To Wizrad,
DH-BFF, asked me to take a few snaps of a bike at the ISB Bike Show cuz he liked the paint job. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to get the images to him for a few reasons::
1.) files too large to e-mail
2.) haven’t really seen alot of him….
3.) I forgot until I downloaded the photos….
So here are a few pix of a kick ass paint job ….
Love ya guys,
See ya soon !!
renata
Filed: Biketoberfest, Personal
11-19-08 Italian dinner makes family say, ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’
Motorsports Editor Godwin Kelly; his wife, Diane; and their daughter and in-house food critic, Ellie Kelly, ventured to La Benedetto’s in Palm Coast to find out why their friends and neighbors were giving the restaurant such rave reviews. Godwin gives a play-by-play:
Q. How did you find this place? Just follow your nose. You know when you step out of the car and your mouth starts to water that you have found the Italian promised land. We had several friends ask if we had dined there. After saying “no” so many times, it was time to say “yes.” Once we started eating, we were all saying, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” It was like a flashback to “When Harry Met Sally.”
Q. What’s it like inside? It’s quaint and cozy with soft lighting, almost fuzzy. We took a booth, which was super comfortable for my middle-aged back. Our server, Heather, was on us faster than thunder follows lightning. She got our drink order and returned with a warm, soft loaf of bread playing hide and seek under a napkin in a basket. I love playing hide and seek.
Q. How does the menu look in that soft light? You can read it just fine. It was good reading. There isn’t page after page of selections, but plenty to choose from. You know what I mean? Categories included chicken, veal, seafood, beef and pizza. Yes, it’s an upscale bistro, but its menu offers pizza.
Q. We know you, Mr. Appetizer. What did you get in the pre-meal? Yes, you know me well. We, and I emphasize WE, ordered seafood-stuffed mushrooms and zuppa de’ mussels. Both were excellent, especially the mussels, which were served with an enticing white sauce. Once the generous helping of mussels was devoured, we took that loaf and did some serious dipping. It reminded me of those National Geographic films where the wildebeests crowd around a mud hole for a sip of water. Yeah, like that.
Q. How was the main course? Here’s the lineup: Diane had shrimp scampi. Ellie had an antipasto salad. I ordered veal parmigiana, with a side of spaghetti. Chomp, chomp, chomp. Gulp, gulp, gulp. And, presto, it was gone. It must have been like watching three castaways eating their first meal back on the mainland. All very good, except Diane complained that her shrimp disappeared from her plate too fast.
Q. Dessert tray? You won’t believe this, but I had no room for dessert after the feast. Diane got a cannoli while Ellie had a strawberry shortcake. I have to defer to them. They reported it was all good.
Q. What did it all cost? My momma always said, “You get what you pay for.” So it was a bit pricey, but worth the money. For two appetizers, three main courses, two desserts and iced tea, the bill was $107, including a little something for Heather.
La Benedetto’s 7 Old Kings Road, Palm Coast, in the Old Kings Commons Plaza
WHERE:
ACCESSIBILITY: Plenty of parking. Ramps up to the walkway. It’s a little tight once you get into the front door, but manageable.
HOURS: Open daily for lunch and dinner, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday.
THIS AND THAT: Credit cards accepted. Wine and beer available. Twilight dinner served 4-6 p.m. Bring an appetite, because they serve big portions.
PHONE: 386-447-4542
Let us know if you agree !!
Filed: DBNJ- Reviews
I rent condos in Daytona Beach, Florida. It has been quite a learning experience for me, I have gained many skills from deciding to begin my own business. I will be heading to Daytona Beach on Friday, one of the perks is being able to come to town and work, and clean and stock my condos. I just happen to have a condo that did not rent for the Turkey Rod Run — so off I go.
My condos are at 3 resorts in Daytona Beach.
HAWAIIAN INN RESORT We started with a condo at the Hawaiian Inn Resort. Hawaiian Inn is one of those old throw back spots that was built as a hotel in the late 1960s and then was converted to condos in 1999. This makes for smaller type condos, but they are oceanfront with full kitchens and I have spent much time organizing to make the most of the smaller spaces. We chose murphy beds to give a living room feel during the daytime hours. These condos also have larger type balconies and full kitchens. These are great economical choices for couples of small families. These condos will sleep 4, but we prefer to avoid renting to 4 adults. I feel that the wear and tear is not worth it, and actually, the condo may feel a bit too cramed for 2 couples.
DAYTONA BEACH RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER Funny — what started as an afternoon of cocktails ended up much differently than we had planned. After several drinks we ended up at Daytona Beach Resort & Conference Center and the renovation from hotel to condo hotel had just begun. We ended up writing a check for a down payment before leaving because we were so impressed with the resort. We also were fortunate enough to get an opportunity to purchase oceanfront in the tower at Daytona Beach Resort & Conference Center — which I believe has the best vantage point in the resort. These condos have 2 Queen beds – private oceanfront balcony and efficiency kitchens. Great for the business traveler, couple or small family. This condo will sleep 4 and is layed out in a way that would accomodate 2 couples.
OCEAN WALK RESORT Our Daytona 500 trip generally includes at least 8 and up to 16 family members, friends and strangglers that we have met along the way! When the hurricanes of 2004 occurred, the prices on Ocean Walk Resort condos declined to the point where 1 became affordable for us. It is a large condo -14th floor – and the bedding arrangement is perfect for sleeping large parties, with 4 full beds and 2 sleeper sofas – a larger extended family can easily be accommodate, or 2 familes traveling together would be comfortable in this condo! As I learned more about the condos in Ocean Walk I became particularly enamoured with the 01 condos. This floorplan offered 3 balconies, and had such a great set up for busy parents to have their own private “suite” that I kept my eye on future sales listings. My real estate agent happened to be watching the condos that came on the market and the highest condo at Ocean Walk with 3 balconies came on the market — I just had to see it and I fell in love with it on the spot !! So the highest condo at Ocean Walk with 3 balconies was added to our holdings. This condo is perfect for a family. The oceanfront suite is private and perfect for that special “couple” time while you are on vacation….
Another article from our favorite historical author, Marion Tomblin.
This was originally printed in :
History of Lue Gim Gong
It is believed that citrus originated in China. Perhaps that explains Lue Gim Gong’s fascination with the fruit. For whatever reason, this Asian horticulturist, and former resident of nearby DeLand, is considered the “father” of Florida’s citrus industry.
Lue Gim Gong was born in a farming village near Canton, China, in 1859. Fascinated by an uncle’s tales of opportunity across the Pacific, 12-year-old Lue begged his father’s permission to emigrate to the United States. His father gave the lad a bolt of silk to sell once he arrived, and in 1872, Mr. Lue boarded a boat bound for California.
After four years in San Francisco, Mr. Gim Gong worked his way across the states to Adams, Mass., where he got a job at the C.T. Sampson shoe factory.
Like many of his coworkers, Lue was exposed to, and then converted to, Christianity. Fannie Burlingame, Lue Sunday school teacher, noticed her pupil’s proclivity for plants, so she hired him to tend her family’s greenhouses. While in Ms. Burlingame’s employ, Lue contracted tuberculosis.
Doctors were consulted, and the standard prescription was given: move to a warmer climate. Due to his conversion to Christianity, Lue was not allowed to return to China. Luckily, Ms. Burlingame and her sister owned property in Central Florida. In 1886, Lue arrived here to convalesce.
For the next 40 years, Lue experimented with cross-pollination. In 1911, his “Lue Gim Gong strain of ‘Valencia’ ” won the silver medal from the American Pomological Society – the first time that award was given to citrus. That strain of fruit is still sold in Florida, under the name “Valencia.”
Mr. Sampson was a donor to Stetson University, and Sampson Hall is named in his honor.
Day trip: Oakdale Cemetery, DeLand, to visit Lue Gim Gong’s gravesite. There is also a beautiful gazebo honoring his memory.
Marian Tomblin is the author of “The Mystery at Hotel Ormond,” “Where’s Capone’s Cash?” and “Manatee Moon,” all selected for community-wide literacy campaigns. Her latest book, “Bull on the Beach!,” is a compilation of historical anecdotes discovered while researching her novels.
Copies of Mrs. Tomblin’s books and others of local interest can be purchased at The Book Store and So Much More!, 410 S. Nova Road, Ormond Beach; (386) 615-8320.
Contact her at www.MarianSTomblin.com or at (386) 615-0493.
Filed: Daytona Beach History
11-22-08
Fish, curry chicken taste of Jamaica
LUNCH BUNCH
Michelle Ferrier, who visited Golden Krust for lunch recently, says the place is colorful with bright yellow tile, and the walls are dotted with Bob Marley posters and information about Jamaica. Reggae music plays in the background. From previous scouting, she knew only two small cafe tables that seat four are in the eatery, so most of the business is takeout. “I bought lunch for me and my husband, Les,” she said.
Q. How long did you have to wait for food? Fast food and Caribbean restaurant aren’t phrases usually found in the same sentence. As a Jamerican, I’ve heard the phrase “soon come” plenty of times. But the service was friendly and fast.
Q. What kind of entrees did you order? I was pleased to see both curry goat and ackee and codfish on the menu, although the ackee is only made on the weekends. The menu is also sprinkled with other Caribbean foods, but traditional Jamaican selections dominate the lists. I ordered the curry chicken for me and the escovitch whole fish for my husband. Since I had been explicitly ordered by my children to bring home leftovers, I thought the chicken would go over better. Each entree is served with sauteed vegetables, fried plaintain and rice and peas. Peas are actually not green peas, but in this case kidney beans. In Jamaica, gungo peas are traditionally used in this dish.
No alcohol is served, but there is a good selection of DG and Grace soft drinks including champagne cola, ginger beer and even Irish moss. Pepsi fountain drinks are also available.
I also ordered the rum cake after finding out they’d run out of coco bread and didn’t have bulla cakes that day. You may need to be a bit flexible as the menu is a guideline and certain dishes like fish are served on Fridays.
The food was aromatic and filled my car. When I arrived at my husband’s office, I found the portions generous and appetizing. The curry chicken was delicious and prepared almost as well as my Auntie’s that I remember from the island. And, while the rice and peas were good, they lacked the fresh, ground coconut that I remembered my mom grating to cook down her rice.
My husband dug into his fish with the escovitch seasoning — a kind of pickled vinegar garnish of carrots, ginger, onion and pimento seeds that I had been craving. He let me sample a bit of the fish, which was infused with the taste. Yum! We both wished the fish was a bit bigger, and we left none for the kids.
I sampled the rum cake later that evening. The texture was a bit different than the dense cake I was used to eating. The Golden Krust version is lighter with a heavy icing. I didn’t care for the icing but was pleasantly surprised as the rum flavor slowly intensified in my mouth. Even though the texture was a bit different from my childhood, the flavors were just the same.
For the large portions of the curry chicken and fish, plus the rum cake and two DG sodas, we paid $20.11. Lunch specials are available for $4.99 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Q. Would you dine there again? I went back the next day to get patties and the ackee and codfish, Jamaica’s national dish. The ackee was served with boiled green banana, cassava and two fried johnnycakes, enough carbs for about a week. I would have liked more of the ackee and codfish . . . it was delicious and so were the johnnycakes. I wasn’t fond of the shrimp patty my daughter ordered, but the golden crust of the chicken patty was flaky and a great namesake for this growing, popular chain of Caribbean fast food.
Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill 1330 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach (at the intersection of Clyde Morris Boulevard)
WHERE:
ACCESSIBILITY: Abundant parking in the Kmart shopping center parking lot
HOURS: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
MISCELLANEOUS: Cash and major credit cards accepted
PHONE: 386-253-0970
WEB SITE: Menu is available online at goldenkrustbakery.com. Local menus do vary by day
Filed: DBNJ- Reviews
