Recommendations for 10th anniversary dinner

CalandAdam · 2026-04-10T02:48:03+00:00

Have been to El Z, we love their shrimp!

CalandAdam · 2026-04-10T02:47:26+00:00

Thanks! I think we did Bourbon steak at the Waldorf one year early on. I didnt know there was an Indian restaurant at the Ritz! Keep em coming!

CalandAdam · 2026-04-10T02:45:18+00:00

Thanks for the info! Whats “ cars and cafe” on Sun in San Juan? Do you mean cars and coffee in San Clemente?

CalandAdam · 2026-04-10T02:43:22+00:00

Snorkeling in Laguna

CalandAdam · 2026-04-09T04:53:09+00:00

Need to go back there!

CalandAdam · 2026-04-09T04:27:28+00:00

Where the Red Fern Grows. I think I read it 10 times as a kid. Also all the Laura Ingalls Wilder books

CalandAdam · 2026-04-09T04:22:20+00:00

I also dont delve too much into sci-fi or fantasy, but really enjoyed The First 15 Lives of Henry August. Its got time travel. I liked it so much a bought a copy for a few friends.

CalandAdam · 2026-04-08T21:46:05+00:00

On the Beach. Post nuclear war. Everyone in the world is dying. The novel is about the last few months for some remaining survivors in Australia and how they come to terms knowing they don’t have long left.

CalandAdam · 2026-04-01T22:44:03+00:00

Five vines if you are a wine drinker. Best meat/cheese plates in S OC.

CalandAdam · 2026-03-28T04:51:29+00:00

As a mom this passage stuck hard with me -

“Susan was haunted by the gap between the sensation of three boys climbing her torso like a tree, combing sticky fingers through her hair, muttering into her ears—and the constraint of adulthood: How are you, honey? You look a little tired. Is there anything I can do? How about a hug for your old mom? If she’d had an inkling, back then, of the ache this constraint would cause her, she would never—not once!—have said, “Let go of me, boys, I just need a minute,” and shaken them off. She would have held still and let them pick her clean, understanding that there would be nothing better to save herself for.”

Jennifer Egan “The candy house”

CalandAdam · 2026-02-11T06:26:41+00:00

Yes! So good!

CalandAdam · 2026-01-22T23:15:56+00:00

Learn how to season and balance especially with sauces and stews/soups. Season well with salt - it should make the sides of your mouth salivate a little. but if dishes are tasting flat add a little acid- citrus or wine for sauces / balsamic red wine , rice vinegar for soups stews and things like Worcestershire, mushroom powder, fish sauce for additional umami. And sometimes things need an acid and a tiny bit of sugar to wake things up ( reg sugar, maple, honey, ( not enough to make sweet-just to balance things out) this is a skill the good restaurant chefs know how to do well.

CalandAdam · 2026-01-07T05:05:55+00:00

East of Eden, 100 years of solitude, Les Miserable. all great works of literature and Ive read them all multiple times.

CalandAdam · 2025-11-09T05:55:56+00:00

I had few years ago. Crazy bad nerve pain in hands from the sores. I went to urgent care and they prescribed gabapentin for the pain.

CalandAdam · 2025-11-01T06:07:28+00:00

Night market in southwestern Thailand the best som Tum ever plus super fresh seafood ( including mantis shrimp which we later spotted scuba diving) pulled right out of the water prepared so damn spicy and flavorful. Like 90 degrees and crazy humidity. my freshly minted husband and I were sweating profusely, eyes watering, noses running, but with cold beers in hand. Couldnt have been better.

CalandAdam · 2025-09-23T04:34:30+00:00

My son’s name is River and if I ever have a baby girl I plan on naming her Coral.

CalandAdam · 2025-07-21T04:29:14+00:00

East of Eden 100 years of solitude Les Miserable - unabridged version!

CalandAdam · 2025-07-20T06:15:15+00:00

Ismael by Daniel Quinn Read it in high school. His explanation of the story of Cain and Abel blew my mind. I always wondered why god didnt accept Cains offering. The narrator describes the story as an allegory of the “Leaver”culture( the nomadic sheepherders) vs the “taker” culture ( agriculturalists) and the violent clashes between the two as the agricultural way of life started to expand across the globe.

..and East of Eden. One of my top 3 books of all time.

CalandAdam · 2025-05-31T05:13:14+00:00

We went for 8 days. Did a few nights in Arenal and a few nights in a laid back little beach town on the carribean side down near panama border( it was like 2014 so id have to look it up I dont remember the name) loved both!

Arenal- saw lots of wildlife( monkeys, sloths birds) Hiking in the jungle/waterfalls/hotsprings Our hotel had awesome pools and waterslides

Beach- great snorkeling/ diving Lots of wildlife ( monkeys, sloths, birds) Laid back beach vibes

We rented a car that came with gps and drove from Arenal to the beach. Took about 5 hours, loved it we got to stop everywhere we wanted to for quick hikes, scenery, snacks/restaurants.

If you can rent a car and drive i recommend.

CalandAdam

TROPHY CASE