http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ari-krupnik/etcher-etch-a-sketch-for-ipad

Ok,

Well, just reviewing the list of James Beard nominees today and I thought... hmmm, I've heard of a bunch of these places, and I guess I need to get off my butt and go.

I also realized that Houston is really a cool town and that my little neighborhood of Montrose is quite interesting.  There are two places that made the list, well actually two Executive Chef's that made the list - Hugo's and Uchiko (technically Uchiko is in Austin, but Uchi is in Houston and they share the safe Executive Chef).  Best thing about both of these places is that they are within a mile of my house.  Kinda cool.  Not too bad for lucking upon my place.  Now, I just have to find the time to go and check them out.  Which one first will truly be the question of the day I guess.

Ok, besides the places near me my other thought is… I need to visit New Orleans and Chicago more.  My only problem is that I am working on my official Texan certification, not trying to be funny here, but I’m trying to get there.  I’m already a long time resident and property owner, but I still can’t figure out to spell a bunch of places in the state correctly without looking them up in Google.  Additionally, I keep getting hill country confused with the panhandle, because to me “Hill” generally means North, so isn’t the Pan Handle area as far North as you can go in Texas.  Ok, I digress, but please don’t hold this against me Texans.  I’m trying.

Gig ‘em!!

JP

Ok, well here goes the list:

2012 James Beard Awards: Chefs and restaurants finalists

The 84th Academy Awards may have come and gone, but the James Beard Awards, better known as the "Oscars of the Food World," are just getting started.

Since 1990, the not-for-profit James Beard Foundation named after "the father of American cuisine," has been honoring the outstanding names in the food and beverage industry.

There is no cash reward, but a win – or even a nomination – can substantially increase the buzz for business, according to foundation President Susan Ungaro.

The nominations for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards were live-tweeted (@BeardFoundation) and live-streamed on restaurant, bar, and nightlife blog Eater.com Monday morning from The Azure Pool at The Venetian and The Palazzo in Las Vegas. The winners will be announced on May 7 at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception by James Beard Award–winning author and television personality Alton Brown.

Here are the finalists:

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
AQ (San Francisco, California)
Fiola (Washington, D.C.)
Isa (New York City)
Next (Chicago, Illinois)
Tertulia (New York City)

OUTSTANDING BAR PROGRAM
The Aviary (Chicago, Illinois)
Bar Agricole (San Francisco, California)
PDT (New York City)
Pegu Club (New York City)
The Violet Hour (Chicago, Illinois)

OUTSTANDING CHEF
David Chang, Momofuku Ssäm Bar (New York City)
Gary Danko, Restaurant Gary Danko (San Francisco, California)
Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park (New York City)
Paul Kahan, Blackbird (Chicago, Illinois)
Donald Link, Herbsaint (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Nancy Silverton, Pizzeria Mozza (Los Angeles, California)

OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF
Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery + Cafe (Boston, Massachusetts)
Melissa Chou, Aziza (San Francisco, California)
Hedy Goldsmith, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink (Miami, Florida)
Dahlia Narvaez, Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles, California)
Ghaya Oliveira, Boulud Sud (New York City)
Mindy Segal, Mindy’s Hot Chocolate (Chicago, Illinois)

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT
Balthazar (New York City)
Blue Hill (New York City)
Boulevard (San Francisco, California)
Highlands Bar and Grill (Birmingham, Alabama)
Vetri (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR
Bruce Bromberg and Eric Bromberg, Blue Ribbon Restaurants (New York City)
Tom Douglas, Tom Douglas Restaurants (Seattle, Washington)
Piero Selvaggio, Valentino Restaurant Group (Santa Monica, California)
Caroline Styne, Lucques/A.O.C./Tavern (Los Angeles, California)
Phil Suarez, Suarez Restaurant Group (New York City)

OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Cyrus (Healdsburg, California)
La Grenouille (New York City)
Michael Mina (San Francisco, California)
Spiaggia (Chicago, Illinois)
Topolobampo (Chicago, Illinois)

OUTSTANDING WINE PROGRAM
A16 (San Francisco, California)
The Barn at Blackberry Farm (Walland, Tennessee)
Emeril's (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Frasca Food and Wine (Boulder, Colorado)
No. 9 Park (Boston, Massachusetts)

OUTSTANDING WINE & SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL
Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Milton, Delaware)
Merry Edwards, Merry Edwards Winery (Sebastopol, California)
Paul Grieco, Terroir (New York City)
Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery (New York City)
Neal Rosenthal, Mad Rose Group (Pine Plains, New York)

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR
Dave Beran, Next (Chicago, Illinois)
Danny Bowien, Mission Chinese Food (San Francisco, California)
Thomas McNaughton, flour + water (San Francisco, California)
Christina Tosi, Momofuku Milk Bar (New York City)
Sue Zemanick, Gautreau’s (New Orleans, Louisiana)

BEST CHEF: GREAT LAKES
Michael Carlson, Schwa (Chicago, Illinois)
Stephanie Izard, Girl & the Goat (Chicago, Illinois)
Anne Kearney, Rue Dumaine (Dayton, Ohio)
Bruce Sherman, North Pond (Chicago, Illinois)
Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia (Chicago, Illinois)

BEST CHEF: MID-ATLANTIC
Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve (Alexandria, Virginia)
Johnny Monis, Komi (Washington, D.C.)
Peter Pastan, Obelisk (Washington, D.C.)
Maricel Presilla, Cucharamama (Hoboken, New Jersey)
Vikram Sunderam, Rasika (Washington, D.C.)

BEST CHEF: MIDWEST
Justin Aprahamian, Sanford (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Gerard Craft, Niche (St. Louis, Missouri)
Colby Garrelts, Bluestem (Kansas City, Missouri)
Tory Miller, L’Etoile (Madison, Wisconsin)
Lenny Russo, Heartland Restaurant & Farm Direct Market (St. Paul, Minnesota)

BEST CHEF: NORTHEAST
Jamie Bissonnette, Coppa (Boston, Massachusetts)
Tim Cushman, O Ya (Boston, Massachusetts)
Gerry Hayden, The North Fork Table & Inn (Southold, New York)
Matt and Kate Jennings, La Laiterie (Providence, Rhode Island)
Eric Warnstedt, Hen of the Wood (Waterbury, Vermont)

BEST CHEF: NORTHWEST
Matt Dillon, Sitka & Spruce (Seattle, Washington)
Jason Franey, Canlis (Seattle, Washington)
Christopher Israel, Grüner (Portland, Oregon)
Naomi Pomeroy, Beast (Portland, Oregon)
Cathy Whims, Nostrana (Portland, Oregon)

BEST CHEF: NYC
Michael Anthony, Gramercy Tavern
April Bloomfield, The Spotted Pig
Wylie Dufresne, wd~50
Mark Ladner, Del Posto
Michael White, Marea

BEST CHEF: PACIFIC
Michael Chiarello, Bottega (Yountville, California)
Chris Cosentino, Incanto (San Francisco, California)
Christopher Kostow, The Restaurant at Meadowood (St. Helena, California)
Matt Molina, Osteria Mozza (Los Angeles, California)
Daniel Patterson, Coi (San Francisco, California)

BEST CHEF: SOUTH
Justin Devillier, La Petite Grocery (New Orleans, Louisiana)
John Harris, Lilette (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Chris Hastings, Hot and Hot Fish Club (Birmingham, Alabama)
Tory McPhail, Commander’s Palace (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Alon Shaya, Domenica (New Orleans, Louisiana)

BEST CHEF: SOUTHEAST
Hugh Acheson, Five and Ten (Athens, Georgia)
Craig Deihl, Cypress (Charleston, South Carolina)
Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene (Atlanta, Georgia)
Edward Lee, 610 Magnolia (Louisville, Kentucky)
Joseph Lenn, The Barn at Blackberry Farm (Walland, Tennessee)

BEST CHEF: SOUTHWEST
Bruce Auden, Biga on the Banks (San Antonio, Texas)
Kevin Binkley, Binkley’s Restaurant (Cave Creek, Arizona)
Bruno Davaillon, Mansion Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek (Dallas, Texas)
Jennifer Jasinski, Rioja (Denver, Colorado)
Hugo Ortega, Hugo’s (Houston, Texas)
Paul Qui, Uchiko (Austin, Texas)

AMERICA'S CLASSICS AWARDS
Locally owned restaurants "beloved in their regions for quality food that reflects the character of their community," according to the Foundation.
The Fry Bread House (Phoenix, Arizona)
Nora's Fish Creek Inn (Wilson, Wyoming)
St Elmo Steak House (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Jones Bar-B-Q Diner (Marianna, Arkansas)
Shady Glen (Manchester, Connecticut)

WHO'S WHO OF FOOD & BEVERAGE IN AMERICA INDUCTEES
Grant Achatz, chef and author (Chicago, Illinois)
Mark Bittman, journalistwww and author (New York City)
Dana Cowin, editor and journalist (New York City)
Emily Luchetti, pastry chef and author (San Francisco, California)
Marvin Shanken, publisher (New York City)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Wolfgang Puck

HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR
Charlie Trotter

This list was compiled by CNN’s Eatocracy:

http://eatocracy.cnn.com

Below is the history of Cinco de Mayo.  I knew of this, but the rest that I learned was eye opening.  I hope that you enjoy.  Great background story regarding the US too.

JP

The Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo

In 1862, the United States was in the middle of a civil war. All the South needed was a strong exterior ally and its strengthened cause might have permanently split the United States. A possible exterior ally was closer than Abraham Lincoln liked, as the French Army under Gen. Laurencez was making its way through Mexico.

The French Army was considered the greatest military force on the globe. For nearly 50 years—since the defeat of Napoleon I’s army at the hands of allied forces at Waterloo, Belgium in 1815—it had not known defeat and had recently won victories in Europe and Asia. In 1862, the French landed in Veracruz along with forces from Queen Isabella II of Spain and Queen Victoria of Great Britain. They had come to collect the debt owed to them by Mexico—debts that Mexican President Benito Juarez had officially suspended because the country was essentially bankrupt.

Refusing Juarez’ proposed compromise to repay the debts two years later, the collaboration of the three countries’ militaries seized the custom house at Veracruz. They intended to intercept the customs payments in exchange for their debt. After some time, the diplomats for Spain and Great Britain reached an agreement with Juarez and the armies from those two countries departed from Mexico. The French, on the other hand, stayed and headed for Mexico City.

France had significant interest in halting the growth of the United States. The North American country’s rate of expansion and power was threatening to the other world powers. If Napoleon was successful in conquering Mexico, the possibility of marching north to aid the Confederates in dividing the United States into two less powerful and less threatening countries was real.

The United States was a major cause of France’s attack on Mexico. The war America recently won over Mexico leveled the Mexican treasury and led to financial disaster. Thus, Juarez suspended payment to France and incited Napoleon III, ruler of France, to act. Lincoln and the United States were dependent on Mexico staving off the French troops until the Confederacy could be defeated and Lincoln could deploy troops south to aid Juarez.

Early on May 5, 1862, General Laurencez led 6,000 French troops toward Puebla, Mexico, just 100 miles from Mexico City. Expecting the attack was General Ignacio Zaragoza, a Texas-born Mexican who was ordered to defend Juarez with a force of 4,000 troops, many of them agricultural workers armed with antiquated rifles and machetes. The battle would take place in a muddy, uneven field.

To show his contempt for the Mexicans, Gen. Laurencez ordered his troops to attack through the middle of the foes’ defenses, their strongest position. The French cavalry went through ditches, over adobe ruins and toward the slope of Guadalupe Hill. By then, the cavalry, exhausted and nearly disbanded, failed to achieve its goal. The Mexican army stood its ground. Gen. Zaragoza, who had no experience in military tactics but was a veteran in guerrilla warfare, ordered his troops to go after the French, who fled to Orizaba, where Zaragoza attacked the French again, forcing them to flee to the coast.

The Battle of Puebla was an inspirational event for wartime Mexico, and it provided a stunning revelation to the rest of the world which had largely expected a rapid victory for French arms.

Slowed by their loss at Puebla, the French forces retreated and regrouped, and the invasion continued after Napoleon III determinedly sent additional troops to Mexico. The French were eventually victorious, winning the Second Battle of Puebla on 17 May 1863 and pushing on to Mexico City. When the capital fell, Juárez's government was forced into exile in the remote north.

With the backing of France, the Habsburg Archduke Maximilian became Emperor of Mexico in the short-lived Second Mexican Empire. "Some have argued that the true French occupation was a response to growing U.S. power and to the Monroe Doctrine (America for the Americans). Napoleon III believed that if the United States was allowed to prosper indiscriminately, it would eventually become a power in and of itself.

On 16 September 1862, President Juárez declared that the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla would be a national holiday, regarded as "Battle of Puebla Day" or "Battle of Cinco de Mayo". Although today it is recognised in some countries as a day of Mexican heritage celebration, it is not a federal holiday in Mexico. September 16^th is Mexico’s Independence Day.

Ok,
I haven't been to any on this list. Time to get started though.
I've been planning on going to the French Laundry forever, gotta make that happen in the near future I think.

JP
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2012/04/30/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-in-2012/?h...

Restaurant magazine revealed its annual "World's 50 Best Restaurants" list on Monday at an awards ceremony in London's Guildhall. This year marked the tenth year for the countdown.

Audience members rose to their feet as René Redzepi and his interpretation of Nordic cuisine at Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark, made a culinary hat-trick, staying in the No. 1 spot for three years in a row.

"Being on the list means that you made a mark within gastronomy," Redzepi said.

The much-anticipated list is compiled by the World's 50 Best Restaurants Academy - a panel of more than 800 of the world's gastronomic glitterati, including celebrated chefs, food critics, restaurateurs and other influential leaders in the restaurant industry.

"It's a very good window into what's happening in the world of gastronomy. It's a snapshot of the moment," said chef Heston Blumenthal. Blumenthal operates two restaurants, The Fat Duck (No. 13) and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (the highest new entry at No. 9), on this year's list. The Fat Duck topped the list in 2005.

The Ledbury in London was the highest climber in 2012, moving up 20 spots from 2011.

Thomas Keller, the 2012 S.Pellegrino Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, earned two spots on the list this year with Per Se at No. 6 and The French Laundry at No. 43. Six other restaurants from the United States were also crowned this year: Alinea in Chicago, Illinois; Daniel, Le Bernardin, Momofuku Ssäm Bar and Eleven Madison Park in New York; and Manresa in Los Gatos, California.

These are the world's 50 best restaurants:

1) Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark)

2) El Celler de Can Roca (Girona, Spain)

3) Mugaritz (Errenteria, Spain)

4) D.O.M. (São Paulo, Brazil)

5) Osteria Francescana (Modena, Italy)

6) Per Se (New York)

7) Alinea (Chicago, Illinois)

8) Arzak (San Sebastián, Spain)

9) Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (London, England)

10) Eleven Madison Park (New York)

11) Steirereck (Vienna, Austria)

12) L'Atelier Saint-Germain de Joël Robuchon (Paris, France)

13) The Fat Duck (Bray, England)

14) The Ledbury (London, England)

15) Le Chateaubriand (Paris, France)

16) L'Arpege (Paris, France)

17) Pierre Gagnaire (Paris, France)

18) L'Astrance (Paris, France)

19) Le Bernardin (New York)

20) Frantzén/Lindeberg (Stockholm, Sweden)

21) Oud Sluis (Sluis, Netherlands)

22) Aqua (Wolfsburg, Germany)

23) Vendôme (Bergisch Gladbach, Germany)

24) Mirazur (Menton, France)

25) Daniel (New York)

26) Iggy's (Singapore)

27) Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)

28) Nihonryori RyuGin (Tokyo, Japan)

29) Quay Restaurant (Sydney, Australia)

30) Schloss Schauenstein (Fürstenau, Switzerland)

31) Asador Etxebarri (Atxondo-Bizkaia, Spain)

32) Le Calandre (Rubano, Italy)

33) De Librije (Zwolle, Netherlands)

34) Fäviken Magasinet (Järpen, Sweden)

35) Astrid y Gastón (Lima, Perú)

36) Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico)

37) Momofuku Ssäm Bar (New York)

38) Biko (Mexico City, Mexico)

39) Waku Ghin (Singapore)

40) Quique Dacosta (Denia, Spain)

41) Mathias Dahlgren (Stockholm, Sweden)

42) Hof van Cleve (Kruishoutem, Belgium)

43) The French Laundry (Yountville, California)

44) Amber (Hong Kong, China)

45) Vila Joya (Albufeira, Portugal)

46) Il Canto (Siena, Italy)

47) Bras (Laguiole, France)

48) Manresa (Los Gatos, California)

49) Geranium (Copenhagen, Denmark)

50) Nahm (Bangkok, Thailand

The Bay Area News Group / The Oakland Tribune
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

My Word: Bay Area Coast Guard leadership
changes, but not mission

By Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown

I wish to thank the Bay Area communities and all of
our partners whose combined efforts welcomed and
supported our U.S. Coast Guard members to better
serve, protect and defend our great nation.

It has been my honor to have served for the past two
years as the Coast Guard's Pacific Area commander.

More than 4,000 Coast Guard men and women are
based in the Bay Area. We are your neighbors.

In addition to our professional work, we serve in the
community as volunteers and fellow citizens actively
working by your side to enhance community goals.

We perform a variety of missions that are best
summarized as follows: We protect people from the
sea, we protect the nation from threats delivered by
the sea and we protect the sea itself.

The Bay Area Coast Guard is comprised of boat
stations, a buoy tender, an air station, five major
ships (we call them cutters), including our newest
fleet of 418-foot Legend-class national security
cutters, training centers and regional headquarters
commands that coordinate operations throughout
California and the entire Pacific.

Our national security cutters -- Bertholf, Waesche
and Stratton -- provide long-range offshore
capabilities and regularly conduct counterdrug
patrols off the coasts of Central and South America
as well as fisheries patrols in Alaska.

Held annually in October, San Francisco Fleet
Week provides all community members the
opportunity to gain a better understanding of our
various missions and to tour Coast Guard cutters
that take part in the events.

Perhaps most importantly, it is during Fleet Week
that we come together with other federal, state
and local agencies to hone our collective emergency-
response skills.

In the last two years, the organizers of Fleet Week
have added a highly successful post-earthquake
recovery exercise to the events schedule.

These relationships help foster better responses
to major emergencies.

As a Coast Guard city, Alameda continues to be
a highly valued partner in supporting the quality of
life of the Coast Guard men and women who serve
in the Bay Area.

The Coast Guard has enjoyed an extraordinary
relationship with the city of Alameda spanning
back to 1926, when the Coast Guard established
Base 11 on Government Island (now Coast
Guard Island).

As I get reassigned to Washington, D.C., I am
inspired by the way the Bay Area communities
have honored and supported our Coast Guard
shipmates and families.

I ask you to join me in welcoming our new Pacific
Area commander, Vice Adm. Paul Zukunft, as he
assumes the mantle of command for the Bay
Area's largest military force.

I am truly grateful to have served in such a caring
and vibrant region.

Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown served as Coast
Guard commander of Pacific Area for 2010-2012.

(c) Copyright 2011, Bay Area News Group

URL: http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/ci_20524505/my-word-bay-area-coast-guard...

****************************************************

The preceding item is provided for your personal use as background
information. It may include copyrighted material, so please treat it
with the discretion you would use with any press clip. Please do not
repost it on any site or bulletin board intended for access by the
general public. Also, please be aware that the views expressed may
not necessarily coincide with the positions of DHS, DOT, USCG,
their management, or yours truly.

****************************************************

This is a great story about my favorite sandwich shop. Inspiration fir us all and my bike shop - in the future.

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46980713/#46980713

Woke up early this morning to ride the bus to North Carolina with momma and her friends on their annual casino trip. It was really a blast just hanging out and enjoying everyone. I'm happy that I was able to make it.

Time to ride back to the ATL!

JP

BT
NNNN