Happy Birthday to...

19:40 hrs.
22 Nov 14

     My BETTER HALF informed me that her Travelling Cousin from Up Island, along her Personal Foodie, would be coming to the WAYWARD INN to celebrate her upcoming birthday. Supper would be a laisse faire, which would be good for me and my Brother Foodie. Cold cuts, mixed olives, several different cheeses, three different artisan breads from Hot Chocolates and olive oil with reduced balsamic vinegar for dipping. Sounds delicious right? Only one small problem. I noticed that a third of the foccacia is missing. Its been torn away and obviously consumed. Now, unlike most Couch Monkeys our two resident Yard Apes don't normally graze their way through the house so the culprit had to be someone else. The mystery was solved when my BETTER HALF returned home. She let me know that before attending a personal care session she and her friend, from Far & Away on the Right Coast, wandered into Hot Chocolates. Looking at the bread selection my LOBSTER noted there was no foccacia to be had.

     "Are you all sold out of foccacia?", she queried.

     "No, I have some just coming out of the oven. Be very careful because its hot!"

     What happened next is best described using my Darling Dearest's own words. She said that the fresh bread smelled so good that they couldn't even wait to sample it in the car. "We sat down at a table and began to pick at the hot bread like a pair of junk yard crows."

     Speaking of crows, they are among the smartest birds in the world with the capability to problem solve. For example, there is a murder of crows in my neighborhood who know when its garbage day and heaven help you if you don't have a lid on your garbage can. A couple of weeks ago these black winged buccaneers tore through damn near every garbage bag on the street. Being the winter season here in the VALLEY the wind and rain made the strewn garbage blow about and stick to everything. And you can't say "It could be worse...the might be seagulls!". Well, here on the Left Coast we have our fair share of Shit Hawks too. Quite often the crows and gulls will work together on garbage day. A Symbiotic Waste relationship. Loin Fruit #2 has a special relationship with crows. As a young child he would take great pleasure at chasing them out of the yard and as soon as he turned his back they would return. I don't know who was playing with who.

     Our guests from Up Island arrived at the WAYWARD INN with the usual round of hugs and salutations. We all settled down for some pleasant chit chat before tucking into our repaste. My Brother Foodie informs my that he is now taking an interest in Scotch Whiskey. A man after my own heart and in that note I poured him a sampler of 10 yr. Glen Morangie while I took my leave with a 12 yr. Glenfiddich. The former is a Highland single malt while later is a Speyside. Both are unique and quite enjoyable. Personally, I prefer the whiskeys from the  Islay region with their smokey peaty flavours. I had bought one really smokey whisky called Smokehead. Never again. It was like drinking straight liquid smoke. My LOBSTER said it smelled like the juice squeezed out of John Wayne's saddle after his ass had been in it for a week. Having drank it, I would say that she was on the right track.
    
    
     Our meal ended with a chocolate walnut torte, also from Hot Chocolates. Extremely decadent. Thick and rich. So good that it should be paired with an Islay. MacLellands would go nicely I would imagine. I'll let you know. Our guests said goodbye. They are about to embark on another adventure far to the South Pacific to visit one of their daughters. My Brother Foodie is looking to purchase some whiskey there. It appears that scotch is cheaper there than in Canada. Go figure. When asked if I would like a bottle I found my arm in pain from being twisted. A nice 10 yr. Laphroaig if you please. Smokey and peaty. To be enjoyed with fresh lox on a bag. This pairing was enjoyed a few years back by yours truly at the Kingfisher Inn.