WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE BOB AND REUEL? ... AND WHO ARE THIS BOB AND REUEL ANYWAY

2015 DINING

REUEL'S BREAKFAST. BOB'S IS IN THE TOASTER.

COMPLETE WITH VITAMINS AND HERBAL TEA.

JAN 16 SOLARE.

With Anthony, Sharon and Susan. Some of us have pear and Gorgonzala salad. Very nice.

Talk of the plays at LJP. Hunchback universally liked.

Susan's Osso Bucco looks fab. "Delicious , so tender, fabulous" she says. B and my and Anthony's steak is not very italian but according to A is "very good, a little chewy". Bob doesn't think it's brilliant. "The meal so far has been disappointing."  I'm not fond of the polenta. Sharon's arugula has interesting flavors, pistachio nuts. Berry patch tea which is placed in a pouch. That's neat. Though the tiramisu is in a flower pot with a mint leaf it's "pretty tasteless"--SHARON. The chocolate salami is good; we each have one of the cookies. Verdict. Not worth a return.

HOME COOKED MEAL WITH BRIAN AND DON

CHEF BOB

JAN 19. D BAR WITH TOM & Neal from PS and Brian our guest for the weekend before his flight to Thailand. No wait unlike the 45 minutes promised at Urban Mo's. Congealed cheese on the burger which the almost insulting waitress first delivers as well done contradicting me when I say I ordered rare. Bob's sliders are tiny balls of tough overcooked meat. Toms chicken fried steak is clearly unappetizing. Though the apologetic manager comps us a second round of Bloody Mary's, we are unhappy and vow not to darken this door again. Embarrassed R and B pay for the meal since we suggested it after Urban Mo's.

Very disappointing.

IL FORNAIO.

 

Il Fornaio Chianti Classico. Excellent plummy. Antipasti. Bruschetta. B. "Particularly good" Bob's mozzarella and grilled tomato that comes with the 2 course $20 prix fixe (it's restaurant week) good. Brian's sea bass in putinesca sauce is incredible. I love my cioppino--wonderful sauce. We are smart ordering a sample  dessert plate. Waiter drops a canola  so we get two extra and they are fabulous as is the tira misu. We "lay waste" to it. And what it does to our waists is another story. Costs B and R almost $200 but oh well.

SMILEY FACES

JAN 25. SUNDAY BRUNCH. CROCE'S.

We both have bloody Mary's (spicy authentic.) and the breakfast quesadillas (excellent). Live music and many episcopalians (from the Sunday services at the cathedral across the street). No reason not to keep coming back.

SAT JAN 31.

Dinner at Gary's beautiful Coronado home. Good "dish" and dishes. Gary great host despite having had a long hard Palm Springs to San Diego day.

FRI FEB 6. CROCES. Me. Martini. Bob chard. Both turkey club. Great has spicy zing. Noisy lawyer next table. His female assistant buttering him up. Pleasant. $73.

JAN 25. SUNDAY BRUNCH. CROCE'S.

JAN 25. SUNDAY BRUNCH. CROCE'S.SAT MORN. REUEL'S BREAKFAST. My yummie concoction. Over Sautéed Mushrooms, chopped onions and shrimp pieces pour a mixture of egg (1) salsa, hummus, tri-pepper dice, nut mix, chopped cheese and half and half cream. Heat between medium and simmer. Heat previously barbecued hamburger pattie and microwave a 100 calorie multigrain tortilla. Serve with cottage cheese and a cup of brewed Silver Vin Zheng Pearls white tea.

FRI FEB 13. We're in good moods. We're back from our morning workout where I presented Corrie instructor with the lacy Tony blouse I won in the ZUMBATHON shimmy contest. I've completed our loan refinance application and submitted tax preparer material. So Bob suggests out for lunch to Jimmy Carter's. R&B Beef Birra plates which our ever friendly waiter says is "very authentic" (it's very nice, a little kick, and "you can make little sandwiches out of it"; kind of like a stew but so flavorful") with the supplied tacos and Corona Lights. Life is good.

FRI FEB 20. CROCES. In celebration of our signing out loan commitment letter today and that we're out of sandwiches in the fridge, we go out to lunch. A bottle of Coppola Merlot for the congratulatory toasts. R. Southwest turkey club. Always nice and particularly good fruit mix. Bob's burger is "lovely."  And I get a doggy 1/2 to take home.

TUES MARCH 31. JIMMY CARTER's.

Just back from our trip and hungry. The usual. Carne asada enchilada with Corona Light. Back in the swing.

FEBRUARY 14-14. TRIP TO LA.

 kendall's brasserie

AMTRAC FROM LA TO SD

CLUB FLOOR @ THE OMNI

FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 31. GOLDEN PRINCESS CRUISE. ANDES, SOUTH AMERICA ADVENTURE. ARGENTINA-LA.

FRI APRIL 3. URBAN MO'S.

Always fun. Instead of going back to PS today we walk to heart of Hillcrest. Mugs of light beer a good idea (especially mine, Stella Artois--Stellahh). I order the 12 inch FRI Italian sub special  so I can take a doggy bag back for $3 extra. Bob the 6" pulled pork sandwich which he loves.,"that's it until next year."

SAT APRIL 4. LULU's.

"The usual?" Of course. Martini, chardonnay, 2 blue cheese burgers. Always a delight. Eddie as usual is our server. Remember his name.

SUN Trio. Palm Springs. Scattering Danny's ashes weekend.

R. Seafood cerviche. Absolutely Wonderful. 1/2 chicken omg. And the string end and mashed potatos actually who'd a thunk excellent. I have the pudding--lovely-- the rest have the ice cream sundae. Well loved.

B. Beet salad very good Yankee pot roast D. Beet salad croutons delightfully crisp in French bread and Caesar salad the best, meatloaf "the texture the seasoning some of the best I've every had".

Brian. Loves his artichokes. Sole buttery nice.

Resent that they served main course a tad before were finished our appetizers. I send mine back and tell the others to "eat eat eat".

Nevertheless brilliant. Wow. $19 for the 3 course prix fixe. Bob: We can't go back to Trio because it will never be as good.

APRIL 12.

AU REVOIR before the movies, While we Were Young at the Landmark. Can do it because rented an apartment yesterday to first prospect. Yea. R. Le "cocorico" baguette. Grilled chicken breast/Brie. Very good. Glass of Lejarre merlot. B. Crepe Complete. Ham, Swiss cheese, fried egg. Not what he was expecting. But good. C'est la Vie Chardonnay.

TUES APRIL14. OLD TOWN MEXICAN GRILL. This is Corrie's semiannual luncheon with our Monday Friday aerobics class. Crowded, noisy. Two separate long tables. Our chicken enchiladas verdes are spicy but not spectacular.

FRI APRIL17. PACIFICA GRILL.

A Belvedere martini for me Pacific Chard for Bob. B. Thai vegetable curry which is sensational. Seasonal veggies. Sticky rice with coconut sauce. I get to taste his beet like Asian thing quite nice as is his Bok Choy. "It's kind of like eating rice pudding with vegetables." R. Fish tacos. Nice (everything at the Pacifica is a cut above) but probably not the best item on the menu.

SUN. URBAN MO'S.

After seeing Ex MACHINA at the Hillcrest Cinemas. Actually got a table right away "because I like you guys"--sure--in the back by the buffet at a high top good for their two grandfathers viewing the eye candy. Crowded to the max. Disco style Music grows louder until impossible to speak and be heard--just sip two bud lights each and make incursions into the western burgers. My wrap one easier to eat than Bob's who nevertheless manages to devour his completely, 1/2 of mine deposited into a take home container. Nice change of pace.

SAT MAY 2.

HOB NOB HILL. Just cause we can and we're giving in to the stress of our moving experience. Ah the profligacy of it all. Carafe of red wine. I'm having the liver (always a fave of mine--certainly not of Bob's)with the pea soup (fab). Tomatoes, onions bacon and applesauce. Nero himself couldn't have such a feast.There's the little loaves of rye bread, and Karen our septuagenarian server--efficient and solicitous. Bob sensibly has the Cobb salad which he much enjoys.

SATURDAY. MAY 9.

Croce's with Gary who gets to see the new condo "before". His housewarming treat. How nice. Bob particularly annoyed that they've done a bait and switch , saying that although he reserved a booth they've "upgraded" us to the music room for a $10 pp extra charge. We have our unhappy choice of patio or a bar high top. Too late to go searching elsewhere. So high top. I should have ordered the chicken that Bob and Gary have with our three course $35 dinners which they enjoy instead of the unspecial small halibut.

They also like their cobblers, I less so my cheesecake. A couple of Belvedere Martinis helps raise the spirits however.

MONDAY. MAY 11. LUNCH.  THI FRIDAYS. We didn't plan to dine at this place, here in La Jolla all these years but Elijah's (moving to Clairemont Mesa Blvd. God knows why) turns out to be closed. So no longed for soup with pastrami sandwich today when we stop off at the assisted living luxe place, Pacific Regent, the old folks we bought our condo from moved in order to pick up a set of keys Sydney found.

SATURDAY MAY 16. Palm Springs.It's COCO'S,

a pleasant walk from our condo,  for a hungry farm boys' breakfast, though we really want to devour one of their famous pies. Both of us have the florentine scramble with fresh fruit except Bob has a muffin and I departing from my norm, pancakes. Yum.

SAT MAY 16. LUNCH LULU'S. I have the cheese quesadilla, Bob the Chinese chicken salad which he 1/2 bags for our at home dinner (plus the apple pie slices and ice cream we got at Jensen's).

SUN MAY 17. Pinot grill. "They know how to make burgers here," says Bob. They do. Mine rare, his medium. We're here in LA for "Immediate Family" at the Taper. Love the fingerling potatoes. House chards. Looking out at a neat art installation of figures of old people. Taper is the only game at the Music Center today so it's a relatively peaceful scene.

THURS MAY 21. DZ AKINS for soup and mini sandwich, matza ball and pastrami. Just because we were thwarted in our desire for these items when we discovered Elijah's deli was closed. The overflowing soup needs a little salt. The matza ball is a good texture but also doesn't have much taste.

FRIDAY MAY 29.

R & B the red carafe. Noisy. Arugula Salad has anchovies and cheese.

SAT MAY 30. DONS BDAY LUNCH AT HOB NOB HILL. R chicken tortilla soup. Bob's Waldorf salad is "just delicious, practically the only place you can get it." Talk of having those salads at Horn and Hardart of course. Bob's and my baby back ribs are yummy, Don likes his hot roast beef sandwich.

It's his b'day so we're all allowed to have excessive dessert. Don thinks his German ChocolatebCake is "really good", I like my apple pie a la mode, B's sundae "pretty nice, Carmel ice cream, nuts, who knew?"

SUNDAY MAY 31. The larder at our new condo yielding nothing lunch worthy, we find Jimmy Carter's Mexican up the block a meritorious choice. Bob always likes his Texas Scramble and R his carne asada quesadillas. A fitting accompaniment to this weekend of carb frenzy.

WED JUNE 3. RED FOX. After so long away a stroke of genius suggestion from Bob as a luncheon pause on our way to buy champagne for our fellow condo owners to thank them for their patience with our plumbing problems. It's the same and we've the old fustian place to ourselves. My Blue Heaven on the speakers and we're in heaven. Bud lights. Salad with blue cheese of course for me with my top sirloin steak with baked potato. Plus that great garlic bread. Bob's delight is a cheeseburger and fries. All fabulous tho cottage fries are not his favorite. The Red Fox is presumably a hipster hangout at night. We're setting the tone for the afternoon.

SUNDAY JUNE 7. HOB NOB HILL. Hey it's in the neighb. And seating is available after 1:30 when we arrive after putting stuff away for the painters coming tomorrow to spread destruction. We've got it down. Cream of chicken for me a Waldorf salad for Bob. ("Kind of like eating dessert"--same for mine actually.) prime ribs with the trimmings today for both of us. HNH and Red Fox on the same week. A memory lane treat.

MONDAY JUNE 8. URBAN MO'S. Sitting at a window high table and watch the passing scene such as it is. Bud lights. Meatball submarine and Cole slaw (good) for moi; Bob really likes his Caesar salad. Betty Boop our waitress has gotten older. Oh dear. Sound of people drinking too much at the bar.

MONDAY EVE. GOURMET INDIA DELIVERY. We much enjoyed the $35 (though with delivery charge and tip the guy it was $50) dinner for two including a samosas appetizer (really a soup we had to drink out of cups having no spoons in our war-torn apartment on 1st. With that we had s Marsala curry "true British national dish" of the occupiers and the "Dal of the Day" which in this case was yellow rice sautéed with ginger onions and spices. Of course naan (!) and rice. All wonderful if extravagant for take out.

FRIDAY JUNE 12. PF CHANG'S.The place is busy at 2:30 after we see Mad Max. A bottle of Santa Julia Chilean cab. Very good hot and spicy Sweet and sour soup. Ginger chicken with broccoli and mango and beef are our mains. The brown rice is especially good. No Chinese servers Bob notes.

JUNE 17. AT BETH'S WITH "FAMILY".

FRI JUNE 19. RED FOX. "Nice to rediscover," says Bob as he enjoys his cheeseburger and I my luncheons with top sirloin steak with salad and baked potato. I'm wearing a turtleneck in celebration of the indoorness of the experience.

FRIJUNE 26. BOMBAY. Hillcrest. With nieces Beth and Nancy. The $9.95 buffet is actually darned good. A nice change. B. "The variety was so broad. Everything was delicious." Nancy loved the Nam--took home the leftovers.

WHERE I'LL HAVE MY BAR MITZVAH RECEPTION

VENETIAN TABLE

SUNDAY JUNE

HOBNOB HILL. The usual. Prime ribs rare. With all the trimmings on the baked potato. My cream of chicken soup a little sweet and thick. We take home almost two loaves and plenty of prime rib. But after a carafe of wine feel stuffed,

MONDAY. URBAN MO'S. Bob has the pulled pork mit coleslaw. Me a blue cheese burger on chiabata bread.

TUES JULY 13 IKEA For 16 bucks we get lunch. The trade off as Bob puts it is the noise level, specifically crying kids, but I'm not disturbed. Some are adorable and I admire the women multitasking. Swedish meatball combo for me, veggie meatballs for Bob. Filling.

FRI JULY 17. JIMMY CARTER'S 

JIMMY C'S. TIAQUEPAC ENCHILLADAS for moi. Filled with chicken. Great sauce. Yummy. Bob back from a bloodletting needed his Texas scramble.

WED JULY 22.

My bday dinner with Beth at HEXAGONE. Hess cab. Beth has the halibut with only, her choice in collusion with the server, lime--I find it dry, Bob the beef bourbonon  ("very satisfying. What's the use of going to a French restaurant without boeuf bourbonon")  and moi NY Steak (nice sauce and I get a doggy). Alas an hour until our food is served and as Beth notes no bread served.

HAPPY B'DAY

THURS. JULY 23. Il Fornaio.

Continuing the birthday festivities after working out with Rocco, low impact, swim, sauna and shower at the Y and fruitless search for an actual Arne Jacobson Swan chair at the closed Design  Within Reach (a definite misnomer) store downtown. Beautiful day. Beautiful view of own town from our window perch. Great dipping the bread, which constantly cheerful George serves, in the balsamic vinegar mix. I order the Linguine Mare Ciarro, thin flat pasta with clams, mussels, prawns and scallops, seasoned with tomatoes, crushed red pepper and Trebbiano wine. Bob Canelone Al Fornaio. Fresh pasta tubes filled with free range chicken, sun dried tomatoes, ricotta, mushrooms, bechemel sauce. We love our dishes. Against Bob's (no, expressed) wishes I order a dessert trio for us to share-- featuring zabiioni, Tira must, and Canelone.

SUN AUG 2. With Don at HOB NOB HILL. love the Waldorf salad. Remember that. Though it's very rich "like dessert" says Bob. And frankly that's enough to eat. But that's not the point. Don likes his veggie soup and orders the Sunday special leg of lamb. Reuel the prime rib. Bob the breast of chicken grilled. Mostly over the baked potato.

Fri August 21. BISTRO DASIA. Our monthly supper club. Andria pronounces the calamari appetizer horrible, rubbery. The rest is according to Bob mediocre.

3RD CORNER BISTRO WITH OUR LADIES SUPPER CLUB.

SUNDAY AUG 23. HOB NOB HILL W DON. Ordered a bottle of the Chile Merlot for $20 instead of the carafe for $18. It's better. Don likes his veggie soup; we our spinach salad. All 3 prime rib and the works. Hubba hubba.

FRI. AU REVOIR.

The funny French waiter. We both go for the coco ricco (red chicken? Rooster?) baguette since the diary says it's a winner plus the house red bottle preparatory to seeing Mistress America at the Landmark.  As Bob says, "Very tasty ". Indeed! Unfortunately we devour everything.

MONDAY. SEPT. 7. LABOR DAY. HOB NOB HILL.

Bob had his bout with low impact at Mission Hills while Beth and I did zumba at Toby Wells. Now it's time to "fress". The special is the ultimate comfort food--meat loaf and we always in need of comfort have it. Mine comes with mashed potatoes which are wonderful.

HOME SWEET HOME.

FRI SEP 11. So after buying file cabinets at Shore furniture we stop for lunch at the RED FOX.

It's terribly hot out so the dark cool room is a perfect antidote. The usual. R the top sirloin, B the cheeseburger. That lovely salad with blue cheese, the garlic bread, the light beer in a chilled glass. Yea, the cheery portly blonde waitress we've known for years.

FRI SEP 18. JIMMY CARTER'S. A couple of Corona Lights, a carne Assad quesadilla for moi, Texas scramble for Bob. Missing Puerto Vallarta this year so need this South of de Border transfusion from Up de Block.

A FAVORITE BREAKFAST

WED SEPT 23. MR A'S. (Restaurant Week)

Our Ladies Supper Club. Serious dining here. Incredible views. A Grayson cab. I have the crudo, lovely presentation nice.

FRI SEPT 25. IL FORNAIO.

Restaurant week continues. $20 special. That view. The authentic server, Gioseppi, the warmed bread to dip in an olive oil and balsamic sauce. Chianti Classico wine. Were both having the Zuppa do Zucca e Porti, that's squash soup with potatoes, leeks and herbs with Grana Padan (whatever that is). Quite nice. A little pepper helps. Nice consistency, subtle flavor a.  Bob's main is Pennoni AllaVodka, large pasta tubes with bacon, vodka-cream-tomato sauce (great) and that elusive Grana Padana (which I learn is Parmesan cheese). Wow. R's Conchiglie Al Pollo (which Bob enjoyed last time here). Shells pasta, chicken breast, brocolli $101.32 with tip. Not exactly a bargain but Il Fornaio is always a treat.

SAT. SEPT. 26. SAN DIEGO BLUES FESTIVAL.

NIECES BETH AND JUDY

SAT OCT 18. Lulu's.

Having arrived in PS. The usual. Always a treat.

SUN OCT 17. Pinot Grill.

The usual. Always a treat. Although this time my martini is Belvedere to "make up for not going to the Mexican stand". I know, the logic is inverted." Lots of extremely well dressed kids around. Must be because the Ahmanson is presenting Cinderella today. Some celebrity guy his wife and his oddly Indonesian looking children at an  adjoining table.

HURS OCT 21. Brian is visiting so we go to Il Fornaio in Coronado.

Me Mare de Ciarre., Bob Marguerite pizza and Brian sea bass putenesca.

House Chianti. Love. Love. $135.

THURS OCT 28. JUNIPER AND IVY.

Martinis then glass chard. Sharon and I the Alaskan Halibut. (Fabulous but $40). Bob the chicken breast of course. Susan a pasta with lamb. My key lime pie is absolutely brilliant. It's actually called Lemon meringue with marshmallows, pomegranate and pistachio. Bob has the Lemon Verbina Sorbet which he likes.

FIXIN'S FROM THE KITCHEN

SAT NOV 7. After our lovely hour walk around La Playa yacht club on Shelter Island with Beth as guide, we stop at the Red Sails Inn for a late lunch and luck out with a table right on the water looking out at the docked yachts here. A Cavit Pinot Grigio is fruity and just right. I the weight watchers burger, Bob the bacon blu burger, and Beth the Crab and Shrimp salad combo.

GIRLS ON A TOOT

11/15 SUN. PF CHANGS. Same table as last time. We simultaneously agree that the waitress's face is kabuki crossed with a little Divine. We choose the $20 Shiraz wine special and the $42.95 Chang's for 2, 4 course prix-fixe menu. Hot and sour soup. "Yummy" to quote Bob. Dumplings. Entree: Mongolian beef and spicy chicken. Excellent choices. Dessert small enough to be enjoyed. Excellent.

MONDAY NOV 23. BACI.

Niece Beth joins us as her birthday treat. Sharon, Susan, Kathy and Andrea) we'll spend $215. This is an expensive restaurant. And frankly although the company is sublime I'm not impressed. Our server is not congenial to begin with. Our shared appetizers of calimari and portobello mushrooms are not transcendent. Though everyone said their mains were great, my fish was so so. Beth claims to like her salmon and Sharon her swordfish, but I'm not convinced. Andrea is the only one with a pasta dish but though she also claims to like it, it looks small.

MAKE A WISH DONOR APPRECATION @ THE DEL.

We are invited to be appreciated for our gift to Make A Wish (our 1988 560 SL Mercedes convertible sports car). Good appetizers, touching stories and presentations. This is a worthy cause and the heavyweight staffers (e.g. national ED) dance attendance on us. We shamefully like that.

IT'S THE WEEKEND AND IT'S HOB NOB O'COURSE

PROVISIONS FROM COSCO--MOSTLY VINO

NOV. 26. THANKSGIVING DINNER @ Beth's.

The assembled company will consume a half case of the Beaujolais  Neuveau that we bring on behalf of our and Don's presence. Cast of characters: the younguns--Niece Judy's brood, Andrea, Daniel and Greg; Beth's Sam and Jordy and their friends Cameron and Elliot; oldsters, Niece Judy and beau Scott, Beth, and Bob, Reuel and our Don. Jordy and Cameron play chess; we all talk of politics. I advise the youngsters to vote or we'll wind up with Trump. The meal consists of turkey which Beth has presliced, stuffing, asparagus, string beans. Dessert is Don's rhubarb pie.

NOV 27. LULU'S. We're in Palm Springs to ready our condo for our season guests, the Colonel and his lady. The inevitable Lulu's is crowded to the max.

Height of season after all--the town is crawling with tourists. Damn em. Which we will be once we sell our condo. Next year? (We're never here after all.) We share the heavenly combo of a cheeseburger and a cheese quesadilla. 2 rounds (so ashamed) of Chardonnays and martinis (the whole bill with tip is like $50) and we're ready . . . To nap.

SPENCER's. We love this place. Indoors it's all chiarescurros, gorgeous busboy and piano playing all the inevitables--great arpeggios--Autumn leaves, 3 coins in a fountain. (Despite inflation.)

We have the businessman's express. Express being a misnomer but we don't care. Today it's the ribs--fabulous. Bob has the salad and Reuel the tomato basil soup. Dessert is a lovely bread pudding with a soupçon of whipped cream. Of course the generous Belvedere martinis are a perfect accompaniment ($13--not outrageous). We see Andy Linsky at his table for 5 including we guess his new boy toy--in great shape, totally uninvolved with the older guys' chitchat. It's Palm Springs!

[spending less than $300 a month for meals out. 1/2 of budget. Yea.]

SUN. NOV. 29. HOB NOB.

Our reward for cleaning the PS condo, driving 2 1/2 hours and dragging a car full of stuff up to our condo. Bob having grilled chicken, I the usual. Funny I ask for a bottle of merlot. And what will you be having she asks Bob. I say he'll have a bottle too. Apparently she didn't understand that I'd ordered a bottle not a glass, but funny. "I'm having a lovely lunch" says Bob. "Tastes so good. They know how to do baked potatoes." Agreed. Of his chicken breast, "They beat it then flatten it like veal piccata.. Learned that from Ina Garten on the Food Network." 57.25 pre tip.

WE EVEN DINE AT HOME.

A REUEL BREAKFAST

SUN. DEC 6. We venture beyond our usual Sunday choices and our walk to Hillcrest yields A Taste of Thai, where we may not have been for 15 years. Here we are the only diners at first. Then a few stragglers. This used to be he busiest place around.

A bottle of La Playa Chilean Chardonnay. We go for the appetizer sampler. The peanut sauce is wonderful with the chicken satay. The other spices in little ramikens work well too. A dumpling in the soy sauce good. The shrimp imprisoned  in thin noodles Bob pronounces "great fun" once D dipped in one of the sauces. 10.95. Then Bob the   . "Just delicious" with its curried peanut flavored sauce. Follow the peanut! R the Thai Boat dramatically wrapped in foil which our server expertly opens. Dining as theatre. Not at all spicy but subtly flavored. Got everything in it including lovely glassy noodles. (Next time try the spicy fish compilations). And we take a coupla boxes back for home.

DECEMBER 8. HOA ANNUAL MEETING/SOCIAL  @ JERRY & DEITRE'S CONDO UPSTAIRS. Reuel is now on the Board. Oy.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 11. So Sharon picks us up to take us to SUSAN'S REPRISE THANKSGIVING DINNER

SUSAN'S DAUGHTER TRACY & HER CAT

at her lovely condo not far from niece Beth's house (best I can do with location mapping). Sister Kathy and daughter Tracy--who is doing much of the cooking--are there as we rush in from a rare rain downpour to the comforting rescue of a lighted fire in the fireplace. Unlimited outings of champagne and a selection of olives grace our non/stop conversation, the usual wide range from politics--Syrian refugees (who Sharon's daughter has been aiding in Greece) to Trump of course--to, ya guessed it, Food. Thanksgiving food that the host ladies felt they missed out on the first go-around is the theme and it's all there in abundance, turkey,  stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and a delicious desert concoction in individual ramekins which I eat much too much of. Mainly the company is delightful and we feel well pleased to have been invited.

SUNDAY DEC 13. AU REVOIR.

Our intime table is taken so we find one in back next to a table of little girls dressed alike in spangly dresses and their moms who have probably been to their daughters' recital. B. The "cocorico". No surprise there. But they seem to have taken his Croque Madame favorite off the menu. R. The Tatare de boeuf which never ceases to shock Bob. "Raw meat?" But which I remember enjoying here. I get to spread the meat which I mix with the raw yolk accompanying it on the included toast points. A nice bottle of La Terre cab. And those wonderful skinny fries they call Lavender Fries. Our jolly waiter/manager from Marseilles is Thomas.

FRIDAY DEC. 18. CORRIE'S BAKE/OFF  CHRISTMAS PARTY.

After aerobics class (Total Body Workout) with Corrie we meet at 8 AM in an adjacent room to the exercise studio all with our homemade cookies (in our case purchased Russian tea cookies) to each gather the various sugared gems in provided bags (interesting fitness custom) and not incidentally socialize and wish our fellow presumably fit oldsters Merry Christmas.  Bob's favorite is the chocolate brownies.

FRI DEC 18. PACIFICA GRILL IN DEL MAR WITH THE LADIES.

Thank goodness Sharon drives because the drive time traffic is . . . People have scallops (Kathy she loves it)  sugared salmon (Andrea) Verry good. But a little too sweet, vegetarian curry (Bob and Sharon), ""not enough taste of curry" filet (Reuel), potatoes and veg very good,sea bass (Susan very good) No desserts but I and Andrea have Remy Martin cognac (don't think Andrea liked it).

 WED. DEC 22. HEXAGONE @ Bob's request for his b'day with Beth.

I read my last July b'day review of the place and discover we waited an hour to be served and Bob complained on Yelp and yet here we are. Festive. Squints Pinot noir. Beth lemon chicken. She likes the lemony quality.  Bob and I the Boef Bourgenon. "Not as velvetery as bb often is. Not enveloped by the taste as one's French great grandmother would make. But it's good." However, they manage to lose my Capital One Visa credit card and we don't feel happily inclined to make a return visit.

It's CHRISTMAS EVE and time for RICK'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY and food gorge-aria at his beautiful home in north Park.

FRIDAY DEC 25. CHRISTMAS DINNER.

At Home. Honored Guest--Don. After our walk across the Spruce St. Bridge. Agoraphobia delight. And past the some-decorated mansions of our fabulous neighborhood. Reuel is writing plays while Bob goes all out in his table decor. "I feel like Miss Haversham. Let's leave it this way." I agree. We've other tables on which to dine in ordinary life after all. The menu: Cocktails. (Don has his usual cranberry mixed with Aqua. The others--us--the full holiday Monty.) Tomato soup. Ham. (Bob's one insistent concession to his, what have you, ethnicity. Accompanied by sweet potato casserole, corn pudding, green bean casserole and rolls and butter (cause we're oh so genteel. We've done the gentile.) For dessert, Fruitcake with tiramisu gelato. Omg! It's so nice to have a man around the house.

     And as it eventuates the meal is without exception delicious. Not just saying that. It is. Wowza Bob! And he even gives us favors that when pulled reveal little gifts. All produce paper crowns which we all, proper queens, (eek), wear proudly, even idiosyncratically.

SAT DEC 26. After "Youth" at the Hillcrest Cinemas. AU REVOIR.

A little bit of Paris. We remember how we were able to exploit the few days in Paris so many years ago by alluding to it as our inspiration when we opened our wine bar 16 years ago, then a novelty. This time we sit at our favorite booth for two with the commanding view of the scene, such as there is since it's the lazy day after Christmas. Here we go with our traditional choices. La Terre cab, Tatare de Boeuf for me, (wonderful but a little salty), the Chicken Pallard for Bob ) he always enjoys and promises to make it by pounding a chicken; then thinks best of it."nice thing about eating steak Tatare, it doesn't get cold when you write." A diplomatic reminder that I'm on my I-phone--writing. I note that the sign saying Please wait to be seated seems to say Please wait to be Sated. We are. No need for dessert.

SUNDAY DEC 27.

Arriving earlier than expected (Bob anticipated traffic) for The Christians our last subscription play at the Taper. We choose PINOT GRILL over the Mexican taco stand mainly because it's chilly outside today. At least we're sort of enclosed in plastic here. Belvedere martini for moi and a chard for Bob. The Pinot burgers for both of us. $77.