Next stop - Dunedin FL

It is settled - we are relocating to Dunedin FL in August.

Dunedin is a small coastal town with a celebrated Scottish heritage, which is on display at annual Highland Games festivals.

Our new home is located, aptly enough, on Scotland St, a few blocks from the historic downtown.

Just a couple miles away is Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Beach, which was voted at the #1 beach in America in 2008.

We fell in love with Dunedin when we lived in neighboring Palm Harbor. Our favorite restaurant on Main St is Kelly's. Since we were here, they have expanded the back patio, where they have night entertainment. They also operate the adjoining Chic A Boom Room and Blur. This trip, we met our friend, Frankie, who relocated from Austin about the same time as we did for Vegas, for dinner at Kelly's. How cool is that?

One of the features of living in downtown Dunedin is proximity to the Pinellas Trail. It was a rail to trail conversion project and it is a linear park that runs from Tarpon Springs to St Petersburg. Every day you will find all ages walking, jogging, biking and skating on the trail.

We decided on a Friday to hop on a plane on Saturday and tour the area for rentals. I wasn't having much luck at a distance and via the internet. After dinner at Casa Tina's, we walked a bit up the trail and discovered a live band at Jolli Mon's Grill. Great guitarist, awful singer but everyone was having a great time, including us. A great way to begin our Dunedin adventure.

Contemplating a move is stressful so we treated ourselves to a room at the Best Western Yacht Marina. We sat and watched an afternoon thunderstorm from the 2nd floor balcony and a perfect sunset from the waterfront restaurant.

While we wait for the movers, we are holing up at the Seaside Artisan Motel. The rooms are under $80, within walking distance to downtown and have kitchens.

As soon as I unpack and apply for my business license, I am taking my first stand up paddling lesson at Kahuna Kai Adventure Center. I am hoping Santa brings me a board for Christmas. Paddleboard Pilates anyone?

Speaking of Pilates, this will be the new home of Carolyn Bell Pilates, Inc. I am working on new Pilates interval sessions, PILATES 30 for $30, which I will begin offering in Dunedin. I have learned a great deal from Dr. Michael Norwood and, after many months, feel ready to incorporate what I have learned with my clients.

Dunedin even has its own minor league team, the Dunedin Jays. The stadium is also home to the Toronto Blue Jays for spring training.

All this and more lead us to make Dunedin our home. But the real reason we are moving to Dunedin is Doug can walk to Strachen's Homemade Ice Cream whenever he wants.

NYC

I recently went to NYC for the FAMI workshop with Dana and Jean. We spent four days interacting with cadaver prosections! Our clients ought to love that.


We were hosted by Jean's brother, Marc, his partner, Myles and their daughter, Ashley. Iggy, their dog, tolerated us. We couldn't have been more comfortable at the Amend-Thomas household up in Washington Heights, an area I had not traveled to before.

Unbelievably, our San Antonio friends, the Aguirres were being visited by our former San Antonio friends, the Newkirks. We all convened Friday night (sans Doug) at the Flay flagship, Mesa Grill. My favorites were the Mesa Fresca and chorizo quesadilla. So good to be with good friends.


I had the pleasure of taking our hosts out to the Indian Road Market and Cafe. Ashley had voted loudly this was the place to go. Dana and I ordered this S. Blanc and couldn't believe it had a picture of a brain on it. The brain we saw at FAMI looked nothing like the bottle's label. Unfortunately.

We made it back to this Columbia U haunt again on Tuesday for a long lunch before we caught our flight. They served one of the best lattes ever.


On Monday, we joined Marc and Ashley for a play date in Central Park. Dana and I took a walk to try and find a particular fountain while the rest of the gang headed to the zoo. Later, I was swarmed by news crews filming follow up broadcasts of the baby-killed-by-falling-tree limb "tragedy". Dana and I took one of the pedicabs through Central Park...nice views.


We got to babysit Ashley afterward.


I finally made it to Chelsea Market. We had lunch at the Lobster Place and shopped the Italian grocery for goodies to bring home. I would love to be able to shop here on a regular basis.



Broad-Dyckman Car Service drove us all over Manhattan. Phone: 212-304-8080, ask for Michelle. Otherwise, you might get an older Dominican using his native Bachata to seduce you.

It's good to be home. The cookie plate I brought home from Indian Road Cafe has been finished off. Wine is back off the menu and meals are filled with vegetables. And I am no longer seeing dead people.

Tarts....Of The Tomato Kind

My tart pans that were given to me as a wedding gift have never before been used. It took seeing David Lebovitz's blog on a tomato tart to finally get me over my fear of tarts. . Along with having a proper pan, I had a bowl full of ripening tomatoes on the counter.

This wasn't one of those fancy, shiny tarts of perfection you peer at in European bakery windows. This was rustic vegetable and cheese fare for every day. I am happy to report that my first tart turned out perfectly, enhanced by garden fresh basil, pine nuts and an almond parmesan crust. It was a hit with an arugula salad for dinner and a egg for lunch the next day.

Best of all, when I posted a photo of my creation on David's FB page, he complimented me on adding cheese to the crust!


David Lebovitz - my French Tomato Tart inspiration.









Comfy Belly's Caramelized Onion, Tomato, Goat Cheese Tart recipe had the best gluten free savory crust I could find. Don't be put off by the flourless crust...it was delicious.










Almond flour, grated parmesan and a little salt and water. A crust with a low glycemic rating and protein is a better option for my nutritional needs. It was fantastic.

Ina Garten's Tomato Goat Cheese Tarts










Ina's builds her tarts on puff pastry, store bought and convenient.

Simply Recipes' Tomato Pie utilizes a pie shell for added convenience and a mouth watering cheese topping.










Ellie Kreiger's Cornmeal Crust










For those looking for a cornmeal crust...and more roasted vegetables.

Chez US has a Savory Tomato Tart that is a bit more elegant.










For special occasions or entertaining, the goat cheese custard of this tomato tart elevates it to celebration status.

I can immediately imagine a version with zucchini, feta and mint.