Why I have a blog

My photo
Since I never seem to get around to sending out Christmas cards or letters, I decided to blog a bit to keep my fans updated. :-)

Friday, February 18, 2011

Restaurant Review - La Jolla Groves

Tonight some friends and I checked out La Jolla Groves over in Riverwoods, and it was an excellent experience! We started with a cheese plate, then opted to skip the soup/salad course so that we'd have room for dessert. For the entrees, between the three of us we ordered chicken crepes, mushroom ravioli, and beef medallions. All were very tasty. The beef (my order) was very tender and tasty. I sampled the crepes, which were lovely, and tasted the ravioli. I loved the sauce on the ravioli.

My personal measuring stick for eating establishments is how they treat their cooked vegetables. La Jolla did a beautiful job with mine! There were slim baby carrots, asparagus, and teeny tiny potatoes. They were cooked, but not overcooked or mushy. Yea!

We tried two different desserts -- Orange Crème brûlée and an individual-sized Lemon bundt cake. Both were lovely. The lemon cake had a nifty melted sugar dome covering it. I might have to try making those some time. It looks like it was melted sugar draped and swirled in thin ribbons over an upside-down bowl. We also brought some lemon rolls home, but haven't tried them yet.

They do take reservations, and our table was ready when we arrived. I called at 5:15 tonight for a 6:45 reservation. Parking was the only issue because they've turned the Riverwoods shopping/eating area into a pedestrian mall with parking around the outside. La Jolla is directly west of Tucanos, but I ended up parking out by Macaroni Grill. So, make a reservation and plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early to the parking lot so that you have time to circle around a bit until you find a spot.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

EP Auto ROCKS!

While I don't like it when my car is having troubles, I am so glad I can take it over to EP Auto and have them cure whatever ails it. My car has been having occasional trouble starting over the last few months. I took it to EP Auto in December, but they were unable to determine the problem. Amazingly, they did not charge me for the time they took to check it out!

Today, the problem finally manifested itself to the point that it could be properly diagnosed when the "charging system problem" indicator light came on. Luckily, it happened as I was backing out of the driveway, so I went straight to EP Auto. Within 90 minutes they called to let me know the problem (bad alternator) and to say that they could fix it today.

At 3:30, they called again to say the alternator was done, but that the "check engine" light had come on. They tracked that to a sensor right by the alternator and though they didn't think they had done anything to disturb it, they said they would replace it for free. How's that for awesome service?

I also took my last car to them when it needed maintenance, and over the years I have never felt like they were trying to sell me something extra or perform service that wasn't needed. If you are in my area, I highly recommend EP Auto. They are at the corner of 800 W and 400 N in Orem, and their phone number is 801-221-9477. For regular maintenance issues, call ahead for an appointment because they are usually booked out a few days in advance.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Year of the Rabbit

A shout out to those born in 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999- it is YOUR YEAR! (and yes, that is me in the middle with 1963).

I found this on one of my favorite food blogs, Simply Recipes:

2011 is the Year of the Rabbit (兔) which is a welcome thing after the previous wild and somewhat ferocious Year of the Tiger (虎). The rabbit is probably the most delicate animal of the Chinese zodiac and those born under rabbit years are reserved, good-natured, compassionate, and artistic, though perhaps a bit absentminded and superficial. The Rabbit, being a such a good friend, also likes to prepare food for people.

Another version:
People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise.