It is almost time for roasting chestnuts!

One of may favorite things to do in the fall and winter is roasting and eating chestnuts. Like millions of people, I have eaten hot freshly roasted chestnuts from street vendors in New York City and while traveling in Europe, but I especially enjoy roasting them on my porch. I buy chestnuts fresh in the shell online from farms in Virginia, Washington state, or California in early September. I store them in their shells in my fridge drawer and they surprisingly stay almost fresh for 3-4 months. Whenever I am ready to roast I take a handful or more, and make small cuts in the shells to allow the hot air that builds under the shells to escape (otherwise the chestnuts will explode). I roast them over hot Olivette Organic Charcoal which burns cleanly without smoke (at least I can’t see it) in a portable fire pit. I just ordered my chestnut supply for this season, and can’t wait for the first cold days of the season to arrive!

Chestnut tree

Roasting chestnuts on my porch

A close encounter with the fascinating horseshoe crabs

During a recent visit to Dewey Beach in the state of Delaware (USA), I saw a few unusual creatures in the shallow waters of the bay, one of them (a male) was partially piggybacking on another (female), and other appear to be hanging around. I have never seen a creature like this before, but a friend said these are horseshoe crabs. I searched for information online, and was really fascinated with what I found.

Male HSC piggybacking on female HSC (darker and larger)

It turned out that horseshoe crabs (HSC) have been around for more than 300 million years, from even before the dinosaurs. They are not true crabs; they are arthropods, but more closely related to scorpions and spiders than crustaceans. They are the only living members of the Xiphosura order. The name “horseshoe crab” originates from the shape of the head, because U-shaped like a horse shoe. Interestingly the head not only contains the brain, but also the heart, mouth, nervous system, and glands. HSCs have nine eyes scattered throughout the body. They have six pairs of legs, only five pairs are for walking (no idea what the other pair is used for). HSC has a long and pointy tail, which it uses to flip itself over if for some reason the HSC is stuck lying on its back. HSCs can use their tail as a rudder to help steer as they swim upside down.

HSC like to eat at night feeding mostly on worms and clams, and may eat algae. The HSC has no mandible or teeth to crush and chew its food, so it picks up its food with appendages located in front of its mouth, crushes it between its legs then puts it in the mouth.

It turns out that during full moons, new moons, and high tides in May and June, hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs converge on the Delaware Bay to breed, which is why I saw so many of them there. Females dig nests in the sand and bury a cluster of about 4,000 tiny, blue-green eggs. Many shorebirds can’t survive without HSCs. Thousands of shorebirds descend on the Delaware Bay in May to feast on horseshoe crab eggs. Red knots, ruddy turnstones and sanderlings and others rely on the fat and protein-rich eggs to power their long flights.

HSC crab population of Delaware Bay and other locations along the Eastern Seaboard is under threat. By some estimates, the animal’s numbers fell by 90 percent between 2002 and 2017 because of overfishing and habitat loss. This population declines are troubling because several other animals depend on the horseshoe crabs’ spawning. They are also used in some important medical applications.

On Dewey Beach, the Delaware Bay is only a few steps (5-minute walk) from the Atlantic Ocean, se we walked over and took a long walk on the beach moving from north to south. Alson this walk, I saw many HSCs on their backs. Unfortunately they were all dead and some partially eaten. One picture I posted here shows an intact HSC with its horseshoe shaped head, and its many legs.

HSC on its back

Another interesting thing we found on the beach on the Atlantic Ocean side was many egg cases. According to Wikipedia. An egg case or egg capsule, often colloquially called a mermaid's purse, is the casing that surrounds the eggs of oviparous chondrichthyans. Living chondricthyans that produce egg cases include some sharks, skates and chimaeras. Egg cases typically contain one embryo, except for big skate and mottled skate egg cases, which contain up to 7 embryos.

egg case, also known as mermaid’s purse

On a lighter subject, we were surprised to see dogs everywhere, mostly golden retrievers. The locals are extremely friendly and welcoming, and when we asked one resident why are there so many golden retrievers around here (on the beach, in the hotel lobby and restaurant, in the streets, and in some restaurants) the answer was, well, because it was golden retriever week in Dewey Beach. Apparently, the week before poodle week, and before that was another breed week . The city plans these events to attract tourists and it actually works.

We also walked around the charming Rehoboth Beach and ate dinner at The Pines https://www.thepinesrb.com/, one of the many nice restaurants there. We then walked around for a while, and ate very tasty ice cream at Kilwins https://www.kilwins.com/stores/kilwins-rehoboth-beach

Some references used for this post include the following (you can also login and read more about horseshoe crabs):

1) National Wildlife Federation: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Horseshoe-Crab

2) Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/10-incredible-horseshoe-crab-facts

3) Britaanica https://www.britannica.com/story/horseshoe-crab-a-key-player-in-ecology-medicine-and-more

For more on egg cases/mermaid purses check this page on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg\_case\_(Chondrichthyes)

The beautiful world of orchids

Orchids are beautiful flowering often fragrant plants. They can be found in nature in many places around the world, but mostly in the tropics. There are thousands of orchid varieties, including thousands of hybrids introduced by experts. Most orchids in nature grow anchored to trees, plants and rocks; orchids grown in pots indoors may also need an anchor to support their growth. Orchids need special care and may be difficult to grow indoors so if you like to have one (or more) you need to educate yourself about the type suitable for your indoor climate, sun exposure, type of potting soli, food/nutrients needed, and how often to feed and water.

Recently I have been to an orchids exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC and, yes, those were live orchids planted all around the courtyard. I did not like all of them but due to the extensive variety in the exhibit I found many favorites. I was fascinated by the variation in color and texture even within the same flower. Some flowers looked like they were sticking their tongues out, while others looked like butterflies have landed on them. Naturally, I got out of control and took so many pictures (thank God for digital). I had a hard time deciding which pictures to show on this blogpost, and will surely have regrets for not including some after I publish this post.

You can find good general information on orchids on Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchid

Here are some links sites that provide helpful instructions and tips for growing beautiful healthy orchids indoors:

Better home and gardens

https://www.bhg.com/gardening/houseplants/care/how-to-care-for-orchids/

The American Orchid Society

https://www.aos.org/orchids/additional-resources/orchids-indoors.aspx

A day trip to Winterthur, Delaware

Winterthur is the 175 room mansion which was the home for Henry Francis DuPont and his family. It has the original furniture as it was when the DuPonts lived there, with all the beautiful pieces of furniture, paintings and numerous pieces of American decorative arts. It also has a beautiful gardens, which we did not get to fully enjoy because we visited in December; it must be awesome in the spring. The grounds have an exhibition center which when we visited was hosting a dress collection by the fabulous Ann Lowe who designed Jacqueline Kennedy’s 1953 wedding dress (to John F. Kennedy); it was delightful to see examples of her designs and learn about her life. We did not make it to the library, which we heard is remarkable. We also did not get to see the smaller house the Mr. DuPont later moved to when he got older, downsizing to mere 60 rooms. December was not the busiest time to visit, but we still were happy that we purchased the tickets to the exhibit and to the house in advance (you should too). There was a line to enter the house, as only a certain few number of people are allowed to be inside at the same time. There was a model train exhibit when we visited, which delighted many children (and adults); admission to this one was free but I am not sure off it is a permanent feature or seasonal. Many beautifully decorated Christmas trees were also at display. There is a small rest/information area at the entrance where you could buy tickets, get information, buy souvenirs and buy coffee, drinks, and food (and use the restrooms).

https://www.winterthur.org/

https://www.winterthur.org/ann-lowe-american-couturier/

For staying the night we chose Hotel DuPont in nearby Wilmington, which is more than 100 years old and used to be the headquarters for the DuPont Company. It is beautifully decorated; our room was large and had a large update bathroom. The hotel restaurant, Le Cavalier, is gorgeously decorated, and the food is very tasty. We would definitely eat there again if we are ever in Wilmington for any reason (service by the way was excellent).

https://www.hoteldupont.com/

The house

Inside the house

The model trains

Le Cavalier restaurant at Hotel DuPont

The beautiful spring in Washington, DC

Spring is beautiful in Washington, DC, as it is in other places around the world. Here the city has so many varieties of flowers and roses in full bloom, including camellias , daffodils, and tulips to name a few. There are also many varieties of beautiful trees that have flowers of different colors: whites, reds, purples, and yellows. I especially enjoy the look of flowers on taller trees against the blue sky on sunny days. On a recent day the wind was blowing agains the trees and made the flower petals swirl in the air like beautiful confetti . The best thing, though, are the chirps and songs of the birds, especially early in the morning.

Croissant Brioche: the best French bakery/cafe in Houston (and beyond)

Hands down this is my favorite French bakery in the US, and perhaps in the whole world. I have had coffee, bread, sandwiches, and pastries there many times since around 2001, and I can safely say it has not changed much. The same high quality, tasty, and fresh products that consistently taste the same today as it has many years ago. The staff is very friendly, and the crowd is usually of local Houstonians and some foreigners who work in Houston; you can also find families with kids. It is most busy on the weekends and would be hard to find a place to Sith then. The safest times to go are at 7:00 AM and perhaps mid morning and mid to late afternoons on weekdays. I think they close about 6:00 or 7:00 PM except Sunday when they close at 5:00 PM. They are open every day, except New Year’s day, and of course if there is very severe weather. If you go at 7:00 AM you will find many of the repeat customers who go there almost every day, and most importantly you will see the breads and croissants being taken out of the oven and get to taste them when they are very fresh. My favorite is the 7 grain bread (a small size) that is sliced inn the middle with 2-4 slices of Swiss cheese inserted to make a sandwich. They usually ask me if I wanted warmed to melt the cheeses and I always say no. I sprinkle some salt on it and enjoy eating it with a large cup of Cafe Latte which I ask for it to be extra hot. The distinct taste of the fresh bread and the cheeses come together in an unbelievable tasty way. I also usually have with this combo and almond croissant. Let me tell you, I have tried an almond croissant in many places in the US and abroad, and NOTHING really compares; it is the best ever. These are usually gone by early afternoon, but occasionally you can find one later. Other sandwiches that I like include the chicken salad in baguette, and I also like the French dip and the French onion soup, the occasionally sausage croissant. They also have several other pastries that I sometimes take as a substitute for the almond croissant if they are out, or in addition to if I am craving pastries (which I usually am). So, if you are in Houston, TX for any reason, try this place for breakfast, lunch, or a cup of coffee with bread or pastries. You will thank me later.

The address is:

2435 Rice Blvd Houston, TX 77005

Cafe latte with almond croissant and chicken salad on baguette 5 years ago.

Cafe latte, almond croissant and seven grain with Swiss cheese sandwich last week.

Earlier last week when they were out of almond croissants, it was easy to find other great pastry choices.

Frist Art Museum, Nashville

We were in Nashville, TN, recently for a few days and someone suggested we visit the Frist Art Museum https://fristartmuseum.org/ so we did. Luckily for us we were there at the time the museum was running three exhibits:

1) SOUTHERN/MODERN

2) MONUMENTS & MYTHS The America of Sculptors Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Daniel Chester French

3) CARVING A NEW TRADITION THE ART OF LATOYA M. HOBBS

There were amazing pieces of art that we enjoyed seeing and learning about the artists and their creations. Latoya Hobbs is an incredible artist and her carvings and prints depicted scenes from daily lives of African American families. Perhaps my favorite two paintings were “Nigro Baptism” by John Kelly Fitzpatrick, and “The Lightning That Struck Rufo Barcliff” by Carroll Colar.

The sculpture exhibit featuring some of the works of Daniel Chester French had some very interesting pieces of which my favorite was the model he made for the seated Abraham Lincoln statue which now sits in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. There were several other pieces by French and by Augustus Saint-Gaudens at display.

If you plan on visiting Nashville, checkout the museum website for current exhibits and make plans to visit.

PS. The featured painting on the blog page is titled “Mending Nets” by Claude Howell.

Go for the Schnitzel, stay for the desert

If you have been craving veal schnitzel and live in or around Washington, DC you are in luck. Having tried some at a couple of restaurants in the past I was very happy to finally find one that serves the best veal schnitzel around (and this is not an exaggeration).

Kafe Leopold , also called Leopold’s Kafe, is a modern Austrian restaurant that has a cafe/casual setting. The service and attention to customers is first class. The menu choices are unique and most I have never tried before, and the choices of drinks are also nice. We skipped the salad and opted for an appetizer, the Liptauer Crostini, and from the “savories” we chose the Olivenpissaladiere; both were excellent. For the main course we had the Leopold's Schnitzel and the Gegrilltes Lachsfilet (grilled salmon filet) and both were outstanding; the crushed cucumbers, Medjool dates, fennel, walnuts & basil oil that came with the salmon filet is out of this world. Both portion were larger than what you get in many other places. I particularly loved the schnitzel and it will be one of the main reasons I will be going back to this restaurant again and again.

Austria is also famous for its cakes and pastries. We decided to choose from the display at Kafe Leopold instead of choosing from the menu, and unfortunately I cannot recognize these choices in the online menu to tell you the names of what we had. One was a cheesecake (a bit small in my opinion) and the other is the one in the above image. I was told the cheesecake was very nice (I am not a cheesecake fan, so I passed on tasting it), but I can say that the one I had (see image) looked like a pice of art with chocolate shell but on the inside it had one small ball of something with hazelnut and a larger ball of something with almonds, and it was sooo good. I highly recommend this place. One thing you should be aware of is that they add a 3.5% “recovery charge” to the final bill, something some other (not all) DC restaurants also do.