My Chicago Garden

Sorry for the delay in posts. It has taken several weeks to get back to normal..sorta.

I was able to harvest 12+ cucumbers but was only able to use a handful for my refrigerator pickles. I ended up using one to make an absolutely wonderful cold salad using the lemon infused olive oil from Pasolivo. I’ve used the Pasolivo oil several times since we returned from vacation and I have to say it is down right awesome. I’m a convert! Now to find the Pasolivo somewhere close!

Last weekend I planted cabbage seeds, and 2 rows of carrots in the cold frame ready bed. That leaves a 2 foot by 2 foot area for something when the tomatoe plants dies.

We are making plans for apple harvest season.  Probably the highlight of the fall for me. I nearly made myself sick last time we went from eating too many apples.

Wine country in Paso Robles. The most interesting part of the day so far has actually been visiting an olive oil farm (Pasolivo) and doing a tasting and tour. I didnt realize just how bad the olive oil I have been buying from the local grociery stores realy is. Doesn’t even taste like olives when I compare to Pasolivo’s various bottles. And I was trying to be selective and buying only the ‘good stuff’. Argh!

Sorry for the horrible picture, the camera on my phone sucks in low light conditions (actually any condition). We had a wonderful dinner at Ristorante de Gaetano in Paso Robles, CA. Our B&B hosts told us most of the good restaurants in town are closed sunday night, but my wife found this little italian place in the menu binder at the B&B. It’s an unassuming little store front in an average looking part of town, but the inside is familial and the food was wonderful. Gaetano stopped by the table several times to chat and was very personable (that’s him in the fuzzy picture). He made a wonderful local wine recommendation for our meal, although he tried to steer us towards an Italian wine at first :). If you are in the area and looking for a great Italian meal I would highly recommend Gaetano’s. How does the chef make the risotto like that?!? Mine never looks and taste that good. Dang It!

Elephant Seals at Point Piedras Blancas off highway one on our way down to Paso Robles.

What an anniversary should be like, if you fail to climb a peak. We are heading to Paso Robles tomorrow for a quiet stay in a B&B.