Italy Trip 2008 - Day 1 Arrival and the Veneto Foothills

Well I have kept my Italy trip each year streak alive with an impromptu but wonderful trip to Venice and Treviso to see the Panto Window Factory compliments of my good friends at Panto Windows.

We left early Monday morning and arrived Tuesday morning at the Marco Polo Airport in Venice. We were greeted by the California sales representative, Simon and his lovely wife Marcia, at the airport. We stopped for a quick cappuccino and an introduction of our fellow travelers on the tour. I was happy to see my old friend Tony Garcia on the trip. Tony and I worked together in the early 90's at CCBG Architects and he now has his own firm in San Diego, California.

We loaded on the bus to the Hotel Relais Monaco near Treviso, Italy. The hotel is an old Villa Veneta, Villa Guarnieri, distinctively converted by the famous architects Afra and Tobia Scarpa, located in Ponzano Veneto, close to Treviso, in the heart of the "Marca Trevigiana" and only 35 kms away from Venice. It is set in a beautiful vineyard.

We checked in and after flying for what seemed like 24 hours we grabbed a quick bite on the terrace of the hotel. Great way to start with a plate of spaghetti and insalata mista - the freshest greens, tomato and mozzarella. Perfect!

We quickly reloaded the bus for a quick jaunt to the foothills of the Alps and the Mionetto Winery. Founded in 1887 from the love and passion for work and for the land of Francesco Mionetta, the head of the family and the master winemaker. In 1982 the winery completely converted to the production of Prosecco - a semi-sparkling white wine - Italian champagne made popular in the Bellini cocktail. We were given a wonderful tour of the winery by the grandson of the founder. Of course the tour ended in the tasting room and after trying ALL of their lines of prosecco it was time to move on to our next destination.

After a short drive through the hills of the Valdobbiadene wine -growing region north of Treviso we arrived at the Castel Brando. After a short tram ride up the hill you are taken with the beautiful view and the over 2000 year history of the castle. The castle has been converted to a 260 room hotel and convention center but it still feels like an old castle. It is spectacular. After a quick walk around the grounds and a tasty cappuccino it was back down the tram and back on the bus and off to dinner - something you do a lot in Italy - eat!

We arrived at a wonderful country restaurant - which I cannot recall the name but will track it down - and enjoyed a fantastic dinner. We all sat upstairs and since we are a group of 29 we were served country style - but it was fabulous. Great first dinner. The restaurant had a marvelous indoor grille and rotisserie and we had roast rabbit, chicken, and pork along with several pasta dishes, mushroom risotto, salad, vegetables and of course a delicious fruit tart with a panna cotta sauce - topped off with a perfect cappuccino. By now we were exhausted. Back to the hotel and some needed sleep! Off to Venice tomorrow. Ciao.

2008 The Year of Change

The kids are back to school and we are all gearing up for the fall and winter months. Many things have changed since I left Idaho last summer compared to my departure this summer. I have changed, my family has changed, my company has changed, and the world has changed. I cannot remember a year with more change - and it is only two thirds over.....

The world is changing very rapidly and the way we are all doing business, communicating, financing, and fueling our lives is all in a state of flux. Every person in every socioeconomic group has been effected - at least that is what I am seeing. The credit crunch has hit the entire world, but that was created by excessive greed both by those speculating and those lending. Our homes became investments and no longer a place to live and raise our families. Debt spiraled out of control - from the individual consumer all the way to the level of an entire nation. The dollar plunged and commodity prices spiraled out of control. Add world demand for a better life and its limited resources and products - cars, phones, food, clothes, building materials, and of course oil and you can understand why prices are doing what they are doing. Add a war, an election, Russia flexing its muscle, earthquakes, floods, and as I said, the year is only two thirds over. No wonder I'm tired.

What can be learned from all of this? I think first and foremost our value system needs to be reassessed. Our resources our limited and we need to manage them more wisely and more efficiently. Waste needs to be eliminated wherever possible. After driving two SUV's for years that never left a paved road or freeway I have traded them in for Hybrid vehicles that use a third of the gas and pollute far less. We are not all going to be celebrities or pro athletes and creative financing or endless home equity loans will not solve our problems. America needs to get back to work. We need to have as much focus on math and science for our children as we do for basketball practice. We will need to work and educate our way out of this and produce something - something tangible. That is why I love architecture - we create something. We are at the beginning and the next beginning is now.

Watching these olympics has been very inspirational. The olympics always are. I think we all realize we - the world - not just the USA, make up this world, run this world, fuel this world, supply the world and feed the world. China is amazing - what I have witnessed just in my lifetime from when Nixon went there in the early 70's to what I witnessed the last two weeks - the change is stunning. I'm looking forward to going there soon.

Where will the US be in thirty more years? Will we be running our homes, factories, businesses and cars on renewable energy or will be still driving cars burning gas at $9.00 a gallon like it costs in Europe right now? Will our children be the leaders in technology and innovation or will they just be service providers and hamburger flippers while hanging out in Scottsdale pretending to be movie stars? Will our air be clean, our food locally produced in organic farms, our water usable and clean to drink? We are at the forefront of a new era. $4.00 a gallon gas has finally awakened us from our wasteful energy binge. Opportunity awaits all of us.

It seems to all stem on energy. Will we be able to live 30-40-60 minutes from town or have a second home in Idaho, or travel to Italy and watch our TV's, run our computers, our I Phones, Skype with our friends and family across the world, run our air-conditioning, eat pineapples from Hawaii, enjoy a Bordeaux from France, the list goes on and on. Something has to change - it already has begun.

Seafood Boil on the Deck

Life on our deck in Coeur d'Alene is a big part of our summer and definitely a place we love to entertain our guests. There is nothing more wonderful than flying up from 110º Phoenix and arriving in Coeur d'Alene and hitting our deck. 70-80º weather and a cold glass of white wine or a Blue Moon beer with an orange slice and you are ready for a great evening.

Last weekend our guests for the week were my long time associate, Jeff Kramer and his wife Carmelle and their two lovely children Jason and Rachel. They have been are most welcomed guests every year since we have owned the house. We always have a great time with them.

This year they spent a few days in Seattle and then made the drive across Washington to our house in CDA. This year we demanded they hit Pike's Market in Seattle and load up on seafood for our seafood boil. They picked up lobster, crab, shrimp and clams we got the rest of the ingredients from our local farmer's market in CDA.

We started with a large stock pot on our propane cookstand sitting right on the deck - see http://www.eastmanoutdoors.com. We started with 6 quarts of water brought to a boil. Once it came to a boil we added a generous amount of sea salt, bay leaves, and the crab seasoning bags you can buy at the store. Add 6 halved lemons and return to a boil. Once boiling again add 4 medium artichokes - we added 6 because we love them. Cover and return to a boil. Let this boil for about 10-15 minutes then add a dozen or so little red potatoes, 6-8 ears of corn cut into small 2-3" sections, and 2 - 3 onions unpeeled but remove the ends. Reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes then add 6 whole unpeeled heads of garlic and 1 - 2 cups of your favorite dry white wine. Simmer, covered until the veggies are tender. Remove them to a serving platter after about 40 minutes of cooking for the artichokes.

We're almost there. As soon as you remove the veggies take two or three andouille sausages or I add a couple lamb smokies from my lamb farmer at Farmer's Market and slice them up and throw them in the boil. Let them boil for about 3 minutes. Then have all of your shellfish ready to go. Add the crabs and lobsters. Give them about 3 minutes then add the clams, then the shrimp. When the clams open and the shrimp are pink and start to curl it is showtime.

Cut the onions in half, clean the artichokes and remove the chokes. Prepare some melted butter, cocktail sauce, hot sauce, spice rubs for dipping, and you are ready to party. We served 12 easily and it was a big hit. The veggies soak up the spices and the seafood soaks up the flavor of the veggies. The sausages are always the big hit in the dish. It is outstanding and a great dinner on the deck.

Canada Pics

A few more pics from our road trip through British Columbia and Alberta, Canada - Great food in Canada - definitely a European influence wherever we ate - ay! The grizzly bears were the highlight of the trip - amazing animals. What beauty and the air was so clean and fresh - what a place.

Summer Fun in Canada

We have just returned from a fabulous road trip through the Canadian Rockies - well after exploring we realize this is an endless venture and we barely scratched the surface. We spent three days and two nights in the Okanagan specifically Kelowna and three days and two nights in Lake Louise in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada.

Our itinerary was graciously set up by my good friend and Canadian, Patrick Murphy. While in Kelowna we stayed at the Manteo Resort. Great place - extremely family oriented with nice suites, kitchenettes, friendly, sandy beach, two pools one with a great water slide/tube which the kids loved, and a playground. Babysitting services are provided, so Mom and Dad can escape right next door at the Eldorado Hotel for a wonderful dinner on the boardwalk.

Kelowna and Okanagan Valley is the orchard and winery of Canada. It is unbelievably beautiful and fertile. Cherries, peaches, apricots and wine!!!! We sampled several while in Canada and instantly became hooked. Our favorite was the 2005 Private Reserve Gewürztraminer. It was light and not overly syrupy like some Gewürztraminers - very crisp and refreshing. We came to find virtually every nice hotel and restaurant we came across featured it. The best Okanagan red we tried was the Blasted Church Cabernet Sauvignon Revered Series 2006. I had this with a delicious venison tenderloin while at the Fairmont Hotel at Lake Louise.

After our stay in the Okanagan we headed up through the Canadian Rockies and over Kicking Horse Pass to Lake Louise. This is one of the most stunning places I have ever been! Absolutely breathtaking and indescribable. Glacier fed, turquoise streams and lakes, surrounded by cathedral peaks covered with thick forests and then this 5 star hotel set right in the middle of it all. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel ranks right up there in terms of one of the best hotels in the world. Originally built in 1893 the hotel has undergone many renovations, reconstructions, fires, well you get the picture. It's most recent renovation took place last year and it is exceptionally well done. Our room had a perfect view of the lake, mountains, and glacier.

While at Lake Louise we enjoyed a hike around the lake, the gondola ride whereon we saw three grizzly bears in the meadow below us, and a fantastic fondue dinner - and of course some more wines - at the Walliser Stube restaurant. After cheese fondue and then the venison tenderloin and of course some German speatzle, it was time for Tobblerone chocolate fondue. Ok - we indulged - we had a sitter and it was just Heather and I. Fantastic food, wine, service, accommodations, and scenery that is beyond belief.

My mom visited the resort in the late 50s and was stunned by my photos and the reduction in the size of the glacier - so for all you folks who don't think global warming is not real.....well the pics tell the tale. Today, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is recognized globally for progressive environmental stewardship and responsible tourism.

Please check the various websites listed on this blog for more information on the hotels and wines. I highly recommend a visit here to escape the Arizona summers. Fly into Calgary and its about a 2 hours incredibly scenic drive. Enjoy!

4th of July

4th of July is my favorite holiday - family, parades, fireworks, red, white, and blue, and barbecue. This week’s blog will feature some of my favorite aspects of this wonderful day.

I’ve been fortunate to spend most of the 4th of July’s of this decade in Couer d’Alene, Idaho – it is like heaven here in July. Coming from Phoenix – it is green, cool air, and water. Need I say more? What I love about this day is everyone is looking forward to the day. 4th of July is great because you don’t have to buy any gifts – so no shopping, gift wrapping, or shipping. No matter what day of the week it falls on it is like the best Saturday you could imagine. No matter what your religious, ethnic, or political background – we are all Americans – at least for that day.

I will start the day with a great cup of coffee on the deck and watch the lake and my guests (usually a house full) come alive. 4th of July prompts an all-American breakfast – pancakes, eggs, Canadian bacon, hash browns, toast, and OJ. How can you go wrong?

Once everyone is well fed we have to rush into town to get our spot along the parade route which starts at 11am. The whole county is there to watch a parade of high school bands, pretty girls on horses, baton twirlers, political candidates usually running for County Recorder or Justice of the Peace sitting in a convertible with a pretty girl clad in sequins waving at the crowd – most of whom she probably knows. Well you get the picture – it’s everything that is great yet simple about America. The parade runs about an hour and with the sun bright and air moist you definitely work up an appetite.

We round everyone up and do our best to navigate the fastest route out of town. It’s back to the house to get everyone ready for an afternoon on the lawn, deck and beach. Bocce, washers, naps on the chaise loungers, billiards in the Rec Room with a movie or game going, a great book on an Adirondack chair, or just a swim in the lake, everyone finds their corner and activity for the afternoon. I focus on the food and getting the barbecue going.

Burgers, brats, potato salad, beer and red,white and blue Taramisu – ok not totally American but you have to like the red, white and blue aspect! The smell of the Kingford charcoals smoldering in the Weber is one of the best smells – it takes me back to my childhood and the same smell my Dad would originate from his Weber – most likely on a Saturday. As I cook, the tunes are cranked, and you hear the sounds of laughter and the kids and cousins playing. It is all idyllic.

The buffet is set – but it’s casual – paper plates, Dixie cups of cold beer or a glass of wine, and nothing pretentious – it’s 4th of July and no one wants to be stuck doing the dishes. Everyone sits where they can find a spot – again it’s a full house so there is no way everyone can sit around the big table on the deck. We eat, laugh, discuss politics, sports, the cost of a gallon of gas, or whatever the subject at hand happens to be. An ice cold watermelon awaits and sticky faces with watermelon juice dripping on swimsuits is par for the course.

The time between the barbecue and fireworks is followed by another round of games, another dip in the lake, or one more nap! As dusk descends everyone once again gathers after throwing on a sweater and grabbing another round of beverages its off to watch the incredible firework display over the lake. My three year old calls the fireworks - "firepit" but ultimately that is right where we end up for closing out the day with our friends the Murphy's who live next door. The hundreds of boats that were all quietly positioned on the water to watch the show now all spring away in the same direction like a swarm of fireflies - it is really something to see. A couple of smores over the firepit and a few more glasses of wine and before you know it we are solving the world's problems and reflecting on our wonderful day.

One by one our guests turn in but I am usually the lone survivor of the day. The embers slowly die down and another 4th of July is added to our family photo album.

Welcome to the Candelaria Design Blog

WELCOME

Welcome to the Candelaria Design Blog. Although we are a nationally recognized residential architecture design firm our goal with every home is not to just produce a set of plans but to create a setting, a stage, a home that enhances our clients' lives. Thus this blog will celebrate all the wonderful experiences that hopefuly are enhanced through our homes. We hope to share with you interesting thoughts, reflections, and ideas on design, food, travel, and simply living. We hope you share your thoughts, ideas, recipes, wines, etc. with all of us. Have fun and enjoy!

Summer is here and for those of us in Phoenix it is the time of year we simply try to blot out of our mind or we constantly focus on where to escape from the 100º plus heat that stays many times until Halloween. I try to divide my summer time between my home and office in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and of course my office in Phoenix. I find the mountain air, blue waters, and cool nights of Lake Coeur d'Alene very restful and inspirational. I am able to both work and spend invaluable time with my wife and girls as they grow up. I've created some of my best designs while working in my CDA office alcove looking over the lake. We've met wonderful people here, enjoyed the Farmer's Market and all of the fresh produce, and just the casual atmosphere and natural beauty of the Inland Northwest.

Over the course of the summer we will bring you writings, photos, recipes, and whatever other interesting discoveries from me and my associates which we feel will enhance your life.