West Coast Grill at The Prestige Lakeside Resort
Nelson, BC
 
No photos as I had not intended to write about my meal here because I only went to meet with a friend who was staying there.  It was so terrible all around that I couldn't let it go though.

The easy thing I will start with is my friend.  He ordered french toast with bananas, but they brought him kiwis instead.  He was visibly upset about this as he picked them off and was kinda cursing out each piece as he did, and saying something along the lines of how can they mess up a kiwi with a banana?!  They also charged him for two teas when he only had one.
 
Of the two of us, he was the one who got the good service...

I ordered a very simple classic breakfast:  over easy eggs, bacon, sourdough toast, hash browns.
 
The food didn't take long, but as soon as it was put in front of me I zeroed in on the eggs.  Those things were...how do I put it?  The only way they could possibly have been more overcooked is if they were charcoal black and crispy.  The yolks were hard, like, can't even cut up with a fork kind of hard!  That totally defeats the whole purpose of an over-easy egg, as the whole point of those is to dip your toast in the oozing yolk.

I was immediately put-off by it as I have always felt that if you're in a building called the Prestige then your food better be prestigious.
 
My friend used to be a cook for many years, so he knows what's up with good and bad food, and he didn't even hesitate saying that he was gonna get me new food.  I told him no, that I don't send food back unless it has a hair in it, or it makes me sick immediately.  (As an example...spoiled cream or the like!)  Then I explained that if I send it back, that they're just gonna throw it out and I am not OK with that.  I'm kid of the 80's who saw countless times a day on TV the little kids in Ethiopia with bloated stomachs and flies flying around them from desperate starvation; as cliché as it might sound at times, I am very aware of people around the world who don't have food, and would do almost anything for those shitty eggs.  For me to have them thrown out is not acceptable.  My friend said they need to be held accountable.  I told him they will be, and quickly refreshed his memory that I write about food.
 
(A lesser reason I do not send food back because of quality is because I have known many, many cooks over the years, and have heard too many nightmare kitchen stories of what can happen to sent back dishes, so I don't trust round two of rejected food for a second.) 
 
I wasn't really eating the food too much.  I was more in disbelief of how terrible it was while trying to break up parts of the egg with my fork.  I ate a hash brown here and there and talked with my friend about the garbage quality.  That kind of took over the theme of our conversation. 
 
When I had only eaten one slice of toast, a few hash browns, and a bit of one egg, without asking if I was done, the server just showed up and took my food away.  My friend and I both said I wasn't done with it.  He didn't hear us I guess, which was quite impressive as we both said it clear and loud enough for anyone standing only two feet from our table to hear.  He then dropped my fork on the ground, picked it up, and put it on the plate as we both repeated ourselves that I wasn't finished.  This time he heard us and started handing me my plate back with the fork that had just fallen on the floor sitting right in the food. 

In my mind, I was like, "Seriously?!  You're really gonna give a plate of food that has a utensil in it that you just dropped on the floor?!"

His hand was outstretched with the plate, but I wasn't gonna say anything until it got to the table to see if he would actually give it back to me.  Thankfully he retracted his arm and realized what he had just done.  He hesitated for a moment pondering what to do, and then apologized, and said he would get me some more food. 

When he was gone back to the kitchen I looked at my friend and said, "I kinda just wanna leave."  That was when my friend was looking at his bill seeing that he had just been charged for two teas instead of one.
 
The food didn't take long, but I wish it took a little bit longer because this time the eggs were well under cooked.  They were disgusting...like eating snot.  When my server asked me if there was anything else I needed I told him a fork would be great because I didn’t have any utensils. 
 
By this time, my friend had to leave for a meeting, so I just sat there by myself eating gross snotty eggs.  While I was doing that, my server had walked by and taken the cloth napkins off the table.  I was thinking to myself at that point, “I’m not freakin’ done yet.”  He then realized I was not done, so he put down my friend’s used napkin for me.  He then stood there confused as to which one was which and picked up my friend’s and put mine back down, but to me, all I saw was his hands all over it, and I more impressed that he just kept finding ways to take bad and make it worse.  It was quite impressive, especially knowing that he had been a server there for many years.
 
It was a huge mistake to eat that second round of eggs because now I feel terrible.  There is this sludgy, slimy film from my mouth right down to my stomach, and my belly feels like I just ate some rocks.
 
That was quite possibly the worst meal/service combination I have ever had.  Needless to say, when my friend is in town again, we won't be eating there again.  It's really too bad because it is such a nice location, especially the patio on the water, but it's just not worth it.  The disappointment is paramount to virtually every dining experience in that place.

When I left the restaurant, I walked straight over to the Front Desk to ask if I could borrow a pen.  The lady said, "Of course."  I just wanted to write down 'kiwi instead of banana' so I would remember that mistake with my friend's dish.  I didn't finish writing 'instead' because I was kind of distracted talking to the woman at the desk.  She asked me how I was doing.  I said, "Terrible, now!"  With some alarm and definite concern in her voice she asked me why.  I told her that I just had a terrible meal and service at in the restaurant.  It kind of stopped her in her tracks, but she did ask me if I wanted the manager's card.  I told her no...that I know who he is.  I thanked her for the pen and then walked off and went about my day.

The very first meal I ever had that The Prestige in 2000 I remember looking at my friend I was with then and saying, "This is not very Prestigious."  After so many failed attempts at meals there, I gotta say that I am done with it.  I won't waste my time or money going for a meal at The Prestige Lakeside Resort in Nelson, BC.  The rooms are great, but the food is just one let down after another, and the lesson has been learned.

September 2, 2018:  A Grateful Fail!
Montreal Smoked Hash
$13.65 after tax, before tip  (I can't believe I tipped them 15% let alone at all!)

I'm not too sure when I first heard of the Grateful Fed restaurant.  It was a few years ago at least, but I had not been out of the West Kootenay at that time.  Needless to say, I was freakin' psyched to go there sometime.  I had to go there!

I had three Okanagan trips for this little triathlon pack I put together for myself this summer, all taking me through Kelowna, so there is no way I would not be going to the Fed at least once. 

Today was the day...the last of my triathlon tips.  I just finished my last race in Summerland a couple hours ago, and was stopping here on my way back through town.

Like the idiot I am, I forgot to write down the address before I left home, but I had a pretty good idea of where it was.  At least I thought it was on a road that started with 'B' that ran parallel to the main road coming off the bridge.  I just had to turn left when I got into town and I should be OK as I remembered it to be a few blocks.

I found it easier that I thought I might.  I definitely had some anticipation flowing when I located this place from the street.  The real challenging part was finding a shaded parking spot for Fennario.  After a few laps, trying to keep my wits to stay close to where I needed to be I got my parking sorted though...and only a block away from the restaurant. 

So, here I was about to quench a multi year thirst of curiosity.  Exciting! 

I didn't wanna sit out on the patio because I wanted to see what it was like inside...straight through the door I went!

It only took about 2 or 3 seconds to be completely let down.  It should just be called some kinda classic rock thing regurgitated thing.  There is barely any Grateful Dead anywhere.  The only damned actual record I see of theirs is Skeleton's From The Closet.  If you know your shit, you know that is the shittiest record the boys ever put out.  A crap-ass best of released by a label after they left it to capitalize on their back catalogue.  (DO NOT LISTEN TO THE "TURN ON YOUR LOVELIGHT" ON THAT RECORD!  They took that beauty, edited the shit outta it, and turned it into an absolute abomination!)  Speaking of an abomination, they put it right next to a Coors Light neon sign.  I'm not even a beer guy, but I know that shit is absolute garbage!

I went to the washroom when I first walked in though and it was way down the hall at the back of the building.  I had to walk past the kitchen.  I took a quick glance when I passed by.  Daaaaamn...shit just keeps gettin' gnarlier!  

(An offshoot part of my job is to inspect the kitchen where I work, so I know what to look for, and this one...Shit maaaan...those guys don't want me walking through there, that's for damned sure!)

I took a photo of the only real Dead section on the wall, but I couldn't sit beside it 'cause they were rolling cutlery into napkins.  This place seemed to be a crash course on how to shitty even shittier real fast!  I sat beside the Beatles section because of a couple Beatles nut friends of mine.  An old-school bro, Dave, and a newer friend, Kelly.  Thinkin' of those two were the most positive experience in there.

The music they are playing hurts my ears and definitely licks balls!  Of course it wasn't Grateful Dead, or any of the post-Jerry group arrangements, nor was it any of the boys' solo groups.  Not even anything close like Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Doors, etc, etc, etc.  It was some ball lickin' metal(ish) music that made me wanna stick ice picks in my ears just to take my mind off of the torture I had to sit through!

Although it is 1:30pm, there is no lunch menu, only breakfast.  Total bummer again.  I did not sleep in and am hung over, I want some lunch, not breakfast in the afternoon, but oh well, take what you can get I guess!

The tiny menu was very limited and not very appealing either.  I got a Montreal Smoked Hash.  Outside of thinkin' 'bout Dave and Kelly, pretty much the only positive so far is how fast the food came.

I needed to send a message to a friend who was possibly meeting me there, so when she brought me my food I asked if they had wi-fi.

The password was one they did not deserve:    fedheads

I didn't even have to punch in the password though as it just connected automatically.  Surprise, surprise...they can't even do that right!

I immediately put a post on my facecrack account:

"At The Grateful Fed in Kelowna right now.  Talk about false advertising.  Wonder if I can sue for that shit!"

The server said she would bring me some jams for my toast, but didn't do that.  Oh well...par for the course.  I'm just gonna plow this food into my face so I can get the hell outta here.

As for the food itself...

Where's the ooooooze?!

There is definitely a smokey flavour to the food, but let's face facts, this shit ain't hard to make or fuck up!  

Food OK, but overall rating:

GRATEFUL FAIL!

Oops...I was wrong...food is salty as fuck and I didn't even put anything on that shit.  Also...eggs over easy my ass!  Eggs over cooked more like it!  This place can suck it!

When the server brought my bill to me, she got all excited about the sticker on my laptop:  The Funk Hunters.  I told her it came with my laptop, that I bought it from my friend.  Then I told her, if I put a sticker on it, it would be like the shirt on my back, which was a Grateful Dead tour shirt.  

Was I shocked that this girl got psyched on Funk Hunters and couldn't give a shit about the Grateful Dead in a restaurant called, The Grateful Fed?  Not at this point.

When I left I saw they had packed up the patio.  I guess it was a short day which is why no lunch menu.  Seemed strange to close so early on a sunny Sunday of a long weekend, but was no surprise.

What a total fuckin' joke!  The food sucked!  The kitchen was a disgrace!  The decor licked balls!  The music made me want to kill myself!  

...and they couldn't give one sweet fuck about the Grateful Dead!

As a true connoisseur of all things Grateful Dead, I found the Grateful Fed nothing short of absolutely insulting!

I didn't take a photo of the outside front of the place when I left, because at that point I just couldn't give a shit!

When I got to my van I apologized to Fennario for the waste of time.  (I wonder if any of them would even know the significance of my doggie's name...oops...I don't have to wonder that.  Of course they wouldn't!)

archive.org/details/gd1973-12-12.sbd.miller.105561.flac16/gd73-12-12d3t06.flac

I got in my van and popped in an old tape from 12-12-73 and blared it.  I needed to knock that shit outta my head and get it straight with what the Grateful Dead really meant!

I went to the Kootenay Country Co-Op today.  I hadn't been there for awhile.  I thought it was time to go grab some food there as I have been to the Wednesday Market, Evergreen Natural Foods, and Safeway in Nelson.

The Co-Op has recently moved locations to their long anticipated new building.  It is much, much bigger than it was before, offering much more selection of goods.  I was psyched to see what I could get there as I have been on a pretty limited grocery list for my diet.

I was in there early in the morning, which was nice as it wasn't too busy.  Long ago, I used to have a self imposed rule to never go there on a Friday afternoon as it would be so busy I would just bail on what I needed and try again after the weekend.

I was quite surprised by the limited amount of produce available to me.  They had plastic tags and stickers on so much of their stuff too.  Although this no new plastic thing is much easier than I anticipated going in, I kinda can't wait for it to be done so I can eat some damned bananas and avocados again.

Right out front of their door was a display of peaches that I wanted to get.  They were in the Pulp Fibre cartons.  I was psyched.  I grabbed a pack and had a fatty smile on my face.  Then I remembered that my time restricted eating schedule was for when I was at work.  

I immediately started picturing myself eating peaches at work and knew that sticky fruit hands were not gonna be at all conducive to my work environment, so sadly I put them down.  I might go back on Friday to get some for the weekend, but can't say for sure as I might just go somewhere else instead

I poked around the produce and got some stuff that would be good for me and that I could bring to work.  Before I left I needed to grab some more rice as I was out.  I also decided on a bit of elbow pasta too.  I got the ultra-hippy kind too:  Quinoa-Rice pasta elbows!

I brought the worng lids to the containers I had with me, and couldn't get new ones, but I did have a couple old bags that I have used for a long time.  **I only bring a few new bags into my house per year as it is...just reuse the crap outta them.

Once I had the rice and pasta, I was set enough for myself, and headed towards the checkout.  On my way there I passed by the salad bar cafe stands.  They didn't have much out for serving yet because it was so early, but they did have something that caught my eye:  Enchiladas!  

Those fuckers looked good.  Before committing to getting some in my mind I had to check on the packaging.  They had the hard papery recyclable take away packaging, so I was goin' for it.  They weren't too big, but I only grabbed a couple.

Now, armed with those, I was ready to make my break to the checkout, pay for my food, and get the hell outta town so I could crawl into bed for some sleep.

I unloaded everything to get rung through, then walked around to the other side of the till to start packaging up.  Once the girl was done with my stuff she leveled me with the bad news:

$72.54

In my head all I was thinking was, "Are you fuckin' kidding me?!  SEVENTY TWO FREAKIN' FIFTY FUCKIN' FOUR!  Who in their right gawd damned mind thinks this is OK?!"

I was looking at the food I had.  Here is the list:

-Some Sprouts
-A little bit of Carrots
-A small amount of rice and elbow pasta
-2 Zucchini's
-2 Heads of Broccoli
-1 Bunch of Celery
-2 Bulbs of Garlic
-3 Small Red Onions
-5 Beets
-10  Potatoes
-2 Small Enchiladas from their Salad Bar thing

No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't for the life of me figure out how this small amount of food could cost this much gawd damned money!  These people are outta their damned minds if they think this is acceptable.  There's no need to wonder why people can't afford to shop and eat at this place.  I was just glad I had some cash left over from a Gift Card thing I bought as a fundraiser one of my friend's kids was doing.

I'm all for supporting local business and stuff, but this makes ridiculous look awesome!

Many years ago, when I was on a small disability of about $450/month after my rent portion I was able to shop exclusively at the Co-Op.  Now I bust my ass workin' like a mutha-fucka and I can't afford to shop here exclusively.  The new Co-Op is outta freakin' control with this kinda shit goin' on, that's for damned sure!  I'll keep goin' there for the odd thing I can't get elsewhere in town, but for staples, this place can go to hell!  They sure talk a lot about being community oriented, but this says the exact opposite.  My goodness!

(I'm gonna put photos of my menu tonight throughout this, but food list is at the end.)

I'm still making up some ground on my fitness end of things.  I can also feel the changes in my body starting to take hold as well.  My muscles are tired, but they are really tightening up a lot faster.  I had been working out for awhile now, but not like this.  Typically, one or two rest days a week are ideal to rest my body and let my muscles breathe so-to-say.  Going hard every day is definitely a change, but it is not what I am writing about today.  My topic of the day is "sugar!"

This was a surprise thing I never really thought about.  Eliminating all new plastics really altars what one can eat.  Pretty much everything in a package is gone; and then there are things like bananas and avocados that disappear from the menu as well because of the simple little stickers put on each of them.  (I will keep mentioning those because I really miss them already.)

Rosemary, Garlic, Ginger, Seasoning swimming in hot Chicken Stock

When you remove all plastics, the food that is left over is just natural fresh produce as well as grains.  Meats all come in wrappers of some sort...even the film on the inside of the paper meat gets wrapped in is a disqualifier.  Even though I don't eat too much meat, I do find myself missing chicken just because I can't have it, not necessarily because I want it.

With only fresh organic food on the menu, I was sure my tolerance for sweet, sugary things would really disappear.  I didn't realize how much until this morning.

I went into Safeway immediately after work as I was dropping something off at a friend's who lives nearby.  I was on the cusp of my restricted eating time, so I went there to see if there was anything available to me.  (I was hoping for some fresh bread from the bakery)  Turns out that pretty much the entire store is off limits, even their little bit of organic produce.  (The Safeway in Nelson has a really hurtin' organic department as it is.  Save-On-Foods is quite literally 100 times better with abundance in selection for organics and bulk foods...possibly even 200 times.  You can tell SOF actually listens to their customers needs and is aware of their demographic.  Safeway has their heads up their asses in this regard.)  Plastic everywhere!

When I went to the bakery, I was immediately eyeing up the bread in paper bags.  It was all off limits too as every one of their paper bags had a thin plastic window in them.  Bummer!  All that was left was the bulk bakery stuff.

I scanned through what their bulk selection had.  I grabbed 4 bagels.  When I left, I caught a glimpse of the doughnuts and figured it was my only chance, so what the hell.  I grabbed a couple chocolate dipped ones.  

I had them all in a paper bag, but although it isn't plastic, I still didn't like bringing that home as I am kinda getting into the non-existent waste effect all of this is having.

I started digging into the doughnut before I even got outta the store.  I instantly regretted it.  The sugar was so overwhelming my body didn't seem to know what to do.  My taste buds were on the front lines and were totally horrified.  I got a glimpse of light headedness too that took no time to show itself.  I could feel it travel right down my throat, leaving a thick sludgy residue behind.  I didn't get heartburn, but a shitty feeling did emerge

Aside from the obvious overwhelm, I was actually fascinated by how fast my body acclimated to the effects of fresh, natural organic produce, rooted mostly in rich greens like kale and broccoli.

Even though the doughnut made me feel like shit in numerous ways, I am glad I had it, because it really showed me something.  Yes, the terrible effects it has on my body, but also opened my eyes to the effect of how removing plastic can severely alter one's diet for the better as a whole.  It was like a minor epiphany that I won't soon forget.  I never really gave thought to the way plastic influences so much of our foods we eat and that are available to us.

I'm definitely not trying to be a condescending prick or anything, and I'm definitely not saying I won't eat sugar again., but this is just a simple observation for what I have experienced so far...and it happened in no time at all.

With the doughnut behind me, it's back onto the regular program...with a touch vigor.  (The bagels, by the way, I gave most of them to my dog.)  On the menu for tonight is my favourite thing to make...my one-pot meal I make in my skillet.

I have made this for Jana a couple times and she loves it!  It's just a lotta different vegetables, a sauce or stock, and usually boneless skinless chicken breast.  (No chicken tonight though!)

My ingredient list for tonight:

-Chicken Stock that I made on Day 1 (from the leftover roast chicken I had)
-Fresh Rosemary
-Garlic
-Ginger
-1 Yam
-7 Small Red Potatoes
-1 Beet
-2 Celery Stalks
-Lots of Broccoli
-Some Red Onion
-Zucchini

Toss that shit in a skillet, put a lid on it, and throw 'er in the oven for 40-50 minutes.  Stylin'!  The only bummer is I can't eat it hot outta the oven as I have to wait til I go to work dammit!

I stopped into Pixie Candy on Baker Street to grab a surprise treat for a friend.  While I was in there surrounded by all the nostalgic candy from when I was a kid, I got hit with an urge for Mackintosh's Toffee. 

I haven't had that stuff since I was maybe 10 years old, so I found myself lost in a bit of anticipation wondering if they had some.  Sure enough, they did!  It was in a wrapper, unlike the way it used to come in a box.  It made me happy to get some.  I kept it in my pocket to try and keep it warm so it would be softer rather than rock hard.  (I still remember those toffee rules from back in the day.)

Being that it's a little chilly outside right now, it was still hard when I got home.  Even still, I tried a bite.  Nope!  Too hard, so I put it back in its package and into the kangaroo pouch in my hoody while I sat and wrote about my Valley Vittles burger.  I forgot all about it.  

When I was done writing I remembered it was there and was psyched to see if it was softened up a little more so I could try some for the first time since forever.

I had a little unexpected surprise when I pulled it outta my hoodie pouch...there was a dog bone stuck to it.  Apparently I had Fennario treats in my pouch too!  Not only one of her bones, but there was a tad bit of lint too

Undeterred I was still goin' for it.  "Ain't no dog bone or silly-ass lint's gonna be stoppin' me!"

I bit into it.  It was laborous!  Even being warm and pliable, filled with a very nostalgic inducing flavour, it was like fast forming concrete around my teeth.  They threw down an instant veto.  

"You stupid fuck!  You tryin' tuh kill us maaaan?!  Don't eat that shit yuh dumb bastid!"

I didn't disagree.  I sucked on the little piece I had that was glued to the back of my teeth, but it wouldn't dissolve or go away, so I had to pry it off so I could swallow it.  

It was a nice try of an old memory, but the rest of it got tossed.  I think my teeth would either break or get pulled out if I ate anymore regardless of its sweet smooth creaminess.  

It left me with the opinion that candy like that is best for when you're a little kid before your adult teeth come in.  Waste that shit on the throw-away teeth and then smarten up going forward in life

Valley Vittles in Slocan Park
$12 and change

I had to go up to the Co-Op in Slocan Park to order some oil for heating my home.  When I was almost there I noticed the 'Open' sign lit up at Valley Vittles just before the Co-Op when driving up the Slocan Valley.

"Sweeeeet!  I'm gonna finally get to crack into one of those fuckers!"

Amie told me about it when I was doing my burger tour thing last summer.  Every time I went there it was closed though.  I was either too early, too late or came on a Monday when they were closed.  

I don't get up there too often, but it just wasn't workin' out for me when I did.  It was just a spontaneous thing, so I wasn't prepared with my camera or laptop to write about it properly.  It was nice to just sink into a burger normally though.

I went through the door and looked around quick.  It's a quaint little place.  Home-y!  I was welcomed with a friendly hello.  I smiled and said hello back, and that I was sent there for a burger.

I was checkin' out the board and seein' what they had.  I ignored most of it 'cause I was only interested in a burger as I had been jonzin' for one for awhile, but never really acted upon fixing that urge.

I went with the "Loaded too" burger.  It had bacon, cheese, banana peppers and avocado...among other stuff.  The regular "Loaded" burger had BBQ sauce instead of avocado.  I'm not really a big fan of BBQ sauce on a burger.  The only exception to that is if I am at backyard BBQ kinda thing and the patty is basted in the sauce while on the grill.  That's the only time I am interested in that sauce.

After I ordered I went and sat down.  Even though I didn't have my glasses and couldn't read shit, I flipped through the Nelson Star just for something to do.  I did see Marion's obituary.  That made my heart sink, but I felt glad that Tara and Justine had told me about her passing last week so I didn't find out from the paper.  That would have been a crushing blow to have found out that way.  Good gawd I loved her!

When the girl brought my burger she asked me who sent me.  I told her that Amie had.  (Amie is her sister.)  

"Oh my gawd!  You're the burger guy!"  

That made me laugh.  

"Yup, that's me!"

She asked my name, and we got to talkin' from there.  She is a super nice person.  Her name is Melissa.

Melissa pointed to the can of Coke I had on the table and told me she had a Ginger Ale stashed for me for months.  I was flattered.  I told her that I don't get up the Valley at all too much, and every time I did she was always closed, but that I had to go to the Co-Op to order some oil for my home and noticed that she was open.

She told me she was afraid of me, which kinda made me curious as to what Amie had told her.  Seeing that she had specially had some ginger ale on the stash for me, and knowing myself how honest and merciless I am when I write about food, I pretty figured out the basic gist of what Amie might have told her.

I said wasn't prepared like I usually am when I go out to eat now...that I usually have a camera and laptop.  This was spontaneous.  I also said I don't announce myself, I just order normal like anyone else and give my honest take on things.  When I write, I never say if I know the owner of a place or any of the servers, and I'm honest.  It's the only way to be objective, and most importantly, fair to everyone.

The first thing I noticed about the burger was the square bun.  That was definitely a stand-out from every other place.  I like things that stand out because they make it memorable.  "Off to a good start," I thought to myself.  

I asked her about the bun.  She said it was from the Pass Creek Bakery.  "Sweet!  Local!  Nice one!" are the words that fell outta my face when she told me that.  We talked a bit more, and then Melissa left me to it and went back behind the counter.

I wasted no time diving into it.  She had prepared me that it could be a bit sloppy.  I don't always like that, but sometimes I really love it.  It made me think of food at El Taco.  I embrace the full tilt sloppy there.  No matter how hard I try, I seem to get that shit all over myself and love every second of it.

Sinking into this burger I felt the same way.  I was like a warm juicy flavour overload of chaotic harmony.  I was shovin' that bastard in my face kinda like Homer Simpson at the all you can eat seafood place where the Sea Captain Guy was lookin' out from the kitchen as he said, "Aye..Tis a remorseless eatin' machine!"

That is the roll this burger reduced me to.  A remorseless eatin' machine!

I barely even noticed so much of it in ways.  It was too good to take the time to dissect.  I remembered seeing a piece of bacon sticking out when I grabbed for a sip of my Coke.  I looked at it and said, "Oh no you don't you lil' fuck!  You ain't escapin' my wrath!"  I pulled the rest of it out and ate it on its own.  "Nice try yuh bastid!"

There was sauce and pieces of avocado, banana peppers and lettuce falling on the plate.  I'd push 'em into a pile with my hand and then pick up the mess and stuff it into my face too...then shove more of the burger in my face.

Even while ravaging the fucker I took mental pause a few times to laugh at her being afraid of me.  The was definitely nothing to be afraid of!  The Valley Vittles "Loaded Too" burger kicked total ass!

When I was done, my hands were covered in yummy, gooey slop!  It took three napkins to get them mostly clean.  I renamed it in my head, "The Three Napkin Burger!"

What a nice surprise this was.  Super friendly service, and a kick-ass burger.  I absolutely recommend stopping into Valley Vittles for a bite.  It seems kind of inconspicuous when passing by on the road, but over the years I have found that those can often be the best places with the best food.  

The Valley Vittles Three Napkin Burger was packed with love.  I can tell you that much!

I'll be going back for sure...probably later in the spring.  Next time I'll be packin' my camera to take a few photos.

Since it is the Winter Solstice, and many people are getting colds, I felt this is kind of a good time to put this up here.

When I brought a fat jar of this amazing tea to work a couple of the girls were quite diggin' it.  I love it!  It tastes amazing and has really great healing properties.  It's the only tea I drink, and have I been for 20 years.

Ingredients:
-2 slices of Lemon
-Few little chunks of Ginger (Cut/peel off skin)
-1 Cinnamon Stick
-Honey (Optional)
-Apple Cider Vinegar (Optional)

**I didn't have any honey when I posted this.

Fill the jar you are gonna use with water so you know the proper amount.  (I drink it by the jar as the size of a mug just doesn't cut it!)  Pour water into a pot.  Add the lemon, ginger, and cinnamon stick.  Cover with lid.  Bring to rolling boil. Turn off heat, but let steep for a bit on the still hot burner. Pour entire contents into the jar.  Add honey to your liking and a tiny splash of cider vinegar if desired.

**Lil' tip...
If you want to travel with it and keep it hot for longer, wrap the jar in a small towel.  I figured this trick out when I used to go down to the ocean and sit on the beach watching the sunrise when I lived on the islands many years ago.  I'd roll 'er up in a dish towel, put it in my pack, and break out the hot tea as I watched the beauty unfold.