I'm going to get fat

podborski says on Mar 10, 2008, 16:45:

sorry, don't know why the pics are so big, I reduced them before uploading to tinypic...

next: lemon and white cocolate muffin, muffin with frutas rojas, and of course, chocolate chip

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podborski says on Mar 10, 2008, 16:48:

cheesecake...quite an operation. It didn't work, it fell down, but I ate it anyway...



notice each dollop of chocolate has a different berry or grape on top...

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podborski says on Mar 10, 2008, 16:50:

and for those of you who remember the awful 'yellow' room..it is now an interesting shade of blue...

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msaucey says on Mar 10, 2008, 16:57:

It all looks good pod.... Congrats!.... Coming along nicely...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

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Man Tequila says on Mar 10, 2008, 17:01:

Took me three months to lose the weight I put on in BzAz. Time for dinner after seeing the Pan Campesino and desserts!

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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houstongal says on Mar 10, 2008, 17:23:

Hooray! No more yellow room!

Everything looks delicious. Can't wait to try them in person!

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

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CatGirl says on Mar 10, 2008, 17:25:

Pod - (pics 1 & 2)...Nice presentation...

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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MaFe says on Mar 11, 2008, 13:27:

Que rico!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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kalder says on Mar 11, 2008, 13:46:

I like that door. Hardwood?

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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travelingirl says on Mar 11, 2008, 14:23:

The desserts look great! I'm getting fat too on Easter candy.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

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podborski says on Mar 11, 2008, 15:23:

today it was lime and ginger cookies, home made granola with yogurt and fruit (for breakfast of course)

tomorrow we finish up with 'treeflay" (trifle), and something with roasted pear and toffee

where's the gym?

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podborski says on Mar 11, 2008, 15:27:

those doors weigh a ton, definitely hardwood. It takes 2 people to carry one.

Each door has 5 coats of finish, hand sanded. Irene, man t and loid can attest to how much time the carpenter is spending on each door. Basically it is one week of full time work per room for the doors and baseboards, another week for other trim.

now you know why I am still not open...

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 11, 2008, 16:37:

show us a picture when you get your brand new big bellie :)))

Is the first time i see a posh muffin, never seen one serve like that jejeje

engage brain before opening mouth

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msaucey says on Mar 11, 2008, 17:11:

Kat are you saying you want to see Pod naked...

Pod you must oblige....

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

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Dan says on Mar 11, 2008, 17:21:

I guess this is a good time to disappear again..jeje

God Bless America!

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podborski says on Mar 11, 2008, 17:30:

I know what kat wants, and it's not just posh muffins jejeje

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podborski says on Mar 11, 2008, 17:40:

in my avatar pic I'm practically naked you just need to squint : )

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houstongal says on Mar 11, 2008, 20:11:

jajaja! Or blow it up to a much larger size!

I love homemade granola. The hotel I'm in right now makes great granola. We decided it was the toasted sesame seeds that make it taste just a little unique. Served on top some sliced fruit and yogurt. Yummmm......

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

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CatGirl says on Mar 11, 2008, 21:12:

Pod: Keep it coming with pics....;)) Is this your business?

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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podborski says on Mar 12, 2008, 05:13:

I'll take some more pics today. It's pretty fun to be watching a professional kitchen up close.

It's interesting to see how they weigh everything exactly, make minute adjustments to recipes and of course record it, how they prepare everything in advance (like cut up huge slabs of butter into small cubes and store them in clear containers to be ready for the mixer or frying pan).

Can you believe I spent $1,000 US on acrylic storage bins? I didn't have that in the budget...

Yeah CG this is my business, or will be soon.

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Man Tequila says on Mar 12, 2008, 10:22:

It's a great business. Serving posh muffins on fine China with a dash of chocolate coulis, a reductions of fruits des bois, some icing sugar. $5.

VINCENT: Did you just order a five-dollar shake?
MIA: Sure did.
VINCENT: A shake? Milk and ice cream?
MIA: Uh-huh.
VINCENT: It costs five dollars?
MIA: Yep.
VINCENT: You don't put bourbon in it or anything?

"This cheesecake has fallen down. It's going to need quite an operation."

Of course I'm just yanking the Podchain. It will be a beautiful hotel, probably is already. I can't wait to stay there again.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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houstongal says on Mar 12, 2008, 20:25:

Yeah....we should organize a reunion huh MT? Can't do it this December, but perhaps some other time? Hey...are you back to work? Or are you still traveling the globe?

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

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Man Tequila says on Mar 12, 2008, 20:52:

Back to work for now.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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houstongal says on Mar 12, 2008, 21:02:

Sorry to hear you're back to reality.

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

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Man Tequila says on Mar 12, 2008, 21:31:

Not as sorry as I am. But I'm going to be travelling to BC next week, and might be indulging my wanderlust again soon.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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Colombiche says on Mar 13, 2008, 06:35:

Well, look on the bright side Fruko, spring is right around the corner, this cold will fade away soon! :)

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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podborski says on Mar 13, 2008, 16:53:

too bad you guys can't be here this Saturday night, we are doing our first trial run. We've invited 12 friends for dinner, we'll try 3 different salads, 3 main dishes and 3 desserts.

We'll match a wine with each dish.

It should make for a hectic day, seeing as the carpenters are picking up the table bases from the hotel tomorrow to take them to the shop to attach the tops, then they promised to deliver them at 2 PM saturday.

I have to buy more plates, glasses, and cutlery tomorrow.

I can already picture the scene, it will be a madhouse as we race to get ready on time. It's ok since it will just be friends, but everyone still wants it to go perfectly of course.

The chef, being the perfectionist he is, will be freaking out and after it's over he will be worried about how it didn't go as well as it should have.

He'll make everyone come in Sunday morning to debrief and go over their mistakes and how things could have been better.

That's ok though, as most of the staff are very inexperienced and they think it's great to be learning so much.

Luckily the chef is a nice guy. The front desk girl (" M") went into the kitchen early this morning to make coffee, and she lit a cigarette. A few hours later the chef shows up and walks out to where I am sitting with M. He says "did someone light a cigarette in my kitchen?" I point to M who elbows me.

He says with a smile, 'it is the first and last time you smoke in my kitchen.' I was very impressed he could tell hours later that someone had smoked in there.

After he went back to the kitchen M punched me.

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Man Tequila says on Mar 13, 2008, 20:13:

Doña Primavera de manos gloriosas,
haz que por la vida derramemos rosas:
Rosas de alegría, rosas de perdón,
rosas de cariño, y de exultación.

Why does M remind me of James Bond's boss? I'm sure your dinner will be great, wish I could be eating it!

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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houstongal says on Mar 14, 2008, 14:34:

hey...you didn't tell me M smoked! Funny story about your chef. I'm sorry we weren't there to be your test panel! Good luck. Take photos of the food and table!

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

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Portena says on Mar 14, 2008, 20:29:

Looks great, Pod! Good luck!

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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billyb says on Mar 14, 2008, 23:39:

Pod, I want to go on the record as saying I never want to see a pic of you naked, but if that is the trade off for Kat showing some costenita skin, then you have my blessings.

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podborski says on Mar 15, 2008, 05:38:

billyb, I am holding out until I get something from kat first...so you won't be subjected to anything that would ruin your appetite unless it's accompanied by some of the finest costenita skin in all of wales or wherever the hell she is

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podborski says on Mar 15, 2008, 05:46:

yesterday the chef prepared this fabulous looking plate of rack of lamb with some sauteed peppers and cherry tomatoes with a caramel (bechamel?) sauce. It looked perfect and he told me it was to take a picture of. I had been taking pics as you know, so I went and got my camera and took a photo of it, then asked if I could eat it. The chef says ok, so I did (it was great).

Then the chef starts to make another one. I ask why. He says 'for the picture'. Long story short, a magazine was coming to take photos and do an article on him (and the hotel or wine bar actually).

I felt bad, like the bigshot owner who said 'let me eat that' even though it was for something else...but the chef was too nice to say no to me.

Anyway, after they took photos of the second one, I ate that too.

Then they did a dessert, and when they were done I asked if the photographer wanted to try this great food he was shooting: "Queres PROBARlo?" I ask.

Sure he says, then wolfs down the whole thing in about 30 seconds.

I didn't have the heart to ask them to make another one, so I was left eating the chocolate bar that M bought me (she's knows exactly how to manipulate me). M says that I have 'a fat soul'.

She tells me 'you're gonna die' as she smokes her cigarette (outside the front door of course).

More photos soon if I have time...

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houstongal says on Mar 15, 2008, 07:21:

Great stories! Of course, you're paying for all this food so it makes sense that you get to eat it! Oohhh....I don't even want to know how much it's all costing you. Ouch!

Yup, M knows your soft spots Pod. Be careful....next thing you know, she'll mainpulate raises, time off, less work, etc. ;-)

Good luck tonight!

P.S. All of this excitement must surely be worth the past year and a half of some hellish days huh?

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

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Man Tequila says on Mar 15, 2008, 14:31:

Sounds good.

Sounds like Pod is going to have a lot more soft spots in the coming months, too. And not just in his alma. ;)

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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houstongal says on Mar 15, 2008, 15:18:

Good one MT....hey pod, I know your new apt has a pool, but what about a gym? I think you'll need it soon.

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

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podborski says on Mar 16, 2008, 08:47:

ok I'm too exhausted to write much but I'll post some pics...

the lamb dish I ate:

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podborski says on Mar 16, 2008, 08:48:

the reception area

we still need some decoration of course

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podborski says on Mar 16, 2008, 08:51:

street view

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podborski says on Mar 16, 2008, 08:52:

the photo shoot

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podborski says on Mar 16, 2008, 08:53:

entrance to the wine cellar

we finished hanging the chandelier at 7 pm, 2 hours before guests arrived...

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podborski says on Mar 16, 2008, 08:54:

you've seen this before, but I keep adding lights..

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podborski says on Mar 16, 2008, 08:57:

the bar

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podborski says on Mar 16, 2008, 08:58:

the first toast

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Man Tequila says on Mar 16, 2008, 09:01:

Looking sharp, hats off.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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podborski says on Mar 16, 2008, 09:13:

thanks man t. Too bad I didn't get this far before you guys arrived...

I'll be ready next time. And with food too.

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houstongal says on Mar 16, 2008, 11:22:

Very, very cool photos Pod!!

Love the chandelier. I remember that area as always being covered up so it's a treat to see it turn out so well.

And the bar .... that's downstairs right? In that area I never saw b/c of the fake wall? Looks fabulous! Sounds like you guys had a good party.

Now when is the "official" opening??

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

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Portena says on Mar 16, 2008, 13:02:

Beautiful place, Pod! What is your web link again? I'll have to check it out on a return trip to BsAs.

I feel better! I can smile at it now, I feel better. Ohhhh, better! Gnarls Barkley

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