Bucket List Tuesday: #27: Garlic (And Other) Festivals

So, life wouldn't be much without the 'living,' right? If there's one thing my Momma, and Grand-Momma taught me it's that life is meant to be lived. Live hard, live fast, live without regrets. Nobody wants to find themselves in their golden years wishing they'd jumped out of a plane before they'd replaced their hip, or eaten that extra slice of pizza before the bypass. Of course, not everything we want to do is good for us, and those are the compromises we make as we move through life responsible for family and friends. It's never really 'just you' in your life, right? So today's bucket list is all about activities, festivals really, that can be enjoyed with others. Some of my best memories, so far, are from exploring life and all this crazy world has to offer with the ones I love!

1.) Gilroy Garlic Festival: (July) Gilroy, CA-

Whenever my father's parents come in from Massachusettes they like to take a week-or-so trip up the California coast sightseeing. The Redwoods and National parks are among their favorite must see attractions, in addition to plenty of photo-opportunities along the Pacific Coast. Unfortunately, I'm at the prime of my 'working' years and never can work the time out to take such a big chunk off and explore the state I live in with them. Along with the Winchester House, Gilroy, CA is one of their favorite stops along the way.

Known as the Garlic Capital, this sleepy little town is mainly a quiet tourist and trucker stop on the way to bigger and better things. However, much like my hometown is transformed with the California Strawberry Festival once a year, Gilroy comes to life every July to host the Garlic Festival. (There's also a gorgeous botanical gardens in Gilroy if you're ever just passing through.) This past festival was actually on BlogHer weekend (the 64th annual event,) and I found myself so close to checking this must off my Bucket List as I drove past on Friday night! It's your standard festival, really, sprawling and massive with a royal 'Garlic Court' of local beauties residing over garlic eating contests and an assortment of food vendors making heaping piles of garlic fries and even garlic ice cream!

San Fermin in Nueva Orleans: (July) New Orleans, LA-

Also in July, and in it's 8th annual year, San Fermin in Nueva Orleans is more of a (race?) style event that pays homage to the Pampalona, Spain Encierro (Running of The Bulls) event. It is probably one of the most unique annual events you will find in the U.S., and I dare think how it got started. Sure, the patrons dress up in traditional 'runners' white and flee the streets running for their lives, but this reenactment has one particularly peculiar caveat; the 'bulls' are local 'Big Easy Rollergirls' dressed up with plastic horns and bats, in red, on roller blades!

It sounds, and looks quite chaotic, as I'm sure it is, but the event is not considered dangerous in any way. In fact, the event's website wants you to know "no one has ever been hospitalized," which puts this crazy lifetime event on my radar for a must try experience!

Idiotarod: (Currently 19 Major US Cities) Year Round-

The Idiotarod, named as a spoof on the famous Alaskan dog race, is a 'race' often held in colder weather months, with no real official branding hub. That is to say various major home cities have adopted the event through the past 10 years and on the ground teams have promoted and organized festivities. Before you go judging the ridiculously fun photos, this cross between a shopping cart team relay and costume contest/pageant is actually almost always charitable in nature. Most major towns require the participants to bring donations (in specific quantities and items) in exchange for free entry and participation.

The point of the event? Aside from raising charitable awareness, which you an imagine is done in droves of free event 'press' as costumed participants march down main streets, it's generally a good time. Take the 'sleds' and turn them into decorated shopping carts, and the 'dogs' turned into costumed people and you have yourself on crazy, but surprisingly well mannered race. As you can imagine a great deal of creativity and planning goes into themed costumes and carts, and I suspect I'd most like to attend as a photography and spectator. After all, where else can you spot the robot and mother from 'The Jetsons' cartoon running to catch up with a team full of human pigs?

What 'annual' style events are on your Bucket List?

Bucket List Tuesday #58: The Oscar Mayer #Wienermobile

Momma Told Me: You can't just saddle a unicorn and fly into the sunset.

It's not every little girl's dream to parade around town in a giant hot dog on wheels? How odd I feel to learn this, as I recently found myself giddy with glee at the prospect of having such an opportunity this past May. You see, in out house, next to the kitchen fridge, is one of the two things that actually have holes in our wall- it was the first thing I picked out before moving, really. A giant tack-board I faced with cherry red poster board (to match me appliances, of course) and resolved to capture just a little bit of every adventure on. In just the past two years we have done a great job of coating it in admission stubs, concert tickets, photo strips, an wristbands- but few things stand out as much as my #Wienermobile stickers.

It's ironic, truly; I don't like hot dogs. Okay, I will tolerate them at social events such as backyard cookouts, but I prefer to eat my meat in the same form it came off the animal. But this retro-loving girl from Southern California fell in love with Oscar Mayer and all it sung for shortly after watching the first (and indisputably the best) Santa Claus, Tim Allen) movie. When that film came out on VHS I wore through the tape twice, and could recite the lines word for word- but what captivated me the most was the Weenie Whistle one of the main characters had so wished for as a child. I began asking my own parents about this famed food shaped whistle and quickly learned the Oscar Mayer jingles an resolved I would one day set foot on a giant, rolling, hot dog called the Wienermobile. (You just can't make this stuff up, folks.)

You may recall last Winter I'd won a scholarship to #SoFabCon14 in Arkansas, my first real blog conference- and it just so happens one of the major sponsors was Kraft. As I headed out those double doors of the hotel lobby, and around the back to where the glistening giant wiener was parked, I felt my heart skip a beat with glee. I'm fairly certain I squealed a little- I was about to check off one of my oldest bucket list wishes. I suppose that should have made me feel old, and a little retrospective, but I was captivated by this image of Americana and my face glowed as I entered the top-fold bun door into what was a riot of Oscar Mayer Red and Yellow. It was pure magic.

I'm sure I'd expected the beautifully upholstered leather seats to smell like mustard, or the ketchup red floors to squish when I stepped (kids can create some amazing worlds in their fantasies.) While the Wienermobile is in fact a functioning vehicle, it does not disappoint on awesome; in fact, it may be even more awesome from the inside. My favorite touch is the painted 'sky' ceiling that reminds me of the Magical School Bus and simply tickles the child inside me but the hot dog steering wheel is pretty awesome too!

When I stepped off that giant rolling Wiener I was knighted in Wienerhood with the famed Weenie Whistle and a sheet of jingle music- no Santa Claus needed. In fact, there was a very friendly and chipper Hotdogger (the name given to the fleet of drivers entrusted with driving the Mobile and bringing magic to towns nationwide, waiting to greet me. We shall call her an Oscar Mayer elf. This elf asked me and several bloggers to sing the jingle on camera, or posterity, several times, then thee was the magical signing of waivers. It was all glorious, really- and who knows, maybe someday I'll show up in the Wiener web singling the jingle with my fellow sisters in mustard! If you'd like to track down the Wienermobile in a city near you, and kick this one of your bucket list, check out the Hot Dogger Blog!

What Daughter Says: I don't know, Momma, this was pretty darn close!

Bucket List Tuesday: U.S. Epicurean Musts

It's no secret I love food.

I don't want to say 'it's in my blood,' but, well, it kind of is. After all, I am the daughter who grew up spending Winter vacations being regaled with the over-the-top tales of my father's eating. We're talking about a young man who would drag his mother into the grinder shop next door whenever his family went to the corner scoop (ice cream) shop for dessert. Then there are the tales on my mother's side of the family, of his adulthood conquests. The warnings never to accompany him onto a cruise ship, or to be prepared to get that fateful knock at 3AM, "I'm hitting the buffet, you wanna go?" It's funny, really, because my father is otherwise fairly conservative within his life. He's worked the same job for 25 years, took care of his family (even gave up beer until I was out of the house), has a waistline most men his age would envy, and works within a strict budget of his own design.

So, it's really quite remarkable when conventional portions get thrown out the window, and especially when 'all you can eat' is mentioned, how much passion this man displays for his food. My Pop is my official Endless Shrimp buddy, when the promotion rolls around to our local Red Lobster, and our tales of 'shrimp genocide' are known by waitstaff, family and friends. Of course it's not always about quantity with food; some of the more refined culinary experiences can also be a standout on their own. There are a few U.S. Epicurean experiences I hope to check off my Bucket List someday.

The first may not seem so wild to the naked eye at first. It's really just more of an 'If I'm ever in New York' kinda thing. I discovered the Peanut Butter and Co. Sandwich Shop on a Food Network program featuring (you guessed it) peanut butter, several years before I ever had a chance to try the brand's retail product. At the time the program was rambling on about Elvis and his profound love of peanut butter, and his signature peanut butter and banana sandwich; I was in love right then and there. However PBandCo offers much more than simple Elvis replica eats, their over 10 signature blends of peanut butter can be paired with a myriad of carbs and countless toppings to make a truly one of a kind peanut butter experience. Not feeling inspired? How about the Fools Gold, featuring fresh blueberry jam, rich original peanut butter and slices of thick cut bacon. Or the Fluffernutter with a dash of fresh Honey, melding whipped mallow creme with rich peanuty taste? There are even savory sandwiches; just try The Heat Is On peanut butter with local favorite Baloney, Cheddar, Mayonaise, and Ketchup.

For a truly unique dining experience that has only recently made it's way into top metropolitan US cities, how about Dining In The Dark? Wildly popular overseas, culinary experiences that heighten the consumers senses through the application of sensual deprivation are believed to bring out a sharper palette and better appreciation of gourmet food. Currently there are two typical manners of 'blind eating,' where the diner is either blindfolded, or literally led into a pitch black dining room. Opaque, in Los Angeles, CA is just one of several Dining In The Dark locations, where guests are required to check all personal belongings upon arrival in the lit lobby, then guided into the dark dining hall by visually impaired and blind waitstaff. The menu is, naturally, specially crafted to highlight textures and tastes that will inherently benefit from the full dedication of an focused palette.

The third one is more out of whimsy than culinary curiosity. Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant and Butik, in Sister Bay, Wisconsin truly takes unusual dining atmosphere to a new level. One of two such 'goats on the roof' locals in the USA, Al Johnson pairs authentic Swedich cuisine with fully garbed waitstaff and free roaming goats on the grass covered 'roof.' Believe it or not, the restaurant didn't open with the intention of being 'that place with goats on the roof,' it happened by pure accident when a family friend brought one in honor of Al Johnson's birthday one year. The property was already home to a slew of farm animals, and one goat quickly grew into many, as they found their way to the roof, where they could chew on foliage. Of course, I hear the food is good too- Prime Rib Sandwich, Home Pickled Herring, Herb Rubbed Pork Chops, and Swedish Meatballs make the menu, just to name a few delightful Swedish dishes!

My list simply wouldn't be complete without, not 1 but 2, Gordon Ramsay creations. As a fan of over 10 years, I've yet to actually taste his menu- I've tried to replicate his published recipes, but it's not the same. While this world renowned chef has over 38 restaurants across the globe, my top 2 US picks are both located in Las Vegas, and the brainchild of recent Hell's Kitchen endorsements. BurGR, nestled within Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, and Steak at Hotel Paris, speak to my passion of meat. Not only had Gordon put in place an original curing system for his meat at Steak, but the contemporary steakhouse also offers his own home comfort favorites, such as that infamous Shepard's Pie. At BurGR Ramsay insists all patties are hand pressed and cooked over an open wood burning flame for additional flavor and complexity; and all fries are cooked 3 ways to ensure the perfect layers of crisp and texture. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Do you have a type of food, favorite chef, or restaurant you must visit on your Bucket List?