for being you and for being mine. My best friend and the love of my life

You’re the most amazing, thoughtful, compassionate woman I know and I am fortunate enough to call you my wife. Thanks for bearing raising two wonderful, well-adjusted humans (Jason and Michelle) who work hard, are enjoying a good life, and still enjoy traveling and being with us. Last but not least for being a devoted grandmother to Lyla and her baby sister Emmy that have given us so much joy during the advent of our golden years.

I end with a short poetic offering by John P. Read called:

‘Our Love’

L is for ‘laughter’ we had along the way.

O is for ‘optimism’ you gave me every day.

V is for ‘value’ of being my best friend

E is for 'eternity,’ a love that has no end.

Cecile and I wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. May you celebrate love in whatever form it may come, including your furry friends and most of all loving your self.

Visiting Bubba the Celebrated Wood Carved Bear After our Stevens Creek Reservoir Bike Ride

“Art gives joy to the artist; that it pleases others is pure gravy.”

—Larry E. Santucci

After making our descent from the Stevens Creek Reservoir, Bill and I visited Bubba the Wood Carved Bear on the corner of Bubb Road and Yorkshire Drive in Cupertino. It has become somewhat of a ritual especially during the holidays and special events. Let me explain! Bubba, once a tree that didn’t survive the drought is the artistic creation of Sarah Kopy, who has lived at her one-story house since the age of 12. Instead of getting rid of the tree, after getting permission of the City of Cupertino she hired a carver from Humboldt County. When the carver asked which way Kopy wanted the bear to face, she said toward the crosswalk on Bubb Road so it can watch the children. Bubba was conceived or should I say reincarnated on October 10, 2015. Since its’ unveiling to the public, Bubba has become a local attraction to the community and beyond. Children and biking enthusiasts like ourselves will sometimes go out of their way to see Bubba, the Bubb Road Bear. Why? Because Kopy dresses Bubba up for major holidays like the Fourth of July, Halloween, Christmas, New Years, Valentine’s Day and currently the Lunar New Year 2022 (Year of the Tiger) which after a 15 day celebration ends tomorrow. Tigers are particularly auspicious as they represent stength, boldness, fearlessness and dominance

The Lunar New Year is one of the most significant celebrations of the year among east and southeast Asian cultures.

People may know the holiday as Chinese New Year, Vietnamese Tet Nguyen Dan or South Korea Seollal.

The United States is also home to some celebrations. 1.5 billion people across the world will partake in the festivities.

Each year in the lunar calendar is represented by one of the 12 zodiac animals.

The animals consist of the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

While last year the Year of the Ox, this year is the year of the tiger that represents strength, assertiveness, generosity, courage and the clearing away of evil. Celebrities who were born in the year of the Tiger are Queen Elizabeth II, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Bill Murray, Martin Short, Garth Brooks, Tom Cruise, Jon Bon Jovi, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jimmy Fallon, Penelope Cruz, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, and many more.

Yours Truly is a Tiger (born in 1950), as is my daughter Michelle (born in 1986).

Postscript: Kopi’s artistic holiday celebrations reminds me of our neighbors near our former home in Saratoga who celebrated the holidays or special events in a similar way, by decorating a 300 year old tree in front their home. I didn’t realize how much joy it brought to our neighborhood and to me personally until they moved.

Background Credit for the story of Bubba: Kalpana Gopalkrishnan and Avni Prasad, elEstoque, Monta Vista High School, February 8, 1917

Capturing this Gorgeous and Freaky Sunset with Striated Cloud Formations

“Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies.”

—Paulo Coelho

During my many bike rides I have had the opportunity to pause and photograph hundreds of sunsets. However, I have never seen anything as beautiful and as mysterious as this. It was taken yesterday during an early evening ride in the neighborhood where we live.

Striated clouds are a pattern of gray or bluish cloud sheets or layers that totally or partially covers the sky that are translucent enough to regularly reveal the sun or moon. But in this sunset a big part of sun also shone through without any of the cloud striations running through it except around the periphery creating the perception of a serrated edge.

What do the striations mean? Grooves or channels in cloud formation, arranged parallel to the flow of air and therefore depicting the airflow relative to a parent cloud. Part of the cloud nomenclature is the word Translucidus. It’s derived from the latin root, translucere which means to shine through or become transparent.

After Being Fully Vaccinated I Had a Breakthrough COVID Infection & The Awesome News that Followed

“People that say, ‘Oh, the vaccine’s no good, people are still getting infected.' Well, that’s actually not the real benefit of the vaccine. It’s preventing hospitalizations and serious illness..."

—Dr. John Bradley, medical director of Infectious Diseases at Rady Children’s Hospital in San
Diego and Distinguished Professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine

After being double vaccinated and getting jabbed with a booster and flu shot about a year ago, I recently experienced a “breakthrough" infection. Like many thousands of others who chose to get vaccinated I thought there was light at the end of the tunnel, only to come to realize that the light I saw was a train of highly infectious Covid-19 variants coming our way. While taking all the shots that were recommended by the CDC still resulted in my becoming infected with the virus, I have a problem with the word ‘breakthrough.’ It implies a failure of the vaccine to provide a viral shield or even a cure. But as Dr, Bradley and other medical experts have said, it did its job. It kept me and many others in my age group (65 and up) from being hospitalized and possibly dying on a ventilator. According to the CDC the risk of being hospitalized is 10 times lower if you're vaccinated. This is not a political statement. According to medical experts it's a medical fact. As a former health care provider, I like those odds.

How serious are the symptoms from breakthrough infections? Well, we all know by now that one may have no symptoms and may not even be aware they have the virus. For those who do feel sick, the symptoms are usually mild and last a few days to one or two weeks. In my case I had excessive fatigue on a Sunday night after riding my bike for an hour and then meeting a friend for a walk around a local park. The next day, on January 17 (Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday), following two consecutive negative Covid tests after returning from Maui with our family and again on January 5 of the New Year for cold-like symptoms, I tested positive for Covid. I quickly alerted my family and contacted my friend to let him know and isolated myself from family for over 10 days. Fortunately, my friend got tested five days later and tested negative which was a relief for both of us. He too was fully vaccinated and happened to be wearing a mask during our walk. Fortunately, none of my family got infected with the virus. The most difficult thing about getting the virus was not being able to babysit our granddaughter who will be a year old later this month or see our granddaughter Lyla, now three years old. Getting together with them, Cecile, Michelle and Jason again was cause to celebrate.

Several days later I had a video conference call with my doctor who had already emailed me the recommended protocol. I told her I had no shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid heartbeat or fever. I did report I experienced three days of headaches which dissipated the afternoon after talking to my her. I wore a KN95 mask every time Cecile announced she was coming to the bedroom or my home office to bring me my meals. She took great care of me. I did have a runny nose, an occasional tight cough, clogged ears, and raspy throat. It felt more like a bad cold. Oddly enough my appetite and energy were good. I postponed a bike trip in Santa Cruz with friends by a week. A week after that which was well after the isolation period of 10 days, I rode 28 miles with some friends in SF. I never felt better.

What was amazing about my experience is that I felt like there was a tug of war between my immune system and the virus and my immune system won. The vaccine did what it was intended to do: Once, the immune system detected the disease it dispatched cells and molecules to memorize its features so it could be fought off more swiftly in the future. Once delivered to the upper arm, the vaccine instructs the body’s own cells to produce a coronavirus protein called spike—a molecule that elicits powerful, infection-fighting antibody response in people battling COVID-19.

Postscript: Though I read and watch many news sources with diverse opinions, it is noteworthy to mention that CNN reported that after battling Covid-19 for almost a month, and spending 28 days on a ventilator and heart monitor at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, graphic artist Richard Soliz returned to the hospital, not for treatment but to apologize to doctors and staff for their great care. He realized that choosing not to be vaccinated nearly cost him his life. According to Soliz’s pulmonologist, and director of ICU at Harborview, about 99 out of 100 patients admitted to the hospital had not been vaccinated when Soliz was admitted.

Crossing the Teakwood U Bein Bridge on the Outskirts of Mandalay To Witness the "Mother of All Sunsets"

“The World is a book and those who do not travel it read only a page.”—St. Augustine

After visiting more monasteries containing bigger than life statues of the Buddha and other legendary deities, I crossed the historic U Bein Bridge with Maybelle’s daughter, Michelle MhuMadii who I have haven’t seen in eight years. She has grown into a respectful, pretty and delightful young lady.

The U Bein bridge was built over 150 year ago and is believed to be the largest teakwood bridge in the world. It stretches out to 1.2 kilometers across the Taungthaman Lake in the ancient capital of Amarapura on the outskirts of Mandalay. It is one of Myanmar’s favorite adventures for fun-loving tourists from around the world. U Bein Bridge was named after a mayor who had it built. It is supported by over 1000 teakwood poles is an Important part of everyday life in the community. It makes it possible for villagers to get their kids to school, fisherman to catch their fish and for locals to reach religious sites and food markets. Like many people present, we were there to experience the magnificent golden yellow sunset together. When we got to the end of the bridge, I hired out a boat so Michelle and I could obtain a better vantage point to see the sun gradually melt below the horizon. Afterwards our oarsman took us to shore with a colorful flotilla of boats where we met Maybelle for the drive back to the hotel.

What’s interesting about bridges is they symbolize hope. If you can just get over that bridge, you just may find yourself in a better place. Some bridges are harder to cross than others. If you are afraid of heights they can be scary. If feeling the bridge shakes beneath your feet—as it did mine—makes you unsettled, then crossing can pose a challenge. If a bridge is narrow and has no guard rails like U Bein, it can make you pause. On the other hand, the prospect of better things to come on the distant shore gives one hope. In this case the reward was the sunset for all those who were present. As actor, director and producer Woody Allen said: “The secret of success is showing up.”

Postscript: There are so many monastery dogs that sadly look malnourished. I took a photo of these two cute puppies that appeared to be from the same litter cuddling one another. There is also a photo of a group of young monks who appear to be making a getaway with a cart, but in fact they are really doing their chores—sweeping the monastery grounds—which is a meditation in and of itself.

Postscript: This post was originally posted on Facebook by me on January 29, 2018, during a visit to Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma) with my wfe Cecile. We spent a week visiting Maybelle and her daughter Michelle MhuMadii prior to a tour of Southeast Asia. Michelle is now living with her aunt in Allentown, PA, and working for Amazon. Myanmar was recently taken over by a military junta during a brutal and barbaric coup-d’ E’tat.

A 27-Mile Bike Ride Across the Iconic San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge & Other Magnificent Sites

“If you Love life, don’t waste time. For time is what Life is made of.”—Bruce Lee

Bill and I met friends Jimi Hunter and his wife Jennifer at the Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant in San Francisco at around 11 AM yesterday, parked the cars, and offloaded our bikes. We began our exciting adventure riding past the Cliff House near the Sutro Baths just north of Ocean Beach to the paved Golden Gate Bike Trail. Biking across Golden Gate Bridge is a great way to get an up-close and personal experience with one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. This exhilarating ride also offers a birds-eye view of the beautiful bay, Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, and the San Francisco City skyline. Though it can be windy and foggy, we had sun and blue skies all day long.

On the return back across the Golden Gate Bridge, we rode through the Presidio, China Beach (tucked in between Lands end and Baker Beach), and historical Fort Point (see video) offering one of the most spectacular views of the bridge. The old Civil War fort sits right under the southern end of the bridge. The Presidio has dramatic ocean overlooks, hills, historic forts, and beautiful natural ecosystems unique to the area. We visited the Jedi Master Yoda Fountain at the headquarters of LucasFilms in the Presidio Park and R2D2 in the lobby. We continued our ride to the Wave Organ, a wave-activated acoustic sculpture located on a jetty that forms the small Boat Harbor in the Marina District. The sculpture is known to offer “liquid music” made up of hisses and gurgling notes that ebbs and flows during the changing of the tides and restless movement of the Pacific Ocean.

At about 2:20 PM we rode through Haight-Ashbury, the famous 60s hippie hangout and former home of the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and more. You know when you hit Haight Ashbury when you inhale a whiff of pot and incense, and see very colorful eateries, murals, and people. At the recommendation of Jimi and Jennifer, we at VeganBurg, home of award-winning Vegan Burgers that are 100% plant-based. Out of eleven to choose from I enjoyed a mouth-watering crispy Avocado Beetroot with fresh avocado, beetroot, lettuce, Aussie onion, and creole tomato on a soft artisan whole wheat bun with a side of fries sprinkled with seaweed flakes. The manager was kind enough to let us park our bikes at the back right end of the restaurant.

On the way back to the Beach Chalet Brewery where the cars were parked, we road through Golden Gate State Park, passing Stowe's Lake, and pausing at the Botanical Gardens. We stopped for photos of the parks’ Peacock Meadow special exhibit of lights that will run through March 5, 2022. White during the day, and a burst of color at night, the exhibit designed by SF artist, Charles Gadeken is called "Entwined." We also stopped at the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District, which is an extravagant neoclassical icon which features a classical Roman rotunda and curved colonnades in an idyllic park setting on land belonging to the Presidio. Bill and I clocked 27-miles on our Strava app and made it home traffic free at 4:30 PM.

Captured this Prehistoric Looking Grey Heron Near our Townhome at Rinconada Hills Lake

"Stand tall, stand proud. Know that you are unique and magnificent. You do not need the approval oof others."

—Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Cecile and I were walking along Rinconada Hills Lake while strolling our granddaughter Emmy, and suddenly we hear the loud voice

of a friend from across the lake, calling our attention to a Grey Heron standing as still as a statue on a rock patiently waiting for its’ next meal. I slowly walked towards it, taking serial photos as I advanced. The heron is an easily recognized, grey-backed bird, with long black legs, bright yellow bill, and a black eyestripe that continues as long, drooping feathers down its’ long white neck. They make quite a fashion statement. Herons nest in colonies called 'Heronries,’ often seen in the top of trees, where they make their large, ungainly nests out of twigs and lay 3-4 eggs. The young will fledge from the nest after about one and half months. If you spot one enjoy it while you can as it’s average lifespan is only 5 years.

These birds have always been the center of fashion. Sadly, in the early 1900’s, they were killed by the thousands so their flashy breeding plumes could adorn women’s hats. These plumes were quite the fashion statement of the day. Thanks to the Migratory Bird Treaty of 1916, that put a halt of the senseless slaughter of these and other migratory birds.

Heron Symbolism: Autonomy, persistence, peace, self-reliant, solitary, stability and resourceful. Whatever heron wants, heron gets.

Natural Bridges & Wilder Ranch State Parks & A Colorful Coastal Bluffs Mountain Bike Ride in Santa Cruz

“You are one bike ride away from a good mood [and a great day].”

—Sarah Bentley

Someone one once told me if you smile when you see a butterfly, you have happiness in your soul.

It has been a long stretch since Bill and I had been to Santa Cruz. Our first stop after off-loading our bikes was a ride to the Monarch Butterfly Nature Preserve at Natural Bridges State Beach. We walked our bikes down the boardwalk ramp before it winds into a tree-filled canyon where thousands of monarch butterflies seek sanctuary along the branches of eucalyptus trees. We found ourselves in a community of others including an adorable young girl with her mother wearing a monarch butterfly cape. We also spotted a large owl sleeping on a tree limb. We continued our ride to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center located at UC Santa Cruz to see the outdoor Gray whale skeletan exhibit (photo), and circled back to hook up on a dirt trail to Wilder Ranch State Park north of Santa Cruz. After going through some brushy areas and agricultural fields, we came to the beginning of a series of some magnificent coastal bluffs with awesome ocean views heading north towards Bonny Dune. We saw pelicans, cormorants, seagulls, harbor seals, and sea lions lounging on the rocks and beach for about 10 miles round trip out of our 18-mile journey. Except for a few couples, friends, and families hiking and a few bicyclists on the trail, we had this mixed mellow terrain all to ourselves. Upon our return we I met a horse named Bo taking a stroll with its' handler, and then made our way to Steamer Lane for a late outdoor lunch. While we waited for our order, we went to see another monarch butterfly refuge in eucalyptus trees in the back of Steamer Lane located in Lighthouse Field across from the surfing museum. I’ll let the photos and short video clips of the ocean crashing into the bluffs tell the rest of the story.

Farewell to the Celebrated Vietnamese Zen Master Who Helped Pioneer the Mindfulness Movement in the West & My Encounter with Communist Rule

"One of the most influential spiritual leaders of our times.”

—Oprah Winfrey

Thich Nhat Hanh, whom I've ways considered one of my teachers, was a revered Zen master, peace activist, author, poet, and founder of the Plum Village Monastery in Southern France. "Thay," as he was often called which means teacher in Vietnamese, who helped pioneer the Mindfulness movement in the West passed away peacefully at his villa on the grounds of the 19th century Tu Hien Pagoda (temple) in Hue, Vietnam. Born Nguyen Xuan Bao, the ailing monk who was exiled in the 60s for opposing the Vietnam War had a stroke that in 2014, that left him speechless. At the time, it was believed he wouldn’t survive. But on October 28, 2018, he returned to Vietnam to live in a room with sparse essential furnishings in the very temple where he took his vows at the age of 16. Framed above his head in his own brushstroke were the words tro ve, meaning “returning.” In 1961, he went to the United States to study, and later taught comparative religion for a time at Princeton and Columbia universities. His reputation grew among the hippies of my generation who set his antiwar poetry to music. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr., referring to him as “this gentle monk from Vietnam.”

Nhat Hanh taught a simple form of meditation and mindfulness that was approachable to those interested in peace and tranquility. He published over 70 books, many that have passed through my home library over the years. He told anyone who would listen that you didn’t have to spend years on a mountain top to benefit from meditation. He also taught his students and readers how to live mindfully, focusing on being in the present moment. This was appealing to Westerners who were seeking spirituality without the trappings of organized religion of their youth.

That being said, he had his detractors. His highly publicized visits enraged other Vietnamese exiles when he toured the country in 2005 and 2008, and held well-attended services, giving the impression that the ruling Communist Party permitted freedom of worship. I can tell you from personal experience following a tour of North and South Vietnam with my son Jason in 2004 that religious freedom is heavily curtailed in Vietnam, and the official Buddhist Church of Vietnam is controlled by the state (VBC). This surprise revelation occurred to me following my visit to the Venerable Thich Vien Dinh, who was under house arrest at his Pagoda outside Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). His only crime was that he belonged to the United Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) and not the Vietnamese Buddhist Church (VBC) under control by the Communist Party. I discovered that there was a mole in the Pagoda reporting to the communists, and whatever photos I took and sent back were confiscated. The authorities also inquired how much money I donated to the pagoda. As of 2017, Dinh’s brother Truman Nhu, a real estate agent in

San Jose and friend who left Vietnam in 1984, informed me that through peaceful resistance and sheer political will, that his serene brother Vien Dihn who he hasn’t seen in 35 years is still a leader of the UBCV. While still under house arrest, he was living peacefully in a 800 year old countryside pagoda in Binh Dihn Province.

Postscript: Thich Nhat Hanh liked to use the lotus flower as a metaphor for life. It reminds us that like the lotus, in order to reach our potential, we have the power to rise above the murky, muddy water-which represents life’s challenges-to bloom into a thing of beauty ("No Mud, No Lotus)

Bike Ride To Best Artisan Empanadas (BAE): Multicultural Delights to Die For

“If you were Columbian, you would have your own version of an empanada…and then in Ecuador, you’ll find more crispy-fried empanadas, so yeah, every culture has there own version of empanadas.”

—Jose Garces, Ecuadorian American Chef

I received a text recently from my biking buddy Bill that read, “I’ve got a new lunch place in Campbell. Ride there 11:30 or 12 PM.” What followed the invitation was a preview of what Best Artisan Empanadas (BAE) had to offer, and it looked promising.

When we arrived there, it was the perfect set up: Outdoor seating to keep an eye on our bikes and a mouth-watering menu of sweet and savory offerings. It was a gem of a place.

Bill enjoyed a Panzerotto, a turnover that originated in Central and Southern Italy, with mozzarella cheese, sausage, pepperoni, and tangy

marinara sauce with a salad; and, I ordered a Spicy Thai empanada with diced chicken breast, carrots, sweet baby corn, pease and bell peppers in a pleasant coconut-infused yellow curry. It was delish.

Best Artisan Empanadas wants you to know that it was born from the aspiration of bringing people together through empanadas.

We were happy to discover that they use wholesome and fresh ingredients and are cooked and baked at their location in Campbell everyday.

What we especially liked was their dough stems from Peruvian style pastry, and their recipes are inspired by the diversity of cultures,

including Mexican, Greek, Italian, Greek and Southeast Asian. They also serve artisan pastries and sweets, breakfast empanadas, pizza, calzones, and salads. Finally, they have partnered with two local roasters that offer its’ customers the highest quality of coffee and quality crafted espresso drinks, They also offer beers, cocktails and preferred styles of wines to complement their empanadas, frappes, ice drinks, smoothies and milkshakes.

I was so happy with my Thai empanada, I bought some to take home to share with the family.

For my New Jersey Friends, check out the highly recommended Empanada Guy, Carlos Serrano, who was raised in Newark who began his empanada business in the garage of his home and now has five food trucks and a restaurant to boot.

Recalling Our Visit to the National Civil Rights Museum In Memphis While Observing Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday

“The quality, not longevity of one’s life is what is important.”

—Martin Luther King Jr.

I was only 13 when Dr. Martin Luther 'King Jr.' gave his historic “I have a dream” speech in 1963. The struggles of the civil rights movement during the 60s were hard to digest as a young boy. I remember being moved by his inspiring and passionate oratory skills and non-violent protests. During a riverboat cruise in the spring of 2018, with a final stop in Memphis, Cecile and I, and our friends, Nelson and Susan Bye spent an emotional morning visiting the National Civil Rights Museum. 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. It looks much like it did on April 4, 1968, when James Earl Ray fired the fatal round from the boarding-house window next to the Young and Morrow Building directly across from Mulberry Street. A funeral wreath of red and white carnations hangs on the railing outside room 306, making it a symbol of the civil rights movement and becoming the first Civil Rights Museum in 1991. In its’ day, the Lorraine Hotel hosted such entertainers as Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, and B.B. King. The vintage cars in the parking lot represent the vehicles parked at the Lorraine Motel when Dr. King was killed. While musicians were welcomed to perform. Though his birthday actually falls on January 15, it is officially observed on the third Monday in January which is January 17.

I chose the following poem which in my view best remembers, honors, and celebrates the life of one of the greatest Civil Rights leaders of

our time.

Standing Tall

—by Jamie Mckenzie

Some kings rule their kingdoms sitting down

Surrounded by luxury, soft cushions and fans

But this King stood strong, stood proudly, stood tall

When the driver told Rosa “Move to the back of the bus!”

When the waiter told students “We don’t serve your kind!”

When the Mayor told voters “Your vote don’t count!…” And,

When the sheriff told marchers “Get off the streets!”

Using fire hoses, police dogs, and cattle prods to move them along

The King stood strong, stood tall, speaking of peace, of love,

Children hand-in-hand, as he yelled free at last, free at last.

When some yelled for violence

For angry revenge

An eye for an eye

And a tooth for a tooth

He stood his ground

Preaching peace

And when some spit out hate

He stood there smiling

Spreading love…breaking down the walls

Ringing the bell joyfully for Freedom

While standing on the mountain top

They shot him coldly

Hoping to see him fall

Hoping to put him away

To bring him low.

But this King

Even in death

Even today

Stands strong, stands proudly

Stands tall

And we remember

[This is a modified excerpt taken from Mckenzie's original poem]

Bicycling the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve & Across the New Bike Overpass Once called a "Mythical Bridge.”

“The goal of life is living in agreement with nature.”

—Zeno

My friend Bill Rothenberg and I rode out to Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, with the intention of riding across the new 1,400 foot long,12-foot-wide bridge that crosses over US Highway 101 that Bill had been reading about. The new pedestrian and bike bridge that cost $23.1 million to build replaces the Benjamin Lefkowitz underpass that was built in 1989, which was only open an average of six months a year due to seasonal flooding. Once called the “Mythical Bridge” because of long bureaucratic delays, the new bridge finally opened in Palo Alto on November 20, 2021. It will provide Palo Alto with year-round access to the Baylands, the Adobe Reach Trail and other outdoor amenities. The new bridge was rededicated to Lefkowitz, a native of Brooklyn, New York who advocated the cause for bicycle safety and access in Palo Alto.

To get to Baylands Nature Preserve, we parked at Shoreline Lake. The Preserve, that begins beyond the perimeter of the lake and near the South Bay is the largest tract of undisturbed marshland remaining in the San Francisco Bay. An amazing fifteen miles of multi-use trails provides mixture of tidal and fresh water habitats. Additionally, the Preserve encompasses 1,940 acres in both Palo Alto and East Palo Alto. It is an important habitat for migratory shorebirds and is considered one of the best birdwatching spots on the West Coast.

After riding the rutted and bumpy little sand dunes close to the water’s edge, Bill and I circled the commuter Palo Alto airport, watching private pilot owners, the titans of Silicon Valley tech companies, and private equity executive being flying in and out. We also passed a large golf course, and stopped to revisit and pay homage to the abstract bike sculpture by artist James Moore, called “Bliss in the Moment.” This shrine commemorates renowned Bay Area cyclist William Bliss and his work on the San Francisco Bay Trail and bicycle safety issues. Shortly beyond this point we made our way across the new bridge.

When we completed our ride, we headed back over the new bridge, toward Shoreline's Bistro Cafe. I commented to Bill, that we didn’t see many birds close-up like we usually do. But, many of our bike rides to the Baylands usually brought with it, some unexpected surprise. Suddenly, as if I was granted a wish by the universe, as we approached the boat rental dock, there appeared an amalgamation of birds rarely seen together in this spot (see video clip). There were American coots, shore birds, bright white Egrets lining the shore like sentries at the gate, squawking seagulls, and my favorite, the great white Pelicans. It was nature at its best and our bike ride felt more complete. When we got to the Bistro Cafe right on the lakefront, we placed our bikes to the side, and ordered lunch. Bill had fish and chips and I had a chicken fillet sandwich on sour dough with lettuce, caramelized onions, a feta salad on the side with pomegranate fruit, and taro chips on the side as a pesky, but interesting looking duck began begging for food. I offered a couple of taro chips and it went on to the next busier table.

Afterwards, we were still hungry for more—riding that is, and rode a few miles through the Permanente Creek Trail under pass tunnel and beyond, before returning to Shoreline to upload our bikes on Bill’s SUV for the ride home, feeling fulfilled, and appreciative for a pretty special day and all the city planners and visionaries who made this possible.

Our Granddaughter Emmy: The Incredible Lightness and Joy of Being Discovers the Beauty of a Camellia

"A child is a flower that grows in the garden of life. Some grow taller, some are different colors and some will change how the view the world. Each one is special. Each one is beautiful. Each one is unique. Each one is to be loved.”

—Dave Hedges

Most of these photos were taken yesterday with the exception of Emmy wearing her pink headband curiously examining the pink

camellia last November, that matched the flowery print pants she was wearing. We love the way our daughter Michelle dresses Emmy. When she or our son-in-law Kyle drop her off for the day, it is like receiving precious cargo, which of course she is. She loves being taken for a stroll around the lake at Rinconada Hills where we live. By the time I took over in the later afternoon watching and being with Emmy, her Nonnie Cecile got her 8500 steps in strolling her around the grounds and needed a much deserved break.

It is cooler now here in Northern California than it was in November, and we have Emmy covered up like the bundle of joy she is in her yellow knitted blanket. We sat by the pond with the waterfalls roaring in the backdrop. We talked with our neighbors. We stopped to pick a camellia, and when we got back to Nonnie and Papa's townhouse, Emmy and I sat in the atrium. I made an offering to the white Buddha statue, laying the camellia on its lap as I had done with her big sister Lyla in the past. She was pretty talkative at this point and I decided to take a video clip of her joyful chatter after which I played Ringo Starr singing: “We all live in a Yellow Submarine…" which she listened to and watched with that calming, joyful signature smile of hers.

Postscript: A Camellia flower symbolizes love, affection, and admiration. Due to its’ beautiful blossom and symmetrical accuracy, it's a symbol of perfection and excellence.

An Exotic Dinner with Good Friends at Mint Leaf Cuisine & a Little Eastern Philosophy

“True friends are like stars. You don’t alway see them but you know they are there."

Cecile and I had dinner at Mint Leaf Cuisine with my spirited friend and confidant, James Hunter who goes by his nickname Jimi, and his wonderful wife, Jennifer. It had been a long time since we all got together. Cecile and I are regulars at this unique Thai Pan-Asian fusion restaurant in historic downtown Saratoga. The food not only tastes consistently sumptious but the colorful ambiance and artistic food presentation is very appealing. The decor is reminiscent of an ornate Thai temple. It’s been reported that much of the atmosphere and food at Mint Leaf is Thai in origin as are the owners Mint Sirisawad and Laksana Chuangpia. But their extensive menu offers a fusion of ingredients from various parts of Asia and in particular Southeast Asia, including Myanmar (Burma), where I have spent many years on silent meditation retreats at a Burmese monastery in the outskirts of Mandalay before the recent brutal military coup.

Mint Leaf invites patrons to bring your own booze (BYOB) and does not charge a corkage fee. Cecile and I brought a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford Ranch in

Napa Valley to share.

For starters we shared Fried Egg Rolls stuffed with cabbage, carrot, bean threaded noodles and Taro served with sweet and sour sauce in a shot glass. For our entrees, our vegetarian friends, Jennifer and Jimi had Thai Basil with Green Beans: chili garlic green beans, basil, red bell pepper, cubes of tofu with brown rice; and, Yellow Curry with carrots, potatoes and onion with brown rice respectively. Cecile had her favorite Seared Scallops in Green Curry with chunks of avocados, eggplant, red pepper, green peas and basil; and yours truly had Yellow Curry with carrots, potatoes, and onion with grilled salmon and coconut rice.

Cecile and I had gifted an exquisitely crafted hard cover photography and story book called "A River of Offerings" (Mandala Publishing) written by Jennifer Prugh, a founder of Breathe Together Yoga (formerly Breathe). Beginning in 2008 she made more than a dozen trips to India particularly along the Ganges River to deepen her understanding of yoga, meditation, and its people. Having traveled to India on three occasions over the years I shared her sense of adventure and self discovery. The book is part history, ancient mythology and spiritual odyssey. As early contributors of a Kickstarter campaign to assist Jennifer in getting her book published, Cecile and I received extra copies. We had always intended to gift a copy to Jimi and Jen who like ourselves had taken classes with Prugh at Bay Club Courtside and this seemed to be an auspicious time to do so. As I looked around the dining room decorated in crimson and gold leaf, and white banners hanging above the dining room like sail cloths, with an image of the Buddha* peacefully looking down at us, everything seemed to be in its proper place.

*The Buddha which means “Awakened One” was a spiritual teacher who lived in Northern India over 2500 years ago. He taught training of the mind, self-restraint, and meditative and mindfulness practices characterized by full attention to the present moment.

https://jenniferprugh.com/read/

Happy Birthday to My Late Dad Who Lived to Be a Hundred (1917-2017)

“Take one day at a time and go along with the tide.”—Gilbert Herrick

It is an amazing feat when I think about it. My dad, Frank Aloysius Augustine whose birthday falls on Wednesday, January 5, was not a vegetarian. He was somewhat overweight. He may have qualified for having been on a quasi-Mediterranean diet since he and my late mom Maria were good Italian cooks. But by God, he loved his sweets. Yet, in all those years he only was hospitalized once and his mind was sharp as a tack. Living to 100—in his case, just a tad shy of 101, remains a rare occurrence. Individuals who are blessed to reach that age are referred to as centenarians, and make up less than one percent of the US population. So as a family, my belief is we should celebrate his life rather than mourn him. He beat the odds, and as a family we benefited from it. Dad would have loved Gilbert Herrick, attributed to the quote cited above. Not only did he love to rhyme but he lived one day at time and didn’t take life too seriously, especially after retirement. He was, what the local newspaper referred to as an 'Urban Gardener.' He loved to make wine in our back yard shed, he was active in the Hoboken Elks lodge, Grand Knight of the nights of Columbus for two terms, and a Boy Scout Leader for 25 years. Back in his early years he was a lay brother in the Mary-knoll Seminary in upstate New York. Fortunately for me I wouldn’t be here to tell this story had he continued on to become a celibate priest

When it came to death, dad would say, “We all have to go sometime.” If my mother was around when he said this, she would say, "Frank, what’s the matter with you in her charming Sicilian accent?" In her mind any irreverent mention of dying was bad luck. But, when he knew the time was near, he said: “Your mother is calling me to join her.” Shortly after he uttered these words he left this world as we know it on December 18, 1917.

The following poem by English clergyman, and Professor of Divinity at University of Oxford, Henry Scott Holland (1847–1918), wrote this insightful, humble and beautiful poem about the ‘unbroken continuity of life’ after death. "Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?” In one verse father Holland affirmed why I write to remember and honor my father on the anniversary of his birthday and his passing as if he were still here.

Death is Nothing At All

Death is nothing at All

I am I, and you are you.

Whatever we were to each other,

That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.

Speak to me in the easy way

Which you always used.

Put no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed

At the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word

That it always was.

Let it be spoken without effect.

Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same that it ever was.

There is absolute unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind

Because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you.

For an interval.

Somewhere. Very near.

[Up a spiral staircase through the clouds]

All is well.

Note: Some photos of remebrance