40?! Who's 40?!? Oh no, not I! ;)
The past few days have been just covered in awesome-sauce!yeah, that's right, i said it
Awesome
Sauce!
Wednesday started off with me whipping up a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, turkey sausage and homemade sourdough-wheat biscuits before heading down the hill in order to do the Kanab-Springdale loop. This was something which I hadn't done yet, so it was going to be a treat for both dad and myself.
So the three of us drove south thru Virgin and then back up into the hills on 59, passed Colorado City. We stopped, briefly, at Pipe Spring National Monument before proceeding onto thru Freedonia, Arizona and then on into Kanab, Utah. That's where we found a fantastic butcher who actually sells brisket (something that we've totally been unable to find here in Utah!)! We picked up some, as well as their order list (since they deliver to Springdale every Saturday!) before heading over to the Three Bears Creamery for an afternoon delight of ice cream (and pie for my guy).
The burnt-almond chocolate was good but, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm strawberry, how I <3 thee! ;)
Back up to Mt Carmel Junction then west towards the Zion's east entrance. There was enough time in the day that we stopped and went for a hike at Canyon Overlook. Sadly, not 5 minutes into our hike I slipped on some sand and felt something in my foot go !POP! followed by intense, deep pain. Shaking it off as well as I could, I continued on making it the full distance. As long as my boot was on, it wasn't too bad. Taking my boot off, however; now that was a mighty-ouchie experience, lemme tell ya!
We made it in just enough time to have dinner of Osso Bucco on our patio and watch the sun set, turning the Watchman Range glorious shades maroons and pinks.
Foot-issues aside, it was a fantastic day!
Thursday dawned early-ish. I had planned to hit my 8am workout-group, but my foot was just too painful. Also, I couldn't afford to injure it further, not with a a day of hiking with my dad in the park; and I wasn't about to miss that! So I wrapped her on up tight and shoved her in a boot before dad arrived. A quick peck of breakfast a at one-of-my-two fav breakfast joints in town, Cafe Soleil, and we were on our way! The park was remarkably crowded; however, what with the buses starting on April 1st, it was no huge surprise.
Dad and I along the River Walk, Temple of Sinawava, Zion National Park
Our first stop was the River Walk, along the Virgin River, towards the start of the Narrows. My pace was dismally slow, with the guys having to stop and wait for me several times. However, Jason stopped often enough to take photos, so I would just hobble along ahead and they eventually caught up.
When we finally reached the start of the narrows, we found the entire beach littered with cairns of all shapes, sizes, materials and colors!
Cairns along the Virgin River at the head of The Narrows
The walk back was pretty quick, thank goodness! We hopped in the Argo and headed towards the Visitor's Center for a quick check-it-out and then swung by the Grand-piano Petroglyphs.
From the Grand-Piano Petroglyphs looking out onto The Watchman Range at Sunset
From there we headed over the Weeping Rock were we were (surprisingly) able to snag a parking-spot in what was now becoming a mad-house of cars and people. It wasn't a long hike up to the overhang, but by this time my foot was just done with me. Still, I hobbled my ass up the steep hill and finally made it to the top.
Weeping Rock wasn't weeping at all; it was most definitely crying! One dead give away was a huge waterfall shooting out of the walls, one that's normally not even there. Anyway, I played a bit in the water puddles that were being formed by the water raining off the rocks before we headed back down the hill. I honestly don't know what was worse, going up or going down!
Dad and I at Weeping Rock
Sadly what little reserves I had left were just shot. My drive and desire to hike from the Grotto to the Middle Emerald Pools via the Kayenta Trail had completely disappeared and all I could think about was "it's well past time for a nap"... and that's what I got to do!
We headed back where I spent the next hour or basking in the sun's gloriously warm rays! Yup... just about a lil' piece of heaven right there!
Dad
Plans for dinner were to have it at the at the best restaurant in town, Parallel 88, so I made reservations several days in advance. I'd just planned to order off the menu; nothing particularly special, just a nice quiet evening with dad and Jason. However, just before our reservation I find out that we're going to have it under the Watchman Range.
Essentially, this is Chef Jeff's chef table. Named The Watchman table, it's set-out under the only Eucalyptus tree in town, directly under The Watchman Range. It's close enough to the restaurant so that one can hear the mummer of the other guests, but private enough that no one will intrude upon your conversation. It was spectacular! Absolutely ethereal once the sun dropped and darkness fully set upon us!
View from our table into the restaurant
The Watchman Table at Night
Jason took a few more shots of me and dad:
Dad and I
Me... and check out the beautiful earrings and pendant my Aunty Fay sent me. Not normally my style, but it fit the outfit just beautifully!!
Holy cow, what a meal! It was eight courses of pure bliss! Each course had it's own delectable textures and flavors. And each course was paired with its own unique wine. Absolutely sublime and probably one of the best dining experiences of my life!
Our Feast of Delights
Course One (no pic): Lycée stuffed with pomegranate vinaigrette, grilled cinnamon peaches, a pineapple sorbet serve with Champagne
Course Two: Grilled rose-shaped scallop with a white butter and a brown butter beurre-blanc with sweet potato mousse served with a Chardonnay
Course Three: Grilled vegetable bisque with a Parmesan-cheese rolled crostini
Course Four: Sashimi-grade Ahi tuna served atop a "bowl" of spinach and mint salad, topped with a pineapple-fruit salad, garnished with a passion fruit vinaigrette and paired with a Chardonnay
Course Five: Grilled fillet-medallion of beef served atop a bed of mint-mashed potatoes, garnished with fire-roasted tomatoes, a brown-butter Dijon sauce, a dash of basil oil and paired with a Merlot
Course Six: Grilled Escolar on a bed of cous-cous, steamed carrots and asparagus, garnished with a sweet cranberry chutney and paired with a Shiraz
Course Seven: Four crème brûlée: vanilla-bean, espresso (my fav), Bailey's and cinnamon
Tian of Chocolate: a flour-less chocolate brownie, a fluffy-whipped mousse, finished with dark-chocolate ganache, topped with Chantilly crème and garnished with chocolate sauce and raspberry coolis
Chef and his entire crew totally went out of their way to make sure we had an awesome night; and we did! In spades! It was such an amazing experience and completed the two-day extravaganza perfectly! Thanks guys, y'all rock!
Not expecting our dinner to take in-excess of three hours, we were running more than a little late for the get togther at The Bit and Spur. However, even though we were officially late, the party didn't start swinging for another hour or so!
Party Pictures
Mandy & Todd
Me (with Brion and Russel in the background)
Me, again
Timmy, aka...
"Birthday Cake"
The entire crowd broke into an impromptu song of "Happy Birthday" right before I blew out the candles... very silly, very cute!
After such a long day, a foot that was more than a little cranky with me, a surprise-Watchman dinner and the party at the Bit... I was beat! I think I was asleep 2 seconds after my head hit the pillow!
Awesome
Sauce!
Wednesday started off with me whipping up a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, turkey sausage and homemade sourdough-wheat biscuits before heading down the hill in order to do the Kanab-Springdale loop. This was something which I hadn't done yet, so it was going to be a treat for both dad and myself.
So the three of us drove south thru Virgin and then back up into the hills on 59, passed Colorado City. We stopped, briefly, at Pipe Spring National Monument before proceeding onto thru Freedonia, Arizona and then on into Kanab, Utah. That's where we found a fantastic butcher who actually sells brisket (something that we've totally been unable to find here in Utah!)! We picked up some, as well as their order list (since they deliver to Springdale every Saturday!) before heading over to the Three Bears Creamery for an afternoon delight of ice cream (and pie for my guy).
The burnt-almond chocolate was good but, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm strawberry, how I <3 thee! ;)
Back up to Mt Carmel Junction then west towards the Zion's east entrance. There was enough time in the day that we stopped and went for a hike at Canyon Overlook. Sadly, not 5 minutes into our hike I slipped on some sand and felt something in my foot go !POP! followed by intense, deep pain. Shaking it off as well as I could, I continued on making it the full distance. As long as my boot was on, it wasn't too bad. Taking my boot off, however; now that was a mighty-ouchie experience, lemme tell ya!
We made it in just enough time to have dinner of Osso Bucco on our patio and watch the sun set, turning the Watchman Range glorious shades maroons and pinks.
Foot-issues aside, it was a fantastic day!
Thursday dawned early-ish. I had planned to hit my 8am workout-group, but my foot was just too painful. Also, I couldn't afford to injure it further, not with a a day of hiking with my dad in the park; and I wasn't about to miss that! So I wrapped her on up tight and shoved her in a boot before dad arrived. A quick peck of breakfast a at one-of-my-two fav breakfast joints in town, Cafe Soleil, and we were on our way! The park was remarkably crowded; however, what with the buses starting on April 1st, it was no huge surprise.
Dad and I along the River Walk, Temple of Sinawava, Zion National Park
Our first stop was the River Walk, along the Virgin River, towards the start of the Narrows. My pace was dismally slow, with the guys having to stop and wait for me several times. However, Jason stopped often enough to take photos, so I would just hobble along ahead and they eventually caught up.
When we finally reached the start of the narrows, we found the entire beach littered with cairns of all shapes, sizes, materials and colors!
Cairns along the Virgin River at the head of The Narrows
The walk back was pretty quick, thank goodness! We hopped in the Argo and headed towards the Visitor's Center for a quick check-it-out and then swung by the Grand-piano Petroglyphs.
From the Grand-Piano Petroglyphs looking out onto The Watchman Range at Sunset
From there we headed over the Weeping Rock were we were (surprisingly) able to snag a parking-spot in what was now becoming a mad-house of cars and people. It wasn't a long hike up to the overhang, but by this time my foot was just done with me. Still, I hobbled my ass up the steep hill and finally made it to the top.
Weeping Rock wasn't weeping at all; it was most definitely crying! One dead give away was a huge waterfall shooting out of the walls, one that's normally not even there. Anyway, I played a bit in the water puddles that were being formed by the water raining off the rocks before we headed back down the hill. I honestly don't know what was worse, going up or going down!
Dad and I at Weeping Rock
Sadly what little reserves I had left were just shot. My drive and desire to hike from the Grotto to the Middle Emerald Pools via the Kayenta Trail had completely disappeared and all I could think about was "it's well past time for a nap"... and that's what I got to do!
We headed back where I spent the next hour or basking in the sun's gloriously warm rays! Yup... just about a lil' piece of heaven right there!
Dad
Plans for dinner were to have it at the at the best restaurant in town, Parallel 88, so I made reservations several days in advance. I'd just planned to order off the menu; nothing particularly special, just a nice quiet evening with dad and Jason. However, just before our reservation I find out that we're going to have it under the Watchman Range.
Essentially, this is Chef Jeff's chef table. Named The Watchman table, it's set-out under the only Eucalyptus tree in town, directly under The Watchman Range. It's close enough to the restaurant so that one can hear the mummer of the other guests, but private enough that no one will intrude upon your conversation. It was spectacular! Absolutely ethereal once the sun dropped and darkness fully set upon us!
View from our table into the restaurant
The Watchman Table at Night
Jason took a few more shots of me and dad:
Dad and I
Me... and check out the beautiful earrings and pendant my Aunty Fay sent me. Not normally my style, but it fit the outfit just beautifully!!
Holy cow, what a meal! It was eight courses of pure bliss! Each course had it's own delectable textures and flavors. And each course was paired with its own unique wine. Absolutely sublime and probably one of the best dining experiences of my life!
Our Feast of Delights
Course One (no pic): Lycée stuffed with pomegranate vinaigrette, grilled cinnamon peaches, a pineapple sorbet serve with Champagne
Course Two: Grilled rose-shaped scallop with a white butter and a brown butter beurre-blanc with sweet potato mousse served with a Chardonnay
Course Three: Grilled vegetable bisque with a Parmesan-cheese rolled crostini
Course Four: Sashimi-grade Ahi tuna served atop a "bowl" of spinach and mint salad, topped with a pineapple-fruit salad, garnished with a passion fruit vinaigrette and paired with a Chardonnay
Course Five: Grilled fillet-medallion of beef served atop a bed of mint-mashed potatoes, garnished with fire-roasted tomatoes, a brown-butter Dijon sauce, a dash of basil oil and paired with a Merlot
Course Six: Grilled Escolar on a bed of cous-cous, steamed carrots and asparagus, garnished with a sweet cranberry chutney and paired with a Shiraz
Course Seven: Four crème brûlée: vanilla-bean, espresso (my fav), Bailey's and cinnamon
Tian of Chocolate: a flour-less chocolate brownie, a fluffy-whipped mousse, finished with dark-chocolate ganache, topped with Chantilly crème and garnished with chocolate sauce and raspberry coolis
Chef and his entire crew totally went out of their way to make sure we had an awesome night; and we did! In spades! It was such an amazing experience and completed the two-day extravaganza perfectly! Thanks guys, y'all rock!
Not expecting our dinner to take in-excess of three hours, we were running more than a little late for the get togther at The Bit and Spur. However, even though we were officially late, the party didn't start swinging for another hour or so!
Party Pictures
Mandy & Todd
Me (with Brion and Russel in the background)
Me, again
Timmy, aka...
"Birthday Cake"
The entire crowd broke into an impromptu song of "Happy Birthday" right before I blew out the candles... very silly, very cute!
After such a long day, a foot that was more than a little cranky with me, a surprise-Watchman dinner and the party at the Bit... I was beat! I think I was asleep 2 seconds after my head hit the pillow!