Mammoth Black Twig
Wow! I just had a totally awesome weekend. Friday we did Karaoke–it was okay. The vibe there was more hip-hop than I care for but what the hell if it were up to me we’d all be sitting around a dinner table sharing our views and I think that I’d end up polluting myself with some of the crap that passes for conversation with my coworkers. At least at a loud bar I can have an overpriced drink and pretend not to hear well enough to have to really talk to anybody. I’m being a little harsh. It was fun. Three of the guys in our party sang ‘American Woman’ and one guy was really getting into the grunting part. El Torito served mojito’s so I tried one and it was too sweet. A mojito should be slightly minty, bracing, and refreshing and this one was just limey and sweet. Saturday we watched the Johnny Cash Memorial Tribute concert and I balled my eyes out. He was beyond awesome.
There is a little mountain town east of San Diego called Julian. I read about it in the paper a while back and got really interested when I found out they grew apples. Not just the plain cardboard tasting red delicious or granny smith, oh no, these were antique varieties. Sigh. So, I knew I had to go. We went on Sunday with another couple that we’re starting to be friends with. The drive up made me and Jenn carsick since we sat in the back but we felt a lot better once we made our first stop-it was a candy shop. Then we drove into Julian and started checking out shops and we had lunch at a bbq place. It was small and smokey smelling and they served big portions of tender and juicy meats. Delish! I ended up buying some antique cordial glasses in one of the shops. The lady wouldn’t take my credit card because she was giving me a deal and I had to borrow a check from Jenn, but I didn’t care those glasses were that pretty. On the way out of town we stopped at a farmstand selling apples and it happened to be the one selling the antique varieties. I was after a kind called ‘Arkansas Black’ and they had a little tasting tray with all the kinds of apples they were selling along with persimmons, pears and pomegranates. The tray was out of Arkansas Black but the farmer said he had some out on the tree he could take down if I wanted and I was like, “Yeah!” So we walked out to the trees and he pulled one down explaining that they got their name because the skin is so dark red. He let me taste the apple right from the tree! So he filled a bag and then offered me some apples from another antique tree called ‘Mammoth Black Twig’ which I accepted. The apples from both trees are mostly sweet with a little tartness that lingers after chewing. They seem firm so I’m not sure how they’ll hold up in a pie but what a find. Apples right from the tree, does it get any better? All in all it was a great day.