EBANG

I HAVE THIS SILVER SNIPE THAT MY DAD BOUGHT NEW FROM BERETTA. PROBABLY FROM SEEING THIS AD.

THIS MAN IS MY IDOL

THIS IS NOT ABOUT A BEACH TOWN IN NEW JERSEY.

YOU CAN FIND THE MOST PERFECT THINGS IN SOME OF THOSE CHURCH BOOK SALES AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. WITH A NOD TO ONE OF MY FAV BLOGS WILDWOOD, I GIVE YOU THE FOLLOWING POST. THEY DEFINITELY DESERVE TO HAVE FOUND THIS BOOK. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST WILDERNESS HOW TO'S I HAVE EVER SEEN.

FERRY VISIT

ON A QIUCK TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO THIS WEEKEND I FOUND MYSELF AT THE FERRY BUILDING FOR BREAKFAST. WHAT STARTED OFF AS A STANDARD BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE STOP AND A BREAKFAST SANDWICH AT THE GOLDEN GATE MEAT CO. (THE BEST BACON EGG AND CHEESE SANDWICH WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI) GOT MUCH MORE EXCITING AS I WANDERED THE MARKET.

AFTER COFFEE THERE WAS A STOP FOR MUSHROOMS TO SCHLEP HOME.

THEN THERE WAS A CHANCE RUN IN WITH SOME OF THE BEST PORCHETTA I HAVE EVER EATEN STATE SIDE. PREPARED ON THE ROTISSERIE BY THOMAS ODERMATT AND HIS CREW. (BREAKFAST NUMBER TWO)

THOSE ARE PIG KNUCKLES ON THE TOP OF THE ROTISSERIE AND ROSEMARY POTATOES ROASTING IN DRIPPING PIG FAT. COME ON.....

FINALLY, SOME SNACKS FOR THE FLIGHT BACK TO NY.

FISHERMAN'S FRIEND

I PICKED THIS UP AT A CHURCH FLEA MARKET MANY YEARS AGO IN ENGLAND. IT'S PROVEN TO WARM ME ON SOME COLD DAYS AND CELEBRATE SOME BIG FISH ON OTHERS. THE FLASK IS A PERFECT SIZE FOR A POCKET AND SHARES WELL. IT IS WRAPPED IN LEATHER UP TOP AND PROTECTED BY PEWTER ON THE BOTTOM. THE WINDOW IS HELPFUL TO SEE IF YOU NEED TO REFILL BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE COMFORTS OF THE HOUSE OR CABIN. IT HOLDS ABOUT TWO JIGGERS OF MY FAVORITE SPIRIT AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THAT IS SCOTCH OR WHISKEY STREAM SIDE.

SATURDAY COCKTAILS

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED A SUMMER MARTINI. (THE PICKLED RAMP MARTY IS A STANDARD AT THE HOUSE) SO, WHEN FRIENDS, IAN AND LISA BROUGHT ME BACK A BOTTLE OF HORSERADISH SCHNAPPS FROM DENMARK AND CHALLENGED ME TO SOME TYPE OF COCKTAIL RECIPE, THIS IS WHAT I CAME UP WITH. WE NAMED IT A "MAROR MARTINI"(MAROR IS THE HORSERADISH ROOT USED IN THE PASSOVER SEDER. A NOD TO MY FRIEND IAN'S JEWISH ROOTS). THE GARNISH IS A QUICK PICKLE WITH RICE WINE AND MALT VINEGAR WITH TARRAGON. THE BRIGHT BRINEY FLAVOR FROM THIS PICKLE PAIRED PERFECTLY WITH THE HORSERADISH BITE. ALL IN ALL A SUCCESS.

MAROR MATINI: 3 PARTS VODKA, 1 PART HORSERADISH SCHNAPPS. SHAKE, WITH LOTS OF ICE. GARNISH WITH PICKLE.

SOME COCKTAIL SNACKS:

SCOTCH EGG ON PEA GREENS

 DATES STUFFED WITH CHORIZO AND DANISH BLUE CHEESE.

SUNDAY MORNING : SHOOTING CLAYS

PERFECT SUNDAY MORNING : CLEARING ONES HEAD FROM SATURDAYS DRINK AND UPLAND BIRD SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND CORNER.

48 HOURS-LA

WITH LITTLE TO NO TIME ON ASSIGNMENT IN LA, THE EDIT HAD TO BE TIGHT AS FAR HOW TO SPEND MY DOWN TIME. BELOW WERE THE PRIORITIES.

NUMBER ONE:  STAY AT THE SUNSET TOWER HOTEL:

JEFF KLEIN AND THE STAFF AT THE SUNSET TOWER REALLY GET IT RIGHT. COMFORTABLE, FAMILIAR AND PROFESSIONAL, WITH A CHUNK OF OLD SCHOOL HOLLYWOOD CHARM AND STYLE. DEFINITELY EAT/DRINK AT THE TOWER BAR, UNDER THE CAREFUL WATCH OF DIMITRI.

NUMBER TWO : IMMEDIATELY OFF THE DELTA FLIGHT FROM NYC, STOP AT IN AND OUT BURGER FOR A DOUBLE DOUBLE WITH GRILLED ONION (FRIES OPTIONAL). 

NUMBER THREE: WITH A BELLY FULL OF BURGER, STOP AT LA GUN CLUB FOR SOME TIME ON THE PISTOL RANGE. 200 ROUNDS A MUST.