Again I am breaking new ground with a Restaurant Review. We enjoyed this place in Des Moines over the weekend. The atmosphere is reasonably good, with lots of wood, dim lighting, and a comfortable temperature. It was a bit loud when we were there, but it was a Saturday night at 8 PM, after all.
This restaurant allows you to bring your own wine, so we brought a St. Croix and another bottle that I forget, although it was a decent wine as well. We had the cheese course, and really enjoyed the strong Gouda, cut into french fry shaped morsels, a Burgogne cheese that was to die for, and another which I unfortunately forget.
In particular, the Burgogne cheese, on a bit of crusty french bread, followed by a sip of the St. Croix was an unbelievable experience. The cheese was great, and the wine brought out even more flavor.
I had the seared scallops, which were awesome - large, plump, juicy, warm through and through, with a great sauce and bed of butternut squash. This was an unusual selection but I could not resist trying a creative squash entree.
Cost was about $80 for two, and we strongly recommend this restaurant.
Monday, March 14, 2011
book review - Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang - Chelsea Handler
I think I've read all of Chelsea's books now, and I can honestly say that they are funny, diverting, and light reading. I'm sure not everyone will enjoy them, and particularly I would say you should avoid them if you dislike swearing, unsavory characters, and the like.
However, for anyone who has ever been embarassed by their relatives, or their car --- I think you'll enjoy them because you can relate. No foible is too small to be the butt of a joke.
The book was just right for a three hour plane ride, and it really made the flight zip by. I appreciate a good diverting book when I have to fold my long frame into a economy class seat.
In case you don't know who Chelsea Handler is, try tuning in to the E! network late at night to catch her talk show. The book is published by Hachette Book Group, although I can't imagine you'll have any trouble finding it. It is not great literature, although it is worth reading.
However, for anyone who has ever been embarassed by their relatives, or their car --- I think you'll enjoy them because you can relate. No foible is too small to be the butt of a joke.
The book was just right for a three hour plane ride, and it really made the flight zip by. I appreciate a good diverting book when I have to fold my long frame into a economy class seat.
In case you don't know who Chelsea Handler is, try tuning in to the E! network late at night to catch her talk show. The book is published by Hachette Book Group, although I can't imagine you'll have any trouble finding it. It is not great literature, although it is worth reading.
Book Review - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot
This is a work of non-fiction. It is almost a documentary or perhaps a history book. It might also be called a biography but it is not entirely about one person, or about that person's entire life. It is more about the impact of Henrietta Lacks on her family, and on the world.
Although I am trained in the sciences and enjoy studying science, much of the science in this book was new to me. This is not to say that the book is a science book - the science, although integral to the story, is not difficult, is not the focus, and is not presented for pedagogical purposes.
This book is also partly a history or exploration (through one person) of medical ethics, and related law. With all of this introduction you might think that this book is bound to be crashingly boring, but it is a page turner. I didn't want to put it down, because it was so intriguing and informative. It was sometimes sad, but always relevant and compelling. Even as a side note, the glimpses it gave into the author's process were also interesting and worthwhile.
I highly recommend this book for any reader, but particularly for those who have at least an idle interest in science, or history, or the nature of humanity.
The book is published by Crown Publishing / Random House, and is 366 pages long. It took me more than a few hours to get through, although it was probably less than six hours. It was worth every minute.
Although I am trained in the sciences and enjoy studying science, much of the science in this book was new to me. This is not to say that the book is a science book - the science, although integral to the story, is not difficult, is not the focus, and is not presented for pedagogical purposes.
This book is also partly a history or exploration (through one person) of medical ethics, and related law. With all of this introduction you might think that this book is bound to be crashingly boring, but it is a page turner. I didn't want to put it down, because it was so intriguing and informative. It was sometimes sad, but always relevant and compelling. Even as a side note, the glimpses it gave into the author's process were also interesting and worthwhile.
I highly recommend this book for any reader, but particularly for those who have at least an idle interest in science, or history, or the nature of humanity.
The book is published by Crown Publishing / Random House, and is 366 pages long. It took me more than a few hours to get through, although it was probably less than six hours. It was worth every minute.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Book Review - Aimee Bender - The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
This is another book that Heather suggested I read. I don't think she liked it, but she wanted me to give me her take on the book.
I think the book is a metaphor about a lot of different things. For example, throughout his life, the central character's father never went into hospitals. Now, there are a lot of people who don't like hospitals, but that wasn't the reason he didn't go into hospitals. It was because he was afraid of who he might become if he went in there. He didn't think it would be bad, and had some reason to think it might be good, but he was afraid of it, and literally didn't want to go there.
When I first began to read the book, it took a few chapters to really get into it, but once I did, I found I was reminded of "To Kill a Mockingbird" because the story was told from the point of view of a young girl, and perhaps because of the somewhat conversational, somewhat narrative way she speaks. She also seems to always be looking for hidden meanings, and makes a lot of observations.
For example, Rose (the young girl narrator) gives detailed descriptions of everything, even down to individual folding chairs. The most telling is the description of her mother, but I'll leave that for you to read the book. The descriptions are piled upon each other, layer by layer. You hear how her mother would describe Rose's father --- a plain gray boulder. You hear about his handwriting, the columns of figures in a journal, the occupation. All of this leads to a rich understanding of her father.
There are lots of insights into how this family interacts, and these insights allow you to look at how your own family works. There are subtle lessons here, about teenage crushes, about hidden talents, about the ability of people to deny the truth that stares them in the face every day, and others too numerous to mention.
Earlier today, I was thinking about what I would write in this review, and what most sticks with me about this book is how Rose analyzes everything. The central metaphor of the book for me is how Rose analyzes the taste of everything - such as the Lemon Cake in the title.
In the book, Rose analyzes deeper and deeper, until finally she understands even her father's behavior. I can relate to that since I analyze everything all the time. Sometimes I wish I could turn it off, but it seems like I just analyze all the time without even consciously doing it.
For Rose, she was analyzing in order to adapt to her particular ability. Perhaps that is what I need to do - to turn my ability to analyze on itself, to realize and cope with the consequences of "an over-analyzed life".
Hopefully I'll be as successful as Rose.
The book is published by Doubleday / Random House. I would recommend that you read it.
I think the book is a metaphor about a lot of different things. For example, throughout his life, the central character's father never went into hospitals. Now, there are a lot of people who don't like hospitals, but that wasn't the reason he didn't go into hospitals. It was because he was afraid of who he might become if he went in there. He didn't think it would be bad, and had some reason to think it might be good, but he was afraid of it, and literally didn't want to go there.
When I first began to read the book, it took a few chapters to really get into it, but once I did, I found I was reminded of "To Kill a Mockingbird" because the story was told from the point of view of a young girl, and perhaps because of the somewhat conversational, somewhat narrative way she speaks. She also seems to always be looking for hidden meanings, and makes a lot of observations.
For example, Rose (the young girl narrator) gives detailed descriptions of everything, even down to individual folding chairs. The most telling is the description of her mother, but I'll leave that for you to read the book. The descriptions are piled upon each other, layer by layer. You hear how her mother would describe Rose's father --- a plain gray boulder. You hear about his handwriting, the columns of figures in a journal, the occupation. All of this leads to a rich understanding of her father.
There are lots of insights into how this family interacts, and these insights allow you to look at how your own family works. There are subtle lessons here, about teenage crushes, about hidden talents, about the ability of people to deny the truth that stares them in the face every day, and others too numerous to mention.
Earlier today, I was thinking about what I would write in this review, and what most sticks with me about this book is how Rose analyzes everything. The central metaphor of the book for me is how Rose analyzes the taste of everything - such as the Lemon Cake in the title.
In the book, Rose analyzes deeper and deeper, until finally she understands even her father's behavior. I can relate to that since I analyze everything all the time. Sometimes I wish I could turn it off, but it seems like I just analyze all the time without even consciously doing it.
For Rose, she was analyzing in order to adapt to her particular ability. Perhaps that is what I need to do - to turn my ability to analyze on itself, to realize and cope with the consequences of "an over-analyzed life".
Hopefully I'll be as successful as Rose.
The book is published by Doubleday / Random House. I would recommend that you read it.
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