in print.

this makes it feel so much more official.


Here is a link to a quick paragraph about my leaving the queens head and moving to Oregon.


almost time to hit the road.


twelve billion things to do....

changing gears.

i'm going to be taking a break from this blog for a little while.


don't freak out!


i know how you all sit on the edge of your seat eagerly awaiting a new post. (sarcasm.  seriously.)


my kids will be here for the summer starting monday. (i'm flying up to michigan sunday to retrieve them, flying back monday morning.)  so i want to spend some quality time with them.  not to mention with the big move looming, we have a gazillion things to do.  a moving sale.  packing. road trip planning.


but wait.


i will be changing the purpose of this blog for the summer.  i will *try* to use this as a road trip documenting outlet.  and maybe share some of the cool places we go/see.  i'm sure there will be great stories to tell at the end.  

bittersweet.

well... its officially official. 

my last day at the queens head will be june 25th.

my wife katie and i will be moving to portland oregon.  we'll be packing up the car and going on a cross country road trip with the kids that will be EPIC.

but before i get too far, i would like to reflect on the last 2 years...

as exciting as the prospects of a new town are, i'm equally saddened by leaving this amazing place of st. petersburg.  i've shed a lot of blood, sweat and tears over the last couple years.  i've laughed until i cried.  and cried until i laughed.  there were times when i honestly didn't think i would survive the work week...but through all of it i did my best to make the best food possible and never compromised my standards.  i'm proud of the mini legacy i've built for the queens head.  i'm proud of all the articles, tv appearances, gushing emails, handshakes and smiles i've received.  i'm proud of the person i've grown into...someone i never thought i'd be.

i'm so thankful for the opportunity i was given to run one of the best kitchens in the city.  

i've had the pleasure of meeting a lot of amazing people since i moved to florida almost four and a half years ago.  you all will be missed.

if you ever make it to portland, look me up.  i'm going to take it by storm.  portland is the foodie town that st. petersburg is a decade behind.  there are people doing the kind of food there that i yearn for.  the kind of freedom of expression through food that can only be accomplished there. 

ok, now to the EPIC-ness of the summer road trip.

we have a big map, in that map are push-pins.  those push-pins are places we want to see on our road trip this summer.  we are planning on taking 2-3 weeks for this endeavor.  

it. will. be. awesome.

garden update. 6/8

here's the update on the garden... overall, most everything is still alive.  the beets have pretty much been killed off.  

the zucchini isn't doing so hot.  thinking it was traumatized after the last trimming...but it has some new growth popping up so i'm hopeful.

the tomatoes are by far doing the best.  they are probably 4' tall now.

the tomatoes are rapidly catching up to the corn...

speaking of corn...the corn is still alive... although its been attacked by a plethora of things.  first it was the caterpillars.  then grasshopper and ants.  now by either rats or squirrels.

the carrots are doing well.  i think they should be ready to harvest soon.

watermelon is kind of touch and go lately.  the appearance of new buds gives me some hope.

the lemon and orange tree seedlings are doing really well.  this is the lemon.

and last but not least... the mexican petunia plant!  this thing is thriving.