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Massive Biscuit with my breakfast in memory of Brent's Fantasy Football season.

So, tonight we visited Chef and the Farmer and may I just say, it was everything we hoped for and more. We started off with flash fried collard chips. Crispy and lightly salted. We also had grits with gumbo, andouille sausage and local shrimp. No pic on this one but I've never had grits this good. Next up, Debbie had a Jed's salad with local greens and blue cheese dressing. I had charred green beans with coarse mustard and muscadine grapes. We asked the sommelier for a wine suggestion to go with our main course choices (within budget) and we were happy with his choice. Debbie went for the tomato pie and fall veggies for her main. I went with the sage brined pork chop with dirty farrow and sweet and sour beets. Not only was it the best pork chop I've ever had, it was one of the best pieces of meat I've ever consumed. Finally, Debbie had a watermelon and rosemary sorbet with watermelon dice and a rosé float. It was a meal beyond reproach and if you are ever in eastern North Carolina, get your ass here. Oh, my dessert? A very dry Martini. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dinner at Blackbird. This is the first 2-star Michelin joint we've been to in Chicago. The mostly current menu: In order - Tomato, Gazpacho, Tartare, Sea Scallop, Pork Belly, and Strip loin (Allison ordered the strip, I was so proud) The soup was phenomenal followed closely by scallops. Everything else wasnt quite on the same level and the tartare wasn't good. But overall, a decent meal with a not-complelety justified price tag.

Got back from the Monterey Jazz Festival Monday night. One of the best years IMHO. Everything from cocktail jazz with Monty Alexander Trio to an avant garde commissioned piece from trumpet player Ambrose Akinmusire. The festival started with that commissioned piece and while it didn't make the traditional jazz fans happy, I was like a pig in shit. A trio with Chick Corea, Brian Blades (drums) and Christian McBride (bass) totally killed. I think they're touring so don't miss em! Friday night ended with a huge tribute to Jaco Pastorious. Way too many folks to name in this jazz orchestra setting but it was great to see players from Weather Report and all the other groups that he played with including Felix Pastorious (his son) who played a pretty mean electric bass himself. Saturdays highlights included a great set by Trombone Shorty and this years Monterey Festival on Tour band (Gregory Clayton (piano), Ravi Coltrane (saxes), Nickolas Payton (trumpet), Joe Sanders (bass), Justin Brown (drums). I'd forgotten how much I love Payton's horn. The night ended with an awesome set from The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (hmm, didn't think of it till now but it was kind of a trumpet lovers wet dream,.. I didn't have a chance to hear him but Terrance Blanchard and E Connection also played) Sunday afternoon had a big Escovedo Family set. Bela Fleck and Chick Corea amazed the crowd and Chris Botti payed the bills. My favorite discovery was a kinda rockabillyish singer that has bits of Janis Joplin in her voice (nice to see her on the same stage that Janis made her name). Here's a video of Nikki Hill at a tiny blues venue.

Just got off the phone with Tats...Stax will be showing new headphones at RMAF. Don't know much more than that.

Seastar Quartz (yeah, boo and hiss).

The President's Own Marine Corps Band They do not suck. I checked the bios of the saxophonists and they studied with almost all of the Goliaths of the classical saxophone world. Also ran into my old band director and about 20 other musician friends from my past **BRENT**

So, we follow a show on PBS called "A Chef's Life." It's about a woman and her husband who run two restaurants in Kinston, N.C. Last night we visited their oyster bar, The Boiler Room. First up, the gentleman pictured is shucking my fresh oysters. Said oysters There were two more oyster dishes were consumed. Their take on a Rockefeller and a spicy offering where the oyster is served on a pork rind with a hot sauce and slice of jalapeño. No pics as they disappeared too quickly. Sorry. They were delicious. We also had a roasted corn, tomato and kale salad. Very clean and refreshing. On to burgers. Debbie had a veggie Butterbean burger. Mine was a surf & turf burger with popcorn oysters and a jalapeño mayo. Seen below. With that, a tip of the hat to Hot Doug, an order of beef fat fries. Not duck. What looks like cheese on these is actually powdered beef tallow. They explained it keeps down the greasiness. All was excellent. Also not pictured is Debbie's bread pudding. Also awesome and can be seen on Facebook. Tonight, their main restaurant, The Chef and the Farmer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

RIP Yogi! There are tons of tributes across the interweb but I thought this one was excellent. http://m.mlb.com/atl/video/topic/41109544/v496973283/eight-great-moments-from-no-8-yogi-berras-career/?c_id=atl

Ages ago, before that became what it is now

Yeah, it was pretty much arancini. Which is not a bad thing! Incredible looking meals, my Chicago brothers!

I tried to convince the Mrs but she just started eating meat again and thought that pancreas was pushing it. Another amazing dinner, big bro! Appears to have hit the spot.

Looks fantastic, Mike! Me: Pork tenderloin with some kind of delicious Mexican sauce with garlic swiss chard and risotto croquettes.

Holy cow, that's small!

The Acronis stuff always worked well for me when I was still naive and used Windows.

SLR02 in the house! Switched out bars and cranks to my preferred ones.

This.

Wow is this Volkswagen scandal ever awful. They've lost a third of their value in the past week.

I'm not the most tech savvy, so my recommendation is to write it all down on legal pads.

Very nice, CJ. Did she kick your sorry ass after that shoot for breaking into the gym?