Month: December 2019

Balance/Transitions for 2020

KC Jayhawk used to talk about transition all the time before he and Mrs. Jayhawk were heading down to Belize. He would post two pictures side by side. (hang on I am going to go find it on his FB page, give me a minute) and talk about how he needed to transition from the one on the left to the right to keep him balanced.

I am assuming, the pic on the left was from his work and well, I kinda recognize that pic on the right. I think this dock bit it a couple years ago but I always like it. Man I think I went through every one of his pictures looking for this. He must be telling me something.

I am a big believer in balance. It wasn’t till I moved up here to New York did I really start to take stock in how important balance is. I am not talking about standing up and able to walk around. That part is pretty easy as long as you haven’t been talking to Uncle Tito. I am referring to balance in your life spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physical and keeping it in check.

2020 is going to be a big year for me as I will have circled the Sun 50 times and I am still around to talk about it. I also will be closing out the past decade that was a roller coaster for not only me but for Geranium. I went to visit my Internist/GP doctor early this week and I was relieved to hear that my previous doctor has left the group. He had really big hands and he kept on how he wanted to check my prostate. My new doctor mentioned to me about my weight, my liver enzymes, oh and my Cholesterol was a tad high.

I actually told Doc that I chose to come in on Christmas Eve for my physical and get my labs run. I told her that I was planning on being somewhat of a hot mess since I just finished up a fairly stressful peak shipping season. Add to that on the Saturday prior I was at a restaurant on the 4th floor next door called Per Se. Fuck I expected my labs to be high, the bill was high. I told Doc that I now have 90 days to clean my shit up (No pun intended) and get this 50 year old machine moving in a better direction.

Relax Andi, Margo, Taylor, Stephanie and all my other bartenders/liquor store owners – I am not going away forever. I am just going to moderate what I am doing for a while. Regarding my diet (right now Geranium is watching a cooking show) I got to do something. Sorry S(Squared) and Don but I am going to be eating a little better at our Cuban refuge on 45th street. I am not a big sweets fan so that is a blessing I guess but gone are those killer rolls at LPQ.

So what is it you are going to do better in 2020?

The Fat Kid Bunch and I were just talking how we hardly eat Fast Food. This was a necessity on the day before Per Se. I had a fairly good hangover going.

This is where it went bad Post Per Se – How many Tito/Soda’s can one person drink in 3 hours? Mr 3 First Names, Landlord and I tried to see.

Come to Brunch they said….It will be low key……and your hangover will be fine they said….. Friggin Drag Bruch at Chelsea Market with a Stage 5 Hangover. I may be smiling but trust me I was fucking scared!

I am going to do better, nobody wants to see a 50 year old short fat kid. Notice I didn’t say much about cigars or booze – Hey you have to have balance…..

Per Se 4.0

Hello, my name is Carbunkle Trumpet. I am one of those Food Snobs that you read about who travel the world eating endangered or banned species. Relax Francis…we weren’t eating the banned French Ortolans like they ate on the show Billions. Confession – I may have enjoyed the fuck out of my Fois Gras but was still legal to consume as of the 22nd of December. What makes the last Saturday before Christmas so great? The service, the wine pairings, the food, and the overall experience are top notch but it is the company that sits at the table that makes it so special.

Back story – if you are just stumbling on this blog and the Per Se part of it let me recap for you. Homeless Tim and a group of barristers about 12 years ago started having an annual dinner at Thomas Keller’s 3 Micheline Star restaurant on Columbus Circle named Per Se. Keller also has French Laundry on the west coast and TAK Room here in Hudson Yards but Per Se is considered one of the pillars of gastronomical dining here in New York. When we moved her we got the chance to dine at Le Bernardin with Baby Fine Hair and her mother the first month of living here. Mr. 3 First Names and Lady Barrister inquired if we like fine dining. We told them yes and they said they would see if they could extend an invite to us for their Christmas dinner group. We didn’t’ really think much about it as this conversation was going on over drinks in Lower Manhattan and as you can guess…..alcohol was being consumed.

So in December of 2015 we attended our first Per Se Dinner along with Asian Fireman and V.Q. (She gets the full title retired since we didn’t have a repeat this year) and a cast of others. We attended every year except for 2 years back due to a scheduling issue but it wasn’t until this year that I really took stock in the table.

The crux of the Christmas Dinner Cast are; Homeless Tim who is the scheduling /’knows the guy’ to get us the primo table. Mr. 3 First Names and Lady Barrister, you may have heard me speak of them before. Then you have the Asian Fireman/Grey Suit guy and his wife V.P.. But let’s not forget Bobcat (another barrister) and her husband the Professor. Then you throw in Geranium and myself and you have a unique dinner experience. Oh we had some dessert guests joining us later but more on that later.

This year we were celebrating not only Christmas but we were celebrating someone who kicked the shit out of cancer. As we were siting there, by the way, this dinner took 6 hours from start to finish. I really enjoyed the conversation and what I call “peeling the onion” with the different cast of characters at the table. I could try to explain but I know I can’t do it justice.

Put it this way; how can you explain the conversation dynamics of the table with someone who is a high School history teacher, a person who has been sober for 25 years and yet still enjoys our conversation while we get loose tonged during the course of the night. There is a couple who have 3 knuckleheads at home, meanwhile the other 3 couples only have 4 legged kids at their homes and don’t know what it means to have kids banging on their heads with a Stage 4 Hangover. And then there is that guy who hates white wine.

Again, I am going to stop and put up some pictures so Iuka Mississippi’s own can shame me for posting food pictures.

I mean we get our own menu for this gig.

Total Menu with the different courses and supplements.

Grey Suit Guy didn’t have any white wines on his list

Oysters and Pearls – If Keller ever takes it off the menu….. Travesty

Egg and Black Truffle Ragu. It is a labor of love to make this dish that you consume in less than 5 minutes.

Per Se’s General Manager, Sandra Schaeuffele, one year brought out the egg topping machine and raw egg for us to try to whack off the top. Bobcat got to do it last year but this year was my time. No pressure at all. By the way that was a great Sherry they were serving me for the next course. Notice the attention to detail that they do while my fumbling ass is about to make scrambled eggs.

I did ok! Carbunkle for the Win! Thanks Sandra for the pre-cut egg!

You know what Bill – F you! I am going to have Fois Gras after your silly ban! This was the Fois course but notice the casing for the forced goose liver.

And I wondered why my Sodium was sky high on the following Tuesday.

Chocolate Course – I went with the Dark & Stormy They are made in house

But now I know how they can tell what is what.

Pastry Chef Anna Bolz made this for our dinner. English Fruit Cake but all of that on top was edible.

I am always interested in what quote is on “The Pass” in the kitchen.

Like I said, the meal, the wine, the service is over the top but the folks at the table make it all the better. Honestly – I would be ok if Homeless Tim one day called and said that he got our Christmas Dinner at Waffle House. Sure I would be disappointed but knowing the cast of folks at the table and I would be ok with that.

Again, Thank you to Tim, Jess & Dan for the invite.

Pictures of the Week – Its beginning to look a lot like Festivus

Busy time here in Gotham. The Double Decker Tour Bus business is blowing and going and all of us Ticket Sellers are busy and are ready for the madness to slow down a tad. Geranium is done with her traveling and she is going to be Brooklyn bound for a couple of weeks. I hope we make it, this could be tough for us. 🙂

We are going to stay in New York for Christmas this year since Christmas is on a Wednesday and we are not really wishing to spend over 1500 to fly home for a couple of hours. We were home for Thanksgiving and it was really a lot of fun seeing everyone and we didn’t really have to rush that much.

Anyway with that here are the pictures of the week and a couple from 2 weeks back.

So great to see Windy City Pool Buddy when she came into town.

Happy Birthday Ba! Thank you to all those who helped Text her and wish her a Happy 70th. Even you one sick bastard who said she deserves lots of wine for having me as a son. That shit ain’t funny Former Neighbor.

Happy Hanukkah RAB and S(Squared) By the way it starts on Sunday at Sundown.

Got us a plant that we don’t have to water and apparently it will grow on its’ own. We will kill it, I bet it!

Sister Cathy taught me 8th Grade Religion. That was 35 years ago. And she is still Rocking and a Rolling.

I know that everyone is bashing the Peloton girl but wait till Geranium opens this on Christmas Morning!

I will probably post a couple more next week so hang in there folks.

So What is Up with The Forehead/Shitty Selfie Instagram Pictures?

That question has been asked of me a lot. No seriously, even The Former Work Wife’s (The Domestic One) superhero admin asked me if I needed help with taking a selfie. I told her to shut her mouth and then shot her with about 2 dozen rubber band’s as I ran out of the office. (she won’t read this, I am safe)

Anyway this past weekend while were having a drink of cheer with Z(squared) I informed LJZ that we needed to have a selfie. She remarked “oh a forehead pic” sure I am in. So here are some Robo Selfie pictures from the past month. FYI – You have to be close to my stellar height to have the perfect Robo Selfie.

AB – My Favorite Windy City Pool Buddy & I this past Sunday. So Great to see her!

LJZ and I after going to Church on Saturday.

Want some good Holiday Lights in a bar? Go to Pete’s

The Housing Ponzi Scheme one and I at Long Shots.

He has fathered children that I am responsible for as Godfather

Love me some of this woman! So happy to see her on Sunday!

If I missed some pictures I apologize. I have been busy as of late.

Oh and this Monday is a HUGE birthday for the woman who suffered to bring me into this world. Text or message me if you want wish her a Happy Birthday on Monday. #Ba70

Before You Start Putting My Ugly Ass Pic on Milk Cartons….

I am still here, I have been kinda busy with selling those Bus Tickets on those Double Decker Tour Busses. Went back to Memphis for Thanksgiving and First off…Apologies to Katie Mac *The one we cook for* because I spaced and didn’t reach out to her. My Bad, and I am sorry for that lapse.

Anyway here are some pictures from last weekend.