Pheasant Branch Conservancy and Longhorn Restaurant in Middleton, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget

Pheasant Branch Conservancy and Longhorn Restaurant Lunch in Middleton, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget 

On Sunday (Day 4 of our vacation), my mom took Laurent and me to lunch at Longhorn Restaurant in Middleton, Wisconsin outside Madison. The drive to Middleton from DeForest to the West Towne Shopping Center where Longhorn is located was beautiful. 

We drove all along the Pheasant Branch Conservancy. The Conservancy according to various online sources is a 682-acre natural area in Middleton with: 

-restored prairies 

-oak savannas 

-mineral springs 

-a creek corridor that provides fresh water to Lake Mendota around Madison 

The lunch at Longhorn was leisurely, which we started with salads full of freshly, shredded cheddar cheese. I love cheddar cheese and relish-heavy Thousand Island salad dressing. I was happy with the meal already. 

The three different main dishes that were reliably great included: 

-Parmesan chicken for mom with mashed potatoes

-a Flo Fillet 6-ounce steak for Laurent with mashed potatoes

-two juicy, well-cooked pork chops with about 4 cups steamed broccoli for me that I dunked in the delicious pork chop juices 

Wisconsin is prime pork chop country. The pork chops were so good that I ate both and all the broccoli. I did not have any room for dessert after that. 

We drove back home the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and heeded the turtle crossing signs as we laughed at Wisconsin’s dangerous driving conditions in August. 

We nibbled cheese and sausage for dinner and went to bed full of energy for the upcoming week’s touring.  

Wisconsin Dairyland Vacation Day 4 – Complete! 

By Ruth Paget 

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lesson written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books 

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games 

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games 

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games

Athens Restaurant, Sweet Lodi, Amish Country, and Ehlenbach's Cheese Chalet Day Trip from DeForest, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget

Athens Restaurant, Sweet Lodi, Amish Country, and Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet Day Trip from DeForest, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget 

On the third day of our trip to Wisconsin, my mom took us out to eat at the Athens Restaurant in Westport, which is located halfway between Madison and Middleton in a strip mall on Madison’s west side. 

You order at the counter and servers bring your food to the table and take away dishes at the end. Laurent and I shared a gyros sandwich platter for two. 

I love spicy lamb and beef gyro meat with thin-cut, white onions and tzatziki made with thin-cut cucumbers, yogurt, garlic, salt, and red wine vinegar. The gyro sandwich bread at Athens is chewy and seemed to be made with some yogurt. I have never had a bad meal at a Greek restaurant. The Athens Restaurant joins Detroit and Chicago Greektowns as a good place to eat. 

After lunch, Laurent and I visited Lodi named after a northern Italian with a long history for battles including one with Napoleon and cheese. Lodi’s dairy contribution to the community in Wisconsin seems to be ice cream at the town’s pizza parlor. 

On the way into town, we saw signs for fresh strawberries and eggs along with billboards for the Lodi Sausage Company. Lodi as a town was very clean. Having a butcher shop seems to promote cleanliness to keep the butchered meat sanitary and cool. 

The day we were in Lodi, there was a small, classic car show going on and a duck show on a small river that meanders through town (the Wisconsin River is nearby and this may be a tributary of that river). 

The town’s tourism magazines advertised wine and whiskey tastings along with shows by blue grass and blues bands. Outside town, there was a large park where people walked with their children. 

The tourism guide said there was an “Amish Country” nearby, so we drove down hilly and crooked roads by very organized and clean farms. People in Amish Country all seemed to have blue Harvestore silos for food to feed cows and farm animals. 

We wound our way back to DeForest and stopped at Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet to do some shopping. We bought some garlic and herb sausage and three kinds of cheese: 

-Swiss-style gruyère

-Mesquite wood smoked 7-year cheddar 

-2 year-old aged Swiss 

We ate the sausage, cheese, and toasted bread with my mom for dinner. The Monterey Mice were happy in DeForest on their vacation. 

This was a waddle-to-bed day for me. I had fun all day and conked out sleeping. 

Dairyland Wisconsin Vacation Day 3 - Complete!

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books 

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games 

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games

Easy Lentil - Pasta Soup Recipe by Giada de Laurent’s reposted by Ruth Paget

This is a great recipe that makes use of the expanding magic of lentils and pasta to 5 times their size it seems.

California, especially Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties, grows and produces all the ingredients in this dish.  

For a vegan version, I have rehydrated dry mushrooms and used their soaking water and chopped mushrooms as a vegetable broth:

Giada de Laurentis’ recipe video follows:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B9F3e9gx9wk&ra=m

Happy Cooking!

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Chrysanthemums are $12.99 at Costco in Sand City, California today (8-22-2036) by Ruth P

Potted chrysanthemums, mums for short, are selling for $12.99 at Costco in Sand City, California today(8-22-2026)

These fall flowering plants come in a variety of colors ranging from pastels to rust colors while supplies last at Costco.

They are perfect for livening up window sills and patios.

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Centet

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory gams

Feta Cheese Omelet at the DeForest Family Restaurant in DeForest, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget

Feta Cheese Omelet at the DeForest Family Restaurant in DeForest, Wisconsin Right Off I-94 on Highway V by Ruth Paget 

On our first day of visiting Wisconsin, we went to the DeForest Family Restaurant, which is about 10 to 15 minutes away from I-94 on County Highway V depending on if you had to stop at traffic lights. 

The DeForest Family Diner is a classic American diner, which in the Midwest means that you will probably find some Greek dishes on the menu since many diner owners in the past had Greek ancestry. I was able to order a breakfast that I often ate at the Agora Restaurant when I was a student at the University of Chicago in the Hyde Park neighborhood: 

-feta cheese 3 egg omelet 

-crispy brown has brown potatoes that remind me of Swiss rösti potatoes 

-whole wheat toast made with the addition of flax seeds 

-3 strips of thick-cup, hickory smoked meaty bacon 

-2 glasses of bitter iced tea that are usually made from Canadian Red Rose tea to combat humid and very hot weather (85 to 90 degrees) 

That great breakfast made me happy. I cannot find restaurants on the West Coast that make feta cheese omelets, so I considered this a vacation treat and somewhat exotic. 

Laurent and I took my mom back home and then we set out for some grocery shopping at Piggly Wiggly in Waunakee, also located along Highway V in the opposite direction of DeForest.  Waunakee is also about 15 minutes away from the I-94, but the turn off is not indicated, so you will need a GPS to get there.  

Piggly Wiggly is a chain I associate with the south that has expanded north. My sister K. in Atlanta asked us to check out the bakery section, which they are well known for in the south. Laurent bought very good French baguettes and Danish kringle pastries. 

There are many people with Norwegian ancestry in Wisconsin who eat Danish foods, since Norway and Denmark have been united as kingdoms

throughout different periods of history. Laurent and I have now joined the kringle eating crowd. 

Kringles are large, oval pastries with a large hole in the middle made of layered, yeast dough. Laurent bought one made with raspberries and cream and another simply flavored with cinnamon and sugar. We ate slices of these with bitter coffee in the morning during our stay. 

On the way back home, we passed two of my favorite restaurants in Waunakee that locals and tourist alike dine at: 

-Rex’s Inn Keep for steak, seafood, and Friday Night Fish Fry. Rex’s is expensive but worth the money.

-Cuco’s Mexican Restaurant right across the street from Rex’s. The dishes are milder than they are in California. They will happily increase the spiciness upon request. 

Both Rex”s Innkeeper and Cuco’s have their own parking lot. 

We drove around and planned to visit some neighboring towns. I find driving by 7-foot high corn stalks and well-tended white-washed farmhouses, cow barns, and silos very peaceful. The air outside smelled like sweet baked corn in the heat. 

Dairyland Vacation in Wisconsin Day 2 – Complete 

By Ruth Paget 

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books 

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games 

 -creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games 

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games

Covered Findlay Market in Cincinnati, Ohio reposted by Ruth Paget

I like the covered Findlay Farmers’ Market in Cincinnati, Ohio that allows for sales in snow, sleet, and ice during winter.  

Covered markets are a way for states with winter weather to have farmers’ markets year round.  I especially like how this covered market provides a sanitary environment for meat sales.

I have posted the following link from TikTok.com about the Findlay market in Cincinnati, Ohio:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTDyXbRfx/

I love videos of markets around the US and world.

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Wisconsin Vacation Quest 2026 by Ruth Paget

Wisconsin Vacation Quest 2026 by Ruth Paget 

A sandstorm in Phoenix, Arizona set back our arrival time in Madison, Wisconsin to visit my mom for summer vacation 2026, but all ended well. 

We were supposed to land in Phoenix, but instead flew to Tucson, Arizona where we sat on the tarmac until the sandstorm in Phoenix ended. The view of the copper red mountains was nice, but a little hot. 

Waiting for the sandstorm to pass made everyone miss their connecting flight, so we all made our way to customer service once we disembarked.  

With our new tickets, we headed to our gate for Chicago, Illinois. We would drive to Madison from Chicago, which takes about 1½ hours at night on the toll road. I no longer argue with weather issues. I would rather be safe. 

While waiting, I ordered a fly day treat from OHSO Phoenix, which stands for Outrageous Homebrewers Social Outpost – a barbecue fried chicken sandwich with fries drenched in barbecue sauce. The sandwich reminded me of ones I ate at Harold’s Fried Chicken when I was a student at the University of Chicago. 

The super hot sauce is called Georgia Pit Barbecue Sauce I saw online. I routinely ate Harold’s Chicken after Japanese finals when I would tell my friends, “I can deal with any final in English after that Japanese exam including physics.” 

The barbecue chicken sandwich and fries in Phoenix were messy, but delicious. They were definitely a naughty treat for old mom. 

Once on board our flight to Chicago, we flew into the night for an easy trip to Chicago. I read a book about Sicilian food on my Kindle and used the note feature to take notes. The Kindle is the perfect size to read in a middle seat and is lightweight. It has a built-in light that makes it unobtrusive as well. 

Our suitcase was checked ahead to Madison, Wisconsin. We took the airport train to the car rental area. I forgot how crowded big city can be when we got on the standing-room only train. (Chicago is the third largest city in the United States.) 

We went up and down escalators and got our car at Avis. Everything was reserved on the app, so getting the car was easy. Our rental car was a black Honda Prelude. Getting out of the garage was easy. We went out on a street that led us quickly to I-90 West (the toll road to Wisconsin). 

I-90 West goes through Chicago’s wealthy northwest suburbs and straight onto I-94 North into vacation-land Wisconsin. Tolls are taken automatically as you drive along so you do not have to stop to pay. Florida runs its toll roads in the same manner. 

We had a Sirius radio in the Prelude that was programmed to all country music stations. The air conditioner work well. We called my mom once we reached Madison and let her know we would be in DeForest in fifteen minutes. 

DeForest is located next to I-94. Its local businesses cater to locals and tourist alike. The neighborhood would be a good spot for AirBnB rentals, because it is close to so many tourist spots thanks to I-94. 

Mom had fried chicken sandwiches with bacon strip sandwiches waiting for us from North South Restaurant in DeForest. North South Restaurant serves both Mexican and classic American diner dishes. I gleefully ate my second fried chicken sandwich of the day. 

I went to bed full and thought that despite the delay, it was pretty cool to visit the following cities in one day: 

-Monterey, California 

-Tucson, Arizona 

-Phoenix, Arizona 

-Madison, Wisconsin 

I do not know about these airports, but I know that the airport restaurants in Monterey and Phoenix are good. 

Laurent used the “track my bag app” to know when our suitcase would arrive in Madison the next day. That app is a great use of technology that reduces anxiety and saves time when traveling. 

We now had our “getting there” story and could rest up to start touring the next day after getting our suitcase. 

Wisconsin Dairyland Vacation Day 1 – Complete! 

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe's Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Wine, Trademarks, & Marketing article in UChicago News reposted by Ruth Paget

The following article in UChicago News on wine, trademarking wine, and wine marketing might be of interest to wine growers in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/distinctive-brand-names-pay-wine-producers-study-finds?utm_medium=08.18email&utm_source=UChicagoNews

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

UChicago Alumni in Manual Cinema Perform Dream Delivery Service with Shadow Puppets reposted by Ruth Paget

Three University of Chicago alumni are currently performing Dream Delivery Service through Manual Cinema to sold out show in Chicago, Illinois using shadow puppets.

Details about Dream Delivery Service follow in UChicago News:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/how-uchicago-students-staged-wordless-play-emmy-winning-company?utm_medium=08.18email&utm_source=UChicagoNews

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games+ 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Wing Wednesdays in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Wednesday is practically all-day market day in Salinas, California.  

Come for the produce and eat a wing baskets for lunch or dinner.

The Natividad Market takes place in the morning.  Information follows:

https://www.everyonesharvest.org/farmers-markets/natividad-certified-farmers-market/

The Northridge Mall Night Market begins at 4. Information follows:

https://northridgenightmarket.com/

The following restaurants serve wing meals:

Black Bear Dinet

Wing Stop (4 locations in Salinas)

Stonies

Alvarado Street Brewery

For people who prefer chicken tenders:

Denny’s (3 locations in Salinas)

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture Games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Taco Tuesday Day in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Come for some produce at the East Alisal Market in Salinas, California and stay for Taco Tuesday. 

Market information follows:

https://www.everyonesharvest.org/farmers-markets/alisal-certified-farmers-market/

Michael’s downtown (parking in back, along Main Street, and in garage by Steinbeck Center) has good tacos and other items like quesadillas and enchiladas.  

Michael’s online ordering information follows:

https://order.online/store/-1544960/

Happy Marketing!

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

250th Anniversary of the Wealth of Nations Merits a Read reposted by Ruth Paget

The following article in the Chicago Book Review by John H. Cochrane, a senior fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and former finance professor at Chicago Booth, discusses how capitalism as discussed in The Wealth of Nations by English author Adam Smith is supposed to work for the benefit of society:

https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/invisible-hand-adam-smith-thomas-jefferson?source=ic-em-20260818

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Vivilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Tuscan Personal Chef Recipe Ideas by Ruth Paget

Tuscan Personal Chef Recipe Ideas by Ruth Paget 

As part of my 2026 summer reading project to learn more about Italian culture, I read Brutto: A (Simple) Florentine Cookbook by Russel Norman (available on Amazon Kindle) and found several good recipes for beginning personal chefs as well. 

The following recipes would probably appeal to many lovers of Italian food: 

*white cannellini bean crostini – this dish is a grilled baguette slices topped with a cooked purée of tomatoes, sage leaves, garlic, white cannellini beans, oregano, sea salt, and olive oil. Rosemary and bay leaf also flavor the beans, but are taken out before puréeing. I like these crostini with white wine and lager beers. 

*spinach and ricotta cheese dumplings made with baby spinach, flour, ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and ground nutmeg. Melted butter flavored with sage leaves is the sauce for these nutritious and delicious bites. 

*tuna, white cannellini bean, and sliced shallot salad in an oil and vinegar dressing 

*bitter leaves with lemon and oil dressing – this dish is preferably made with radicchio Treviso lettuce 

*raw white cabbage slaw made with lemon and oil dressing 

The Florentines are famous as bean eaters and steak eaters for festive occasions. The recipes above also show that they make extensive use of home gardens. 

For new personal chefs, mastering Tuscan recipes like the ones in Brutto by Russell Norman is a way to offer dishes that have pretty wide popularity for flavor and health benefits to new and existing clients. 

Happy Cooking! 

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lesson written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Sardinian (Italian) Personal Chef Recipe Ideas by Ruth Paget

Sardinian (Italian) Personal Chef Recipe Ideas from Ruth Paget 

As part of my summer reading project to learn more about Italian culture, I read Sardinian Cuisine: Blue Zone Culinary Treasures from the Italian Isle by Leonardo Romano (available on Amazon Kindle) and noted several recipes that would be good for personal chefs as well. 

Romano writes in his opening remarks that the island of Sardinia west of the Italian mainland has a rugged, mountainous interior with sheep herding predominating in the local economy. Sardinia’s famous bread is called carasu. Carasu is a crusty flatbread with a long shelf life. 

The following recipes from the book pair well with lamb for festive occasions: 

*crostini topped with straccchino cheese and salsiccia sausage – this dish requires you to remove the casing on the pork sausage and fry it. Next, you rub the baguette slices with olive oil and grill it. 

Then, the crostini is spread with the stracchino cheese that melts into the grilled bread a bit with chopped rosemary sprinkled on it. The fried sausage is placed on the cheese and served. 

This is a rich hors d’oeuvres that would taste good with chilled, dry white wine.

*patate al forno con rosmarino – this dish calls for chopped potatoes to be mixed with olive oil, sea salt, and rosemary and baked. 

These potatoes are perfect cocktail food when stuck with toothpicks. 

*pomodori al forno con pecorino – this dish calls for tomatoes to be baked and stuffed with pecorino sheep’s cheese, garlic, basil, parsley, bread crumbs, olive oil, and black pepper. 

This dish is a perfect countable appetizer for personal chefs to make. 

*agnello con carciofi – this dish is a stewed lamb dish made with artichokes, onions, garlic, lemon, white wine, vegetable broth, olive oil, black pepper, and parsley. 

All of these dishes can be made with ingredients that are easily obtainable in Monterey County. Sheep are raised in San Luis Obispo County just south of Monterey County, and can be ordered at butchers in Salinas, California. (I have also sometimes seen lamb from New Zealand at Costco as well.) 

Italian food lovers might enjoy many of these out of the ordinary Italian dishes from the island of Sardinia. They are not too difficult for personal chefs to master either. 

Happy Cooking! 

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe's Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

$748 Million in Car Sales at Monterey Car Week 2026 reposted by Ruth Paget

Monterey Car Week 2026 smashed all previous years’ sales records with $748 million in cars sold this year.

The following article summarizes this year’s events:

https://www.classic-car-auctions.info/usa/california/monterey/2026-monterey-car-week-auctions-overview-top-30-sales/

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Zlessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Oktoberfest 2026 is coming up reposted by Ruth Paget

Oktoberfest  2026 is coming up from September 20 - October 4, 2026 (official dates in Munich, Germany).

EventBrite lists the following Oktoberfest 2026 events in Salinas, California and the Monterey Peninsula so far:

https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ca--salinas/oktoberfest-festival/

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Sicilian Personal Chef Recipe Ideas by Ruth Paget

Sicilian Personal Chef Recipe Ideas by Ruth Paget 

As part of my summer reading project to learn more about Italian culture, I read the Sicily Cookbook: Authentic Recipes from a Mediterranean Island by Cettina Vicenzino (available on Amazon Kindle) and found several recipes that personal chefs could easily learn and add to their repertoire of dishes to offer existing and potential clients. 

These dishes include: 

*Sicilian pork sausages baked with potatoes – this dish is traditionally made with sausages that have been flavored with licorice-tasting fennel. These sausages are mixed with onions, salt and pepper, cherry tomato halves, potato chunks, sage leaves, and rosemary sprigs for baking. 

*raw zucchini salad – this dish is made with very thin slices of zucchini, sea salt, lemon juice, mint leaves, and extra-virgin olive oil. This mix is then chilled as a refreshing side dish. 

*Catanian tomato salad – this dish is made with cherry tomato halves, red onion rings, sea salt, and grated ricotta salata cheese or pecorino cheese made from sheep’s milk. 

*ricotta dumplings in orange and tomato sauce – the dumpling dough is made with fresh breadcrumbs, drained ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, zest from an organic orange, nutmeg, and pepper. 

These dumplings are boiled and dressed in a sauce made with olive oil, garlic, tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, zest of an organic orange, and basil leaves with raisins mixed in.

Vicenzino notes that there are three types of cuisine in Sicily: 

*cibo di strada (street food especially in Palermo on Sicily’s western side) 

*cucina povera (food of the poor) 

*cucina dei Monsù (a fusion cuisine of the island’s aristocrats that is a blend of French food and the food of the Two Sicilies – the cuisine of southern Italy including Naples and the island of Sicily) 

Vicenzino also provides an informative section about orchard management for almond growing. This knowledge is important to know for choosing high quality ingredients. 

For people who would like to work as personal chefs, The Sicily Cookbook: Authentic Recipes from a Mediterranean Island by Cettina Vicenzino offers a variety of Mediterranean Diet dishes that can be made with ingredients that most American markets supply. 

Happy Cooking! 

By Ruth Paget 

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games 

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games

Winning = Learning Faster than the Competition - book recommendation by Ruth Paget

The Fifth Discipline by Peter M. Senge shares his belief that corporations that will endure learn faster than the competition.

This book has encouraged me to learn about a variety of topics and be open to using new technology to make learning easier.

It is a bestseller that helps you think outside the box.

Purchase details follow:

https://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Discipline-Practice-Learning-Organization/dp/0385517254/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2R46SQLY95XNP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Y-Rbrtib6fqzNm_xB34eaXsBR76VIUSCfcWF3h63N_rbO_oOQ0bfGzAyHZz43KVYxmWk660NwdlaWPmbuDdGO8RUn7KOttxf-_FfnhCzkYNZahkzHafW0l6KX9R4NCeymhO-FAyDXTaXTRjQLJtCl_55lqY8y0Pe-jIWz5iAotOQTC-8buZmoc94qPlfKsiepKYx_--myIGFhXTBEjppUQ.8cv0MHTYaHeQxdu7W3nCrRdGdCLefCx-aj4ZlvbOhaE&dib_tag=se&keywords=senge+lifelong+learning&qid=1786840716&sprefix=senge+lifelong+learning%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-1

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany, Marrying France, + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of Grench travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

2026 Turkish Arts and Culture Festival in Monterey, California reposted by Ruth Paget

The 2026 Turkish Arts and Culture Festival will take place  on August 29 - 30, 2026 in Monterey, California.

Details about the Turkish Festival on the organizer’s website:

https://www.oldmonterey.org/event/turkish-arts-and-culture-festival-2026

Enjoy the food and music!

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

History, Math, Science Courses 25% off at Great Courses reposted by Ruth Paget

History, Math, and Science courses are 25% off at Great Courses using the coupon below.

I have used their courses to study photography, nutrition, tai chi and qigong, and macroeconomics.  

Great Courses is a good organization for lifelong learning.  The download feature makes them immediately accessible.

The coupon and course catalog follow:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/1a0051a60c87791f

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Boeuf Bourguignon Video filmed by Florence Paget reposted by Ruth Paget

My daughter Florence Paget filmed herself making Boeuf Bourguignon using Pinot noir wine from Monterey County. 

I think she is using a ring camera to do the filming and dad’s cognac. The video came out well, because you can follow by steps how to make this classic French dish.

The link to the TikTok video follows:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTDR9b2bW

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Rice versus Wheat Grower Characteristics in China: UChicago Study Results Reposted by Ruth Paget

The following analysis of cultural traits between rice and wheat farmers in China by the University of Chicago has implications for the US, which also has rice and wheat growing regions.

Information about the UChicago Booth article follows:

https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/what-rice-farming-can-teach-us-about-happiness?source=ic-em-20260811&mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGjkE9_gtjt4OEHZt_fQRrqGrqO52CSnhZ0dekfSE203JC6P8fnvTAKshXMEcpEVmW9kj2AkgaaRfiKL_aTU5IJ5vX6F0MAVwoo4W6pc753z3MAzks

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Rating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

UChicago Anthropologist of the Caribbean Talks about Oil Production and Power Structures reposted by Ruth Paget

University of Chicago Anthropologist of the Caribbean  Roy Cecil Jonson talks about oil production and power structures in the region in the following UChicago news release:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/anthropologist-caribbean-emphasizes-power-big-small-places?utm_medium=08.11email&utm_source=UChicagoNews&mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGjkKLXzn_krmq00JDpkDMmbF1J3F1IyUTcfbdHFhwmJ6M41rD15ZvEhL6RYPezq68Bx5IvkCzEZkCtM83j_RvLmdqYRI7334vjYTKMQnFcLrCjh9Q

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

More Easy Personal Chef Italian Recipe Selections by Ruth Paget

More Easy Personal Chef Italian Recipe Selections by Ruth Paget 

In Giada’s Italy: My Recipes for La Dolce Vita by Giada de Laurentis (available on Amazon Kindle), de Laurentis lightens up Italian classics for a Californian touch and provides many recipes that personal chefs can use reflecting her experience as a personal chef. 

Some of the dishes in her book that new personal chefs might want to consider making include: 

*avocado and white bean dip – de Laurentis makes this dip by creaming together canned white cannellini beans, avocadoes, salt, lemon juice, and basil 

*spicy Calabrian shrimp – the shrimp in this dish are baked on a sheetpan tray and are perfect as toothpick hors d’oeuvres. The sauce the shrimp are baked in includes Parmesan cheese, olive oil, spicy Calabrian chili paste, lemon zest, and oregano. Lemon juice is squeezed on the shrimp before serving. 

*pane pomodoro – in this recipe, grilled toast that has been brushed with olive oil is then rubbed with tomato halves. The toasts are sprinkled with salt and stacked. Extra olive oil is served on the side for drizzling. 

*cacio e pepe with pancetta and arugula – very good cheese and black pepper pasta in this recipe is dressed up with pancetta and 3 cups of sautéed, peppery arugula lettuce 

*pan-seared bronzino fish fillets – this recipe works for many kinds of fish and is made with tomatoes, capers, Niçoise olives, dry white wine, butter, and parsley 

For your own family cooking or dishes that you could make as a personal chef, Giada’s Italy: My Recipes for La Dolce Vita by Giada de Laurentis has many appealing recipes that are relatively easy to make and call for ingredients that have become easily obtainable in all areas thanks to online ordering and delivery.

By Ruth Paget 

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books 

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games -developer of food and beverage knowledge games 

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games 

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games

Homemade Brioche Making Video by Florence Paget reposted by Ruth Paget

My daughter Florence Paget filmed a TikTok video of herself making French brioche by hand. 

A link to the TikTok video follows:

https://www.tiktok.com/@cooking.with.flo5/video/7670343945745992991?_r=1&_t=ZP-98cJM85CLFv

Have fun baking!

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Phoenix Farms Tends Bees, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes at UChicago reposted by Ruth Paget

Phoenix Farms at the University of Chicago tends bees, mushrooms, tomatoes, and other other garden price at the University of Chicago.

Phoenix Farms is volunteer run and hosts community events like its huge harvest soup event.

For more information about Phoenix Farms at the University of Chicago, click on the link below:

https://news.uchicago.edu/story/quiet-uchicago-garden-volunteers-cultivate-food-and-community?utm_medium=08.04email&utm_source=UChicagoNews&mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGjbM1xze54POZ1csQTdpgJPAUwV7shlj-frbuc7AcRzacSkjJv6tTRRTCG-lvadCyEBtxga_nGvLBRfI1kMQUcLEC918vvsSc00M6kj6TjQL42oDs

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Tasty and Economical Salmon Dinner at Black Bear Diner in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Tasty and Economical Salmon Dinner at Black Bear Diner in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget 

Now that I am older I keep a family economics journal noting ways to live well on not too much money. 

My most recent entry is about the blackened chicken with Cajun seasoning dinner at the California restaurant chain called Black Bear Diner. (The original Black Bear Diner is in Mount Shasta famous for it caverns that you can visit.) 

The blackened salmon is flavored with a rub combination of dry ingredients that you can easily make at home too with the following items: 

-smoked paprika

-iodized salt 

-garlic powder 

-ground black pepper 

-ground white pepper 

-onion powder 

-dried oregano 

-cayenne  

The spices seasoned the salmon without overpowering the salmon taste, which I liked. 

Everything that came with the blackened salmon dinner can be sourced in California, notably in Monterey County. The salmon itself swims in rivers in northern California. Red-skinned mashed potatoes made with cream and butter come with the meal and about one cup of coleslaw. The salmon is sautéed with spinach and cherry tomato halves. 

For nutrients, the salmon contains protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins like B12 and vitamin D. Potatoes contain protein, Vitamin C, potassium, and Vitamin B6. Cabbage contains high amounts of Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and fiber. 

The nutrition you obtain in the blackened salmon dinner at Black Bear Diner in Salinas, California is a good deal for its price as I have noted in my family economics journal. 

Diners who like fish, spicy Cajun flavoring, and a large amount of vegetables might also enjoy the blackened salmon dinner at Black Bear Diner in Salinas, California. 

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe's Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

School Choice Districts Still Benefit the Better Off according to UChicago Booth article reposted by Ruth Paget

School Choice Districts Still Benefit the Better Off according to the following article published in the Chicago Booth Review (Los Angeles is one of the districts mentioned):

https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/choice-lotteries-public-schools-help-advantaged?source=ic-em-20260804&mkt_tok=MjUwLUNRSC05MzYAAAGjbENPSPPd1_Zrj4dXnj3nIUTUVNOyAvxBKrK_J0B90RptHccytb_JuIkpv92nzPI95EBxSxw95IQQhm0wRfjGXYc-hq5Olx6p02qdbP8Z2ayDtac

Reposted by Ruth Paget

Salinas Air Show is September 26 - 27, 2026 in Salinas, California reposted by Ruth Paget

The Salinas Air Show is happening on September 26 - 27, 2026 in Salinas, California.

Event information and ticket details follow:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cars-crafts-california-brews-festival-tickets-1992267436533

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Gsmes + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Museum

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Cars, Crafts, and Craft Brews Festival is August 30, 2026 in Salinas, California reposted by Ruth Paget

The Cars, Crafts, and Craft Brews Festival is going to be held on August 30, 2026 at the Salinas Sports Complex in Salinas, California.  

Food trucks will be on hand and music will be played during the event.

Event information and ticket purchase information follow:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cars-crafts-california-brews-festival-tickets-1992267436533

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

-

Make-Ahead Italian Meals by Ruth Paget

Make-Ahead Italian Meals by Ruth Paget 

I read The Country Cooking of Italy by Colman Andrews (available on Amazon Kindle) as part of my summer reading 2026 project to learn more about Italian culture. 

I love Italian food and view learning more about it as “lifelong learning.” 

I think the following dishes are very cook-friendly, because they all use dry pasta, which you can keep on hand in the pantry to go with market items. Tagliatelle is usually a fresh-made egg pasta originally from Bologna, but even this can be purchased now a dry-ribbon pasta nests or folded in strands. 

These dishes are delicious hot, but if you are not too picky, these dishes can be stored in a pyrex dish and heated up for lunch meals or dinner. 

When I was younger, I could make meals to warm up thanks to employers having an employee refrigerator. My employers also provided a microwave for employee use.

The dishes from The Country Cooking of Italy that I think would be good make-ahead meals include: 

*penne Valdostana – this tubular pasta dish from the French and Italian border region features butter, double cream, taleggio cheese, fontina cheese, and Parmesan cheese cooked with the penne pasta. I would qualify penne Valdostana as a very upscale macaroni and cheese dish. Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and Target might have all of some of the different cheese called for in the recipe. 

*fusilli with Italian sausage and cabbage – this dish comes from the Calabria region in southern Italy opposite the island of Sicily. Fusili is also known as rotini or spring pasta. Italian sausage is usually flavored with fennel. In this recipe, it is sautéed with cabbage, garlic cloves, Calabrian red peppercorns, and tomato sauce. The pasta is sprinkled with Pecorino Romano and Parmesan cheese. 

*stuffed tomatoes baked with olive oil, rice, parsley, basil, garlic cloves, and salt and pepper. 

*spaghetti with sautéed shrimp and pesto sauce with crushed pistachio nuts added to it. 

*tagliatelle with sautéed chunks of prosciutto, butter, diced onion, double cream, whole milk, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese. This rich dish is typical of Bologna, Italy, also know as “la grassa” or “the fat.” 

Beginning personal chefs might like trying these dishes, because the ingredients are rather easy to procure. They are perfect for people who do not mind warming up meals during the week. 

People who might be interested in hiring a personal chef or working as one might want to read how one family in the San Francisco Bay Area worked with a personal chef so both parents could work and still provide their family with nutritious, homemade meals in the following book: 

How the Other Half Eats: The Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America by Priye Fielding-Singh. 

Make-ahead meals, no matter who makes them, seemed to me more time to eat and get errands done when I was a young worker. 

The Country Cooking of Italy by Colman Andrews (available on Amazon Kindle) contains many Italian home cooking recipes that lend themselves to make-ahead meals. Readers interested in Italian make-ahead meals might find this book to be very useful. 

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe's Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Pasta Lovers Meal at Woody's Bar & Grill at the Monterey Airport in Monterey, California by Ruth Paget

Pasta Lover Dinner at Woody’s Bar & Grill at the Monterey Airport in Monterey, California by Ruth Paget  

I love going to Woody’s at the Monterey Airport for a family night out to share news about books, films, and creative projects being worked on for the weekend. 

I especially like to do this while eating comfort foods like chicken pot sticker deep-fried dumplings as a starter dish. Woody’s serves these pot stickers over peppery arugula lettuce along with thick, soy-miso sauce. That is a tasty combination. 9 pot stickers come with the orders so everyone can sample on these goodies. 

My husband Laurent and daughter Florence Paget both ate cups of clam chowder as their signature Monterey appetizer. I think Woody’s could can or sell this soup in a paper package that tourists could heat up in their rooms when they first arrive in their rooms. 

Florence ordered the prime rib special, which is always tender and served with a twice-baked potato with butter, sour cream, and chives and seasonal steamed vegetables doused in butter. Her English beefeater ancestors would be happy the family traditions are being maintained. 

Laurent ordered fish and chips, which comes with three large pieces of Pacific rock cod deep-fried in beer batter with a large order of pub fries and creamy coleslaw. 

I ordered what Laurent at the last time we went to dinner at the airport: Woody’s tomato-fennel fondu pasta made with rotini pasta served in a sauce made with lightly sautéed fennel strips, shallots, and tomato slices. The sauce covered every nook and cranny of the rotini pasta and had a slight flavor of anise (licorice) from the fennel. 

The pasta was topped off with burrata and Parmesan cheese and thin grilled toasts. I used the toasts to make crostini with the remaining sauce. I loved every bite of my meal and ate everything including an extra order of mashed Yukon Gold potatoes. 

The Woody’s Tomato-Fennel Fondu Pasta did a wonderful job showcasing the organic produce of Monterey County and neighboring San Benito County. 

If you like pasta and the flavor of anise (licorice0, I would recommend trying the tomato-fennel fondu pasta at Woody’s Bar & Grill at the Monterey Airport in Monterey, California. 

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator French travel and culture games

-writer of 1800+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games