Thursday, April 14, 2022
Vacation day 2 of 3. Berkeley City Club. We exercised in the hotel gym. Continental breakfast included with our hotel stay: Yoplait yogurt, hard boiled egg, instant oatmeal with sliced banana, orange juice, decaf coffee with half and half. Walked all around downtown Berkeley. Returned to Berkeley City Club for a pit stop then out again for lunch at Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen (2261 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley): swamp water (similar to a half and half or an Arnold Palmer) for both; Patrick had a shrimp po' boy with a cup of red beans and rice; I had buttermilk fried chicken with tasso gravy, blue lake green beans, and mashed sweet potatoes. All food and drink was delicious, and service by Naomi was excellent. We chatted with Naomi briefly about the play Patrick and I are about to see. Returned to Berkeley City Club. Long nap. Dinner at Julia's with Patrick: Glass of Cotes du Rhone for Patrick, glass of Bordeaux for me. San Pellegrino for both. We shared the burrata with golden beets, balsamic reduction, abnd arugula. Entrees: for Patrick: 10-ounce New York steak with gratin dauphinois, shallot confit, haricots vert, green peppercorn sauce. For me: duck breast with brown walnut rice, red cabbage confit, and orange sauce. Dessert: we shared the warm chocolate cake with espresso ice cream and chocolate creme fraiche. We attended Patricia Milton's play Escape from the Asylum (Central Works), which we both enjoyed. Gary Graves directed, Chelsea Bearce played Katherine Smalls, Danielle O'Hare played Loveday Fortescue, Alan Coyne played Constable Crane et al, and Jan Zvaifler played Valeria Hunter. The entire production was a joy to attend. It was the first play we attended since the pandemic began over two years ago. Actors were unmasked. Guests were masked. Ceiling fans provided plenty of circulation. Air purifiers cleansed the air.