MAY 6, 2016
SMALL TALK
We can’t rely on sticky elevators, but moms are always on the alert for those “moments” when we’re unintentionally graced with some small bit of uncompromised relaxation. It might be that one time when all of your children miraculously fall asleep for their naps simultaneously or perhaps the 10 minutes alone in the car waiting to pick up your child. Whenever you stumble over it, grab it and sit tight. The wave of normal chaos is peaking just behind you and will shortly break right over your head. Until then, just smile and breathe deeply. It’s a wonder I’m not a hypochondriac. I don’t really like making time to squeeze
in doctor’s appointments, but when I must, I always hope the waiting room is stocked with the latest gossip magazines. I never mind the wait. Once you’ve donned that silly backless gown, you really have no choice but to sit there, guilt-free, and catch up on Hollywood. Wherever I manage “a moment,” the words of cagey Br’er Rabbit, and his timeless plea to his archenemy, ring in my ears. “Please, Br’er Fox. Please don’t throw me in that briar patch.” Oops.
During the tea a story was read about this year’s Girl of the Year doll, Lea. A Madeline’s. She said she se- Brazilian folktale was also lected the doll because she told with the use of a puppet. Later there was bingo has blue eyes and wavy hair and crafts. like her own.
A second tea will be held at the Civic Center Library May 7. The teas are free, reserved seating events sponsored by Friends of the Oceanside Public Library.
MUELLER
than 3,100 students at five schools: Coronado High School, Palm Academy, Coronado Middle School, Strand Elementary, and Village Elementary. Coronado Unified employs 350 people, including 179 certificated employ-
ees, 149 classified employees and 22 administrators. Schmitt and San Dieguito Union school board President Beth Hergesheimer will develop a plan to replace Mueller, according to a news release.
He enjoys family life and his two grand children. He resides with wife Tracey and their cats Henry and Percy. Chris Ahrens’s latest surf novella, “Behold What Is Greater Than Thyself,” is available in many Encinitas surf shops or can be purchased online by visiting: perelandrapub.ecwid.com. He will be doing a book talk on it in the library community room May 19 at 6:30 p.m. If you missed his last talk, do not miss this one.
Becoming better acquainted with Ahrens has been a pleasure and if his schedule allows, I am sure you can meet him in the Friends booth at Dog Days this August. Ahrens is another one of the many reasons that Cardiff-by-the-Sea is the happy, friendly place we all love to call home.
erty was purchased in the 1970s by the Mariani family, importers that wanted a higher quality Sangiovese (Chianti) than was then available. Their pursuit of excellence was rewarded as they are now considered Italy’s premier vineyard estate and the leader in clonal research on the Sangiovese grape. Other Brunello di Montalcino names to know include: Biondi- Santi, Castiglion Del Bosco, Poggio Antico, Il Poggione and Altesino. Prices run from the $60 to $100 range. The 2010s, now in release, are spectacular and will age beautifully. Wine Bytes Encinitas is the place to be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 21 at the Lumberyard Center. It’s the 2nd annual Encinitas Foodie Fest, blending the best of North County food, drink, art and music. Fifteen chefs will show how to prepare farm-to-table cuisine on three different stages and six chefs will compete for the Best of the Fest competition. A “Barefoot Bar” will be serving a dozen or so craft beers,
wine and spirits. Wines provided by Carruth, Lorimar, Meritage Wine Market and Tasting Room Del Mar. Live music throughout the fest. The event will also benefit the Systic Fibrosis Foundation. Cost is $48. Ultimate Foodie VIP package for two with major perks including two nights lodging May 20 and May 21 at the Best Western Moonlight Beach for $1,000. Details are online at foodiefestencinitas. com. Westfield UTC Center in La Jolla brings its 4th annual Uncorked Wine Walk and Concert event, May 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. Cost is $20. Features Temecula wines. It’s a self-guided wine and restaurant walk through the center. Ticket sales help support the Temecula Valley Wine Growers Association. Call (515) 210-7788 for details. Frank Mangio is a renowned wine connoisseur certified by Wine Spectator. He is one of the leading wine commentators on the web. View his columns at tasteofwinetv.com and reach him at mangiompc@aol.com. Follow him on Facebook.
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“enforced leisure.” It is pretty much the only down time moms get, at least without tons of accompanying guilt. My friend needed only to take one deep breath before seeing the opportunity for what it was. She felt quite certain that assistance would be coming soon, as there were bound to be others on the opposite elevator who failed to appreciate this interlude. She simply basked in the delicious, rare, unplanned, uninterrupted silence. No one could blame her, question her or force her to hurry up. It was a luxury ranking above bonbons or an afternoon nap.
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12 board meeting, with a meet-and-greet scheduled an hour before the meeting. Mueller will be leading a district with more
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to talk to person with a tremendous sense of humor and enjoys playing tricks. One April Fool’s day he had a wanted poster made of his wife to hang in the Cardiffby-the-Sea Post Office. Surfing brought Ahrens to Cardiff-by-the-Sea in 1970 and he is here to stay. It goes without saying that he loves surfing but also enjoys spear fishing, is a rock hound and a cat person, which endeared him to me.
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months before they are then crushed and fermented with alcohol in most cases 16 percent. Wines to know are: Cesare, Allegrini, Masi, Tommasi and Alighiera. Prices are mostly in the range from $70 to $100. Brunello do Montalcino, in the south of Tuscany, is our third stop. The name Brunello means “nice dark one” and indeed it is, as it gets its clonal history stems from Tuscany’s most popular grape, Sangiovese. It is only made around the medieval town of Montalcino, 600 meters straight up. The founder of this wine is considered to be Ferrucio Biondi Santo in the 1870s. There are now some 200 producers who must, by law, barrel this wine for at least four years, plus one year in bottle, before selling. The winery that popularized Brunello is American owned and operated, Castello Banfi. The 7,000-acre prop-
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T he C oast News
Jean Gillette is a freelance writer sadly behind in her magazine reading. Contact her at jgillette@ coastnewsgroup.com.
A founding and life member as well as past president and current board member of the of the Friends of the Cardiffby-the-Sea Library, Irene has lived here since 1982.
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about biking across country. “It kind of morphed into the Peru trip and then it was solidified on a mountain bike ride when Jim said he was still thinking about it. And I said, ‘Absolutely, I want to do it,’” McCauley explained. Thirteen months of training later, the pair are leaving May 8 with a group comprised of an international cast of bikers; some are from England, others from Scotland and more from around the U.S. “I like seeing how far I can go, how far I can push myself,” Quigley said. “This is my Mount Everest.” Knowing that the ride will not only be challenging physically, but mentally, too, Quigley will rely on the concentration and focus he used to get him through medical school to help. “I do have a tendency to just go, go, go,” he said of the physicality of it, adding, “I think the mental side is the name of the
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The Oceanside dining scene, in particular, is exploding with the introduction of new restaurants and microbreweries. I recently moved from Encinitas to Oceanside, and as a North County resident and food writer, I want to collaborate with the community-oriented The Coast News to see that the extraordinary, booming culinary talent of North County receives the recognition that it deserves. This year you are celebrating sustainability. Are the chefs required or encouraged to utilize sustainable ingredients in their offerings? Absolutely! As the author of “Living Coastal,” promoting awareness of sustainable food and growing methods is extremely important to me. I hand picked chefs that are on the forefront of the farm-to-table trend such as John D. Miller of Bistro West, Samantha Parker of the Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen, Daniel Pundik of Local Tap House, Stephen Reyna of The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza and Davin Waite of Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub. For example, Chef John Gonzales of Bottaro Wood Fired Pizza buys produce at the farmers market in the morning to use in the pizzas that he prepares the same day. And, I’ve asked all food vendors to use alternative materials made from renewable resources that are biodegradable and compostable for plates, utensils, cups and napkins. Speaking of chefs, you have a stellar lineup of them this year, which is very exciting. Can you share with readers who
game.” The body, he said, adjusts — gets stronger as the ride goes on. For McCauley his mental preparation has come through “a lot of Zen meditation,” he said. But he’s always been into playing sports, he added.
We’re going to do it and see how we handle it.” Kevin McCauley Bicyclist
“I’m just going to try and handle it — just considering myself as from a young kid — just being a jock…seeing at 65, how far deep into the pain cave I can go,” he said. “What we’re doing, I wish it were a little more extraordinary and very few people have ever done that,” McCauley said. “People have been riding across the country and riding across the country for causes for decades will be cooking? I am so excited about the incredible group of North County culinary talent at this year’s Foodie Fest. Top notch chefs and artisanal food purveyors represented at the Nosh North County gourmet food tasting are Angel’s Salumi & Truffles LLC., Barrel Republic Oceanside, Bistro West, Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria, Bottaro Wood Fired Pizza, Brothers Provisions, Chandler’s Carlsbad, Cheryl’s Caramels, The Cork and Craft, FishBone Kitchen, Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen, Frazier Farms Market, Gourmet Culinary, Green Dragon Tavern & Museum, Jake’s Del Mar, Living Tea Brewing Company, Local Tap House & Kitchen, Masters Kitchen and Cocktail, Mission Ave Bar and Grill, Moto Deli, Nibble Chocolate, Panca Peruvian Rotisserie, Priority Public House, The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza, Q’ero Restaurant, Real Bar & Bistro, Sadie Rose Baking Company, So Rich Chocolates, Tasting Room Del Mar and the Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub. Besides sampling great food from amazing chefs, what else can Foodie Fest attendees expect this year? Three stages will feature farm-to-table demonstrations and the fourth a TV-style chef competition sponsored by Bistro West, FishBone Kitchen, Gourmet Culinary and Hamilton Meats and Provisions. Chef’s Roll is covering the competition. One dozen local companies are participating in the Barefoot Bar beer, wine and spirit garden with food pairings in the bar area. Attendees will enjoy live music by Jimmy & Enrique, Perfect Strangers Music, Ben Powell, West County and XAN-
and decades. It’s nothing fresh or new. “We’re going to do it and see how we handle it,” he added. Perhaps the only thing that could get them off their bikes is the weather. By the time they reach the Midwest they’re anticipating lightning storms, even tornadoes. The two will be blogging about their experiences along the way, and for McCauley, he said his best thinking comes while he’s riding a bicycle. There’ll be some writing from his heart, he said, but he’s got what he calls a real “off-the-wall, zany sense of humor,” which will probably show up in his posts, too. “I think the blogs will show all kinds of emotional ups and downs that come with the experience,” he said. Visit their blogs at wheresmacnow.com or jqsbigadventure.com to follow them on their journey. The Coast News will be reprinting some of their blog posts periodically until June 24 when they’re expected to reach the East Coast. DRA. There will also be a reception for the Art for a Cure Exhibit benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation across the street at the E101 Gallery. The festival brings the best of North County San Diego’s culinary, musical and artistic talent together to provide a multi-sensory experience for all who attend. The full schedule of events and entertainment can be found here foodiefestencinitas. com There are a couple of events leading up to the Foodie Fest this year that look fun also, what do you have on tap for the preevent festivities this time around? First up, there’s the VIP Foodie Fest Encinitas Media Party May 12 at the Oceanside Museum of Art. The Fab Lushes Band are performing, there will be a Popup Art for the Cure Exhibit benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with delicious tastings from many of the participating restaurants. Also May 20, Coral Tree Farm in Encinitas will host the VIP Sponsor Appreciation Dinner under the stars. The Barnwell Shift Band will perform and Encinitas Mayor Kristin Gaspar will emcee a live auction. Tickets are available online at foodiefestencinitas.com at the Encinitas 101 MainStreet Association Office and at Bamboo 2 U & Beach House Too in Leucadia. David Boylan is the founder of Artichoke Creative an Encinitas based integrated marketing firm. He also hosts Lick the Plate Radio that airs Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. on FM94/9, Easy 98.1, and KSON. Reach him at david@ artichoke-creative.com or (858) 395-6905.