We're Here

Terms like "yesterday" and "tomorrow" and "today" have little meaning after a trans-atlantic flight and a 7-hour time difference.
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Broadcasting to you from Stockholm, Max Eddy is back on the internet. Unlike our trip to Iceland, Claire and I have excellent wireless internet in the hotel and I'll try my best to keep you all up to date as to our adventures.

This will primarily be done in pictures.
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Our adventures on Sunday were focused on the Carl Milles sculpture garden (conveniently located directly next to our hotel), and our dinner in downtown Stockholm.

Carl Milles will be familiar to anyone at the University of Michigan. Milles moved to Michigan where he made over 70 statues, one of which being the fountain of Triton between the Michigan League and the Hill Auditorium through which students process at the beginning and end of their academic careers.

You know, this one.

Stockholm is a beautiful city, and its a great time to be here. THe days are bright, the weather is on the cooler side of fair -- which is perfect for me. Despite being jetlagged to hell and technically having been operating for something close to a continuous 48 hours, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Of particular note was the Prinsen restaurant. I don't know what I ordered but I got it in lieu of meatballs since they were out. It was small potato chunks with sauteed onions and delicious chunks of beef. The beef was tender, juicy, seasoned as if for a god. The potatoes were quite good on their own, but eaten with a fresh raw egg yolk poured over them. The effect is a really rich eating experience.

Keep in mind that I am not a fan of softboiled eggs, or even runny scrambled eggs, and I still thought this was delicious.

Also of note was the Underdog beer. It looks like a pilsner, but is in reality a Lager of some kind. When you take a sip, the initial flavor is very strong, similar to that of Guinness. The twist is that there's no finish to it; after that first burst of mouth-filling hop-flavor the beer finishes with a refreshing mild crispness.

Ba will be pleased to know that I sampled several varieties of pickled herring at the beginning of the meal, and loved them all.

Here's the image of the day for Sunday.

From Sweden

Click the photo for the entire album, or just click here.

Obviously there isn't much explanation right now. The idea is that I'll post a few pictures when able and backfill with information as I go.
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It's currently 8am on Monday in Stockholm. The plan for today is to take the boat to Uppsala, stopping for a few hours in Sigtuna. We'll take the train back this evening.

Happy Valentine's Day (Baby)

Hello, young lovers.

In case you missed it, I made history this evening when I live-tweeted my romantic dinner for two with Claire. You can relive the magic below.

At restaurant; in finery. http://twitpic.com/1h4dc
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elecray7k Appetizers: BLT mac'n cheese gnocchi, duck spring rolls. http://twitpic.com/1h4ek
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Salmon with spaetzel and artichoke purée; beef tenderloin on mashed potatoes over steamed spinach w/fried onions http://twitpic.com/1h4wn
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Champagne sorbet, and champagne with rosepetal sorbet. http://twitpic.com/1h5ec
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Our escpades did generate some response. This from pal-Kris:

krishva @elecray7k Oh heavens that sounds delicious.

And this from pal-Justin:

ExploderFace @elecray7k Amazing live-tweeting of a romantic dinner out on the town! It's almost like I'm there with you guys!

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The restaurant in question is called Evening Star, and it is easily the best place in town. Possibly one of the best places in the NCR. The food is certainly gourmet quality, but comes at reasonable prices and healthy helpings. You certainly don't feel ripped off when you eat here.

Here's the menu for tonight's meal.

"BLT" Mac & Cheese
Spinach Gnocchi, Tomato Concasse, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Triple Truffle Cream

Duck Spring Rolls
House Cured & Braised Duck, Caramel Garlic Basil Sauce

Pan Seared Salmon Filet
Crispy Spaetzle, Artichoke Puree, Fennel Choke Salad

Grilled Beef Tenderloin
Roasted Garlic and Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Spinach, Rosemary and Parmesan Onion Crisps, Bordelaise Sauce

Evening Star is very close to where we live in Del Ray, and is actually where Keith and I went to dinner before we even knew I was going to move here. Fate, I tell you!

The beef tenderloin is truly fantastic, and probably the best steak to ever cross these lips (the giant piece of meat once prepared for me by Jan Wagner excluded). Usually, the salmon is served on a ever-changing market setup, but tonight's was excellent -- if static.

Oddly enough, a place this classy only has one beer on tap: Pabst Blue Ribbon. I wonder if Frank, from Blue Velvet, is one of the investors?

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Evening Star has a deal with the wine shop next door, which provides a truly prodigious selection of wine. I stick to the beers, though.
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Claire got me this for V-Day. It's awesome!

From MarsEdit Images

There was a first edition of this book in my house growing up, but it has been long out of print until recently. Fabulous!
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I'm not really big on this holiday, but I do wanna say that my family and friends are so dear to me. Love to you all, and happy Valentine's Day.

Bachelor Chow

The perfect meal for any occasion!*

"Delicious" Recipe

Pour Vegetable Chip Crumbs over lukewarm microwaved Tostito's Queso dip.
Eat with the slightly less destroyed chip remnants from another bag.
Remember that you have a beer left in the fridge.
Remember that beer has calories; and therefore qualifies as food.
Realize that the beer is, by comparison, the gourmet part of the meal

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My super power is, without a doubt, the ability to not feel hunger. For some, when their bellies begin to empty they feel an immediate drive to rectify the situation.

If it weren't for the regularity of meals, I would blast right through the day without even stopping for a scone. This was particularly true in college. I have memories of my Freshman year, spent under a loft bed in West Quad. During finals/midterm time, I would often go a whole day without eating, simply because I was distracted by a paper I was working on.

Sophomore year continued this habit. At one point, I recall eating nothing but bread, water, and Nutella for about a week. The problem was that although I could cook, and had the facilities to do so, I frequently found myself struck with an intense lethargia. More than once, Kris would drive herself across town and drag me downstairs to NYPD and force me to eat something.

"Oh no, I'm not hungry at all." I'd say. "But, my! Is that ziti pasta mixed with chicken and sauce, wrapped in an 8" long baked roll? My goodness! OM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM."

The regularity of work and living with Claire -- who does feel hunger -- has changed all that. But every now and again I fall into my old habits. I know this has happened when I look up at the clock and realize I've spent hours watching Sean Connery clips on YouTube, instead of making dinner.
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*Read: when Claire has driven back to Illinois for the Holidays with the dog, in a rental car, and this is all you can muster.