I'm moving!

Ok, I think I'm doing it.  I think I'm switching over to WordPress.  I've been messing around with it for the past couple of days and I think I'm ready to give yall the link.  The new blog will be located at: www.catherineslife20.wordpress.com.  Don't worry, I've uploaded all of my blogspot posts to the new blog for your reading pleasure.  So all of you faithful readers update your favorites to direct you to the new blog.  Let me know what you think!  

Decisions, decisions...

So, I'm contemplating moving my blog to WordPress. I think their blogs look cleaner and I think their interface is easier to use. I am still reading up on everything so I can make the right decision and not loose all of my posts...and make it easiest for you to keep reading! I'll keep you posted on what I decide!

They tried to make me go to rehab and I said No, No, No...

No, don't be alarmed, it isn't that kind of detox!  

Yesterday, Chris and I started a 2-week detox.  We are using a complete body cleanse kit that we got at Whole Foods.  Coupled with a healthy diet and no alcohol...and a whole heck of a lot of water, we should be totally cleaned out in two weeks!  This particular cleanse is suppose to detoxify our digestive, liver, lymph and circulatory systems.  

With the NYC trip and the St. Patrick's Day party we had both been doing way too much eating and drinking so we thought it was time to restart and rejuvenate!  

I'm kind of anxious to see what happens.  After day two, all I have to report is a belly full of water and lots of pee breaks at work...which annoys me.  

I'll keep you posted on any new developments!

Coachella Countdown

I'm not quitting my day job...just yet!

As promised, my separate post about eating at Gordon Ramsay At The London.  

I had an amazing, amazing time.  It was defiantly up there on top life experiences.  I know, you are thinking, "Really?  It's just a restaurant, right?"  Yes, it is just a restaurant, but we didn't just go to the restaurant.  We went to the restaurant and sat at the chefs table which is in the heart of the kitchen.  The chefs table allows up to 8 guests to experience the pace and drama of the kitchen in full service, while enjoying an exclusive menu and wines selected by the sommelier.  

We started off the evening with pre-dinner drinks at The London Bar.  After drinks, we were escorted through Maze (the casual dining room), through the fine dining room and straight back to the kitchen...I felt so important!  Our table was tucked into an alcove directly across from the fine dining "pass."  The pass is where the executive sous-chef and executive chef put the final touches on every plate and "pass" them over to the waiters.  

The kitchen operation was a lot different than I thought it would be.  When you think of Gordon Ramsay, you think of him screaming at contestants on Hell's Kitchen or calling restaurant owners "stupid donkeys" on Kitchen Nightmares.  It was far from that, everyone seemed to know exactly what to do without even speaking to each other.  The kitchen was very calm and very quiet.  It was defiantly a well oiled machine, true professional chefs!  It really was amazing to watch.  

After we got seated, the executive chef, Josh Emett, greeted us and told us a little about the restaurant.  If you watch Chopped on The Food Network, you may recognize Josh's name...he won his episode a few weeks ago.  He explained how the kitchen stations are set up.  In order of importance, the chefs move from cold appetizers, to hot appetizers, to vegetables, to fish, to meat, to the pass.  The time that you spend at each station depends on how well you do...some stay for 2 weeks...some stay for 3 months.  He also shared a little insider secret with us, the low man on the totem pole is on cold appetizers which is in the corner of the kitchen.  They have affectionally nick-named this corner what rhymes with "runt" corner...I'll let you use your imagination on what runt rhymes with...we all got a good laugh out of that!

The most exciting part of the night, which I was totally not expecting, is when they let us cook! We got to put on aprons and cook in Chef Gordon Ramsay's kitchen.  I had died and gone to heaven!  It was so exciting, we were all grinning like little school girls!  We cooked...or help cook, our scallops appetizer.  We each got to do one part and I'll have to say that I think mine was the most exciting.  I got to put the finishing sauce over the scallops and yell "service" so the waiters would come get the plates.  It really was a surreal experience!

We had a nine course meal which took us about 5 hours to eat!  The food was amazing-the best stuff I have ever put in my mouth.  Not only was it so so good, it was also so so pretty!  They say that you eat with your eyes first and may I say that is was yummie looking!  This was our menu:

1.  Selection of Canapes

2.  Loin of Pacific Yellow Fin Tuna, Battera Kombu, Jimica, Steamed Shitake, Yuzu Glaze

3.  Pressed Hudson Valley Foie Gras Quince and Black Pepper Sherbet, Crispy Amaranth, Marocan Almonds

4.  Sauteed Maine Diver Scallops with Braised Veal Cheeks, Tahitian Vanilla, Parsnip Cream

5.  Slow Cooked Sablefish with Butternut Squash Carpaccio, Preserved Cucumber and Red Wine Vinaigerette

6.  Carmalized Duck Breast with Spiced Anjou Pear Glaze, Beluga Lentils, Chicken Liver Rillette

7.  Selection of Cheeses from the trolly

8.  Olive Oil Gelato on Pistachio Sponge

9.  Earl Grey Souffle with Milk Ice Cream, Apple Tarte Tarin with Vanilla Ice Cream, Single-Origin Venezuelan Chocolate Mousse, Passion Fruit, Balsamic Reduction and Yogurt Sorbet

No, I'm not sure what everything is...but it was GOOD!  My favorite dish was #6 and my favorite dessert was the apple tarte tarin...just thinking about it makes me hungry!  If you ever get the chance to to visit NYC and you get the chance, go to Gordon Ramsay At The London, you won't be disappointed! Here are some pictures from our wonderful night:

Just giddy!

The boys getting their instructions from the chef

Chef Donnell and Chef Bellshaw in action

"Service!"

The whole gang!  

L-R Lauren, Craig, Ross, Gillian, Me, Chris

If You Can Make It There, You'll Make It Anywhere!

I'm back to work today after four days in New York City...I prefer be-bopping around NYC, but who wouldn't? I had an amazing time and can't wait to go back. Our traveling group consisted of Me and Chris, Ross and Gillian, Lauren and Craig.

Ross and Gillian are Chris' friends from Glasgow. Ross and Chris grew up together and just so happen to have birthdays that are 4 days apart so they decided to celebrate the BIG 3-0 together in NYC (BTW, that was the purpose for the trip.) I met Ross and Gillian a few months ago when they came to the Dallas for another visit (in the UK, you get like 20 vacation days..minimum...so jealous.) At that time, I had just met Chris and was still getting use to his accent and then you throw in Ross (Scottish accent) and Gillian (Northern Ireland accent), needless to say, I think I just smiled and nodded the whole weekend! This trip was far better on the communication front, I even translated for Lauren and Craig a couple of times. :)

Speaking of Lauren and Craig, they are my friends from The Metropolitan. They were my only neighbors on the lonely 20th floor and really took me under their wing when the whole break-up was going down. They are such a fun couple and I really don't know what I would have done without them...had many lonely weekends I suspect. We have grown into really great friends and I am so glad they could join us in NYC. It is always a little nerve racking when you are traveling with such a large group, but we all got along really well and traveled quite well together...they may have a different opinion! :)

Ok, now that you know the back-story, I'll get on to NYC.

We arrived at LaGuardia airport after about 1 1/2 hours of delays in Dallas and NYC, jumped in a cab and arrived at our hotel around 1:15 am. We were both exhausted from working and traveling all day so we decided just to go to bed.

Day 1 (Ross' actual birthday):

-Times Square

-Ground Zero

-St. Paul's Chapel

-Statue of Liberty

-Drinks at The Shoreham

-Dinner at Riki-Yakiniku Izakaya (really great Japanese BBQ place)

-More drinks at The Shoreham

Day 2:

-Macy's

-Wall Street

-New York Stock Exchange

-The Bull

-China Town

-Drinks and Dinner at Gordon Ramsey's (this will require a separate post!)

Day 3:

-Site where John Lennon was shot

-Strawberry Fields

-Central Park

-Museum of Natural History

-The Guggenheim

-Ice skating in Central Park

-M&M world

-Met Chet from this seasons The Real World

-Biggest McDonald's in the world

-Dinner at Becco (great little Italian restaurant)

-Drinks at Deacon Brodies (Chris and Ross' friend from home runs this bar)

Day 4:

-Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

-Rockefeller Center

-Top of The Rock

As you can tell, we were very very busy! I would write about everyday, but I think my post would be about 20 pages long! So, I will just leave it with...we had so so much fun. This was defiantly at the top of the top vacations ever. The food was great, the sights were great and the company was even better! Enjoy a little slide show of what we did:

A Dogs Life

Carpet: $15/yard

Sunlight: Free

Finding the perfect sunny spot for an afternoon nap: Priceless

Oh how I wish I had the carefree life of my dogs!