The Adventures of Fric and Frac: Adventure 190: San Elijo State Beach/San Diego, CA/Part C

Surfer Dude at San Elijo State Beach

A normal Sunday morning: Fried potatoes, eggs, and church in the temple of the traveling Frac, where, woe is me, the Wily Cager came storming back to life like Lazarus to slap me with a smelly skunk. This means we're all tied up, and we'll play tomorrow morning for all of the San Elijo Surf Boards. After breakfast, we spent another lazy day at the beach under beautifully warm blue skies. Pods of surfers played in the waves while others combed the beaches doing beach things. Kids built castles. Lovers held hands, and many, like us gazed at the parade of life passing by. Around three we arrived at the Cramers for our Super Bowl Party. We immediately began eating and gabbing and enjoying. Jim had prepared an avocado goat cheese spread on tiny toasts for starters which he served with a sparkling rose.We then moved to the devilishly hot "Dragon Toes" (Sea Scallops imbedded inside a hollowed out habanero pepper wrapped in bacon). Jim grilled them until the bacon was crisp. He paired those with Mexican made Modelo beer. They were so hot, sweat popped out of my bald head, and my tongue, some five hours later, can still feel the singe of the pepper. By the time my mouth could enjoy some thing different, the game was at half time, and we Seahawk fans were buoyed by the bold call to tie the game in the last second. We moved to a mushroom, shallot, gruyere melt on puff pastry, which Jim paired with a Pinot Noir from Olenik winery in the Willamette valley. A friend of his owns the winery, and Jim is the first employee. His job title is Fulfillment Manager. He certainly takes the "job" to heart. One of his great joys is preparing good food, matching it with appropriate wine, and enjoying it with others who also appreciate it. Much of his joy is seeing the joy in others. As beneficiaries, we were most joyful. I missed most of the third quarter in order to help Jim prepare the main course: Thirty Minute Cassoulet-a Jaques Pepin recipe. It was out of this world. We were eating it in bitter sweet fashion right at the end of the game because the taste sensations were as exquisite as the pain we felt when Wilson threw the interception. Woe it goes. With dinner we finished the Olenik Pinot Noir, which held up nicely against the Cassoulet. Dessert was a simple dish of exotic German cookies and real vanilla bean ice cream. I passed on the dessert wine in favor of sparkling water ( I made the mistake of asking Judy). Finally, we hugged our hosts, promised not to let another eight years go by between visit, and made our way through the tangle of San Diego freeways back to the trailer. Side Note: I have quit drinking, which I will resume again tomorrow, but a visit to the Cramers without enjoying the pairing process they love so much would have taken the luster out of the weekend. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for our friends. Needless to say, l through myself on my sword willingly which means that life s good, especially today.