Independence Day Long Weekend & Richmond, VA

July 4, 2011

On Thursday, I hopped on an Amtrak train from Union Station in Washington, DC to Richmond, VA. Angie, Jack and the kids relocated from Albany, NY to Richmond, VA a couple months ago for Angie's job at Bank of America. They now live a community called Short Pump, in Glen Allen, about 15 min from Richmond. It was super fun to see their new home and how happy the kids are.

Simon and Charlotte also turned 5 years old a couple days earlier, so it was so nice to spend time with them, they are getting to be quite the little people. Hilarious and incredible active!

Here are some pics from the Friday:

Check out the view from my sister's office in downtown Richmond:

Lunch at City Dogs in Shockhoe slip:

On Saturday, Angie and I took the kids to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's historical home. On our way there, Angie and I realized how little we know of American history (we are Canadian, after all), and how 8-year old Olivia knew way more. She schooled us. Big time.

Monticello was beautiful and very interesting. I can see how fun it is for them now to live in the South and be so accessible to interesting historical sites.

The rest of the long weekend consisted of hanging out, exploring, running errands, playing with the kids, and trying to get my sister to stop watching so much coverage of the Casey Anthony trial.

Angie and Olivia gave me a ride back to Dulles airport on Monday, and I flew home amidst all the crazy long weekend travel. Big thanks to Angie, Jack and the kids for a wonderful long weekend.

Happy Independence Day!

Citronelle & Blues Travelers

June 29, 2011

We had an intense two-day hearing for work on the Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in only 3.5 hours of sleep for me on Tuesday night. It was a huge relief to have the hearing completed on Wednesday, and I as so very proud of our team and company for presenting in a credible and scientific manner, and really spoke on behalf of breast cancer patients.

On Wednesday night, our team went to Citronelle in Georgetown for dinner. Citronelle is the brainchilde of Chef Michel Richard, a highly esteemed chef and winner of James Beard "Outstanding Chef" award in 2007.

To start, I had the crab cake with shallot dressing:

For dinner, I had the filet mignon with forest mushrooms and creamy potato gratin:

For dessert, the chocolate bar with sauce noisette:

The meal was fantastic, made all the better with some good laughs and appreciation of all the hard work our team had put forth in the last couple years.

After dinner, a few of us headed over to a venue called Sphinx Club Ballroom to catch the Blues Travelers in concert.

I was surprised I lasted so long, considering the utter lack of sleep the night before. But, the concert was fun, dinner was fabulous, and the folks I were with are top-notch. Thanks to the fantastic team members for a great time!

Vidalia

June 27, 2011

I flew to Washington, DC on Sunday for a few days of work.  On Monday night after a long day of work, a few of us went out to dinner at Vidalia close to our hotel in Dupont Circle. Vidalia features American cuisine with a Southern accent by Chef Jeffrey Buben. Chef Buben has previously been awarded the James Beard "Best Chef Mid-Atlantic" award, and Vidalia is a four-star restaurant that has often been a Top 100 restaurant in DC.

To start, an amuse bouche of pressed watermelon:

Vidalia was coincidentally, featuring "Nordic Food Days" the week we were there, featuring a menu from celebrity chef and ambassador for New Nordic Food, Siggi Hall, and including ingredients from Iceland, flown in in collaboration with Icelandic Air.

I chose to try an appetizer from that menu, which was the cured Icelandic char, served withhorseradish parfait, pickled radish, cloudberry sorbet, micro sorrel:

For dinner, I had the signature jumbo lump crab cake, served with beech mushrooms, spring onion-pea succotash, creole mustard butter:

The table shared some famous Vidalia side dishes, including Vidalia’s baked macaroni, made with Amish cheddar, goat cheese, smoked ham:

As well as Vidalia’s baked onion (of course!) with wild mushrooms, capers, herbs:

I was too stuffed for any dessert, but it was a lovely meal. Thanks to my co-worker and fellow foodie, Michele, for choosing the restaurant for dinner!

Serpentine Brunch

June 25, 2011

On Saturday, I picked up Alex B and we joined Cindy, Adam, and little twins Alex and Sabina for brunch at Serpentine.

Alex B and Alex:

After brunch, it seemed only logical to go across the street for some ice cream treats at Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous (and their peanut butter brittle which is on the 2011 Big Sweet 50 list!):

Great brunch with good friends. Yum!

The Winery SF

June 19, 2011

On Saturday night after the Genentech concert, Will and I rallied and headed to The Winery SF on Treasure Island, where my friend Lisa was hosting a wine tasting party. The Winery SF features boutique wines from Bryan Kane.

Check out a little blurb on the wines and winemaker:
        Winemaker Bryan Kane bought his 70-acre estate in Napa's Mayacamas Mountains 10 years ago and decided to move full production to San Francisco after garnering rave reviews — and a laundry list of 90-plus-point ratings — for his Rhone varietals. Kane sources grapes for his VIE and Sol Rouge labels from his own estate and from top vineyards across Napa, Sonoma, and the North Coast. Favored by hot spots like Gary Danko and Boulevard, the extensive wine list includes a Roussane, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Rosé, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and "Gypsy," a proprietary rouge blend, all sustainably produced.

Thanks, Lisa and Paul!

Genentech Gives Back 2011

June 19, 2011

For the past two years, Genentech has organized a charitable activity week with many events that raise money for various local charities and which culminates in a concert for the employees at AT&T park. It's a very generous and rewarding thing for our company to do, and keeps the spirit of legacy Genentech alive.

It was a gorgeous Saturday, with bluebird skies and a little breeze.

Opening act, Daughtry:

Second act, Sheryl Crow:

Headliner act, Maroon 5!:

Here's a pic of some Genentech folks with a colorectal cancer patient, who has had success with Avastin, the drug that I work on:

Very cool! Go Genentech!