Les Flâneurs

A trip to Grand Haven to walk the pier and see the Big Lake

A gorgeous day to be at the beach. So we pulled out of Eagle Crest onto Leonard Street which took us all the way to Spring Lake, stopping just once in Lamont to look for a few 3rd Michigan infantry burials at Maplewood Cemetery.

From Spring Lake we crossed the bridge into Grand Haven, turned down Jackson Street (did not follow the signs to the waterfront) and pulled into the parking lot at Chinook Pier. Other than the burned out hulk of the public restrooms across from the fishing boats gearing up for the tourist season, everything look pretty much as it did the last time we were out here.

We strolled all the way to the end of the pier. Lots of other folks had the same ideas, and there were alredy quite a few -- mainly kids -- in the water as well. Susie even popped her toes into the surf.

The "Pere Marquette" forever idle at Chinook Pier

Coast Guard interpretive board along the boardwalk to the lighthouse

Grand Valley State University research boat

Birthday dinner at Metacom Kitchen in Warren

By last Saturday evening my body had conveniently moved to the recovery phase from some nasty respiratory virus that had plagued me for most of the week. Most importantly for a planned birthday dinner, my appetite was back -- as things turned out, I was going to need it.

We arrived at Metacom Kitchen right at 7pm and were seated at the food bar, in the back of the restaurant overlooking the kitchen. For the next 2-and-a-half hours this would be home. . .

1st: Duck Skin Salad

2nd: Chicken and Mushroom soup

3rd: Vitello Tonnato (my request)

4th: Salmon Belly a la Planche

5th: Seared Scarlet Snapper

6th: Torchon on Foie Gras

7th: Moroccan spiced tenderloin of Colorado Lamb

8th: Chocolate Ganache

The food was incredible: creative, delicious, and well-presented. The quality of the food was almost surpassed by the wonderful service. In a world where restaurants abound, many of them outstanding, Metacom is simply and absolutely one of the best.

Podere Casalciccia in Asciano

Our Senese friends Patti and Robert (as in toursbyroberto) finally have their guest house up and running. We were there at the beginning when it was still just a dream and can attest to how incredibly beautiful the countryside is from their hilltop -- a beauty outmatched only by their kindness and hospitality.

2005

2009

view from their hilltop

2015

Sunday Dinner at D & D's

Another wonderful Sunday evening meal at Dick and Dorothy's -- just as I was fallen into the clutches of some nasty virus that would prevent me from coming to another dinner later in the week.