Pittsburgh fall weather today = 80 degrees and blue skies. I opened the windows and started cooking for soup season. I’m stuffing my freezer full of different soups so I can pull-out a bowl when I need some comfort from the cold.

As many know, I like beer, and I cook with beer [...]]]>

Pittsburgh fall weather today = 80 degrees and blue skies. I opened the windows and started cooking for soup season. I’m stuffing my freezer full of different soups so I can pull-out a bowl when I need some comfort from the cold.

As many know, I like beer, and I cook with beer quite often. When I saw this recipe on FoodNetwork.com, I had to try it. But of course, I changed it a bit. It did call for 1/4 cup of sherry, but the next time, I think I’m going to leave it out. In my opinion, I think it took away from the other flavors.

Ingredients
•    Olive oil
•    5 cloves minced garlic
•    8 cups thinly sliced onions (I used 4 large Spanish onions)
•    Sea Salt
•    3 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
•    1 can of dark beer (recommended: Guinness)
•    6 cups beef stock
•    6 slices country bread cut 1/2-inch thick, toasted (I baked my own french bread)
•    1/2 pound Irish Cheddar, sliced thin (I used Provolone)

Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over high heat. Add garlic and cook briefly to release aroma. Add onions, season with salt and cook for about 5 minutes stirring often. Reduce heat to low and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the onions are golden brown.

Add the thyme and beer. Reduce beer by half and add the beef stock. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 more minutes.

Preheat the broiler. Transfer soup to an ovenproof serving dish or individual ovenproof soup bowls. Top with toasted bread slices and sliced cheese. Broil until cheese melts and starts to brown slightly. Serve piping hot.

This recipe is my version – inspired by FoodNetwork.Com

This past July, I visited San Francisco – my first time. When we arrived, it was too early to check-in to our hotel, so we did a little walk around the neighborhood. Our first San Fran meal was pretty tasty. Great service, food and atmosphere at Grand Cafe – Brasserie and Bar (French [...]]]>

This past July, I visited San Francisco – my first time. When we arrived, it was too early to check-in to our hotel, so we did a little walk around the neighborhood. Our first San Fran meal was pretty tasty. Great service, food and atmosphere at Grand Cafe – Brasserie and Bar (French Cuisine). If you know me, I was checking everyone out. There were lots of fabulous looking people around, drinking champagne and wine with their breakfast. I would have taken pictures with my iPhone, but I was in my Carlow University gear and already looking un-fabulously after a 3 a.m. wake-up call for a five hour flight to this fabulous place. Let’s just say, they were staring at me.

For breakfast we had a flat bread with goat cheese and sliced apple. I can’t for the life of me remember the french name of  the dish but I can certainly remember  the taste. Yummy! Here are a few photos of our food. Thinking back, food was our first pictures of San Fran…That’s quite fitting for us

After our belly’s were full. We headed out to Chinatown. Wow! That was an experience. It is the oldest Chinatown in North America, and outside of Asia, it is the largest in the world. We did lots of shopping. Already exhausted, I was carrying several bags; it’s only noon, and we can’t check-in until 3 p.m. Here are a few photos from Chinatown.

That killed a many hours and we were ready to check into our hotel – The Prescott Hotel, a four star hotel. It reminded my of our hotel in Venice, Italy, but it had a French flare. Great service and the rooms were fabulous. They also served complimentary wines and teas in the afternoon. Here are a few photos…

Our first order of business was our reservations to the SupperClub. The Boy and I had heard about it on The Travel Channel. There are five other places like this in the world – Amsterdam, Singapore, Istanbul, London, Los Angeles and of course, San Francisco. Supperclub is not a traditional style restaurant. It’s unexpected – you do not know what is waiting around every corner. The front doors are closed until the party gets started. We were greeted by a lovely woman dressed in pink, saying, “Welcome to my party.” We are then taken to a room to set the mood, and have a few drinks before entering the bedroom. The menu is pre-determined and you do not know until it’s served. It’s a place of discovery in creative imagination and freedom of expression. Surreal. Here are a few photos…

The next day we ventured out to the typical tourist attractions -  Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz. We ate at Fog Harbour Fish House – Excellent crab cakes and clam chowder and the dessert…you can see by the plate it was delicious. Here are a few photos…

During our trip to San Francisco we also ate at the Sushi Boat. Quite a famous place. Very fun atmosphere and the sushi melted in my mouth. As the boats float around the bar, you just pick and grab your piece. Highly recommend this place if you visit.

This was my first trip to San Francisco and would love to go back someday. A great city.

“Leaving San Francisco is like saying goodbye to an old sweetheart. You want to linger as long as possible.” Walter Cronkite

On Customer Service

We got together with some friends for dinner. We first went to Bravos, then decided to get our dessert [...]]]>

We all work in customer service in some capacity. I know first-hand that customers can get on your last nerve. I guess I was one of those annoying customers Saturday night…

On Customer Service

We got together with some friends for dinner. We first went to Bravos, then decided to get our dessert and fancy coffee at Starbucks across the street. When we arrived at Starbucks it was crowded with a few small, empty tables which were not conveniently placed. No biggie, we decided to move two of those tables together.

The manager from behind the counter nicely yelled, “You can’t do that, you’ll interferer with my line.” All eyes on us, we felt embarrassed and upset. Just then, a nice couple enjoying their coffee said, “You can have our table, we were just leaving.” WOW, the customers were nicer than the lovely manager. We said our thank you’s and left.

I could see the manager’s point – the tables would have interfered with his line. I can also see the point he should have helped us. I also understand we were ONLY four customers; probably averaging $40 total, but now he has to deal with our ‘word-of-mouth’ value. Which to most business SHOULD be priceless.

It’s not just Starbucks. My friend Ray said, “Customer service has hit the shitter lately. Whatever happened to ‘The Customer is Always Right?’ It’s almost as if the popular places don’t mind treating a couple people bad as long as they get a lot of business.” He is right. The box-store monopolies are very much to blame.  They have hundreds of stores and hundreds of thousands of customers. Who cares about the four people visiting the North Hills store, 4885 McKnight Road. It was only $40 when they made $500,000 nationwide; in that hour. Don’t even get me started on the Wal-Mart greeters.

Normally, I do not complain. I can tolerate much and give benefit of the doubt in most cases. Though Starbucks was busy, there was not a line, and it was fully staffed with three to 4 employees behind the counter.  So, here’s your tip manager…You could have easily came over and nicely stated, “I’m sorry, this is not a good location. Please let me help you move the tables over there.”  You would have made $40, and the ‘word-of-mouth’ value would have been sweeter.

Thanks! I was just thinking, “What the hell can I write about on my blog?”

Starbucks is always there to assist, or when their not, please call:

Not only [...]]]>

I remember my father telling me stories about his good ‘ole days and wishing he could connect again with his lost friends. Which reminds me how people grow-up, get married, move away, have kids, carrying our friendships away like a leaf in the wind until one day you find yourself alone thinking.

Not only do we lose past friends, we find it hard to stay connected with new acquaintances. Sure you can exchange phone numbers but how often do you call someone you’ve just met? This past month, I vacationed in Vegas where I met a new friend and now we are connected in Facebook, and I believe we communicate more than had we just exchanged digits.

Since joining fbook, I’ve connected to old and new friends. Though, I may not physically see them, I’m now apart of their day-in, day-out antics which is more than before. Sure some of it’s ridiculous and too much information but it makes me smile nonetheless. For example, I now know that one of my friends “is enjoying a VERY lazy Sunday – read, nap, read, nap…,” or another writes, “wants to go out for a big fattening brunch, but is reading a fad diet book instead,”  or another, “is having pivotal parental moments left & right today…”

I now see pictures of friends’ vacations, family, and daily life that I might not have before. Some friends post events, “is going skydiving!,” or “off to yoga,” or “headed to Hofbräuhaus Saturday,” and if I want to get involved, I simply send a message. We even hold good conversations which lead to debates regarding politics, religion and ethics. You can set-up a reunion, large or small. I’ve seen friends get connected after 10, 15, even 40 years.

Social media has made it easier to stay in-touch. I no longer wonder about my dear old friend, and I can build on new friendships. Sure, I’m sitting at my computer physically alone but mentally, I’m surrounded by friends which is more than the old man sitting in his chair wishing to communicate.

We arrived around 6 p.m. Vegas time, had dinner, unpacked and changed [...]]]>

Recently I vacationed in Las Vegas. I slept at Excalibur. It was a 20+ year planned vacation. When I was a teenager, my friend Shannon and I had planned to go somewhere…anywhere. Finally, it was here and we were excited to celebrate.

We arrived around 6 p.m. Vegas time, had dinner, unpacked and changed into our PJs. STOP! HOLD ON… We were in Vegas! Since we didn’t want to miss anything, we headed out to explore the hotel as we were dressed. No big deal, right? We were in lounge pants and t-shirts – no one was going to stare at us. And, no one did. There were women walking around in their teddy’s. SAFE! You can do just about anything you damn well please and it is sociably okay.

We were up at 7 a.m. every morning. We’d get breakfast, a cup of coffee and hit the slots. Around 10 a.m. we’d head to the pool. At 11 a.m. we’d order frozen margaritas from Dick’s Last Resort. Around 1:30 p.m. we’d go get lunch and margaritas at Dick’s Last Resort. After lunch, we’d head to the room, with more margaritas, and get ready for an evening out. Then, for dinner and margaritas, we’d hit Dick’s Last Resort.

Dick’s wasn’t the only thing we did. “That’s what she said”...We did see Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil “O”. Both shows were unreal. We bounced in our seats and bobbed our heads for Blue Man and held our breath in amazement during “O” – two shows you don’t want to miss.

One night, we had dinner at the Stratosphere’s Top of the World resturant.  I had the best filet migon. The price was, well, pricy but worth it.

We did a strip stroll one day and it took us five hours to walk a quarter of the way down the strip; of course stopping and sightseeing. When we were hot and very thirsty, we decided to head back. We stopped and ate at Serendipity’s at Caesars Palace. I think we both drank about eight tall glasses of water. We did the strip stroll mid-afternoon while it was about 90+ heatwave. I highly recommend walking in the evening hours, plus, there’s more things going on, and the city lights up at night.

Coyote Ugly was on our list of must sees. I have to tell you, I was very disappointed. The bar was very small and not too much going on other than the bartenders dancing on the bar. I can get that in Pittsburgh.

Overall, we spent most of our time poolside sipping frozen margaritas at Dick’s. Though, I’m not sure why exactly we frequented Dick’s because the bartenders and wait staff our unbelievably rude, throw shit at you, write nasty things about you on handmade, paper hats, and do obscene things behind your back. I never enjoyed anything as much as I enjoyed Dick’s. This comment goes out to Blink and Taco.

Las Vegas Got Dick’s!

Blue Man

Picture taken from Stratosphere

Las Vegas Strip

Dick's Last Resort Las Vegas