3/21/2017 Riviera Reversible Food Cooker Warmer

Years ago, we lived at Uppaway Estates, Glenbrook, Nevada (Lake Tahoe). Our home was in the mountain range of Sierra Nevada up in the clouds about 6000' above sea level.

The house was called "Max's Barn" (named after Max C. Fleischmann). It overlooked Lake Tahoe. We could see across the lake to a mountain that had a cross of snow that never melted, even in the summer.
Huge pine trees surrounded the 44 acre property. Those were the early years of our marriage 1971 - 73.

Being "Out West" was "different" from living in Ohio. Different, indeed!

To get beyond the isolation of living in the big house with caretakers and housekeepers, I would drive down the mountain to Carson City, the capitol of Nevada. There were a few shops, an art gallery, the new Ormsby House Hotel (now defunct, I hear), the Capitol building and casinos. Helga Steffee ran the Carson City Nugget. She became a special friend and often "house sat" when we came back to Cincinnati.

On one of my shopping adventures I found this (pictured) incredible Riviera Reversible Food Cooker Warmer. It can be turned upside and downside with two sized grills. The Sterno container flips over, too.
I bought it. It was something I thought would be great to use at Coco Point Lodge, Barbuda to make Crepes Suzette and Cherries Jubilee.

Riviera Reversible Food Cooker Warmer

I bought a big crepe pan to go with it and took it all through airports, customs and finally to share with the Spanish Chef, Juan and Chef Norman Beazer. It was used awhile and I do not know where it eventually "landed". It could still be there somewhere on a shelf in the pantry of the lodge kitchen!

Copper Crepe Suzette Pan

I decided to bring the big copper skillet back home again. I haven't used it. It looks like it has been "relined" so it's ready to use again.

Recipe Booklet

The other day I decided to "google" Riviera Reversible Food Cooker Warmer. I had the kept little recipe and instruction booklet for many, many years so I knew what to "google". I had tried to find one on eBay but never had any luck. This time! Boom! It popped up on Etsy. I hit all the required buttons and soon it arrived at my back door, carefully packed. 

I did rationalize my buying it by saying to myself that I can use it in an emergency when the power goes out! It was a NEED not a WANT - message for myself to next time remember to NOBUY2017!

I opened it and was totally amazed! I set it up and took pictures to share with my readers here.

Onward!

3/19/2018 Coco Point Lodge - Juan, The Chef

Juan, The Chef

I found this small picture of "The Chef" and a baby lamb. My memory of (The Chef) is that he was Spanish and that his first name may have been Juan.

Juan, The Chef and a baby lamb (tail down = sheep, tail up = goat)

Various chefs "arrived and departed" from Coco Point Lodge, Barbuda. We always had our local Barbudan and our own famous chef, Norman Beazer who established himself as a memorable icon for Caribbean fare which he and his staff prepared and served for many years.

This memory, however, is focused upon Juan, the Spanish chef.

Juan and I were on the small airplane coming back from St. John's, Antigua, WI. He had been gathering up various food items for the lodge. Juan had put large cardboard containers of frozen ice cream under the passenger seats and in the back of the plane.

Usually the trip would be fairly smooth and without incident. But, on this particular trip, the pilot took off too soon behind one of the big jets that was leaving the main runway. We were caught up in the jet stream and tossed crazily about.  The cardboard containers of ice cream were flipping and rolling "every which way". Juan was grabbing the loose cargo "left and right". Knowing me, I was hanging onto the straps of my seat belt, praying!

It was one scary time for all of us and the pilot finally leveled our small plane and continued the flight to Coco Point's grassy runway.

I had brought a Riviera Reversible Cooker to share which I found in a gift shop in Carson City, Nevada. it was definitely reversible for bigger or smaller pans. I had also brought a big copper crepe suzette skillet. It was something I thought could be used for special desserts.I don't remember if Juan used it, but I do remember his making Cherries Jubilee over a something that may have been a can of Sterno.

3/18/2017 Coco Point, Barbuda, WI Years Ago

2/18/2017 Years Ago at Coco Point Lodge, Barbuda, WI

I've set up a memorabilia room at my home just for photos, photo albums, movies and slides. Some of the photos bring back forgotten memories. Such is the following photo:

Barbuda Belle at Old Dock, Coco Point Lodge, Barbuda, WI

When I met William (Bill) Cody Kelly in January, 1971 he mentioned "his island". I had also heard the same "his island" from a woman who was determined that I must meet this person who might take me to "his island". All that aside, I met, dated and dated Bill Kelly.

He was in the midst of untangling himself from his second and bothersome marriage. I was a teacher and was busy with my life as a single mom to one young son. The details of meeting him can be explained later.

Somehow I was able to arrange a trip to Coco Point and I took my son with me. It was a trip hat would lead to many future trips to a place I had never ever envisioned to be part of my life. Now, at age 80 I have no desire to ever return. I have memories enough of it.

The picture shown is of Barbuda Belle at the old dock. It's long before beautiful signage was installed. I have photographs of "The Belle" when she was built in Hong Kong. She was a sturdy, incredible motor sailing vessel. She took many trips out for deep sea fishing. She would motor out to an area where it would be possible to catch big fish from Caribbean waters. Such fish might include Baracuda, yellow fin tuna, etc.

Part of the evening cocktail conversation would be about who caught the biggest and best fish, too.

I do not think "The Belle" is being used now. Another boat was added to the fishing fleet. For those who liked to fish in shallow waters up at the village of Codrington, Barbuda there were smaller boats available.  Coco Point originally was designed to be a hunting and fishing lodge. It evolved into a Caribbean gem.

3/10/2017 Almost Spring!

Yesterday the temperature made it above 70 degrees! It was a glorious day! I wore jeans and put on white socks and sneakers.

I haven't walked or explored the very back corner of the property for years. It is usually covered with heavy brush throughout most of the year. It's a thicket for critters. Several sad-looking trees are on my side of the fence, so it "gave pause" to my thinking whether to just let them "be" and not disturb the "natural order of things".

Back Corner Thicket

Back Corner View

Old Willow "hanging in there"

The old willow has undergone another major shaping surgery this fall. Pruning out the dead wood has given it new life. Thoughts of  "The Wind in the Willows" are triggered as  breezes blow through its tender branches.

There are a few forsythia bushes in full bloom. I'm always amazed by their brilliance and happy they can be counted as survivors for another year.

Forsythia

I didn't think there would be any crocus this year, but a few did pop up after all (purple ones and some white and purple striped ones, too).

The daffodils are doing well. I did bring in a bunch last week when another cold snap came roaring through. I appreciated my son sending me a message via Facebook alerting me to the impending danger to daffodils!

Daffodils - 3/10/2017

Daffodils last awhile and sometimes give off an interesting fragrance. As they gradually die away their blossoms turn into tissue paper remnants. I scatter them out into the flower graveyard among a bed of English ivy.

Daffodils - 3/10/2017

New plant catalogs keep arriving in my mailbox. I continue to toss them into the recycle bin. It's the NoBuy2017 challenge on Facebook that keeps me from sending in another order for more daffodil bulbs.
However, I do think a row of crocus along the edge of the front flower bed would make next Spring quite special.

Onward!