#15 - March 9th, 2005

Eating out is fun !…..With that in mind, not to mention a slow week in the news department here at Bird's Eye View, I'd like to talk about the very important topic of 'good food and where to get it'…After a heavy night on the beer, wine, and port last Saturday I decided that I was in need of a solid breakfast so, along with a few of my flock, we headed for Sunday brunch on the coast. I have heard wonderful things about the Little River Inn's brunch and bar scene but by the time we arrived at 1pm they had stopped serving so we continued on to the Mendocino Hotel. Now, although this place can be expensive to stay for the night or to have dinner, their weekend brunch is very reasonable and with mimosa's at $1.50 each it was the perfect scenario. Without any hesitation I went for the crab benedict and have to say it was an inspired choice. Served in a delicious hollandaise sauce and with a decent amount of savory home fries, all accompanied by three mimosa's, it is one of the better culinary experiences on a wet and windswept Sunday morning at the edge of America…..
…..Equally as enjoyable is the Carnitas plate with corn tortillas and two Pacifico beers at Libby's Mexican Restaurant in Philo on a Thursday night - as a friend of mine from Texas might say, "now that's hog heaven" …Trust me on this - you'll thank me later….
Still on the topic of food I had decided to give my 'best french fries' award some time ago and in the past couple of weeks ,after a number of second visits to certain establishments, I have completed my research. I would not be so presumptuous to assume that I am all-knowing about french fries but anyone who knows me, and my eating habits, would probably attach some credibility to what I have to say on the subject…..
Anyway, the results are in and here we go…..In fourth place, with a rating of 3.5, are the consistently excellent fries at The Redwood Drive-In in downtown Boonville…In third place, with a rating of 4, I have placed the 'real potato' loveliness of the fries at Lauren's in Boonville…In second place, on 4.5, I have selected the very fine fries I recently devoured at The Hamburger Ranch and Pasta Farm in Cloverdale - very tasty indeed !…. And in first place, with a perfect score of 5 (the highest possible rating), we have the absolutely superb fries served at Mendo Burgers in Mendocino (where the burger is something special also). These are the best fries I have tasted for many years, in fact ever since I visited Yorkshire, England - the home of the world's finest chips (fries)…..This has been a tough assignment but I felt someone needed to carry it out and I have long lived by the credo that you should not ask others to do something you wouldn't do… so with that in mind I went ahead and 'ate for the team'…..
"We get all kinds in these parts" - #47 : It was whilst on my "french fries' assignment that I pulled into a gas station in Fort Bragg and on entering the mini-mart was confronted by a lean and muscular, middle-aged Caucasian man in a red bandanna with thick dreadlocks down to his knees - really. He was clearly upset with something and as I joined the back of the line to pay he snarled at the cashier, "I'd rather face a four-legged beaver than a three-legged one any day. A three-legged beaver is a mean son of a bitch and if you ever come across one take it from me that you don't want to mess with those mother-f***ers !. "….Hmm, I thought, this guy clearly has some things he wants to share with us all. The man then began to rant to the cashier about how his huge van, parked outside at the pump, used up so much gas. He was explaining to anyone who was listening, and by this tine there were four of us in line waiting to pay, that it was his home and all his belongings were inside. One of the guys in line said it seemed like a good-sized van to live in - perhaps not the wisest comment to make given that the dread-locked man was clearly not happy with his lot in life. "That's easy for you to say, dude," he exclaimed, turning to face the guy just inches from his face. "I'd like a real home just like everyone else but all it takes is one psychotic bitch to ruin your reputation and you have to take what's left ! "….He looked around at the rest of us in line as we nodded in sheepish unison, none of us wishing to dispute his definitive claim. He nodded back at us and walked out the door saying, "You guys enjoy the rest of the day"….. Interesting man - I liked him…..
Another perk of my recent 'best french fries' hunt was a pit stop at Dick's Place in Mendocino to quench my thirst before resuming the research. Not only is this a wonderful old bar frequented by locals but it has walls covered with historical photographs of the area not to mention the lovely Yula behind the bar making the best Bloody Mary's north of the Golden Gate Bridge. What's not to like ? …..
Armageddon is upon us - #17 : No matter how much he messes up, stretches the truth, or acts like a complete buffoon, the way things seem to continue in George Bush's favor I have a worrying feeling that when history is recorded he may come out of all of this smelling of roses . Unbelievable I know, but it might just happen. Democracy, although some way off, seems to be in the air in the Middle East with changes not just in Iraq but perhaps also on the horizon in Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, and even Saudi Arabia - why even women may be allowed to vote there soon ! If Gee Dubya Bush receives credit for any of this, if certain people get their way, and if the current trends in the political arena continue, it will not surprise me if some of the stories I have recently read come true regarding plans for new schools to be built around the country which are to be named "George Bush High School" !… Sorry to be the bearer of such a grim possibility but I thought you should know…..
Finally this week, a personal note…If you spot me, or one of my turkey vulture brethren, at the side of the road on a fence post with wings spread wide, posturing in a majestic stance, please do not fear that we may be planning an attack on your good selves. Not at all. This is our way of informing any passing brothers and sisters that we are hovering over the prey which is to be our next feast and we are simply inviting them to join us. It's our "dinner is served" call, if you will…Besides, we never actually kill anything. Hell no, we leave that to other creatures and we California Condors, Buzzards, Turkey Vultures, or whatever you wish to call us, merely come in to eat after all the chaos of the killing is over. As the wonderful Virginia Woolfe said, " One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well"…
I can't argue with that and at this point it only remains for me to say, "Let us prey "…Yours hungrily, Turkey Vulture…..