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Golden Gate Gourmet Group (aka Trocadero
& "just plain" Gourmet)...
friends SINCE 1981

 2011 is our 30th anniversary--we celebrated in Seattle for a weekend--with this cooking group that has AMAZINGLY
met mostly monthly to travel, eat, and drink LOTS OF WINE (and occasionally other alcohol) together.  Of course we kept to those
ground rules in Seattle where we had a fabulous time!  Our children are now adults who grew up among this group. 
We have been to a Bar and Bat Mitzvah, birthday celebrations, and our group's 1st wedding.  Though most of us are
"retired" we are even more busy than in the hey days of our careers.  But we will always be dedicated foodies and wine-ers!!! 

 
MAY  2011  GOURMET COUPLES  CELEBRATE 30TH ANNIVERSARY IN SEATTLE -- A BEAUTIFUL IF WET, FOODIE CITY
(Above Far L) We had a wonderful dinner at Barolo's with Diana's friend Ali who now lives in Seattle and (Above L) enjoyed a night view of the Space Needle.
(Above C & R) Our hotel was across the street from the famous Pike's Market and around the corner from the 1st Starbucks.  The group drove up to the
Arboretum for both the fascinating plants and the views from its steps.  While we were wandering inside, by chance a newspaper photographer was there
for an article on the Arboretum.  The next morning we saw our picture in the paper!  (Above R & Far R) Mark & Roberta, Rick & I pose
in front of the city view as seen through the "Black Sun" statue.
 
(Above Far L) Near the Arboretum was an outdoor garden where we all posed as tree huggers (hmmm....).  (Above L & C) We took the ferry to Bainbridge Island
where we had lunch and a walk through the shops. (Above C R) Wendy seems to carry a statue and the Space Needle on her head.  (Above R & Far R) Because it was
the ONLY sunny day of the 4 we stayed in Seattle, we walked around the city center which featured a music auditorium with a weird metal skin plus interesting statues.
 
Besides the great food and wine, 1 of our favorite activities involved the Museum of Glass (MOG) which houses many of the famous Dale Chihuly glass pieces plus the
many other glass artists he inspired and/or works with. (Above Far L to C) From the main street in Tacoma to reach the MOG, we crossed a bridge which featured glass
art on both the open and covered sections. (Above C & R) We walk down the steps toward the MOG entrance toward what resembles a glass Stonehenge.
(Above Far R) We pass the museum section that architecturally enhances the furnace area where glass blowers work and demonstrate their craft inside, much to our delight.
Our most fun activity today was our glass fusion lesson from a local artist, where we each created our own glass tile.  Great memory and memento!
 
(Above Far L) We caught only a glimpse of Mt. Rainer on a cloudy/rainy day. (Above L to R) Our 2nd biggest delight was the flower portion of Pike's Market where
the most current local flowers for sale were tulips--as far as the eye could see and in amazing colors and shapes.  (Above Far R) Our last meal together was brunch
at Salty's along the harbor where we posed for a group photo.  It was the most amazing food, including as much crab and prawns you could eat, plus a chocolate fountain!
Foodies to the bitter end...
 
WINTER 2011 -  2 GOURMET COUPLES  TRAVEL DOWN UNDER
In January 2011, the Linskys and Walleighs traveled to New Zealand and Australia for awesome adventures.  (Above Far L) 3 of us pause on our walk
through Queenstown's Botanical Gardens. (Above L) We are ready to embark on a glacier lake boat ride at Mt. Cook's national park. (Above R) We are
about to enter the beautiful, interactive Te Papa National Museum in Wellington, New Zealand.  (Above Far R) We are doing one thing we do well,
drink NZ wine on the north island.  See many more photos on New Zealand and Australia WebPages.
 
SPRING 2010  GOURMET OUTINGS
In May 2010, we all attended the "Crawdad Boil" and wine tasting at (Above Far L) Seghesio Winery in Sonoma. As usual, we ate (Above L)
drank and talked a lot (Above R).  What was unusual was being in the wine-aging cellar, listening to a Zydeco band (Above Far R).
Below is a more typical gourmet when we eat, chat and drink lots of wine in a more elegant setting--Cor De Valle Country Club (Below L & C). 
Then Rick, Glenne and Roberta decide to "croon" along with the pianist (Below R)
 
OUR 2ND  GOURMET TRIP TO EAST ORLEANS ON CAPE COD, MASS. - JULY 2009
 
Rick and I arrived at the "Garner Compound" on Thurs., July 9th where the Independence Day theme was maintained with flags along the
path (Above Far R) to the front door and festive matching flowers everywhere including on the back deck (Above C) with the stunning
view (Above R). The next day we drove onto the "owners' beach" where (Below Far L) we plunked our chairs on the ocean rim near
Garner's mother's house (Below L), picnicked on lobster rolls, and had the marvelous views in all directions (Below R & Far R).
Over the next few days, we ate, drank wine, walked/shopped in Orleans and Wellfleet, drank more wine and a few cycled to Wellfleet.
All these photos are from Ro, 1 of our Gourmet women!
 
Gourmet at Lake of the Pines & Santa Rosa - JUNE 2009
We enjoyed our 3 Gourmet Getaways planned in 2009: Santa Rosa at Glenne & Dave's new home and near Auburn at Mark & Roberta's
Lake of the Pines vacation house, and Cape Cod (before on page).  Lots of relaxing inside and outside, lots of great food and lots of cleaning up!
 
Other Gourmet Group Adventures

Celebrating our 25th Gourmet Anniversary at a Napa winery (where else?!!?) Drinking & eating at La Toque in
St. Helena for Gourmet 25th
Relaxing at a winery (is
there a theme here?)
Women of the Gourmet
in Tahoe
 

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