Merced, California: Time again for Ginger & Bill’s Birthday Weekend, and Billy was getting the band back together for another garage jam session. One of my favorite nights. Bill’s birthday Friday; Ginger on Sunday - the party was Friday.
But before we back the car out of the driveway - a quick catch-up from Taylor Manor:
While in Japan (in September) we ate our weight in Karaage Chicken, but I have never cooked this dish (that I recall). The technique is to marinade small pieces of boneless/skinless chicken thigh in garlic, ginger, soy, mirin, sesame oil and black pepper (recipes vary), then dust the drained chicken in some sort of starch (again recipes vary, but I used potato starch) and fry the chicken in batches in vegetable oil until it is browned, but not necessarily cooked through. Remove to a wire rack as the batches are finished frying… then… ta da… fry the chicken pieces again! The entire mess is served with Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise. This luscious sauce is a mayo made with only egg yolks, and the reason those cheap egg salad sandwiches in every Tokyo 7-11 taste so good.
The Leftover Queen showed up the next morning and turned the leftover Karaage into yummy garlic fried rice for breakfast.
It takes over six hours of driving (in our Chevy Traverse) to reach Merced (via I-10, 210, I-5, 99), only stopping once for fast-food breakfast/lunch at In-N-Out.
It was so good.
Since all the guest rooms at Ginger & Bill’s were called-for, we stayed in a hotel. Just a short time ago, a hotel in Merced meant an ancient motel or one of those freeway chain hotels with automatic pancake machines. A few years ago, probably due to the opening of UC Merced, a proper hotel was opened and we chose the El Capitan Hotel downtown Merced. The rooms are very well priced (on par with the chain freeway hotels), but the El Capitan is a boutique hotel with interesting decor and art - and several restaurants. Overnight valet parking is only $15.
in the courtyard.
Thursday evening, Brother Bill and Ginger met us for dinner at our hotel. Poor Billy had been cooking for two days to prepare for the getting-the-band-back-together celebration, so we thought he/they might enjoy a night out before the onslaught. Little Merced is getting a bit gentrified, with the opening of the university. The downtown used to be dead, and now there are many new shops and restaurants. Rainbird, at our hotel is one of the best.
with a poached pear and root veg mash
After all that food, we went for an after-dinner walk and found a street fair. Not sure if it was a special celebration or just a weekly street fair (ala Palm Springs). Things for sale, food booths, people walking their dogs, dancing and music. It was fun, but it was also something else: cold. I’m such a desert girl now.
Though we were concerned when discovering the hotel had left earplugs on our nightstands, we had a quiet sleep. Maybe the earplugs were for snorers?
We had Friday to amuse ourselves as Brother Bill did not need our help or didn’t want us underfoot while setting up the band equipment. A skill not on my résumé.
We did a walking tour of downtown Merced to see the changes, stopped into a huge bookshop and had enchiladas at a long-time family favorite, Marie’s. When we arrived to the restaurant, we noticed a long line outside and assumed there would be a wait. But Marie has very cleverly opened a food cart outside selling burritos to-go. She offers a bean and cheese burrito for $1, and a breakfast burrito for $4. Other versions were $5.
But inside, the joint was just as crowded with fans of her enchiladas. Dave had a Chile Relleno, and I ordered the enchilada lunch: one chicken, one cheese, one with green sauce, one with red. I didn’t want rice, so they gave me a vat of refried beans.
We went over to Ginger & Bill's casa a few hours before the performance was to begin to help, but they had the stage garage set-up and a buffet of grilled sausages and rolls with three different sauces (all home-made by Billy): an olive tapenade, a spicy pepper relish and a herby butternut squash spread. Friends and relatives arrived with salads and sides. During a break, we all sang Happy Birthday to Billy and had pumpkin cheesecake. From the future: everything was consumed.
The Bobtones took the stage, along with other musicians coming and going during the night. Three of the Bobtones play with Mike Hammar and the Nails, and are long-time friends of Bill and Ginger: Sparky Gehres plays bass; Mike Boykin plays harmonica.
Steve went to high school with the Taylor boys.
Billy's grandchildren, Ian and Claire, were in the band tonight as well. Ian (5) was shaking the tambourine, while Claire sang vocals (with her microphone turned off). She is three. Brother Billy is the drummer. I recorded several videos and tied a few together so you can get a little taste of the show tonight:
Most of the crowd (in camp chairs in the driveway) concluded this was the best-ever Bobtone garage show ever. I agree. Usually Ginger & Bill's daughter, Meghan, sings a few songs, but she did not this evening. Maybe too busy running after Ian and Claire? Meghan has such a lovely voice. Next time, Meg! Speaking of next time: we need to get Leo up here with his guitar(s). Brother Steve was at the show as well, driving down from Lincoln - so the entire family was together. Due to city noise ordinances and the age of most of the audience the show had to end at 9p. It had dipped into the 50s and this girl was shivering.
We left Merced at 7a Saturday morning and were to Lisa's house in time for the kickoff for the Ducks v Iowa game. Ducks won! It was so great to see the 4L's again! After the game we went on a several-mile walk around the neighborhood, did a little window shopping and a little shopping, and went out again to our favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant, watched SNL with the adults, and left this morning before 8a, only stopping at Village Bread in Calimesa for their fabulous sourdough bread and pastries for breakfast. Leo left early as well - to go surfing in Ventura.
We are home - and have guests arriving Friday. Busy, busy, busy. Just how I like my life. Our golf course opens Tuesday after weeks of re-doing. So happy to see greens green again and no more dust! Maybe we will even golf?
Plans: the 4L's are arriving for Thanksgiving (the kids will be here all week and their parents will be in/out). Lots of fun planned. Golfing. Fishing. Cooking (me). Eating. Several requests have come in, including a S'mores Pie, a pumpkin pie, a pecan pie, potato skins, Bloody Mary's, stuffing AND mashed potatoes. I'm keeping it traditional and make-ahead easy.
So sad I didn't take photos of the grandchildren. Both have braces now, Leo is inches taller than me.
Until my next update, I remain, your celebratory correspondent.
We hunt far and wide for a good Kouign Amann! They’re so hard to find, good ones are at least. My mouth watered at your photo!