This Months Brewery, Restaurant & Winery Reviews:

MarketBar - (Four of Five)
(2012) This Bistro is located in the Ferry Building. It was a life saver after a long walk, service was very friendly. Three of us tried the Sliders and two of us tried the Dungeness Crab Deviled Eggs. All the food was gourmet level and good. The guacamole we well liked both on the sliders and with chips. Our friends treated so we are not sure what the meal cost but it looked pretty expensive on the menu.
http://www.marketbar.com/

Nick's Lighthouse - (Three of Five)
(2012) This restaurant is located on the Fishermen Wharf easy walking distance from Pier 39 in San Francisco. There are many dining choices along the wharf and seafood doesn't get much fresher. Our friends had the Dungeness Crab and the shrimp salad. Marnie and I split the Sauté Shell Platter. Dinner and drinks for four came to $80 plus tip.
http://www.nickslighthouse.com/

That Bar - (Five of Five)
(2012) Steve heard about this great little Sport's Bar on a CNBC segment on Man vs. Food Challenges. They have a five pound "That Burger" that looked so good we had to go try their "ordinary" burgers. Far from ordinary, Marnie had the Jiffy Burger made with a peanut butter sauce but Steve just had a bunless burger with bacon, cheese, avocado and onions. The challenge burger can be had family-style if you want to try it at a discount to what it would take to feed about seven people. All the food was great, the onion rings were some of the best we have ever tried. Also of note they have a Gluten-free menu. Our server Katelan was attentive and the meal with three alcoholic beverages came to under $40.
http://thatbardanville.com/

For more Restaurant Reviews visit our Restaurant, Brewery and Winery Reviews page.

     Latest Book Reviews:

     Zweig, Jason – Your Money & Your Brain - Steve’s Thoughts: While the author attempts to write a scientific and enlightened book he jumps to wildly unscientific conclusions from the data. I do not think anything like what he assumes all investors and traders think and feel. I do exhibit very rare investing decisions but have arrived at my conclusions by doing and learning over the past twenty years. The book contains some humor but was a painfully slow read due to its effect of putting the reader to sleep after only a few sentences. I got absolutely nothing from the book, however, if you find yourself ‘always buying high and selling low’ this book might be for you.

     Bach, David – Start Late, Finish Rich - Steve’s Thoughts: This book was full of great information but I admit I have read most of the ideas before in other books. That is not surprising based on how m any books I have read on these subjects and that "there is nothing new under the sun". The author is mainly pushing Real Estate in this series of books and I maintain that if you aren't motivated to invest in Real Estate or even own your home you should read this book.

     This months movie reviews:

     Pirates of the Caribbean - On Strange Tides - If you like the Pirates movies you won't be disappointed. There were a couple changes in cast but Cap't Jack was the same and it had the usual over-the-top acrobatics and action.

     Moneyball - Steve can't stand baseball and the movie was a dull as the game but Marnie enjoyed it.

     Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 - Steve can't believe they gave away the plot in the first movie. Marnie hasn't finished the book yet and they spoiled at least part of the ending for her. We were both suprized to see it takes place in the near future whereas the book seems to take place in the 1950's when it was written. Ayn Rand was vsionary and I strongly suggest you read the book before watching the movies. What she foresaw is happening now and dooms our world to a very dim future. I suggest this book should be required reading, at least for continuing education students.

     Latest Game Reviews:

     We have had the Nintendo™ Wii Fit™ with the Balance Board since 2009 Thanksgiving Day. Besides being entertaining this system allows Steve to exercise safely with his disabilities. Some of the exercises are harder than you think and we can recommend this to others with similar disabilities.

     Tiger Woods 2008 (Wii) - The controls take a bit of getting used to but this is a fun game that we are both enjoying! On a particularly difficult shot you can feel your heartbeat in your club via the vibration of the controller.

     Mini Golf Resorts (Wii) - "Over 1000 Holes to Play!" Golf is a great game for our small living space. We have a couple of them now. So far it has been fun, some of the holes are easy and some are very challenging. Every golf game we have uses a different method of control and this one is no different in the difference. It is frustrating to go through the learning curve again and we wish they would all stick to one method. On to of the non-intuitive control, the game is full of bugs. Sometimes the ball goes in the hole but it doesn't record it and you have to wait until the stroke limit or reboot the game to continue. Honestly, do they test these games before release?

     Wii Fit™ - We originally bought the Wii system specifically for Steve to exercise and practice his balance with the balance board. Some of the "training" Steve cannot do but the bike ride and running are two favorites. We highly recommend this to persons with disabilities to exercise but it is all fun for just about anyone.

     This Months Brewery, Restaurant & Winery Reviews:

That Bar - (Five of Five)
(2012) Steve heard about this great little Sport's Bar on a CNBC segment on Man vs. Food Challenges. They have a five pound "That Burger" that looked so good we had to go try their "ordinary" burgers. Far from ordinary, Marnie had the Jiffy Burger made with a peanut butter sauce but Steve just had a bunless burger with bacon, cheese, avocado and onions. The challenge burger can be had family-style if you want to try it at a discount to what it would take to feed about seven people. All the food was great, the onion rings were some of the best we have ever tried. Also of note they have a Gluten-free menu. Our server Katelan was attentive and the meal with three alcoholic beverages came to under $40.
http://thatbardanville.com/

Hall Winery - (Five of Five)
(2012) This tasting room has a great ambience so I had to ask why they were building a new one. Of course, with great wines, especially the higher-end wines, they have outgrown their facilities. All the staff was attentive, friendly and generous with their time with us. Normally I wouldn't recommend a wine over $20/bottle but their more expensive wines were really fantastic so treat yourself after a few glasses of "wallet-lube".
http://www.hallwines.com/hall-rutherford

For more Restaurant Reviews visit our Restaurant, Brewery and Winery Reviews page.

     Latest Book Reviews:

     Zweig, Jason – Your Money & Your Brain - Steve’s Thoughts: While the author attempts to write a scientific and enlightened book he jumps to wildly unscientific conclusions from the data. I do not think anything like what he assumes all investors and traders think and feel. I do exhibit very rare investing decisions but have arrived at my conclusions by doing and learning over the past twenty years. The book contains some humor but was a painfully slow read due to its effect of putting the reader to sleep after only a few sentences. I got absolutely nothing from the book, however, if you find yourself ‘always buying high and selling low’ this book might be for you.

     Bach, David – Start Late, Finish Rich - Steve’s Thoughts: This book was full of great information but I admit I have read most of the ideas before in other books. That is not surprising based on how m any books I have read on these subjects and that "there is nothing new under the sun". The author is mainly pushing Real Estate in this series of books and I maintain that if you aren't motivated to invest in Real Estate or even own your home you should read this book.

     This months movie reviews:

     Pirates of the Caribbean - On Strange Tides - If you like the Pirates movies you won't be disappointed. There were a couple changes in cast but Cap't Jack was the same and it had the usual over-the-top acrobatics and action.

     Moneyball - Steve can't stand baseball and the movie was a dull as the game but Marnie enjoyed it.

     Jeff Beck - Live at Ronnie Scott's - We saw this at a friend's house and Steve just had to have a copy, now we do. Jeff broke new ground in music with his unusual style and this concert is a delight to watch and listen to. He discovered that bass player while she was in her teens.

     Mama Mia - If you're an ABBA fan you will love this musical comedy where the songs of ABBA are performed by the actors in a story of a young, soon-to-be bride, her mother and her attempt to find her dad before the wedding.

     Kung Fu Panda II - We didn't laugh quite as much through this movie as we did the first one but it was still a great movie and we will probably own a copy eventually. Our hero Po seeks to save China from an evil cannon-wielding foe and simultaneously seeks his Inner Peace.

     Blind Side - This was an inspiring movie based on a true story about an athlete adopted by a wealthy family.

     Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 - Steve can't believe they gave away the plot in the first movie. Marnie hasn't finished the book yet and they spoiled at least part of the ending for her. We were both suprized to see it takes place in the near future whereas the book seems to take place in the 1950's when it was written. Ayn Rand was vsionary and I strongly suggest you read the book before watching the movies. What she foresaw is happening now and dooms our world to a very dim future. I suggest this book should be required reading, at least for continuing education students.

     Van Heilsing - Finally watching this movie the advertisements did not do the plot justice. Steve found this movie entertaining where common myths and legends come together in a plot not unlike a James Bond movie.

     Latest Game Reviews:

     We have had the Nintendo™ Wii Fit™ with the Balance Board since 2009 Thanksgiving Day. Besides being entertaining this system allows Steve to exercise safely with his disabilities. Some of the exercises are harder than you think and we can recommend this to others with similar disabilities.

     Tiger Woods 2008 (Wii) - The controls take a bit of getting used to but this is a fun game that we are both enjoying! On a particularly difficult shot you can feel your heartbeat in your club via the vibration of the controller.

     Mini Golf Resorts (Wii) - "Over 1000 Holes to Play!" Golf is a great game for our small living space. We have a couple of them now. So far it has been fun, some of the holes are easy and some are very challenging. Every golf game we have uses a different method of control and this one is no different in the difference. It is frustrating to go through the learning curve again and we wish they would all stick to one method. On to of the non-intuitive control, the game is full of bugs. Sometimes the ball goes in the hole but it doesn't record it and you have to wait until the stroke limit or reboot the game to continue. Honestly, do they test these games before release?

     This Months Brewery, Restaurant & Winery Reviews:

Mountain Mike's Pizza - (2.5 of Five)
(2012) The flavors were good despite Steve having a cold. This is a thicker crust, not our style, so we found it easy to stop after a few pieces. Delivery was on time but not early, friendly & courteous. A 1-topping large was less than $20 including a generous tip with coupon. Steve's blood sugar rocketed over 180 after only a few pieces due to the thick crust.
http://www.mountainmikes.com/

Mingles Pizza - (3.5 of Five)
(2012) We have had this pizza twice and if Steve keeps it to two pieces his blood sugar is okay. This is a truly Artisan pizza though we have only tried the pepperoni. It is good pizza though the risen crust is a little too much crust for us (we like New York style thin crust). There is nearly always a deal for two large one topping pizzas for under $20 so we get this when we are feeding our workers etc.
http://www.minglespizza.com/

ZUT! - (Five of Five)
(2012) This bar and restaurant is located conveniently in Home Decor' Heaven, on Fourth Street in Berkeley. While the surrounding area is industrial this little outdoor mall is very nice and well kept. We stopped in for a drink and afternoon snack after shopping all the great stores. Steve had their Scrimshaw Pilsner and we shared an order of the Crispy Smelt. It was a perfect portion and despite the light batter the Smelt made a rare low-carb appetizer. The atmosphere is slightly fancy though we sat outside people-watching. Our server Emily was polite, friendly and helpful. Our small meal, one beer and one soda came to about $17.
http://www.zutonfourth.com/

Chopin Lafayette is being sold! -
(2012) One of our favorite restaurants for date night had a public notice on the windows so we asked the owner about it. We chatted the whole evening. She is retiring and is selling the restaurant to the cook and they assured us the food and ambience will remain as we like it. I have written a review on this romantic Polish gem before and if you are interested check out the our Restaurant, Brewery and Winery Reviews page.

For more Restaurant Reviews visit our Restaurant, Brewery and Winery Reviews page.

     Latest Book Reviews:

     Bach, David – Start Late, Finish Rich - Steve’s Thoughts: This book was full of great information but I admit I have read most of the ideas before in other books. That is not surprising based on how m any books I have read on these subjects and that "there is nothing new under the sun". The author is mainly pushing Real Estate in this series of books and I maintain that if you aren't motivated to invest in Real Estate or even own your home you should read this book.

     Homer – Illiad - Finally finished! This novel is for which the word epic was termed! I kept trying to find a way to put a rhythm to the poem but once I gave up and read it as a novel it went quicker. The ending was much more interesting than the rest of the story. I assume from the development of characters that I read these in the wrong order and Odyssey should have come first.

     Bach, David – The Automatic Millionaire - Steve’s Thoughts: The target audience is renters that have not yet bought a home in which they accumulate equity. I’d recommend it to someone just starting out on their own.

     This months movie reviews:

     Blind Side - This was an inspiring movie based on a true story about an athlete adopted by a wealthy family.

     Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 - Steve can't believe they gave away the plot in the first movie. Marnie hasn't finished the book yet and they spoiled at least part of the ending for her. We were both suprized to see it takes place in the near future whereas the book seems to take place in the 1950's when it was written. Ayn Rand was vsionary and I strongly suggest you read the book before watching the movies. What she foresaw is happening now and dooms our world to a very dim future. I suggest this book should be required reading, at least for continuing education students.

     Bride's Maids - Steve made it until the vomit scene and left to room to go read.

     Sky High - An amusing story of a Super-Hero-high-school teen and his friends and family. As corny as it sounds it was actually a pretty good movie but I (Steve) didn't get to see some of it and missed the end due to interuptions.

     Puss n' Boots - We laughed out loud throughout this hilarious movie. I am still not sure how we got from Medieval Spain to the US Wild West but they pulled it off somehow. Well done again DreamWorks!

     Jarhead - Congratulations! This might be the lamest movie I have ever seen. The story tracks a Marine sniper through his career. At the end of the movie the Desert Storm campaign in Iraq ends without our subject firing a single shot. If I've ruined the ending for you consider your self blessed without the need to watch it.

     Star Trek - We have seen this one before but it was long before Steve started taking "review" notes. The movie was done in the classic corny style of the Star Trek movies with enough action and humor to keep the audience interested. Was it my imagination or was the first scene in Iowa a reference to Red Barchetta?

     Hellboy II: Golden Army - I (Steve) never knew what this series was about but I have to admit I enjoyed the movie. Now we need to go back and watch the first one. The story seems lighthearted and pure fantasy about a demon child raised to be a good guy.

     Van Heilsing - Finally watching this movie the advertisements did not do the plot justice. Steve found this movie entertaining where common myths and legends come together in a plot not unlike a James Bond movie.

     Latest Game Reviews:

     We have had the Nintendo™ Wii Fit™ with the Balance Board since 2009 Thanksgiving Day. Besides being entertaining this system allows Steve to exercise safely with his disabilities. Some of the exercises are harder than you think and we can recommend this to others with similar disabilities.

     Tiger Woods 2008 (Wii) - The controls take a bit of getting used to but this is a fun game that we are both enjoying! On a particularly difficult shot you can feel your heartbeat in your club via the vibration of the controller.

     Mini Golf Resorts (Wii) - "Over 1000 Holes to Play!" Golf is a great game for our small living space. We have a couple of them now. So far it has been fun, some of the holes are easy and some are very challenging. Every golf game we have uses a different method of control and this one is no different in the difference. It is frustrating to go through the learning curve again and we wish they would all stick to one method. On to of the non-intuitive control, the game is full of bugs. Sometimes the ball goes in the hole but it doesn't record it and you have to wait until the stroke limit or reboot the game to continue. Honestly, do they test these games before release?

     This Months Brewery, Restaurant & Winery Reviews:

Picazzo's Organic Italian Kitchen - (5.0 of Five)
(2012) This is one of our favorite haunts with great gourmet pizzas. A staple for us is the Meaty Meaty Meaty but this latest visit we tried the new Buffalo wings (very hot!) and the Wild Scallops & Bacon Pizza. Wow! Great flavors and a great bottle of wine. Marnie finished with the Skillet Brownie but couldn't finish it. We were full to bursting for under $50.
http://picazzos.com/

Chili's - (4.0 of Five)
(2012) Not all of these franchises are the same. Depending on who is bartending this restaurant has a great Bloody Mary. The Big Mouth burgers are a great meal and we favor the Southwest, no buns-no fries with a side of guacamole. Try their queso dip poured over this burger! Steve has wine and we usually dine for less than $40.
http://www.chilis.com/EN/mobile/Pages/menuitem.aspx?LocId=001.005.0416

Grapes Restaurant & Bar - (Three of Five)
(2012) Jerome is a quaint mining town located between Clarkdale and Prescott. Grapes is in the location of the old brewery and is what we think of as a higher end restaurant but with reasonable prices. One of our friends knew the server Ashley personally but I suspect she would have been equally charming regardless. Wednesday night is $5 appetizers and five of us ate our fill for $71.
http://grapesjerome.com/

Fratelli Pizza - (Three of Five)
(2012) This thin crust pizza is a regular when we are at our friend's house in East Flagstaff. A great value and good pizza keeps us coming back. They must put sugar in their sauce because Steve's blood sugar was high after only two pieces. Three of us were satisfied with a large pepperoni for only $14.
http://www.fratellipizza.net/

Pepe's Cafe' - (Three of Five)
(2012) Behind every great meal there is usually a Mexican Cook. Pepe's has a 50's diner motif' but serves American/Mexican breakfast, lunch and dinner. The portion size and food quality was a steal and two of us ate for under $13 including beverages!

Famous Dave's - (4.0 of Five)
(2012) Steve has eaten at the restaurant in Minnesota but only had a burger. This restaurant had some great sounding dishes and the dry-rub Rib Tips should be something that doesn't raise the blood sugar (without sauce anyway). Marnie had the Pork Platter and Steve had a couple glasses of Cab. The meal was fantastic and we took at least a meal home with us, all for $47.
http://www.famousdaves.com/Bakersfield

Dillon Beach Resort Cafe' - (Three of Five)
(2012) This dining room offers a great view of the Pacific Ocean. We shared the fantastic Calamari and Fish & Chips. Steve had the red wine, they only offer two Cline Oakley Five Reds or Cline Oakley Five Whites. Cline is probably our favorite winery and it was through their website we learned about Dillon Beach Resort. Even though we shared the appetizer and entrée the bill came to $30.
http://www.dillonbeachresort.com/cafe.html

Negri's Italian Restaurant in Occidental - (3.5 of Five)
(2012) Our charming server Deborah recommended the meat lover's pizza and it was very good. There is no extra crust to tear off so if your diet allows a few carbs you can eat the whole piece. We sat with a lovely view of the charming town and surrounding mountains. Our meal with two glasses of wine came to $32 plus tip.
http://www.negrisrestaurant.com/Site/NEGRIS_ITALIAN_RESTAURANT_HOME.html

Bodega Country Store - (4.0 of Five)
(2012) Dining in a store leaves something to be desired but they are known for their Crab Mac & Cheese and several smoked chowders (we had white clam). The food was better than we imagined, when I told the server they ranked the number one place to dine she laughed and said that is because they were the only place to eat in Bodega (not quite true). Truly the Crab Mac & Cheese is worth going out of your way if you are within 100 miles of Bodega! The chowder was fresh and flavorful. We took half of each as leftovers so there was plenty of food and a glass of wine for $26.
http://www.bodegastore.com/

Los Panchos - (3.0 of Five)
(2012) We heard great things about our local taqueria so when they reopened for the new year after the holiday break we tried the Carnitas Chimichanga which had undeclared beans and Chili Relleano. On another visit we tried the tacos (chicken and beef) and the Super Burrito (no beans, they make Steve sick). The flavors are really good and the portions are satisfying. There is very little seating outside so be prepared to take the food to go if there isn't a table available. Two adults can get their fill easily for $10!
http://www.lospanchosrestaurant.com/

Magoo's Grill - (3.5 of Five)
(2011) The ambiance of this bar & grill was a little wierd but we were there early for dinner, the few people that were there all seemed to know each other like in a smaller community. The servers were very pleasant and attentive and the food was great. Steve had the bacon cheeseburger which was generous and had a great smoky flavor. It went well with a Guinness. Marnie had the fish & chips. The fish was a little greasy but very good and the fries were crispy, just the way we like them. Dinner for two plus one drink was less than $20 plus tip.
http://www.magoosgrill.com/

Mission District Taquerias - (2.5 of Five)
(2011) There are so many Taquerias in the Mission District we could not try or even list them all. Steve had the Toast of Fish Saviche and the Super Taco. Our friend Sachin and Marnie each tried an entrée. The restaurant was clean and the food really hit the spot. Steve's food came to about $7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_District,_San_Francisco

Wipeout - (3 of Five)
(2011) Wipeout, Pier 39 the plates were huge mounds of really good food. Usually I would consider skirt steak trash meat but it was pretty good. Steve had this and shrimp in the Surf and Turf. Marnie and Sachin both had the Fish & Chips which was also really good and way too much food! Our polite and friendly server Angel brought their only red wine, a "cabernette" and Marnie had a huge glass of Stella on tap. Dinner for three came to $90 with drinks.
http://www.wipeoutbarandgrill.com/

Jack's Restaurant & Bar - (4 of Five)
(2011) A new restaurant in downtown Pleasant Hill, we tried the Bacon Mac (not as good as Marnie's) and the Sunset Boulevard Burger. It was all good and a pleasant, if a little sterile, atmosphere. Steve found out they are open for breakfast and had the Carnivore Omelet which was very good. They were a little slow on coffee refills but there was a great view of the fountain.
http://jacksrestaurants.com/

For more Restaurant Reviews visit our Restaurant, Brewery and Winery Reviews page.

     Latest Book Reviews:

     Homer – Illiad - Finally finished! This novel is for which the word epic was termed! I kept trying to find a way to put a rhythm to the poem but once I gave up and read it as a novel it went quicker. The ending was much more interesting than the rest of the story. I assume from the development of characters that I read these in the wrong order and Odyssey should have come first.

     Bach, David – The Automatic Millionaire - Steve’s Thoughts: The target audience is renters that have not yet bought a home in which they accumulate equity. I’d recommend it to someone just starting out on their own.

     This months movie reviews:

     Star Trek - We have seen this one before but it was long before Steve started taking "review" notes. The movie was done in the classic corny style of the Star Trek movies with enough action and humor to keep the audience interested. Was it my imagination or was the first scene in Iowa a reference to Red Barchetta?

     Hellboy II: Golden Army - I (Steve) never knew what this series was about but I have to admit I enjoyed the movie. Now we need to go back and watch the first one. The story seems lighthearted and pure fantasy about a demon child raised to be a good guy.

     Van Heilsing - Finally watching this movie the advertisements did not do the plot justice. Steve found this movie entertaining where common myths and legends come together in a plot not unlike a James Bond movie.

     Twighlight: 1-3 - This story appeals to teenage girls but not to us.

     Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Scenes right out of the Star Wars and Harry Potter series. Not sure if it was intentional to be funny or if the writers ran out of ideas.

     Shallow Hal - Marnie describes this movie as "cute" but Steve found himself bored by the story.

     2012 - Corny and scientifically grossly-inaccurate the movie was still riveting and filled with action.

     Latest Game Reviews:

     We have had the Nintendo™ Wii Fit™ with the Balance Board since 2009 Thanksgiving Day. Besides being entertaining this system allows Steve to exercise safely with his disabilities. Some of the exercises are harder than you think and we can recommend this to others with similar disabilities.

     Tiger Woods 2008 (Wii) - The controls take a bit of getting used to but this is a fun game that we are both enjoying! On a particularly difficult shot you can feel your heartbeat in your club via the vibration of the controller.

     Mini Golf Resorts (Wii) - "Over 1000 Holes to Play!" Golf is a great game for our small living space. We have a couple of them now. So far it has been fun, some of the holes are easy and some are very challenging. Every golf game we have uses a different method of control and this one is no different in the difference. It is frustrating to go through the learning curve again and we wish they would all stick to one method. On to of the non-intuitive control, the game is full of bugs. Sometimes the ball goes in the hole but it doesn't record it and you have to wait until the stroke limit or reboot the game to continue. Honestly, do they test these games before release?

     This Months Brewery, Restaurant & Winery Reviews:

Picazzo's Organic Italian Kitchen - (5.0 of Five)
(2012) This is one of our favorite haunts with great gourmet pizzas. A staple for us is the Meaty Meaty Meaty but this latest visit we tried the new Buffalo wings (very hot!) and the Wild Scallops & Bacon Pizza. Wow! Great flavors and a great bottle of wine. Marnie finished with the Skillet Brownie but couldn't finish it. We were full to bursting for under $50.
http://picazzos.com/

Chili's - (4.0 of Five)
(2012) Not all of these franchises are the same. Depending on who is bartending this restaurant has a great Bloody Mary. The Big Mouth burgers are a great meal and we favor the Southwest, no buns-no fries with a side of guacamole. Try their queso dip poured over this burger! Steve has wine and we usually dine for less than $40.
http://www.chilis.com/EN/mobile/Pages/menuitem.aspx?LocId=001.005.0416

Grapes Restaurant & Bar - (Three of Five)
(2012) Jerome is a quaint mining town located between Clarkdale and Prescott. Grapes is in the location of the old brewery and is what we think of as a higher end restaurant but with reasonable prices. One of our friends knew the server Ashley personally but I suspect she would have been equally charming regardless. Wednesday night is $5 appetizers and five of us ate our fill for $71.
http://grapesjerome.com/

Fratelli Pizza - (Three of Five)
(2012) This thin crust pizza is a regular when we are at our friend's house in East Flagstaff. A great value and good pizza keeps us coming back. They must put sugar in their sauce because Steve's blood sugar was high after only two pieces. Three of us were satisfied with a large pepperoni for only $14.
http://www.fratellipizza.net/

Pepe's Cafe' - (Three of Five)
(2012) Behind every great meal there is usually a Mexican Cook. Pepe's has a 50's diner motif' but serves American/Mexican breakfast, lunch and dinner. The portion size and food quality was a steal and two of us ate for under $13 including beverages!

Famous Dave's - (4.0 of Five)
(2012) Steve has eaten at the restaurant in Minnesota but only had a burger. This restaurant had some great sounding dishes and the dry-rub Rib Tips should be something that doesn't raise the blood sugar (without sauce anyway). Marnie had the Pork Platter and Steve had a couple glasses of Cab. The meal was fantastic and we took at least a meal home with us, all for $47.
http://www.famousdaves.com/Bakersfield

Dillon Beach Resort Cafe' - (Three of Five)
(2012) This dining room offers a great view of the Pacific Ocean. We shared the fantastic Calamari and Fish & Chips. Steve had the red wine, they only offer two Cline Oakley Five Reds or Cline Oakley Five Whites. Cline is probably our favorite winery and it was through their website we learned about Dillon Beach Resort. Even though we shared the appetizer and entrée the bill came to $30.
http://www.dillonbeachresort.com/cafe.html

Negri's Italian Restaurant in Occidental - (3.5 of Five)
(2012) Our charming server Deborah recommended the meat lover's pizza and it was very good. There is no extra crust to tear off so if your diet allows a few carbs you can eat the whole piece. We sat with a lovely view of the charming town and surrounding mountains. Our meal with two glasses of wine came to $32 plus tip.
http://www.negrisrestaurant.com/Site/NEGRIS_ITALIAN_RESTAURANT_HOME.html

Bodega Country Store - (4.0 of Five)
(2012) Dining in a store leaves something to be desired but they are known for their Crab Mac & Cheese and several smoked chowders (we had white clam). The food was better than we imagined, when I told the server they ranked the number one place to dine she laughed and said that is because they were the only place to eat in Bodega (not quite true). Truly the Crab Mac & Cheese is worth going out of your way if you are within 100 miles of Bodega! The chowder was fresh and flavorful. We took half of each as leftovers so there was plenty of food and a glass of wine for $26.
http://www.bodegastore.com/

Los Panchos - (3.0 of Five)
(2012) We heard great things about our local taqueria so when they reopened for the new year after the holiday break we tried the Carnitas Chimichanga which had undeclared beans and Chili Relleano. On another visit we tried the tacos (chicken and beef) and the Super Burrito (no beans, they make Steve sick). The flavors are really good and the portions are satisfying. There is very little seating outside so be prepared to take the food to go if there isn't a table available. Two adults can get their fill easily for $10!
http://www.lospanchosrestaurant.com/

Magoo's Grill - (3.5 of Five)
(2011) The ambiance of this bar & grill was a little wierd but we were there early for dinner, the few people that were there all seemed to know each other like in a smaller community. The servers were very pleasant and attentive and the food was great. Steve had the bacon cheeseburger which was generous and had a great smoky flavor. It went well with a Guinness. Marnie had the fish & chips. The fish was a little greasy but very good and the fries were crispy, just the way we like them. Dinner for two plus one drink was less than $20 plus tip.
http://www.magoosgrill.com/

Mission District Taquerias - (2.5 of Five)
(2011) There are so many Taquerias in the Mission District we could not try or even list them all. Steve had the Toast of Fish Saviche and the Super Taco. Our friend Sachin and Marnie each tried an entrée. The restaurant was clean and the food really hit the spot. Steve's food came to about $7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_District,_San_Francisco

Wipeout - (3 of Five)
(2011) Wipeout, Pier 39 the plates were huge mounds of really good food. Usually I would consider skirt steak trash meat but it was pretty good. Steve had this and shrimp in the Surf and Turf. Marnie and Sachin both had the Fish & Chips which was also really good and way too much food! Our polite and friendly server Angel brought their only red wine, a "cabernette" and Marnie had a huge glass of Stella on tap. Dinner for three came to $90 with drinks.
http://www.wipeoutbarandgrill.com/

Jack's Restaurant & Bar - (4 of Five)
(2011) A new restaurant in downtown Pleasant Hill, we tried the Bacon Mac (not as good as Marnie's) and the Sunset Boulevard Burger. It was all good and a pleasant, if a little sterile, atmosphere. Steve found out they are open for breakfast and had the Carnivore Omelet which was very good. They were a little slow on coffee refills but there was a great view of the fountain.
http://jacksrestaurants.com/

For more Restaurant Reviews visit our Restaurant, Brewery and Winery Reviews page.

     Latest Book Reviews:

     Homer – Illiad - Finally finished! This novel is for which the word epic was termed! I kept trying to find a way to put a rhythm to the poem but once I gave up and read it as a novel it went quicker. The ending was much more interesting than the rest of the story. I assume from the development of characters that I read these in the wrong order and Odyssey should have come first.

     Bach, David – The Automatic Millionaire - Steve’s Thoughts: The target audience is renters that have not yet bought a home in which they accumulate equity. I’d recommend it to someone just starting out on their own.

     This months movie reviews:

     Twighlight: 1-3 - This story appeals to teenage girls but not to us.

     Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Scenes right out of the Star Wars and Harry Potter series. Not sure if it was intentional to be funny or if the writers ran out of ideas.

     Shallow Hal - Marnie describes this movie as "cute" but Steve found himself bored by the story.

     2012 - Corny and scientifically grossly-inaccurate the movie was still riveting and filled with action.

     Latest Game Reviews:

     We have had the Nintendo™ Wii Fit™ with the Balance Board since 2009 Thanksgiving Day. Besides being entertaining this system allows Steve to exercise safely with his disabilities. Some of the exercises are harder than you think and we can recommend this to others with similar disabilities.

     Tiger Woods 2008 (Wii) - The controls take a bit of getting used to but this is a fun game that we are both enjoying! On a particularly difficult shot you can feel your heartbeat in your club via the vibration of the controller.

     Mini Golf Resorts (Wii) - "Over 1000 Holes to Play!" Golf is a great game for our small living space. We have a couple of them now. So far it has been fun, some of the holes are easy and some are very challenging. Every golf game we have uses a different method of control and this one is no different in the difference. It is frustrating to go through the learning curve again and we wish they would all stick to one method. On to of the non-intuitive control, the game is full of bugs. Sometimes the ball goes in the hole but it doesn't record it and you have to wait until the stroke limit or reboot the game to continue. Honestly, do they test these games before release?