Pic Today 8/31/14

FLAME ROASTED PEPPER SALAD

A delicious summer pepper salad

is so delicious, so flavorful, so easy.

Flame roast fresh bell peppers

(on your grill, or over a gas flame).

Char the skins for extra flavor.

Place roasted peppers in a paper bag.

Roll it closed; peppers will steam and

release the burnt skins in 10-minutes.

Discard skins, and slice peppers into strips.

Marinate in good olive oil for 20-minutes.

Thinly slice fresh basil and toss with 

finely minced garlic.

You have the most delicious fresh pepper salad.

(The flame roasting really brings out the flavor.)

Yum!

Pic Today 8/30/14

CHESS CHAMPIONS

COMPETE IN ST. LOUIS

The six top ranked chess players in the world

are competing in the Sinquefield Cup

world championship here in St. Louis.

The two week tournament will decide

top world rankings for the "game of kings."

Chess players from around the world

have traveled to St. Louis this month

to attend this championship . . .  not to play,

but just to watch these Grand Masters compete.

Friday's most advertised match

featured reigning World Chess Champion,

Magnus Carlsen (Norway) -- seated at left --

 who is currently the #1 ranked player in the world . . .

playing Fabiano Caruana (Italy) -- at right --

the #3 player in the world.

Carlsen (23) has the youth and coolness

of a young Bobby Fisher,

and is attracting many youngsters

to hang out at the St. Louis Chess Club

in the central west end.

Pic Today 8/29/14

ROGUE UNDERGROUND DINING

41st EVENT

It was 5 years ago,

passionate and talented chefs

created the Rogue Underground Dining Society.

Dedicated to creating memorable cuisine

from the freshest ingredients,

for 20 first-come, first-serve "foodies"

at surprise locations around the St. Louis area,

the Rogue invitation list has grown to

over 400 interested waiting list members.

Last evening, 20 lucky attendees enjoyed

an amazing 7-course menu

at the 41st Rogue event.

Rogue chefs and volunteer staff

dazzled lucky attendees

in a secret location.

Pic Today 8/28/14

PICKING A GUITAR

Shopping for a guitar 

is a complicated ordeal.

Vintage . . . modern . . .

factory made . . . hand made . . .

acoustic . . . electric . . .

dreadnought . . . dobro . . .

Martin . . . Gibson . . . Fender . . .

so much to dazzle the eye . . .

from $200 to $20,000,

and everything in between.

But when you get right down to it,

you pick a guitar

by the sweet sounds it makes.

Picking a guitar

is all about

PICKING and listening!

Pic Today 8/27/14

WHO OWNS

A MONKEY "SELFIE"

While photographing wildlife

in the Indonesian forest in 2011,

photographer David Slater

set up his tripod on the island of Sulawesi.

When he walked away for a few moments,

a band of crested macaque monkeys moved in.

A curious macaque grabbed his camera,

  and started taking pictures . . .

including this now famous "selfie."

After posting this photo on social media,

Slater fought for media rights and compensation

for the self-shot animal photo.

Wikimedia has held that the image is

"public domain", as Slater didn't take the photo.

The monkey did.   Of course.

(I think the monkey is actually smiling!)

Pic Today 8/26/14

FAMILIAR FACES

Ghosts of playmates past.

So many memories,

waiting for a new home.

Pic Today 8/25/14

HEIRLOOM TOMATO BOTTOMS

These heirloom garden tomatoes have

   one thing in common . . .

beautiful bottoms!

Next time you shop for these beauties,

turn 'em over.

Have a look.

They're beautiful

on the inside, and the outside.

Pic Today 8/24/14

FESTIVAL OF NATIONS

IN HOT, HOT ST. LOUIS

60 countries participated at this weekend's

Festival of Nations, at Tower Grove Park.

Despite the record-setting heat (100˚+)

crowds enjoyed the festivities at

4 stages, 50+ kitchens, and beautiful crafts booths

throughout the park.

This was a rare opportunity to sample

authentic dishes from lesser-known cuisines

(Kuala Lumpur, Kurdish, Afghan, Nepal, Nigeria, India)

plus enjoy the culture and music from these performers.

The most refreshing booth (on this hot, hot day)

sold coconut water, served fresh in iced coconuts.