4/1/07 - Breakfast

On my way down to Ojai I stopped at the perennial favorite, IHOP, the International House of Pancakes

Back in high school I had a fun summer job: I used to take portraits of cheerleaders at cheerleading camps for Coronet Photography. About twice a month I drove to Santa Barbara or LA for the camps. I had to get up early for these trips and I'd always stop at the IHOP just outside of Pismo for breakfast.

As the fog cleared this familiar blue sign was a shining billboard of nostalgia, instantly reminding me of past glories. Ridiculously bad for you, the greasy food at IHOP never fails to satisfy. The magic was still there.

Evidence for a future coronary: buiscuits and gravy, sausage and hash browns. You can't beat this, son!

3/26/07 - Dinner - BBQ Monday

The rain didn't keep us from making a pilgrimage to the famous Central Texan BBQ in Castroville.

Fun for the whole family. From left to right: front row: Ryan & Pat; back row: Nicole, Luke, & Gabe "The Matador" Fierro-Fine, sneaking his "Yo quiero BBQ!" mug into the shot. Not pictured: me and Susan (our fearless driver).


A bad dream for a vegetarian, the Texas Stampede: sausage (what kinds? all kinds), beef ribs, pork ribs, brisket, chicken, & onions. No messing around, here. Not pictured: pinto beans, French bread, potato salad, macaranoi salad, tossed salad, peaches, apples...a veritable orgy of tastes, with leftovers, so you can bring the orgy home.

Luke checks for lice while LNP Eater, Ryan, kills his beef rib. Like a jackal, that Ryan is.

El Matador, satisfecho.

03/19/07 - Dinner

After the previous night's debacle, I had to make my own food. I think this was the pork, green chili sausage from whole foods. Not that great. French fries were pretty good though. The ketchup I used is kind of suspect too (whole foods 365 brand). I think I need to stick with Heinz.

I'm currently looking for a better way to cook inside. When I cook stuff like sausage on the skillet, the entire apartment stinks and I hate that. When I cook the stuff on the george foreman, it just tastes kind of funny and I'm not a big fan of that. What can I do? I know I need to start actually BBQ'ing. Suggestions?