Day 2 Playing tourist

I went to the San Antonio Museum of Art.  I feel guilty if i don't play tourist in every waking minute.  It was about a fifteen minute walk from our hotel.  Beautiful Museum...right on the River Walk.

I know that art is subjective but I have a particular love for realistic oil paintings.  This was socialite Marguriet Louisa Vanderbilt Shepar, painted by John Singer Sargeant.  Loved it.  The red dress was so rich. 

My favorite painting was by John George Brown and the characters were so distinctive, I thought they were going to jump off the page.  I almost looked like they were paper dolls glued to the canvas and then painted.  Where is my friend Cindy (a wonderful artist) who explains all the technique to me?  I wanted more info.

Okay, I love some modern art but wouldn't necessarily want to live with some of it.  This work of art truly made me laugh.  Can you guess what it was called?  "City Song: Even the smell on the Way to Work of Fresh Asphalt in the Early Morning Streets of Summer."  Was that your first guess?  LOL  Not mine. The artist was Ben Cutwell (1918-1987)

So you all know how crazy I am about St James and the Camino de Santiago.  I was wandering around the museum, wondering if St. James was any part of the history of Mexico.  Lo and behold:

If your read the information below... Santiago was huge in Mexican histsory.

Lastly, I went back to Cured for another  winter squash salad.  I actually had a double.  I have only thought of proposing to three chefs in my life. The first was in Oporto, Portugal.  It was called a Francesinha. (meaning Little Frenchie or simply Frenchie in Portuguese), described as a Portuguese sandwich made with bread, wet-cured ham, linguiça, fresh sausage like chipolata, steak or roast meat and covered with melted cheese and a hot thick tomato and beer sauce ( like a cross between an enchilada sauce and good gravy) served with french fries.  Actually, I did propose to the chef.  Dennis was with me so I was safe.  The second time was about ten years ago in Lincoln Park (Chicago) at Pasta Palazzo.  Their Jalapeno Gnoocci is to die for.  I made Dennis come back to Chicago to try it and we eat there every time we go to Chicago.  Tonight, I had to try this wonderful salad again. Just to refresh your memory: winter squash and pepper salad with achiote goat cheese and pickled celery with 2 year aged lardo. The bartender brought the chef, Chef Steve McHugh out and I thanked him personally for such a wonderful creation. The pickled celery gave it a little bite but the star of the dish was a pepita twill or tuiles, which is a French term for tile.  OMGosh, this fried (?) cracker/cookie was incredible.   

So another culinary triumph.  Until tomorrow...God bless you all.