Done, Dining, and To Do...

Well, before we rocket all over the place with this and that’s, I have to report that “TV Guy” eventually showed up, and I now have a new (?) Motorola DVR replacing the suspect “Pace Box”. And, last night the TV froze on me again. More to come…

Anyway in no particular order, off we go!

I swore to myself I wouldn’t report on the “Piano Talk” yesterday at the College, I’ve done that so often that readers are probably tired of it. Well, I can’t help it. Yesterday’s edition was not only the ubiquitous Brian Ganz, but Beverley Babcock who usually does the orchestration part (see, I’m learning) who also played some solo pieces. Very nice to hear. And, although we’ve pretty much had a Chopin diet lately, this one featured the music of Edvard Greig, namely the Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16, and some “Lyric Pieces” (7 plus a repeat). It goes without saying that the music was great, although the Concerto was a bit “crashy” for neophyte me. I did very much enjoy the Arietta, Op. 12, No. 1. Treated so delicately by Brian, a lovely piece. But, that’s not why I’m writing….As Yogi would say, “you can see a lot just by looking”. These concerts are such a great community event; they bring together all sorts of people from the college and the community, and sometimes the audience is as much a show as the musicians. Shortly before the concert began, three young ladies arrived with a little red headed boy (4 or 5?). While the young ladies enjoyed the music, the kid was being, well, a kid. Back and forth along the aisle, out in the back, up and down, all over the place. Shusshing by the ladies had no effect. He wasn’t loud or anything, just being a kid, but it was distracting. Eventually, “Mom” arrived and reigned in the young lad who settled down. I always wonder why people bring youngsters to things like this, hopefully out of necessity rather than choice. Or, there was the college kid (my term) who had his right leg propped over his left knee and used his thigh as a keyboard, fingering along with the music. And, at one point there was an aroma of food wafting over me. Hmmmm, I thought, must be the wind direction. Nope, it was a lady student a couple of aisles over, enjoying a Chick Fil A… So, there’s more to the music to enjoy. As I have reiterated over and over (I think that’s redundant), if you can spare an hour in the middle of the day, and have even a passing interest in classical piano, it’s time well spent. Yesterday was sort of like you sitting in a living room with Brian and Beverly, chatting about the music and enjoying hearing them play..

And, before veering back into more familiar foodie territory, a quick note about my recent ear surgery (Oh noo! He’s not going to get graphic is he?). As you might remember this was a “Moh’s” procedure which involves scraping, analyzing, scraping again, repeat until done. And, my last adventure on the right ear took three cycles and a skin graft to complete the job, so I wasn’t looking forward much for a repeat of that. So I went into the office expecting the worst (so you’re not disappointed). The surgeon who specializes in this stuff turned out to be a grad from the Naval Academy (just celebrated his 15th year reunion) and still serves. I was called “sir” a lot. He was a great guy, and I enjoyed talking to him about flight test, Pax River, F-18’s and stuff. Of course he was a medical guy, not an aviator, but of course being in the Navy you can’t avoid it. So, after I got the first scrape and waited the requisite 40 minutes or so I was eventually called back in for “the results”. When I got back in the room and he returned, he just smiled and said “One Shot, One Kill” (a time honored fighter pilot phrase), and I was released. Apparently he didn’t keep his head in medical books all the time!!

Foodie Section

Not a whole lot here, and once again, here’s a repeat. You recall that I found that “Charleston” was rated number one (by Baltimore Magazine) for Baltimore fine dining. Well, I just got Issue 198 of the Wine Avocate, published by Robert M. Parker, the iconic wine critic who can drive the industry. It’s that little publication that lets you know that there’s a hundred point wine that you will never see let alone taste. But, I also will admit there are reviews of wines that we can access, for instance in this issue he “reviews” Northern California which includes products from Kendall Jackson, Dehlinger, Kalin Cellers, Ridge, Ch. St. Jean, and other familiar wineries. Occasionally in the back there are articles about “memorable meals”, recounting special events and tastings that he and other contributors attend. For instance, there is a report of a meal at Del Posto Ristorante in New York attended by Antonio Galloni who is on his staff. It was a 7 course dinner and it lists a staggering 36 wines they tasted. Hopefully they spit (a technique to avoid passing out) some. Anyway, another dinner was attended by none other than “the man” at….(wait for it….) Charleston in Baltimore! This was a 6 course meal plus cheese and dessert affair, and “only” 18 wines. However, it contained a ’96 Ch. Lafite Rothschlid, a ’90 Cheval Blanc, and a 90 Ch. Petrus. Which wine folks might recognize. Besides the (legendary) Bordeaux wines were domestics such as ‘02 Screaming Eagle and ’97 Harlan Estates cabs, both 100 point wines (In his opinion). However, comma, what I really wanted to relate was his comments about the food..”Cindy Wolf’s cuisine was, as usual, sensational with every dish a terrific success”. He goes on to recount the menu which I won’t repeat here (“unbelievable version of her Beef Wellington with Ubrian Truffles and seared Foie Gras in puff pastry”, etc.) He concludes by saying Cindy is the best chef in Baltimore and her restaurant is known for “impeccable attention to detail and service”.

Which is a good springboard to paraphrase a couple of stringer reports on our local La Tabella. While most people call the food “acceptable” what is reported are those annoying flat screens and Keno boards in full view and hearing, and another mentioned that despite having a reservation, they were seated at a table with no silverware or glassware. Plus the server’s dress was not exactly DFD: “food stains everywhere, hair in disarray”. As I’ve said many times, food can carry you only so far, and what you walk away with is that word “experience”. Hopefully they can tighten up the operation bit…

TO DO section

Obviously tonight is “First Friday” in Leonardtown, and the Calvert Marine Museum offers free admission throughout the day. In Leonardtown, most of the usual haunts will have music or tastings, and generally social frivolity..

COSMIC’s spring concert will be tomorrow night in Great Mills High School (7pm; $10); or 4pm on Sunday at Huntingtown High School. A great incubator for musicians of tomorrow.

A little heads up for next week. On Wednesday, there will be a movie in the Cole Cinema at St. Mary's College called “Fresh” A film celebrating the farmers, business people and other individuals who are “reinventing the food system’. A representative of the SOMD agricultural development commission will lead a post move discussion. Starts at 8pm, no charge.

A longer range heads up, the Friends of the Library annual book sale (see today’s Enterprise B section) will open two weeks for members only (hint, hint) with all others free on the weekend.

So wherever you land, make sure you are

DFD