829 Southdrive

829 Southdrive

A New Jersey state of mind



Monday, January 30, 2012

My Hemingway




Larger than life, I present to you Charley Best.  Superlative.
He lives life to the fullest (pardon the trite phrase but it fits,
Goddammit).  A pure Jersey boy through and through, he
graduated from Manasquan High School before, after, or
with Jack Nicholson among others.  I can't remember if I 
asked him that particular question and frankly, it don't matter.




This guy is the mildest-mannered, friendliest, and one of the
most pleasant people you would want to sit on the porch 
and shoot the shit with.  Between Beaton's and the Florida Keys,
he sails his catboat, rides his Harley, and fishes all year long.  
He's quite proficient with his film editing, and cooks up a storm 
from what I gather.  Since it doesn't look like I'm visiting Florida
any time soon, I'm looking forward to his Northern migration
sometime this mid-May.  You still have 3+ months down there,
Sandscraper.  Make the best of them.  

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Icing On The Cake




We had a small gathering of friends last Sunday to
watch the Giants and 49ers.  We asked everyone to 
bring something.  Pete brought some boneless ribs.
And his keyboard.  It quickly became "stand in with
Pete".  It was brilliant, and it was all his doing.
I love that guy.  And yes, that's Metamucil.





I don't know if we can ever have another party without
him. I'm afraid he may start charging a cover.  This last
number came seconds after the winning field goal. 
Funny, before anyone arrived that day I said to my wife,
"I wish we had a piano in this house".

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Friday, January 27, 2012

And The Winner Is.............




The new and improved Tall Oaks Yacht Club burgee.  I like it.
Sewn by North Flags, it's so stiff, it won't droop when there's no
 wind.  But no worries, this is the Barnegat Bay we're talking about.

By the way, according to the TOYC website, there are only 53
days 'til Spring.  Geeze, I'd better get down there and 
winterize the head soon.

Monday, January 23, 2012

More than I could ask for




Gravy




It's gonna be a helluva long two weeks.
But that's okay.  Could be worse.




Thursday, January 19, 2012

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Fondue








Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair, Eli




Cruz control





On a Rolle




Now it's off to the natural amphitheater that is Candlestick Park.




Just Win Baby!


Thursday, January 12, 2012

Monday, January 9, 2012

Old Bay Head, New Jersey




Turn of the century kids playing in the sand by a dock
somewhere in Bay Head, New Jersey.  The Twentieth
Century, that is.




An actual organ grinder, with a monkey!  I can just imagine the kids
running down the lane, giggling, with fresh scrapple in their hands!





The Breeches Buoy, a mainstay device for rescuing shipwreck 
survivors back in the day.  These days you can ride one through
 a rainforest on an eco-tour and pay a healthy sum to do so. 





A surfboat being re-set for a future rescue call.





Sneakboxes racing off the main dock at Bay Head Yacht Club.
To this day they have a somewhat strict dress code on Yacht Club
premises.  I can't recall ever wearing slacks on a dock in the
summer.  Or shoes for that matter.




Now this is more my and my ancestors' speed. 
The upper Metedeconk.  My neck of the woods, well before
I ever had a neck.  My predecessors likely had some more
dirt under their fingernails than the fancier clad folk lining the
main dock at BHYC.  And that's just fine by me.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Salad is Good For You




Unless you plop a big honkin' piece of chicken fried pork belly
crouton, as Michael Ruhlman calls it, on top.  Some foods, when
I read about them, make my salivary glands go into overdrive.
There is a bowl directly beneath my chin right now.

This chunk of pork belly will have been braised, or confited, 
leaving the meat extremely tender, and its fat on the edge of
liquid.  By coating this chunk with flour, eggwash, and panko 
crumbs and then deep frying, the result is a crunchy 
exterior enveloping a core of molten fat and the most tender
 pig meat you've ever come upon.  It's not an everyday meal,
but one that you must try at least once.  Grated cheese optional. 
I'm sure the dressing is phenomenal, but after the pork belly, the
salad is the garnish.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Just Win Baby!




It's too early to clean out the lockers just yet.