One contest point to the first reader to name the business that offers this exterior display. OK, this should be easy, but I still like the photo! I may print an large version for my office, I think. (Click to enlarge.)

Heavy snow blanketed the Fox Valley today, leaving about 8 inches that demanded a lot of work to remove from streets and driveways. The first photo below is a handy sidewalk snow removal vehicle in Neenah, decorated in Packers colors, of course. The second photo shows an old vine on a wall in Neenah retaining a little of the snow from today's storm. Also shown are a dump truck carrying away snow (for those who didn't imagine we'd use dumptrucks for snow removal out here), a bush in my front yard, a self-portrait (the reflection in the red ornament), and a Neenah cemetery in snow (taken just before the last big storm).

My wife and I recently took a visitor to dinner at Cannova's Pizzeria in downtown Neenah (113 W Wisconsin Ave, Neenah, WI). This is a classy restaurant that offers great pizza and some outstanding Italian dishes. My friend, a scholar and traveller who spends a lot of time in Europe, was impressed. We went on a cold Thursday evening, and the place was packed, but we got the best table in the house at the front window. I was impressed with the salad, a very nice mix of hearty ingredient, and then truly delighted with the lamb chops, the special of the day. Honestly, I have never tasted better lamb. Perfectly done! And so tender. The lamb was presented on a bed of risotto with beets on the side. Very pretty. The risotto was a little too "al dente" for me, but was very good nonetheless. And the beets were outstanding.

My wife tried the scallops and was pleased. Our guest tried another pasta dish and enjoyed it as well. But I think I had the best of the three dishes.

The selection of deserts was hard to resist. I kept things light with a simple orange sherbet, but it was a high quality version.

Service was very good. The place is attractive and lively, but not too noisy - no hideous music blaring. Easy to have a conversation.

Entrees range from about $9 to $17 each. Reasonably priced.

On Valentine's Day, my wife and I were invited by friends to join them at an unusual event of the local Masonic lodge, "Ladies at the Table." It's a ceremony occasionally held to honor select women, and men and women can participate in the fascinating banquet and series of formal toasts. I really enjoyed it, not just for the great company of outstanding citizens from our local Masonic lodge, but also for the opportunity to learn more about the rich history of the Mason's in the Fox Valley. They organized the local Waverly Lodge in 1854 and have occupied seven different buildings over the years, most notably the large building now owned by the Outagamie Historical Society, which was build as a spacious Masonic lodge.

Many of the most significant citizens of Appleton have been Masons, including Amos Lawrence (of Lawrence University fame) and Appleton's namesake, Samuel Appleton. Current officers of the Waverly Lodge are listed on the Waverly Lodge Website. One of them that I chatted with is Chad Wolf, who is currently running for Alderman in my area (see Vote4Wolf.org).

Overall, my wife and I has a great time with that kind and friendly group of Masons and their wives. They are a very civic-minded group that has done much for the community. Kudos to the local Waverly Lodge of Masons!

The dinner was catered by Choices in Neenah, and I was happy with the food. (Nice place, by the way.)

Here's a press release I've been asked to post. Sounds like a worthwhile topic.

Americans for Prosperity Foundation Announces Appleton Web Cast of Consumer-Driven Health Care Reform Forum, Feb. 22
Forum Will Feature Wisconsin Health Savings Account Success Stories

Appleton – As the debate over health care reform reaches the top of Wisconsin’s political agenda, the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) today announced the Appleton web cast of the group's health care reform forum on Thursday, February 22, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce in Appleton. The forum will feature keynote speaker Dr. David Gratzer, author of The Cure, and a discussion by Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer and Serigraph Inc. CEO John Torinus on their implementation of innovative health care reform initiatives (such as Health Savings Accounts) in the public and private sectors.

“Everybody is talking about how to make health care more affordable for Wisconsinites. It is really exciting to see that there is a consumer-directed option for health care reform that can be pursued by businesses, citizens, and public entities,” said Mark Block, State Director of AFPF-Wisconsin Chapter. “Two of the Forum’s presenters have found ways to control their health care costs through innovative consumer-driven options – their success stories are worth hearing.”

Block notes that Wisconsin is currently among only four states that prohibit citizens from deducting HSA contributions on their state income tax return. HSA deductibility, which have been vetoed three times, is a top policy priority for AFPF in the 2007 to 2008 legislative session. The group also supports adding an HSA insurance option for public employees and Medicaid recipients and expanding HSA availability in the private sector.

WHO: Dr. David Gratzer, author of The Cure
Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer
Serigraph Inc. CEO John Torinus

WHAT: Health Care Reform Forum Live Web Cast

WHEN: Thursday, February 22, 2007; 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. CST

WHERE: Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, 125 N. Superior St., Appleton, WI 54912, (920) 734-7101

Citizens can register to attend the Appleton web cast online www.afpwi.org, by phone (414) 475-2975, or via e-mail at rsvpwi@afphq.org.

Can you identify this photo? It was taken yesterday in Appleton. Could this be the start of a new mystery photo contest? Please give yourself some identity if you post a comment stating where this is. There might just be a prize for the person who names the most mystery photos in the coming weeks.

Click to enlarge. Photo taken from the shore of Lake Winnebago in Menasha on Feb. 10, 2007. I'm always amazed to see SUVs out on the ice of the lake.

Smith Park in Menasha was the site of some large snow sculptures on Saturday. Here are a couple of my favorites, both about six feet tall.

Took a friend to Confucius Chinese Restaurant in Appleton for lunch this week. He was definitely impressed and will be back. It was my second time and I was again impressed, more than on my first visit.

Confucius has a beautiful interior - simple but elegant, with some of the charm of the Far East. The staff is friendly and well trained - excellent, professional service. The lunch menu offers over 20 specials for around $7.95, including soup and an egg roll. I decided to choose something very mainstream and familiar to help me evaluate the restaurant better, so I went with Kung Pao Chicken. The chicken was remarkably tender. The peanuts were not Planters out of a jar, but were raw peanuts that had been freshly cooked, not too much. The celery was finely chopped (a common shortcut in American-style Chinese cooking is to cut food into large, coarse bits), increasing the labor but also improving the texture and flavor (more surface area, for example). The sauce was exquisite. I had asked for hot and spicey, and as a result, there were eight dried Asian chili pods in my dish. Yes, that's the way to do it, rather than dumping a little cayenne pepper into the dish.

All this pointed to an attention to detail and a desire to make the food taste the way it is meant to be, at least as I understand the dish. Not bad for lunch!

My friend had a shrimp and broccoli dish with beautiful looking large shrimp. He found it to be delicious as well.

The hot and sour soup was fine - not my favorite in the Valley (Bao Zhu's in Neenah may have the best), but definitely good.

The egg roll was decent. Nice texture inside.

Overall, an outstanding and memorable lunch.

I took my wife to dinner there last year and was happy with the food, but not thrilled. Thought the chicken in a curry dish was a bit tough, and the curry was a bit dull in flavor. But it was still fine. Based on the quality of the Kung Pao Chicken I had this week, I think any weakness in my previous meal must have been an anomaly or a problem that's been corrected (maybe the chef was on vacation then?).

Look forward to trying Confucius again.

During a concert of the Appleton East orchestras last night, director Patti Wilson surprised the audience by announcing that two friends of hers had flown in from Appleton to spend time with the students at Appleton East and to add some extra spice to the concert. I was delighted to hear from Hollywood music writer Nathan Barr (Patti's nephew) and singer and songwriter Lisbeth Scott (some information about her is here). They have worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood in producing the music that brings life to music. We heard some great stories from Nathan, with 20+ films to his credit now, and a couple of beautiful performances from Lisbeth Scott. What a voice!

If you have the soundtrack to the Chronicles of Narnia, she performs a couple of songs there. She performed one of them for us, "Where," which she also wrote and composed. The story behind that one impressed me: she got a 30-second call from the director just giving her a few bars of music that he wanted as the theme for a song. And he needed something in 30 minutes! She took that and quickly turned it into the stirring piece that now is part of the Narnia soundtrack.

Nathan and Lisbeth are very gracious people. After the concert, the hung around and talked to people. I chatted with both of them and send my boys back into the auditorium to meet them, and they really enjoyed the experience. I like famous people who are down-to-earth and kind to others. Cool.

Nathan and Lisbeth spent several hours today with music students at Appleton East. So kind of them! My boys really enjoyed it.

Here are a couple shots of Nathan, Lisbeth, and the two with a few students at East.

Now that it's below zero here, I sure miss the warmer days of fall. Here's one recent memory captured at a football game at Appleton East High School (go Patriots!) on October 6, 2006. I like the sense of stillness surrounded by motion. (Click to enlarge.)

China Garden has been in business for less than a year in Darboy at W6141 Country Road KK (Calumet Street) just a couple blocks east of Wal-Mart (W6141 County Road KK, by the Tanglz Salon. I've been there twice now and find it to be surprisingly good, inexpensive, with a friendly and entertaining atmosphere, thanks to the charming personality of the owner. I dare say that it's my favorite Chinese restaurant, though there are some fine ones in the Valley.

It's a small restaurant that seems to do most of its business as take out, so it probably won't be crowded when you go - and that means the charming owner will be able to visit with you. He is more native Appletonian than I am, since he came here at age 9, but he went back to Hong Kong for several years of education and has a rich Chinese heritage that he shares at China Garden.

During my family's visits to China Garden, we've been wowed by several dishes. Tonight we tried Wor Shu Duck, a crispy duck dish which, like Peking Duck, has a delicious skin. This was one of the best duck dishes I've had, coupled with excellent sauteed vegetables in a flavorful sauce. More duck than I expected. It's one of the more expensive items on the menu at just $10.50. More than one person can eat, I think.

I was especially impressed with a vegetarian dish, the Home Style Bean Cake, which had fried tofu in a delicious sauce with sauteed vegetables. I was pleased with the flavors and surprised to see so much of this excellent food for just $5.95. We also tried Beef with Chinese Mushrooms and Bamboo Shoots ($8.65) and Triple in Garlic Sauce (jumbo shrimp, beef, and chicken with vegetables, $9.85). All very pleasing with a variety of flavors. The four dishes were more than four of us could eat, including two teenage boys. I think we could have fed five or six people with the four dishes we ordered.

Previously we were extremely impressed with the Chef's special called Happy Family, a combination of lobster, shrimp, scallops, chicken, pork, and vegetables. It's tied for the most expensive dish on the menu, at a mere $11.75.

The hot and sour soup was excellent.

The rich menu of China Garden emphasizes Szechuan, Hunan, and Cantonese dishes. Like most Chinese restaurants in the Valley and in the US, this one offers foods adapted for American pallets and employing readily available ingredients like carrots and broccoli that might not play such a prominent role in restaurants seeking to provide exotic, authentic encounters with the foods of the Orient. And that's just what you need when you're taking your family out to dinner - especially on a budget.

China Garden is open seven days a week and offers free delivery (minimum order $18). MasterCard and Visa accepted. Open for lunch, with 32 different $4.95 lunch specials. Hours: 10:30 am - 9:30 pm Monday to Saturday, and noon to 9:30 pm Sunday.

I believe no MSG is used.

Call (920) 380-0058. Fax: (920) 380-0079. Be sure to say the tall guy with the family of four sent you.

Labels: food