Fri 31 Oct

Happy Halloween! My cold has blossomed out quite well by now. Lee Olsen tells me they had a cold go through the Newman office that made you feel like you needed an exorcist. I'm hoping that's not the version I'm getting. The chef's dinner last night was a lot of fun. The pumpkin martini was absolutely delicious, even if it was more like dessert than an aperitif. The amuse was larger than typical, with 2 good-sized seared scallops on an amazing corn elote. Appetizer was okay - duck cassoulet-style meatballs. The butternut/buttercup squash soup served in an acorn squash bowl was wonderful. The entree was tenderloin steak a poivre slices, beautifully rare, with patty pan/mushroom and fancy sliced specialty potatoes. Pumpkin pie for dessert and a chaser sample of a rum cocktail w/3 kinds of bitters. Very nice. Food: 7:05 am 1/2 grapefruit, 101 g blackberries, coffee 11:45 am 1/2 pasty, Nestle Fat Free hot cocoa Exercise: 4:50-5:25 am Jessica Smith Stride & Strength YouTube 5:25-5:55 am Jessica Smith Power Walk YouTube