SPOILED BY THE CHEF

Everybody knows, that when it comes to food, I'm pretty much a meat & potatoes kind of guy. Occasionally, I'll try some seafood, or if I'm really adventurous, I might eat a Mexican or Italian meal, but, give me a big juicy steak or a cheeseburger, and I'm a happy camper. Well, this neanderthal appetite of mine faced an abrupt about face in the last two days. My cousin Karen's husband Dan is an executive chef, trained at the highly prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He has worked at places like the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, and feed dignitaries and Presidents. So, lets just say, this guy knows how to cook, and currently is the executive chef at the Mill Casino here in Coos Bay. When we arrived on Monday, Dan & Karen arranged for Patty and I to attend a demonstration dinner at the culinary school, in the local community college. This was a fundraiser for the local Boys & Girls club, and we sat in a theater type setting, watching Dan and his associates prepare our gourmet dinner. The menu consisted of a Dungeness Crab & Black Cod appetizer, a salad topped with warm Duck, a main entree of Quail, and a sponge cake/Lemon Curd dessert. Not only was the meal out of this world delicious, we got to watch exactly how it was prepared.

Yesterday, Karen had to work, but Dan had the day off, and gave us a tour of the area. We had a nice seafood lunch at one of the local restaurants by the bay, and had the opportunity to visit with Dan most of the afternoon. When Karen got off work, we headed over to their house for another totally unique culinary experience. Dan tutored Patty, while she prepared a shrimp and chicken pasta with lots of other ingredients that were absolutely mouthwatering! It's not hard to see (and taste), why Dan is a true professional at his craft. It was great having the time to visit with Karen and Dan, and many thanks for the wonderful culinary delights, and their hospitality. This morning, we're northbound on Hwy 101, destination the Thousand Trails Preserve in Florence, OR.