Race to the Lightship

For sailors in San Francisco Bay, spring begins with an ocean race to the Lightship followed a couple of weeks later by a race out to the Farallone islands.

Last weekend Synthia and I celebrated the beginning of the ocean racing season by joining 110 other boats that started along the SF city front, sailed out to the San Francisco Lightship, and sailed back underneath the Golden Gate Bridge.

Our Hawkfarm "Eyrie" did pretty well going out and back, but as we approached the Golden Gate an army ship freighter followed us in and pushed us farther right than we wanted to go.

It's always interesting to gybe underneath the Golden Gate Bridge where raging currents going in different directions often make for turbulent, disturbed water.

We even had to tether our flamingos on to make sure they didn't fly the coop in the wind and disturbed water (note 4 flamingos on back of boat). This picture was taken right before Synthia pulled off a magnificent gybe in 19 knots of wind.

Unfortunately we couldn't carry the kite to the finish line, too much wind and too close of a reach. We took second place in our division, getting beaten by our dear friend (and now nemesis), Phil on Sail A Vie (Ericson 35). Phil wiped out under the GGB but still managed to beat us by 9 minutes.

We'll get you next time Phil!!

Last Call For Yvonne Modica

One of my most unfavorite characteristics about myself is that I pre-judge people, usually incorrectly. I'm terrible at first impressions and I have learned to ignore them (usually) and to adopt a wait-and-see attitude with new aquaintances.

I used to live in Sunnyvale in the late 80's. I lived near a comedy club called Rooster T. Feathers and I went there fairly often, every other week or so, because it was within walking distance of my house.

There was always a kooky old broad stationed at the door taking money and dispensing tickets. She kind of freaked me out because she was completely unlike any elderly person I had ever known. She was wrinkled and tiny, shockingly skinny, and heavily made up with poofed out hair and long talons for nails. To say she dressed flamboyantly is an understatement. I recall one of her outfits, a skin tight bright red suede pants suit.

Because she was so old and scary I would always have my exact change ready, pay quickly, then hustle off to my seat. Since I was always an early bird I had plenty of opportunity to observe her, hunched over and dispensing tickets, from a safe distance. She was a real character but I never had the nerve to speak to her.

Last week I was reading the obituaries in our local paper and a picture of a lady in a tiara caught my attention. It was her, the lady from Rooster T. Feathers! It turns out she was a local celebrity and here is her story:




YVONNE MODICA
Last Call for Yvonne Modica and a bit of Los Altos history.

Yvonne Modica was born Yvonne DeBrier in Atlantic City, NJ in 1914. She worked as a seamstress with her mother during her childhood and teen years and left home at 18. She became a dancer and eventually led her own chorus line called the Yvonnettes at a very posh nightclub called Polombo's. Here she met and had a long love affair with one of Lucky Luciano's closet and most notorious associates - The Gap. Later she met a sailor named Tony Modica whom she married.

During the 1950's she opened and sold a string of successful restaurants most notably the very elegant Golden Hoof Steakhouse in Los Altos, CA now the Original Pancake House still with her original brass bar top. She was the belle of the local restaurant owners, hosting parties every Sunday afternoon at her home for any restaurant folks who wished to show up.

Yvonne's heart was always with the young and creative. Before Bill G. had the Fillmore, during the early 1960's she opened the first rock n'roll night club on the Peninsula - The Big Beat - for teens as well as adults. Another innovation was operating all night on Friday and Saturday after the other bars closed serving coffee for $2.00 a pot and breakfast for $3.00. The best music in town - 2:30 to 6:00 AM when all the working musicians would jam at The Big Beat. A final bit of club trivia is that the day before the club opened, Ken Kesey rented the place from Yvonne for the last legal Acid Trip in the State of California. The band? A very young and unheard of group later to be called The Greatful Dead.

When the psychedelic era of rock n' roll evolved, Yvonne opened a second club called The Trip in San Mateo with black walls and fluorescent painted black lighted monsters. Now it's the home of Camino Camper.

Most remember Yvonne Modica as the feisty little lady at the front door of the Country Store (first in Mountain View then Sunnyvale) or Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club, who wouldn't let anyone in without paying the cover charge.

Hundreds of young musicians and now famous comedians started their careers on Yvonne's stage. For all of us who worked for her, she showed us how business should be done and how to make a living. Before Gloria popularized Woman's Lib, Yvonne walked the walk but never felt the need to talk the talk.

Even after she retired (at 83!), she still collected door charges for events at the Senior Center in Mountain View.

Yvonne was a Diamond in the rough - A Lady with a Heart of Gold - Who always called a Spade a Spade.

Last call for Our Queen of Clubs came shortly after 12:00 AM Friday February 23, 2007 just about the time she would stop charging cover. She was 92.

I think of the many times I passed by Yvonne Modica with nary a word. Perhaps if I had stopped to chat with her I would have discovered what a fascinating person she was.

I wonder how many other fabulous and interesting people I have missed simply because I sized them up incorrectly or was reluctant to say hello?

Oregon Truffles - Fungus Not Chocolate

Basically winter sucks. However there is at least one good thing that winter brings...TRUFFLES!!!

Almost every year I order fresh truffles from Oregon. Sometimes I order black and white truffles. This year I ordered white only. I sliced them onto steamed green and white asparagus, mixed them with goat cheese and basil, baked them in red potatoes, infused them into honey, butter and olive oil, ate them with pasta and bruschetta.

My three favorite ways of preparing truffles are truffle pasta, truffle risotto, and truffled eggs. Without a doubt truffled eggs is the preparation the brings out the most pure truffle goodness. I believe the easier the recipe (and fresher ingredients) the better the taste...

Use the freshest eggs possible. These are from a friend's hens:


Fresh Oregon white truffles, clean off the dirt and grit:



Per person: Whisk three eggs and add a bit of sea salt (or kosher salt, good salt in other words). Dice some truffles for stirring into the eggs and slice some for the top. Melt approximately 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in pan and when it starts to sizzle add the eggs:


Stir the eggs gently over low heat until they are almost set. Add the diced truffles and add 1 tablespoon of creme fraiche or cream just prior to removing from the fire.

Serve on a warmed plate with toast or crostini:


Before the first bite place a napkin over your head so that you may experience the full aroma of the truffled eggs:

Bon Appetit!!

79th Annual Academy Awards - Oscars 2007

It has been almost a week since sis and I held our annual, star-studded Oscar party.

In addition to our usual clique of stars and musicians...


...we were visited this year by a number of celebrities including Uma Thurmann , John Travolta, and Bob Hope! Clearly some stars view the Seaberg Sisters' party as more important than the Governor's Ball (and heaven in Bob's case).

Hilari has actually attended the Academy Awards! She went the year Bjork wore a dead swan. So, technically, Hilari was the guest with the most star power. On the Hollywood red carpet the photographer would say "Date, step aside please." On the Seaberg red carpet we know Timo, so he is allowed in the picture.

Tom Petty showed up for a few laughs:

And some Clickorice:

Uma Thurmann and John Travolta:

Of course John is playing Tracy Turnblad's MOTHER in the movie hairspray so he's just practicing. Really.

Bob Hope showed up fashionably late and announced there are martinis in heaven:

It didn't take Bob long to hook up with a hottie and dazzle the other guests:

The hostess presented the chocolate Oscar to Uma for winning the ballot:

Dad and Tom consider the leftovers:

Here is our menu from the party:


Snacks:
*Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chex mix
*Clickorice
*Iran in Fragmints,
*Recycled Lifesavers
*No Time For mixed Nuts

Apps:
*Babel ghanoush with Pita O'Toole bread
*Deliverwurst Us From Evil with The Depitted olives and Alan Agherkins on Cars crackers
*Avocalypto guacamole topped with Adriañejo Barraza cheese served with Cate Blanchips
*Cantélope Cruz wrapped with Black Forest Whittaker ham

Mains:
*The Qweenies in Little Miss Bunshine
*The Good Sheperd pie with Meryl Sheep and Jackie Earle Haleeks in an Eddie Murphy's Irish stout gravy topped with My Country, My Country crock mashed potatoes
*Grilled PattyPan's Labyrinth squash
*Mark Wahldorf salad with Will granny Smith apples
*Roasted Happy Beets, Blood orange Diamond and Letters from Iwo Jicama on a bed of Kate Winslettuce, Dame Judy Drenched with a dressing of Dijon Honsou

Dessert:
*The Devil's food cake Wears Praline with The Dreamsicle Girls ice cream

Drinks:
*Helen Beerren, The Good German kind
*Abig-ale Breslin
*Bonny Doon The big Monster House red and white
*The Wines of Others
*Rincoke Kikuchi
*Sparkling Poceider
*Water

See you all next year!!